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McSkimming claims Andrew Coster ‘advised’ him to file harassment complaint against woman

Source: Radio New Zealand

Andrew Coster resigned from the Social Investment Agency last year following the IPCA report into the McSkimming case. RNZ

Disgraced former deputy police commissioner Jevon McSkimming claims Andrew Coster – the Police Commissioner at the time – advised him to pursue harassment charges against a woman who accused him of sexual assault.

The revelation comes in a letter obtained by RNZ under the Official Information Act.

The December 2024 letter from McSkimming’s then-lawyer – addressed to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and copied to Police Minister Mark Mitchell and Deputy Police Service Commissioner Heather Baggott – said McSkimming was a “victim of a sustained campaign of stalking and harassment” that spanned several years.

In November last year, the Independent Police Conduct Authority released a damning report into police’s response to allegations of sexual offending by McSkimming.

The woman referred to in the IPCA’s report as Ms Z was charged in May 2024 with causing harm by posting digital communication, in relation to more than 300 emails she allegedly sent to McSkimming’s work email address between December 2023 and April 2024.

Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz

The charge against the woman was withdrawn in the Wellington District Court in September, because McSkimming did not wish to give evidence.

Following the IPCA’s report in November, RNZ became aware of a letter sent by McSkimming’s then lawyer Michael Heron KC to Luxon and Mitchell.

On Monday, RNZ obtained a copy of the letter under the Official Information Act.

The letter – dated 17 December 2024 – began with Heron saying that on 13 December McSkimming was informed by Baggott that Mitchell intended to advise Luxon to recommend to the Governor-General that McSkimming’s warrant be suspended on a temporary basis, pending the outcome of an investigation.

Heron said McSkimming posed no risk to police.

“He has voluntarily taken leave pending the outcome of the investigation and the further step of suspending him is not required and would, in fact, victimise him further.”

Heron said McSkimming was a “victim of a sustained campaign of stalking and harassment” that began in 2018 and was ongoing.

He said the woman who was stalking him was the same one who sparked the police investigation into McSkimming.

“My client has not been provided with any information about what exactly [Ms Z] alleges. However, that investigation appears to have prompted the Police Minister to request Ms Baggott to set in motion the steps to suspend Mr McSkimming without delay.”

The letter said McSkimming had a “consensual affair” with the woman between May 2016 and May 2018.

Heron said McSkimming informed two members of Police’s senior leadership team in May 2018 about the affair, the nature of Ms Z’s allegations and “his concerns of the risk of blackmail”.

McSkimming had made “continued disclosures” to several people, including telling Coster about the relationship and the nature of the threats and allegations when he was appointed Police Commissioner.

He also disclosed it in 2020 during the process of applying for a non-statutory Deputy Commissioner role, in 2023 when applying for the statutory role, and in 2024 prior to his interview for commissioner.

“Mr McSkimming has also, less formally, disclosed his circumstances to Deputy Commissioner Tania Kura and all his peers, including a number of Assistant Commissioners and senior officers. He has been open in these disclosures about the nature of [Ms Z’s] allegations about him.”

McSkimming had faced an “avalanche of harassment” which had been “persistent and harmful”.

This included sending emails to media organisations about him, filing anonymous complaints about him to the Police 105 online reporting line, and communicating with the IPCA about him.

Heron said Ms Z had blind copied McSkimming into the communications to the IPCA.

“She was in effect using these communications as a form of harassment and pressure.”

Heron said that in March 2024 Coster “advised McSkimming to file a complaint under the Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015”.

The impact of the “relentless attack” on McSkimming and his family had been “significant and severe”.

“Throughout this time, however, he has continued to perform his roles professionally and conscientiously.”

Heron said there were occasions where an officer under investigation would be suspended pending the outcome of an investigation. However, that was on a case by case basis.

“In this case, there is reason to believe the filing of a police complaint by [Ms Z] is actually an abuse of process and a further intensification of her long-running campaign of victimisation”.

Heron referred to the case of former Deputy Commissioner Wally Haumaha who in 2018 was subject to an independent review, a State Services Commission review and an IPCA investigation. Haumaha took leave, but was not suspended and eventually returned to his role.

“It follows that if Mr McSkimming is to be treated no different from any other senior officer he should be on leave, but not suspended.

“Further, Mr McSkimming has not been charged with any offence. He remains confident he will not be charged. Applying the presumption of innocence, it would be a significant step to treat Mr McSkimming more harshly than Mr Haumaha, particularly where, as here, there is a context to the allegations against Mr McSkimming that indicates he is already a victim.”

In relation to protecting the integrity of the investigation into McSkimming, Heron said to date the key factor that might impact that was “leaking of information” about the investigations into his conduct.

“Mr McSkimming is not responsible for those leaks and has been severely impacted by them. Last week he had media come to his family home, and family members, including his elderly father-in-law, were door-stopped by reporters.”

No Deputy Commissioner had ever been suspended, Heron said.

“To take such an unprecedented step in this case would be grossly unfair, given the extensive history leading up to the complaint and the fact that NZ Police [and the Public Service Commission] has been kept informed about these events.”

McSkimming requested he remain on leave, on full pay.

“If, however, it is your intention to make a recommendation to the Governor-General he asks to be consulted on both the wording and the timing of any announcement so that his family, particularly his children, can be prepared.

“He strongly hopes this will not be necessary. It would also be fair and reasonable to be clear as to the conditions upon which suspension is imposed and when those conditions will end (for example if there is a decision not to charge him, he must be immediately reinstated).”

McSkimming was formally suspended on 23 December. It was during the police investigation into Ms Z’s allegations that police found the objectionable material on his work devices and a second criminal investigation began.

When RNZ was made aware of the letter last year McSkimming, Coster, Heron, Mitchell and Luxon were asked for a response. Neither McSkimming nor Coster replied. Luxon and Mitchell declined to comment.

Heron said he could not make any comment about matters relating to clients.

“If you have the letter, then it speaks for itself, and you ought to ensure you quote or use it accurately and fairly.”

Coster resigned from the Social Investment Agency (SIA) last year following the IPCA report.

In an earlier statement to RNZ Coster said his resignation was “a result of my acceptance of full responsibility for the shortcomings” identified in the Independent Police Conduct Authority’s report.

“I regret the impact on the young woman at the centre of this matter and sincerely apologise to her for the distress caused.

“I accept that I was too ready to trust and accept at face value Deputy Commissioner McSkimming’s disclosure and explanations to me. I should have been faster and more thorough in looking into the matter.”

Coster acknowledged he should have more fully investigated the allegations when they were brought to his attention, “rather than assuming that their previous disclosure to senior Police staff a few years earlier would have resulted in an investigation if necessary”.

“It is clear that Police’s handling of the whole matter was lacking and that I was ultimately responsible for those matters. It was sobering to read of a number of missed opportunities which should have proceeded differently and more appropriately.”

Coster welcomed Sir Brian Roche’s acknowledgement that the report made no finding of corruption or cover-up, nor did the IPCA find any evidence of any actions involving officers consciously doing the wrong thing or setting out to undermine the integrity of the organisation.

“I made decisions honestly. I acted in good faith. I sought to take all important factors into account with the information I had at the time. While it is not possible to alter past events, I am prepared to take responsibility – I got this wrong.

“I want to apologise to all members of the NZ Police. They work hard every day to keep our communities safe. I know they have been adversely affected by these events.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/24/mcskimming-claims-andrew-coster-advised-him-to-file-harassment-complaint-against-woman/

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Dog owners take Auckland Council to court over Monte Cecilia Park off-leash ban

Source: Radio New Zealand

123RF

Frustrated dog owners are taking on Auckland Council in court on Tuesday.

