Category: Business

Posted on

BusinessNZ – Oil slick: NZ’s economy still grows amid turbulent times

Source: BusinessNZ

The latest BusinessNZ Planning Forecast shows that while the economic outlook largely depends on how the conflict in Iran evolves, current forecasts still point to encouraging growth through to March 2028.
Chief Economist John Pask says even as we navigate stormy seas internationally, there are reasons to remain optimistic at home.
“Our construction sector is showing signs of recovery, with increased consenting activity and a strong infrastructure pipeline, as has been outlined by the Infrastructure Commission.
“Tourism has rebounded too, and international visitor numbers are back to pre-covid levels, aided in part by a lower NZ dollar.
“On the agricultural front, Fonterra’s sale of several consumer brands for around $4 billion is expected to boost incomes and support rural communities. On the downside, input costs, including fertiliser, are likely to rise significantly if the conflict continues.
Pask says this latest Planning Forecast comes with a special note, due to a developing geopolitical situation.
“Given the fluid international economic situation at present, forecasts on economic growth, interest rates, exchange rates, inflation, and unemployment, should be seen for what they are – the best available information to date. These forecasts will likely be subject to significant change as both the global and domestic scene continues to evolve over coming weeks.”
The BusinessNZ Economic Conditions Index (ECI) is a measure of some of NZ’s key economic indicators. It sits at 18 for the March 2026 quarter, down 6 on the previous quarter, and up 13 on a year ago. An ECI reading above 0 indicates that economic conditions are generally improving overall; below 0 means economic conditions are generally declining.
The latest BusinessNZ Planning forecast is available now on the BusinessNZ website.
The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/19/businessnz-oil-slick-nzs-economy-still-grows-amid-turbulent-times/

Posted on

Economy grew by 0.2 percent in last three months of 2025

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Quin Tauetau

  • Economy grows 0.2 pct in December quarter, 1.3 pct on year ago
  • Data at the low end of expectations
  • Previous quarter revised to 0.9 pct growth from 1.1 pct
  • Primary sector and tourism industries lead growth
  • Manufacturing flat, construction sector contracts
  • Data not likely to change Reserve Bank holding cash rate at 2.25 pct next month.

The economy posted tepid growth at the end of last year as the rural sector and tourism growth offset soft manufacturing and weak construction before the Middle East conflict threatened to stymie recovery.

Stats NZ data showed gross domestic product (GDP), the broad measure of economic growth, rose 0.2 percent in the three months ended December, to be 1.3 percent higher than a year ago. On an annual average basis, the economy grew 0.2 percent over the year.

Expectations were for quarterly growth in a range of 0.2 to 0.5 percent, although the growth of the previous quarter was revised lower to 0.9 percent from 1.1 percent.

Stats NZ spokesperson Jason Attewell said it was the first time the economy had posted annual growth in more than two years.

“GDP has now risen in three of the last four quarters.”

Turned the economic corner

The strongest sectors were primary industries, which grew 0.9 percent, and service industries, which make up about 70 percent of the economy and grew 0.7 percent.

Attewell said strong spending by overseas visitors in the quarter boosted a broad range of businesses.

“This flowed through to parts of the economy that service tourism, such as rental car hire, retail trade [and] accommodation.”

Exports of goods and services were up 0.1 percent, with higher meat and forestry exports offsetting lower dairy sales.

There were positive contributions from real estate and financial services, retail, recreation, and energy and water industries.

The main drag on growth was from construction, which was down 1.4 percent on the previous quarter because of a fall in non-residential building.

Individual shares of the economy – per capita GDP – were unchanged for the quarter, to be 0.4 percent lower than a year ago.

The country’s purchasing power (disposable income) was also flat for the quarter, but 1.5 percent ahead of a year ago.

Derailed recovery ?

The GDP reading has already been discounted by economists as historical information overtaken by the Middle East conflict.

The latest monthly partial monthly read on inflation and a further slip in consumer confidence driven by a surge in fuel prices are seen as pointers for future activity.

Forecasts before the hostilities were for a gradual pick-up in growth this year to more than 2.5 percent, rising towards 3 percent in 2027.

The Reserve Bank last month held the official cash rate (OCR) at 2.25 percent and signalled rates would be held at an “accommodative level” to support the economy.

Economists have highlighted the uncertainty caused by the US/Israel-Iran war and its ability to derail economic activity through higher inflation, disruption to supply chains, and dampening of household and business demand and activity.

New Zealand’s quarterly growth rate was the same as or close to those in the US, UK, EU, and Japan, but lagged Australia’s 0.8 percent.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/19/economy-grew-by-0-2-percent-in-last-three-months-of-2025/

Posted on

Rocket Lab wins record contract with US Department of War

Source: Radio New Zealand

Rocket Lab founder and chief executive Sir Peter Beck. Supplied / Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab has won a US$190 million (NZ$327m) contract from the United States Department of War, formerly the Department of Defence, for a series of hypersonic test flights using its HASTE launch vehicle.

It is the largest single contract in the NZ-founded company’s history and lifts its total order backlog to more than US$2 billion (NZ$3.44b).

The four‑year agreement covers 20 test flights of Rocket Lab’s Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron (HASTE) rocket, a modified version of its Electron launcher designed to carry suborbital payloads of up to 700 kilograms at speeds above Mach 5.

The launches will be carried out under the Multi‑Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH‑TB) 2.0 programme – a partnership between the Department of War and the Naval Surface Warfare Centre Crane Division that aims to accelerate hypersonic flight testing and related technologies.

Rocket Lab has already conducted several HASTE missions since 2023 under the MACH‑TB programme.

Rocket Lab founder and chief executive Sir Peter Beck said the expanded partnership with the Department of War and MACH‑TB would help strengthen US national security by providing rapid and affordable hypersonic testing.

“Our advanced technology, responsive launch schedules, and mass production of our HASTE hypersonic rockets are enabling faster progress across a range of hypersonic experiments by our government and industry partners,” he said.

Sir Peter described the new deal as “another proud moment for the team that builds the strength and resiliency of the United States’ aerospace efforts”.

The contract takes Rocket Lab’s launch backlog to 70 missions, and the company has sold 28 launches in the first quarter of 2026 – almost as many as it sold during the whole of 2025.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/19/rocket-lab-wins-record-contract-with-us-department-of-war/

Posted on

Property Market – Sales volumes slip again as caution lingers across NZ housing market – Cotality

Source: Cotality

Sales volumes have fallen again across New Zealand’s housing market, extending a slow start to 2026 even as property values remain broadly stable on the back of improved affordability and lower mortgage rates.

The Cotality NZ Monthly Housing Chart Pack for March shows sales volumes in February were 6.8% lower than the same month a year ago, following a 7.8% fall in January. It marks the first time in almost three years that sales have declined in two consecutive months.

