NZ-AU: U.S. Department of Commerce Increases Duties on Chinese Battery-Grade Graphite to 160%+ in Final Determinations

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-NZ-AU)

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., Feb. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NOVONIX Limited (NASDAQ: NVX, ASX: NVX) (“NOVONIX” or the “Company”), today acknowledged the U.S. Department of Commerce’s (“Commerce”) final determinations in the antidumping and countervailing duty investigations covering anode active materials (“AAM”) imported into the U.S. from China. The total amount of the tariffs applicable to AAM imported from China will be at least 160%, subject to a final affirmative determination by the U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”) that the U.S. AAM industry has been materially impeded because of Chinese AAM imports. The ITC’s final determination is expected in March 2026.

Highlights
Subject to the ITC’s final determination on material impediment:

  • An antidumping duty of 93.5% will be imposed on AAM imports from China from specified companies and a duty of 102.72% will be imposed China-wide on all other exporters
  • A countervailing duty of 66.82% to 66.86% will be imposed on all AAM imports from China producers
  • These duties will remain in effect unless revoked and will be reviewed every five years

“These determinations represent a meaningful step toward restoring fair competition in the U.S. anode materials market,” said Mike O’Kronley, CEO of NOVONIX. “By addressing longstanding trade distortions, these measures strengthen the foundation for domestic production of critical battery materials, accelerate investment in U.S. manufacturing, and support the creation of high-quality advanced manufacturing jobs. We believe this materially enhances NOVONIX’s competitive position as we continue scaling synthetic graphite production in North America.”

The duties apply broadly to anode-graphite materials, as defined by Commerce, including synthetic and natural graphite products, whether coated or uncoated, and blended materials used in lithium-ion battery applications.

The previously imposed 25% tariff under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 and 20% tariff under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”) on AAM imports from China remain in effect. The legal validity of the IEEPA tariffs is currently under review by the U.S. Supreme Court.

NOVONIX supports the transparent and rules-based enforcement of U.S. trade laws and believes these determinations represent an important step in promoting fair competition, strengthening domestic battery supply chains, and encouraging long-term capital investment in advanced manufacturing in the United States.

With the most advanced synthetic graphite production capability in North America, NOVONIX is strategically positioned to support customers seeking secure, domestically produced anode materials. The Company continues to execute on its strategy to expand high-performance synthetic graphite production in the United States, reinforcing supply chain resilience, U.S. energy security, and long-term manufacturing competitiveness.

Additional information regarding the determinations is available through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Enforcement and Compliance records.

This announcement has been authorized for release by NOVONIX Chairman,
Mr. Ron Edmonds.

About NOVONIX
NOVONIX strives to reduce supply chain risk, support U.S. energy independence, and establish a resilient battery materials supply chain. The company is building a North American platform for critical battery materials—anchored by its Chattanooga, Tennessee headquarters and anode materials operations, expanding through its patented all-dry, precursor-free cathode synthesis technology, and supported by industry-leading battery cell testing and R&D services.
Together, these capabilities position NOVONIX as an integrated supplier of advanced battery materials and technologies powering the energy storage and electrification economy.

To learn more, visit us at www.novonixgroup.com or on LinkedIn and X.

For NOVONIX Limited
Investors: ir@novonixgroup.com
Media: media@novonixgroup.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements about the Company and the industry in which it operates. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” or “would,” or other similar expressions. Examples of forward-looking statements in this communication include, among others, statements made regarding the creation and development of new technology, anticipated production capacity at its facilities, anticipated customer demand, the impacts of economic uncertainty, tariffs, and other legislation on our timely achievement of targets and customer milestones, our ability to obtain or maintain and benefit from additional government funding and other support, our expectations of the benefit of the antidumping and countervailing duty determinations, tariffs imposed on China and other countries, improving and growing battery testing equipment and research and development services business, continued investment in and efforts to commercialize the cathode synthesis technology, and efforts to help localize the battery supply chain for critical materials and play a leading role in the transition to cleaner energy solutions.

The Company has based such statements on current expectations and projections about future events and trends that it believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Such forward-looking statements involve and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the timely deployment and scaling of its furnace technology, ability to meet the technical specifications and demand of existing and future customers, the accuracy of estimates regarding market size, expenses, future revenue, capital requirements, needs and access for additional financing, the availability and impact and compliance with the applicable terms of government funding and other support, ability to obtain patent rights effective to protect its technologies and processes and successfully defend any challenges to such rights and prevent others from commercializing such technologies and processes, and regulatory and economic developments in the United States, Australia, and other jurisdictions. These and other factors that could affect its business and results are included in its filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 20-F. Copies of these filings may be obtained by visiting the Company’s Investor Relations website at www.novonixgroup.com or the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or outcomes, and actual performance and outcomes may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this communication. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement in this communication is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

– Published by The MIL Network

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/13/nz-au-u-s-department-of-commerce-increases-duties-on-chinese-battery-grade-graphite-to-160-in-final-determinations/

Warrant to arrest: Steven Te Maru Walters

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are working to locate Steven Te Maru Walters, who has a warrant for his arrest and is wanted by Police.

Walters, 40, is wanted by Police in relation to breaching his release conditions and is known to frequent the Whangārei area.

It’s believed he is actively avoiding Police.

If you have seen Walters or have any information that may assist in locating him, please update us online now or call 105.

Please use the reference number 250220/4117.

Alternatively information can be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/13/warrant-to-arrest-steven-te-maru-walters/

Foreign Minister hosts Commonwealth Secretary General

Source: New Zealand Government

Foreign Minister Winston Peters has welcomed Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey on her first official visit to New Zealand today. 

“The Commonwealth plays an important role in bringing countries together around shared values,” Mr Peters says. 

“New Zealand welcomes the Secretary-General’s engagement in the Pacific and her focus on reform, and we look forward to continued engagement on priorities of mutual interest.” 

In their talks in Auckland, Mr Peters emphasised New Zealand’s support for a Commonwealth that is effective, accountable, and focused on its core strengths, including democracy, good governance, human rights, and the rule of law. 

Discussions also focused on the Secretary-General’s ambitious reform agenda and the importance of initiatives such as the Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration in delivering tangible impacts for small states, including the Pacific.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/13/foreign-minister-hosts-commonwealth-secretary-general/

Fatal crash, Karaka Road / State Highway 7, Waikari

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can confirm that one person has died following a crash in Hurunui this morning.

The single vehicle crash on Karaka Road / State Highway 7 was reported about 6.40am.

Despite best efforts by emergency services sadly one person died at the scene.

In addition, one person has been seriously injured and two people have been moderately injured.