Last year, the Puketāpapa Local Board voted four to two to ban dogs from running free in part of Hillsborough’s Monte Cecilia Park.

An interim order halting the decision is in place until the outcome of a judicial review, which starts on Tuesday morning at the High Court in Auckland.

At a gathering at the park over the weekend, Jonathan Sweeney from the Dog Lovers of Monte Cecilia Incorporated Society, told RNZ the 500-member-strong group had raised almost $13,000 in its spare time. Their lawyer, George Barton, had agreed to take on the case pro bono.

“It’s a bit ironic that we’ve had to raise our own funds to pay our legal fees and costs, and yet our ratepayer money is actually funding a KC and the legal team at the council.

“I’m the manager of a sports strapping tape company. Myself and all of our volunteers we’ve got other lives.

“This is a great example of David vs Goliath. We’re just regular people, ratepayers, taking on the might of Auckland Council.”

Sweeney said an overwhelming majority of the community wanted to keep the park as it was.

Out of 900 responses from the public during the local board’s consultation, 88 percent (795 people) were against removing the off-leash bowl area, and just 10 percent (89 people) supported it. A petition opposing the decision with more than 1000 signatures was also handed to the board.

Sweeney said the group would be arguing in court that the local board had “pre-determined” its decision before consulting the public.

It was also contesting the board’s view that the off-leash area was a significant safety risk.

“We have a fair amount of proof in terms of emails and correspondence that, in our opinion, demonstrate a high amount of pre-determination going back more than one year.”

Animal management data showed that between 2019 and 2024 there were 63 dog-related incidents at the park, including attacks, aggressive behaviour and reports of roaming dogs.

In that time, three people were attacked by an off-leash dog, all in on-leash areas. There were 12 dog attacks on animals, and all but one happened in the off-leash area.

Zara Moselen, who brought her dog Nala to Monte Cecilia most days, felt the board was ignoring the community’s voice.

“Hundred and hundreds of people voiced their opinion, and the board still went with the 10 percent.

“I really hope the judicial review is a fair process and our argument can be heard.

“The sense of community at this park you can’t find in many other places. It’s such a special, unique spot for dogs to run around and play. It’s such a small part of this huge park that’s off-lead.”

Louise Fletcher and her dog Ernie also used the park regularly.

“The local council is supposed to listen to public consultation, and they went very much against it. They should listen to what the people who pay the rates actually want.

“It makes me feel minimised as a dog owner.

“In Auckland, we’re really underserved with off-leash areas. We’re getting pushed into smaller spaces. This is one of the few premium places where the area set aside for dogs is actually really good.”

Auckland Council and Puketāpapa Local Board chair Roseanne Hay told RNZ they would not comment on the judicial proceedings while the case was before the court.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/24/dog-owners-take-auckland-council-to-court-over-monte-cecilia-park-off-leash-ban/

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Auckland Lantern Festival to unveil a New Zealand icon

Source: Radio New Zealand

Two galloping horse lanterns will be the main attraction for visitors at this year’s Auckland Lantern Festival. SUPPLIED / TĀTAKI AUCKLAND UNLIMITED

A towering lantern of a moa is poised to make its debut at Manukau Sports Bowl when the Auckland Lantern Festival opens on Thursday, giving the annual event a distinct New Zealand flavour.

It was the first time the festival had included a lantern representing a slice of New Zealand history, said Jep Savali, group manager of major events at organiser Tātaki Auckland Unlimited.

“[The moa] became extinct about 600 years ago,” Savali said. “It’s a very prominent animal within Māori culture, that’s why we’ve chosen the moa.”

A moa lantern will be unveiled at the Lantern Festival in Auckland this year. SUPPLIED / TĀTAKI AUCKLAND UNLIMITED

Savali said the three-and-a-half-meter lantern had initially been designed in New Zealand.

A well-known producer in Zigong, China, was then asked to manufacture the lantern before shipping it to Auckland for display.

The entire process took about four to five months, he said.

A lantern depicting a kiwi was being planned for a future festival, he said.

A giant lantern of two galloping horses would also feature at this year’s festival to celebrate the Year of the Horse alongside more than 500 handmade lanterns.

“The horses will be four meters high and three meters long,” Savali said.

“[The lantern] is based on an Eastern Han artifact of a galloping horse treading on a flying swallow,” he said. “It symbolises speed, success and optimism for the year.”

A woman in traditional attire dances in front of one of the snake lanterns at the 2025 Lantern Festival. RNZ / Yiting Lin

In China, the Lantern Festival – also known as the Yuan Xiao Festival – is a festival that marks the end of Spring Festival celebrations.

People typically observe the holiday by visiting colourful lantern displays and eating sweet glutinous rice balls known as tāngyuán.

In some parts of China, festivities also include lion and dragon dances, stilt-walking and traditional riddle games.

In New Zealand, the Auckland Lantern Festival began as a one-night event at Albert Park in 2000.

It has since grown into a four-day festival and is now one of the country’s largest cultural events, moving venues over time as attendance numbers increased.

Lanterns on display at the 2025 Auckland Lantern Festival. RNZ / Yiting Lin

Savali said this year marked the third year the festival would be held at Manukau Sports Bowl.

“There are arguments both ways about where the festival should be,” he said. “Manukau Sports Bowl provides a really large venue.

“If you can imagine, 500-plus lanterns on display, over 50 food stalls, close to 100 stalls altogether, plus family rides, and contemporary and traditional performances on the stages. We needed to find somewhere that could cater for all of that.”

This year, the event will again operate as a free ticketed event, a system introduced to manage crowd numbers and support public transport use.

Ticket holders will be able to travel free on buses and trains from two hours before the festival opens until the end of regular daily services.

Free shuttle buses will also run regularly between Manukau Train Station, Westfield Manukau and Manukau Sports Bowl before, during and after the festival.

Lanterns on display at the 2025 Auckland Lantern Festival. RNZ / Yiting Lin

Savali said parking around the venue was limited and urged visitors to use public transport.

“We’re expecting up to 160,000 people over the four days of the Lantern Festival,” he said.

“The weekends are the busiest – that’s when we expect a large uptake of people to come along to see the lanterns.

“If you can, take public transport,” he said.

The festival will run daily from 4pm to 10:30pm from Thursday to Sunday, with fireworks scheduled for about 9:50pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

Organisers encourage visitors to secure free tickets early to help manage capacity.

By Monday, 100,000 tickets had already been claimed, with tickets for Saturday fully booked.

Organisers said a limited number of walk-in tickets were available each day for visitors who had missed out.

A dragon dance performance at the Auckland Lantern Festival in 2025. RNZ / Yiting Lin

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/24/auckland-lantern-festival-to-unveil-a-new-zealand-icon/

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Only a quarter of heart attack patients survive the trip to hospital – report

Source: Radio New Zealand

Dr Elena Garcia, St John. Supplied / St John

Only a quarter of people who have heart attacks in the community survive the trip to hospital, according to a new report by ambulance services.

Hato Hone St John and Wellington Free Ambulance have released the latest annual Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Report, saying “out-of-hospital cardiac arrests” (OHCAs) remain a major public health challenge.

Between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025, 2466 people were treated for cardiac arrest by ambulance officers across the country – almost seven a day.

Eighty-one percent of patients received CPR from a bystander, but only six percent received treatment with a defibrillator, otherwise known as an AED.

Twenty-four percent of patients survived to hospital arrival, and only 12 percent survived a month after the event – similar numbers to previous years.

