Pūtiki pedestrians get safer SH4 crossing

March 6, 2025

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Safer road crossing for residents at Pūtiki in Whanganui is now a reality.

Work has now been completed on State Highway 4 at Pūtiki, with a new pedestrian refuge island installed and a new flush median, kerb extension and pram crossing points (where the footpath dips down to meet the road).

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) Project Manager Kendra Ludeke says the road is now safer to cross as there is a place for people to stop halfway to check for traffic.

“We’ve worked closely with the Pūtiki Emergency Response Group (PERG) to finalise this design and work. One of the key recommendations from the group was to make it safer for pedestrians to cross SH4 Pūtiki Drive where the Kaumātua flats and bus stops are.

“Safe and appropriate crossings are key elements in providing a connected network for pedestrians and we are happy to be working in collaboration with the project partners to achieve this in Pūtiki.

“This crossing will make it easier for people to cross this at-times busy stretch of highway. It’s important people using the area to cross the road still look both ways and be careful before crossing.

PERG member Kanui Cooper says these additions help to improve traffic management during a flood event and evacuation of the Kaumatua flats and form part of a range of initiatives driven by the local community that aim to improve safety for everyone – in particular Kaumātua and tamariki.

“The initiative not only improves safety, but it also strengthens connectedness to the community and to Whanganui as a whole.”

NZTA Project Manager Kendra Ludeke (3rd from right) is joined by Kaumātua, residents and local community members, trying out the new crossing. NB: since this photo, yellow tactile indicators have also been installed.

MIL OSI

Arrest made following investigation into injured baby, Dargaville

LiveNews Publisher

March 6, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

Please attribute to Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Pilmer, Whangārei CIB:

Police investigating an incident involving an injured five-month-old baby in Dargaville have today made an arrest.

A 22-year-old man has been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and will appear in Whangārei District Court tomorrow.

The arrest come after the baby was presented at Dargaville Hospital with serious head injuries on 28 December.

The baby was flown to Whangārei Hospital and later transferred to Starship Hospital in Auckland.

The baby is now recovering well.

As this matter is now before the Courts, Police don’t have any further comment.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

MIL OSI

Warrant to arrest – Rawiri Cave

LiveNews Publisher

March 6, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

Police are seeking Rawiri Cave, 25, who has a warrant for his arrest.

He is wanted in relation to a number of incidents in Counties Manukau, including aggravated robbery and escapes custody.

Cave has long hair, usually worn in a top knot style, and has two Tā moko style tattoos on the back of his right calf and on his right forearm.

He is known to frequent Counties Manukau, Point Chevalier and Waterview areas.

Anyone with information about Cave is urged to contact Police via 105 online or the 105 phone reporting line, referencing file number 250107/1230.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

MIL OSI

Release: Labour calls for end to police referrals to Destiny programmes

LiveNews Publisher

March 6, 2025

Source: New Zealand Labour Party

Police have referred 20 offenders to Destiny Church-affiliated programmes Man Up and Legacy as ‘wellness providers’ in the last year, raising concerns that those seeking help are being recruited into a harmful organisation.

“Referrals to Man Up and Legacy need to stop. Members of these groups violently disrupted a Pride Week event at the Te Atatū Peninsula library and are now at the centre of a Police investigation,” Labour MP for Te Atatū Phil Twyford said.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell has confirmed Police referred 20 offenders to Man Up and Legacy since the two groups were approved as “wellness providers” in April last year, in answers to Twyford’s written parliamentary questions.

“How does the Minister justify referring offenders to an organisation that openly preaches hate against the Rainbow community and has a track record of violence?”

“Anti-violence groups have criticised Destiny Church groups’ involvement in offender rehabilitation, saying their approach creates a greater risk of violence against women and children.

“Does the Minister have any evidence these Destiny programmes have a positive effect on offenders? Has he looked into whether Man Up and Legacy are using the Police referrals to recruit new members?

“The West Auckland Police are investigating the conduct of Destiny Church at Te Atatū Peninsula Library last month. Charities Services have confirmed to me they are investigating my call for Destiny charities to be deregistered for serious wrongdoing. It is time the Government now rules out the Police or any other government agency referring people to Destiny Church or their subsidiaries,” Phil Twyford said.

Labour rainbow community spokesperson Shanan Halbert said, “Mark Mitchell promised that New Zealanders would feel safer under this government, but the Rainbow community has felt under attack. More than 100 incidents of hate against the community are reported monthly under his watch, but he he has declined to declare how many are related to Destiny Church. It’s time for him to take action.”