The road was closed while emergency services worked at the scene, and it has now reopened.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/13/fatal-crash-karaka-road-state-highway-7-waikari/

Football: Injured All Whites star Chris Wood gets ‘positive news’

Source: Radio New Zealand

All Whites captain Chris Wood is on the comeback from injury. PHOTOSPORT

All Whites captain Chris Wood’s road to recovery from a knee injury has taken many routes, but the striker has had positive news as he looks ahead to the path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Wood suffered the injury in mid-October while playing in the English Premier League for Nottingham Forest and had surgery in December.

While he has been sidelined, Wood has watched Forest slip towards the relegation zone and fire a third manager this season.

“The easiest thing to say would be it’s part and parcel of football, but it’s been frustrating,” Wood said of his recovery in an interview recorded by Nottingham Forest.

“The manner of the injury has not been perfect because we’ve tried different things, had setbacks, having to go down different routes with surgery and things like that. It’s not been smooth sailing.”

Wood said by “suffering through the lows” of this season it would help him “come back stronger and better”.

“It’s getting better day by day, which is great. Had some positive news yesterday from the surgeon to say I can get on to the next stages and things like that, so it’s better for my rehab now.

“I’ve got to do the right things to get back fit and ready.”

The 34-year-old said he was looking forward to returning to play before the end of the Premier League in May and the World Cup, which kicks off in June.

“There is a lot on the horizon which will be fantastic to be a part of, and the World Cup is definitely one of them.”

He will miss the All Whites’ FIFA Series in Auckland next month.

The All Whites’ last warm-up game before the World Cup is against England.

“Coming up against England will be a great occasion, a tough opponent for us… we’ve always wanted to pit ourselves against the best and England is definitely one of the best and one of the favourites for the World Cup, so it will be a good experience, for sure.”

Wood was recognised with The New Zealand Society’s inaugural Pride of New Zealand award in London last week.

Aware of the influence he had on the next generation of football players in Aotearoa, Wood said he wanted to be an inspiration.

“We’ve had a lot of Kiwis playing across the world at great levels but we’ve only ever had six ever play in the Premier League, and that’s something you’ve got to be extremely proud [of].

“We want more Kiwis playing in the Premier League or playing at high levels around the world, and we’ve got quite a lot who do it, but hopefully there can be a lot more coming after seeing what can be achieved with Kiwis around the world.”

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/13/football-injured-all-whites-star-chris-wood-gets-positive-news/

Football: Injured All Whites star Chris Wood get ‘positive news’

Source: Radio New Zealand

All Whites captain Chris Wood is on the comeback from injury. PHOTOSPORT

All Whites captain Chris Wood’s road to recovery from a knee injury has taken many routes, but the striker has had positive news as he looks ahead to the path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Wood suffered the injury in mid-October while playing in the English Premier League for Nottingham Forest and had surgery in December.

While he has been sidelined, Wood has watched Forest slip towards the relegation zone and fire a third manager this season.

“The easiest thing to say would be it’s part and parcel of football, but it’s been frustrating,” Wood said of his recovery in an interview recorded by Nottingham Forest.

“The manner of the injury has not been perfect because we’ve tried different things, had setbacks, having to go down different routes with surgery and things like that. It’s not been smooth sailing.”

Wood said by “suffering through the lows” of this season it would help him “come back stronger and better”.

“It’s getting better day by day, which is great. Had some positive news yesterday from the surgeon to say I can get on to the next stages and things like that, so it’s better for my rehab now.

“I’ve got to do the right things to get back fit and ready.”

The 34-year-old said he was looking forward to returning to play before the end of the Premier League in May and the World Cup, which kicks off in June.

“There is a lot on the horizon which will be fantastic to be a part of, and the World Cup is definitely one of them.”

He will miss the All Whites’ FIFA Series in Auckland next month.

The All Whites’ last warm-up game before the World Cup is against England.

“Coming up against England will be a great occasion, a tough opponent for us… we’ve always wanted to pit ourselves against the best and England is definitely one of the best and one of the favourites for the World Cup, so it will be a good experience, for sure.”

Wood was recognised with The New Zealand Society’s inaugural Pride of New Zealand award in London last week.

Aware of the influence he had on the next generation of football players in Aotearoa, Wood said he wanted to be an inspiration.

“We’ve had a lot of Kiwis playing across the world at great levels but we’ve only ever had six ever play in the Premier League, and that’s something you’ve got to be extremely proud [of].

“We want more Kiwis playing in the Premier League or playing at high levels around the world, and we’ve got quite a lot who do it, but hopefully there can be a lot more coming after seeing what can be achieved with Kiwis around the world.”

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/2026/02/13/football-injured-all-whites-star-chris-wood-get-positive-news/

Opposition finds change to school lunch scheme’s name hard to swallow

Source: Radio New Zealand

David Seymour eating a school lunch. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

A free school lunches programme rebrand has dropped the reo Māori name Ka Ora Ka Ako, in a move Associate Minister of Education David Seymour says is “delivering real value”.

The change comes alongside a new purpose statement and a review of the overall policy.

Papers released under the Official Information Act showed Cabinet agreed on 20 October to rename the programme formerly known as ‘Ka Ora, Ka Ako Healthy School Lunches’, to simply ‘Healthy School Lunches’.

“People need to know what things are,” Seymour said. “That’s why we’re using an English name that everyone understands. Delivering real value with taxpayer money is important to Kiwis. That’s why we’ve delivered a healthy school lunch programme which gets the same results, and has been forecasted to save the taxpayer almost $300m already.”

He said they would continue to find ways to ensure the programme fed children “and gets value for the taxpayer”.

Labour’s Willow-Jean Prime said the change was “beyond ridiculous”.

“This government is more worried about what the programme is called than ensuring that our children have lunches that don’t explode. This government’s school lunches program has been a flop.”

Green MP Teanau Tuiono said it was “the opposite of virtue signalling”.

“I’m going to call it toxic signalling to their base… that’s going to bring out a particular contingent of people that think that way… It’s anti-Māori, it’s racist and in many ways pathetic.”

Seymour saying everyone could understand English was “just an excuse”, Tuiono said. “The English and the Māori sit right next to each other.”

A student from Otahuhu College holds an example of a school lunch in 2025. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said it was a “sad reflection of the views of this government”, and showed ACT was trying to get votes.

“We’ve seen Winston [Peters, NZ First leader] double down and basically say, ‘Unless you are a good Māori, you don’t deserve to have Māori representation.’ … These guys on Friday, sitting there saying, ‘Oh, we don’t want to see Māori names in the schools.’

