Grade A Offices: Tenant Advantages Deepen with Greater Flexibility and Choice Greater China Top Office Supply/Demand Trends

August 28, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 August 2025 – Cushman & Wakefield, a leading global real estate services firm, today released its annual Greater China Top Office Supply/Demand Trends report. According to the report, at the end of Q2 2025, the total Grade A office inventory in the core markets of the 20 major cities in Greater China we track totaled 72.1 million sq m. In the meantime, total premium core city office net absorption across the Greater China market for the H1 2025 period reached 0.76 million, a 5.5% y-o-y increase.

Of the six major cities in the region — comprising the tier-1 city group, Hong Kong, and Taipei — Taipei registered the lowest vacancy rate at 7.9%. As for the tier-2 city group, Qingdao recorded the lowest vacancy rate at 24.7%.

The supply/demand rundown for 20 city core area-level markets in Greater China (Q2 2025)
Source: Cushman & Wakefield Research

Shaun Brodie, Head of Research Content, Greater China, Cushman & Wakefield said, “For tenants, the Grade A office market continues to present opportunities, with vacancy rates and rental levels remaining favorable. With landlords adopting a more flexible approach amid the gradual economic recovery, occupiers can continue to benefit from attractive leasing terms and greater choice in the market.”

Jonathan Wei, President, Project and Occupier Services, China, Cushman & Wakefield, commented: “In the next two or three years, there will be a peak in supply in most of the major cities in the Chinese mainland region. Landlords will need to continue to strengthen their market competitiveness to attract tenants.”

Beijing

New Grade A office supply in Beijing in 2024 reached 273,000 sq m, a 55% decrease compared with the full-year 2023, making it the lowest new supply level of the past decade. No new supply entered the Beijing office market in H1 2025, with total Grade A office stock unchanged at 13.68 million sq m for the first half of 2025.

From 2024 to H1 2025, softening rental levels, large leasing deals, and pre-leasing at new entrants boosted citywide net absorption to surpass the previous period performance, reaching 511,967 sq m, up 51.9% y-o-y. The overall office market vacancy rate trended down 1.8 percentage points from the Q4 2023 level to 16.87%.

No new supply is scheduled to enter the Grade A office market in H2 2025. We expect the market to continue to digest existing stock, in turn further pulling down the overall vacancy rate. Landlords’ room for rent concessions is approaching a limit, and the overall market is now in a bottoming-out phase. We expect overall office rents to stabilize by the end of 2025.

Shanghai

From 2024 to H1 2025, approximately 1.34 million sq m of high-quality office space launched in the Shanghai Grade A office market, with 56% of the area located in emerging districts.

Over the past six quarters, the Shanghai Grade A office market recorded average quarterly net absorption of 132,266 sq m. The professional services, retail & trade, and TMT sectors were active in leasing, accounting for the top three sectors for leased area. As at Q2 2025, the vacancy rate rose to 23.6%. In turn, the average monthly rental level fell 8.2% y-o-y to RMB 212.6 per sq m.

From H2 2025 to 2027, Shanghai will see 2.58 million sq m of new supply enter the market, representing 14.6% of current stock, with emerging business districts becoming the main supply hubs. Additionally, favorable policy measures for both demand and supply are being implemented, accelerating innovation in strategic emerging industry fields such as integrated circuits, biomedicine, and AI, optimizing spatial layouts, and injecting new momentum into the office market.

Shenzhen

Shenzhen’s Grade A office market welcomed 516,000 sq m of new supply from Q1 2024 through to Q2 2025, bringing citywide total stock to 8.60 million sq m. The new supply was distributed in Qianhai, Luohu and Futian.

Citywide net absorption for 2024 contracted 57.9% y-o-y to record 165,000 sq m. Citywide net absorption in H1 2025 expanded y-o-y but remained at the similarly low level for the same period in the past decade. The citywide overall vacancy rate has risen 1.7 percentage points since the end of 2023 to reach 27.8%. The Q2 2025 monthly average rental level dropped 14.1% from Q4 2023 to record RMB160.1 sq m.

Approximately 1.2 million sq m of new supply is scheduled to enter the market in the H2 2025 period. The overall vacancy rate is expected to continue to rise, and rents will face downwards pressure in the short- term. With the ongoing development of AI, we anticipate that the Grade A office market will see incremental demand growth driven by the further emergence of high-quality technology sector firms.

Guangzhou

From the beginning of 2024 to the second quarter of 2025, new office projects totaling 441,713 sq m of space were completed. Citywide total stock then expanded to 6.94 million sq m. Delayed deliveries have reduced supply in 2024 compared to 2023, although accelerated construction in the Financial City district led to a resurgence of supply in the first half of 2025.

Compared to the end of 2023, the market has experienced a rise in lease inquiries. Occupiers continue to view renovation and fit-out expense incentives as key factors when looking to sign a new lease. Domestic enterprises remain the key drivers of transaction activity, with TMT, professional services, and finance firms, the top three sectors for leased area citywide.

Ahead, 2.39 million sq m of new space is expected to enter the market by 2027. Headquarter-type properties will account for more than half of the new supply. Market demand continues to evolve, with vacancy rates and rental levels remaining under pressure amid fierce competition.

Chengdu

From 2024 through to H1 2025, Chengdu saw 287,554 sq m of new Grade A office space enter the market, expanding citywide total stock to 3.38 million sq m.

Grade A office net absorption reached 67,468 sq m for the 2024 to H1 2025 period. The TMT, professional services, and finance sectors accounted for 26.4%, 19.6% and 16.8% of total leasing transaction volume by area, respectively. From the end of 2023, new supply combined with weakening leasing demand have now pushed up the citywide vacancy rate by 4.4 percentage points to reach 28.8%, while the average monthly rental level has dropped to RMB89.5 per sq m.