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MIL OSI

Special Minds Launches 1-to-1 Special Needs Platform to Empower Families with Five Key Pillars

MIL OSI

March 6, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 March 2025 – Special Minds is redefining special needs education in Singapore with the launch of its groundbreaking 1:1 matching platform. As a new and innovative solution, the platform is designed to connect families with highly skilled professionals, offering tailored services to meet each child’s unique needs. Built around five key pillars—tuition, early childhood education, early intervention, therapy and counselling, and enrichment—this platform offers a comprehensive, holistic approach to special needs education. By combining these core services, Special Minds ensures that every child receives personalised, expert support in the comfort of their own home, making quality care and education more accessible than ever before.

Navigating special needs services can be overwhelming, with accessibility and affordability being major challenges for many families. Special Minds simplifies this process by offering a streamlined, home-based matching system that helps parents find the right professionals across these five essential areas—making specialised care more convenient, flexible, and effective.

The 5 Key Pillars of Special Minds’ Matching Platform

1. Special Needs Tuition

Many children with learning difficulties, including dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD, and ASD, require specialised academic support. Special Minds matches families with experienced educators who provide personalised special needs tuition to help children excel in their studies at their own pace.

2. Early Childhood Education

Laying a strong foundation is crucial for children with special needs. Special Minds connects parents with qualified early childhood educators who specialise in working with young learners, fostering essential skills in language, numeracy, communication, and cognitive development.

3. Early Intervention Programs

An early intervention program in Singapore can make a life-changing difference for children with developmental delays or conditions such as Global developmental delay (GDD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and sensory processing difficulties. Special Minds helps parents access certified early intervention specialists who provide customised strategies to support each child’s growth.

4. Therapy and Counselling

Many children require speech therapy, occupational therapy, behavioural therapy, or counselling to develop key life skills and manage emotions. Special Minds allows parents to match with qualified therapists, making therapy more convenient and effective.

5. Enrichment Activities

Learning isn’t just about academics—it’s also about exploration and engagement. The platform provides access to specialists who offer enrichment programs such as phonics, yoga, music, art, and swimming for children with special needs, helping them develop confidence and social skills in a fun and supportive environment.

The five key pillars of Special Minds’ matching platform work together to create a comprehensive support system that addresses the diverse needs of children with special needs. From tuition to early childhood education, each pillar is designed to offer specialised care that promotes holistic development. Whether it’s through early intervention programs that help children reach developmental milestones, therapy and counselling that provide emotional and behavioural support, or enrichment activities that nurture creativity, Special Minds ensures that children receive well-rounded care that is both accessible and effective.

By focusing on these five areas, Special Minds not only provides tailored support to children but also empowers parents and caregivers to navigate the complexities of special needs care with ease and confidence. This comprehensive approach helps children build the skills they need to thrive in all areas of life, from academics to emotional well-being and beyond.

Founder of Special Minds, Ms. Azanea Quek, shared, “We built this platform so that parents can easily connect with skilled special needs professionals based on their child’s needs, location, and budget. It’s a game-changer for families who have been struggling to access quality, personalised support.”

Special Minds is committed to empowering families and children by making high-quality special needs education and support more accessible, affordable, and flexible. With a growing network of over 500 professionals, the platform is transforming the special needs landscape in Singapore—ensuring that every child, regardless of their challenges, has the opportunity to thrive.

For more information, please visit https://specialminds.com.sg/.

Hashtag: #SpecialMinds

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

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

TouchPoint, Inc. Appoints Staci Kroon as President and CEO

MIL OSI

March 6, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 March 2025 – TouchPoint, Inc. is excited to announce the appointment of Staci Kroon as their new President and CEO, reporting directly to TouchPoint’s Board of Directors, effective March 1, 2025. Brian McNeill, who has served as TouchPoint’s President and CEO for 25 years, will retire effective March 1, 2025, and transition to Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Staci Kroon

Staci is an accomplished leader of global engineering and manufacturing companies, where she has excelled in driving growth and delivering results through innovation, geographic expansion, acquisitions, team building and operational excellence. Most recently, she served as President and CEO of BraunAbility, a global leader in mobility transportation solutions, providing independence to individuals with mobility challenges.

Staci holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, Bachelor of Science in Economics with a concentration in Finance from the Wharton School of Business, and a Postgraduate degree in Design, Manufacturing, and Management from Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK. Staci served on the Board of BraunAbility and currently serves on the Board of Winnebago Industries, a longtime Southco customer.

Staci said “I am thrilled to join TouchPoint as President and CEO, stepping into a new chapter of growth and innovation alongside a talented team. TouchPoint has a remarkable 125-year history, built on a foundation of strong values, resilience, and continuous evolution.”

