“Under the leadership of mana whenua, Protect Rotokākahi Incorporated has filed for interim enforcement orders in the Environment Court to immediately stop Rotorua Lakes Council’s construction of a sewage pipe through wāhi tapu by Lake Rotokākahi,” said spokesperson for court action Te Whatanui Leka Taumalolo Skipwith.
“Last night, over 100 police marched on our whenua and took control over this sacred area.”
“They forcefully and violently removed our protectors on site, and today they have allowed the council to start drilling where our ancestors are buried.”
“Many of our people were killed here by the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera. This is where our ancestors lie.”
“Our people have been shut out of this whole pipeline approval process, and now we are shut off our whenua while it is desecrated before our eyes. So, we are escalating to urgent legal action to immediately stop the drilling.”
“This builds on the Environment Court applications already filed last week. Rotorua Lakes Council never obtained the required resource consent for conducting earthworks around Lake Rotokākahi. We are asking the Environment Court for an urgent halt to the council’s works while the court considers this.”
“Our people are here to protect what is ours, and what is sacred. We deserve the chance to protect our wāhi tapu in court before it is too late.”
Mana whenua and their supporters are calling on people to join them on the whenua and bear witness as we show resistance throughout this desecration. The Protect Rotokākahi Instagram is urging a call-to-action for its supporters to “Show Up for a Shift” and hold the frontline as an expression of enduring peaceful protection.
“The fight is actually going to be done here on the whenua, at whawhai, at protections like Rotokākahi. Peaceful resistance is the way we are going to be able to have liberation. And the way we are going to be doing that is being able to stand together side by side,”
“And so that’s the reason why we’re here, we’ve always been here, we will never leave.”
Police are following strong lines of enquiry in the investigation into arsons at churches in Masterton on the morning of Saturday 22 February.
As part of our enquiries, we are seeking information about a green Ford Festiva which was seen leaving one of those fires.
Police are working to establish the movements of the vehicle in the early hours of Saturday morning when the arsons were reported, and the day or days beforehand.
The vehicle was located abandoned on Sunday 23 February on Mikimiki Road, Masterton.
A significant search was deployed into the area, however no occupants of the vehicle were located.
Anyone with information that could assist with the investigation, including sightings of this vehicle, is urged to contact Police via 105 online or the 105 phone reporting line, referencing file number 250222/1673.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Rainbow organisations stand together to address the recent attempts to shut down our communities’ joy and celebrations. It will not succeed. We have been excited to see the unity of our community, and how our shared spaces have encouraged belonging and safety amidst recent events. We want our rainbow rangatahi and whānau to stay proud, stand firm, and know there are always support services available.
To our incredible rangatahi and community, our existence will outlive any hate. Always. No agenda, no opposition, and no force is stronger than the love we share, the friendships we build, and the courage we embody every day. To those who are out, to those still finding their way, to those reclaiming the words that reflect who you are, to those simply existing-we see you, we celebrate you, we stand with you.
Na RainbowYOUTH.
There is no place for hate and violence in Aotearoa. Our rainbow communities are vibrant, loving and welcoming. We will continue to strive to stand in the gap for our people and to whakamana takatāpui, MVPFAFF+ and rainbow peoples across the motu. We see you and value you.
OutLine welcomes constructive kōrero from religious leaders across the spectrum to encourage communities to come together and show solidarity against hate and violence in this country. We implore religious leaders to use their platforms to bring their people in and teach love and acceptance because takatāpui, MVPFAFF+ and rainbow peoples have always existed and will continue to exist.
It is ALL OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY to keep Aotearoa hate and violence-free.
Na OutLine Aotearoa.
It is time the Government takes serious action to prevent and respond to violence towards rainbow communities. The recent incidents at Auckland Pride are part of an organised ongoing attack on rainbow people’s rights to be themselves and come together. As pride and visibility in our communities grows, loud bigoted voices have tried to drown that pride out, including attempts to embed anti-trans rhetoric from overseas that has no place in Aotearoa. We need to show that we will not overlook hate and a key part of that must be our Government taking leadership.
Na InsideOUT Kōaro.