Nearly 1.0 million sq m of new supply is expected to enter the market from H2 2025 to 2027. The supply influx, combined with tenants’ cost reductions, is expected to elevate vacancy and exert downwards pressure on rents. Tenants are likely to seize further opportunities for upgrades, renewals, and consolidation.

Hong Kong

More than 194,000 sq m of new supply entered the market from 2024 through to H1 2025, with 44,900 sq m in H1 2025, distributed approximately equally in core and non-core areas. We forecast upcoming new supply to reach 264,300 sq m in H2 2025.

The average quarterly new leased area reached 84,900 sq m in the 2024 to H1 2025 period, 19% higher than the quarterly average for 2020–2023, with the finance sector primarily driving demand. Net absorption recorded 122,000 sq m for the 2024 to H1 2025 period, excluding pre-lease activities at new project developments.

The recovery of the Hong Kong IPO market should help support market sentiment and downstream office demand, particularly from finance and professional services firms. However, the high availability and ample new supply pipeline, with occupiers still cost-conscious, dictates our forecast for overall office rents to drop by 7% to 9% through the full-year 2025.

Taipei

From 2024 through to the first half of 2025, the Taipei market welcomed seven new Grade A office properties contributing approximately 195,700 sq m of new supply — double the figure seen in 2023. This brought the city’s total Grade A stock to 2.80 million sq m.

Net absorption for 2024 to H1 2025 reached approximately 161,400 sq m, primarily driven by the consolidation and relocation of self-use headquarters in the financial and insurance sectors. Multinational corporations accounted for around 80.9% of total leasing demand, up from 51.6% in 2023, indicating a higher proportion of foreign occupier activity during the period.

Over the next three years, Taipei will add around 968,000 sq m of new Grade A supply. With major completions slated from mid-2025, competition will intensify. In response, some landlords are upgrading facilities and offering flexible lease terms, while developers may adjust timelines based on absorption trends.

Please click here to download the full report

Hashtag: #RealEstate #CommercialProperty #OfficeLeasing #GreaterChina #MarketTrends #CushmanWakefield #PropertyReport #UrbanDevelopment

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

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

EIT cookery student serves up silver at national culinary competition

LiveNews Publisher

August 28, 2025

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology

16 minutes ago

A 17-year-old cookery student at EIT Hawke’s Bay has served up silver at the 2025 Emerging Chef of the Year competition.

Silva Harvey (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua) impressed judges with a confit salmon main and tamarillo cheesecake dessert at the competition in Auckland last month.

Serving the dishes within two hours was “intense” for the late entrant, who had just three weeks to prepare.

“I’m pretty pleased. I think I hold myself to quite a high standard so while I could have done better, I’m happy with the silver.”

She credits the success of her first cooking competition to EIT tutors Amanda Libeau and Mark Caves.

“I designed both dishes myself and was able to practise at EIT. Amanda and Mark were so supportive. They coached me through the process, and I couldn’t have done it without them.”

Silva’s passion for cooking began at home, where she took over the kitchen from a young age.

“I realised I really enjoyed it. It was something I was good at, and it stuck.”

But it wasn’t until she took part in a week-long Christmas Cooking ACE (Adult Community Education) course at EIT in Hastings in 2023 that she considered turning it into a career.

“That Christmas course was what got me started. Chef Tutor Courtenay Blair convinced me to enrol in the NZ Certificate in Food and Beverage Service Level 3 and I really enjoyed it so continued from there.”

Silva has since gone on to complete the NZ Certificate in Cookery (Level 3) and is now studying towards the New Zealand Certificate in Cookery (Level 4), supported by a Māori and Pasifika Trades Training Scholarship (MPTT) .

Over the past year, she has worked in four restaurants, including a month at the hatted Wharekauhau Country Estate. Alongside her studies, Silva works four jobs across the hospitality sector; Mangapapa Hotel, Restaurant Ari in Hastings, Total Food Equipment and Dish Catering. She began at Mangapapa as a 16-year-old commis chef and this year has also gained experience at the hatted Wharekauhau Country Estate.

“I’ve been really lucky with the places I’ve worked. At Mangapapa, I’ve had the chance to create and serve my own dishes, which has been incredible.”

“I love fine dining. I enjoy spending time refining and perfecting a single dish”

She encourages others to consider starting their culinary journey at EIT.

“EIT gave me the bones of what I needed to know to get started. I always tell people to work in a restaurant too, because that’s where you apply it all. But EIT gave me the confidence to ask questions and make mistakes, and I’m grateful for that. The tutors really care, and the learning environment at EIT sets you up for success.”

Silva is looking forward to graduating later this year and plans to work and travel internationally once she turns 18.

“Food is universal. Being a chef is something I want to use to see the world.”

Chef Tutor Mark Caves said: “It’s fantastic to witness Silva find what she loves and then make a career from it”.

“Going by the success of our past graduates, blended learning programmes which combine work-based experience with dedicated study in our specialised training kitchens offers the best possible start to any budding chef. Silva has all the passion and work ethic it takes to succeed in the hospo world and an attitude that makes her a pleasure to teach.”

MIL OSI

XTransfer Hosts “2025 TradeVision Summit”

MIL OSI

August 28, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

Announces “Export Purchasing Manager Index” of China B2B Export Outlook Remains Positive in July 2025

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 August 2025 – XTransfer, the World’s Leading & China’s No.1 B2B Cross-Border Trade Payment Platform, successfully held “XTransfer TradeVision Summit 2025” in Guangzhou, an annual grand event of the Chinese foreign trade industry. Organised by XTransfer and supported on-site by multiple international financial institutions, including ICBC, Bank of China, Deutsche Bank, and OCBC Bank. More than 3,000 representatives from foreign trade enterprises, factories, and trading companies across the country gathered to discuss global trade trends and new opportunities in emerging markets.

