Information sought after arson incident, Raglan

January 15, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

Raglan Police investigating an arson incident alongside Marine Parade yesterday would like to speak to any witnesses.

Just after 5pm, emergency services were notified of a fire that had been lit near the Raglan Airfield.

This fire spread rapidly due to the dry conditions, threatening nearby campgrounds and infrastructure.

Fortunately the fire was extinguished a short time later, with no damage to any property.

Police would like to speak to anyone who was in the Marine Parada area around 5pm yesterday, or anyone who has CCTV footage around the area during that time.

If you have any information that could help our enquiries, please update us online now or call 105.

Please use the reference number 250115/1158.

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

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

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“Immersive Translate” by funstory.ai Delivers Instant Multi-Language Translation with Just One Click, Named Google Chrome’s Best Extension of 2024

MIL OSI

January 15, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 January 2025 – Google recently announced its Best 2024 Chrome Extensions of the Year, with “Immersive Translate” developed by funstory.ai standing out for its innovative multi-platform integration and AI translation technology. The tool not only supports platforms including iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows but is also compatible with major browsers like Chrome, Safari, Edge, and Firefox, delivering a translation experience that closely matches user needs.

Immersive Translate can accurately identify the main content areas of web pages, providing smooth bilingual parallel translations without needing to open multiple web pages

Immersive Translate integrates leading AI translation engines including DeepL, OpenAI, Claude, and Gemini, breaking through the limitations of traditional single-engine translation tools. Users can freely switch between the most suitable translation engines based on different scenarios, achieving precise translation results.

The tool’s main feature is its intelligent bilingual comparison function, which accurately identifies the main content areas of web pages while preserving the original layout, allowing users to compare source text and translation on a single page. Additionally, it supports over 100 international video platforms including YouTube, Netflix, and TED, providing real-time bilingual subtitle translation services.

In terms of document processing, Immersive Translate supports nine document formats including Word and ePub, while also offering free PDF translation services that maintain the original document layout. Furthermore, its PDF PRO feature can intelligently recognize complex layouts, fully preserving mathematical formulas, tables, and mixed text-image layouts, solving the formatting issues common to traditional translation tools.

Notably, the tool is also a boon for manga enthusiasts, supporting over 50 international manga websites including Shueisha and MANGA Plus. Through AI image recognition technology, it can accurately translate dialogue box content while maintaining the integrity of the original images.

Immersive Translate not only provides professional support in the business sector but also creates an innovative learning environment in education. Through real-time bilingual comparison features, it perfectly integrates language learning with daily life, pioneering cross-language communication in the modern digital era.

Hashtag: #ImmersiveTranslate

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

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

Reminder: SH1 at Karāpiro 4 day closure in January

LiveNews Publisher

January 15, 2025

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

A reminder for State Highway 1 (SH1) road users that SH1 at Karāpiro, south of Cambridge, will be closed for 4 days in January for maintenance and repair work.

The closure is between Karāpiro Road and SH1/29 at Piarere from midnight on Sunday 19 to midnight Thursday 23 January 2025.

All traffic will need to take detours or alternative routes to avoid the area. The full closure is the safest and most efficient way to complete the work required.

During the works, contractors will lay 42,000m2 of chipseal and apply a second seal on barrier areas and shoulders. They will also carry out works at the intersection with Maungatautari Road, and general maintenance such as mowing and sign repairs.

All properties within the closure and sideroads leading to it will have access maintained but delays are expected. Vehicles will be grouped and piloted through the site on the following schedule:

Northbound from near the SH1/29 roundabout: Leaving on the hour.
Southbound from Karāpiro Road: Leaving on the half hour.
People coming from sideroads will join the convoy as it passes their road.

All visitors and service providers can join this piloted access when they are visiting a property within the closure.

Emergency services will have full access through the site at all times.

Detour routes

While access to properties within the closure will be maintained, all other traffic should use the detours:

Karāpiro Road/Taotaoroa Road/SH29 in both directions with a speed restriction of 70km/h.
State highway traffic and freight will be encouraged to use SH26/SH27. HPMVs and over-dimension loads also need to use SH26/SH27. This will add approximately 50 minutes to journeys.
Inter-regional traffic will be encouraged to use other routes like SH2/SH27 to the east of the closure. This will add approximately 18 minutes to journeys.