“Expect the campaign from these two parties to be an attack at the Treaty, an attack at Māori, and it starts by again attacking our reo – no surprise.

“Buckle up, believe in yourself and vote against this type of divisive politicking.”

Seymour rebuffed the opposition’s criticisms.

“If they’re getting excited about minor administrative issues like this, they’ll be in opposition for a very long time,” he said.

Ngarewa-Packer denounced that.

“Takes a certain type of narcissist to sit there and trivialise the significance of food in schools, the significance of culture and communities, the significance of te reo Māori… it’s just too important for us to sit quiet and let David dismiss it as administrative.”

Tuiono said if it was so minor, “Why is the effort being put put on this in the first place?”

The papers showed Cabinet considered the original objectives of the programme “no longer fit for purpose”.

Those objectives include providing regular access to healthy lunches to reduce risk of food insecurity, improve wellbeing and promote attendance at school, and boost local economies through job creation including by providing a living wage.

They will be replaced by a new single primary objective, “to mitigate the impact of food insecurity in school”, and new “sub-objectives” focused on mitigating “the immediate negative impact of hunger on a student’s ability to learn” and “the long-term negative effects of food insecurity on a child’s physical, cognitive, and neurological development”.

The Ministry of Education was directed to investigate how to achieve the objectives, including whether curbing food insecurity could be better achieved “in other contexts that reach children during the time they are not at school”.

The review would also investigate other ways to target those at risk of food insecurity including “exploring a voucher-type solution and use of the Integrated Data Infrastructure Database” – indicating it could be brought into a Social Investment approach.

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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/2026/02/13/opposition-finds-change-to-school-lunch-schemes-name-hard-to-swallow/

Four children escape as bus goes up in flames at Leigh

Source: Radio New Zealand

Four children were on board when the bus caught fire. Supplied / Police

A bus carrying children has been extensively damaged by a fire.

Emergency services were called to the fire near the north Auckland village of Leigh just before 8.30am on Friday.

Police said the bus, which was on Pakiri Road, was “extensively damaged” by the blaze.

“Four children were onboard at the time of the fire and they have all been safely removed,” Sergeant Mark Stallworthy said.

“It’s fortunate that no one has been hurt.”

Sergeant Stallworthy said Pakiri Road is down to one lane until about midday.

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/2026/02/13/four-children-escape-as-bus-goes-up-in-flames-at-leigh/

Health and Safety changes will harm workers

Source: NZCTU

The new Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill is a dangerous move away from the longstanding commitment to ensure all workers should come home healthy and safe, says New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi President Sandra Grey.

“New Zealand has a long way to go to make workplaces safer, and this Bill is a huge step in the wrong direction.  This Bill is only the latest in a string of anti-worker attacks from Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke Van Velden.

“Under the guise of clarity and cost-saving, the Bill establishes a two-tier safety system where workers in small businesses will have significantly less protection at work than workers in larger organisations.

“The size of the business you work for shouldn’t dictate your standard of safety at work. Every worker should come home safe at the end of the day.

“Every 15 minutes in New Zealand a worker suffers an injury that requires more than a week off work. Instead of trying to improve our health and safety systems, this Government is choosing to water them down even further.

“75% of ACC’s work injury costs are made up of so-called less serious risks, but this Bill does little to address this issue. Workers in small businesses facing day-to-day risks like violence and aggression, stress and fatigue, and musculoskeletal injuries will suffer because of these changes.

“Everyone deserves protection at work. The Government is putting workers in harm’s way and saying to businesses that they don’t need to keep workers safe. This Bill is heartless,” said Grey.

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/13/health-and-safety-changes-will-harm-workers/

Turkish delegation visit strengthens historic bond

Source: New Zealand Government

The friendship forged after the Gallipoli campaign more than a century ago is stronger than ever, following an official visit by a senior Turkish delegation, Veterans Minister Chris Penk says. 

The delegation comprised Mr Ömer Toraman, the Governor of Çanakkale — the province encompassing the Gallipoli Peninsula — Mr İsmail Kaşdemir, President of the Gallipoli Historical Site Directorate, and Mr Kerem Yenigün, District Governor of Eceabat. 

During their time in New Zealand, the delegation met with Foreign Minister Winston Peters, laid a wreath at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, visited the popular Gallipoli exhibition at Te Papa, and met with officials. 

“It was a privilege to engage with our Turkish friends once again. We greatly appreciate the time they have taken to travel across the world to New Zealand. Their visit demonstrates the strength of the bond between our two nations,” Mr Penk says. 

“Our relationship, forged through shared sacrifice during the First World War, has endured and evolved across generations. Every year, many New Zealanders travel to Türkiye as a rite of passage to pay their respects on the Gallipoli Peninsula as part of Anzac Day commemorations.” 

Mr Penk acknowledged the continued generosity of the Turkish Government and people in welcoming New Zealand visitors to Gallipoli.  

“Honouring the sacrifice of all those who served on the Peninsula remains deeply meaningful for New Zealanders,” Mr Penk says.  
 
“With growing instability around the world and increasing unrest, it is more important than ever to strengthen our collective resolve to uphold peace and understanding.  

“The relationship between Türkiye and New Zealand stands as a remarkable example of enduring reconciliation, and a testament to mutual respect and shared values. 

“We must heed the lessons of history and commit to working together for a peaceful and cooperative future that acknowledges the past.”

“While those shared sacrifices at Gallipoli will always provide a foundation for the relationship, we continue to collaborate to extend our connection in a range of other areas, including through youth engagement and cultural exchanges.” 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/13/turkish-delegation-visit-strengthens-historic-bond/

Northcote’s new community hub gets underway

Source: Auckland Council

Northcote is rapidly transforming – and with nearly 890 new homes already completed, another 300 under construction and more planned, improved community facilities are essential. To support this growing neighbourhood and create better spaces for people to connect, a new multi-purpose community hub will begin next month on the site of the existing library.

A new community hub for a growing community

The new facility will bring together the library and key community services  Hearts & Minds, North Art, Citizens Advice Bureau, and Plunket – into one modern, flexible space.

Kate Cumberpatch, Priority Location Direction, at the Auckland Urban Development Office, says, “The heritage-listed library building will be upgraded and complemented by a new contemporary wing, offering shared spaces, community rooms for hire and an enlarged front plaza. It’s going to be a modern vibrant, welcoming space for the community to come together and enjoy.”

“At the back, a covered veranda will connect to the neighbouring Puāwai Cadness Reserve, which is also being upgraded, to create a seamless indoor-outdoor experience for visitors.”

