HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 March 2026 – On March 20, 2026, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vincom Retail hosted the event “The New Era – Partnering to Shape the Future”, welcoming more than 500 domestic and international partners. The large-scale forum served as a platform for stakeholders to exchange market perspectives, update on emerging trends, and explore collaboration opportunities as Vietnam’s retail sector enters a new growth cycle.
The event brought together 500 key partners, including leading international retail brands such as UNIQLO, MUJI, Decathlon, Pandora, CGV, AEON Beta Cinema, SuperPark, KOHNAN, Central Retail, WinMart, Starbucks, Dookki, Guardian, and MEDICARE, alongside major domestic brands and chains including ACFC, Maison, Phoenix Group, Golden Gate, Aladdin Group, Takahiro, RuNam, Highlands Coffee, and The New Playground…
At the event, Vincom Retail’s leadership emphasized the rapid transformation of the retail industry, where shopping malls and commercial streets are evolving beyond traditional retail spaces to become lifestyle destinations. These destinations integrate immersive experiences, foster community connections, and lead modern consumption trends. This shift reflects changing consumer behavior, with a growing preference for experience, emotion, and interaction over mere purchasing and ownership.
Setting the direction for future growth, Vincom Retail unveiled its strategic vision toward 2030, focusing on developing world-class destinations. The company aims to position itself as a leading retail real estate developer and operator in Asia, setting benchmarks in trend leadership and customer experience, with a diverse and expansive asset portfolio and an extended international footprint supported by a global ecosystem. This unique platform enables pioneering brands and concepts to converge and co-create breakthrough experiences, many of which are being introduced in Vietnam for the first time, delivering fresh value to consumers while shaping the future of retail and establishing new regional standards.
In terms of product strategy, Vincom Retail is focusing on two core formats. Vincom Mega Mall is positioned as a “Mega Shoppertainment Destination”, a large-scale experiential hub that leads market trends. Meanwhile, Vincom Collection is developed as a “Retail-tainment Destination”, combining shopping and tourism, built around five key pillars: Play – Discover – Shop – Savor – Relax.
A prime example is the “super destination” model integrating Retail – Tourism – Entertainment at Vinhomes Green Paradise Can Gio, featuring 15 next-generation retail complexes. Among them, Vincom Mega Mall Can Gio and Vincom Collection Cosmo Bay are the first projects to be unveiled, promising multi-layered experiences that harmonize with nature and prioritize sustainable operations.
Beyond strategic insights, the forum also featured real-world success stories and forward-looking perspectives from pioneering brands that have helped shape Vietnam’s evolving experiential retail landscape. Mr. Vu Ngoc Thuan, Founder of restaurant chains Longwang, Tianlong, Bo To Quan Moc, and GMaster, shared: “Partnering with platforms like Vincom provides a strong launchpad for brands to accelerate growth, expand further, and professionalize according to international standards.”
Mr. Shin Jae Hyuk, representative of Dookki, also highlighted growth strategies to capture market opportunities: “Together with our trusted partner Vincom, we will continue to create new milestones for Vietnam’s F&B market. Our goal is not only to sell tteokbokki, but to deliver the joyful culture of Korean cuisine to customers at an accessible price point.”
Vincom Retail plays a critical role as a developer, platform, and connector, bringing international brands to Vietnam while supporting Vietnamese brands in their journey to expand globally.
Additionally, SuperPark, a global indoor activity park brand, shared insights into the development of family-oriented active entertainment, one of the fastest-growing trends in next-generation shopping malls. These real-world examples highlight the strong opportunities for brands to collaborate with Vincom Retail to scale operations, develop innovative retail concepts, optimize performance, and enhance customer experience.
As the market enters a new phase of growth, the event not only facilitated strategic dialogue but also strengthened sustainable partnerships between Vincom Retail and its stakeholders. As a market pioneer, the company continues to support brands in scaling up, elevating business models, and capturing long-term growth opportunities. Notably, emerging super destinations such as Can Gio – envisioned as a future national tourism hub – are expected to serve as powerful growth drivers, contributing to the transformation of Vietnam’s retail landscape.
Vincom Retail is currently the largest retail real estate developer in Vietnam and ranks among the top three in Southeast Asia by scale. The company operates 90 shopping malls with a total gross leasable area of 1.9 million square meters, and manages 5,500 shophouses totaling 1.5 million square meters across 31 out of 34 provinces and cities nationwide, partnering with more than 1,000 brands.
Hashtag: #VincomRetail
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 March 2026 – DFI Retail Group (DFI or the Group) is pleased to announce its 2025 Sustainability Disclosure, highlighting the Group’s continued progress and commitment to advancing sustainability across Asia.