Our organisations call on the Government to:
1. Remove the charitable status of Destiny Church and associated charities.
2. Ensure no government agencies are making referrals to Destiny Church-led programmes, such as Man Up.
3. Ask NZ Police to urgently instigate a work programme to improve the collection of hate crime data related to rainbow communities and grow public awareness on how to report hate crimes.
4. Government prioritise a response to investing in rainbow mental health support and preventing and countering violent extremism and disinformation, with a focus which targets rainbow communities.
We encourage our rainbow communities and allies to sign the parliament petition to remove Destiny Church’s charitable status and write to Charity Services to make a complaint. We encourage you to seek out support when you need it and stand steadfast in your right to be who you are and celebrate with pride.
Financial pressures, Government inaction and the changing nature of work have proved insurmountable for Evolution Traffic Management and have ultimately led to the company’s liquidation and the loss of over 100 jobs, FIRST Union said today.
Workers across three Evolution Traffic Management sites in Auckland, Hamilton and Taupo were informed on Friday last week that the business’s liquidation will result in job losses for over 100 employees, marking a difficult and uncertain future ahead.
“The company’s collapse is a direct casualty of the shutdown of rebuilds, the slowdown in roading and infrastructure development, and the sluggish pace of the National Government’s commitment to infrastructure,” said Justin Wallace, FIRST Union organiser.
“Delays in critical projects have forced hundreds of skilled and unskilled infrastructure workers to leave the country, creating a significant risk to New Zealand’s development and growth.”
Mr Wallace said the union is supporting members through the process and pursuing entitlements and redundancy compensation for workers as a first priority for the company ahead of any other creditors and commitments: “There’s a lot of stress and anxiety, and a real fear that workers will walk away with nothing if we don’t prioritise their wellbeing.”
Mr Wallace warned that Evolution Traffic Management will not be the last to fall.
“The slowdown in infrastructure investment is putting entire sectors at risk. The Government has already dropped the ball on manufacturing, and now it seems we’re letting infrastructure slip through our fingers as well,” said Mr Wallace.
“Across the industry, there is a clear and urgent warning: if the Government does not act to give infrastructure companies like Evolution some certainty about future projects and their financial viability, we will continue to lose more workers overseas where their experience and talent are more highly valued and compensated.”
“New Zealand is experiencing an exodus of workers who are seeking better opportunities abroad – a trend exacerbated by the Government’s failure to deliver on its “Back on Track” commitments to working New Zealanders.”
“Instead of putting the country back on track, the current trajectory looks more like an impending derailment.”
“The inability to secure and sustain critical infrastructure jobs is having long-term economic consequences that will take years to recover from if left unaddressed.”
“The loss of skilled workers, the stagnation of infrastructure development, and the ongoing economic instability pose a significant threat to the country’s future. It is time for this Government to get its priorities right to prevent further damage and restore confidence in the sector.”
Researcher and advocate Anton Blank (Ngāti Porou-Ngāti Kahungunu) this week launches new resources for teachers, to address racism in the classroom.The Oranui (www.oranui.co.nz) resources for teachers include a 20 minute video module, and a short book REWIRE: understanding racism and how to undo it.
“The resources help teachers explore their own implicit biases towards Māori and Pasifika students,” Anton Blank says.
Implicit biases influence human behaviour. They are aversions and preferences that sit below the level of our conscious awareness. Implicit biases are informed by stereotypes and can run counter to our explicit beliefs and values.
“Everyone is influenced by stereotypes that circulate in the social world. We can manage the influence of these stereotypes on our thinking and behaviour by being mindful. This is the focus of the new resources, which explain the dynamics of racism and how to undo it.”
Anton Blank argues that all stereotypes are harmful, because they promulgate generalisations about social groups that aren’t necessarily true.
“Around the world, people of colour are more likely to be negatively stereotyped when it comes to issues like intelligence, work ethic and violence.”
Recent data shows that more than 70 percent of Māori and Pasifika are failing NCEA numeracy standards, which equates to every third student in secondary schools overall.[1]
“I find these numbers absolutely terrifying. Forty-one percent of New Zealand’s under 18-year-olds are now Māori and Pasifika. These populations are youthful — bottom-heavy compared to the ageing Pākehā cohort — so they will continue to grow and fill our schools.