Property values remain relatively stable, with the national median edging 0.2% higher in February, although values are still 1.2% lower than a year ago and around 17.3% below the early-2022 peak. 
Cotality NZ Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson said buyer caution had remained a defining feature of the country’s broader housing market through the first two months of 2026.
“Sales volumes remain fairly sluggish and that’s a reminder that confidence takes time and is still rebuilding,” Mr Davidson said.
“December activity looked unusually strong, so some of the recent softness may reflect timing rather than a new downward trend. But even allowing for that, the housing market is still in a phase where buyers are taking their time.”
Some markets showed larger price gains in February, with Hamilton and Dunedin each recording a 0.9% rise in values, while values in Invercargill also moved higher. 
First home buyers remain key market force
First home buyers continued to play a major role in the market, accounting for around 27% of property purchases across January and February combined. 
Mr Davidson said improving affordability and lower mortgage rates are helping many first home buyers enter the market, even in a high-priced market such as Auckland.
“First home buyers remain a significant presence, and in Auckland they’ve taken an even larger share of purchases at around 30% so far this year,” he said.
“KiwiSaver withdrawals continue to play a role in helping buyers assemble deposits, while the banks’ low-deposit lending allowances are also supporting access to credit.”
“In some cases, mortgage repayments can now look similar, or cheaper than rents, which can encourage tenants to move from renting to buying if they’re able to save for or access a deposit,” he said.
Movers accounted for just over 26% of purchases across the first two months of the year, while mortgaged multiple property owners held a 24% share. 
Mr Davidson said the behaviour of owner-occupiers trading homes would be an important factor to watch through 2026.
“A stronger economic backdrop could encourage more movers to return to the market over time. When that group becomes more active, it tends to support higher transaction levels across the entire housing market.”
Rental market remains subdued
Conditions in the rental market remain soft, with net migration well below previous peaks and rental listings still relatively elevated.
MBIE bonds data shows the median national rent fell by 0.8% in the three months to January compared with a year earlier, a relatively rare outcome after several years of strong growth. 
Mr Davidson said the combination of softer population growth and already high rent levels relative to incomes is limiting further increases.
“Rents have already risen significantly in recent years, and wage growth has eased, so there isn’t a lot of scope for further increases at the moment,” he said.
“More likely we’ll see a period of flat or only modest rental growth while the market adjusts.”
Market outlook remains measured
Several economic and financial factors would influence how the NZ housing market performs during the rest of 2026, Mr Davidson said.
Around 59% of existing mortgages by value are due to be repriced over the next 12 months, which could provide some relief for households if borrowers move onto lower interest rates. However, global uncertainty and inflation pressures continue to pose unknown risks.
“The US-Israel-Iran conflict and higher fuel prices are potential inflation risks in the near term, but if those pressures prove temporary the Reserve Bank should still be able to hold the OCR steady,” he said.
“That would allow the housing market to gradually rebuild momentum, although any recovery in prices and sales volumes is likely to remain modest rather than rapid.”
The Cotality NZ Monthly Housing Chart Pack provides the latest breakdown of sales activity, listings, buyer classification, property values, rental trends, lending conditions and economic indicators across New Zealand.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/19/property-market-sales-volumes-slip-again-as-caution-lingers-across-nz-housing-market-cotality/

Posted on

Innovation Fund delivers increased access

Source: New Zealand Government

Round Three of the successful Mental Health and Addiction Innovation Fund has been announced with changes that aim to increase access to support across New Zealand, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey announced.

“The Government’s mental health plan is delivering faster access to support, more frontline workers, and a better crisis response. Grassroots community organisations play a big role in helping us achieve that,” Mr Doocey says.

“Already, the Fund has supported nineteen organisations around the country, increasing access for many Kiwis. Initiatives include helping young people stay safe online, supporting young mothers, Women’s Refuge services, a crisis café, and support for people in the construction industry.”

“I have been very clear from the start that I am open to making changes to the Fund. I have heard the sector loud and clear that further changes were needed to allow more organisations to access funding. This idea was born from talking to the sector, so it is only right they have a say in the changes.”

In response, the requirement for an independent Social Return on Investment (SROI) report as part of the application process has been revised. Instead, applicants will submit a proposal outlining the intended outcomes and how potential social return will be measured. A full external SROI report will then be completed towards the end of the project.  

“This change allows community organisations to use matched funding for half of the external SROI report, increasing access to the Fund while helping organisations clearly demonstrate the outcomes of their programmes,” Mr Doocey says.

“This approach opens the door for greater access to the Innovation Fund, while still maintaining robust evaluation and evidence. At the end of the day, we want grassroots organisations that know their communities best to bring forward new ideas that can be supported. I am proud that this Government is backing them.

“But the real winners are the thousands of people who benefit from the partnership, with more New Zealanders able to have timely access to support around the country.

“This is the second change to the fund. After the first round, we heard clearly from organisations that the $250,000 matched-funding requirement was a barrier. In response, that threshold was lowered to $100,000 in round two, further increasing access to the Fund.”

Notes to editor:
•    Contracts are expected to be in place from Quarter 1 2026/27.
•    With this change, $20 million has now been made available through the Fund.  This third round will continue the Fund for a further two years, with $5 million per annum available in 2026/27 and 2027/28. Providers may submit proposals covering both years. 
•    The full criteria includes:
•    Increases access to mental health and addiction support  
•    Protects public specialist mental health and addiction services by reducing demand 
•    Develops capacity in the mental health and addiction workforce Uses technology to drive productivity 
•    Delivers scalable solutions for unmet need 
•    Returns positive social return on investment (with evidence) 
•    Achieves positive outcomes for target population groups that have evidence of poorer mental health outcomes than other groups 
•    Will be co-funded on a dollar-for-dollar matched funding basis.
 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/19/innovation-fund-delivers-increased-access/

Posted on

Whatever happened to NFTs?

Source: Radio New Zealand

Bored Ape / Nike / Beeble / Cyber Cosmos

Four years ago, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) were everywhere.

The tokens, which provide digital ownership of an asset, often art, were being traded and promoted by celebrities in New Zealand and around the world.

Former All Black Dan Carter co-founded Glorious, to help artists sell their digital art in the form of NFTs. Rich-lister Craig Heatley reportedly invested.

Brooke Howard-Smith co-founded NF Labs, with a series of Fluf World NFTs, and at one point partnered with rapper Snoop Dogg.

But while it was reported that more than US$2.7 billion in NFTs was being traded at the peak of the market, it now looks like quite a different picture.

In 2023, researchers said, across 73,000 NFT collections, 95 percent were valued at zero ether – the ethereum cryptocurrency used to buy them.

The Bored Ape Yacht Club collection, which Justin Bieber is reported to have spent more than US$1m for a slice of, is estimated to be down 97 percent from its all-time high.

CryptoPunks are down 89 percent. Mutant Ape Yacht Club is down 98 percent.

Forbes said this week Bored Ape Yacht Club had a floor price of US$12,000 – down from a peak of US$394,764.

University of Otago senior lecturer Olivier Jutel said the drop had been dramatic.

“There is myriad reasons for that but essentially if I had to put it in a nutshell, people have been grasping around for some essential use chain for the blockchain. And Web3 and NFTs were the most frothy sort of future vision here.”

He said it was unlikely there would be a resurgence.

“I really don’t think so … Facebook spent $40 billion on the metaverse … but nobody wanted this.

“Essentially our economies are so bedazzled and captured by number go up, valuation, financialisation, that it’s so unmoored from the real economy.

“I know the real economy could be a problematic concept, but crypto, blockchain and Web3 are the height of this kind of complete detachment.”

But University of Auckland commercial law professor Alex Sims said the underlying technology of NFTs could still be useful, even if NFTs had been overhyped.

“[You] can make a loose analogy with NFTs and the dotcom bubble.

“Lots of enthusiasm, massive bubble but the underlying tech and infrastructure was built, as well as the beginning of a culture shift … Although, unlike the dotcom bubble it’s unlikely that many NFT projects will grow to large ones, unlike say Amazon, Google, Netflix, eBay …”

She said some NFTs still had value but many did not.

“They aren’t worth the stupid money that people were paying for them … a lot of the big name NFTs are worth a fraction of what they were bought for if people bought them at the top of the market.

“But many are still worth money, just a lot less than some people paid for them.”

She said Damien Hurst’s The Currency project and its Tender NFTs could have more lasting value than some other NFT projects because they had a famous artist behind them.

“While the Tender NFTs have fallen from around US$29,000 in February 2022 to about US$1880 each, if people bought the NFTs directly when they released for US$2000 – then they haven’t lost that much money, just over 10 percent.

“As I said quite a few times at the time of the NFT bubble. Only buy an artwork NFT if you like the artwork or you want to support the artist. Don’t buy them for speculation as you are likely to lose your money. And I’ve predictably been proven right.”