DFI Retail Group Sustainability Disclosure 2025
In 2025, DFI delivered strong progress on key sustainability commitments:
22% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions compared to the 2021 baseline, with a target of 50% reduction by 2030.
Waste diversion rate improved to 66%, up from 61% in 2024, with a target of achieving 80% by 2030.
Invested US$3.9 million in community initiatives across markets.
The Group also advanced Scope 3 decarbonisation across supply chain of four key commodities – rice, coffee, dairy and beef. Initiatives included the launch of 380 tonnes of Low-Carbon Rice achieving a minimum 30% on-farm emissions reduction, sourcing 100% deforestation-free certified coffee beans for 7CAFÉ Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore, and IKEA, and partnering with The Mills Fabrica to launch the DFI Sustainability Innovation Challenge to identify global solutions for beef and dairy emissions.
Scott Price, Group Chief Executive, DFI Retail Group shared, “We remain committed to our purpose of sustainably serving Asia for generations with everyday moments. In 2025, we made clear progress on our pathway to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030, with investments in refrigerant management, energy efficiency and behaviour change initiatives across our operations. At the same time, we continued to deliver affordable, sustainable products that meet customer expectations, including the introduction of Low-Carbon Rice in Hong Kong and the expansion of our ‘Grounds to Green programme’ at 7Eleven. These efforts, together with disciplined waste and packaging management, keep us firmly on track to meet our 2030 sustainability targets.”
Erica Chan, Group Chief Legal, Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer added, “Strong governance and transparency remain central to how we deliver on our sustainability ambitions. By streamlining our disclosure and enhancing our materiality assessment, climate scenario analysis, and transition plan, we are aligning with global standards such as IFRS S1 and S2. This ensures stakeholders gain a clear, holistic view of our progress and priorities, while reinforcing our commitment to creating long-term value across People, Products, and Planet.”
In 2025, DFI continued to be guided by its Sustainability Framework, centred on the three pillars of People, Products and Planet, with Governance as the cornerstone. This framework remains integral to the Group’s approach, ensuring robust leadership and oversight while driving initiatives that empower people, expand sustainable product choices, and reduce environmental impact across operations and supply chains.
Highlights of 2025 Initiatives:
People: DFI Group and its business formats continued to support communities through Our Community Giveback initiatives, investing US$3.9 million and reaching 1.25 million beneficiaries across 12 markets. The Health and Beauty segment launched professional health services at Mannings and Guardian, extending access across more than 450 pharmacies in all markets. For team members, capability building was strengthened through major initiatives such as the launch of DFILEARN, enhanced leadership programmes, and structured career development frameworks, empowering growth across all levels of the business. At the same time, DFI upheld rigorous standards for suppliers, maintaining 100% ethical audits of Own Brand factories in high-risk countries and reinforcing responsible practices across supply chains through comprehensive assessments, audits, and engagement.
Products: In 2025, 48% in-scope Own Brand products carried third-party sustainability certificates, up from 28% in 2024. At the same time, 83% Own Brand plastic packaging component that is recyclable, reusable or compostable, keeping us on-track to meet the target of at least 85% by 2030. The expansion of the 7Eleven’s ‘Grounds to Green” Coffee Grounds Upcycling Programme further reflected our efforts to embed circularity principles where relevant. The programme repurposed used coffee grounds into natural fertiliser to grow fresh produce, which was then incorporated into 7-SELECT juices and ready-to-eat items.
Planet: DFI recorded a 22% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions in 2025, compared to our 2021 baseline, on track towards our 50% reduction target by 2030. As refrigerant leaks remain one of the primary sources of these emissions, the Group continued upgrading refrigeration systems and, in April 2025, commissioned the first CO₂-based natural refrigerant system in Hong Kong’s food retail sector at the Cloudview Market Place store in North Point. This was followed by the installation of a sub-critical CO₂ refrigeration system in Oliver’s The Delicatessen in Central Hong Kong in September 2025, marking important milestones in advancing low-carbon operations across the portfolio. Waste diversion improved from 61% to 66% in 2025, as part of our efforts to achieve 80% waste diversion by 2030.
By embedding sustainability into our strategy, operations, and value chain, we are not only tackling today’s challenges but also building a resilient, responsible business that creates lasting value for our customers, communities, and the environment.
For detailed information on the various sustainability initiatives undertaken by DFI, please refer to the Sustainability Disclosure in the Integrated Annual Report 2025. To learn more about DFI’s efforts, please visit DFI’s website.
By the afternoon, the former Black Cap had stepped down from the board, saying he could no longer support the organisation’s direction.
“Ultimately, I reached a point where I felt it was the right time to step aside,” he said.
