Australia – Page 3 – MIL-OSI Export

March 16, 2026

Foreign and Defence Ministers to visit Canberra

Source: New Zealand Government

Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins will attend the third annual Australia and New Zealand Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ANZMIN) in Canberra this week.

“The ANZMIN is a critical opportunity to engage with Australia – our closest friend and only formal ally – to set the strategic direction and confirm our shared approaches to foreign policy, security, and defence,” Mr Peters says.

“New Zealand and Australia face the most unpredictable and dangerous strategic environment in decades. In the face of this instability, our commitment to work together is as strong as ever.”

Ms Collins says this year marks 75 years of the New Zealand-Australia Alliance.

“We recognise the deep historical bond and broader defence alignment that forms the foundation of our Alliance,” Ms Collins says.

“Since the Alliance began in 1951, we have continuously built on these foundations to ensure that our Alliance remains ready to meet modern challenges.”

The Ministers will discuss a wide range of strategic issues, including partnering in the Pacific and Antarctica, responding to growing instability in the Indo-Pacific and global tensions and developments. 

Mr Peters and Ms Collins will also hold separate bilateral meetings with their respective counterparts, Penny Wong and Richard Marles.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/16/foreign-and-defence-ministers-to-visit-canberra/

March 15, 2026

Kiwi sprinter Lex Revell-Lewis lowers national 400 metres record at Adelaide

Source: Radio New Zealand

Lex Revell-Lewis has reduced his own national record at Adelaide. Kerry Marshall/Photosport

Auckland sprinter Lex Revell-Lewis has shaved one-hundredth of a second off his own national 400 metres record at the Adelaide Invitational.

Ideally drawn in lane six, with two faster opponents outside him, he was paced around the lap of the track in a time of 45.87s, finishing second behind Australian Luke van Ratingen (45.21s).

Last year, Revell-Lewis became the first Kiwi man to break 46 seconds for 400 metres, when he ran 45.88s in Melbourne.

Last week, he dipped under that barrier again, when he defended his national at Auckland in 45.97s, winning by more than a second. That performance earnt him a ticket to this months world indoor championships in Poland.

Earlier in the Adelaide meet, NZ javelin exponent Tori Moorby won her specialist event in 58.69m. Nick Southgate equalled his season best with 5.35m for second in the pole vault.

Sprinter Tommy Te Puni won the ‘B’ 100 metres final in 10.43s with a slight tailwind, before finishing third over 200 metres in 20.68s.

James Preston clocked 1m 45.07s to finish third over 800 metres and qualify for the world indoors, but New Zealand has already filled its quota of two in that event, with James Harding and Thomas Cowan both competing for US colleges.

Representing University of Oregon, Harding will contest the NCAA championship final this weekend.

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://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/14/kiwi-sprinter-lex-revell-lewis-lowers-national-400-metres-record-at-adelaide/

March 14, 2026

New Zealander Nathan Teraki jailed in Australia over fatal crash while drugged avoids deportation

Source: Radio New Zealand

FIle photo. 123RF

A New Zealand-born man, serving time in an Australian prison for killing a person when he drove while drugged, has won a fight to remain in his adopted country.

Nathan Brian Teraki was jailed for seven years in September 2024 after pleading guilty in the Brisbane District Court to the dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death while affected by an intoxicating substance.

He was said to be fatigued and taking “poor man’s meth” tablets when he killed a mine worker in the head-on collision.

His dashcam recorded him veering into the opposite lane nine times as he drove for another hour and 27 minutes before colliding head-on with a Toyota Hilux driven by Northern Territory man Leslie Noel Huxham.

At the time, Teraki tested positive for amphetamine, methamphetamine and the active ingredient of cannabis.

He faced a looming deportation order, but has succeeded in having it overturned, after Australian immigration authorities agreed to cancel an application to revoke his visa.

Teraki claimed he had become so stressed about events in his life, and after the tragedy in October 2022, he began self-harming by “pulling out his teeth”.

Deportation loomed after fatal crash

The process to cancel Teraki’s special category (temporary) visa began soon after he was convicted and sentenced.

Despite his appeal, authorities decided last December to continue down the path of cancelling the visa, because the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship was not satisfied that Teraki passed the character test.

But in a decision released this month, the Administrative Review Tribunal of Australia found that, after weighing all the evidence, factors in favour of reversing the decision to cancel his visa outweighed the alternative.

The tribunal said that while Teraki’s criminal conduct was “very serious”, as highlighted by the fact he killed an innocent person, his conduct in Australia otherwise was not, in the nature of systemic criminal activities, over an extended period of time.

Instead, his conviction arose when driving to work in circumstances where he was affected by drugs and should not have been driving.

While there was evidence of different criminal conduct from 2001 until 2003, when Teraki was living in New Zealand, there was no suggestion, let alone evidence that such conduct had been repeated in Australia, senior tribunal member Mark Harrowell said.

His record in New Zealand included common assault, possession of cannabis and utensils, burglary and breach of a community work order.

Teraki claimed he could not recall the assault charge or what had occurred.

‘Nothing in NZ to return to’

The 44-year-old was born in New Zealand and arrived in Australia in September 2010 with his then-wife and two children.

Their third child was born after they arrived in Australia. The pair later separated.

Teraki had since faced a domestic violence order imposed by police in 2023, effective until August 2028, which contained a good behaviour condition.

Teraki, whose mother lived in New Zealand, said in his original revocation application he had not been back for eight years since there was nothing for him to return to.

“This is my first and only charge I have had and is really out of character for me,” he wrote.

Teraki wrote that he had been independent since an early age, and had lived with his grandmother during his teens.

He described his relationship with his mother as “good” and that they talked, and that she had offered him a place to stay with her.

However, he feared “returning to old habits” if sent back to New Zealand, and separation from his children, who were a “massive” part of his life.

He claimed to have been working too hard to hide his depression from his children since the death of his father in 2017, when he ought to have sought help instead.

A medical specialist’s report pre-sentencing described Teraki having a “major depressive disorder” which was both chronic and severe.

The court also noted his “chronic cannabis dependence”, alcohol abuse and “some symptomology consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder” and a previous history of methyl amphetamine use.

The PTSD was said to be partly related to Teraki’s early family history.

Working three jobs

Teraki said he was working three jobs at the time of the fatal crash, to help pay the mortgage and support his family.

He started taking drugs to sleep and to be awake for work, and had taken them before driving to work on the morning of the crash.

He claimed to have started “pulling his teeth out”, because of everything that had happened, but was now getting help.

“I want my kids to look up to me, not down at me,” he wrote.

Teraki said since being in prison he had become completely drug-free, had stopped taking medication and “felt the best” he ever had.

He said he had “awesome support” from family and upon release he aimed to work full-time as a builder.

“I have to live with what happened that day and always will. But have changed my thinking and look at life,” Teraki wrote.

The tribunal concluded that it was not in dispute that Teraki failed the character test; the issue in the proceedings was whether there was another good reason why the cancellation of the visa should be revoked.

It considered his risk of re-offending as low, and his family ties and social links in Australia were “significant”, which all weighed in favour of reversing the decision to cancel his visa.

– This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/14/new-zealander-nathan-teraki-jailed-in-australia-over-fatal-crash-while-drugged-avoids-deportation/

March 14, 2026

NZ-AU: The Middle East: Impact of the U.S.–Israel War on Iran and Challenges for U.S. Expats

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-NZ-AU)

Dubai, UAE, March 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Expat US Tax has released an analysis examining how recent geopolitical developments in the Middle East are affecting Americans living and traveling across the region. The review focuses on practical issues that U.S. expats may encounter, including travel disruptions, embassy advisories, and day-to-day logistical challenges as governments monitor security developments.

Impact of the U.S.–Israel War on Iran and Challenges for U.S. Expats

Over the past several weeks, tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran have led to heightened security alerts and precautionary measures across parts of the Middle East. Governments in several countries have issued travel advisories, increased security measures around infrastructure and transportation networks, and temporarily adjusted airspace access in response to regional developments.

These changes have had a direct impact on international travel. Airlines operating across the Middle East have modified flight routes or temporarily suspended certain services when airspace restrictions were introduced. In some cases, travelers have experienced delays or cancellations as airlines adjusted operations to maintain safe flight paths.

For Americans living in the region, these developments can affect routine activities such as business travel, family visits, or relocation plans. Large American expatriate communities reside in countries including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Israel, and Kuwait, where many work in sectors such as energy, aviation, finance, education, and international business.

Clark Stott, Director at Expat US Tax, said that events affecting regional transportation or embassy operations can have practical implications for Americans living abroad.

“Americans living overseas often manage international travel, cross-border employment, and family commitments in multiple countries,” Stott said. “When regional developments affect transportation or consular services, expatriates may need to adjust travel plans or monitor official government guidance more closely.”

Government agencies have encouraged citizens abroad to stay informed through official advisories and embassy updates. U.S. citizens living overseas may receive updates through embassy communications, travel advisories, and emergency notification systems designed to provide timely information during rapidly evolving situations.

Travel and Embassy Operations

One of the most immediate effects of regional instability is the adjustment of aviation routes and airport operations. Airlines may reroute flights to avoid restricted airspace, while airports can temporarily limit operations if security concerns arise. These changes may result in longer travel times or limited flight availability between international hubs.