XTransfer Founder & CEO, Bill Deng, speaks at “XTransfer TradeVision Summit 2025”.

During the event, XTransfer Founder & CEO Bill Deng stated, “Trade disputes between China and the US have evolved into global trade disputes, yet China’s SMEs in foreign trade have shown great resilience and innovation, actively exploring non-European and non-U.S. markets. Emerging markets, such as those in Africa, have become new blue oceans for exports, offering vast business opportunities due to demographic dividends and infrastructure needs. XTransfer is also actively expanding in emerging markets, providing fast, secure, and affordable cross-border payment services to both Chinese and local foreign trade enterprises. XTransfer now serves over 700,000 clients worldwide and is leading a mobile payment revolution in cross-border B2B trade. In the next five years, we aim for tenfold growth, at which point the mobile payment revolution will be largely complete.”

XTransfer Releases July 2025 “Small and Medium Enterprises (B2B) Merchandise Export PMI Index” of China
At the summit, XTransfer released the July 2025 “Small and Medium Enterprises (B2B) Merchandise Export Purchasing Manager Index” of China (referred to as the XTransfer PMI), the first index initiated by the private sector to focus on export trends in China’s foreign trade industry. Data shows that the XTransfer PMI for July 2025 recorded 52.4%, above the 50% threshold, reflecting continued positive export momentum and strong resilience among SMEs. The survey found that African countries posted the highest export PMI, making them the new blue ocean for SME overseas market expansion, with “New Three” export categories showing outstanding performance.

The XTransfer PMI is derived from a sample survey of over 2,500 foreign trade SMEs drawn from a pool of more than 700,000 on the XTransfer platform. This survey encompasses 28 major export provinces and 148 cities across China, providing an authoritative reference for the industry. The index analyses various aspects of the export process, including procurement, sales, logistics, personnel, and capital. It aims to assist SMEs in forecasting trends and optimising their business strategies.

SMEs Showcase Resilience Amid Positive Export Environment
Looking at the sub-indices of the XTransfer PMI, the three key indicators reflecting overall SME export performance, namely the Export Orders Index, Export Price Index, and Capital Turnover Index, all remain well above the 50% threshold. This indicates a strong and stable export environment for SMEs.

African Countries Record Highest Export PMI; Emerging Markets in Asia, Africa, and Latin America Show Strong Performance
Among different export destination countries/regions, the Export PMI for African countries reached the highest (53.7%). Especially in the Export Orders Index, African countries far outperformed other areas, with Ghana and Nigeria standing out. As demand from the U.S. market declines, Africa, with its demographic advantages, significant infrastructure needs, and evolving consumer markets, has emerged as a promising opportunity for SMEs seeking to expand overseas. In addition, the Export Orders and Price Index for SMEs in ASEAN, Africa, and Latin America demonstrated a strong performance, reflecting the continued efforts of SMEs to develop in emerging markets.

XTransfer helps foreign trade companies efficiently expand into emerging markets in Asia, Africa, and Latin America by providing localised cross-border payment solutions. Working with local banks and financial institutions in Nigeria, Ghana, Brazil, South Africa, and other countries, XTransfer has launched Local Currency Accounts, supporting settlements in over 30 currencies, including the Nigerian Naira, Ghanaian Cedi, Brazilian Real, and South African Rand. This enables buyers to pay directly via local payment systems, reducing intermediaries and FX losses.

The “New Three” Categories Lead Export Growth
The export product structure is further optimised, with mechanical and electrical products, base metals, and textiles remaining the backbone. The “New Three” products, represented by lithium batteries, new energy vehicles, and solar cells, have performed exceptionally well, with the Export Price Index significantly higher than the overall market. Lithium batteries and new energy vehicles have seen both volume and price increases, and export destinations are becoming increasingly diversified.

Southeast Asia has become a major export destination for the “New Three” products, with significant growth in exports of electric vehicles and batteries to Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and other ASEAN countries. European policies promoting reduced carbon emissions and renewable energy have also driven demand for related products. Meanwhile, infrastructure demand in Latin America and Africa presents significant market potential for these categories.

Customer interviews reveal that SMEs remain highly resilient amid global uncertainty and increasing competition, responding to challenges through product innovation, service upgrades, and diversified market layouts, and actively expanding into emerging markets beyond traditional markets in Europe and the US.

https://www.xtransfer.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtransfer.cn
https://x.com/xtransferglobal
https://www.facebook.com/XTransferGlobal/
https://www.instagram.com/xtransfer.global

Hashtag: #XTransfer #PMI #TradeVisionSummit #Crossborder #Payment #SMEs

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

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

HKPC Debuts Formnext Asia Shenzhen 2025 for the First Time As a Technical Partner Leveraging AI and 3D Printing to Drive Future Manufacturing

MIL OSI

August 28, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 August 2025 – The Formnext Asia Shenzhen 2025 (exhibition) was held from 26 to 28 August at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center. This year’s exhibition, themed “Shaping a new era of manufacturing in China,” brought together 265 renowned technology companies and industry leaders, becoming a bellwether for Asia’s additive manufacturing industry. As a key driver of 3D printing technology development in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) participated in the exhibition for the first time as a technical partner, showcasing innovative achievements across the entire industry value chain, including materials, equipment and application solutions. The participation aims to enable businesses in seizing regional economic growth opportunities and promoting technological innovation and industrial upgrades.