Elected in 2024, Nash’s departure lays bare the divisions at the top of the game, with debate over the future of T20 cricket having already contributed to significant governance upheaval in recent months.
The debate traces back to last year, when a consortium of players, investors and administrators put forward a pitch for a privately owned franchise league aimed at modernising the game and attracting global investment.
Scott Weenink stepped down as NZ Cricket chief executive days before Christmas after finding himself at odds with key stakeholders in the game.Photosport / RNZ composite
At the same time, NZC was considering its own options for the future of the domestic game, including a proposal to field a New Zealand team in Australia’s Big Bash League – an option understood to have been favoured by backed by former chief executive Scott Weenink.
The national body commissioned Deloitte to assess the various pathways, but what began as a strategic review quickly hardened into a fundamental dispute over the direction of the sport, ultimately pitting the CEO and key stakeholders across the game.
Weenink stepped down from his role before Christmas, citing the the fundamental differences with the game’s stakeholders as the driver.
NZC chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon acknowledged Nash’s exit, thanking him for his service.
“We thank Dion for his dedicated service and valuable contributions,” she said.
“We wish him well in his future endeavours.”
In a statement released earlier on Monday, Puketapu-Lyndon said the board’s decision in favour of NZ20 wasn’t a final commitment, and was subject to reaching key commercial and structural measures.
She said the board thoroughly debated the two options and said several changes to the original NZ20 proposal would need to be negotiated before a final decision was made.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
The Government is taking practical steps to strengthen New Zealand’s fuel resilience by temporarily allowing fuel that meets Australian specifications to be supplied to the New Zealand market, Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones says.
“In a tight global fuel market, flexibility matters. Countries that can access a wider range of shipments are better placed to keep fuel flowing. This decision removes unnecessary technical barriers and helps ensure New Zealand isn’t excluded from available supply our neighbours across the Tasman are accessing,” Mr Jones says.
The temporary alignment will open up more options for fuel importers by allowing fuel refined to Australian specifications to be supplied domestically.
“The change reduces the risk of supply disruptions driven purely by technical specification differences. Fuel companies have told us this could allow them to secure shipments more quickly and from a wider pool of suppliers.
“Our fuel specifications are already very similar to Australia’s. Fuel refined to Australian standards is compatible with New Zealand vehicles and meets safety and quality expectations.”
New Zealand will not, at this stage, be following Australia’s lead and relaxing standards to allow higher sulphur fuel. Australia has made the decision so it can access high-sulphur fuel from its Brisbane refinery.
“However, we will keep an eye on whether further changes to fuel specifications could open up further supply channels if necessary,” Mr Jones says.
“This is a sensible, time‑limited step that gives importers access to a broader range of fuel shipments, including those already in our region.
“We are closely monitoring market conditions and will keep under review any further practical measures that could strengthen New Zealand’s fuel supply resilience while global conditions remain uncertain.”
The temporary alignment with Australian specifications could remain in place for up to 12 months if needed.
Editors’ note:
Fuel specifications set the minimum technical and environmental requirements that petrol, diesel and other transport fuels must meet before they can be supplied in New Zealand. Each country has its own fuel specifications.
Where there are differences in fuel specifications for the purpose of catering to different climatic conditions, this is dealt with by the requirement that fuel sold in New Zealand must still be ‘fit for common purpose’. For example, this means diesel for hot climates cannot be sold in very cold ones.
An ‘addiction’ to fossil fuels is driving climate change, the UN Secretary-General says – leading to ever-more severe weather including floods, droughts, and damaging storms.MUHAMMAD FAROOQ
Last year was among the hottest on record, as the world’s “addiction” to fossil fuels continues to drive global warming, new data shows.
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) confirmed the average global temperature last year was 1.43°C warmer than the 1850-1900 pre-industrial average.
2024 remains the hottest year on record, but 2025 was the second- or third-hottest, across the nine major global datasets.
The organisation said the global climate was more out of balance than at any other time in observed history, as greenhouse gas concentrations reached their highest levels in at least 800,000 years.
Most of the trapped heat was stored in the ocean, which is warming at an accelerating pace.
Together with melting sea ice and glaciers, that was driving global sea level rise – which projections from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change show will continue for centuries.
Arctic sea-ice hit a record low in some satellite datasets last year.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the planet was being pushed beyond its limits.
“Every key climate indicator is flashing red.”
Current major conflicts were exposing another truth, Guterres said.
“Our addiction to fossil fuels is destabilising both the climate and global security.”
Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, after the country was attacked by Israel and the US, has spiked oil and gas prices and prompted fears of global inflation.
The WMO’s State of the Climate report said increasingly severe weather, driven by climate change, was already affecting agricultural production and displacing people from their homes.