Dr Elena Garcia, deputy clinical director at St John, said making sure people received timely CPR or AED access could be the difference between life or death.

“We know that patients who have recieved community defibrillation from an AED have more than double the odds of survival, so it’s just about getting them to the patients when they need them.

“It’s about having AEDs in communities all across New Zealand, and making sure they’re truly available in terms of being open to the community, 24/7 access, and unlocked.”

They were very straightforward to use, she said – the 111 call-taker could walk someone through it, or the AED itself would have an automated voice telling the first responder where to put the stickers and which buttons to press.

Deputy chief executive for clinical services at Hato Hone St John, Jon Moores, agreed that improving community confidence and capability remained essential, along with increasing awareness of early signs of cardiac arrest and the availability of AEDs.

Key metrics from the past five years regarding cardiac arrests outside of hospitals. Supplied / Hato Hone St John / Wellington Free Ambulance

Inequalities for women, Māori and Pacific peoples highlighted by data

The data showed Māori and Pacific peoples tended to have cardiac arrests more often, and earlier in life, along with people living in rural and higher-deprivation communities.

Hato Hone St John’s clinical evaluation, research and insights manager, Dr Sarah Maessen, explained Māori were 1.4 times more likely to suffer cardiac arrest and faced this risk a decade earlier in life than non-Māori.

Female patients had lower odds of survival at 50 percent, and were about 60 percent less likely to receive defibrillation from another member of the public than males.

Garcia said it was possible there was a fear of removing women’s clothing, or exposing them in an inappropriate way.

“Do what you can and help the patient, because they will be very glad to survive.”

Wellington Free Ambulance executive medical director Dr Erica Douglass said it worked to train people across the Wellington region in CPR and using AEDs through The Lloyd Morrison Foundation Heartbeat CPR Training programme.

“Last year close to 10,000 people across Greater Wellington and Wairarapa learnt this lifesaving skill,” she said. “This training is free of charge thanks to cornerstone partner Julie Nevett and The Lloyd Morrison Foundation who fund this essential programme.

“The data in this report shows us the positive impact bystander CPR and AED use has for chances of survival in a sudden cardiac arrest, and we encourage everyone to undertake training, know where their closest AED is and be ready to assist if needed.”

Key facts from the report

  • 72 percent of cardiac arrests happen at home, 16 percent in public areas, and 4 percent in aged care facilities
  • 43 percent of out-of-hospital events were attended by at least one GoodSAM responder
  • 70 percent of those patients were male
  • 94 percent of cardiac events were co-responded to and attended by Fire and Emergency
  • Median age of patients: Māori – 59 years; Pacific peoples – 60 years; non-Māori, non-Pacific peoples – 69 years

How can you help?

Take part in St John’s community education programme ‘[www.stjohn.org.nz/what-we-do/community-programmes/3-steps-for-life/ 3 Steps for Life]’ for one hour of free CPR and AED training.

Then sign up to [www.stjohn.org.nz/first-aid/lifesaving-apps/ GoodSAM], an app which alerts nearby people trained in CPR and defibrillation, when someone nearby is having a cardiac arrest.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/24/only-a-quarter-of-heart-attack-patients-survive-the-trip-to-hospital-report/

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Chief executives optimistic about economic recovery, fear being left behind in AI race – survey

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand CEOs are less worried about the impact of global issues than their overseas counterparts. 123RF

  • Majority chief executives expect improved economics this year
  • More than a third expecting higher revenue
  • NZ chief execs more positive about finances, less worried about global issues than global peers
  • Biggest concern is keeping up with AI technology developments

The country’s top executives are optimistic about economic recovery and the fortunes of their own companies, but fear being left behind in the development and use of artificial intelligence.

PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PwC) annual chief executive survey found 58 percent expected improving economic growth in the coming year, fractionally lower than last year. That compared with the global rating of 55 percent.

Thirty seven percent were “very or extremely confident” about their company’s revenue prospects this year, rising to 54 percent looking over the coming three year’s revenue outlook.

PwC New Zealand chief executive Andrew Holmes said the optimism shown in the survey was “cautious”.

“Unlike many of their global peers, they have been less impacted by geopolitical issues and are poised to take advantage of better operating conditions.”

New Zealand’s small economy and isolation accounted for the reduced impact and concern of global issues.

Losing pace in the AI race

Holmes said the big issue worrying chief executives was artificial intelligence, and not being able to keep up with developments.

“It’s being left behind with outdated business models, unable to take advantage of new technology, specifically AI.”

More than half of the local respondents cited this as their main concern, although close to two-thirds also said their organisations were ready for AI, and 70 percent said their technology could support AI.

But Holmes said the survey showed little significant effect of AI on businesses.

“Over 78 percent have yet to see AI have any impact on their organisation, and only a minority are reaping any benefits from AI to their bottom line.”

On most of the issues polled, New Zealand responses were close to those of the global survey, but cyber security and climate change were two weak spots displayed in the survey.

“Only a third of New Zealand respondents [are] expecting their companies to take action to a significant extent to improve cyber security, as a response to geopolitical risk, in the next three years.

“Climate resilience is another weak spot, with fewer than a quarter of respondents, in New Zealand and globally, reporting robust measures to manage climate-related risks while seizing associated opportunities,” the report said.

PwC surveyed 4454 CEOs across 95 countries and territories from 30 September through to 10 November, with 103 New Zealand CEOs taking part.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/24/chief-executives-optimistic-about-economic-recovery-fear-being-left-behind-in-ai-race-survey/

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Campervan rentals drive Tourism Holdings’ growth

Source: Radio New Zealand

Campervan rentals are driving Tourism Holdings’ growth. photo by Miles Holden

The outlook for the campervan tourism sector continues to improve with New Zealand set for further growth.

“The tourism sector here in New Zealand is in a really positive place. We’ve got some good actions that have been undertaken by the government over the last sort of 14 odd months,” Tourism Holdings (thl) chief executive Grant Webster said, following the release of a strong first half result.

Thl’s campervan rental business helped drive up its first net profit by 17 percent with revenue growth of 4 percent.

New vehicles add to costs

However, the costs associated with the recent expansion of thl’s new RV fleet was seen as a drag on underlying profits.

Forsyth Barr head of research Andy Bowley said thl saw a 46 percent drop in the first half gross profits of new RV sales, with gross margins down 6.5 percent and volumes down 13 percent.

He said the value of New Zealand’s rental growth had declined when currency exchange rates were taken into account, given the expansion of thl’s New Zealand fleet ahead of the peak season, as well as the higher costs of ownerhsip.

“Tourism Holdings reported a 1H26 result ahead of our expectations but with full year guidance that is unlikely to materially change current market expectations,” he said.

Vehicle sales lag behind rental growth

Webster says new vehicle sales had been difficult over the past couple of years.

Linkedin

“(It) has been our Achilles heel … and the growth in rentals hasn’t been able to outstrip that decline,” he said.

“What we are seeing is people are looking more at the used product. They’re trading down.

“We’re still looking for some recovery in that over the next sort of 12 to 18 months.

“But yes, the majority of our growth is definitely in the rentals business.”

Rental growth

Webster said demand for rental vehicles suited growth in a style of travel, seen around the world.

“People are looking more at what their discretionary spend can buy them,” he said.

“And that’s definitely a theme for further recovery, just stabilisation and consumer confidence, GDP, growth, getting through, you know, just like we’re feeling in New Zealand at the moment, we’re getting through that tough time.”

Global tourism demand

“We’re a country that people want to come and visit,” Webster said.