The future manufacturing market offers immense potential, particularly in smart manufacturing, green technology, and emerging industries such as biotechnology and robotics. As a key enabler for accelerating future manufacturing, 3D printing technology facilitates highly customised and flexible manufacturing, for small-batch production of diverse products that can rapidly meet personalised market demands. The mold-free nature of 3D printing significantly reduces upfront costs of small-batch production, empowering companies to shorten lead times, stand out in the global marketplace, and improve pricing competitiveness. Future manufacturing models will integrate technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things, creating smart production systems that boost efficiency and reduce costs while driving the application of lightweight and intelligent materials —ultimately accelerating innovation and market development.

From Innovation to Application: Demonstrating Cutting-Edge Technology
As a leading international research institute, HKPC brings nearly 30 years of extensive expertise in 3D printing technology and industrial application. Dedicated in technology application research and providing comprehensive professional services, HKPC empowers various industries to meet specific market needs and manufacture high-value, customised products. This approach facilitates businesses diversification and fosters the development of high-value strategic industry chains.

At the exhibition, HKPC featured research and development (R&D) breakthroughs from the “HKPC-HP 3D Printing Technology Centre”, the first in Asia equipped with both HP’s research version of “Metal Jet” and “Multi Jet Fusion” industrial 3D printers. The showcases highlighted the diverse applications of 3D printing technology and advanced manufacturing processes across sectors, from industrial components to fashion accessories. Furthermore, HKPC displays a series of advanced materials technology applications, designed to empowering emerging industries such as the low-altitude economy, healthcare, and humanoid robotics.

Combining AI and 3D Printing to Drive Innovation and Promote New Productivity Forces
Mr Edmond LAI, Chief Digital Officer, and Chief Executive Officer of Mainland Business of the Hong Kong Productivity Council, attended the opening ceremony on the first day of the exhibition and participated in the “China Additive Manufacturing Globalisation Seminar”. He delivered a speech titled “Powering Innovation: Going Global with Emerging 3D Printing Technologies to Advance New Productive Forces”, discussing the future development blueprint of the innovative 3D printing industry with industry leaders.

Mr Edmond LAI said, “Leveraging our extensive industry experience, HKPC has established comprehensive support and implementation capabilities, from technology R&D to industrial application. We are delighted to participate in this exhibition and showcase Hong Kong’s leading achievements and strengths in 3D printing, as a pivotal engine for driving new productivity forces and shaping the future of manufacturing. The integration with AI will unlock more efficient and flexible production models to meet market demands for lightweighting, customisation, and smart manufacturing. HKPC will continue to strengthen collaborative innovation partnerships. Through ‘The Cradle – Going Global Service Centre’, we will faciliate more manufacturing companies in Hong Kong and the mainland to go global and building a more competitive and resilient industrial system.”

HKPC is actively pursuing 3D printing solutions integrated with AI, including:

Collaborating with Nanjing ZhongKe ShenGuang Science&Technology Co., ltd, a R&D arm of National Innovation Center par Excellence (NICE), to develop an AI-assisted high-entropy alloy 3D printing system. The collaboration aims to efficiently design complex high-entropy alloy materials and optimize printing parameters, effectively eliminating the current time-consuming and tedious experimental processes and enhancing work efficiency.
The HKPC is also in discussions with the Aachen Center for Additive Manufacturing in Germany to develop an AI model to optimize the design of metal bonded parts. By inputting material natures and process parameters, the model accelerates sintering predictions for 3D printed models, shortening product development cycles and design time, and reducing R&D costs.

Furthermore, HKPC is actively empowering businesses to adopt 3D printing technology and establish microfactories overseas, maximising production efficiency within limited spaces. By integrating advanced intelligent technologies, companies can respond with agility to market demands. Emphasizing “hyperlocalisation,” microfactories leverages local resources and talent to build resilient manufacturing ecosystems, enhance operational flexibility, and strengthen international competitiveness.

Bringing Together Industry Experts to Explore the Future of Smart Manufacturing
During the exhibition, HKPC hosted a series of forward-thinking “Tech Talk” seminars. Technical experts covered the application of green materials in smart manufacturing and the cross-sector potential of industrial 3D printing for customised production. They also explored how machine vision and smart manufacturing enhance production quality control and boost productivity across various industries. These seminars fostered interaction between HKPC and members of the Hong Kong 3D Printing Association, strengthening industry collaboration and advancing an innovative ecosystem.

For a brief introduction to the highlight exhibits, please click here to see the appendix.

Hashtag: #HKPC

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

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

SG60 Financial Future Poll: Half of Gen Zs believe they can retire well but 72 per cent have no plan

MIL OSI

August 28, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 August 2025 – As Singapore celebrates 60 years of independence, Gen Zs (aged 16-28) are optimistic about their financial future in the next 60 years ahead. Half (51 per cent) of them are confident they will be able to retire well and pay for their daily necessities, healthcare and other expenses. This young cohort displays slightly more optimism than Millennials (45 per cent) and Gen Xs (38 per cent).

However, 72 per cent of Gen Zs say that they do not have a retirement plan. As they are mostly students and new entrants to the workforce, they are focused on growing their earning power and prefer to begin saving for retirement when they have more disposable income later in life.

Gen Zs have unique work/life preferences that need to be considered in developing their retirement plans. They are focused on earning multiple income streams (41 per cent). In addition, 60 per cent do not value work-life balance over career advancement, more so than older generations. About 32 per cent hope to find remote work opportunities so they can balance work and travel, and 22 per cent are keen on having multiple “micro-retirements”. Half (54 per cent) expect to retire by the age of 60, and 20 per cent aim to do so by 50.