“The cascading and compounding impacts of multiple, sequential disasters severely limit the ability of communities to prepare for, recover from and adapt to shocks,” the report said.
That was especially true in places that were already experiencing conflict or other types of insecurity.
In New Zealand, inflation-adjusted data published by the Insurance Council showed that since 2019, insurance companies had paid out nearly $6 billion for extreme weather-related events in New Zealand.
Victoria University professor of climate science James Renwick said the science of climate change had been understood for a century or more now.
“We know what we have to do to stop it,” he said. “Stop burning fossil fuels.”
Policymakers had been given that message for decades but emissions just kept increasing, he said.
He hoped the latest report “moves the dial”.
“The costs of inaction are already astronomical, let’s not make them overwhelming.”
Last week, the High Court in Wellington heard a case taken by two environmental NGOs against the government over its emissions reductions plans, which the organisations argued were risky and unlawful.
The Environmental Law Initiative and Lawyers for Climate Action told the court that the government broke the law when it dismantled dozens of climate policies soon after the election, before it had consulted the public.
The current plan relied overwhelmingly on offsetting emissions by planting forestry, rather than tackling emissions at their sources, the organisations said.
The court has reserved its decision.
Similar cases in the UK succeeded in forcing the government there to re-write its own emissions plans.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Minister for Racing Winston Peters has congratulated champion jockey James McDonald on his historic achievement in becoming Australasia’s most successful Group 1 rider.
The three-time winner of the world’s best jockey award gained his 130th Australasian Group 1 victory at the weekend beating the previous record held by Australian Damien Oliver.
“James McDonald’s achievement is nothing short of remarkable,” Mr Peters says.
“To reach 130 Australasian Group 1 victories, and to do so at just 34 years of age, reflects not only his exceptional natural talent, but also his professionalism, discipline, and deep commitment to the sport.
“We hail F1 drivers, All Blacks and Black Caps, but in James McDonald we have a true global superstar and he deserves all the accolades he receives,” Mr Peters says.
“James has become a defining figure in our racing community. His connection with the public, his strong partnerships with leading trainers such as Chris Waller, and his consistently world‑class performances have made him a true ambassador for Australasian racing.”
Returning to her spiritual home of Tokelau was a profound experience for Petty Officer Christina Sola, who visited the island while on deployment with the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) during the recent Operation Calypso in the South West Pacific.
New Zealand-born, but of Tokelauan, Samoan and New Zealand European descent, Petty Officer Sola reconnected with whānau when HMNZS Canterbury arrived in Tokelau.
Incorporated in the operation was the celebration of the centenary of New Zealand’s administration of Tokelau and on board the ship for the occasion was New Zealand Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro.
“To step ashore alongside my shipmates, and on this occasion in the presence of the Governor‑General Dame Cindy Kiro, was an immense honour and a moment of profound personal and cultural significance,” Petty Officer Sola said.
“Tokelau is my tūrangawaewae – a place where I feel grounded spiritually, mentally and physically. It is sacred and treasured land, richly woven with history, culture and tradition. Each time I arrive, it instantly feels like home.”
Petty Officer Sola’s Tokelauan family hails from Fakaofo atoll. Her husband Penehe, also of Tokelauan descent, comes from the atolls of Nukunonu and Atafu. They have four children and she credits her husband’s unwavering support for being able to continue doing the job she loves in the Navy.
The communications warfare specialist enlisted in 2008 and has worked across a wide range of operational and leadership roles supporting New Zealand’s defence and security efforts, both at home and around the world.
She last visited Tokelau in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. Petty Officer Sola said the situation was entirely different then and the stakes couldn’t have been higher.
“Canterbury was tasked to deliver routine cyclone season support and essential supplies. This included new freshwater tanks, solar equipment, generator maintenance, and most importantly, Covid-19 vaccination supplies.
“Tokelau had no recorded cases of Covid-19 at the time and there was a very real possibility that, if we were not careful, we could have been the ones to introduce the virus to a population of fewer than 1,500 people.
“I was incredibly grateful that our deployable teams completed the mission without any incident and I was still able to see my family, while not touching one another to keep the strict two-metre distancing policy in place.”
This recent arrival was very different from the last, with loved ones from both her own and her husband’s family welcoming her across the three Tokelauan atolls.
“These are moments I will cherish forever. I will always acknowledge the sacrifices they have made – and continue to make – so that our families around the world can pursue opportunities and lives abroad, including those of us living and serving in Aotearoa, New Zealand.”
Petty Officer Sola’s career has seen her sail from the sub-Antarctic to the Pacific, across to Asia and over to the United States.
As part of the Navy’s extensive operation to the South-West Pacific and alongside the Tokelau centenary visit, HMNZS Canterbury crew facilitated an upgrade of critical tsunami and volcano monitoring equipment on Raoul Island, and conducted a successful search and rescue operation near Tonga.