“So is Australia, and indeed, so is Canada. The USA, in terms of our markets, is the one that’s of concern, but we’ll put that to one side.”

Overseas visitor arrivals in New Zealand were 3.51 million in the year ended December 2025, which was an increase of 196,000 from the year earlier.

The biggest changes were in arrivals from:

  • Australia (up 137,000 to 1.52 million)
  • United States (up 15,000 to 385,000)
  • China (up 13,000 to 262,000)
  • United Kingdom (up 12,000 to 192,000).

“Without a doubt, tourism is still in a really good growth phase, and we’re benefiting from that,” he said.

Regional tourism

Webster said visitors were travelling into regional New Zealand.

“We’re not getting any of the sort of congestion issues that we’ve thought about in the past, and might be a little bit out of Queenstown, but put that to one side so people are enjoying what’s going on.

“There’s been a few weather blips and ferry blips and different things, but no, we’re getting a really positive response from our customers, the international visitors, love New Zealand, and it’s been a good time to travel.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/24/campervan-rentals-drive-tourism-holdings-growth/

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New appointment to Teaching Council

Source: New Zealand Government

Education Minister Erica Stanford has today announced the appointment of Debbie Francis to the Teaching Council board, providing a valuable addition as the organisation undergoes significant change.

“Ms Francis is a highly respected operator with strong, extensive experience in organisational change and strategy. She has led various change programmes across both the public and private sectors,” Ms Stanford says.

“The Teaching Council has been identified as having a number of serious, pressing issues that need to be resolved in order for it to fulfil its roles effectively and enable trust and confidence heading into the future.

“Ms Francis has shown that she has a strong, clear understanding of changes that need to happen, as outlined in her own report. I have full confidence that she will be a valuable contributor on the recently refreshed board.

“I am pleased to welcome Ms Francis to the role. I am glad that her expertise will join the board as they work to restore the Teaching Council to a position where it is able to operate and serve teachers, children, and the sector, brilliantly.”

Ms Francis was lead partner for the PwC People and Change practice and head of the PwC central government practice. She was also Chief Executive at the 

New Zealand Correspondence School, Deputy Chief Executive for UCOL, and the Director of Strategy and Futures at Lincoln University. She holds a Masters in Public Policy.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/24/new-appointment-to-teaching-council/

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Middle East Coffee Shops Earn Spots in The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops 2026 List

Source: Media Outreach

This year’s edition sees six coffee shops from the region secure placements in the Top 100 List

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 February 2026 – The second edition of THE WORLD’S 100 BEST COFFEE SHOPS 2026 with DaVinci Gourmet announced its global ranking at CoffeeFest Madrid 2026 on 16 February 2026. This year marks a breakthrough moment for the Middle East. The United Arab Emirates secured two placements in the global Top 100, reinforcing its position as a fast-growing specialty coffee hub. In addition, Qatar and Oman achieved their first-ever entries in the global ranking, and Turkey’s Meet Lab Coffee returned to the list, underscoring the region’s growing presence on the world coffee stage.

2026 Top 100 Winners

The list confirms the emergence of new global capitals of quality coffee, as well as the consolidation of an increasingly diverse and innovative international coffee community that includes The United States, which leads the ranking with nine selected coffee shops, South America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and Middle East.

Middle East coffee shops that made the Top 100 Ranking:

  • Benchmark Coffee, UAE
  • Harvest Coffee, Qatar
  • Meet Lab Coffee, Turkey
  • Azura – The Coffee Company, Oman
  • Cypher Urban Roastery, UAE
  • Flat White Specialty Coffee, Qatar
“Congratulations to all 100 ranked coffee shops. The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops 2026 with DaVinci Gourmet is the global benchmark celebrating the cafés shaping the future of coffee, and as a leading beverage solutions brand, DaVinci Gourmet is proud to stand alongside it as the global title partner,” said Eloise Dubuisson, General Manager, Food Service Brands, Kerry Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa.
RECOGNISING EXCELLENCE IN COFFEE
The ranking combines the evaluation of more than 800 professional judges from all continents with public voting, which exceeded 350,000 votes in this edition. In total, more than 15,000 coffee shops worldwide were analysed.
A benchmark for the industry and professionals, The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops is the first global ranking recognising excellence in coffee and aims to highlight coffee shops that not only serve exceptional coffee but also create unique coffee experiences.
As Global and Title Partner of the 2026 edition, and together with initiatives like the DaVinci Gourmet Barista Craft Championship, DaVinci Gourmet remains committed to championing global beverage artistry and café culture.

Hashtag: #TheWorlds100BestCoffeeShop #DaVinciGourmet

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/24/middle-east-coffee-shops-earn-spots-in-the-worlds-100-best-coffee-shops-2026-list/

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Vinfast Middle East Signs MoU with PlusX Electric to Strengthen EV Ownership Experience in the UAE

Source: Media Outreach

DUBAI, UAE – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 February 2026 – VinFast today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PlusX Electric, a DEWA-approved EV charging and electric mobility solutions provider in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The collaboration aims to enhance charging accessibility and strengthen customer support services, reinforcing the overall EV ownership experience for VinFast customers in the UAE.

Ms. Đỗ Hoài Linh, CEO of VinFast Middle East (right), and Mr. Chintan Sareen, Founder and CEO of PlusX Electric, at the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties.

The partnership is designed to provide greater confidence throughout the EV ownership journey—ensuring that premium electric vehicles are supported by reliable charging solutions, responsive roadside assistance, and integrated digital services. By combining VinFast’s expanding EV presence in the UAE with PlusX Electric’s on-demand charging capabilities and infrastructure expertise, the two parties will work together to deliver a seamless, convenience-led, and assurance-driven experience for VinFast drivers.

Under the MoU, VinFast and PlusX Electric will collaborate across a structured set of initiatives focused on charging availability, ownership support, and infrastructure enablement across key use cases, including home, workplace, fleet, and on-road assistance.

Specifically, the two parties aim to deploy Portable EV Charging Pods to meet customers’ flexible charging needs during vehicle usage, while enabling access to On-Demand Mobile Charging services designed to assist in time-sensitive situations. The partnership will also explore EV Roadside Assistance (RSA) – Emergency Charging services, helping reduce range anxiety and vehicle downtime while strengthening customer assurance through clearly defined service workflows and operational readiness.

In addition, PlusX Electric may become a preferred partner for the supply, installation, and aftersales support of Home & Office Chargers for VinFast customers in the UAE, in alignment with applicable UAE compliance requirements. For commercial and fleet segments, the two parties will explore scalable solutions such as DC Fast Charger Leasing and dedicated mobile charging support, ensuring operational continuity and efficiency for B2B and fleet customers.

As part of the collaboration, VinFast and PlusX Electric will further explore digital integration initiatives to streamline how customers access charging services, manage bookings, and receive service updates through partner platforms. The two parties will also assess potential integration of EV insurance offerings via the PlusX App and explore co-branding opportunities, including VinFast branding on PlusX Power Pods, with the objective of delivering a cohesive and fully integrated EV ecosystem experience.

VinFast VF 8 model in UAE

Ms. Do Hoai Linh, CEO of VinFast Middle East, shared: “VinFast is committed to building a long-term and comprehensive EV ecosystem in the UAE—one that gives customers confidence not only in the quality and performance of our electric vehicles, but also in the reliability and accessibility of the supporting infrastructure. Through this MoU with PlusX Electric, we are strengthening the support layer around EV adoption by expanding access to flexible charging solutions, emergency assistance services, and integrated digital touchpoints. By working with a DEWA-approved partner that understands local regulatory requirements and operational realities, we aim to make EV ownership simpler, more dependable, and better aligned with the expectations of customers in the Middle East.”