These insights are from the SG60 Financial Future Poll[1] commissioned by Prudential Singapore (“Prudential”), which surveyed 1,000 Singapore residents aged 17 to 76 in July 2025. It explores how ready Singaporeans are for retirement over the next 60 years and asks Baby Boomers (aged 55 and above) about the financial decisions that they might have made differently.

Mr Jeff Ang, CEO of Prudential Financial Advisers Singapore, said: “Gen Zs are confident about the next 60 years because they have grown up in a nation that has flourished and provided them with the opportunities to thrive. They are go-getters who are willing to work hard while they are young to cultivate multiple income streams, but they want to do so on their own terms, with frequent travel and breaks.

“While it is easy to delay retirement planning when you are focused on earning, it is important to boost your financial power by seeking financial advice early. You don’t need a large sum to begin—starting small and staying consistent can go a long way, especially with the power of compounding. Optimism and hustle are great, and when paired with financial planning, they will set you up for long-term success.”

Baby Boomers wish they had started financial planning 12 years earlier

Gen Zs could do well from listening to the advice of Baby Boomers who have decades of experience in managing their money. Almost all Baby Boomers (94 per cent) said they would have changed their approach to financial planning. They wish they had started financial planning 12 years earlier – at age[2] 28, rather than 40. On average, Singaporeans across all ages said they should have started five years earlier.

Reflecting on their life journey, Baby Boomers’ top regrets for delaying retirement planning include:

61 per cent wish they built stronger financial habits sooner
49 per cent think they could have retired much earlier with timely financial planning
45 per cent feel they would have experienced less stress about retirement savings
35 per cent wish they had begun investing earlier
28 per cent regret unnecessary spending

Said Mdm Sherafina Tan, 62: “In hindsight, I wish I had started planning for retirement much earlier. Now that I’m retired, I’m more aware of how quickly expenses can add up, especially as the cost of living continues to rise and healthcare becomes more expensive. Although I have supportive children, I don’t want to be a financial burden to them. I was thinking I’ll spend 10-20 years in retirement, but it may be 30 years or more since we are living longer. I should have done more with my spare cash by investing the money.”

The high cost of living (75 per cent), healthcare costs (56 per cent), and insufficient income growth (50 per cent), were cited as key concerns among the respondents of the different age groups.

Added Mr Ang: “Older Singaporeans are now focusing on how to live well beyond 60 and into their golden years. They need lasting wealth streams to manage the inevitably increasing costs of living due to inflation and other factors. Your CPF and bank savings are a good start to achieving financial security. This should be complemented by a diversified wealth portfolio with the right investments to bring in passive income and adequate life and health insurance coverage to support your lifestyle over time.”

When asked how they would fund their retirement, the majority of respondents cited CPF savings (67 per cent) and bank savings (62 per cent) as their top sources of funding for retirement. They also intend to draw on other wealth generation options including stocks, index mutual funds/Exchange Trade Funds (“ETFs”) tracking indices such as S&P 500, bonds, insurance policies and investment-linked plans (ILPs).

Concludes Mr Ang: “Our survey shows that Gen Zs and Millennials are more likely to invest in index mutual funds and ETFs, while relying less on insurance for retirement compared to the older generations. They should also consider protection as part of their long-term financial strategy. Health insurance is best bought early while you are still in good health. Other types of insurance such as savings and wealth accumulation solutions can offer the growth and stability that Singaporeans look for as they manage rising costs and plan for life beyond 60.”

[1] Gen Zs (aged 16-28); Millennials (aged 29-44); Gen X (aged 45-55); Baby Boomers (aged 55+). There was equal representation across the four generational segments, with 250 respondents per group.

[2] Median age.

https://www.prudential.com.sg/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/prudential-assurance-company-singapore

Hashtag: #Prudential #Prudential #FinancialFuturePoll #PrudentialFinancialFuturePoll

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

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

Frozen sprouted beans and mixed vegetables recalled due to possible presence of Salmonella

LiveNews Publisher

August 28, 2025

Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries

New Zealand Food Safety is supporting Vimms Enterprise Limited in its recall of Deep brand Sprouted Mat, Sprouted Moong, and Surti Undhiu Mix due to the possible presence of Salmonella.

All batches and dates of these products are affected by this recall.

“Salmonellosis can be serious, so it is important that people do not eat these products,” says New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle.

“If you have any at home you can return them to the place of purchase for a refund. If that???s not possible, throw it out.

“Symptoms can appear within 12 to 72 hours and include abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Illness usually lasts between 4 and 7 days but, in more severe cases, it can go on for up to 10 days and cause more serious illness.

“If you have consumed any of this product and are concerned for your health, contact your health professional, or call Healthline on 0800 611 116 for free advice.”

Deep brand Sprouted Mat and Sprouted Moong beans are sold at the following Auckland retailers:

Arjun Supermarket ??? 5 Rankin Avenue, New Lynn
Lotus Supermarket Mount Roskill ??? 64 Stoddard Road, Mount Roskill
Yogiji???s Supermarket Frost Road ??? 30A Frost Road, Mount Roskill
Vimms Enterprise Limited online store

The Deep brand Surti Undhiu Mix (vegetable mix) is sold at ethnic supermarkets nationwide and on Vimms Enterprise Limited online store

Up-to-date information and photographs of the affected product

New Zealand Food Safety has not received any notifications of associated illness.

The affected products were imported and have been subject to recalls in the USA and Australia.

The products have been removed from store shelves and have not been re-exported.

“As is our usual practice, New Zealand Food Safety will work with importers to understand how the contamination occurred and prevent its recurrence,” says Mr Arbuckle.

The vast majority of imported food sold in New Zealand is safe, but very rarely problems can occur. Help keep yourself and your family safe by subscribing to our recall alerts.