“The most important influence within this data is, I believe, the quality of teacher engagement. Decades of research shows that of all groups of students, teachers have lowest expectations of Māori and Pasifika.”
The Pygmalion Effect describes how teachers’ expectations determine, to a large part, students’ educational outcomes.[2] If Māori children are to achieve, teachers must lift their expectations of students and treat all students as having the same potential for achievement.
Research from the US also shows that the quality of teacher engagement is very important in underprivileged areas, and upgrading teachers’ skills has the most effect on achievement in those schools. In Aotearoa, 40% of Māori students live in the two most deprived deciles in the country.[3]
The Oranui resources for teachers include a 20 minute video module, and a short book REWIRE: understanding racism and how to undo it.
“The resources encourage teachers to explore their own attitudes towards Māori and Pasifika students. Teachers tend to expect these students to disengage from the learning. As a result, teachers make less effort with them.
“These students internalise these beliefs and by secondary school, they group themselves together at the back of the classroom, where they attract less attention from teachers than Pākehā and Asian students.
“Māori students do succeed in Māori educational settings, however, where they feel seen in the classroom, and their potential is nurtured by their teachers.
“For almost ten years, I have worked with teachers across the motu. All of them say they want to see Māori students succeed.
“It is not correct to say that they are deliberately excluding Māori and Pasifika students from learning in the classroom. Rather, teachers are working under pressure, which is when their behaviour is triggered by the automatic and implicit biases described here.”
Police is re-opening a state-of-the-art custody unit, ready to support frontline policing operations across the North Shore and Rodney.
Crucially, it will reduce the time frontline staff in the area spend transporting people in custody.
The Waitematā East District Custody Unit, based at the North Shore Policing Centre, officially began accepting detainees this morning.
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, Minister of Police Mark Mitchell and Waitematā District Commander Superintendent Naila Hassan were in attendance at this morning’s opening.
The North Shore facility has undergone improvement works in recent months and will support Waitematā District’s existing unit based in Henderson.
Commissioner Chambers says the population across North Shore and Rodney communities continues to grow.
“Waitematā is a vast district geographically and it’s important my staff aren’t unnecessarily taken of the road for lengthy periods of time,” he says.
“The new District Custody Unit will mean reduced travel times for staff working as far north as Wellsford, down to Devonport.”
Advanced facilities will also mean reduced processing times for arresting officers.
“The facility is technologically advanced and future-focused for our custody staff,” Commissioner Chambers says.
“At the end of the day we’ll have frontline staff back out there faster working to keep the community safe.”
Around the country, Police manage more than 120,000 people in custody each year.
“Our Custody Units are an important part of managing people in our care and custody safely.
“In many instances those people in custody require intensive monitoring, and features such as high-quality CCTV and intercom systems will help custody staff.”
Commissioner Chambers acknowledges the team involved in re-commissioning the unit.
“It’s great to see the use of technology to make savings and efficiencies, such as the high-quality audio-visual link suite installed,” he says.
“In many instances for those detainees appearing in court remotely this will remove some costs and complexities associate in transporting them.”
Superintendent Hassan says the North Shore facility is a welcome addition to the district.
“We are continuing to find ways to adapt to the growing demand and population across communities in Waitemata,” she says.
“This facility will be supported by sworn Police staff, alongside additional Authorised Officers recruited into the roles.”
The facility has been re-opened after being decommissioned in 2013.
It has been utilised by Police periodically, as required, including periods to support police operations during the pandemic response.
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 February 2025 – Over the past few years, the strategic endorsements, enigmatic tweets, and business manoeuvres of Elon Musk have caused shock waves in the cryptocurrency market with wild price fluctuations. Today, he is creating a native cryptocurrency on the X platform under the temporary name, X Money.
Source: Shutterstock
When and if it happens, the project can turn X (ex. Twitter) into a complete financial system, making Musk an overnight competitor for traditional banking systems as well as traditional crypto payment systems. Others believe this could be an attempt by Musk to create a decentralised alternative to PayPal and traditional fintech platforms, counting on X’s massive user base to drive its uptake. Kar Yong Ang, a financial market analyst at Octa Broker, elaborates: Will X Money be the disruptive force that reshapes digital finance, or just another speculative experiment.