Embassy services may also adjust operations during periods of heightened security awareness. While most diplomatic missions continue to provide routine consular services, embassies may issue additional guidance for citizens or temporarily modify staffing levels depending on local conditions.

For Americans abroad, embassy communication channels often serve as an important source of information. Citizens can receive updates regarding local developments, travel advisories, or recommended safety precautions.

Considerations for U.S. Expats

For expatriates living in the Middle East, the most common impacts tend to involve logistical and planning considerations rather than direct security concerns. Travel arrangements, visa timelines, and relocation plans can be affected when airlines modify schedules or when governments introduce temporary travel guidance.

Many expatriates also maintain connections across multiple countries, making regional mobility an important part of daily life. Business travelers, contractors, educators, and international employees may rely on regional flights between Gulf cities, Europe, and Asia. Changes in aviation routes or airport operations can therefore influence professional schedules and personal travel.

In these situations, experts generally recommend monitoring official government advisories and maintaining flexibility in travel planning. Staying informed through embassy updates and airline notifications can help expatriates respond to changing travel conditions.

U.S. Tax Considerations for Americans Abroad

In addition to travel logistics, Americans living overseas continue to manage ongoing financial and tax obligations in the United States. Unlike most countries, the United States taxes its citizens based on citizenship rather than residency. As a result, U.S. citizens living abroad generally remain required to file annual U.S. tax returns if their income exceeds certain thresholds.

For expatriates who move between countries or adjust employment arrangements due to regional developments, maintaining accurate financial records can be especially important. Changes in residency, employment contracts, or income sources may affect how certain tax provisions apply.

Clark Stott noted that geopolitical developments sometimes highlight the complexity of financial planning for Americans abroad.

“Even during periods of regional uncertainty, U.S. tax filing requirements continue to apply,” Stott said. “For expatriates who relocate, change employment, or move between countries, maintaining organized financial records and understanding filing obligations can help avoid compliance issues later.”

U.S. expats may also rely on provisions such as the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and foreign tax credits, which are designed to help reduce double taxation for Americans working overseas.

Looking Ahead

While governments and international organizations continue to monitor developments across the Middle East, many analysts note that travel conditions and security advisories can evolve quickly during periods of geopolitical tension.

For Americans living abroad, access to accurate information and reliable guidance remains important. Monitoring embassy communications, staying informed about travel advisories, and maintaining awareness of administrative obligations can help expatriates navigate changing conditions while continuing their work and daily life overseas.

About Expat US Tax

Expat US Tax is an advisory firm that assists U.S. citizens living abroad with tax compliance, planning, and reporting obligations. The firm provides tax preparation and advisory services to Americans residing in more than 190 countries, helping expatriates navigate the complexities of U.S. citizenship-based taxation.

Press Inquiries

Clark Stott
info@expatustax.com
https://www.expatustax.com/

– Published by The MIL Network

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/14/nz-au-the-middle-east-impact-of-the-u-s-israel-war-on-iran-and-challenges-for-u-s-expats/

March 14, 2026

The caretaker: Chris Greenacre on his fourth go-round as Phoenix interim coach

Source: Radio New Zealand

Chris Greenacre during his current Wellington Phoenix head coach duties. AAP Image/Matt Turner / Photosport

Taking over a struggling team mid-season is one of football’s toughest gigs. Chris Greenacre has now done it four times for the Wellington Phoenix.

The club turned to the experienced coach again last month after Giancarlo Italiano’s abrupt departure adding another chapter to his extraordinary coaching journey.

Coaching was always Greenacre’s plan. Along with a handful of Tranmere Rovers team mates in England in the early 2000s he was part of the Professional Football Association’s pilot scheme of putting current players through their coaching badges. By the time he landed in New Zealand as a Phoenix player he had a UEFA B licence but no real outlet to use it.

Little did he know his first real head coaching job would be, what was at the time, New Zealand’s only professional team.

It is a position many coaches struggling in lower leagues could only dream of landing in their lap, but for Greenacre the unconventional rise was not always easy to navigate. He has yo-yoed between head coach and assistant roles, between the A-League team and the Reserves team in New Zealand domestic competitions.

The Englishman went from being a club legend on the field that hung up his boots somewhat prematurely in 2012 to just months later being head coach while Ricki Herbert was on international duty with the All Whites.

“If I’m really honest, I didn’t know anything, and that’s just the nature of the beast,” Greenacre said of the first time, 13 years ago, in a role he now has a level of familiarity with.

“I think in an ideal world, if you can come through the youth team ranks and develop like that, I think it’s really the best way forward.

“But unfortunately, or fortunately, my path was to go straight in at the top, which rarely happens.”

Chris Greenacre during a training session at Newtown Park in 2012. Photosport

However, being in the right place at the right time has been a theme during Greenacre’s 17 years with the Phoenix.

Whether it was scoring a crucial goal from centre-forward in one of his 84 A-League games or a timely transition to coaching.

Herbert had been the one to see Greenacre’s potential on and off the field.

Injured and frustrated with his lot at Tranmere Rovers, Greenacre arrived at the Phoenix in 2009 after a chance conversation with former Socceroo Gareth Edds.

Edds was on the radar of A-League clubs wanting to bring Aussies home and on the other side of the world Rovers players were paying attention to what the league was doing.

Despite not taking the field, due to injury, when Herbert and former Phoenix chief executive Tony Pinata visited England to check out their potential visa player, the bosses liked what they saw from the level that the Rovers were playing at and the wheels were in motion to get Greenacre from League One to the A-League.

Herbert then opened the door for the shift straight from player to assistant coach, a role that Greenacre could not turn down despite feeling like he could have played on.

Chris Greenacre celebrates scoring for the Phoenix in 2010. Dave Lintott/Photosport

“It was a bit of a risk, I think, because I’m a bit of an advocate for players to play as high as you can for as long as you can. I still say that to players now, if you can keep playing, keep playing, it’s the best place to be.

“Then coaching is probably the next best thing.

“I probably didn’t take my own advice, but felt that, hopefully, coaching was where I wanted the next part of my football journey to take me.”

Since then Greenacre has maximised his opportunities working as an assistant with four of the next five Phoenix coaches after Herbert.

Former Wellington Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay of Sydney FC greets interim coach Chris Greenacre of the Phoenix during the round 19 A-League Men match between Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC this month. Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

He also filled in as an interim coach after Ernie Merrick, Darije Kalezic, Mark Rudan and Ufuk Talay.

He was not an assistant to Italiano – opting instead to go back to the Phoenix academy system for professional and personal reasons.

“It was me recognising that I need more hands-on on the grass, where I’m making the main decisions, and that’s what that allowed me to do over that period of time.

“Also my daughter was about six at the time, during the Covid time, so to not travel to Australia and to spend some time with my wife and daughter was crucial as well.

“On the back of that, I’d completed my pro licence and it was a way of me to be able to put into practice the knowledge and stuff that I needed on my coaching journey at that particular time.”

After two and a bit seasons in charge, Italiano left after a big loss to their northern rivals Auckland FC last month and Greenacre, who is head of the Phoenix academy’s pro development, once again got the call from management to fill the void.

The academy operates separately from the A-League team and Greenacre had no insight into what had gone on this season before his sudden arrival with the top team.

“You never really understand what’s going on internally when you’re on the outside, even though you’re a staff member at the club.

“You don’t know what the relationship is with players and the past coach, you just see a product like you see with the fans on the weekend, so you really have no detail around what’s going on. I think the key to it for me has been trying to get around as many people as I can who were directly involved in it, not involved in it, players, to try and get a real feel as quickly as possible of where you think you might be able to improve it, keep it, steady the ship.”

Taking over with only a small number games left in the season is more about continuance rather the stamping his own style.

“The players are conditioned in a certain way of training, and you may not always see eye-to-eye in that, but you’ve got to also understand that these players are conditioned in this moment, so changing behaviours is really, really difficult instantly, and that obviously takes time, but we don’t have time.”

As a coach, Greenacre wanted to be a balance between man manager and tactician.

“I think the way the game’s evolved, certainly man management’s a really big part of that. Generations have changed, and I think generations look at the world differently.

“I think as a coach, you have to evolve like that. If you remain stuck in, as they say, old-school ways, I think you’re getting left behind. It’s really important that you evolve with the generations that you’re coaching with.”

Nurturing relationships with star players as well as those who did not make it professionally was important to Greenacre in his work with the academy and Reserves team.

“I get really proud of being involved in some of the players that have gone on to do great things and get moves and play overseas.

“I’m as much proud of some of the guys that I’ve played who haven’t made it, who I know I’ve had a really good connection and relationship with, and you still get text messages and calls even now off players that didn’t quite make it, and they appreciate that what we were trying to do in terms of helping them develop as players.”

Being tactically up to speed was also important to the 48-year-old.

“I’m sure in the next few months, years, that my beliefs and how I see the game being played will evolve again.”

Chris Greenacre and Matthew Ridenton during training in 2021. Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz

Over time Greenacre had taken the “best attributes” of some coaches he had worked with and integrated them into his own approach to coaching.

“There’s obviously coaches that I haven’t enjoyed playing under, coaches that I’ve worked alongside where I’m kind of not really a fan of what they’re doing, and even if it’s the learning from, I probably wouldn’t do that because look how this has made me feel.