Traffic presenting at the stacking points at the north and south of the works area will not be turned around and can join the piloted convoys.

Following the resealing, the road will reopen with a 70km/h temporary speed limit. Rollers and sweeping will take place before the road opens, but it will still need traffic on it at a reduced speed for up to a week for chip to bed in completely.

As always, work is weather dependent and any changes will be updated on Journey Planner.

journeys.nzta.govt.nz(external link)

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The “Lost and Found in Hong Kong: The Unsung Chinese Heroes at D-Day” Extends Exhibition at CUHK until Jan 24

MIL OSI

January 15, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 January 2025 – The “Lost and Found in Hong Kong: The Unsung Chinese Heroes at D-Day” exhibition, at the invitation of the Chinese University of Hong Kong Library, has been extended to January 24th.

From September 2024 onwards, the exhibition has publicly exhibited the diaries and letters of Chinese naval officer Lam Ping-yu which reveal his participation in the Battle of Normandy (D-Day) on June 6th, 1944, aboard the British battleship HMS Ramillies during World War II. Lam’s 80-page diary was discovered by chance in 2015 in a soon-to-be-demolished tenement building in Hong Kong. The diary recounts his training in the United Kingdom with 23 other Chinese naval officers and his subsequent participation in D-Day. Lam’s written records are hitherto the only primary source of Chinese participation in D-Day.

By December 2024, the exhibition has attracted up to 8,000 visitors. The team has also received interest from over 40 secondary schools, organising 23 school tour groups, with a total of over 820 students visiting the exhibition. Students visiting the exhibition ranged across government schools, aided schools, schools under the Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) and international schools.

Moreover, the team has created an education program to foster initiatives for community-driven individuals. “The curatorial team hopes to encourage more like-minded individuals to enrich Hong Kong’s diverse cultural landscape, playing to their own interests and expertise,” said co-curator Angus Hui. “In striving to encourage young people to take action in cultural preservation, the team has launched the H-Infinity program to share our curatorial experience and resources, in order to nurture similar community engagement projects in Hong Kong”.

After the exhibition at the Chinese University of Hong Kong Library concludes, it will move to London in February as the first stop of the international tour. “With Lam’s participation in D-Day, our exhibition is committed to highlighting the long-standing connections, friendships, and solidarity between East and West”, opined co-curator John Mak. “Building on the momentum in Hong Kong over these past few months, we will continue to bring this fascinating Hong Kong story to Europe, offering a unique historical perspective to audiences worldwide.”

New Breakthroughs in Historical Research
After the exhibition launch, the curatorial team successfully contacted the family members of Lam Ping-yu, the owner of the diary, in Hong Kong, the United States, and Brazil. This helped the team’s research on Lam’s life from the 1920s to 2000, and his connections to Hong Kong. In mid-December last year, the co-curators travelled to the East coast of the United States to meet with Lam’s direct descendants, gathering more information to further historical research.

Exhibition Details
Date: September 23rd, 2024 to January 24th, 2025
Address: Digital Lab, G/F University Library, Chinese University of Hong Kong
Opening Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Fee: Free Entry

Hashtag: #D-Day

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

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

State Highway 1 Blenheim roundabout resurfacing to begin next month

LiveNews Publisher

January 15, 2025

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

State highway summer maintenance continues in Marlborough with two busy Blenheim roundabouts to be resealed early next month.

The State Highway 1/State Highway 6 Nelson Street roundabout will be the first to be resurfaced with night works planned from Sunday, 2 February until Tuesday, 4 February, between 7 pm and 5 am.

During this time the roundabout will be closed to all traffic to allow for asphalting work to be carried out and a local road detour will be in place.

Contractors will then carry out night works on the State Highway 1 Main Street roundabout from Sunday, 9 February, until Wednesday, 12 February, between 7 pm and 5 am.

During this time the roundabout will be closed to all traffic to allow asphalting work to be completed and the same local detour route will be in place.