A revitalised Puāwai Cadness Reserve

When finished, the reserve will offer new recreational spaces and improved amenities. Kate says, “We’re excited for the community to be getting an improved community hub and a dramatically enhanced reserve. A new basketball court, a large lawn area with a pavilion, children’s play spaces, toilets, and generous new planting will create a more attractive usable and greener environment.”

Improving stormwater and building resilience

Stormwater management will also be significantly upgraded. Kate says, “The new hub, reserve upgrade and final section of Te Ara Awataha, Northcote’s new greenway, will improve drainage to further mitigate the long-standing flooding issues in the area, while delivering valuable environmental, community and health benefits.”

Temporary Library and Services During Construction

To prepare for construction, Northcote Library will close from Monday 16 February and reopen on Monday 2 March 2026 at a temporary hub at 1 Ernie Mays Street. Hearts & Minds, NorthArt, Citizens Advice Bureau, and Plunket will be there too until the new hub and reserve opens at the end of 2027.

Despite the smaller footprint, library services and operating hours will remain the same and car parking will continue to be available on the corner of Ernie Mays Street and College Road. Northcote Library Manager Lucia Mataia says, “We’ll prioritise our most popular and interesting items on shelves. And thanks to our free request and collection service, customers will still have full access to the entire Auckland Libraries network.”

Part of Northcote’s wider 10-year transformation

The new community hub is a key milestone in Auckland Council’s major long-term redevelopment of Northcote’s town centre. Over the next few years, community facilities will be upgraded, followed by the staged modernisation of the shopping precinct.

Ernie Mays Street will be extended from 2027 to become the new main street, and there will be a larger supermarket, new shops and eateries, offices, homes, car parking, and a new town square – creating a vibrant heart for the local community.

Find out more on the AUDO website.

The Auckland Urban Development Office leads Auckland Council’s urban transformation projects – working with mana whenua, developers, and the community to create vibrant, future-ready neighbourhoods.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/13/northcotes-new-community-hub-gets-underway/

Phoenix women chase A-League title

Source: Radio New Zealand

Makala Woods of Wellington Phoenix celebrates her goal with Brooke Nunn and Lucia de Leon. www.photosport.nz

The Wellington Phoenix can be forgiven for showing a bit of swagger after reaching the top of the A-League standings.

For the first time in their history, the Phoenix were number one in the standings, albeit briefly, after beating Brisbane on Waitangi Day, their fourth successive win.

Melbourne City took over top spot later in the weekend, but the Wellingtonian’s brief stint at the summit did give coach Bev Priestman the opportunity to think about the possibility of winning the league.

“It’s there right, it’s real and it is definitely in sight for us,” Priestman told RNZ.

In her first season in charge, Priestman has the team playing some impressive football despite the loss of a couple of key players to injury.

Wellington Phoenix FC women’s coach Bev Priestman www.photosport.nz

She said the unbeaten run in the last month had shown the team’s desire.

“Players getting through moments and willing to do anything for the team is the difference. You see teams be successful with players running through a brick wall for each other.”

However, she said they can’t get carried away.

“There is a mindset when you’re top of the table to be hunted rather than be the hunter, so we’ve got to forget about the table and just do us and get as many points as we can in our remaining matches.”

The Phoenix have seven wins, three draws and three losses this season and sit two points behind Melbourne City. They take on seventh-placed Central Coast Mariners in Porirua on Sunday.

They have scored the most goals so far this season (27) while their defence has also been solid, conceding just 10 goals – the least in the league, while they’ve had five clean sheets.

Pia Vlok is sixth in the goal-scoring rankings with five goals, Makala Woods is second in goal assists and Brooke Nunn is third in chances created.

Despite their lofty standings, Priestman is expecting more from her side.

“This team hasn’t hit the level that I know they can and that is the scary thing as a coach, I still think this team has more.”

Emma Pijenburg of Wellington Phoenix. www.photosport.nz

However, Priestman said the players need to remember what has go them to this position and that means remaining positive.

“What we don’t do is play it safe, (we’ve got to) go full throttle, doing us and doing it well.

“We just have to keep being brave, playing forward. What I don’t want is sideways and backwards. I want us to step forward, stand up and be counted.”

Priestman doesn’t believe they are the best team in the league, but that isn’t the priority for her.

“Everywhere I go right now people are talking about this team and that’s what we wanted, to create a movement and make this country a women’s football country.

“That’s what it means to this group, more than points and accolades, we want people talking about this team and what this team can do.”

In their four previous seasons, the Phoenix have finished 10th, 11th, 8th and 9th.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/13/phoenix-women-chase-a-league-title/

Relying on tug boat from Australia risks lives, council leaders say

Source: Radio New Zealand

Interislander ferry Kaitaki was sailing into Wellington Harbour in January 2023 with 854 passengers on board when it lost power. KiwiRail

Council leaders on both sides of Cook Strait say lives could be put at risk due to its emergency tug being off-contract from this month.

In November it was announced the government had sunk plans to station an open ocean tug in the Cook Strait long-term after it said the costs outweighed the benefits.

The government also announced it would end the contract for the MMA Vision open ocean tug this month, rather than June when it was contracted for.

For years local government leaders on either side of the North and South Island had been calling for open ocean tugs after several near-miss accidents.

One of these was in January 2023 when the Interislander ferry Kaitaki was sailing into Wellington Harbour with 854 passengers on board and lost power, which resulted in a mayday call.

Greater Wellington Regional Council chair Daran Ponter said the absence of an emergency tug posed unacceptable risks.

Daran Ponter. RNZ / Dom Thomas

“Cancelling the MMA Vision contract puts lives and economic lifelines in peril.”

Marlborough Mayor Nadine Taylor agreed, saying it was one of the most complex stretches of water in the world to navigate.

“It’s also a shipping route of national significance where the government is responsible for safety.”

The two leaders had penned a letter to Transport Minister Chris Bishop asking for an extension of the MMA Vision’s contract. They said not having the tug nearby would risk human safety, financial stability and the environment given the clean-up cost and damage if a large ship sank.

Ponter said from July, the closest vessel that would have emergency open ocean tug capability would be 1200 nautical miles away in Australia.

“That’s about five days of travel time. We cannot depend on harbour tugs for open-ocean rescues. They are not designed, equipped or crewed for towing large vessels in Cook Strait – where conditions are frequently beyond their operating parameters.”

RNZ has approached Bishop for a response.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/13/relying-on-tug-boat-from-australia-risks-lives-council-leaders-say/

Lanes reopen following crash, Woodhill

Source: New Zealand Police


District:

Northland

Police can advise all lanes have now reopened following an earlier crash at the intersection of Western Hills Drive and Maunu Road, Woodhill. 