“There’s a lot of people that I’ve been really fortunate enough to and proud to have worked with, whether the relationships have been great or not so much.”

The way Greenacre believed he could finally turn the recurring interim role in a permanent position was by winning. The Phoenix have six games left in the season.

Before the end of the month the club is expected to name their next head coach.

“Results give you the best chance, and instant success, I suppose, probably gives you the best opportunity.”

Being a familiar face around NZCIS where the Phoenix are based could also finally give Greenacre an edge this time.

“I think, having been in an environment for a long time, people get to see actually how you work on a daily basis, and not necessarily when you’re under the spotlight of a first-team coach, so I suppose people get to see your mannerisms and things that you do and things they may like, things they don’t like.”

Greenacre’s reputation and ability to develop sought after talent through the academy to the first team who were then sold on to Europe could be another tick on the appointment check list for a club that valued being a stepping stone in player’s careers.

“Ultimately, the powers that be make the decision, and if it’s yes, it’s great, if it’s not, it’s not, and we kind of move on, and that’s just how professional sport works.

“I do have aspirations to coach at the highest level. If that happens, great. If it doesn’t, it’s a similar role to playing. I didn’t quite make it to the Premier League, but I aspired to be there.

“Am I happy that I made a living out of the game as a player at the level I did? A hundred percent. I’ve been proud to say that I made a living out of the game.”

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://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/14/the-caretaker-chris-greenacre-on-his-fourth-go-round-as-phoenix-interim-coach/

March 14, 2026

NZ-AU: Innovative Aluminium And Glass Expands Custom Aluminium Window and Door Installation Services in Sydney

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-NZ-AU)

Villawood, NSW, March 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

Innovative Aluminium And Glass announces the expansion of its custom fabrication and installation services for aluminium windows and doors across the Sydney metropolitan area.

Based in Villawood, the company manufactures and supplies a variety of glass and aluminium solutions for residential and commercial properties. All products are built to meet the technical standards of the Housing Industry Association (HIA), the Australian Glass and Window Association (AGWA), and the Master Builders Association guidelines during on-site installation work to maintain structural integrity and safety. The company’s recent expansion highlights its commitment to helping home and business owners elevate the aesthetics of their spaces with stress-free window and door installations.

“All the products are created as per your needs and we guarantee customer satisfaction each time,” said Joe Ghaddar, owner of Innovative Aluminium And Glass. “This is achieved by following the HIA, AGWA, and Master Builders Association standards.”

From residential installations to large-scale commercial projects, Innovative Aluminium And Glass provides end-to-end manufacturing and fitting services. Key advantages include:

Custom Door Configurations

The company builds modern aluminium bifold doors, French doors, and sliding systems tailored to specific wall openings. These units use heavy-duty tracks and hardware to support large glass panels, creating wide openings for indoor-outdoor transitions in residential homes.

Specialised Window Styles

Installations include energy-efficient aluminium windows available in double-hung, louvre, awning, and sliding configurations. Each frame undergoes precision cutting and assembly at the Villawood facility to ensure airtight seals against wind and rain, improving building performance.

Commercial Glass Solutions

The team installs commercial aluminium windows and doors for retail storefronts, office buildings, and industrial facilities across Sydney, using reinforced frames and specialized glass to withstand high traffic volumes while meeting local building safety codes and requirements.

Double Glazing Options

Catering to both residential and commercial clients in both the Sydney and Canberra regions, the company supplies a reliable range of dual-pane glass units for both windows and doors to increase thermal insulation and reduce external noise levels inside the property.

Sliding System Engineering

Innovative Aluminium And Glass offers a selection of frames in multiple powder-coated finishes, allowing property owners to match the hardware to their existing architectural color schemes. The precision-engineered aluminium sliding door systems feature smooth-gliding rollers and secure locking mechanisms for ease of use and property protection.

Direct Manufacturing Model

By manufacturing products in-house, the company controls the entire production cycle from raw material selection to the final installation. This direct manufacturing model enables Innovative Aluminium And Glass to offer custom sizing for non-standard openings and ensures oversight of frame durability and glass quality.

Innovative Aluminium And Glass invites property owners to visit its website to request a free quote for window and door services today.

About Innovative Aluminium And Glass

Innovative Aluminium And Glass is a window and door specialist based in Villawood, NSW. The company serves the Sydney metropolitan area by providing custom-built frames for various property types. From initial design and manufacturing to final on-site fitting, Innovative Aluminium And Glass manages the full lifecycle of product development to ensure all installations meet local safety requirements and client specifications.

More Information

To learn more about Innovative Aluminium And Glass and the expansion of its aluminium window and door solutions in Sydney, please visit the website at https://aluminiumwindowsanddoors.net.au/.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q1: What is the new expansion from Innovative Aluminium And Glass in Sydney?

A: Innovative Aluminium And Glass has announced the expansion of its custom fabrication and installation services for aluminium windows and doors across the Sydney metropolitan area. This expansion focuses on providing end-to-end manufacturing for residential and commercial projects, including specialized bifold doors, sliding systems, and energy-efficient window configurations produced at their Villawood facility.

Q2: Who is Innovative Aluminium And Glass and what are their credentials?

A: Innovative Aluminium And Glass is a premier window and door specialist based in Villawood, NSW, serving the Sydney and Canberra regions. Under the leadership of owner Joe Ghaddar, the company manufactures products that meet the rigorous technical standards of the Housing Industry Association (HIA), the Australian Glass and Window Association (AGWA), and the Master Builders Association.

Q3: What custom aluminium and glass products does the company offer?

A: The company provides a wide range of custom-built solutions including modern aluminium bifold doors, French doors, and precision-engineered sliding systems. Their window lineup features double-hung, louvre, awning, and sliding styles, with specialized double glazing options available to improve thermal insulation and reduce external noise levels for both homes and businesses.

Q4: How does Innovative Aluminium And Glass handle commercial and residential installations?

A: The company utilizes a direct manufacturing model to manage the full product lifecycle from raw material selection to final on-site fitting. For residential clients, they focus on indoor-outdoor transitions and aesthetic hardware, while commercial services include reinforced frames and specialized glass for high-traffic retail storefronts and office buildings that must meet local safety codes.

Q5: How can I get a quote for aluminium window or door installation in Sydney?

A: Property owners can request a free, no-obligation quote by visiting the official website at aluminiumwindowsanddoors.net.au or by calling 1800 679 661. Innovative Aluminium And Glass provides custom sizing for non-standard openings and manages the entire design and installation process to ensure customer satisfaction and structural integrity.

https://thenewsfront.com/innovative-aluminium-and-glass-expands-custom-aluminium-window-and-door-installation-services-in-sydney/

– Published by The MIL Network

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/14/nz-au-innovative-aluminium-and-glass-expands-custom-aluminium-window-and-door-installation-services-in-sydney/

March 14, 2026

International travel: January 2026 – Stats NZ information release

Source: Statistics New Zealand

International travel: January 2026 – information release

13 March 2026

International travel covers the number and characteristics of overseas visitors and New Zealand resident travellers (short-term movements) entering or leaving New Zealand.

Key facts

Monthly arrivals – overseas visitors
Overseas visitor arrivals were 385,400 in January 2026, an increase of 15,200 from January 2025. The biggest changes were in arrivals from:

Australia (up 10,700)
United Kingdom (up 3,700)
United States (up 2,600)
Germany (up 1,900)
China (down 10,800)
Korea (down 2,000).

Visit our website to read the full information release:

International travel: January 2026

For media enquiries contact: Media team, Wellington, media@stats.govt.nz“>media@stats.govt.nz, 021 285 9191

The Government Statistician authorises all statistics and data we publish.

Ngā mihi,
Publishing
Stats NZ

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/14/international-travel-january-2026-stats-nz-information-release/

March 13, 2026

“Created for Ease”: ECOVACS Brand Campaign Honors Caregivers Across the APAC Region

Source: Media Outreach

For the past 20 years, ECOVACS has been driven by a fearless spirit of innovation to solve complex challenges and continuously advance the user experience. The pioneering intelligent technologies in the ECOVACS DEEBOT robotic vacuums and WINBOT robotic window cleaners, such as the OMNI Station, OZMO ROLLER technology, and PowerBoost technology have set new industry benchmarks and become the hidden heroes for every home, designed to help users clean every corner of their home with minimal effort.

Now ECOVACS is bringing this same innovation spirit to help ease the burdens faced by caregivers in the APAC region. As part of its brand campaign, ECOVACS is planning to cooperate with select like-minded local partners across the region, such as Enabling Village in Singapore. Enabling Village is an integrated community space that aims to empower caregivers for people with disabilities by providing them with resources to manage their responsibilities and enhance their quality of life. ECOVACS will provide Enabling Village caregivers with DEEBOT robotic vacuum cleaners to help ease their burdens and enable them to spend more time on themselves.

“Caring for a child with special needs requires lots of time and patience. And it can be challenging to find moments when I can focus on myself,” says Yvette Wang. “I’m grateful to ECOVACS and their efforts to assist caregivers. With their DEEBOT robotic vacuum I now have one less thing to manage, as I can leave DEEBOT to take care of our floors, and itself.”

To commemorate their partnership, ECOVACS and Enabling Village have invited Yvette’s son, artist @Eli_lailai, to specially design some exclusive merchandise. This collaboration was made possible through I’mable Collective, an initiative by SG Enable that supports and empowers persons with disabilities by providing training and employment opportunities within the creative sector.