After 25 years as serving as TouchPoint’s President and CEO, I could not be more excited about this transition and to mark the beginning of our next 125 years of growth,” said Brian McNeill. “Our businesses are strong and well positioned to continue in their growth trajectory under Staci’s leadership.”

Hashtag: #TouchPoint #StaciKroon #globalengineering #manufacturing

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

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

Bridge inspections planned this month for the Top of the South

LiveNews Publisher

March 6, 2025

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Ensuring state highway bridges are safe and fit for purpose will see bridge inspections completed on state highways across the top of the South this month.

The Auckland based Bridge Inspection Unit will be in the region from mid to late March to assess bridges on State Highways 1, 6, 60 and 63.

Mark Owen, Regional Manager Lower North Island/Top of the South says the technical inspections are essential and have to be carried out every six years.

“In the same way people get a Warrant of Fitness inspection for their cars, we do the same with our state highway bridges.”

“They are an essential part of our state highway infrastructure, and with hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of vehicles using them daily, it is critical we make sure they’re in good order and safe to use. These inspections also tell us what maintenance the bridges may need,” Mr Owen says.

To complete the work, a truck-mounted inspection unit parks on the bridge. This allows structural engineers access to hard-to-reach components underneath the structure to determine their condition.

Mr Owen says this means traffic will be affected while the inspections are underway.

“There are two bridges that must be closed while inspections take place – the single-lane, State Highway 63 Wairau River (Wash) Bridge, and the narrow State Highway 60 Motueka River Bridge.”

There is simply not enough space on these bridges to let traffic past safely while this work is completed,” Mr Owen says.

He says during the bridge closures traffic will be stopped, with openings on the hour to let queued vehicles through.

“The good news is all other bridges to be inspected are wide enough to allow a single lane of traffic through while the bridge inspection unit does its work.”

“Because there will be Stop/Go traffic management and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h in place, drivers can expect some short delays, but it should not be too onerous,” Mr Owen says.

He recommends people travelling in the top of the South Island during March to keep an eye on the work schedule and the NZTA/Waka Kotahi journey planner to make sure they are not caught out by the work.

Mr Owen says the work has been planned alongside all other maintenance work to minimise the overall traveller disruption.

“We’ve also planned this work so that all the assessments of the region’s state highway bridges is completed in March and early April rather than spacing the assessments out during the year.

“It is a more effective and efficient approach and reduces overall disruption to road users,” Mr Owen says.

Bridge inspection schedule

Date	Bridge location	Details
Monday 17 March	SH63 Wairau River (Wash) Bridge	Nighttime – closure 6pm to 6am – Openings at the top of each hour to let traffic through.
Wednesday 19 March	SH6 Buller River (Longford) Bridge	Daytime – Stop/Go 8am to 5:30pm Delays of up to 10 mins
Thursday 20 March	SH6 O’Sullivans Bridge	Daytime – Stop/Go 8am to 5:30pm Delays of up to 10 mins
Friday 21 March	SH6 Motueka River (Kohatu) Bridge	Daytime – Stop/Go 8am to 5:30pm Delays of up to 15 mins
Monday 24 March	SH60 Tākaka River (Paines Ford) Bridge	Daytime – Stop/Go 8am to 6pm Delays of up to 10 mins
Tuesday 25 March	SH60 Waitapu Bridge – Tākaka River	Daytime – Stop/Go 8am to 6pm Delays of up to 10 mins
Wednesday 26 March	SH60 Motueka River Bridge	Nighttime – closure 8pm to 6am – Openings at the top of each hour to let traffic through
Thursday 27 March	SH60 Appleby Bridge	Nighttime – Stop/Go 8pm to 6am Delays of up to 10 mins
Monday 31 March	SH1 Awatere River Bridge	Nighttime – Stop/Go 7pm to midnight Delays of up to 15 mins
Tuesday 1 April	SH6 Wairau River Bridge	Nighttime – Stop/Go Midnight to 6am Delays of up to 10 mins

MIL OSI

Breathing New Life into Takarunga/ Mt Victoria: Revitalising the Summit

LiveNews Publisher

March 6, 2025

Source: Auckland Council

The Tūpuna Maunga Authority is pleased to share a major transformation at the tihi (summit)of Takarunga / Mt Victoria in Devonport. This is a significant milestone for the Authority in fulfilling its role of protecting the Maunga and providing for their ongoing manaaki and hauora.

A key focus of the project has been restoring the tihi as a predominantly pedestrian space. The removal of the carpark has made way for new pathways, native planting, and accessible seating—creating a more welcoming environment that encourages visitors to slow down, take in the views, and connect with the rich history and cultural significance of the Maunga.