We thank motorists for their patience while the scene was cleared.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/13/lanes-reopen-following-crash-woodhill/

School bus fire, Leigh

Source: New Zealand Police

Emergency services have been attending a school bus fire near Leigh this morning.

The incident was reported on Pakiri Road just before 8.30am.

The bus has been extensively damaged by fire.

“Four children were onboard at the time of the fire and they have all been safely removed,” Sergeant Mark Stallworthy says.

“It’s fortunate that no one has been hurt.”

Sergeant Stallworthy says Pakiri Road is down to one lane until about midday.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/13/school-bus-fire-leigh/

Non-consensual AI porn doesn’t violate privacy – but it’s still wrong

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julian Koplin, Lecturer in Bioethics, Monash University & Honorary fellow, Melbourne Law School, Monash University

Jorge Salvador/Unsplash

It rarely takes long before new media technologies are turned to the task of creating pornography. This was true of the printing press, photography, and the earliest days of the internet. It’s also true of generative artificial intelligence (AI).

Face-swapping tech has been around for more than a decade. It almost immediately gave rise to “deepfakes” – fake, yet convincing images and videos of people.

Generative AI has supercharged the spread of deepfake pornography, making it easier than ever to fabricate explicit pictures and videos of others.

And it’s not just celebrities who are victimised. Deepfake nudes of classmates and teachers are rife in schools around the world, sometimes targeting children as young as 11. Image-based abuse is widespread, and victims say the law doesn’t offer enough protection.

So what does the law say about this? And even when not illegal, is it ever ethical to use this technology for one’s private fantasies?

Deepfake pornography and the law

In 2024, Australia amended its criminal code to explicitly include AI-generated porn in the law against distributing sexual material of others without their consent. As a result, digitally manipulated sexual imagery of others now falls within the same legal category as genuine photographs or video footage.

There are gaps in this legislation. Most notably, the relevant offence prohibits transmitting such material via a carriage service (such as the internet). But there is no standalone offence for creating such material. Only sharing is explicitly prohibited.

There is some ambiguity here. Many AI tools used to create sexual imagery are online services. To use them, you send data to the service, which then sends sexual imagery back. It’s unclear whether this counts as “transmitting” sexual material in the relevant legal sense.

Also, the offence requires that the person distributing the sexual material is either aware the target did not consent to its distribution, or is reckless as to whether they consented. But what, exactly, does “reckless” mean?

If Neera created deepfake pornography of Julian without even considering whether he would consent, this would be reckless. But what if Neera claimed that she (wrongly) assumed Julian wouldn’t mind because the footage isn’t a true depiction of him? Would this count as “reckless” in the relevant legal sense? This, too, remains unclear.

Legal doesn’t make it ethical

As the law doesn’t clearly prohibit private creation and use of deepfake pornography, individuals must make their own moral choices.

Moreover, the law has only a limited impact on how people behave online. Internet piracy is known to be illegal but remains widespread, presumably because people are aware they probably won’t be punished for it and don’t think piracy is a serious moral wrong.

By contrast, many people have the strong intuition that even private use of deepfake pornography is wrong. But it’s surprisingly difficult to articulate why. After all, far fewer people morally condemn others for having private sexual fantasies of celebrities, acquaintances or strangers.

If private fantasies are not seriously wrong, is computer-assisted fantasising any different?

The case for privacy

Most commonly, deepfake pornography has been described as a privacy violation. It’s easy to see the appeal of this view. AI outputs appear to depict, in concrete form, what somebody looks like unclothed, or engaged in sex.

Some victims report a sense that others have “seen them naked”, or that the outputs feel like “real images”. This seems more invasive of privacy than an image held only in someone’s imagination.

However, there is a problem with the privacy argument.

AI tools can swap a person’s face onto existing porn footage or generate entirely new imagery from patterns learned during training. What they can’t do is depict what the person is actually like. The deepfakes look convincing because most human bodies are roughly similar in ways that matter for sexualised imagery.

This matters because sexual privacy concerns information that is particular to us – such as identifying details about our bodies, or how we express ourselves sexually.

Assumptions we make based on generic facts about humans are different. You can violate someone’s privacy by sharing specific details from their sexual history. You can’t violate their privacy by announcing they probably have nipples, and probably sometimes have sex.

This distinction is not trivial. AI “nudify” apps offer the fantasy that the AI tool allows access to another person’s body without their consent. And if we think deepfake porn is offering genuinely personal information about its targets, that makes the deepfakes more harmful. It’s a misconception that shouldn’t be encouraged.

It’s still morally wrong

We are not suggesting that private creation of deepfake pornography is morally benign.

It might not violate a person’s privacy, and it might not break the law. But people also have a broader interest in how they’re depicted and seen by others. Deepfake porn is vivid and can be visually convincing. If someone sees such imagery of you, their view of you can be distorted more than if they were just fantasising in their head.

It is also well established that many people find others viewing deepfaked sexual depictions of them psychologically and emotionally ruinous. That alone is sufficient reason to condemn the use of these tools.

While powerful in some respects, AI tools can’t reveal the genuinely private aspects of our sexual lives. But their use for deepfake porn remains a small-minded and morally unjustifiable act of disrespect.

Neera Bhatia has previously received funding from the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council for an unrelated project.

Julian Koplin does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

ref. Non-consensual AI porn doesn’t violate privacy – but it’s still wrong – https://theconversation.com/non-consensual-ai-porn-doesnt-violate-privacy-but-its-still-wrong-275095

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/13/non-consensual-ai-porn-doesnt-violate-privacy-but-its-still-wrong-275095/

The damaged Gaza War Cemetery highlights ongoing risk to soldier graves in conflict zones

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicole Townsend, Lecturer in War Studies, UNSW Sydney

Graves of unknown soldiers at the Gaza War Cemetery. Riyaah/Wikimedia, CC BY

Nearly two years after the Australian government was first notified that war graves in Gaza and surrounding areas had been damaged as a result of conflict, new evidence has confirmed the extent of destruction.

In a recent update, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission – the intergovernmental body responsible for commemorating all Commonwealth war dead from the two world wars – has confirmed damage to both the Gaza War Cemetery and Deir El Balah War Cemetery is “extensive”.

And a recent Guardian report outlined new evidence indicating the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) “bulldozed” graves in the Gaza War Cemetery’s southern corner.

This includes the graves of Australian and British personnel who died in the two world wars. It has been reported that the graves of up to two dozen New Zealanders are also affected, along with Canadians killed during peacekeeping operations in the 1950s and ‘60s. Reports indicate that Indian plots have also been heavily damaged.