An Ecosystem that Empowers Ease

ECOVACS’ efforts to continually strengthen its leadership in service robotics are rooted in its deep understanding of users’ needs. Its regionally tailored brand idea “Created for Ease – Always in Your Corner” reflects the brand’s desire to tailor its mission of ‘Robotics for All’ to shape a better future for users in the APAC region with robots that can seamlessly serve every home, everywhere.

The industry-leading cleaning technologies pioneered by ECOVACS demonstrate its dedication to reducing human effort while maximizing cleaning precision and efficiency, all with the aim of offering dependable cleaning experiences tailored to the needs of today’s households. ECOVACS’ service robots offer users more ease by bringing efficient, effortless cleaning to every corner of their household.

“Always in Your Corner” reflects how ECOVACS’ home service robotics ecosystem is designed for users in the APAC region – to support their full-home scenarios, from floors to windows. The ECOVACS DEEBOT robotic vacuums and WINBOT robotic window cleaners are built to handle what must be done — quietly, consistently, and intelligently. They don’t just clean, they leave users with less to manage.

Amplifying a Message of Care

ECOVACS will extend the impact of this brand campaign across multiple touchpoints in key APAC markets, including Singapore, Australia, Vietnam, India, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Through localized partnerships, integrated brand storytelling, and community engagement, ECOVACS aims to honor caregivers as well as those across the region who are seeking a less stressful and more balanced life.

Intelligent. Innovative. Intuitive.

From its DEEBOT family of robotic vacuum cleaners to its WINBOT family of robotic window cleaners, all of ECOVACS’ innovations are backed by its well-established vertically integrated supply chain and independently developed technologies spanning batteries, AI, motors, transmission components and more.

Today, ECOVACS serves over 38 million households across nearly 180 markets worldwide. Its mission — “Robotics for All” — reflects a long-term commitment to making intelligent service robotics accessible, reliable, and seamlessly integrated into everyday life.

“Created for Ease” is not only about cleaning better. It’s about living lighter and reducing what needs your attention – so that you can focus on what truly matters. And in doing so, ECOVACS is always in your corner.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/13/created-for-ease-ecovacs-brand-campaign-honors-caregivers-across-the-apac-region/

March 13, 2026

Cricket: Seven decades since one of New Zealand’s biggest wins

Source: Radio New Zealand

John Reid in 2015 in his study surrounded by memorabilia from his cricketing career. Supplied / Lisa Thompson

This week’s one of despair for New Zealand cricket lovers, after the Black Caps were outclassed in the T20 World Cup final.

But, today is a special anniversary in cricket history – it’s 70 years since New Zealand won its first test match, after 26 years of trying.

The victory over the West Indies at Auckland’s Eden Park came in the 45th attempt, going back to January 1930. They’d suffered 22 losses and drawn 22.

As the victorious cricketers walked off Eden Park many in the crowd jumped the fence and swarmed their heroes.

Among the fans sprinting to the middle was 11-year-old Anand Satyanand.

The future governor-general of New Zealand, now Sir Anand, rushed to see history unfold as it seemed the game was heading for a tight finish.

“I went from Richmond Road School with a small group of friends,” he said.

“We were a cricket-mad school, as I recollect, and from Richmond Road one caught the bus to the reservoir on the corner of Ponsonby and Great North Road and then walked along and across the gully to Eden Park.”

The Right Hon. Sir Anand Satyanand, former Governor General of New Zealand. RNZ

Once there he was among those snapped by press photographers capturing the euphoric scenes.

“I was sitting on the terraces with my friend Ken Pratt… and clearly in a moment of excitement we jumped the fence and walked across the ground, hence that photograph that appeared in the New Zealand Herald of the two teams coming off the field, surrounded by a group of cricketing followers.”

A copy of that now hangs in Sir Anand’s laundry. In the picture he’s carrying his school satchel over his shoulder.

It was a low-scoring match – both teams scored at less than 2 runs an over – and the West Indies on the final day needed 268 runs to win the series four-nil.

But the New Zealanders, especially medium fast bowlers Harry Cave and Don Beard, took advantage of the tricky conditions and bowled them out for 77.

The New Zealand line-up even included former West Indies player Sammy Guillen, but was missing the great batsman of the era, Bert Sutcliffe, who played 42 tests but was never once on a winning side.

Expectations heading into the game were low. The West Indies had thrashed New Zealand in the three preceding tests and it was only a year since New Zealand was humiliated – bowled out for 26 by England, still a world-record low score.

It was quite the turnaround. At the after-match presentations captain John Reid was hailed as a hero, as the crowd gave him more than one round of three cheers.

He later said it was the best day of his cricket career – the non-drinker even tasting champagne during the celebrations.

“For once it wasn’t us who bowled that one loose ball each over, or who dropped the vital catch,” he told journalist Joseph Romanos in their 2000 book, John Reid – A Cricketing Life.

Former New Zealand cricketer John F Reid. PHOTOSPORT

Bill Frith, who was then 10, remembers watching as much of the match as he could, rushing there on the final day from Mt Roskill Intermediate.

In those days you’d get into the last session for free.

“I remember being on the terraces, which were grass at that time. It was quite a good-looking ground at that time, and I can remember the jubilation at the end, with the players pulling the stumps out and souveniring them and and that sort of thing.”

Still years until daylight saving arrived, the players were battling the gloom, but New Zealand had conditions in its favour.

“In those days you could go out and inspect the pitch. And the pitch there, around where the ball pitched, was sort of like corrugated iron,” Frith said.

“I’d be interested to know what it was like on the day we bowled the West Indies out.”

The Press newspaper described the bedlum: “It was a memorable scene at the end. The ground, all green and gold, was besieged by the crowd of 7000 that watched the final act…

“The crowd, savouring to the full the flavour of the occasion, had not fully dispersed when the teams left the ground an hour later.”

Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack even reported local offices closing early to let workers head to the ground as victory drew near.

Frith and Sir Anand both thought the win might herald a period of success, but it wasn’t to be, and New Zealand struggled at cricket until the 1970s, not winning another test until the 1961-2 summer.

Since then the team has risen to be one of the best in the world – a long innings the pair have enjoyed watching.

Both men fondly remember watching cricket history take place.

“I follow cricket today, but not with the day-to-day enthusiasm of when I was 10 and 12,” Frith said.

“I used to go down to Eden Park and watch all the club games. I used to go and watch the Black Caps practice, and they’d sometimes bowl to me.

“I was the archetypal cricket tragic at that time.”

Sir Anand was similar, although he said his playing ability never matched his enthusiasm.

“I think it was a vital turn of the road for New Zealand cricket to to be able to foot it against a major cricket playing nation and to win,” he said.

“New Zealand had been treated as a rather secondary sort of member of the world cricket fraternity.

“England and Australia only played us on an irregular basis, but the victory against the West Indies was a pointer to the the modern game, where New Zealand is a contender that is treated very seriously.”

SCORES: New Zealand 255 (John Reid 84, Tom Dewdney 5-21) and 157-9 declared (Denis Atkinson 7-53) beat West Indies 145 (Hammond Furlonge 64, Tony MacGibbon 4-44, Harry Cave 4-22) and 77 (Cave 4-21, Don Beard 3-22).

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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/2026/03/13/cricket-seven-decades-since-one-of-new-zealands-biggest-wins/

March 13, 2026

Taskforce Morpheus: Arrests made, firearms seized

Source: New Zealand Police

New Zealand Police have targeted Comanchero members and associates as part of coordinated enforcement activity across Australasia targeting the gang’s criminal operations.

Three men have been arrested, with items seized including an AR-15 rifle, cash and methamphetamine.

Taskforce Morpheus is a working group of law enforcement agencies across Australia and New Zealand that focus on the targeting and disruption of illegal activity by organised criminal groups.

Last week, the National Day of Action targeted the Comanchero Motorcycle Club, and saw nine Police districts carry out enforcement activity, supported by the National Organised Crime Group and the National Gang Unit.

Police charged three men who are members or associates of the gang and laid 14 charges for drugs and firearms offending.

In Tokoroa, Bay of Plenty staff searched three addresses with the assistance of the Armed Offenders Squad.

Five firearms, including an AR-15 rifle, were recovered along with cannabis and a kilogram of a substance believed to be methamphetamine.

Two men, aged 36 and 39, were arrested without incident during the warrants.

Around the country, Police also worked with the Department of Corrections given the number of members currently in custody.

Director of the National Organised Crime Group, Detective Superintendent Greg Williams says the Comancheros remain of interest to law enforcement agencies.

“This gang is seen as one of the top organised crime groups in both Australia and New Zealand for their involvement in the importation and distribution of cocaine, methamphetamine and other illegal drugs,” he says.

“They remain a focus for us, and through our investigative work we continue to find their members and associates involved in a large number of importations, alongside their propension for committing serious violence to maintain control over the market.”

Police continue to work with law enforcement agencies in New Zealand and abroad to combat the Comanchero’s influence globally.

“We are focused on taking their influence out of New Zealand, and we have had many successes since the gang established operations here through Operations Nova and Embargo,” Detective Superintendent Williams says.

“Nearly all of the gang’s members and associates have been prosecuted, and this includes its entire senior leadership team that are all facing serious charges.”