Takarunga tihi restoration showing new upgrades. Photo credit: Cactus Photography

Tūpuna Maunga Authority Chairperson, Paul Majurey, says, “we are guided by a vision to better acknowledge the wairuatanga, mana aotūroa, takotoranga whenua, mauri pūnaha hauropi, mana hononga tangata, wahi rawa whakauka and mana whai a Rēhia for each individual Maunga.”

Majurey further states this project is significant in appreciating the vision set out in the Integrated Management Plan. “The Maunga are taonga tuku iho. This project allows people to experience Takarunga in a way that respects cultural significance, and the vision set out by Mana Whenua and the Authority.”

Mana Whenua artist Arapeta Hākura played a key role in shaping the cultural design elements of the upgrade. Hakura was the first recipient of the Tūpuna Maunga Authority’s research scholarship and was later invited to contribute to this project, bringing Māori histories and stories of Takarunga to life. His work reflects the migration of the Toroa bird, symbolising shared purpose and collective effort, while Hononga a Takarunga represents unity, interconnectedness, and the deep bonds between the land and its people.

“Being part of this project has been an incredible experience,” says Hakura. “It’s a journey of storytelling through design, weaving our histories into something tangible. The elements we’ve created reflect the deep connection between Mana Whenua and the Maunga, and it’s exciting to see these stories become part of the landscape.”

The newly restored tihi ready for visitors. The Tūpuna Maunga Authority looks forward to welcoming the public to experience the revitalised space and connect with the rich cultural heritage of Takarunga / Mt Victoria.

MIL OSI

Singapore Residents’ Year End and Lunar New Year Travel Spending Hit New Highs: Visa

MIL OSI

March 6, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 March 2025 – Leading payments technology company, Visa, shared that Singapore residents continue to prioritise travel, with outbound spending surging in December last year, as well as the recent Lunar New Year holiday week. In fact, travel spend by Singapore consumers for December and January hit record levels. Supported by a strong Singapore dollar, cross-border spending remains robust across key travel corridors, with notable shifts in consumer travel and spending patterns.

Shopping and Dining Remain Top Spend Categories during December Year-End Travel

Visa’s data highlights that shopping and dining remain top priorities for Singapore travellers, accounting for 61 per cent of their travel spend, while lodging and airline bookings saw strong year-on-year growth as consumers plan ahead for travel. Retail spend recorded a 14 per cent year-on-year increase, while spending on restaurants and fast food surged by 27 and 30 per cent, respectively. These figures underscore the enduring appeal of overseas shopping and dining experiences for Singapore travellers.^[1]

Malaysia, Japan, and Thailand have emerged as the leading travel corridors for cross-border outbound spending, closely followed by South Korea and Australia during the year-end holidays last year. The implementation of visa-free travel to China has significantly boosted travel demand, resulting in an 86 per cent year-on-year increase in travel spend in China. This reflects a broader trend of increased regional travel, facilitated by relaxed entry requirements and strong economic ties.

Malaysia has always been the top travel destination for Singapore residents all-year round. Based on Visa’s International Travel platform, the top cities that Singaporeans visited include Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Cameron Highlands, Bangkok, Bali and Kota Tinggi (Johor). Last year, Singapore travellers’ card spending in Japan also grew 138 per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels.^[2]

Visa’s data also highlighted the evolving destination preferences for Singapore residents. Compared to December 2023, Japan and Thailand have secured their place as key travel destinations, while long-haul markets such as the UK, US, and France continue to attract high-spending travellers. South Korea and Thailand are also emerging as healthcare-driven travel destinations, with increasing numbers of Singapore residents seeking medical services abroad. In fact, South Korea saw a 58 per cent rise in healthcare-related travel spending.

Japan and Thailand experienced the highest travel spend growth, recording 42 and 29 per cent year-on-year increase respectively. Meanwhile, Malaysia saw the strongest growth in food and groceries spending at 75 per cent year-on-year, reinforcing its position as a key travel and consumption hub.

“Travel continues to be a key category of spend for Visa cardholders in Singapore. Based on a Visa study^[3], travel is a top priority for Singapore travellers, surpassing other big-ticket spending items such as vehicles, property, healthcare and luxury goods in terms of importance. This finding is aligned with what we’re seeing from our data, where there is strong cross-border spend growth during year-end and festive periods. We continue to see interest in consumers using cards that can earn airline miles for their spend, and other propositions such as zero FX and multi-currency offerings. With the vast data that we see, we can work with our partners to share these key insights and create relevant benefits for our cardholders, making the payment experience seamless and secure when they travel and pay with Visa”, said Adeline Kim, Visa Country Manager for Singapore & Brunei.