Chintan Sareen – Founder and CEO of PlusX Electric added: “EV adoption accelerates when customers trust that charging and support are always within reach. Our collaboration with VinFast reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the EV ownership ecosystem in the UAE through dependable infrastructure, responsive roadside services, and customer-centric digital solutions. As a DEWA-approved provider, PlusX Electric brings localized expertise in charger supply and installation, mobile charging operations, and fleet enablement. Together with VinFast, we look forward to delivering practical, scalable solutions that enhance service reliability, reduce range anxiety, and support the continued growth of sustainable mobility in the region.”

Across the Middle East, VinFast continues to expand its presence through strategic partnerships, strengthened aftersales capabilities, and the development of EV-supporting infrastructure. The collaboration with PlusX Electric underscores VinFast’s long-term commitment to supporting customers throughout their ownership journey and contributing to the UAE’s transition toward sustainable and future-ready mobility solutions.

Hashtag: #Vinfast

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/24/vinfast-middle-east-signs-mou-with-plusx-electric-to-strengthen-ev-ownership-experience-in-the-uae/

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How a US-Israeli attack on Iran could crash UK, German, NZ and Australian economies

COMMENTARY: By Eugene Doyle

If Israel and the US attack Iran, the cosy worlds of Europe, Australia and New Zealand could be swept up in an economic catastrophe.

Should the Iranians survive a terrifying onslaught, they have vowed to strike back in a way that could crash the global economy.  How they could quite possibly do this is the topic of this article.

The leaders of the Islamic Republic — love them or hate them — know that they face an existential threat; that the continued existence of a unified state called Iran is imperilled.

They also know that the collective West will not stand up for international law and the proscription on launching wars of aggression. Under these circumstances a state will sacrifice anything to survive, including hitherto unthinkable acts like sinking the USS Abraham Lincoln, the glory of the American war machine.

All the signs are pointing to a new Shock and Awe campaign by the United States.

The goal, as it was in the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, is a fast knock-out. Mission Accomplished in a few weeks.

War, however, seldom goes entirely to plan — the Americans never expected they would spend 20 years in Afghanistan and waste trillions of dollars to move from the Taliban regime to . . .  the Taliban regime.

Here is a selection of options open to the Iranians if they survive the initial onslaught.

Shut down all civilian flights for the duration of the conflict
 Without firing a single missile, Iran can likely bring all flights into and out of the entire Gulf region to a shuddering halt. That’s 500,000 passengers per day.

More than 180 million passengers pass through Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai every year.

Simply issuing a warning that the entire Gulf region is an air combat zone will put the brakes on all major airlines, effectively severing the primary link between Europe, Asia and Australasia for as long as Iran hangs on.

Insurance companies would issue a cancel note on all policies (for airlines, passengers, airports, provisioners) for the entire region.

No airline will defy this interdiction. Would Qantas, for example, fly one of its A380s loaded with mums, dads and kids into a potential kill zone?  The Iranians could underscore the seriousness by firing a couple of missiles onto runways or using EW (electronic warfare tools) to spoof or harass planes.

Shut down all oil and LNG shipments
 Iran will likely mine the Strait of Hormuz 33 km (21 miles) wide, making it instantly uninsurable for any oil or LNG tanker to move into or out of the Gulf.  Huge numbers of smart mines (that can recognise the acoustic signature of a tanker) will be deployed as well as hundreds of semi-submersible drone boats.

Spread out across the Gulf are thousands of short-range anti-ship missiles that will be virtually impossible to suppress.

With no tankers in, no tankers out from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, and Iran itself, the 21 million barrels of oil and LNG that passes through the strait every day will cease instantly.

The price shock will be greater than any previous oil spike. Smaller, out of the way places, like New Zealand could find themselves starved of diesel. According to a recent New Zealand government report our agricultural sector would crater within 90 days.

Once seeded into the Gulf, the mines could take months after the war has ended to clear.

Destroy Israel’s oil rigs and storage facilities
 A high-value target for Iran would be the Leviathan and Tamar gas platforms in the Mediterranean. Iran, with saturation swarms of drones used in combination with high-velocity ballistic missiles, could likely break through the defences and devastate a pillar of the Israeli energy system.

Close the Suez Canal and the Red Sea to container ships and tankers
 Iran, certainly for the moment, has the strike capability to close the Suez Canal.

Western countries have yawned with indifference and not lifted an eyebrow to support the Palestinians throughout the genocide or called out the US and Israel for violent attacks that have shredded the UN Charter.

Shutting the Canal, possibly for many months, will definitely get their attention. By severing this artery, Iran and its allies would transfer the shock wave of the war directly to the doorsteps of Western consumers and industry.

Combined, the Houthis and Iran have an arsenal of low-cost loitering munitions, anti-ship ballistic missiles and kamikaze boats that can enforce a blockade.

As with the Gulf’s airspace, simply by declaring a Maritime Exclusion Zone across the Red Sea, the Suez Canal route becomes uninsurable for the duration of the conflict, thereby forcing the re-routing of ships around South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.

This adds two weeks to cargo shipments, ties up about 12 percent of global freight ships, harms modern just-in-time supply chains and spikes prices for countless products.

Attack Azerbaijan’s oil infrastructure
 Very little attention has been paid to Azerbaijan and yet it could play a pivotal role in the denouement of the upcoming calamity. Azerbaijan, with Iran to the south and the Caspian Sea to the east, is a US-Israeli ally. It supplies Israel with 40 percent of its oil imports via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline.

If Azerbaijan were to allow US or Israeli planes or militias to launch attacks from its territory, the Iranians might respond by destroying the pipeline and related oil facilities.

Destroy Qatar’s LNG facilities
 After the US and EU largely cut off access to cheap Russian oil and gas, countries in Europe became heavily dependent on US and Qatari LNG.

This creates a vulnerability that the Iranians can use to devastating effect. A precision strike on Qatar’s Ras Laffan liquefaction trains (that purify, cool, and compress the gas), for example, would drop a bomb into the world’s gas market.

Iran has invested heavily in improving relations with its Arab neighbours; this would be a measure of last resort. Qatar’s Al Udeid is, however, the largest US military base in the Middle East and the country has more than 10,000 US troops based there.

Any use of force emanating from Qatar would open Pandora’s box.

Destroy Saudi and other oil facilities
 Iran and Saudi Arabia have invested a lot of energy in restoring relations since the US assassinated General Qassem Soleimani in 2020 as he was reportedly en route to meet the Saudis in Baghdad to advance peace talks (ultimately successfully facilitated in 2023 by China).

Iran will hold off attacking Saudi facilities directly but will do so if there is any attempt to break Iran’s blockade or should the Saudis allow US forces to launch attacks from their territory.

Destroy the Gulf’s fertiliser storage facilities
 This would also be a strategy of last resort and risk a renewal of hostility between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Desperate people, however, do desperate things.

The Kingdom is the world’s second-largest exporter of phosphate fertilisers, providing roughly 20 percent of the global supply (and approximately 63 percent of New Zealand’s urea imports).  Without necessarily knowing its origin, many Australian and New Zealand farms depend on this resource for food production.