For further information and general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 008 333 or email info@mpi.govt.nz

For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328

MIL OSI

Employment – Health and safety reforms put workers at risk – NZCTU

LiveNews Publisher

August 28, 2025

Source: NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi

The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi is renewing its call on the Government to stop their planned health and safety reforms. This follows the news today that confirms the reforms have no evidential basis and are instead being driven by Act party ideology.

“It is disappointing to once again see the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety push uninformed policies that are not supported by evidence or by leaders in health and safety,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.

“The feedback from officials is damning and confirms what we said from the outset. These reforms will not improve health and safety outcomes at work.

“The regulatory impact statement does not state how the reforms would lead to improved safety outcomes. This shows that the intent behind these changes is not a focus on improving safety.

“The Pike River disaster was a wakeup call to up our game on health and safety. It was clear we had to improve our regulator and enforcement, as well as our laws and regulations. A broad consensus emerged to do just that. These new changes will undermine that effort.

“New Zealand has a long way to go to improving its health and safety record. Every week a worker is killed on the job, and 17 more are killed from the impact of work-related illnesses. Every year there are over 30,000 injuries that require more than a week away from work.

“The Minister seems intent on bringing back the regulatory settings that enabled the Pike River disaster. This simply is not acceptable. Her proposed changes to health and safety laws are an insult to those killed and injured at work,” said Wagstaff.

MIL OSI

Hawke’s Bay – Fernhill Bridge costing region millions – Transporting New Zealand

LiveNews Publisher

August 28, 2025

Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

Road freight association Transporting New Zealand says that weight restrictions on Fernhill Bridge on SH50 in Hawke’s Bay are costing the region millions of dollars, with many freight companies having to complete a 40km return detour to make deliveries.

Fernhill Bridge is a crucial freight corridor linking a large agricultural area with the region’s industrial centre in Hastings. It is also the main access point to the Taihape Road from Hastings. Weight restrictions introduced in 2022 have limited access to a maximum of 31 tonnes for eight axled vehicles.

Transporting New Zealand completed a survey of six local operators, that found the detour was costing just those six local freight companies and their customers an estimated $2.36 million a year, and producing an additional 500 tonnes of CO₂ emissions through additional diesel consumption. This was based on an average of 54 detoured trips per day across the surveyed companies, or nearly 20,000 trips per year.

Hawkes Bay transport operator Stephenson Transport travels through the area around six times a day and must detour. “Running a truck is costly – we all know that, and adding 30 minutes to a trip has a significant impact,” says CEO Todd Stephenson. He says it also makes managing logbook hours a challenge.

Transporting New Zealand Membership Manager Lindsay Calvi-Freeman says that the bridge urgently requires strengthening work and NZTA need to get the project underway.

“NZTA have stated that strengthening Fernhill Bridge is their highest priority project in the Central North Island. Despite this, no work has been done. Freight operators either have to undertake expensive detours or use more, less efficient, smaller trucks.”

“The cost-benefit on this strengthening project is very clear. The longer NZTA wait, the more delay and expense local businesses and consumers will have to endure.”

“We’re told strengthening the bridge will cost around $10 million. For just six operators, the cost of doing nothing exceeds that within five years. It’s a no-brainer to get it done now.”

“Hawke’s Bay needs a productive road network to unlock its economic potential and support its booming primary industries. Just to provide some perspective this is a region producing 60% of the country’s apples, 11% of the sheep, 12% of the beef, 10% of the grapes, 69% of the squash and is home to 8% of New Zealand’s pine forest.”

“We’re calling on NZTA to urgently allocate funding to the project and schedule a date for the strengthening work.”

Attached images:

2. An illustrative freight detour, avoiding Fernhill Bridge

About Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand is the peak national membership association representing the road freight transport industry. Our members operate urban, rural and inter-regional commercial freight transport services throughout the country.

Road is the dominant freight mode in New Zealand, transporting 92.8% of the freight task on a tonnage basis, and 75.1% on a tonne-km basis. The road freight transport industry employs over 34,000 people across more than 4700 businesses, with an annual turnover of $6 billion.

MIL OSI

Real Estate – Bedrooms bring big gains: Kiwis prepared to pay the price for space

LiveNews Publisher

August 28, 2025

Source: RealEstate.co.nz

Aucklanders hit with steepest price rise between one and two-bedroom homes
Extra bedroom in Central Otago/Lakes District commands $500,000 increase in average asking price
Wellington records 45% increase in average asking price between one and two-bedroom homes.

New data from realestate.co.nz highlights the additional value extra bedrooms can add to a property’s asking price; showing number of bedrooms is one of the clearest indicators of price difference in New Zealand’s property market.

Nationally, the average asking price increased by 32% when going from a one to two-bedroom property, and by 31% between a two and three-bedroom home.

The price difference continued to escalate as the number of bedrooms increased, with a 43% difference between three-bedroom and four-bedroom homes and a 40% difference between four-bedroom properties and those with five or more.

Vanessa Williams, spokesperson for realestate.co.nz says homeowners willing to renovate could be rewarded for their efforts at sale time.

“At a national level, we’re talking about an almost $400,000 jump between a three-bedroom and a four-bedroom home and almost half a million dollars in increased value between a four-bedroom and a five-bedroom home.

“Property owners who are willing to roll up their sleeves and add another bedroom through a smart renovation will likely benefit when selling. Not only can adding an extra bedroom make a property more liveable, but it can also deliver one of the most significant value boosts when it comes time to sell.

“On the flip side, buyers need to be aware of the price differences when upsizing,” Williams says.

Auckland: the sharpest jump between one and two bedrooms

In Auckland, buyers who purchased homes between July 2024 and July 2025 paid 50% more on average to move from a one-bedroom property to a two-bedroom home – the steepest price jump recorded among New Zealand’s major regions.