The Guardian reported that:

After being shown satellite images of the cemetery, the Israel Defence Forces said that it had been forced to take defensive measures during military operations.

“At the relevant time, the area in question was an active combat zone,” an army spokesperson said.

More broadly, the fate of these sites highlights the continued risk to war graves in modern conflict zones.

Anzacs in Gaza

The Gaza War Cemetery contains more than 3,400 Commonwealth burials.

The news that more than 250 Australians are interred in Gaza may surprise some Australians.

Yet, Australians have a long history of military service in the region, from the world wars to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

As part of British efforts to push Ottoman Turkish forces out of Palestine, for instance, Australian mounted troops (cavalry) fought in three major battles in Gaza between March and November 1917.

The second battle was particularly costly. In three days, the British suffered more than 6,000 casualties, 500 of whom were killed, including more than 100 Australians. These Australians were buried across the two cemeteries in what is now the Gaza Strip.

A section of the Gaza War Cemetery (Donor Imperial War Graves Commission)
Australian War Memorial

Australian forces later returned to the Middle East in the second world war.

While Gaza was not the site of fighting this time around, it was the location of the Australian theatre headquarters, which oversaw Australian operations in the region. It was also home to several hospital units.

This means many of the Australians buried in the area’s two war cemeteries died because of accident, injury or illness, not in battle.

Among the burials at Gaza War Cemetery are 23 New Zealanders. A further 13 New Zealanders are interred at Deir El Belah War Cemetery.

Orderly R. Sanderson swabs Private G. Trudgeon, a patient at the 2/1st Australian General Hospital, based at Gaza Ridge, circa March 1940.
Australian War Memorial

A broader challenge

The destruction of war graves in Gaza has rightly received global attention. But this isn’t the first time Australian and Commonwealth war dead have been dragged into contemporary conflicts.

If we look first at Gaza, the two war cemeteries were damaged in both 2006 and 2009 amid fighting in the area.

The damage caused by the 2006 operations saw the Israeli government financially compensate the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

But this issue is not unique to Gaza, nor to the Middle East. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission cares for more than 1.1 million separate graves across more than 23,000 locations, in 150 countries and territories.

Some of these are in active conflict zones, or otherwise volatile areas. This includes sites in Libya, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Iran, Yemen, Sudan and Somalia. Each of these is classed as a “challenging location”. Access is often restricted or prohibited, and many sites are at risk of damage through fighting or vandalism.

For instance, Iraq’s Habbaniya War Cemetery, where three Australian airmen are interred, was “severely damaged” during the two Gulf wars. Only in 2020 could the Commonwealth War Graves Commission finish reconstruction of the cemetery.

In 2012, war cemeteries at Benghazi in eastern Libya were desecrated twice. This included hundreds of plots, with 50 Australian headstones damaged in one incident.

Further east, Yemen’s Maala Cemetery was damaged during fighting between 2014 and 2015. Located in a particularly dangerous area, the cemetery – where 11 Australians are buried – remains off-limits and mostly destroyed.

In other instances, the danger is so great that locations are used to commemorate casualties interred elsewhere. An example is the Mogadishu African War Cemetery in Somalia, where political instability forced the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to erect memorial headstones at Kenya’s Nairobi War Cemetery.

War cemeteries will remain in danger

Given ongoing conflict and instability in Yemen, Somalia and Gaza, it is unlikely any restorative works will be possible any time soon.

And the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s chief of staff, Peter Francis, acknowledged in October 2024 that cemetery rebuilding would not be prioritised as part of reconstruction in Gaza, given the scale of destruction across the broader Gaza Strip.

There is also the financial factor, with reconstruction of the Gaza War Cemetery alone estimated to cost around £5 million (about A$9.6 million). The figure is likely much higher now, given the scale of destruction since this 2024 estimate.

All this reflects the difficulties the Commonwealth War Graves Commission encounters in trying to mark, record and maintain graves and commemorative sites.

As troubling as this situation is, particularly for affected families, it is a difficult reality: war cemeteries will remain in danger amid active unrest and conflict.

Nicole Townsend is a director of the Second World War Research Group, which is a non-paid, voluntary academic role.

ref. The damaged Gaza War Cemetery highlights ongoing risk to soldier graves in conflict zones – https://theconversation.com/the-damaged-gaza-war-cemetery-highlights-ongoing-risk-to-soldier-graves-in-conflict-zones-275536

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/13/the-damaged-gaza-war-cemetery-highlights-ongoing-risk-to-soldier-graves-in-conflict-zones-275536/

As Stolen Generations survivors ‘pass away at a rapid rate’, some still await official redress

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Narelle Bedford, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Bond University

On the eve of the 2008 apology to Stolen Generations survivors, candles spelling ‘sorry’ were laid in front of Canberra’s Parliament House. Andrew Sheargold/Getty

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names, images and voices of deceased people.

Today marks 18 years since then prime minister Kevin Rudd’s apology to more than 27,000 Stolen Generation survivors for policies that “inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss”.

The ripple effects of taking thousands of children from their families continue today.

Many Indigenous Australians – like me – grew up in families where at least one relative was removed as a child. Some never saw their families again.

I’ve spent six months researching different states and territories’ redress schemes, and what’s worked best.

That research shows the compensation available varies hugely, depending on which state or territory survivors were taken from. This is especially true in Queensland, the only state without any redress scheme.

I presented the results of at the National Indigenous Legal Conference late last year. I’m sharing those findings now, ahead of formal publication, because too many survivors are growing old waiting for action.

What redress has there been so far?

Apart from Queensland, every other state and territory has offered some financial and non-financial forms of compensation for Stolen Generations survivors. Some schemes – New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania – are closed to new applications.

Many survivors and their families have said practical forms of redress had often made the biggest difference to their lives. These included:

Money alone cannot repair the harms done to survivors. Those harms include the devastating impacts of losing contact with family, suffering racial discrimination, physical, sexual and emotional abuse, and being stripped of cultural, economic and potential native title rights.

But financial compensation still matters. The amounts survivors can apply for vary across different state and territory schemes, ranging from $30,000 in South Australia to $100,000 in Victoria.

It’s been 18 years since the federal government’s apology to the Stolen Generations on February 13 2008.

One state is yet to act

Queensland remains the only state without any redress scheme. Yet the 2021 census showed the state is home to more than one in four Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia.

In 2024, Queensland’s Liberal National government repealed the Path to Treaty Act and abandoned the state’s truth and healing inquiry. The government has stressed it’s “committed to practical reconciliation”.