Sink the USS Abraham Lincoln or other major ships
 The US President may launch his war of aggression against Iran, for example, with a decapitation strike on the Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Who should be held accountable if the USS Abraham Lincoln — the most heavily protected vessel in human history — with up to 6000 US servicemen aboard, with a nuclear reactor on board, bristling with some 90 aircraft and hundreds of different types of missiles, was sent to the bottom of the sea by a salvo of Iranian hypersonic missiles travelling at Mach 8 (about 10,000km per hour)?

According to international law, that would be Donald J Trump, the Nobel Peace Prize aspirant.  How would Wall Street react?

Send thousands of missiles into Israel to devastate the economy
 In 2025, we learnt that Iran, using its older missiles and a swarm of drones, could turn the Iron Dome into the Iron Sieve.

Have the Israelis been able to acquire sufficient air defence interceptors to stop what could be a blizzard of thousands of missiles and drones aimed at the key infrastructure of the Israeli economy?

Probably not. Will Iran be able to deploy them? Who knows.

Support from Iranian allies in the region
 Will the powerful Iraqi Shia militias rise to support Iran and make life untenable for the Americans and other Western interests in Iraq? How will Ansar Allah (the Houthis) respond? Will Hezbollah risk joining the attack?

In truth, none of us know what will happen nor what the Iranians will be willing or able to do after an attack. Time and American violence will provide the answer.

Eugene Doyle is a community organiser based in Wellington, publisher of Solidarity and a contributor to Asia Pacific Report. His first demonstration was at the age of 12 against the Vietnam war.

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/24/how-a-us-israeli-attack-on-iran-could-crash-uk-german-nz-and-australian-economies/

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PSA – Pay equity People’s Committee does what Govt refused to – and exposes its betrayal of women

Source: PSA

  • Constitutional vandalism laid bare
The report of the People’s Select Committee on Pay Equity today is a damning indictment of the Government’s shameful actions in riding roughshod over the rule of law, bypassing democratic process and scrapping pay equity for more than 150,000 women.
“The fact that New Zealand women had to create their own select committee to be heard is a profound indictment of this government – they should be ashamed,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“This is a historic first for participatory democracy in Aotearoa and it only happened because the Government’s betrayal of women was so complete, so cynical, and so contemptuous of due process that workers had no other choice. New Zealand women will not forget that under the cover of darkness, with no prior signalling the Government cancelled pay equity claims and gutted the Equal Pay Act.
“The overwhelming response to this Committee, the volume and depth of submissions, tells you everything about the level of outrage and betrayal felt by women workers, their whānau and communities.
“The PSA represents members in 14 of the 33 cancelled claims, plus a further five claims due for review and two about to be raised. That’s more than 80,000 workers – people who show up every day to care for our most vulnerable. Their work affects every single New Zealander, and this Government is telling them their rights are expendable.
“The Committee has done what the Government should have done. It has listened. It has gathered evidence. It has produced a clear and damning record of this constitutional vandalism and it has confirmed what the PSA has said from the beginning: this was done in bad faith, to protect the Government from a future wage bill, and save its Budget, not in the interests of women or the public. We thank the former MP members of this Committee, they did the job this Government refused to do.
“The Government’s defence of its actions does not hold up to even basic scrutiny. The submissions prove it. The timeline proves it. The fact that union and employer groups were still meeting with the Minister of Health about the Care and Support Worker claim just days before the changes were announced proves it.
“Pay equity is not a privilege. It is a right. And this Government’s systematic attacks on working people, scrapping pay equity, suppressing minimum wage increases and now backing fire at will laws that make personal grievance claims far harder – will not be forgotten come the election in November.
“The PSA supports the Committee’s key recommendations and calls on the current Government and all opposition parties to commit to delivering genuine pay equity without delay. No more stalling. No more subterfuge. Women’s rights are not up for negotiation.”
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/24/psa-pay-equity-peoples-committee-does-what-govt-refused-to-and-exposes-its-betrayal-of-women/

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Holiday spending contributes to 0.9 percent increase in retail sales – Retail trade survey: December 2025 quarter – Stats NZ news story and information release

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/24/holiday-spending-contributes-to-0-9-percent-increase-in-retail-sales-retail-trade-survey-december-2025-quarter-stats-nz-news-story-and-information-release/

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View from The Hill: Chris Minns makes sense on ISIS brides’ children, while opposition adds to scaremongering

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

Among today’s leaders, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns is notable in a couple of ways.

As a Labor leader, his views are a mix of the extremely tough and the very empathetic and compassionate. His handling of the antisemitism crisis illustrates the point.

Also, Minns usually speaks his mind, and answers questions, with a frankness many of his contemporaries shy away from.

These features were evident in Minns’ Monday comments about the cohort of 34 ISIS brides and their children that has the Albanese government tied in knots and new Opposition Leader Angus Taylor responding with a knee-jerk proposal for draconian legislation.

Minns told a Monday news conference: “I’ve got no sympathy for someone who makes a decision to go and join a dangerous ideology like Islamic State”, but “I do have sympathy and concern for the children”.

He said he’d been briefed late last year on state-federal consultations about possible arrivals from Syria.

“It’s been on an official-to-officials level, and it has to do with what happens if or when they return to New South Wales. That was a situation for previous cohorts that came back to Australia [under the Morrison and Albanese governments]. He estimates about a third of the cohort would go to NSW.

In relation to the children, Minns points out that if they stayed in their present environment, when they did return the position would likely be worse.

“I think most Australians […] would say, “well, what is going to happen to these children in the years ahead if they end up in Australia, if they are Australians? What happens to them when the media moves on and we’re two to five to ten years down the line?”

An identified woman stands in a section of the camp housing Australian family members of suspected Islamic State militants who were returned to due to unspecified procedural issues following an attempted repatriation by Syrian authorities, in the Roj Camp in eastern Syria, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. Baderkhan Ahmad/AP

He said the NSW government would take care of the education of returning children (in a context of Australian values), while the “full force of the law” would be applied to the adults (who could face charges).

Minns’ combination of commonsense, concern and directness is in contrast to the stance of the federal government. It has toughened its rhetoric, presumably mainly to avoid being wedged by the opposition and One Nation. It may have also been less than fully transparent about federal officials’ involvement.

Minns’ views about the children are in line with comments of then home affairs minister Clare O’Neil in 2022, after a group of ISIS brides and children had been brought back. “The question for us is: is the safest thing for these 13 children to grow up in a squalid camp where they’re subjected to radical ideologies every single day and then return to Australia at some point when they’re an adult, or is it safer for us to bring them here so they can live a life around Australian values?”

Now Anthony Albanese and current Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, when referring to the children, basically say their situation is the parents’ fault and that’s that. They are more interested in keeping out the remaining cohort as long as possible – therefore pushing the problem down the track – than focusing publicly on the practicalities of when the families can no longer be stopped from returning.

The opposition’s proposal to make it a criminal offence “to facilitate the re-entry of individuals linked to terrorist hotspots or terrorist organisations, or who have committed terror related offences” is preformative politics.

These people are Australian citizens and have a right to return to Australia (with some qualifications – the government applied for an exclusion order against one person on security grounds). To make it a crime for an individual or organisation to assist them in some presently lawful manner would seem highly dubious in principle.

When we come to the practicalities: those helping have been Save the Children and respected Muslim figure Jamal Rifi. Rifi was a prominent supporter of Burke in last year’s election. In earlier years he has defended Scott Morrison against accusations of racism and is much respected by Morrison.

But home affairs spokesman Jonno Duniam said: “This is not about targeting a particular group or individual or organisations. It is about targeting anyone who breaks the law”.

The opposition says the private member’s bill, to be introduced in the coming sitting fortnight but destined to go nowhere, will provide that “humanitarian or security-based repatriation could continue with the express permission of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Home Affairs”.