Director Prisoners of Extreme Risk Directorate, Jeanette Burns says a large number of cells were searched across six prisons in New Zealand.

“Across those prisons a large amount of tobacco was located, alongside quantities of suspected illicit drugs,” says Jeanette.

“Some prisoners go to extreme and elaborate lengths to continue offending from prison. Our staff work hard to stop contraband entering our prisons, and when we do find it we take this extremely seriously.

“Corrections does not tolerate any criminal behaviour in our prisons, and we continue to work with our partners to stamp out this offending and the harm it causes to our communities.”

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/13/taskforce-morpheus-arrests-made-firearms-seized/

March 13, 2026

Energy – GasNZ reassures customers that “gas decline” stories are not about LPG supply

Source: GasNZ

Despite the diminishing supplies of natural gas in New Zealand, there is no shortage of LPG, GasNZ says.

Chief executive Jeffrey Clarke says most of the news about declining ‘gas’ production in New Zealand is actually about ‘natural gas’, and is not relevant to ‘LPG gas’ users.

“LPG supplies are not declining like natural gas is,” he says.

There are 300,000 customers of LPG in New Zealand – including all South Island ‘gas’ consumers – who don’t have to worry about the decline in natural gas affecting them.

People sometimes ask how they can be sure whether their gas is LPG or natural gas, Clarke says.

“It’s pretty simple – if your gas comes in a cylinder or tank, then it is LPG.

“If you are a South Islander, then your gas is LPG – because there is no natural gas supply in the South Island.

“And if your gas is piped to your home or business in the North Island, then it is probably natural gas.”

Clarke says that if you are in any doubt, just check with your retailer.

And what despite the war in the Middle East – LPG suppliers in New Zealand say that they have plenty of stock, he says.

“Most of New Zealand’s LPG comes from Australia and USA, with some produced here domestically.

“None of the LPG New Zealand imports is shipped through the Middle East.”

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/13/energy-gasnz-reassures-customers-that-gas-decline-stories-are-not-about-lpg-supply/

March 13, 2026

Wattie’s a big name reminder of pressure on NZ manufacturers

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Wattie’s factory in Christchurch. Nathan McKinnon / RNZ

Big names like Heinz Wattie’s closing their doors are high-profile reminders of the pressure many businesses are under, one economist says.

Heinz Wattie’s announced this week it was planning to close some of its manufacturing operations.

The company said about 350 jobs were expected to be affected.

It outlined plans to axe the sale and production of a number of its products and brands, including frozen vegetables and Gregg’s coffee.

It would also no longer produce dips sold under the Mediterranean, Just Hummus and Good Taste Company brands.

Simplicity chief economist Shamubeel Eaqub said it seemed as though every recession or downturn took with it a big-name business.

In recent years, Cadbury has closed its Dunedin factory, several mills have closed, James Hardie shut its Penrose factory and Unilever closed in Petone.

“[Heinz Wattie’s] sounded like electricity prices and the cost of labour were the things they were really struggling with,” Eaqub said.

“Labour issues have always been a thing for New Zealand manufacturing. We can’t compete with Asian countries that have much lower wages,” Eaqub said.

“More recently, we’ve had the pressure of energy costs from various sources from electricity to gas that have made it harder for some processes. It’s partly because a lot of our manufacturing capacity is aged, so they’re not as efficient and effective as what’s available globally.”

He said big manufacturers and “old school” firms were under pressure, but there were also a lot of small manufacturers doing well.

“Sometimes that is a bit hard to see because they are quite small specialised businesses, not necessarily always visible to the rest of us.”

But he said traditional manufacturing was struggling.

“There’s no denial that the hollowing out is not new. It’s been happening for a number of years. Every time there’s a recession, it feels like we lose another bunch and then it’s smaller again. It happens in waves every time when all these pressures mount, these businesses that have been just managing to scrape by just don’t anymore.”

Business NZ chief executive Katherine Rich said the decisions being made were tough.

“From time to time, businesses do have to make changes and respond to markets and I think that’s what’s happened here. That many of the challenges that that company faced have been faced by a lot of food manufacturers, increased costs, increase in all costs, and of course, changing market conditions.”

Some of the Heinz Wattie’s brands, such as Greggs, had been picked-up by other producers and would continue.

“I think it was really a matter of time. You can’t continue to make really significant losses over many years and expect businesses to keep a footprint here, but it is a challenge. Now, over a period of years, we’ve lost a number of the major fast-moving consumer goods manufacturers,” Rich said.

“You think of the large-scale factories such as Unilever, Colgate, Arnott’s, Cadbury, when it was owned finally by Mondelez. Many of them have made similar decisions to reduce their footprint. I think it’s a factor of globalisation and the fact that this is a very high-cost market to try and manufacture in.”

But Rich said she was still confident about food manufacturing in New Zealand generally.

“If you’re looking at some of our manufacturers who export more in the commodity space, they continue to thrive serving markets in Australia, Asia, and across the globe.”

She said there were also entrepreneurs starting businesses with a good idea and pitching them to supermarkets.

“I’m really confident about the future of food manufacturing generally because we’re such a great place for high-quality ingredients. And we do have a growing market, we’ve got 5 million mouths to feed. But the main thing we have to do is not take our eye off the ball when it comes to trying to reduce the costs of doing business here,” Rich said.

“That’s why the work of the Ministry for Regulation and some of the government reforms to reduce business costs and make it easier to do business here are so important.”

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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/2026/03/13/watties-a-big-name-reminder-of-pressure-on-nz-manufacturers/

March 13, 2026

Vietnam Airlines Steps Up Market Promotion Efforts in Europe

Source: Media Outreach

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – Media OutReach Newswire – 12 March 2026 – Vietnam Airlines officially marked its entry into the Dutch market today with a high-profile promotion event at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, announcing the much-anticipated launch of nonstop flights between Hanoi and Amsterdam.

Beginning June 16, 2026, Vietnam Airlines will operate three weekly round-trip flights using the state-of-the-art Airbus A350 wide-body aircraft.

The event, joined by the Ambassador of Vietnam to the Netherlands, Mr. Ngo Huong Nam, served as a strategic platform to introduce the new route to key European travel partners. The gathering highlighted Vietnam’s growing appeal as a top-tier destination and reinforced the airline’s mission to bridge Vietnam with Europe’s most vital economic hubs.

Beginning June 16, 2026, Vietnam Airlines will operate three weekly round-trip flights using the state-of-the-art Airbus A350 wide-body aircraft. As the first-ever direct link between the two nations, this service will drastically reduce travel time and position Amsterdam as a primary gateway for passengers traveling from Europe to Southeast Asia.

The flight schedule is optimized for maximum convenience, offering seamless onward connections from Hanoi to Vietnam’s most iconic destinations, including Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc, as well as broader regional networks across Northeast Asia and Australia.

“Europe remains a cornerstone of our international growth strategy,” stated Nguyen Quang Trung, Executive Vice President of Vietnam Airlines. “The launch of the Hanoi–Amsterdam route is a testament to our dedication to the European market. By strengthening our ties with regional travel and tourism partners, we are creating a vital corridor for trade, cultural exchange, and tourism between Vietnam and the Netherlands.”

With the addition of Amsterdam, Vietnam Airlines now operates 12 nonstop services to eight major European cities, including Paris, Frankfurt, London, Munich, Milan, Copenhagen, and Moscow. This expansion solidifies the national flag carrier’s role in connecting Vietnam with global economic centers while showcasing the nation’s culture and hospitality to the world.

Hashtag: #VietnamAirlines

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/2026/03/13/vietnam-airlines-steps-up-market-promotion-efforts-in-europe/

March 12, 2026

Pams Beef Lasagna recalled due to incorrect use-by date

Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries

New Zealand Food Safety is supporting Foodstuffs Own Brands in its recall of Pams Beef Lasagne due to the product being labelled with the incorrect use-by date.

“The concern with this lasagna is that the use-by date is incorrect by 2 months. It should have been March 1, which is this Sunday, but instead it is incorrectly labelled as May 1,” says New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle.

“These products should not be eaten after Sunday. You can return them to the place of purchase for a refund. If that’s not possible, throw them out.”

The affected Pams Beef Lasagne (1.3 kg) with a use-by date of 01MAY26 is sold at Four Square, New World, and Pak’n Save supermarkets in the North Island.

Visit New Zealand Food Safety’s recall page for up-to-date information and photographs of the affected product.

If you eat any of these products after Sunday and are concerned for your health, contact your health professional, or call Healthline on 0800 611 116 for free advice.

The products were imported from Australia and labelled in New Zealand. The products have not been re-exported. They have been removed from stores.

“As is our usual practice, New Zealand Food Safety will work with Foodstuffs Own Brands to understand how the date mark labelling error occurred and prevent its recurrence,” says Mr Arbuckle.

The vast majority of food sold in New Zealand is safe, but sometimes problems can occur. Help keep yourself and your family safe by subscribing to our recall alerts. Information on how to subscribe is on the New Zealand Food Safety food recall page.