The Musk factor When Elon Musk set his sights on Dogecoin, the market took notice. His influence became undeniable when a single tweet sent the price soaring. In December 2020, a seemingly casual tweet, ‘One word: Doge’, triggered a 20% price surge within hours.
By May 2021, following Musk’s Saturday Night Live appearance, Dogecoin had skyrocketed to $0.73, marking an astronomical rise of over 10,000% from the previous year. However, the euphoria was short-lived, as Musk jokingly referred to Dogecoin as a ‘hustle’ on national television, prompting an immediate crash. The cycle repeated as Musk continued to tease integrations with Tesla, Twitter (now X), and even SpaceX. Each hint of Dogecoin adoption sent waves through the market, illustrating an unprecedented case of social media-driven price manipulation.
Market impact analysis: price movement correlation A close look at the price movement of Dogecoin shows an unavoidable connection between Musk’s interest and its price. Between December 2020 and May 2021, Dogecoin pumped from $0.003 to its all-time high, over 24,000%. The next year, as Musk’s attention turned elsewhere, it fell by 90%, showing its speculative volatility. When Musk floated the idea of accepting Dogecoin payments on Twitter in early 2023, its price jumped 30% in a day, indicating his influence had not diminished.
The broader crypto market, on the other hand, tended to mirror Dogecoin’s peaks and valleys, highlighting Musk’s broader sway. When Tesla announced that it would no longer accept Bitcoin due to environmental concerns, the entire market tanked, with Dogecoin shedding 40% of its value in a matter of days.
Dogecoin is not the only Musk-linked token to experience extreme price swings. The rise of Musk-inspired coins, such as ElonCoin, MuskSwap, and even parody tokens like Dogelon Mars, has followed a similar trajectory. In 2021, Dogelon Mars ($ELON) surged 4,000% in under a month, fueled by speculation that Musk would support it. Similarly, Musk’s offhand social media posts have caused ElonCoin to spike over 600% in a single week before rapidly retracing. Musk’s mere association with crypto—whether intentional or not—creates instant market distortions.
Legal and regulatory implications Musk’s market-shaping tweets have not gone unnoticed by regulators. In 2022, a class-action lawsuit alleged that he had engaged in deliberate market manipulation, artificially inflating Dogecoin’s price before selling off at a profit. While Musk dismissed the case as frivolous, regulatory bodies, particularly the SEC, have intensified their scrutiny of influencer-driven market movements. ‘If the lawsuit succeeds, it could set a precedent for greater oversight in cryptocurrency markets, potentially curbing speculative hype cycles‘, Kar Yong Ang explains. ‘Such intervention could reshape the industry, making it less susceptible to manipulation but also reducing the high-risk, high-reward nature that attracts many traders’, concludes the expert.
Future Outlook: Market Predictions The broader ‘Musk Effect’ continues to fuel speculative hysteria in the crypto markets. The effect is not limited to Musk’s own initiatives: coins tied to his public persona, family, and even unrelated memes tend to experience parabolic price appreciation.
Most recently, Trump and Melania-themed memecoins have introduced a fresh wave of speculative trading. Meanwhile, Musk himself still indirectly impacts the memecoin universe. His recent internet antics, such as rebranding himself ‘Harry Bōlz’ on X, coincided with a $28 million trading volume spike in niche tokens, demonstrating how market volatility triggers can stem from seemingly trivial events.
Investment considerations and risk assessment With Musk potentially entering the cryptocurrency market directly through X Money, the landscape could shift dramatically. Unlike Dogecoin, which remains largely speculative and community-driven, a Musk-backed financial token could introduce tangible use cases, particularly within X’s expanding payment ecosystem.
Key risk factors for investors include:
Regulatory uncertainty: authorities are closely monitoring Musk’s financial ventures, and any potential legal challenges could impact X Money’s development.