With New Zealand Army and Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel aboard, the military sealift vessel covered 4580 nautical miles, without the ship needing to take on additional food or fuel over 23 days.
Pharmac’s Prioritisation Update provides the latest information about applications for medicines, vaccines, and related products that we’ve assessed for funding. Proactively releasing this information is part of our ongoing commitment to transparency.
Application priority lists
Every year we receive over 100 funding applications from health care professionals, consumer groups and suppliers. These applications include requests to fund new medicines and to widen access to medicines that we already fund.
We ask our clinical advisory committees to assess the available evidence and recommend whether we should fund, defer, or decline the applications. With their advice, we work to complete an assessment, including a health economic appraisal if required.
We apply the Factors for Consideration throughout our assessment of an application. The factors consider four areas: health need, health benefit, suitability, and costs and savings.
Once the assessment is complete, we take the application to a quarterly internal prioritisation meeting and add applications to one of the following priority lists:
The following treatments have been funded, and therefore removed from the OFI, since the last meeting on 3 December.
Options for investment list
We rank applications on our options for investment (OFI) list from highest to lowest priority but keep these rankings confidential so that we can negotiate the best prices with suppliers.
As of 15 March 2026, there are 139 applications on the OFI.
Prioritisation activity in the March quarter
During the March prioritisation quarter, we ranked seven new proposals on the OFI list.
New proposals ranked:
Only if cost neutral or cost saving list
If our assessment confirms an application does not provide any additional health benefit compared to treatments we already fund, it may be ranked on the only if cost-neutral or cost-saving list. We would look to fund these applications if we negotiated a deal that would be cost-neutral or cost-saving.
Prioritisation activity in the March quarter
During the March quarter, we ranked 4 applications on the only if cost neutral or cost saving list):
AEON Protect(external link) – for Dry Eye Disease, a condition where the eyes do not make enough tears, so the eyes are not properly lubricated.
AEON Protect Plus(external link) – for Dry Eye Disease, a condition where the eyes do not make enough tears, so the eyes are not properly lubricated.
AEON Repair(external link) – for Dry Eye Disease, a condition where the eyes do not make enough tears, so the eyes are not properly lubricated.
Pretomanid(external link) – Multi drug-resistant Tuberculosis and Extensively drug-resistant Tuberculosis.
Recommended for decline list
There are a range of reasons a funding application may be added to the recommend for decline list. Our expert clinical advisors may have recommended that the funding application be declined, or they may have recommended we fund the medicine, but during our analysis we’ve found:
There is a more effective medicine for the same condition already funded
the medicine would provide no additional benefits over other treatments we already fund
the medicine may be harmful
the application has been overtaken by another funding application for the same medicine
no company is supplying the medicine in New Zealand.
When applications are added to the recommended for decline list, they become inactive, and we stop working on the application. While applications may be listed on the decline list, they are only formally declined after public consultation to ensure we haven’t missed anything important.
Declining an application doesn’t prevent us from reconsidering funding for the medicine in the future if new information becomes available.
Prioritisation activity in the March quarter
During the March quarter we ranked 9 applications on the recommended for decline list (detailed descriptions of indications available on the Application Tracker):
* The assessment of these applications will now take place as one proposal, fornivolumab or pembrolizumab(external link), for first line treatment of oesophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer (including squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma) or gastric cancer.
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones.RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has called critics of his Fisheries Amendment Bill “a range of noisy voices” and invited them to have their say at the select committee.
Fishing Host Matt Watson – probably the country’s most famous recreational fisher – is dismayed by the proposals in the fishing amendment bill.
He told First Up the bill’s “designed purely to prioritise the profits of the seafood industry”.
“If these go through unchecked, it is disaster. It’s beginning of the end for our fish stocks, and that’ not over dramatising it.”
Among Watson’s concerns is the proposal to remove the minimum size limits for commercial fishers from a number of popular species, including snapper.
He said it wouldn’t encourage commercial fishers to avoid undersized fish and would decrease overall fish stocks.
The current recreational size limit for snapper is between 25cm and 30cm depending on location, while the commercial size limit is 25cm.
Minimum size limits are imposed to ensure fish can reach sexual maturity before being caught.
“If you start killing fish before they’ve had a chance to breed, you’re going to run out of fish and you don’t need to be a genius to figure that out,” Watson said.
Fishing Host Matt Watson.Facebook
Jones argued that allowing the commercial sector to land and sell undersize fish would prevent wastage.
Currently commercial fishers must dump undersize fish dead or alive, and it doesn’t count against their quota.