Pams brand Beef Lasagne recalled due to the product being labelled with an incorrect use-by date

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

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

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/pams-beef-lasagna-recalled-due-to-incorrect-use-by-date/

March 12, 2026

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of Pasifika TV

Source: New Zealand Government

[Speech to the Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Ltd (PCBL) conference, 6pm, 12 March, New Zealand International Conference Centre, Auckland]

Good evening –

Our hosts, the Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited, particularly Board Chair Brent Impey and Chief Executive Natasha Melesia;

Pacific broadcasting partners from across the region;

Members of the diplomatic corps;

Members of the media, government, and other partners;

It is a pleasure to be here today on the PCBL’s 10th Anniversary, marking 10 years of Pasifika TV on air across our Pacific region. Happy anniversary and warm greetings to you all.

It’s great you are all able to come together here in New Zealand to celebrate this momentous achievement. And as with many small broadcasting operations across the Pacific, collegiality, creativity, and the ability to solve problems is essential.

We are proud to have been your partner every step of the way. One of our great strengths as a region is our commitment to democratic governance. The work you do, as the Fourth Estate, helps to make our societies more connected and more robust.

New Zealand’s Place in the Pacific

We have spoken throughout this term about the importance New Zealand places on our region, the Pacific. This region is a core pillar of New Zealand’s foreign policy. Why? Because New Zealand is a Pacific country – we share history, geography, DNA, culture, sports, and religion.

Around one in four New Zealanders have Māori or Pasifika heritage. These connections shape our worldview and the responsibilities we accept as a member of the Pacific family.

And we see New Zealanders enriching Pacific countries too – through the expansion of New Zealand businesses into the region, through churches, and sports, our tourists, and those supporting development. This two-way, reciprocal exchange is essential.

Travel and Recent Engagements

The Pacific Reset reinforces that our identity, our security and our prosperity are inextricably linked with the Pacific. We have not only increased investment through our International Development Cooperation programme in the region, but we have been present, listening to our Pacific partners, and carrying those messages home.

Our travel has reaffirmed a simple but enduring truth: in the Pacific, there is no substitute for ‘talanoa’, having face-to-face engagement, listening carefully, and strengthening the bonds shaped by the challenges we face and our shared region and history. Our recent engagements underscored these priorities and highlighted the deep alignment between New Zealand and our Pacific partners.

During our recent visit to Kiribati, our discussions and the signing of a new Statement of Partnership deepened a relationship grounded in respect, cooperation, and a mutual commitment to addressing shared challenges. This visit also marked a significant milestone for us: during the current Parliamentary term, we have now visited all 17 fellow Pacific Islands Forum member states, demonstrating New Zealand’s steadfast dedication to regional partnership.

During these visits we saw the results of New Zealand’s work with Pacific partners to build better infrastructure, to manage our fisheries, strengthen public financial management, education and health systems, and to improve disaster preparedness.

The New Betio Hospital, which we visited in South Tarawa in January, is a great example of our approach. It is a high-quality, fit for purpose facility, built on a strong partnership between the Governments of New Zealand and Kiribati, with support from Japan and the Asian Development Bank. It stands as a symbol of the impact we can have by working together to support Pacific development.

Connectivity

Everywhere we’ve been, our counterparts have stressed the importance of connectivity: physical and digital. Pacific Leaders are clear to us that secure, resilient, and affordable digital infrastructure is essential to national development and regional cooperation. Digital systems underpin access to education and health, enable financial inclusion, expand economic opportunities, and connect remote communities to essential services. It means people can access online content, including broadcasting.

Achieving meaningful digital integration requires investment in undersea cables, satellite connectivity, and cyber resilience. It requires building local digital skills, supporting safe online spaces, and strengthening regional interoperability so systems can work across borders.

For New Zealand, partnering on digital transformation is both a practical responsibility and an expression of our Pacific identity. Harnessing digital transformation reduces distances, enhances disaster response, supports transparency, and enables broader participation in the digital economy. Ultimately, digital integration is not simply a technical challenge—it is an investment in sovereignty, opportunity, and the unity of our Blue Pacific Continent.

Technology is moving quickly in the region to support broadcasting. As Pacific broadcasters move to digital, local broadcasters begin to have access to multiple channels. This creates an opportunity for digital transformation platforms as connectivity improves, spreading its reach to wider Pacific audiences.

This is important because we know that broadcasting and media in the Pacific play a critical role in fostering democracy, ensuring safety, and preserving culture in communities spread across the vast Pacific Ocean. Media supports democracy by holding those in power to account, providing public service announcements, and promoting civic education.

Our ongoing support to PCBL reinforces the importance that New Zealand places on media freedom and a resilient, vibrant and regionally connected Pacific media sector. PCBL is a critical partner. It connects the world to the region during emergencies. And it supports local broadcasters to produce factual and locally relevant media content. New Zealand has been a proud provider of free-to-air content to the PCBL, and in the spirit of our shared love for sports, we are launching an initiative to support PCBL’s capacity to competitively negotiate and secure rights to show major live sports to Pacific audiences.

Talanoa is critical in the Pacific, but distance is a challenge. This has been raised with us on our travels, and we have been determined to break down that barrier, including through supporting leaders get to key regional meetings such as the Pacific Islands Forum. If we want regional responses to our challenges, we need regional leaders and our people to connect.

The Government is backing up these words with action. I’m pleased to announce tonight that from the 1st of June this year, we are decreasing the total cost of applying for a visitor visa for Pacific nationals from $216 to just $161, for a 12-month period. This is part of New Zealand’s ongoing work to reduce the barriers, including cost, to Pacific visitors travelling to New Zealand.

This is another practical update to visitor visa settings that reduces cost, supports easier travel, and helps to strengthen the relationships that matter most. This builds on earlier changes, such as longer visa durations and the current visa-free trial for Pacific travellers coming from Australia.

Partnership in difficult times

Strengthening our people-to-people connections is important when our strategic environment in the region is increasingly complex. The region is navigating sharper great power competition alongside climate and transnational risks that do not respect borders. In these difficult times, regionalism is essential.

Pacific leaders are clear: they seek cooperation, stability, and sovereignty — not division. The Pacific Islands Forum’s 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent remains our shared framework for long-term resilience, security, and prosperity.

New Zealand’s position is steady and principled. Pacific countries know they can turn to New Zealand in times of need. We’re continue to invest a range of initiatives that invests in the Pacific preparedness against physical and cyber threats, without adding pressure or duplication. We will also never shy away from having frank, mature, conversations with our Pacific family of nations, and we will continue to advocate for the Pacific – including on the global stage.

In an increasingly contested world, values matter. Our collective approaches and our regional architecture, like the Pacific Islands Forum, help guard against the ability of big, powerful countries to divide us. Together we can hold firm to our principles, enhancing the power of the region as a whole. Throughout these challenging times, our guiding principle is unchanged: to work with Pacific partners in ways that honour sovereignty, respond to local priorities, and support long-term resilience.

As we look forward to New Zealand’s hosting of the Pacific Islands Forum in 2027, New Zealand will be working to ensure our region is connected and unified. We will use our hosting of the Forum to strengthen the region’s relationships with partners who share our regional values, and who can contribute positively to the region’s prosperity and resilience and to its development.

Consensus, respect, and dialogue have defined Pacific diplomacy since the early years of regionalism – they are The Pacific Way. The Pacific Way guides us to engage constructively, to listen carefully, and to move forward collectively even when the issues before us are challenging. At a time of shifting geopolitical currents, the Pacific Way reminds us that partnership is a strength, that sovereignty is to be respected, and that solutions must be Pacific-led and Pacific-owned.

Closing

The Pacific has a long tradition of navigating vast oceans with courage, vision, and unity. New Zealand is committed to continue working within the Pacific family of nations—listening first, aligning second, and delivering always.

In closing, let us reflect on the goal that was established a decade ago by PBCL – to build and support an empowered, resilient and sustainable Pacific broadcasting community which supports informed, open and democratic societies, and regional cohesion.

Congratulations again on the first 10 years and all the best for the remainder of your conference.

Thank you

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/celebrating-the-10th-anniversary-of-pasifika-tv/

March 12, 2026

Further improvements to Pacific visitor visa settings

Source: New Zealand Government

Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Immigration Minister Erica Stanford have announced further changes to visitor visa settings for Pacific people, making it more affordable for Pacific visitors to travel to New Zealand.

“From 1 June this year, the total cost of applying for a visitor visa for Pacific nationals will drop from $216 to $161, for a 12-month period, as part of New Zealand’s ongoing work to deepen Pacific connections,” Mr Peters says.

“This is a practical update to visitor visa settings that reduces cost, supports easier travel and helps strengthen the relationships that matter most.”

“These updates build on earlier improvements, such as longer visa durations – from one year to two years with multiple entries – along with reduced processing times, new escalation processes to support urgent travel, and the current visa‑free trial for Pacific travellers coming from Australia,” Ms Stanford says.

“Together, these changes make it easier and cheaper for Pacific visitors to come to New Zealand, while ensuring the system remains clear, predictable and secure. The Government will review the impacts in a year’s time, before deciding what happens next.”