Swyftx NZ country manager Paul Quickenden said there were a few things people could think about if they were weighing up similar new investments that might pop up in future.

“I think that the key tenets are always the same … is there a good sound business case or use case for the project or whatever they’re trying to do?

“Can you identify the team and are they reputable? Does what they’re trying to do make sense?

“It’s also a question of time. In any transaction, there’s a buyer and a seller. And the seller is thinking that the time is right to get out.

“And the buyer is thinking there’s more opportunity for it to go up. And only one of those two people are going to be right.”

He said just because people were “piling in”, it did not mean it was a good time to buy.

“You have to evaluate the project, but also just what’s going on in that market? Because if it feels very frothy, then there’s a really good chance that, you know, you might be caught up in a wave that’s going to crash.”

Glorious and NF Labs have not yet responded to requests for comment.

Sign up for Money with Susan Edmunds, a weekly newsletter covering all the things that affect how we make, spend and invest money

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/19/whatever-happened-to-nfts/

Posted on

New Zealand playing its part in global oil response

Source: New Zealand Government

New Zealand will release oil tickets to fulfil its commitment to the International Energy Agency’s collective action in response to the oil supply issues created by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

New Zealand’s contribution under the action, announced last week by the International Energy Agency (IEA), is 1.577 million barrels of crude oil or the equivalent. 

“New Zealand holds oil tickets, which are options to purchase different types of oil or refined fuel. We will release some of the tickets we hold to the global market,” Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones says.

“Under the action, IEA members have agreed to release 400 million barrels of crude oil or equivalent to global markets. This is significantly greater in volume than the collective action taken in response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022. 

“This will add much-needed supply globally, helping reduce pressure on global refineries which ordinarily access oil from the Middle East. The action should help to calm global markets,” Mr Jones says.

IEA members met at 1am (NZT) today to share their respective plans for responding to the collective action. 

“It’s important to note that the tickets we are releasing are for crude oil or fuel we cannot use in our own domestic system. While this is an important contribution to the global situation, the release has minimal impact on New Zealand’s domestic fuel security position,” Mr Jones says. 

Editors’ note

  • Oil tickets are contracts that give the Government the option to purchase different types of fuel. New Zealand is not releasing physical supply to the market.
  • The purchase options New Zealand will release are for crude oil and a form of fuel incompatible with New Zealand specifications.

For latest on New Zealand’s fuel security situation following the events in the Middle East, please visit the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment website: Middle East conflict and New Zealand’s fuel stocks | Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/19/new-zealand-playing-its-part-in-global-oil-response/

Posted on

‘Buyers know they have the power’: Property market off to slow start, Cotality data shows

Source: Radio New Zealand

123RF

Housing market activity has got off to a slow start this year, Cotality says.

The property data firm said sales volumes in February were 6.8 percent lower than a year ago, after a 7.8 percent fall in January.

It was the first time in almost three years that sales had declined in two consecutive months.

Values were stable, up 0.2 percent in the month although still down 1.2 percent on a year earlier.

Cotality chief property economist Kelvin Davidson said buyers were cautious.

“December activity looked unusually strong, so some of the recent softness may reflect timing rather than a new downward trend.

“But even allowing for that, the housing market is still in a phase where buyers are taking their time.”

He said it was possible that some people brought forward property deals in December to take advantage of cashback incentives from the banks.

“I don’t necessarily think it’s the start of a downwards trend or anything, given mortgage rates are down, and the economy’s showing signs of recovering, and confidence seems to be recovering a little bit.

“But I guess just a good reminder that there’s still a bit of caution out there. Buyers are still cautious, sellers are still cautious, you know, the market’s certainly not rushing anyway.

“We’re still seeing that in property values. They’re pretty flat, even the markets that are probably more resilient are still not seeing a boom…buyers know they have the power.”

First-home buyers were still a significant force in the market, responsible for 27 percent of purchases across January and February.

Davidson said improving affordability and lower mortgage rates helped.

“KiwiSaver withdrawals continue to play a role in helping buyers assemble deposits, while the banks’ low-deposit lending allowances are also supporting access to credit.

“In some cases, mortgage repayments can now look similar, or cheaper than rents, which can encourage tenants to move from renting to buying if they’re able to save for or access a deposit.”

People moving from one owner-occupied property to another were 26 percent of purchases and investors 24 percent.

Davidson said those movers would be a segment of the market to watch this year,

“When confidence is up, when job security is up, movers tend to relocate or trade up or get that house in that better suburb or the bigger house or whatever.

“During the last couple of years, they’ve been quiet because that economic backdrop has been pretty subdued.

“If we can get a sustained recovery this year, you’d anticipate that movers would start to become a bit more active and trade up, that sort of thing.

“So that’s definitely one I’m keeping an eye on. It’s not there yet.”

Rents still soft

Rents continued to be soft, he said.

MBIE bonds data shows the median national rent fell by 0.8 percent in the three months to January compared with a year earlier.

Davidson said the combination of softer population growth and already high rent levels relative to incomes was limiting further increases.

“Rents have already risen significantly in recent years, and wage growth has eased, so there isn’t a lot of scope for further increases at the moment,” he said.

“More likely we’ll see a period of flat or only modest rental growth while the market adjusts.”

Davidson said there were a number of forces that would act on the market this year. He said war in the Middle East could affect job confidence, which might slow the market.

“It’s not difficult to imagine that things sort of trend sideways for a while.”

But he said there was also a wider mindset change happening.

“We are going to be able to look back in hindsight and say, yep, that was the point where the market did change a little bit.

“But I detect at more and more things I go to, more and more people I talk to, audiences I hear from and talk to … just a bit of a psychology change going on.

“I think people are coming around to the idea that ever rising house prices isn’t necessarily the best thing. And maybe we’re at an interesting turning point, potentially, where people do start to question that assumption that property prices will always go up.

“I think we’ll still see property price growth, but it might be a bit lower in future than it’s been in the past.”

About 60 percent of mortgages by value will refix over the next 12 months.

Sign up for Money with Susan Edmunds, a weekly newsletter covering all the things that affect how we make, spend and invest money

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/19/buyers-know-they-have-the-power-property-market-off-to-slow-start-cotality-data-shows/

Posted on

Nightshift cleaner welcomes Finance Minister’s mooted support against surging petrol prices

Source: Radio New Zealand

Finance Minister Nicola Willis explains government’s plan as petrol prices increase. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

A woman who works overnight shifts as a cleaner at Auckland Airport says she is feeling the effects of surging petrol prices.

The Finance Minister said she was looking at targeted, temporary support for some households if the Middle East conflict worsened.

Nicola Willis said the help could be available, for example, to a cleaner needing to drive to work early in the morning when there was no public transport.

E tū union member Ayesha Paki had a roughly 30-minute drive, six days a week, to her job at Auckland Airport.

“Everything is expensive and now the petrol has affected all of us cleaners and low pay workers. We are so worried,” she said.

Paki, who worked 10pm to 6am shifts, said it was a very tough time.

“Petrol is going up everytime I go in my car,” she said.

“We are renting and we have to pay the bills, electricity, put the food on the table, it’s hard for us.”

Paki said any government support would be appreciated.

“If our wages go up it will be easier for us. That’s why we fight for our Fair Pay agreement but then they scrapped it, and we cleaners are suffering and struggling.”

On Monday, Willis said the government was “anticipating, and to the extent possible mitigating the impact on the New Zealand economy, including what could potentially be acute cost of living pressures for some households”.

“From the government’s point of view, we need to ensure that any support we provide to households is temporary, is targeted and is timely,” she said.

Willis said official advice was that reducing fuel excise would “send the wrong signal” and not be sufficiently targeted.

Willis said her household would not need as much help financially as others, using the example of a South Auckland airport cleaner who could not take the bus to work.

“We need to make sure that we have in mind those New Zealanders who face the most acute cost of living pressures rather than having blanket responses which tie up a lot of others.”