The average asking price for a one-bedroom home sat at $513,668, rising to $772,483 for two bedrooms. Prices continued to climb steadily as the bedroom count increased.

Wellington also recorded a substantial increase in prices between one and two-bedroom homes, with prices increasing 45% from $435,116 to $629,991. However, the increase in average asking price between three, four, and five-bedroom properties was more gradual in the capital, 33%, 28% and 31% respectively.

Waikato and Canterbury see more value in four and five-bedroom homes

In Waikato and Canterbury, the biggest increase came when upsizing from a three-bedroom home to a four-bedroom home, reinforcing the value of homes with four or more bedrooms in these markets.

The difference in average asking price between a three-bedroom and a four-bedroom home in Waikato was $288,519 or 39%, while the difference between a three and four-bedroom property in Canterbury was $255,437 or 36%.

An extra bedroom valued at half a million dollars in Central Otago/Lakes District

Another region of note was Central Otago/Lakes District, which recorded a 64% increase in average asking price between two and three-bedroom homes during this 12-month period. The average asking price of a two-bedroom home in this sought after region was $858,387, but this increased to $1,412,870 for a three-bedroom home, a jump of $554,483.

An additional 53% increase in the average asking price was recorded for four-bedroom properties in the region, a difference of $754,970. There was almost a million-dollar jump from $2,167,840 for a four-bedroom to $3,091,115 for a five-plus-bedroom home.

Williams says the price increases for extra bedrooms across the country show just how strong demand is for properties that suit growing families and lifestyles.

“These homes are often seen as the ‘forever home,’ so buyers are willing to stretch further to secure them.”

About realestate.co.nz

We’ve been helping people buy, sell, or rent property since 1996.

Established before Google, realestate.co.nz is New Zealand’s longest-standing property website and the official website of the real estate industry.

Dedicated only to property, our mission is to empower people with a property search tool they can use to find the life they want to live. With residential, lifestyle, rural and commercial property listings, realestate.co.nz is the place to start for those looking to buy or sell property.

Glossary of terms:

Average asking price (AAP) is neither a valuation nor the sale price. It is an indication of current market sentiment. Statistically, asking prices tend to correlate closely with the sales prices recorded in future months when those properties are sold. As it looks at different data, average asking prices may differ from recorded sales data released simultaneously.

MIL OSI

Arts – Kōkōwai: A night of Indigenous fashion, art and music at Auckland Museum

LiveNews Publisher

August 28, 2025

Source: Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum

The Auckland Museum Store presents Kōkōwai, a one-night-only, evening of fashion, art, live music and performance on Friday 12 September at Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum.

Kōkōwai, named for the sacred red ochre pigment once used to adorn bodies and mark the tapu, will showcase the work of two acclaimed wāhine ringatoi Māori, Shona Tāwhiao (Ngāi Te Rangi) and Stevei Houkāmau (Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui).

Shona Tāwhiao is know for her distinctive “Harakeke Couture” style, which has been presented at fashion weeks in New Zealand, London, Malaysia, and beyond. Tāwhiao will present a special showing of her woven couture and streetwear, and will showcase new works that fuse traditional weaving with contemporary design, highlighting her unique blend of heritage and innovation.

Stevei Houkāmau carved uku (clay) works speak to whakapapa, whenua and tīpuna, and have earned national and international recognition, including winning the 2023 Kiingi Tūheitia Portraiture Award and representing Aotearoa at Munich Jewellery Week. At Kōkōwai, Houkāmau’s clay forms will be brought into dialogue with movement and ritual, extending her practice into a live performance setting.

The evening will culminate in a performance taking place under the Museum’s tanoa. Invoking the sacred, the ancestral, and the earthly, Tāwhiao and Houkāmau’s works will be brought to life through movement and ritual.

Charged with the sonic force of 2025 Taite award-winner Mokotron’s live fusion of hiko (Māori electronic music), with taonga puoro, and expertly woven together by director Te ‘Okota’i Paitai, Kōkōwai is no ordinary night at the Museum.

Hokohoko Musuem Store, Retail Manager, Karyn Watson invites visitors to be curious, “Kōkōwai is a chance to experience firsthand the powerful creativity of two extraordinary wāhine ringatoi we represent at Hokohoko Museum Store. Along with DIVA open late for the evening, audiences can immerse themselves in artistry, story telling and cultural expression. A stunning selection of Shona and Stevei’s work will be available to purchase on the night. Come and explore, come adorned, be inspired!”

Tickets also include entry to DIVA, the spectacular international exhibition direct from London’s V&A. Featuring over 50 looks rarely seen by the public, DIVA showcases costumes worn by some of the world’s most iconic performers, some from their own collections.

Highlights include Maria Callas’ stage ensemble as Norma (1952), Marilyn Monroe’s fringed black dress from Some Like it Hot (1959), and the only known surviving dress worn by silent film star Clara Bow. Visitors can also see Bob Mackie designs worn by Tina Turner, P!nk and Cher; Elton John’s Louis XIV–inspired 50th birthday costume with a towering powdered wig and train, designed by Sandy Powell; and Shirley Bassey’s couture pink gown by Julien MacDonald, complete with diamanté-studded wellington boots, worn at Glastonbury in 2007.

Tickets for Museum Store Presents: Kōkōwai are on sale now at aucklandmuseum.com

Museum Store Presents: Kōkōwai
Friday 12 September 2025 7pm–10:30pm
Te Ao Mārama South Atrium, Auckland Museum
$55 adults, $65 door sales. Includes entry to DIVA. 10% discount for Museum Members.