Further details on eligibility and timing will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

For more information, visit Immigration New Zealand’s website: www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/news-centre/visitor-visa-fees-temporarily-reduced-for-pacific-nationals/

Media contacts:

Mr Peters: John Tulloch +64 21 868 943

Ms Stanford: Michael van der Kwast +64 21 875 347

Notes to editor:

This change applies to people visiting from American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
As part of the Realm of New Zealand, people from the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau do not need visas to travel to New Zealand. Neither do citizens and permanent residents from Australia, given the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement.
People from New Caledonia and French Polynesia are French citizens and already eligible for visa-free travel. While people from Pitcairn Islands may be eligible for the reduced fee, as British citizens they are also already eligible for visa-free travel.
Visitor visas for Pacific Islands Forum nationals moved to a 24‑month multi‑entry default from 6 July 2025.
A 12‑month trial, from 3 November 2025, allows Pacific passport holders travelling from Australia on a valid Australian visa to enter New Zealand visa‑free with an NZeTA for visits of up to three months.

These changes follow two earlier updates announced in April 2025:

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/further-improvements-to-pacific-visitor-visa-settings/

March 12, 2026

Innovative digital labelling trial to progress

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government will move ahead with a digital labelling trial, another step towards removing barriers to consumer choice and competition.

It follows consultation at the end of last year on the trial, a requirement under the Food Act.

“Food retailers have told us labelling products can be a costly barrier to entry or expansion into the New Zealand market.

This trial provides an opportunity to test innovative digital labelling technologies and allows more flexibility to potential new entrants,” Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says.

“For smaller players and new entrants in particular, these costs would often need to be passed on to customers, resulting in higher prices that make it harder for them to compete.

“The end goal is a better deal for Kiwi consumers. It’s with that front of mind that the Government has decided to proceed with the trial.”

An Expression-of-Interest process is now open, seeking participants for a 12-month digital labelling trial for approved retailers.

Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard says the trial will ensure robust food safety protections remain in place.

“A small number of approved retailers will temporarily be exempt from existing physical labelling requirements under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. It will only apply to lower-risk, pre-packaged imported foods.

“Products in the trial will have physical labels that comply with rules in countries with strong food regulatory systems, similar to New Zealand’s, and all the information that Kiwis are used to seeing on labels will be available digitally.”

All other retailers will continue to display the normal physical labels during the trial.

“Food safety and suitability remain non-negotiable during the trial, so all products must comply with the Food Act 2014, the compositional requirements of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, and all other relevant legislation.”

To ensure regulatory oversight, New Zealand Food Safety will assess potential participants, run the trial, provide guidance and monitor performance.

“The world is moving toward using this sort of innovative technology. New Zealand’s trial of digital labelling will inform broader consideration of the role of digital labelling for food, by Food Standards Australia New Zealand” says Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard.

“The trial will help us understand how the system could work to ensure safety while providing business and consumers with more choice, without compromising the standards New Zealanders rightly expect.”

Locations of retail trial participants will be provided once they have been selected.

More information on the trial, including information for prospective trial participants, can be found here.

Submissions to the Expression of Interest process close on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/innovative-digital-labelling-trial-to-progress/

March 12, 2026

The New Zealand Threat Classification Series hits 50

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

A milestone worth celebrating for Aotearoa New Zealand’s biodiversity

The New Zealand Threat Classification Series has officially reached its 50th issue! That’s 50 deep dives into the state of our unique species, 50 scientifically robust contributions to conservation knowledge, and 50 reasons to feel proud of the mahi behind this nationally important series.

Lepidium rekohuense | Credit: CC-Y Peter de Lange

What is the Threat Classification Series?

Since 2013, the New Zealand Threat Classification Series (NZTCS) has served as a cornerstone of conservation science in Aotearoa. It’s a scientific series, but not the gathering dust on a shelf kind. These publications are all open access, living online on DOC’s Science Publications webpages, and widely used by researchers, conservationists, NGOs, and agencies here and overseas.

Each issue shares the most up-to-date conservation status of New Zealand’s wild species, from algae and spiders to birds, fungi, and everything in between. On average, three publications roll out every year, covering 23 different species groups. More than 16,000 species have been assessed to date.

Atrichopsis tenuirostris | Credit: Marley Ford

Flashback to issue #1

The very first issue, published in June 2013, was a whopper, compiling results from 21 peer-reviewed studies covering 12,223 species. It marked a major shift, moving NZTCS data from membership only journals to an open, freely available platform.

The second issue, also released June 2013, helped shape the series’ now-recognisable structure, though the look has evolved over the years (including the addition of the official NZTCS colour scheme in 2021).

We’ve actually come full circle – the series launched with a reptile assessment in 2013 and now issue #50 celebrates reptiles again.

Enjoy the photos in this blog. They’ve all featured on the cover of a report.

Awakopaka skink/Oligosoma awakopaka gravid female Homer Fiordland | Credit: James Reardon

It started with spreadsheets

In the early days, each issue came with an accompanying Excel spreadsheet packed with data. In 2018, this transformed with the creation of the NZTCS database, and supportive data is now accessed directly through digital links inside each publication.

A global audience

The NZTCS isn’t just for New Zealand audiences. In 2025, it had more than 2,500 reads, including readers in 68 countries. Outside Aotearoa, the biggest readership comes from the United States, Australia and China.

The most popular publication so far?

Issue 36 – Conservation Status of Birds in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2021. The issue was a real milestone, announcing that North Island Brown Kiwi, while remaining conservation dependent, was no longer threatened or at risk of becoming threatened thanks to 30 years of community conservation.

A massive collaborative effort

Behind each issue lies a considerable cross-sector effort. More than 200 authors – from DOC, Crown Research Institutes, universities, museums, and consultancies – have contributed their expertise.

Why the NZTCS matters

The NZTCS provides evidence-based assessments of extinction risk for species across Aotearoa, including marine species. It complements the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, but tailors its criteria to New Zealand’s unique natural environment such as island ecosystems, naturally small populations, and species with restricted ranges found nowhere else in the world.

Sperm whale in Kaikoura | Credit: Will Rayment/NZ Whale Dolphin Trust

Panels of experts reassess each species group roughly every five years, weighing abundance, distribution, and population trends. The result is a clear, nationally relevant picture of how our species are doing and where conservation energy is most needed.

Here’s to 50 issues, and many more to come

The NZTCS is more than a set of publications. It’s a living record of the state of Aotearoa’s biodiversity. It informs policy, recovery planning, advocacy, science and even national reporting.

Reaching 50 issues is a huge achievement. And as long as our taonga species need champions, the series will keep growing, evolving, and supporting the mahi to protect our natural heritage.

Aphis coprosmae

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Aphis coprosmae | Credit: Bioeconomy Science Institute

Ngā mihi nui to everyone who has contributed, supported, read, shared, or relied on this work. Here’s to the next 50!

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/the-new-zealand-threat-classification-series-hits-50/

March 12, 2026

AI in warfare being tested in Iran, needs ‘much more’ careful thinking by NZ – Defence

Source: Radio New Zealand

Defence says new AI-supercharged weapon systems will need to be “very, very carefully designed”. NZDF / Supplied

New AI-supercharged weapon systems will need to be “very, very carefully designed” to comply with international and domestic laws, MPs have been told.

And it would be the software behind the systems that would dictate like never before just how effective any new missiles, guns or electromagnetic jammers were, a defence official told a select committee.

Defence ministry deputy secretary Anton Youngman said it was time for some serious thinking by New Zealand.

“One of the key points that we talk about here is that with these new capabilities … they need to be very, very carefully designed to comply with international and domestic laws,” he said.

The briefing coincided with the first week of the Iran war.

Experts said the war was testing out for real the questions of what artificial intelligence should be used in warfare and who controlled it.

Fox News has reported that the advance in AI “is changing the nature of the battlefield by speeding up targeting and analysing intelligence all while raising new concerns over the role of human judgment and oversight in modern warfare”.

The Guardian reported, “The use of AI tools to enable attacks on Iran heralds a new era of bombing quicker than ‘the speed of thought’ experts have said, amid fears human-decision-makers could be sidelined.”

AI targeting has been developing rapidly in the last several years.

Youngman, for his long-term insights briefing of the select committee, drew on a less militaristic example. He described a future where NZ kept an eye on nearby oceans by using satellites, drones flying high and on and under the sea, surveillance aircraft and land-based radars – ” all of these working in sync together”.

The software did that syncing.

Such technology was typically ‘dual-use’ with civilian and military applications.

Youngman went on: “The ability of defence forces to collect and analyse data at speed will increasingly be the key determinant of military advantage.”

Defence Minister Judith Collins in her speech to a geopolitics conference on Tuesday said New Zealanders understood the world had changed, and “the highly skilled personnel” in defence needed to be ready to do what the govenment “and people ask of it”.

“That’s why we are focusing on more than doubling our defence spend and investing in a defence force that is combat capable with enhanced lethality and deterrence; a force multiplier with Australia and increasingly interoperable with partners,” her speech notes said.

Defence Minister Judith Collins. Nick Monro

What does this have to do with NZ?

NZ has already put development of these syncing technologies on a faster track under last year’s $12 billion defence capability plan (though officials had been tightlipped about the aim to get a sovereign satellite).

Its latest move was to start testing 14 drones for the sea and air, with potential strike capability, from local firm Syos.

It was also working internationally through its defence science technology section with its counterpart in Australia, and with the US and other countries. NZ has not waited to join AUKUS Pillar Two – which focuses on emerging military tech – to make these moves.

AI-targeting experiments were part of that. The NZDF has been taking part in the US-led Project Convergence exercise to test joint AI systems alongside multinational forces.

Last year’s exercise in California had a “digital backbone” provided by data-mining firm Palantir.