She would not give a price petrol would have to reach at the pump before the government would take action, saying prices had been higher in the past.

“I am working with the Treasury and we will have a range of options,” she said, which would be discussed with Cabinet. She said whatever the government did would have to be prudent and not contribute to inflation.

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/2026/03/19/nightshift-cleaner-welcomes-finance-ministers-mooted-support-against-surging-petrol-prices/

Posted on

Art Central, In Collaboration With The Hong Kong Tourism Board, Presents The Hong Kong Art Month Discovery Guide And Introduces Travel And Experience Packages

Source: Media Outreach

Inviting visitors to Hong Kong Art Month for a cultural journey connecting art and the city

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2026 – Art Central, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, is launching a digital Hong Kong Art Month Discovery Guide alongside a series of travel and experience packages for the Fair’s eleventh edition. These offerings bring visitors from the Greater Bay Area and overseas a seamless art travel experience, allowing them to enjoy Hong Kong’s diverse hotels, dining, attractions, and transport networks alongside their visit to the Fair.

As a cornerstone event of Hong Kong Art Month, Art Central returns to the iconic Central Harbourfront from 25 to 29 March 2026. The Fair brings together contemporary art, curated programmes, and a vibrant community of galleries, artists, collectors, overseas visitors, and local audiences to build a dynamic platform for artistic exchange. Art Central 2026 is financially supported by the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.

Entering its second decade, Art Central 2026 will assemble 117 galleries and 500 artists from Hong Kong, Asia, and around the world, further reinforcing its position as an integral platform for discovery and exchange among collectors and curators. Co-curated by Enoch Cheng and Zoie Yung, the Fair’s eleventh edition will present a series of artistic programmes—including performances, video art, large-scale installations, and talks—examining the frictions and intimacies that shape contemporary social and virtual life, foregrounding emergent Asian voices.

To enrich the artistic journey for visitors, Art Central, in partnership with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, proudly presents the digital Hong Kong Art Month Discovery Guide. The guide compiles exciting events across the city’s art districts, covering gallery exhibitions, special museum showcases, and performing arts programmes across Central, Sheung Wan, Wan Chai, Tai Hang, the Southern District, Tsim Sha Tsui, and the West Kowloon Cultural District. Beyond visual arts, the guide offers detailed dining recommendations in the vicinity, perfectly illustrating Hong Kong’s diverse culinary culture. The curated selections range from local street food and refined Cantonese cuisine to Michelin-starred contemporary European dining. Featured establishments include MIAN, Amber, Belon, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Chinesology, Gu Liang Cai, and the historic Luk Yu Tea House. Through this comprehensive guide, visitors can easily navigate the city’s streets and alleys alongside their visit to Art Central, seamlessly transitioning from visual arts to culinary delights while deeply experiencing Hong Kong’s unique charm as Asia’s events capital. Explore more in the Hong Kong Art Month Discovery Guide.

To allow visitors to incorporate the Fair into their broader Hong Kong itineraries with ease, Art Central has introduced a brand-new Flexible Date Ticket, available in limited quantities exclusively during the advance sale period. Holders of the Flexible Date Ticket may select any single day between 25 and 29 March 2026 for entry during general admission hours without the need for advance date selection.

Art Central has also launched comprehensive packages on various travel platforms covering accommodation, attractions, and transportation for the convenience of visitors. For example, through Ctrip, visitors can book curated packages combining Fair admission with selected offers and enjoy a HK$50 no-minimum-spend Uber Taxi promo code with the purchase of any ticket, easily charting a cultural journey connecting art and city life.

Ctrip’s accommodation bundles span top-tier five-star luxury properties such as Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, and The Murray, Hong Kong, as well as boutique options including The Pottinger Hong Kong, offering convenient and elevated choices for cultural getaways and weekend itineraries.

Additionally, attraction bundles will extend the Fair experience to multiple transportation options and popular leisure destinations, including the Peak Tram, the Hong Kong Observation Wheel, the Star Ferry, and the Airport Express. This allows visitors to integrate transportation, accommodation, and urban cultural experiences, extending their exhibition visit into a city journey exploring Hong Kong’s art and lifestyle.

Furthermore, Art Central has launched combo packages on Klook, pairing the Flexible Date Ticket with admission to the Hong Kong Observation Wheel at the Central Harbourfront (HK$302) or a Cupping Room coffee e-voucher (HK$314). These allow visitors to take in the spectacular views of Victoria Harbour or take a relaxing coffee break following their visit to the Fair. After viewing the exhibition, visitors can also take the “WestK Ferry” from Central Pier 9—a short eight-minute ferry ride—to effortlessly reach the West Kowloon Cultural District and continue their exploration at M+, the Hong Kong Palace Museum, and the WestK FunFest.

Package offers are exclusively available for purchase via Ctrip and Klook. For more details regarding participating hotels, dining, attractions, and transport partners, please visit artcentralhongkong.com/tickets. Ticket Packages might be subject to change without prior notice and are available in limited quantities while stocks last.

​
Art Central 2026 Package Offers

Category Package Price Booking Channel Remarks
Fair Ticket Art Central Advance Ticket +

Uber Taxi HK$50 Promo Code

 Adult: HK$180
Child: HK$55		 Ctrip
Experience Art Central Advance Ticket

+ Peak Tram Return Ticket + Sky Terrace 428 + Uber Taxi HK$50 Promo Code

 Adult: HK$305
Child: HK$305		 Ctrip
Experience Art Central Advance Ticket +

Hong Kong Observation Wheel Ticket + Uber Taxi HK$50 Promo Code

 Adult: HK$164
Child: HK$54		 Ctrip
Experience Art Central Advance Ticket + Star Ferry World Star / Shining Star Water Tour Ticket + Uber Taxi HK$50 Promo Code Adult: HK$351
Child: HK$188		 Ctrip
Transport Art Central Advance Ticket +

Airport Express Ticket to/from Central (Hong Kong Station) + Uber Taxi HK$50 Promo Code

 Child: HK$89 Ctrip
F&B Art Central Advance Flexible Date Ticket +

Cupping Room HK$50 Coffee E-Voucher

 HK$314 Klook
Experience Art Central Advance Flexible Date Ticket +

Hong Kong Observation Wheel Ticket

 HK$302 Klook
Hotel Art Central Advance Ticket + Hotel Bundle RMB ¥581+ Ctrip Options include:
Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong / The Upper House / Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong / Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong / The Murray, Hong Kong, a Niccolo Hotel / JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong / The Pottinger Hong Kong / Two MacDonnell Road, Hong Kong / Lan Kwai Fong Hotel @ Kau U Fong / Bishop Lei International House

Opening Dates and Hours
Tuesday 24 March
VIP Preview (by invitation)

Wednesday 25 March
Fair Hours 12 pm – 5 pm
Night Central 5 pm – 9 pm

Thursday 26 March
Fair Hours 12 pm – 7 pm

Friday 27 March
Fair Hours 12pm – 7 pm

Saturday 28 March
Fair Hours 11 am – 7 pm

Sunday 29 March
Fair Hours 11 am – 5 pm

Venue
Central Harbourfront Hong Kong, 9 Lung Wo Road

https://artcentralhongkong.com/
https://www.facebook.com/artcentralhk
Wechat: https://artcentralhongkong.com/wechat/
https://www.instagram.com/artcentralhk/

Hashtag: #ArtCentralHK #ArtCentralUOB #HongKongArtWeek

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/2026/03/19/art-central-in-collaboration-with-the-hong-kong-tourism-board-presents-the-hong-kong-art-month-discovery-guide-and-introduces-travel-and-experience-packages/

Posted on

HealthMutual Group and SinoUnited Health Sign Strategic Agreement to Expand Premium Cross-Border Healthcare into Shanghai

Source: Media Outreach

SHANGHAI / HONG KONG – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2026 – HealthMutual Group (HMG) and SinoUnited Health (SUH) today signed a collaboration agreement to establish a comprehensive cross-border medical service framework. This partnership is designed to meet the clients’ growing demand for high-quality medical services in China.