For Queensland survivors, there’s no more time to wait for practical action on a redress scheme.

What’s worked and what’s missing

Balancing the schemes’ financial and non-financial aspects, my analysis concluded Victoria and Tasmania have delivered the most positive redress schemes.

For example, Tasmania’s scheme allows children of Stolen Generations survivors who have died to apply for payments. This reflects the hard reality that taking a child from their family has multigenerational effects.

A 1997 documentary tied to the Bringing Them Home report, featuring Stolen Generation survivors explaining the lasting impacts of being forcibly removed from their families.

A longer version of my research will be published in an academic journal later this year. My make 14 recommendations for best practice redress schemes, including:

  • removing arbitrary closing dates
  • allowing survivors’ descendants to apply
  • funding for practical cultural restoration, such as to learn languages or reconnect to Country
  • and offering financial compensation on par with Victoria’s $100,000 for those taken as a child by compulsion, duress or undue influence.

That amount of money is far less than a court has previously ruled was a fair reflection of the damages done.

One survivor’s story

On Christmas Day 1957, 13-month-old Bruce Trevorrow was sick with stomach pain and diarrhoea.

His family didn’t have a car and lived hours from Adelaide children’s hospital. His father was caring for three older siblings, so asked neighbours to take his baby on the long drive.

In the weeks and months that followed, his parents pleaded for news of their boy. As his mother wrote to the Aboriginal Protection Board:

I am writing to ask if you will let me know how baby Bruce is and how long before I can have him home

The board wrote back, saying her son was “making good progress”. But he had been fostered to a white family, just a fortnight after being admitted to hospital.

By the time Trevorrow saw his family again, years later, his father was dead.

In 2007, South Australia’s Supreme Court awarded the 50-year-old Trevorrow $775,000 in damages and interest.

Trevorrow died less than a year later.

‘Are you waiting for us to die?’

A 2025 report, “Are You Waiting For Us to Die?”, found just 6% of the 1997 Bringing Them Home inquiry’s recommendations to support Stolen Generations survivors and families had been implemented.

As Healing Foundation chair and Kungarakan man Steve Larkin said last year:

Nearly 30 years since its tabling, survivors are passing away at a rapid rate.

Survivors’ medical, psychological and care needs are becoming more acute with age.

Additionally, some can resist needed aged care services, due to fears of institutionalisation. Places at Aboriginal-controlled aged care centres, run with cultural care and sensitivity, are very limited.

We need more meaningful reform for the remaining Stolen Generation survivors, before it’s too late.

Narelle Bedford does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

ref. As Stolen Generations survivors ‘pass away at a rapid rate’, some still await official redress – https://theconversation.com/as-stolen-generations-survivors-pass-away-at-a-rapid-rate-some-still-await-official-redress-272180

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/13/as-stolen-generations-survivors-pass-away-at-a-rapid-rate-some-still-await-official-redress-272180/

How far can teenage Kiwi running star Sam Ruthe go? What science and history tell us

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dylan Hicks, Lecturer & Movement Scientist / PhD Sports Biomechanics, Flinders University

Phil Walter/Getty Images

When New Zealand runner Sam Ruthe crossed the line to break the under-18 indoor mile world record last week at Boston University, he became the 11th fastest indoor miler of all time.

By clocking the distance in 3 minutes and 48.88 seconds (3:48.88) he also became the youngest male to break the 3:50 mark in the mile – aged 16 years and 294 days.

Not only was this an unbelievable performance for a 16-year-old, it was also his first time on an indoor (banked) track.

When you also account for the 50-hour travel time from his hometown Tauranga to Boston, and subsequent jetlag, the run becomes even more extraordinary.

Yet it was another example of an emerging trend in middle-distance running, from 800 to 3000 metres: teenagers looking increasingly comfortable on the world stage.

Ruthe isn’t alone. Australia’s Cam Myers (aged 19) has continued to build on his performances from last season, recently running a world under-20 indoor mile record in New York, to become the second all-time fastest in that age group.

Between Ruthe and Myers, performances like this have many athletics fans wondering, how are these young athletes already so good?

The answer goes beyond early specialisation or simply “running more”. Research increasingly points toward how middle-distance running performance actually emerges, not just how much mileage is done in training.

The importance of ‘running economy’

In running, aerobic capacity – called “VO2 max”, the maximum volume of oxygen consumed for energy production – obviously matters. But in middle-distance running it is rarely what separates good athletes from the great ones, like Ruthe and Myers.

What typically matters is the athlete’s running economy (or efficiency), which describes how much energy is required to run at a steady pace well below their maximum aerobic capacity.

Research suggests athletes with good running economy use less energy (and therefore less oxygen) than runners with poor economy, while running at the same speed.

Further studies also highlight athletes who have similar VO2 max values can still differ by up to 30% in running economy. That difference alone can translate into large performance gaps at race pace.

The biomechanical edge

Several factors appear to influence an athlete’s running economy, especially in reducing the energetic cost to the runner.

One of the key factors is effective production and transmission of ground reaction forces – the force the body applies into the ground and receives back with each step – along with muscle stiffness.

Additionally, biomechanical traits such as lighter body mass, efficient limb proportions and optimal torso-to-leg ratios further enhance running economy.

For developing athletes like Ruthe, these characteristics appear to reduce the mechanical demands of repeated ground contacts.

Also, shorter contact times between the foot and ground, and greater use of “elastic” energy (the storage and recoil of energy in the Achilles tendon), allow speed to be sustained with less muscular effort.

This was potentially enhanced further on the Boston University track, which is widely regarded as one of the world’s fastest indoor (or “short”) tracks.

When combined with sound training, this may explain why some younger athletes such as Ruthe appear “senior-ready” much earlier than expected.

Shoe technology is improving

Another factor quietly shaping modern performances is footwear technology. (Ruthe is sponsored by Nike.)

Advances in carbon-plate design and midsole foam in “super spike” running shoes have reduced the metabolic cost of running by improving energy return and mimimising energy loss during ground contact.

Evidence suggests modern super spikes can improve performance and enhance step length (with no reduction in step frequency) by 1–2%. In a 1500-metre race, this equates to about a 15-metre advantage at the elite level.

Importantly, although super spikes are available to anyone, the benefits don’t appear to affect all athletes equally.

Lighter runners tend to compress modern foams more optimally, meaning a greater proportion of stored energy is returned during push-off in each step.

For younger athletes who already move efficiently, and are generally lighter than senior athletes, the shoes can amplify traits they already possess.

This doesn’t mean technology is a subsitute for talent, more that it rewards efficiency. This appears to be the case with Ruthe.