Market volatility: If history is any indication, Musk’s crypto projects tend to cause significant market swings, benefiting early adopters but posing risks for those entering peak hype cycles.
Adoption challenges: For X Money to succeed, it must offer compelling advantages over existing payment solutions like PayPal and USDC-backed stablecoins. Its adoption will depend on how well it integrates with financial services within the X platform.
Despite these risks, the possibility of Musk disrupting the digital payments space cannot be overlooked. If X Money launches successfully, it could become a dominant force in fintech, further cementing Musk’s influence over global markets.
___
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.
TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 February 2025 – The Asian Hardware Online Exhibition 2025 (AsianHardware 2025) is set to redefine the hardware products industry with its innovative hybrid format, seamlessly blending virtual and physical elements. Scheduled to run from February 25, 2025, to May 31, 2025, the exhibition provides an unparalleled opportunity for Asian suppliers, importers, and exporters to connect, collaborate, and showcase their brands on a global scale.
Jointly organized by AsianNet and TradeAsia (www.e-tradeasia.com), AsianHardware 2025 has delivered exceptional results since its inception in 2022, attracting international buyers and generating significant business opportunities. The 2025 edition promises to be even more expansive, with a three-month exhibition period strategically aligned with major international events, including Expo Nacional Ferretera 2025 (Mexico City), National Hardware Show, Fastener Fair Global 2025 and MosBuild – Buildex. This alignment creates a synergistic platform for global buyers, facilitating convenient comparisons and streamlined purchasing experiences.
AsianHardware 2025 has already secured the participation of numerous esteemed Taiwanese suppliers, including industry leaders such as ASCCO INTERNATIONAL, SCANO INDUSTRIAL, KINGDOM ABRASIVE, RAI ANG ENTERPRISE, CHUN CHENG PLASTICS, MASTER RESOURCE INDUSTRIES, CASEMATE PLASTICS INDUSTRIES, A-BELT-LIN INDUSTRIAL, YI CHI HSIUNG, OAV EQUIPMENT & TOOLS, CHU-SHIANG INDUSTRIAL, FLYWELL INTERNATIONAL, YAU YOUNG AUTO PARTS and LEAVEN ENTERPRISE. These exhibitors will present their latest innovations across a diverse range of categories, including general hardware, door & window hardware, furniture hardware, cabinet hardware, bathroom hardware, plumbing hardware, sanitary ware & plumbing, bathroom & fitting, lock & safe, hand tool, power tool & accessory, pneumatic & air tool, hydraulic tool, measuring & gauging tool, building apparatus, building material, construction tool, outdoor furniture, light and lighting, tool part & accessory, screw, fastener and nail, paint & coating, adhesive & sealant, battery, wire, cable & cable assembly, agricultural & gardening tool, vehicle equipment & tool, auto accessories, general industrial equipment, machine tool, metal processing machinery, industrial supporting machinery, logistic supply, workplace safety products, fire & safety products, and environmental equipment. With thousands of innovative hardware products, along with practical accessories and solutions on display, AsianHardware 2025 promises a comprehensive, engaging, and highly focused experience tailored to the needs of buyers and professionals in the hardware supplies industry.
In response to the evolving landscape of international trade, AsianHardware 2025 offers an array of virtual solutions to ensure accessibility and global reach. These include dedicated exhibitor pages, electronic catalogs, and immersive virtual exhibition halls—all seamlessly integrated with TradeAsia. Buyers can explore products, initiate inquiries, and engage in procurement discussions in real time, eliminating geographical barriers and travel constraints.
Founded in 1997, TradeAsia (www.e-tradeasia.com) is a premier B2B international trade platform, serving as a vital link between global buyers and suppliers. With millions of registered members, over 600,000 suppliers, and a vast catalog of products, TradeAsia is a trusted resource for businesses seeking to expand their international presence. By fostering collaborations with hundreds of trading entities worldwide, TradeAsia amplifies visibility and marketing impact for its members, providing a competitive edge in the global market.
With its extended duration and comprehensive platform, AsianHardware 2025 is poised to be the most influential event for the hardware products industry in Asia. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with leading suppliers and explore the latest innovations.
Hashtag: #TradeAsia
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