Under this agreement, SinoUnited Health will serve as HMG’s anchor hospital and primary healthcare hub in Shanghai. The partnership establishes a standardized framework for cross-border care, focusing on clinical excellence and financial predictability. HMG members will gain access to SinoUnited Health’s elite specialist network across Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Suzhou, supported by fully transparent fee structures.

The collaboration is backed by HMG’s significant operational scale. Currently ranking within the top three in the industry for total new business premium, HMG supports its insurance partners in serving over 700,000 clients. With HK$150 million in medical expenses processed to date, HMG’s network connects 700 specialists and 13 private hospitals in Hong Kong with over 2,000 hospitals across Mainland China.

“The demand for cross-border medical services is increasing rapidly,” said Mr. KC Chan, Founder of HealthMutual Group. “Partnering with SinoUnited Health is a natural expansion of our robust GBA network. SUH’s reputation for excellence ensures that our vision—maintaining medical insurance as a sustainable funding source for quality care—now extends firmly into the Shanghai region.”

Sharon Cheng, Vice President of Business Development, SinoUnited Health added: “This collaboration aligns perfectly with our ‘patient-first’ philosophy. By combining HMG’s massive regional reach with our world-class medical care, we are creating a seamless ‘home-away-from-home’ experience for patients. We are proud to serve as the Shanghai gateway for HMG’s 700,000+ policyholders, offering them professional integrity and access to the latest medical technologies.”

To ensure long-term service quality, the two groups will conduct quarterly professional exchanges and site inspections, allowing Hong Kong insurance partners to directly interface with SUH’s international medical teams and advanced clinical facilities.

Hashtag: #HealthMutualGroup #HMG #SinoUnitedHealth #互康

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/2026/03/19/healthmutual-group-and-sinounited-health-sign-strategic-agreement-to-expand-premium-cross-border-healthcare-into-shanghai/

Posted on

MOONTON Games Shines at Hong Kong FILMART, Unveiling Three Original Film-Game IPs and Forging a New Film-Game Integration Ecosystem For The Future

Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2026 – On the opening day of Hong Kong FILMART, global leading game enterprise, MOONTON Games, hosted a film-game intellectual property (IP) launch conference under the theme From Spark to Spotlight, officially announcing its cross-border upgrade from the game industry to full ecological incubation of film-game IPs. At the event, MOONTON Games unveiled three flagship original IPs—You Ming Zhi, Cetus, and Project: Lovania—spanning Eastern fantasy, sci-fi adventure, and cozy genres, with diversified formats including feature films, animated series, and video games. An industry forum was held to explore the new-era development of film-game integration.

Distinguished guests attended the conference, including Cloud Zhang, Head of ByteDance’s Game Business and CEO of MOONTON Games; Yaguang Ma, also known as Link Ma, Head of MOONTON Games’ Lighthouse Studio; renowned screenwriter Ran Ping; celebrated author Jiang Nan; acclaimed animation director Shen Youbafang; Wang Shanshan (Film and Television Director of Science Fiction World); as well as leaders from the National Radio and Television Administration; the Hong Kong Trade Development Council; numerous media representatives; and industry peers.

Founded in 2014, MOONTON Games has crafted a portfolio of classic game IPs loved by gamers worldwide. Its debut at Hong Kong FILMART marks the launch of MOONTON Games’ global incubation journey for premium IPs with a brand-new vision, completing a cross-dimensional creative leap from a digital game kingdom to a cinematic light and shadow realm, and empowering Chinese culture-rooted original content to shine on the international stage. MOONTON Games’ Lighthouse Studio, the core vehicle for its film-game IP development, made its official debut at the conference, and its unwavering commitment to long-termist creative philosophy has become the cornerstone of Moonton’s film-game integration layout. The three distinctive original IPs form MOONTON Games’ first film-game IP matrix; all anchored in high-quality content, they pose profound emotional inquiries around What it means to be human, what it means to live, with unique themes and expressive formats.

You Ming Zhi: Rooted in Chinese Folk Customs, Forging a Benchmark for Eastern Fantasy Theatrical Animated Films

As MOONTON Games’ maiden cross-border film and television project, the Eastern fantasy IP You Ming Zhi—deeply rooted in Chinese folk culture—officially kicked off at the conference. The IP builds a distinctive worldview where the world is governed by animal Spirits of Light, and humans embark on a quest to uncover their own history and the meaning of survival. Breaking free from the clichés of traditional immortal and chivalric fantasy, it returns to a narrative core rooted in mortal life and journey experiences. The growth story of protagonist Zhou Chu mirrors the self-discovery and identity exploration of contemporary young people, embodying both profound Chinese cultural heritage and universal emotional resonance.

The IP’s first concept short film made a stunning debut at the conference. Wanzhou Yu, the IP producer, shared that creative inspiration stemmed from personal emotional resonance, aiming to create a humanistic Eastern fantasy work where the protagonist achieves inner growth through witnessing rather than conquering. Cloud stated that this IP was chosen as the starting point of MOONTON Games’ cross-border endeavor for its compelling narrative rooted in Chinese folk customs that transcends media boundaries; it reflectsand MOONTON Games’ aspirations to set an aesthetic and narrative benchmark for it with the ceremonial essence of film. Yaguang Ma highlighted the IP’s pure creative team, original worldview and systematic aesthetic system, believing it to be an IP seed with sustainable growth potential for a decade. A landmark announcement was made: national first-class screenwriter Ran Ping officially joined the project as the animated film’s screenwriter. Ran Ping noted that the IP’s allure lies in exploring profound propositions of civilization, loneliness and coexistence through a fantasy lens, integrating the traditional heritage of ancient supernatural tales with modern narrative consciousness, and a great fantasy work ultimately reflects reality. The MOONTON Games team presented Ran Ping with a framed original art poster of the IP, marking his official joining in a highly ceremonial way.

Cetus: Debut of a Dieselpunk Sci-Fi IP, Launching a Global Co-creation Plan

Following You Ming Zhi, MOONTON Games released the high-concept sci-fi IP Cetus, with the first concept short film of its dieselpunk post-apocalyptic adventure animated series also unveiled at the event. The IP constructs a post-apocalyptic world shrouded in a sea of clouds, where humans have built a unique civilization based on whaling in an isolated island setting, and cling to hope and resolve amid ruins and steel.

Cetus boasts celebrated author, Jiang Nan, as co-creator and acclaimed sci-fi animation director, Shen Youbafang, as director—two core creative forces with profound expertise in building grand worldviews and crafting sci-fi animations. Yaguang Ma commented that Jiang Nan has endowed Cetus with a profound textual foundation and epic grandeur, while Shen Youbafang masterfully captures and presents the distinctive texture of this sea of clouds world to audiences. Jiang Nan explained that the core of Cetus is to depict the essence of humanity in desperate situations: even if only one tower remains in the world, there will still be stories, warmth, and dignity. Shen Youbafang frankly shared that the challenge and joy of creation both lie in building a dieselpunk visual system that blends industrial ruggedness with the warmth of life, making every gear and rust mark an integral part of the narrative. Moonton also announced the official launch of the Cetus Global Co-creation Plan at the conference, opening up the IP’s worldview setting to global sci-fi writers, illustrators, animators and game designers, and inviting creators worldwide to jointly build this magnificent sea of clouds universe. The plan is jointly promoted by MOONTON Games and Science Fiction World, the benchmark platform for Chinese sci-fi literature. Cloud, Wang Shanshan and three other distinguished guests launched the plan with a jigsaw puzzle ceremony, marking Cetus as the first Chinese dieselpunk sci-fi IP nurtured by global creators.