It is about keeping repatriation formally in the hands of government, attempting to stymie self-managed returns and those who might assist them.

But we don’t have any detail, leaving exactly who would be hit as clear as mud.

Mat Tinkler, CEO Save the Children Australia, told the ABC his organisation had done two main things: provided humanitarian relief for the cohort, and advocated for the government to get them home.

“What we haven’t done is engage in any extraction or operation on the ground – that is not within our mandate and not something we would do.

“But I’m really concerned about the sentiment that this seems to express, that somehow supporting women who haven’t been charged, they haven’t been put on trial, they haven’t been convicted of any crime, and their children, who by nature and definition are innocent, trying to criminalise conduct of people seeking to bring those Australian citizens back to Australia – I think it’s a very slippery slope if we go down that path.”

– ref. View from The Hill: Chris Minns makes sense on ISIS brides’ children, while opposition adds to scaremongering – https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-chris-minns-makes-sense-on-isis-brides-children-while-opposition-adds-to-scaremongering-275913

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/23/view-from-the-hill-chris-minns-makes-sense-on-isis-brides-children-while-opposition-adds-to-scaremongering-275913/

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SICPA secures major European award for UK Vaping Duty Stamps Program

Source: Media Outreach

Swiss technology company SICPA secured a landmark traceability contract, in partnership with Spectra Systems Corporation’s subsidiary, Cartor Security Printers (Cartor), reinforcing its global leadership in secure track and trace (T&T) technology. The program will deliver robust traceability solutions to His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for vape products in the United Kingdom.

PRILLY, SWITZERLAND – EQS Newswire – 23 February 2026 – Building on SICPA’s proven experience in deploying secure T&T systems for excisable products and leveraging Cartor’s advanced security printing capabilities, the consortium will deliver a robust solution combining banknote-grade security features with state-of-the-art digital systems to effectively combat the illicit trade of vape products.

The solution will enable HMRC to support excise duty collection, enhance market compliance, protect consumers, and further strengthen its fight against illicit trade.
Following a multistage procurement process launched by HMRC in July 2025, the consortium was appointed upon detailed assessment of technical and financial submissions. The project will run for an initial five-year term, with an option for a further one-year extension. The system will be implemented in phases, beginning with a transitional duty stamp from April 2026, followed by an enhanced stamp supported by a full track and trace solution from October 2026.

Cartor will be responsible for the printing of tax stamps with the provision of core security features. SICPA will complement these with additional material and digital security features that further reinforce the system’s robustness, while also managing tax stamp coding and the track and trace software solutions. Its role also includes managing stakeholder and product registration, tax stamp ordering and payments processes, as well as data collection and compliance monitoring for HMRC across the vape products supply chain. SICPA’s advanced digital market intelligence capabilities will further enable the identification of suspicious patterns and potential fraud hotspots, while audit devices for enforcement authorities and consumer verification applications will support in tackling fraud and fakes.

“We are glad to support His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs in its mission to secure the market against illicit trade, building on decades of experience in excisable products secure traceability systems and the successes of our program throughout the world,” said Philippe Amon, Chairman and CEO of SICPA.

“Cartor is proud to work alongside SICPA to deliver this important program for HMRC,” said Andrew Brigham, Cartor’s Managing Director. “By combining our complementary strengths, this partnership delivers a trusted solution for our customer and the UK vapes market, while supporting the UK’s efforts to protect both public revenues and consumers.”

Hashtag: #SICPA

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/23/sicpa-secures-major-european-award-for-uk-vaping-duty-stamps-program/

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Esperanza Securities Introduces the First SFC-permitted Tokenized Investment for Live Entertainment in Asia Pacific

Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 February 2026 – Esperanza Fintech (Securities) Limited (“Esperanza Securities“, or “Company“) announced today that, following the granting of the formal permission on its tokenized investment business by the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong (“SFC“) on 13 February 2026, the Company is introducing an innovative financing and community engagement model for the live entertainment industry.

The tokenized investment model enables Esperanza Securities to issue investment tokens (also known as security tokens) through an investment fund it manages, allowing eligible investors to participate with a significantly lower entry barrier and trade the tokens in secondary markets.

Against the emerging tokenized real-world-asset (RWA) trend worldwide, Esperanza Securities is among the first platforms with a systematic focus on the live entertainment industry. Following the granting of the permission by the SFC, two upcoming tokenized entertainment investments will include the Chris Wong 40th Anniversary Concert which will take place in Hong Kong on 6 to 7 March 2026 and a Korean boy band concert which will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 11 April 2026.

Innovation beyond technology: a focus on product structure

Entertainment industry assets have long benefited from a clear business model and income structure, which include box office receipts, sponsorships and merchandise revenue. Through tokenization, Esperanza Securities offers a new path for asset owners such as concert organizers to access capital without altering their operational models, while enabling investors to directly participate in opportunities linked to real economic activities.

The application of the tokenized investment model spans beyond the live entertainment industry. In fact, opportunities with clear business models and easily valuated underlying assets possess immense potential for tokenization. For instance, cultural and experiential projects with clear community monetization models and assets with stable and predictable cash flows, such as commercial properties, can all benefit from tokenization.

Bridging global investors to Asian assets through a 24×7 platform

Through the proprietary platform, espetopia.com (“Platform“), Esperanza Securities enables eligible investors to back real economy linked Asian projects, anytime and anywhere, without geographical limitations.

Eligible investors from all over the world can access all investment-related information, trade investment tokens and redeem utilities and experiences associated with the underlying assets through the Platform. This infrastructure enhances the visibility of Asian opportunities in global markets and effectively pools global capital to fund real economic developments, across verticals from cultural intellectual properties to the broader experience economies.

Looking ahead: charting a digital financing path for high-quality real assets

Looking forward, Esperanza Securities will continue to advance its asset-backed tokenized investment model under a prudent and compliant framework. The Company aims to progressively build a sustainable digital investment ecosystem centered on real assets with clear economic foundations.

As market acceptance of RWA digitization continues to grow, the Company sees promising potential for asset-backed tokenization to become an integral financing option alongside traditional public listings and private placements.

Hashtag: #EsperanzaFintech

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/23/esperanza-securities-introduces-the-first-sfc-permitted-tokenized-investment-for-live-entertainment-in-asia-pacific/

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The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops: Asia Pacific’s Notable Winners

Source: Media Outreach

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 February 2026 – The second edition of THE WORLD’S 100 BEST COFFEE SHOPS 2026 with DaVinci Gourmet announced its global rankings at CoffeeFest Madrid 2026, revealing a reshaped coffee landscape for the Asia Pacific region.

This definitive list of the world’s best specialty coffee shops saw Australia deepening its leadership with seven coffee shops in the global ranking, Taiwan with four, returning favourites such as Singapore’s Apartment Coffee maintaining its 2025 ranking, and Malaysia’s Story of Ono climb one level up.

Australian newcomer Only Coffee Project Crows Nest clinched 4th position followed by Toby’s Estate Coffee Roasters in 5th. Returning to the list were Proud Mary Coffee and Coffee Anthology, joined by newcomers Beta Coffee and Single O. The blend of returning icons and new entrants underlines Australia’s ongoing influence on global café standards.

In Asia, Apartment Coffee in Singapore and Story of Ono in Malaysia took 6th and 8th place respectively, with The Republic of South Korea, Japan, China, and The Philippines securing placements in this year’s Top 100 rankings.