“The new provision is that if you catch them, you pay for them,” Jones said.
“With the commercial industry, we know every single kilo that they take and their conduct is now captured by cameras.”
But if Jones’ bill passes, the footage taken by cameras on board commercial boats can no longer be accessed under the official information act, effectively making it off limits to the public.
Anyone who leaks the footage faces a $50,000 fine.
“If you’ve got nothing to hide, why on earth would you behave like that,” Sam Woolford of recreational advocacy group Legasea said.
“When cameras on boats were introduced, we know that the rate of discarding, or notified discards, went up about 46 percent. For snapper and kingfish, it was closer to 1000 percent.”
Jones, a self described apostle of industry, brushed off the concerns about snapper stocks, telling First Up the “amount of snapper in our waters is almost biblical in its profundity”.
“You can almost walk on the water we’ve got so many snapper.”
Coalition support means the Fisheries Amendment Bill should easily pass it’s first reading, but Labour’s fisheries and Oceans spokesperson Rachel Boyack said she would make her concerns heard at the select committee stage.
She said her party would do their “best to make changes to the bill so that it’s not as bad as what it could be.”
Although with commercial fishing a strong feature of her Nelson electorate, Boyack was choosing her words carefully .
“It creates jobs in my local community and it’s important that we are able to produce fish for food and for export, but we also have to ensure that the fishery is sustainable”.
Conservation Minister Tama Potaka’s office didn’t respond to requests for comment, but in a facebook post Northland MP Grant McCallum said he met with Legasea and the sports fishing council over the weekend and would strongly represent the views of the recreational sector in the party’s caucus this week.
Seafood New Zealand’s Inshore Policy Manager Tamar Wells said the commercial sector was trying to make the industry more sustainable.
“Fishers do change their methods. In terms of their selectivity of their nets, they’ll have larger mesh to let smaller fish out.
“There’s also new methods coming in, like Flowmo, which is a type of net that can keep fish kind of contained underwater so they have a higher survivability.”
The Fisheries Amendment Bill won’t require commercial fishers to change their methods though and Jones said there was no plan to outlaw trawling.
“It’s evident to me that the vast majority of the activists opposed to trawling are really seeking to undo the Māori fisheries settlement and terminate the commercial fishing industry and that’s just never, ever going to happen for as long as I’m in politics, and I look forward to being in politics for a long, long time.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 March 2026 – MSIG Insurance (Hong Kong) Limited (“MSIG”) today announced the launch of its new helper insurance promotional campaign, appointing the esteemed artist, Mr Lam Shing Bun (Bob Lam), as product ambassador. Under the theme “Assured Helper, Confident Employer”, the campaign promotes MSIG Helper Insurance across multiple channels, including television commercials, online videos, outdoor advertising and digital platforms, further cementing the brand’s position as the market leader.
Crafting insurance that delivers shared peace of mind
Philip Kent, Chief Executive Officer of MSIG Hong Kong, stated: “Hong Kong today is home to more than 360,000 foreign domestic helpers, as well as over 20,000 local ‘hourly workers’. As such, there is significant market demand for insurance that specifically caters both to their needs and those of their employers. That’s why we have developed a comprehensive and affordable plan that provides extensive medical coverage for domestic helpers and helps their employers cope with financial burdens associated with illness.
We view helper insurance as one of our flagship offerings and believe it truly embodies our commitment to ‘Assured Helper, Confident Employer’, which is the essence of the campaign. We aim to help the public understand how helper insurance can benefit families and to establish MSIG as the market leader in Hong Kong for this type of insurance.”
Bob Lam set to resonate with viewers
Targeting Hong Kong families as its primary audience, this campaign features the popular celebrity Bob Lam as product ambassador. Bob maintains an active presence across social media and traditional platforms, frequently sharing humorous glimpses into his life with his family of six. His relatable persona has earned him a reputation as an endearing husband and devoted father, aligning with MSIG’s brand ethos. Importantly, as an experienced employer who has long employed domestic helpers, Bob’s first-hand experience significantly enhances the credibility of the product information and strongly resonates with the target audience, making him the ideal ambassador for MSIG’s Helper Insurance.