Project: Lovania: A Cozy Game Surprise Debuts, Creating a Spiritual Haven

As a delightful surprise at the conference, MOONTON Games launched the original cozy game, Project: Lovania, whose promotional short film brought a warm and heartfelt experience to the audience. The game builds a fairy-tale wonderland named the Hometown Never Forgotten, where players take on the role of a little puppet and embark on a magical adventure following a long-eared star. In the game, players can build exclusive homes, customize their avatars, and pursue the starlight and the moon hidden in fascinating stories. In an era driven by efficiency, Project: Lovaniacenters on the core of healing, serving as a warm emotional complement to MOONTON Games’ IP matrix and adding greater diversity to the company’s film-game IP layout.

For The Future: MOONTON Games Releases the Core Strategy for Film-Game Integration

At the conference, MOONTON Games showcased the creative aspirations and team spirit of Lighthouse Studio through a corporate short film, with original aspiration and unwavering faith as the studio’s core tenets. On behalf of the studio, Yaguang Ma released MOONTON Games’ core strategy for film-game integration, stating that the establishment of Lighthouse Studio stems from MOONTON Games’s persistent commitment to long-termist content creation. The studio rejects rushed content production, focuses on returning to the essence of creation itself, and builds a tailored creative ecosystem for the sustainable growth of premium IPs.

MOONTON Games’ film-game integration layout is not a simple cross-media expansion, but is centered on building a living, evolving world. Each IP is enabled to naturally evolve into diverse formats including games, films and animations, based on a complete worldview and a profound emotional core. Cloud emphasized that MOONTON Games has always believed that a good story transcends media and time, and the core of film-game integration is to take high-quality original content as the foundation, allowing IPs to realize value amplification and enduring vitality across different media. The three IPs released at the event represent the first implementation of this core strategy, and Moonton will continue to deepen its focus on original content creation, fueling the incubation and growth of more film-game IPs in the future.

Industry Elites Gather at the Forum to Explore the Key to Success for the Future of Film-Game Integration

After the IP release session, MOONTON Games hosted an industry forum themed What is the Decisive Factor for the Future of IP-Based Film-Game Integration, moderated by Li Xingwen, a famous cultural critic and Chief Editor of Film and Television Critic. Cloud, Ran Ping, Jiang Nan, and Huang Haibo, Director of Phoenix TV Movie Channel, engaged in an in-depth discussion from diverse professional perspectives.

The forum delved into core topics including the key factors for translating film-game integration concepts into practical execution, the essential traits of IPs with sustainable cross-media vitality, the creative differences between animation and traditional film and television production, the creative adaptation of literary IPs for film and game cross-border development, the new forces urgently needed in the film and television industry, as well as the opportunities and challenges for game enterprises venturing into the film and television sector. Combining their rich practical experience and insightful industry observations, the guests offered multi-dimensional insights and ideas for the industrial development of film-game integration, helping the on-site audience gain a clearer and more in-depth understanding of its future development trends.

MOONTON Games’ film-game IP launch conference at Hong Kong FILMART marks the official launch of the company’s global film-game IP layout, emerging as a pivotal practice for game enterprises in cross-border film-game integration. From deepening its roots in the game industry to incubating film-game IPs, MOONTON Games takes these three original IPs as its starting point, integrating the essence of Chinese culture with modern creative expression. With its long-termist creative philosophy and open co-creation operation model, Moonton sets a new paradigm for the development of the global film-game integration industry. As the conference theme From Spark to Spotlight implies, this launch is not the end of MOONTON Games’ cross-border film and game journey, but the beginning of a new chapter. In the future, Moonton’s Lighthouse Studio will continue to polish high-quality original content, drive the in-depth integration and global development of film-game IPs, and let Chinese original film-game IPs shine brightly on the world stage.

Hashtag: #MOONTONGames

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/2026/03/19/moonton-games-shines-at-hong-kong-filmart-unveiling-three-original-film-game-ips-and-forging-a-new-film-game-integration-ecosystem-for-the-future/

Posted on

HKSTP Brings Together Life and Health Tech Leaders at CTC Marketplace Proving Ecosystem’s Success in Driving Fundraising and Research Commercialisation

Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2026 – Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) today hosted the CTC Marketplace Showcase Event: From Clinical Trials to Fundraising, Licensing Deals and Acquisitions, reinforcing its commitment to accelerating the city’s life and health tech sector. The event brought together 110 industry pioneers, investors, and corporate partners for a deep dive into the critical pillars shaping biotech success—from Hong Kong’s unique policy advantages for innovation and the evolving IPO landscape, to the city’s emergence as a global clinical trial hub.

The event featured a compelling lineup of company founders and executives who have leveraged HKSTP’s ecosystem to reach critical milestones, including Health Hope Pharma, Arthrosi Therapeutics Inc, Nuance Pharma and InxMed (Hong Kong) Limited.

With over 300 life and health tech companies in its ecosystem and strong policy support from the nation and the HKSAR Government, HKSTP is uniquely positioned to drive the next generation of medical breakthroughs. Through its end-to-end translational ecosystem, HKSTP accelerates biotech commercialisation by bridging the critical gap from lab discovery to global market access—delivering world-class infrastructure, strategic funding, and expert regulatory guidance.

As a strategic catalyst, HKSTP actively connects innovators with top-tier Principal Investigators (PIs), leading clinical centres, and institutional investors, helping to de-risk development pathways, streamline regulatory approvals, and fast-track clinical trials for transformative growth.

“At HKSTP, we recognise that a great idea is only the beginning. The real challenge is navigating the long and complex journey from lab to clinic, from concept to cure,” said Terry Wong, CEO of HKSTP, in his opening remarks. “Today’s CTC Marketplace represents the physical embodiment of our execution strategy. Our mission is to connect, collaborate, and accelerate, because every step forward brings us closer to the patients and communities who depend on our innovations.”

Health Hope Pharma is a Hong Kong-headquartered late-stage clinical oncology biopharma, specialising in novel oral anti-cancer drugs towards a safer and more convenient alternative to conventional intravenous therapy. Prof Dennis Lam, Founder of Health Hope Pharma, shared his experience in securing a major licensing agreement with global biopharmaceutical leader Gilead Sciences, with a potential value of up to USD 82.5 million for HHP, including milestone payments.

Arthrosi Therapeutics Inc. is a US-based clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to developing treatment option aimed at lowering uric acid levels and reducing joint damage for people living with gout. Dr Shunqi Yan, Co-founder and COO of Arthrosi Therapeutics, joined virtually and shared the company’s remarkable success in achieving USD 153 million in Series E funding and a subsequent acquisition valued at USD 1.5 billion.

Nuance Pharma is an innovation focused biopharma company, with late-stage clinical pipeline and commercial stage asset portfolio across respiratory, emergency care, iron deficiency anemia and pain management. Dr Charlie Chen, COO of Nuance Pharma, discussed how the company leveraged the “1+” mechanism to expedite commercialisation in Hong Kong. The Department of Health approved Ohtuvayre in March 2026, marking it as the first drug targeting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to gain approval under this scheme.

InxMed (Hong Kong) Limited is focused on addressing a key challenge in cancer therapy: drug resistance stemming from tumor defense mechanisms. The company officially submitted its IPO application to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in August 2025. Mr Francis Cao, Co-founder and COO of InxMed, emphasised the critical role of fundraising in advancing their research, having completed five rounds of financing that total over USD 130 million.

Hashtag: #HKSTP

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/2026/03/19/hkstp-brings-together-life-and-health-tech-leaders-at-ctc-marketplace-proving-ecosystems-success-in-driving-fundraising-and-research-commercialisation/

Posted on

Wildberries Sees Surging Consumer Demand for African Products

Source: Media Outreach

MOSCOW, RUSSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2026 – Wildberries, a leading digital platform in Eurasia, reports a significant increase in demand among marketplace customers in Russia and neighboring countries for products originating from Africa.