See the full list at The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops

The list confirms the emergence of new global capitals of quality coffee, as well as the consolidation of an increasingly diverse and innovative international coffee community that includes The United States, which leads the ranking with nine selected coffee shops, South America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and Middle East.

“Congratulations to all 100 ranked coffee shops. The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops 2026 with DaVinci Gourmet is the global benchmark celebrating the cafés shaping the future of coffee, and as a leading beverage solutions brand, DaVinci Gourmet is proud to stand alongside it as the global title partner,” said Eloise Dubuisson, General Manager, Food Service Brands, Kerry Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa.

A GLOBAL EVALUATION PROCESS

The ranking is produced through a mixed system combining the evaluation of more than 800 professional judges from all continents with public voting, which exceeded 350,000 votes in this edition. In total, more than 15,000 coffee shops worldwide were analysed.

RECOGNISING EXCELLENCE IN COFFEE

A benchmark for the industry and professionals, The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops aims to highlight coffee shops that not only serve exceptional coffee but also create unique coffee experiences.

As Global and Title Partner of the 2026 edition, and together with initiatives like the DaVinci Gourmet Barista Craft Championship, DaVinci Gourmet remains committed to championing global beverage artistry and café culture.

Hashtag: #TheWorlds100BestCoffeeShop #DaVinciGourmet

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/23/the-worlds-100-best-coffee-shops-asia-pacifics-notable-winners/

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Witnesses sought after pedestrian killed in Te Anau hit and run

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / REECE BAKER

Police are appealing for public help after a pedestrian was hit and killed by a car and the driver left the scene.

It happened in Te Anau at about 8.45am outside a business in the town centre.

Police want to speak with the driver, and want to hear from anyone in the area who saw the crash.

They’re also appealing for anyone who may have dashcam footage of it, or of the moments before.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police as soon as possible.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/23/witnesses-sought-after-pedestrian-killed-in-te-anau-hit-and-run/

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Government advises Kiwis in Mexico to monitor updates after security and travel disruptions

Source: Radio New Zealand

Passengers remain stranded at Guadalajara International Airport following flight suspensions and lack of transport in Tlajomulco, Jalisco State, Mexico, on February 22, 2026. ULISES RUIZ/AFP

The government is urging New Zealanders in Mexico to monitor updates and follow the advice of local authorities after the death of a mexican drug lord prompted violence and disruptions.

Following the death of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, incidents were reported across the state of Jalisco, including in Guadalajara, Chapala and Puerto Vallarta, after a federal law-enforcement operation.

SafeTravel has said that New Zealanders in the affected areas should monitor local media for updates and follow the advice of the local authorities.

Mexican National Guard special forces stand guard around the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime (FEMDO) headquarters in Mexico City on February 22, 2026. ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP

It also advised Kiwis in the region to contact the New Zealand Embassy if they require consular assistance.

Travel in the affected areas had been restricted with airlines suspending some flights in Jalisco, including to Puerto Vallarta. Due to highway blockades across the country, bus service had also been suspended in many areas.

SafeTravel said New Zealanders should get in touch with their travel provider for any updates or disruptions to travel.

It said security incidents were also reported in other parts of Mexico and authorities in Puerto Vallarta had issued a public advisory to stay indoors.

The New Zealand Embassy can be contacted on +52 55 5283 9460 or nzmexico@mfat.govt.nz. For urgent consular assistance after hours, please call +64 99 20 20 20.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/23/government-advises-kiwis-in-mexico-to-monitor-updates-after-security-and-travel-disruptions/

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‘It has been a very invisible service’ – district nurses struggle with understaffing

Source: Radio New Zealand

District nurses who have done the job for decades say understaffing is the worst it has ever been. File photo. 123rf.com

Waikato district nurses are at the end of their tether, as demand for their services soars.

District nurses – who provide care for patients in the community rather than in hospitals or clinics – say they are severely understaffed and it is causing burnout and stress, leading to widespread resignations.

They also say it is putting their safety at risk.

It comes as Worksafe considers a complaint from the NZ Nurses Organisation that Health New Zealand’s failure to improve district nurses’ working conditions was a breach of the Health and Safety Act.

Amy* is a district nurse from the Coromandel and says when she finally gets home after a shift she is so exhausted she can not do anything other than quickly eat dinner and then roll straight into bed.

She has done the job for several decades and said understaffing was the worst it had ever been.

She told Checkpoint she has to be on call, almost around the clock.

“If you go out at 11 at night, you might be out for two hours till one in the morning. You’ve then gotta unwind somehow because you’ve just been dealing with a palliative situation… possible end of life and then have to get yourself organised and come to work at eight in the morning.”

District nurses provide care to people in their communities. This includes care for wounds, IV management and palliative care.

It means nurses in rural areas often have to travel long distances multiple times.

Amy said that due to the staffing issues, they can be forced to choose which patients to see that day.

“It has been for too long, a very invisible service. And it’s only when the wheels start falling off and we start saying ‘no, I’m sorry, we can’t take patients, we actually can’t see them’, that it’s created a crisis. The risk is also that people are discharged without the support that they need. They have another crisis where they end up back in hospital very quickly.”

Amy said without district nursing, 30 percent of their patients would end up in hospital, which would come at a far higher cost to the taxpayer.

“There isn’t a team wrapped around them. Every time they’re at a patient’s house, there isn’t somebody to ring. There isn’t a doctor just down the hallway or whatever. So that decision making happens for those nurses every day individually in a person’s home when they’re right there.

“You can’t just go and get somebody else to just come and have a quick look… it’s not a thing, so responsibility is very high.”

Sarah*, another Coromandel district nurse, said many of her colleagues over the years had resigned because they could not cope with the physical and mental toll of the job.

“I know there are some people that are on anti-depressants, I personally am not at that stage yet, but then it takes a lot to stress me out.

“But when you’ve got a family, I’ve only got a husband at home, but there are staff members who’ve got families and young children.”

Sarah said district nurses can be sent to isolated areas where there was no phone signal so they were unable to call for help if it was needed.

“At the moment we do go out by ourselves, we also go out to houses we’ve never been to before and they could be out in the middle of nowhere.

“You don’t know what you’re going to find when you get to that house. Sometimes, it’s not a very nice environment and you really don’t want to be there, so sometimes we just turn around and drive off.

“But you don’t know that until you actually get to the house.”

The situation is similar in Hamilton.

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation said 34 full-time district nurses were needed across Waikato in 2024.

But NZNO Waikato organiser Nigel Dawson said demand for the service had nearly doubled since then.

“We need as soon as possible to re-do those calculations to look at what is required for safe staffing now.”

Dawson said district nurses in Hamilton are also often confronted with verbal and physical intimidation.

“A nurse had stopped at a traffic light and an offender jumped in with a machete, they didn’t actually take the car, but they forced her to drive around.

“She eventually managed to abandon the vehicle safely, but obviously with significant stress.”

In November last year, the NZ Nurses Organisation (NZNO) wrote to Health NZ Te Whatu Ora and said the understaffing of district nurses was putting their safety at risk.

Worksafe said it was considering the NZNO’s complaint.

Health New Zealand Waikato chief nursing officer Cheryl Atherfold said it was currently recruiting an extra 13 full-time district nurses.

It was also reviewing community models of care such as district nursing, while strengthening night-call processes.

Every Health NZ Waikato car has a distress alarm on each key ring, which staff can push if they felt unsafe while out in the community.

Heath NZ have started their 2026 patient safety calculations and District Nursing will be recalculated.

*Names have been changed to protect identities

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/23/it-has-been-a-very-invisible-service-district-nurses-struggle-with-understaffing/