Mark Owen, Regional Manager Wellington/Top of the South, says the work is deliberately planned to coincide with State Highway 1 Weld Pass night closures.

“Most southbound traffic will be using the inland route. It means fewer vehicles will be using State Highway 1 through Blenheim. This way the resealing work affects fewer drivers.”

Mr Owen says because State Highway 1 through Blenheim is a busy arterial route, it is essential it is maintained and kept up to standard for all road users.

“To ensure the roundabout resealing is more durable, asphalt will be used. It is a longer lasting solution that provides a stronger road. It also reduces the amount of future maintenance needed, meaning fewer disruptions for drivers.”

A local road detour will be in place for all traffic in both directions via Alabama Road, Battys Road, Nelson Street, Hutcheson Street and Lansdowne Street. This detour is expected to add up to 10 minutes to travel time.

Once asphalting work is complete, road markings will be reinstated under night works with stop/go controls and a 30 km/h speed limit.

Mr Owen says the roundabout resealing will create some disruption and delays.

“Given it is in the heart of Blenheim, some impact on drivers is unavoidable. But contractors will do their best to minimise this as much as they can. However, people travelling through Blenheim can expect delays and should allow extra time for their journeys.”

“We have other state highway maintenance works underway in Marlborough as well. Please, check our NZTA Journey Planner before you travel so you are up-to-date on the latest road conditions, “ Mr Owen says.

NZTA Journey Planner(external link)

Works Details

State Highway 1, Grove Road / State Highway 6, Nelson Street roundabout

Sunday, 2 February to Tuesday, 4 February. 7 pm and 5 am.
Full road closure at the Pitchill Street, Lane Street (on Dillon’s Point Road), Auckland Street and Bomford Street intersections before the roundabout.
Local road detour in both directions for all vehicles, including heavies, via Alabama Road, Battys Road, Nelson Street, Hutcheson Street and Lansdowne Street. This detour is expected to add up to 10 minutes to travel time.
No access to the northern end of the Blenheim Railway Station during work hours. Access to the carpark will be via the southern end (Horton Street) only.
Access will be available for emergency services.
A 30 km/h temporary speed limit will be in place during the day outside of work hours. Road users must follow the instructions of contractors and obey all temporary speed limits and traffic controls.

State Highway 1, Main Street roundabout

Sunday, 9 February to Wednesday, 12 February. 7 pm and 5 am.
Full road closure at the Alfred Street, Freswick Street, Kinross Street, Symons Street and Park Terrace intersections before the roundabout.
Local road detour in both directions for all vehicles, including heavies, via Alabama Road, Battys Road, Nelson Street, Hutcheson Street and Lansdowne Street. This detour is expected to add up to 10 minutes to travel time.
Access will be available for emergency services.
A 30 km/h temporary speed limit will be in place during the day outside of work hours. Road users must follow the instructions of contractors and obey all temporary speed limits and traffic controls.

More Information:

MIL OSI

Senoko Energy Launches New LifeSteady Price Plan Offering Guaranteed Savings off SP Tariff

MIL OSI

January 15, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 January 2025 – Today, Senoko Energy launches a new price plan that provides a fixed discount off the quarterly SP tariff. A first of its kind in the local market, this plan – LifeSteady – is designed to beat quarterly SP tariff fluctuations to deliver guaranteed savings for households.

Figure 1: LifeSteady provides fixed discount off quarterly SP tariff

“In today’s uncertain economic environment, Senoko Energy reaffirms our commitment to helping families “live smart, save smart” with guaranteed savings when they switch to Senoko Energy. Our aim is to deliver greater value to customers over the long term and be their preferred energy partner,” said James Chong, Senior Vice President, Senoko Energy Commercial Division.

Guaranteed Savings Against Uncertain Energy Prices
The LifeSteady plan comes amid higher cost of living concerns among Singaporeans and an increasingly unpredictable economic outlook[1]. With global economic uncertainty directly impacting global fuel and gas prices, which in turn affects quarterly SP tariff fluctuations[2], LifeSteady guarantees consistent monthly savings with a fixed discount of 1.64c/kWh (incl. GST) lower than quarterly SP tariff, providing households considerable savings overtime depending on the duration of the plan.