Sales of coffee from Ethiopia increased 2.3 times in 2025 and continues to grow at a similar pace in 2026. Another fast-growing Ethiopian product is amulets—bracelets, keychains, and brooches made from natural opal. Sales in this category increased eightyfold in 2025.

In 2025, sales of black seed oil from Egypt grew 2.7 times. This plant-based oil is valued for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties and is also used in cooking. Apparel sales from Egypt rose 2.4 times in 2025 and surged elevenfold in January–February 2026.

Sales of tea from South Africa doubled year-on-year in 2025 and tripled in January–February 2026 compared to the same period last year. Sales of cosmetic creams from South Africa increased sixfold in 2025 and continued to grow in early 2026.

Sales of seeds from Morocco rose 2.4 times, driven by demand for rosemary, an aromatic plant used in cosmetics production and as a culinary spice. Moroccan boots are also popular on Wildberries, reflecting the country’s longstanding traditions in leather footwear craftsmanship.

Sales of fish products from Tunisia, such as anchovies, increased 2.7 times in January–February 2026, while olive oil sales from the country grew 6.6 times in the same period. Tunisia ranks among the leading exporters of these product categories.

Sales of Zambian jewelry and Senegalese kanekalon – an artificial fiber used for braiding hair in the African style – both doubled in 2025. From Tanzania, coffee is in demand, along with postage stamps, which recorded a sixfold sales growth in 2025. The stamps, depicting the country’s unique natural heritage – including Mount Kilimanjaro, savannas, wildlife, and the everyday life of local Maasai tribes – enjoy well-deserved popularity among stamp collectors.

Hashtag: #Wildberries

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/2026/03/18/wildberries-sees-surging-consumer-demand-for-african-products/

Posted on

NBA and The Coca-Cola Company Announce Multiyear Global Partnership

Source: Media Outreach

NEW YORK, US – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2026 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and The Coca-Cola Company today announced a new global marketing partnership, bringing Sprite® back as the league’s Official Global Soft Drink Partner.

The agreement marks the return of one of the NBA’s most iconic brand collaborations, reuniting two names that have shared a deep connection to basketball culture for decades. Sprite, the world’s leading lemon-lime soft drink, will serve as the exclusive soft drink partner of the NBA across a global footprint.

The Coca-Cola Company first partnered with the NBA in 1986, and for nearly three decades, Sprite helped shape how basketball connects with fans across sport, music, fashion and self-expression. From the cultural impact of “Obey Your Thirst” in North America, to streetball tournaments in Asia, player-led collaborations in Latin America, and culture-driven activations across Europe and Africa, Sprite’s heritage within basketball culture spans generations and continents. Sprite also served as the title sponsor of the Slam Dunk Contest at NBA All-Star from 2003-2016. Together, Sprite and the NBA helped define how brands show up authentically in the culture surrounding the game.

“Sprite has always been a brand that celebrates individuality and self-expression, values that resonate deeply with basketball fans worldwide,” said Kerry Tatlock, EVP Global Marketing Partnerships and Media, NBA. “We’re thrilled to welcome Sprite back to the NBA family and look forward to collaborating together on new ways for fans to experience the game.”

“Basketball is central to the DNA of Sprite,” said Manolo Arroyo, EVP and Global Chief Marketing Officer, The Coca-Cola Company. “Reuniting with the NBA is about co-creating what’s next – experimenting with new fan experiences, exploring emerging formats and meeting the next generation where they are. Basketball is not just a game; it’s a global cultural engine, and Sprite, together with the NBA, will help to fuel the moments and memories that drive it.”

Deepening its commitment to athletes who embody bold originality and individuality, Sprite is continuing to build on its existing relationship with 2026 NBA All-Star Game MVP Anthony Edwards. Edwards represents a new generation of global stars whose influence extends beyond the court, making him a natural partner for Sprite.

“I love that Sprite has always been a brand that pushes you to do things your way,” said Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves Guard. “Being a part of this legendary partnership between Sprite and the NBA is incredible. I’m excited to represent the brand and show the next generation the power of staying true to yourself.”

Under the new agreement, Sprite will activate across NBA’s biggest global stages, including league tentpole moments, as well as international events like NBA Global Games. Through the partnership, fans will see immersive experiences, custom content series on NBA platforms, and exclusive promotions that bring them closer to NBA fandom.

The renewed collaboration builds on recent momentum, including the introduction of co-branded, limited-edition Sprite cans featuring select NBA teams in participating markets – giving fans a new way to celebrate their local fandom and regional pride. Through integrated global marketing campaigns, digital-first storytelling, retail programs and in-market fan experiences, Sprite will connect the energy of basketball directly to ultimate refreshment. The partnership builds on Sprite’s existing relationships with the NBA family, which include team partnerships with 17 NBA teams.

Hashtag: #NBA #Cocacola

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/2026/03/18/nba-and-the-coca-cola-company-announce-multiyear-global-partnership/

Posted on

TrendAI™ to Secure Enterprise Adoption of Agentic AI with NVIDIA

Source: Media Outreach

TrendAI to support NVIDIA OpenShell open source runtime to add security for autonomous AI agents

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2026 – TrendAI , the enterprise AI security leader, today announced expanded collaboration with NVIDIA to support NVIDIA OpenShell, a new open source runtime for agentic AI introduced at NVIDIA GTC. The solution enables organizations to deploy autonomous AI agents with built-in governance, continuous risk visibility, and runtime enforcement, addressing key barriers to production adoption of agentic AI.

TrendAI is teaming with NVIDIA to add security for the open source NVIDIA OpenShell runtime as the ecosystem evolves. Learn more: https://resources.trendmicro.com/2026-nvidia-gtc.html

Rachel Jin, Chief Platform and Business Officer, Head of TrendAI : “Agentic AI changes the security equation. When AI systems can plan, take action, and interact with other tools on their own, the risk profile looks very different from traditional AI. Our collaboration with NVIDIA allows us to bring security directly into the architecture so organizations can adopt agentic AI with the visibility and control they expect.”

Traditional AI security models were built for short-lived interactions between users and models. Agentic AI changes that dynamic by operating continuously and taking action across environments.

NVIDIA OpenShell is an open source runtime for long-lived, self-evolving agents capable of planning, memory, and tool execution. While these capabilities unlock significant productivity gains, they also introduce risks related to unauthorized skills, hidden behaviors, prompt injection, and unintended system access.

Pat Lee, vice president, Strategic Enterprise Partnerships at NVIDIA: “Agentic AI opens the door for a new class of applications that can plan, reason, and take action. By working with TrendAI , we’re helping developers add visibility and controls to make it safer to run autonomous AI.”

TrendAI can transform agentic AI from a high-risk experiment into an enterprise-ready architecture. Organizations gain the ability to define trust boundaries, enforce policy at runtime, and maintain continuous visibility into autonomous AI behavior, all while preserving the flexibility and power that make agentic systems valuable.

TrendAI adds an enterprise-grade security layer that governs how agents behave, what tools they can access, and how risk is detected and enforced, before, during, and after execution.

The collaboration extends across the NVIDIA AI-Q blueprint and the NVIDIA NeMo Agent Toolkit, enabling consistent security, governance, and observability as agentic systems scale across enterprise environments.