As travel planning becomes more strategic, Singapore travellers are making early bookings to manage costs and secure better deals. Spending on alternative airline carriers, including European and Middle Eastern airlines, rose by 15 per cent year-on-year, indicating a growing preference for diverse flight options. In addition, online lodging bookings increased by 16 per cent year-on-year in December last year.

Top travel destinations during Lunar New Year holiday similar to year-end of 2024

The top travel destinations during this year’s Lunar New Year holiday are similar to the year-end break, with the exception of Indonesia taking the fourth spot, replacing South Korea. During the Lunar New Year holiday week, Singapore travellers took the opportunity to spend the week travelling, with a strong spike in cross-border spend at 22 per cent growth compared to the week of Lunar New Year in 2024. eCommerce spend also grew by close to 30 per cent compared to the previous year during the festive period, showing that people were spending more to purchase online, given this year’s Lunar New Year coincides with February 2.

Malaysia continues to be the top travel corridor, with payments volume growing at 57 per cent compared to the previous Lunar New Year week. The top growing category in Malaysia was jewellery stores, showing over 220 per cent growth compared to the previous year. Japan comes in second as a preferred destination for Singaporeans. During this ski season, Visa saw a 36 per cent growth on cross-border spend compared to the same festive period the year before. Thailand’s healthcare spend also grew at over 59 per cent.^[4]

[1] VisaNet data as of December 2024 and December 2023
[2] Visa International Travel Platform- data as of Q2 – 2024
[3] Visa Green Shoots Radar Survey 2024 (June)
[4] VisaNet data as of CNY week in 2025 (27 January – 2 February) compared to CNY week in 2024 (10-16 February).

Hashtag: #Visa

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

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

Octa broker receives the ‘Best CFD Broker Asia 2025’ award

MIL OSI

March 6, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 March 2025 – Octa, a global broker since 2011, was recently recognised as the ‘Best CFD Broker Asia 2025’ by the Global Brands Magazine.

The Global Brands’ ‘Best CFD Broker Asia 2025’ award became another milestone in Octa’s long and successful track record in the financial markets. According to the organisers, Octa was selected from a highly competitive group of entrants by an external research team, which was appointed to evaluate the nominees.

Global Brands Magazine is a leading branding publication providing up-to-date news, reviews, opinions, and polls on leading brands and industries worldwide.

Focusing on contract-for-difference (CFD) instruments, Octa fosters a dynamic trading environment that has gained considerable popularity among ambitious and goal-driven traders worldwide. Octa broker aims to establish transparent and efficient trading practices according to the best industry benchmarks.

Octa’s portfolio encompasses a wide variety of CFDs, including currency pairs, gold, and crypto. In addition to a diverse portfolio, the broker boasts a modern proprietary platform and some of the best trading conditions on the market.

Since its foundation, Octa has won more than 90 awards, including the ‘Most Reliable Broker Global 2024’ award from Global Forex Awards and the ‘Best Mobile Trading Platform 2024’ award from Global Brand Magazine.

According to Octa’s press office, the broker’s proprietary trading platform, OctaTrader, covers the entire traders’ journey across four fundamental areas: payments, education, trading, and decision-making. With its all-in-one architecture, OctaTrader functions as a holistic trading ecosystem designed for clients of various experience levels, trading styles, and asset preferences.

OctaTrader’s key features include:

Leverage adjustment

With OctaTrader, you can open new orders with any leverage you choose without affecting the leverage of existing orders. This unique feature allows for greater flexibility and offers additional scope to those using various instruments and timeframes during a single session.

AI-powered pattern recognition

Released in December 2024, this tool automatically searches for technical analysis patterns, using a large dataset of expert-curated content and AI-powered models that pick relevant figures from historical data. The AI Pattern Recognition tool is especially useful for those trading on faster timeframes since it empowers fast-paced, efficient decision-making and reduces cognitive load.An expert-curated feed within the platform that allows you to connect and collaborate with like-minded traders while staying up-to-date with the most relevant market trends and developments. By adjusting the feed according to your trading style and preferences, Space provides personalised guidance to keep you in touch with highly volatile markets.

Saving/loading charts

This feature allows you to save your chart layouts, chart templates, and drawing templates, and restore them when you get back. On top of that, all your chart actions are automatically synchronised between all your devices so that you can pick up your trading or analysis on your mobile exactly where you left it on your computer and visa-versa.

Disclaimer: Trading involves risks and may not be suitable for all investors. Use your expertise wisely and evaluate all associated risks before making an investment decision.

Hashtag: #Octa

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

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

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