7 pm – Doors open / DIVA open
8 pm – Kōkōwai performance
8:30 pm – DJ Miss Bee
10:30 pm – Event ends

About the artists:

Shona Tāwhiao
Artist, designer, and weaver Shona Tāwhiao, Ngāi Te Rangi, has exhibited her distinct style of raranga woven work for 25 years.

Having trained in traditional Māori raranga weaving techniques and methods, by Kahutoi Te Kanawa, Tāwhiao’s talent has been described as exquisite and undeniably unique.

The fusing of her love of fashion and culture with her specialised techniques in weaving has enabled Tāwhiao to create Haute Couture from flax fibre known to Māori as harakeke. This has resulted in her unique style being dubbed “Harakeke Couture”.

Tāwhiao’s multi award-winning collections of Harakeke Couture have been presented at New Zealand London Malaysia Fiji Hong Kong and Melbourne Fashion Weeks since 2010.

Tāwhiao has showcased her works internationally at the MaMo Arts Festival in Honolulu, Chapel St Roch in Paris and in London at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts in Norwich to an international group of museum curators.

In 2016 Tāwhiao was invited by Dr Maia Nuku to participate in a three-week residency at the Oceanic Department of the Metropolitan Museum in New York.

Tāwhiao leant her creative influence to films such as the Māori Merchant of Venice and River Queen and in 2012 designed costumes for ‘The Māori Troilus and Cressida’ that opened Shakespeare’s Olympics at The Globe Theatre in London to rave reviews. This led to her being nominated and winning the Brancott Estate ‘Best Costume Designer of the Year’ at The Chapman Tripp Theatre awards in Wellington New Zealand.

Stevei Houkāmau
Stevei Houkāmau, Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, is a Wellington‑based contemporary Māori uku (clay) artist whose work speaks to whakapapa, whenua, and tīpuna. Since 2011, she’s drawn on traditional Māori patterns and narratives to craft sculptural, carved clay forms embodying spiritual and ancestral connection.

Her acclaimed work Kia Whakatōmuri te haere whakamua, a derived lineage piece honoring her great-great-grandmother Hinemaurea, earned her the prestigious 2023 Kiingi Tūheitia Portraiture Award, judged at Pipitea Marae before King Tūheitia.

In March 2025, Stevei represented Aotearoa at Munich Jewellery Week through KOHĀ Moana, a collaborative activation with Neke Moa and Sofia Tekela‑Smith, that explored koha, reciprocity and connection with moana in public adornment performances.

Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including FESTPAC (Guahan), various Indigenous art gatherings, and a solo exhibition at Objectspace, Auckland. Stevei was also the inaugural Māori Artist-in-Residence at Toi Pōneke Arts Centre and maintains pieces in public and private collections at home and abroad.

MOKOTRON
MOKOTRON is a Tāmaki-based Māori producer from Ngāti Hine, who spreads seismic waves of low frequency Indigenous electronic music. Exploring ancient futurism through music, MOKOTRON imagines a reality without colonisation, where the ancestors transition from the ancient world into the modern, creating futures of hope juxtaposed with the hard realities of urban disconnection.

2022 was a breakout year for MOKOTRON, releasing three 12” EPs on Spanish label Electro Records, as well as featuring on a number of digital compilations at home and abroad.

In March 2024 MOKOTRON released THE UNITED TRIBES OF BASS, a landmark remix project, exclusively featuring Māori and Cook Island Māori electronic practitioners from throughout the motu. This was followed in December by the release of the album WAEREA, Mokotron’s debut album which reached Number 4 on the Aotearoa Album Charts and is close to selling out its third pressing on vinyl. MOKOTRON rounded off the year by winning Te Tohu Kaipuoro Toa (Favourite Solo Act) at the 2024 Mighty Aotearoa Alternative Awards and performing at Boiler Room Aotearoa.

2025 has seen MOKOTRON reaching new levels of national and international recognition. After headlining Port Noise Festival and touring across the country, they were awarded the prestigious Taite Music Prize and Te Manu Taki Tāhiko o te Tau Best Electronic Artist at the Aotearoa Music Awards for the album WAEREA. MOKOTRON has just returned from their first UK tour, performing at Glastonbury Festival and London dates at Foundation FM and Colour Factory in East London as part of Lady Shaka’s Pulotu Underworld collective.

Te ‘Okota’i Paitai
Teokotai Paitai (Ta’i) is a multidisciplinary artist with ancestral ties to Rarotonga, Mangaia, Samoa (Moata‘a), and Scotland (Clan Colquhoun). Born and raised in Central Auckland, Ta’i’s creative practice is grounded in both lineage and lived experience.

It’s been over 30 years since Ta’i entered into the contemporary performing arts scene, starting out as a dancer. He’s been fortunate to work alongside and for many of his heroes, some of whom are now shining stars looking down at us.

He is currently exploring and teaching weaving, not only as an artistic expression but also as a tool for well-being. Through this practice, Ta’i actively challenges colonial narratives that seek to dismiss or erase the living cultural traditions of Oceania and Indigenous communities worldwide. For him, weaving is an act of resistance, reclamation, and cultural continuity.

Watch:min World
Amplifying the voice of Wāhine through movement since 2017. Watch:min have been leading in spaces within Street Dance and Krump in Aotearoa uplifting women through programmes, shows, and events.

ABOUT AUCKLAND WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM

Auckland War Memorial Museum is one of New Zealand’s first museums and is free for Aucklanders. The Museum tells the story of New Zealand, its place in the Pacific and its people. The Museum is a war memorial for the province of Auckland and holds one of New Zealand’s top three heritage libraries.

It has pre-eminent Māori and Pacific collections, significant natural history resources and major social and military history collections, as well as decorative arts and pictorial collections.

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