TrendAI Vision One ’s layered security architecture for OpenShell provides:

  • Centralized AI governance and compliance enforced directly in the agent runtime
  • Skill and tool risk visibility, including continuous scanning of agent skills and MCP integrations
  • Dynamic behavioral analysis to detect hidden or malicious actions
  • Inline policy enforcement that blocks untrusted skills and actions at runtime
  • AI specific threat protection, including prompt injection and sensitive data exposure detection
  • Continuous monitoring and auditability through agentic telemetry and SIEM integration. These capabilities allow organizations to define trust boundaries, enforce policy, and maintain visibility across autonomous AI agents without limiting innovation.

https://www.trendaisecurity.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/trendai-security
https://x.com/trendaisecurity
https://www.facebook.com/trendaisecurity/
https://www.instagram.com/trendaisecurity/

Hashtag: #trendai #trendmicro #trendvisionone #trendaivisionone #visionone #cybersecurity #nvidia

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/2026/03/18/trendai-to-secure-enterprise-adoption-of-agentic-ai-with-nvidia/

Posted on

XTransfer’s CSO Speaks at Inclusive FinTech Forum 2026 in Rwanda

Source: Media Outreach

KIGALI, RWANDA – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2026 – XTransfer, the world’s leading B2B cross-border financial platform, was honoured to have its Chief Strategy Officer, Neil Ni, speak at the Inclusive FinTech Forum 2026 in Rwanda, underscoring the company’s growing expansion across Africa to deliver more inclusive financial services for SMEs engaged in international trade across the continent.

XTransfer’s CSO, Neil Ni (Left), speaks at the Inclusive FinTech Forum 2026 in Rwanda.

Neil joined the panel discussion, “Securing the Global Payments Highway: Cybersecurity for Real-Time Cross-Border Transactions” during the forum to share perspectives on how the industry can strengthen cybersecurity, anti-money laundering (AML) controls, and operational resilience as cross-border payments scale in speed and volume.

Drawing on XTransfer’s experience supporting SMEs in international trade, Neil noted that traditional B2B cross-border payments often pass through multiple correspondent banks, creating complex procedures, settlement delays and high costs that can strain SME cash flow. He shared that transfers can take several days to settle, and fees can materially impact businesses operating on tight margins, sometimes pushing SMEs toward unlicensed channels that raise compliance and transparency risks.

“As the industry scales, the challenge isn’t only transaction volume, it’s speed and trust,” Neil said. “To keep legitimate trade moving safely, risk and compliance must become more intelligent, consistent, and scalable.”

Neil shared that AI is now foundational to XTransfer’s risk and compliance capability. He highlighted TradePilot, XTransfer’s self-developed large language model (LLM) tailored for the global foreign trade financial sector, which helps identify suspicious patterns earlier, prioritise alerts, reduce false positives, and support more consistent decisions across markets, strengthening AML and compliance at speed.

Neil also discussed XTransfer’s accelerating expansion in Africa, noting more than 300% growth in the region in 2025 as SMEs seek faster and lower-cost ways to manage cross-border trade payments. He added that XTransfer is focused on working with ecosystem partners and regulators to support safer, more standardised cross-border information flows, one reason XTransfer is building X-Net, the industry’s first Unified Global B2B Trade Settlement Network and Risk Control Platform, to enhance interoperability and shared security standards across payment rails.

“Building resilience requires collective effort,” Neil added.

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

Hashtag: #XTransfer #Africa #IFF2026 #Crossborder #Payment #SMEs

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/2026/03/18/xtransfers-cso-speaks-at-inclusive-fintech-forum-2026-in-rwanda/

Posted on

Nationwide outage hit 2degrees mobile customers

Source: Radio New Zealand

It is not known how many customers were impacted. RNZ / Nate McKinnon

The nationwide outage that affected some 2degrees mobile customers, preventing them from making or receiving calls, has been resolved.

The company confirmed the outage in a network status update on its website at 3.12pm on Wednesday.

A few hours later, 2degrees said mobile calling, SMS, and data services had been restored and were operating as normal.

“A small number of customers may continue to see issues with the data clock or the 2degrees mobile app, which our teams are actively investigating.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your patience.”

It is not known how many customers were impacted.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/18/nationwide-outage-hit-2degrees-mobile-customers/

Posted on

HealthMutual Group and Hong Kong Data Ltd. Sign Cooperation Agreement to Streamline Cross-Border Healthcare with AI-Driven eTPA Platform

Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2026 – HealthMutual Group (HMG) and Hong Kong Data Ltd. (HK Data) (formerly known as CU Datahub) signed a Cooperation Agreement today to integrate and scale a pioneering electronic Third-Party Administrator (eTPA) system. This collaboration marks a definitive shift toward a data-driven insurance ecosystem, integrating advanced AI to bridge the gap in, and thus enhance cross-border healthcare administration.

The partnership centers on HMG adopting HK Data’s proprietary Trusted Cross-border Data Space (TCDS). For HMG, this technology is the engine that will help turn its long-term strategic vision into a functional reality. By leveraging TCDS, HMG will provide its 700,000+ members with a seamless, secure, and legally compliant framework for data transmission, ensuring that high-quality medical care is never hindered by administrative borders.

The new eTPA system streamlines the insurance lifecycle by digitizing the “medical concierge” experience through a secure, automated framework. By connecting Grade 3A hospitals in the Greater Bay Area directly with Hong Kong insurers, the platform provides an end-to-end solution—integrating underwriting, network management, and one-tap mobile claims. This secure data flow reduces operational overhead while ensuring high standards of data integrity and patient privacy.

Beyond individual memberships, the two companies will co-develop specialized eTPA solutions tailored for the Hong Kong Employee Benefits market. This initiative aims to transform how corporate schemes handle cross-border medical activity. By utilizing AI-powered automation, the platform will offer employees a “cashless” experience with zero upfront payments, making healthcare within the Greater Bay Area more accessible and simpler to navigate than ever before.

Mr. KC Chan, Founder of HealthMutual Group, noted the significance of the partnership. He said, “this cooperation is a natural progression of the vision we held when establishing HMG: to ensure that medical insurance remains a sustainable funding source for Hong Kong healthcare. Facilitating smooth cross-border medical activity is essential to achieving that goal. By teaming up with a leader in AI and data security, we are leveraging our deep experience in medical concierge services to better serve the broader insurance industry.”

Mr. Aldous Ng, Founder and CEO of Hong Kong Data Ltd., added: “We are proud to partner with HMG to deploy world-leading technologies for the public good. Our TCDS platform connects key stakeholders—from Grade 3A hospitals to financial institutions—ensuring that patients seeking treatment in the Chinese Mainland can enjoy ‘one-tap access’ with total peace of mind. We provide a trusted space where innovation directly benefits the people of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.

Hashtag: #HealthMutualGroup #HMG

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/2026/03/18/healthmutual-group-and-hong-kong-data-ltd-sign-cooperation-agreement-to-streamline-cross-border-healthcare-with-ai-driven-etpa-platform/

Posted on

Biggest bank raises interest rates

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

ANZ is the latest bank to increase interest rates.

It is increasing its 18-month to five-year rates by 20 basis points, and its one-year rate by 10 basis points.

Its six-month special rate remains at 4.49 percent.

It is also increasing the rates it pays on term deposits by between 15 basis points and 40 basis points.

The three-year rate is now 4.4 percent, which the bank said was an 18-month high.

ANZ managing director for personal banking Grant Knuckey said it was a response to rising wholesale interest rates.

“Since the fixed rate changes we made in February, wholesale rates have continued to rise across all terms.”

Knuckey said customers were still seeing the benefit of earlier cuts to interest rates.

“Seventy-eight percent of ANZ’s fixed home loans are now on rates below 5 percent, a significant shift from the end of 2024 when fewer than 10 percent of loans were on rates below 5 percent.”

Economists and forecasters have been split on the likely outlook for rates.

While tension in the Middle East is likely to be a damper on the economy, it is also expected to fuel inflation.

Earlier, Squirrel chief executive David Cunningham said there could be merit in fixing for six months, on the assumption that the economy would be weak enough that the official cash rate was unlikely to rise in that time.

But Infometrics chief forecaster Gareth Kiernan said two-year rates were offering good levels of certainty at reasonable prices.

Sign up for Money with Susan Edmunds, a weekly newsletter covering all the things that affect how we make, spend and invest money

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/18/biggest-bank-raises-interest-rates/