The campaign video opens with Bob livestreaming from home, seamlessly integrating relatable moments such as his wife prompting him to tackle household chores and netizens asking questions about domestic helpers. This light-hearted, humorous approach captures the everyday realities of employer households, eliciting knowing smiles from viewers while introducing the product’s key features in a natural way:
Comprehensive coverage: Includes outpatient, surgical & hospitalisation, dental, domestic helper liability, service interruption, fidelity guarantee and more
Exceptional value: 2-year premium as low as HK$566 for online applications1
Speedy claims processing: Online claims approval in as fast as 15 minutes
Flexible and adaptable: Suitable for local domestic helpers, post-natal care helpers and home-based elderly carers, accommodating diverse family needs
Multi-channel media campaign to maximise reach
This initiative marks MSIG’s first major promotional campaign for 2026, employing a multi-dimensional media strategy to achieve seamless online and offline coverage. The campaign will be rolled out across television, YouTube, other major social media platforms and digital channels, targeting the intended audience with precision. Outdoor media placements include tram and bus wrap advertising, large-scale billboards in Causeway Bay and digital screens at multiple high-traffic locations. Through this tightly integrated multi-channel network, the campaign will significantly boost brand visibility and message penetration, ensuring the core message of helper insurance is powerfully conveyed to every corner of Hong Kong.
1 Offer applies to designated MSIG Helper Insurance plan, please refer to MSIG website and terms and conditions of relevant product.
Hashtag: #MSIG
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Adyen’s direct acquiring solution boosts performance for Hong Kong’s home carrier in the world’s most dynamic markets
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 March 2026 – Adyen, the global financial technology platform of choice for leading businesses, today announced the expansion of its longstanding partnershipwith Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong’s home airline. This deepening of collaboration marks asignificant milestone, with Adyen now providing direct acquiring services for the airline inmarkets including Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Japan, and mostrecently, India.
Adyen’s partnership with Cathay Pacific, which began in 2014, has evolved from its initial scope to become a core component of the airline’s global commerce strategy. With the successfulimplementation of direct acquiring in Cathay Pacific’s key markets, this expansion underscoresAdyen’s role as a strategic growth partner, using direct acquiring capabilities to increaseauthorization rates, reduce payment fees, and unlock new revenue.
Notably with the recent roll-out in India, Adyen’s acquiring solution ensures performance. Since implementation, Cathay Pacific achieved a 10% increase in authorization rates in the market.
“At Cathay Pacific, we believe that a seamless and trusted shopping experience is essential to elevating ourselves to become the most loved service brand of our customers,” said Kinto Chan,General Manager, Sales and Distribution, Cathay Pacific. “By leveraging Adyen’s singleintegration and trusted extensive global acquiring network, we can ensure our customerstransact securely while allowing us to expand into our target markets with ease.”“Our partnership with Cathay Pacific is centered on turning global payment complexity into acompetitive advantage,” said Warren Hayashi, President, Asia Pacific, Adyen. “By optimizingauthorization rates across diverse geographies, we ensure more bookings take flight, helpingCathay achieve commercial growth on a global stage.”
How would you like to walk or cycle alongside the Whau awa? A key section of Te Whau Pathway is complete and open for Aucklanders and visitors to use and enjoy.
The Northwestern Cycleway to Horowai Reserve section in Te Atatū was completed earlier this year.
More than a hundred people attended the opening ceremony on 20 March, mostly from the local community.
Councillor Shane Henderson has been involved in this partnership project with Te Whau Pathway Environment Trust since it began in 2014. He says this major milestone is an asset for Tāmaki Makaurau, especially those in the west.
“The new boardwalk stage of the Te Whau Pathway is a major piece of infrastructure ready for Aucklanders to walk or cycle on, doubling as a new sustainable transport route or place to exercise.
Councillor Shane Henderson speaks the opening event for a key section of Te Whau Pathway, 20 March, 2026.
“The pathway will particularly benefit the West Auckland community, and is a vital connection between the northwestern cycleway and Horowai Reserve.
“I urge West Aucklanders to embrace this new community asset and use it. All Aucklanders should come and check it out too.”
The shared path is 1.3km of 4m wide boardwalk sections and 3m wide concrete paths connecting the Northwestern cycleway and Horowai / Roberts Field in Te Atatū South. The build went well, delivering ahead of original planned time and under budget.
Te Whau Pathway Environment Trust is a volunteer organisation led by chair Tony Miguel.
“I’m excited to see this quality, well designed, accessible boardwalk section of the pathway open for all Aucklanders to use,” he says.
“Opening this next section is a very big moment for the Trust having started planning in 2014. Since then, the Trust has been championing this project at a grass roots level, alongside Auckland Council”.
“Our hard work is reaping rewards with this key section of the pathway complete, and we are committed to getting more built.”
“We are very grateful for the funding provided by the government and Auckland Council, as without it we would not be opening this section of the pathway for the benefit of the community”
Cyclists cross the new section of Te Whau Pathway.
Chris Carter, chair of Henderson-Massey Local Board, shares his excitement about the completion of the first section.
“Te Whau Pathway is an amazing development right on our doorstep,” Mr Carter says.
“This incredible pathway will connect new areas, provide walking opportunities, offer an alternative transport route for cyclists, and create a chance for people to explore the beautiful Whau River.