The Washington Post has reported that Palantir tech was being used by the Pentagon in Iran. The Post said its targeting system called Maven was using an AI tool, Claude.

“Anthropic’s AI tool Claude central to US campaign in Iran, amid a bitter feud,” ran the paper’s headline.

Palantir, co-founded by Peter Thiel, a NZ citizen, has said the software used at Project Convergence “provided a unified data infrastructure for advanced battlespace management that empowered users across all levels to plan, execute, and assess operations effectively and enable commanders to rapidly make informed decisions”.

Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel. Marco Bello / Getty Images / AFP

Another such Convergence exercise was scheduled for the coming US summer. The NZDF did not respond when asked how many people it was sending.

RNZ has previously reported how this work fits under a Pentagon top-priority project with allies and partners called CJADC2 or Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control.

‘Needs to be thought through much more carefully now than it ever previously did’

Youngman offered MPs another insight, that the ascendancy of software would change soldiering itself.

“Under the human-machine team … it’s a different role for defence personnel in this long-term future,” he said in response to National MP Tim Costley suggesting that NZ might be too small to properly deploy AI weapons and be better off adding to its soldiers, sailors and bullets.

Youngman said the role was moving potentially “from less kind of in the field work and more into that kind of tuning and training systems, interpreting the outputs, making decisions and ensuring adherence with … law and doctrine”.

Whose law and doctrine? That second question, of who controllrd the AI, also came up at the committee.

Green MP Teanau Tuiono asked, “You were saying earlier around making sure that the system design adheres to domestic international law. How are you going to do that?”

Green MP Teanau Tuiono. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Youngman said the challenge was new, now that machines could now take action themselves, for the first time in warfare.

“It’s going to continue to be a growing challenge and something that through the design of the capabilities, needs to be thought through much more carefully now than it ever previously did,” he said.

Labour MP and former Defence Minister Peeni Henare asked, “Do we have the foundational legislation to make sure that we’re able to govern effectively in the spaces of war?”

Youngman replied that was beyond the scope of the long-term briefing but added, “This is exactly the type of questions that this research is pointing to and saying we need to have this conversation.

“We are looking at a longer term horizon here, 2035, and the reason for doing this type of long-term research now is to say these are the types of conversations that we need to have.”

What about NZ being able to afford its own cloud-based AI military systems in future, Henare asked.

“Really good quesiton,” said Youngman. “I think the importance of remaining interoperable with partners is going to be key. It is today and it will continue to be.

“However … [the briefing] does talk about needing to continually balance that cost with sovereignty, with legality and social licence.”

‘A grey ship is a grey ship’

Everyone agreed that explaining all this to the public was much harder than talking about buying a new frigate.

“A grey ship is a grey ship,” said Henare.

“People will read this and go, this is preparing us for AUKUS,” he added.

Labour MP and former Defence Minister Peeni Henare. VNP / Phil Smith

Youngman replied that defence would “need to be more proactive” in communicating around the new capabilities.

The briefing itself said this was one of “three major shifts” defence had to get its head around.

“Public trust in defence forces is earned, not assumed. Ensuring Defence maintains public trust will remain essential, and possibly more challenging, in an environment defined by increased contestation and technological change,” it said.

When RNZ asked NZDF to lay out the nature of its technology and data-sharing with the US and other Five Eyes partners, Defence responded by turning it into an Official Information Act (OIA) request that would take at least five weeks to answer; similarly, a question about whether defence was taking a role in testing or developing systems from Palantir.

“Your request is noted, but the NZDF still needs to manage information requests in the way it deems appropriate,” Defence said.

The nature of NZ’s national security work within Five Eyes had come up earlier at a select committee. In that case, the SIS and GCSB replied they had tight controls around intellligence sharing and could withhold intel if legal, policy and human rights settings were not met.

An OIA in December showed that defence currently used nine AI-enabled tools in a restricted cacpacity for research in data and sensor processing and modelling. Sensors could be used in targeting.

The nine were: ChatGPT, Dalle-2, Github Copilot, Azure Machine Learning, Azure OpenAI services, Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft Teams, AiZynthFinder and Meta Llama 2.

National MP Dana Kirkpatrick thanked Youngman for the insights briefing: “There’s no time like the present in the current geopolitical challenges to be talking about future capability and interoperability in defence.”

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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/2026/03/12/ai-in-warfare-being-tested-in-iran-needs-much-more-careful-thinking-by-nz-defence/

March 12, 2026

Can you really turn into a tree when you die?

Source: Radio New Zealand

Would you like to be a tree when you die? Or would you like to be an AI chatbot hologram?

There is a widening spectrum for how to dispose of our bodies after we die and how we will be grieved and remembered. Dr Hannah Gould, a death expert and Australian academic, recently wrote the book How to Die in the 21st Century.

In it, she covers everything from the greenest way to go to whether AI chatbots can really help with grief, exploring these subjects from a philosophical and practical perspective with a dose of humour.

Gould recently took questions from RNZ’s Nine to Noon listeners and host Kathryn Ryan.

Supplied

?

Probably the biggest trend to shape the funeral sector in the last couple of years is this trend towards personalisation. So having a funeral ceremony, but also a memorial, a grave or a cremation or a burial, whatever it is that reflects the kind of personality and kind of authentic, I suppose, beliefs and practices of the dead in life. Making sure, for example, even the smallest things like having the food that they liked at the funeral or playing the songs that they liked and an orientation towards the individual as opposed to towards, for example, the religious tradition towards God, towards the community.

Those things exist, but personalisation has become almost the number one value of the funeral ceremony. It was a good funeral if Mum had liked it, if the person who died had approved of it.

How do I talk to my family about my wishes for when I die?

Gateway Funerals

Do people want to become trees?

It is possible to become a tree in some sense, and there are a number of companies that are now offering this. But if you’re thinking that maybe you will place a beautiful little sapling on the coffin and then put someone six feet under, you will kill the tree… I hate to have to tell people this.

… if you have a lot of ashes in a very small area, so a high concentration, the pH levels and some of the chemical composition of those ashes can probably do a little bit more harm than good to the natural environment. There are ways around that. There are different ways of treating remains.

Can you really turn into a tree when you die?

Nine To Noon

What is a composting burial?

[Compost burial involves using organic material and microbes to speed up the decomposition process to within 30 to 60 days, essential turning the body into soil]

This is a new technology that came out of the US and is quite popular in Seattle. I think they’ve got up to nine or 10 American states where it’s now legalised. There have been some moves to legalise it, both within New Zealand and Australia.

My understanding is that this is mostly a problem of legislative change. There would have to be a legislative change in order to have that made legal. Then, there’s also another technical question: Australia and New Zealand have rather different flora and fauna, both to each other, but also to the US. So there is a question of how you would make that happen.

Can I be buried in a field or forest in a canvas sack or cardboard box?

That’s probably the “greenest” way to go. Not to be embalmed, not to have any of these other preserving techniques and to go in a biodegradable sack or whatever it is, and to be put into land. Even better would be if that grave could be recycled in, say, 20 to 30 years, when your earthly remains are no longer here.

The part of the problem we have in many places is that we have an in perpetuity system of burial. Once it’s a grave, it’s always a grave, and then you want to think about land use as part of that ecological calculation. But natural burial is a very green way to go.

Can I start up a private cemetery?

It is a lot harder than simply opening up your paddock to burials, and the number one question I often get is people wanting to be buried on their own land, on private land.

… That is generally quite a difficult thing to do because of that longevity question. So is this a grave on private land? What happens if you were to sell that land? Or what would happen if, [in] a few generations, the government wants to buy back that land or whatever it is, you have to really start thinking about those questions and that can become quite difficult.

How do I decide who to invite to my assisted dying event?

I think if you’re going to be present, you get to do the guest list. This is completely up to you. Feel no obligation to invite anyone you don’t want to.

This is just your people, the people that you want to be there. After you go, they can have a funeral, and you can invite all the colleagues and other people that you feel obligated to, but I think if you’re going to have the guts and have the bravery to have your own funeral, it really should be exactly how you want it to be.

How can I tell my family what I want when I die?

…You just need to do a little bit of pre-planning. And that can actually be you yourself going to the provider and saying, “This is what I’d like to happen for me. I’d like my family to not to have to fret about it. What can we put in place while I’m alive for that to happen?”

… This is one of the things: the more thinking about death we can do when we’re healthy and alive, and the more conversations we can have with our friends and family, the less of a burden that becomes when we do die.

What’s the latest on AI recreations of lost loved ones?

Mostly they’ve been created as one-offs for TV programmes or for research projects… [You] feed all the data that we have about you into an AI system and create a hologram where you can chat with it after death.

There hasn’t been a lot of good research about the impacts of this on long-term grief outcomes. Mostly because they’re so hard to create, and they’re also very controversial.

I would absolutely hate it – I’m trying to say this in as many public forums as possible – please do not make me into a hologram after I die. I don’t want to be brought back to life through ChatGPT. They’re quite controversial, both in regard to the dead person’s right to be dead, their right to be forgotten, their right not to be resurrected digitally, and also in terms of the family members all agreeing to it.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/can-you-really-turn-into-a-tree-when-you-die/

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‘Nothing in NZ to return to’

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What does this have to do with NZ?

‘Needs to be thought through much more carefully now than it ever previously did’

‘A grey ship is a grey ship’