Where to next?

Whenever a young middle-distance runner breaks records, especially all the way from New Zealand, comparisons follow.

Norwegian star, 25-year-old Jakob Ingebrigtsen is the obvious reference point. He also ran world-class times across a range of distances as a teenager.

Before becoming an Olympic champion (1500-metres Tokyo 2021, 5000-metres Paris 2024), Ingebrigtsen ran his first 4-minute mile at 16 years and 250 days. Ruthe achieved this feat an entire year earlier.

Still, history reminds us that early excellence does not guarantee senior dominance. Many promising athletes disappear – not because they lacked talent, but because the system around them asked too much, too soon.

But according to Ruthe’s coach: “He trains like a 16-year-old, not like a fully professional.”

Nonetheless, while not training like a full pro, Ruthe has just been announced he will join Myers and Paris Olympics 1500-metre gold medallist Cole Hocker in the prestigious Bowerman Mile at the 2026 Prefontaine Classic in July.

New Zealand has a small but storied middle-distance history shaped by Olympic champions Peter Snell and John Walker. Ruthe’s recent performances have quickly elevated him into that lineage.

Despite his age, improved coaching knowledge, biomechanical understanding and technology are likely allowing his innate talent to express itself earlier.

The real story is that his performance invites us to rethink how middle-distance success emerges. Today’s best young athletes aren’t just fitter, they are more efficient, more economical and better supported to move well.

And in middle-distance running, athletes like Ruthe remind us that moving well often outweighs doing more.

Dylan Hicks does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

ref. How far can teenage Kiwi running star Sam Ruthe go? What science and history tell us – https://theconversation.com/how-far-can-teenage-kiwi-running-star-sam-ruthe-go-what-science-and-history-tell-us-275214

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/13/how-far-can-teenage-kiwi-running-star-sam-ruthe-go-what-science-and-history-tell-us-275214/

Australia’s food labelling system isn’t working – here’s how we can fix it

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Lawrence, Professor of Public Health Nutrition, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University

If you’ve ever read a food label and come away feeling more confused, you’re not alone.

Since 2014, Australian shoppers have relied on the Health Star Rating scheme to help them choose which foods to eat. This system ranks food products on a scale from half a star to five stars, to help consumers compare the nutritional value of similar types of food.

This system is far from perfect. Nevertheless, Australia’s food ministers are meeting today to consider making it mandatory, with the aim of helping Australians eat more healthily.

Should we mandate a flawed system? And is there an alternative?

How does the current system work?

The Health Star Rating system was designed to help consumers make healthier eating choices, by providing accessible and relevant nutrition information.

The current system uses an algorithm that claims to assess how healthy or unhealthy a certain food product is. To do this, it looks at the nutritional value of some of the product’s ingredients, then rates it on a scale of half a star to five stars.

The system is currently voluntary. This means food companies are not obliged to include Health Star Ratings on their products. However those that do are encouraged to do so across their full product range.

A flawed system

The existing system is controversial for two main reasons.

1. What’s healthy?

First, it’s not an objective way of measuring how healthy a food is.

Over the past decade, some food companies have appeared to use the Health Star Ratings as a marketing tool. This is especially the case among companies that produce ultra-processed and discretionary foods such as breakfast cereals, muesli bars and protein drinks.

Under the current system, it is possible for companies to manipulate the Health Star Ratings algorithm. This involves replacing so-called “risk nutrients” with synthetic ingredients.

For example, a company may replace sugar with certain sweeteners, or fats with emulsifiers and gums. They might also add new ingredients such as fibre powders that improve their scores without making the product any healthier.

A study from 2020 found about three quarters of ultra-processed foods that display stars do so with at least 2.5 or more stars, giving them a “healthy” pass mark.

As a result, consumers often try to make healthier choices by swapping one lower-rated ultra-processed food for another higher-rated one. Unfortunately, they do not realise they are still consuming an unhealthy food.

There is no such thing as a healthy ultra-processed food.

2. It’s confusing

Second, it is a confusing system. Consumers find the current system difficult to navigate.

A 2024 report found only just over half (52.3%) of participants agreed the Health Star Rating system was accurate and honest. Less than half (41.3%) thought it had a good reputation.

Could this flawed system become mandatory?

Possibly. In 2020, food ministers from around Australia agreed to consider making the system mandatory if fewer than 70% of products were using it by 2025.

The latest data shows just 37% of products have a Health Star Rating. This has dropped by 4% since 2019.

The government’s push to mandate the Health Star Rating system appears to have divided the public health community.

Various organisations and practitioners have sent letters to food ministers, both supporting and opposing the proposal.

Those in favour of mandating the current system acknowledge the system is not perfect, but believe it is better than having no system.

Those who oppose this move would prefer to scrap the existing scheme and start from scratch. They point out that after 12 years of continual tweaks to the system and reassurances that it will improve, the health star ratings system is still fundamentally flawed. Food companies may still manipulate the algorithm, and consumers will remain in the dark. Another concern is instituting a flawed system would make it even harder to introduce a better one in the future.

So, is there an alternative?

Yes – warning labels.

Using simple statements or symbols, warning labels are designed to inform consumers if a food product is high in fat, sugar or salt. In future, they may also indicate whether a product is an ultra-processed food.

Several countries are already using warning labels. In Mexico, for example, consumers have embraced this system and have changed their food purchasing behaviours to be more in line with healthy eating recommendations.

In the past few months, countries including Canada and the United States have moved towards adopting the warning label approach.

And just this week, the Indian Supreme Court asked the country’s food standards agency to consider developing warning labels. Before this, India was on track to adopt a version of the Health Star Rating system.

A global study published in late 2025 suggests warning labels are the most effective way to reduce the consumption of ultra-processed foods. This is compared to other ranking-style labelling schemes such as Health Star Ratings.

Given its design and governance flaws, mandating the current health star rating system would be a mistake. Fortunately, there is a better option. Other countries have adopted a warning label system, with promising results. Now it is time for Australia to do the same.

Mark Lawrence receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council. Previously he has received funding from the World Health Organization and the Australian Research Council.

Christina Mary Pollard received funding from Healthway for ‘Food Law, Policy and Communications to Improve Public Health’ Research Into Practice Grant; and Building Capacity for Public Health Advocacy. Christina Mary Pollard is on the board of Foodbank WA.

ref. Australia’s food labelling system isn’t working – here’s how we can fix it – https://theconversation.com/australias-food-labelling-system-isnt-working-heres-how-we-can-fix-it-275673

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/13/australias-food-labelling-system-isnt-working-heres-how-we-can-fix-it-275673/