		LifeSteady24	LifeSteady36
Average monthly electricity bills with SP	Savings per month with LifeSteady	Savings across 24 months	Savings across 36 months
$150	$8.03	$193	$289
$300	$16.05	$385	$578
$450	$24.08	$578	$867

Figure 2: Example of Guaranteed Total Savings over 24 or 36 months
In addition to electricity bill savings, customers can look forward to promotional gifts or bill rebates worth up to $359 when signing up with recurring payment. These include a Xiaomi Robot Cleaner, PRISM+ Aura Air Purifier and Philips Air Fryer. No security deposit is required to sign up and households can continue to enjoy their U-Save rebates with Senoko Energy. Customers who switch from their existing provider can expect a seamless transition with no disruption to their electricity.

At the forefront of powering the nation’s growth since its inception, Senoko Energy is one of the largest power plants in Singapore. Committed to delivering safe, innovative, and sustainable energy solutions, the group dedicates themselves to powering Singapore’s journey towards carbon neutrality and supporting the nation’s environmental goals.

To find out more about LifeSteady, visit Senoko Energy’s
[2] Energy Market Authority. Factors Influencing Prices: https://www.ema.gov.sg/consumer-information/electricity/buying-electricity/electricity-prices

Hashtag: #SenokoEnergy

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

– Published and distributed with permission of

Media-Outreach.com.

Opinion: NZ must invest in defence or risk isolation with Trump 2.0

LiveNews Publisher

January 15, 2025

Source: ACT Party

The following op-ed by Mark Cameron and Laura McClure is free for publication.

With Donald Trump heading back to the White House next week, much discussion has focused on the future of New Zealand’s trade relations with the United States. There has been less commentary on the implications for our national security.

ACT has consistently argued that New Zealand’s defence posture is overdue for a serious upgrade. We can no longer rely solely on goodwill and historic alliances, and it is time to strengthen our own defence capabilities.

ACT has proposed a commitment of at least two percent of GDP to Defence. We’re currently investing just 0.9 percent.

Leaders like Trump have sent a blunt message: allies who don’t pull their weight shouldn’t expect protection.

New Zealand has long enjoyed a benign state of relative isolation, protected by geography and our friends in the West. But that world is gone. Our neighbours in the Indo-Pacific are boosting their military budgets and global power shifts are becoming more unpredictable. We need to face a new global reality where threats could come from many directions and complacency is a luxury we cannot afford.

Our friends in Australia and Southeast Asia are already stepping up. Australia’s defence spending has now surged above two percent, heading to 2.4 percent by the end of the decade, recognising the strategic instability in the region. By failing to invest in our own defence, we risk not only our physical security but our position in the international community.

Trump’s return brings a stark, clear-eyed view of alliances: they’re built on mutual strength, not nostalgia or sentimentality. Whether we like him or loathe him, his vision demands that America’s allies bring real capability to the table. We can’t expect American protection just because we’ve been a good partner in the past. In Trump’s world, allies are only as good as what they can contribute when things get tough.

If we want to be taken seriously, we need to take our own defence seriously. That doesn’t mean buying flash toys; it means building a sustainable, credible deterrent that aligns with our strengths and values.

It means investing in the New Zealanders who are ready to put their lives on hold, and sometimes on the line, for our security. It means training them well, equipping them properly, and giving them meaningful roles.

Attrition in our Defence Force is already high – service members didn’t sign up to be shuffled into managed isolation facilities. They deserve to train and exercise with global partners, building skills and capabilities that will serve them throughout their careers.

From ACT’s perspective, this is not just about geopolitical prudence. It is about standing on our own two feet. Depending on others for our security is fundamentally inconsistent with values of self-reliance.

The political challenge with defence spending is that it may not feel urgent until it is too late. Inaction will be far more costly in the long run than the financial commitment needed today, and in previous alternative Budgets ACT has proposed a range of savings initiatives to make a real investment possible.

A credible plan to lift our defence spending to the two percent NATO benchmark will demonstrate that we are a serious ally worth defending. For our security and for our freedom, it is an investment we cannot afford not to make.

Mark Cameron is ACT’s Defence spokesperson and ACT MP Laura McClure (formerly Laura Trask) sits on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade select committee.

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ACT helps Kiwis make voices heard for equal rights

LiveNews Publisher

January 15, 2025

Source: ACT Party

“The ACT Party has made a submission to the Justice Select Committee in support of the Treaty Principles Bill, joined by tens of thousands of New Zealanders who shared their views through ACT’s submission tool,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“This bill stands for universal suffrage and equality before the law – principles that are fundamental to New Zealand’s democratic tradition and consistent with the text of the Treaty itself. Dividing people based on ancestry has never been a path to success.

“New Zealanders have finally been given a voice in an important conversation that they have been locked out of for too long. Alongside those who submitted through ACT’s tool, thousands more made submissions directly through Parliament’s website, contributing thoughtful and compelling arguments. The calibre of submissions from New Zealanders like Elizabeth Rata, Ruth Richardson, and Tim Wikiriwhi demonstrates the depth of thought and passion behind the movement for equal rights.

“To oppose the Treaty Principles Bill is to support Labour’s continued march toward separate political rights for New Zealanders based on ancestry. This is a critical moment to uphold the values of fairness and equality that unite us as a country.

“I want to thank everyone who has stood alongside ACT in favour of equal rights for all New Zealanders.”

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Patients continue to be prioritised

LiveNews Publisher

January 15, 2025

Source: New Zealand Government

Associate Health Minister David Seymour says he is proud of the Government’s commitment to increasing medicines access for New Zealanders, resulting in a big uptick in the number of medicines being funded.
“The Government is putting patients first. In the first half of the current financial year there were more new medicines funded than the entire financial year prior,” says Mr Seymour.
”Increasing availability of medicines has always been a priority of mine. Access to pharmaceuticals for many is life or death, or the difference between a life of pain and suffering or living freely.
“To reflect that, this government allocated Pharmac its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, and a $604 million uplift.

“When Pharmac is given the financial support it needs to carry out its functions – negotiating the best deals for medicine for New Zealanders – it does so effectively, as shown in 2024.
“More financial support means more buying power for Pharmac to deliver for Kiwis, as shown in Pharmac’s negotiations with AstraZeneca for a savvy multi-product deal.
“In the first half of the current financial year (since June 2024) Pharmac expanded access to 34 new medicines. That is six more than the entire 2023/2024 financial year.
“Included in those 34 new medicines are Pembrolizumab (branded as Keytruda) and Cetuximab (branded as Erbitux).
“Continuous Glucose Monitors have also been funded since August for nearly 12,295 Kiwis with type 1 diabetes.
“2024 also saw Pharmac increase its contracted medical devices for hospitals to $640 million on medical devices for hospitals, almost $100 million more than 2023. That includes nearly $50 million in national contract expenditure for medical devices, including major contracts for sterilisation, surgical implants, anaesthetic machines, and more.
“Pharmac was not just doing more but also streamlining processes to do things faster.
“Named Patient Pharmaceutical Assesment (NPPA) times were significantly reduced in 2024. An NPPA assesment is the process for considering funding for a treatment for individual patients, who are seeking funding for treatments that are not listed in the Pharmaceutical Schedule.
“Pharmac aimed to complete 50% of NPPA decisions made within 10 working days every month. This target was exceeded with responsiveness improving each month since February. In October 93% of NPPA applications were closed within 10 working days.
“Changes were also made to allow parallel assessments for all medicines so Pharmac can assess funding applications at the same time Medsafe is assessing the application for regulatory approval.
“For the first time Pharmac has its own Minister. Last year I outlined in my letter of expectations that Pharmac should have appropriate processes for ensuring that people living with an illness, along with their carers and family, can participate in and provide input into decision-making processes around medicines.
“We want to build a world-class health system, and that requires access to world-class medicines.”

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Update: Taupō man hands himself in after escaping custody

LiveNews Publisher

January 15, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

A 30-year-old man who escaped Police custody in Taupō on Monday afternoon has handed himself in to Police.

The man handed himself in at Taupō Police Station shortly after 9am today.

He will be appearing in Taupō District Court this morning.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre.

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