“It’s one of the most important projects our board is supporting. With more people moving into the area and medium-density housing increasing, the pathway will give locals a place to walk, cycle and get active.
“I think people are really going to love it – especially as a recreational walkway where dogs on a leash are welcome and cyclists will have a safer way to access sections of Te Atatū Road.”
In September 2025 the government confirmed funding for the next stage of the pathway – a 400m stretch linking Ken Maunder Park and Rizal Reserve via a new bridge. The funding was prioritised from savings on the original planned section of the pathway that opened on 20 March. Construction on this additional section is due to start in April and be completed before November this year.
Whau Local Board chair Kay Thomas is looking forward to the start of construction of this next section of Te Whau Pathway.
“Our board has advocated strongly for funding this project for many years, so it’s incredibly rewarding to see it becoming a reality,” says Ms Thomas.
“The pathway will connect communities, schools and people to the Whau River, while creating more opportunities for locals to enjoy and care for the environment.
“It will also be accessible for everyone, including people using wheelchairs or walking frames.”
“We’re very excited to see the construction of the Rizal Crossing section begin soon in the Whau Local Board area. It will be linking Wingate Street to Rata Street in New Lynn, offering a whole range of benefits for our local community.”
Construction on Te Whau Pathway restarted in December 2023 and the Northwestern Cycleway to Horowai Reserve section in Te Atatū is now open. It creates a shared use pathway connection between the Northwestern Cycleway and Horowai Reserve (Roberts Field).
Te Whau Pathway is a partnership between Auckland Transport (AT), Te Kawerau ā Maki, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, , the Whau and Henderson-Massey local boards, Auckland Council, the government as a major funder, and Auckland Council delivering the construction working closely with Te Whau Pathway Environment Trust.
Te Whau Pathway follows a traditional Māori taonga waka (portage). Fully delivered, all sections of the proposed pathway will connect Manukau Harbour at Green Bay to the Waitematā Harbour at Te Atatū Peninsula.
All Blacks assistant coach Scott McLeod is crossing the ditch.
McLeod has been recruited by the Wallabies to take up a position as the side’s defence coach for the next three years.
The 53-year-old was a member of the All Blacks coaching team at the last two Rugby World Cups, serving under Steve Hansen and then Ian Foster.
He will join the Wallabies ahead of the 8 August test against Japan, which will mark Les Kiss’ first game as Wallabies head coach.
Born in Brisbane, McLeod was raised in New Zealand and represented the Chiefs across 44 Super 12 games and the All Blacks in 10 tests.
After an eight-year playing stint in Japan, McLeod returned to New Zealand to embark on a coaching career with Waikato, the Chiefs and Highlanders, before taking on the role of All Blacks assistant coach in 2017.
McLeod, pictured here in 1998 for the All Blacks against the Wallabies, played a total of ten tests.Andrew Cornaga
McLeod most recently served as an assistant with the Kubota Spears in Japan’s Rugby League One.
“I am very excited to return to international rugby, especially to join up with Les and the team to build on the foundations that have been put in place,” McLeod said in a statement.
“There is a lot of excitement building within Rugby Australia and I am really committed to doing my part. I am looking forward to connecting with RA, the players and everyone who is invested in this team.”
Rugby Australia director of high performance, Peter Horne, said from the Highlanders’ first Super Rugby title in 2015 to the most recent Rugby World Cup final, McLeod’s resume and reputation are of the highest calibre.
“Scott has a great understanding of the environment and standards Joe Schmidt has driven since joining the Wallabies, having coached alongside him with the All Blacks, and will provide great support to Les as he transitions into the head coach position.”
Laurie Fisher, who has served as defence coach since 2024 under Joe Schmidt, is set to move into a consultancy role.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 March 2026 – As cyber threats intensify globally, the World Economic Forum (WEF) projects that the global economic impact of cyberattacks will surge from US$8.44 trillion in 2022 to US$23.84 trillion by 2027[1], exposing a widening gap between escalating risk and cyber readiness.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which form the backbone of most economies, are particularly vulnerable. The WEF’s 2024 Global Cybersecurity Outlook[2]highlights that limited access to cyber services, tools and skilled talent continues to hinder smaller organisations from achieving even baseline resilience, an increasingly urgent concern in today’s highly interconnected digital ecosystem. As a result, SMEs are often more exposed to common risks such as accidental data leaks and unpatched vulnerabilities in the software and open‑source components used to build modern digital applications.
To help address these challenges, three homegrown companies from Singapore, AgileMark, Scantist and StrongKeep are pioneering technologies that make cybersecurity more accessible and effective for businesses, including SMEs without dedicated security teams. Their solutions focus on strengthening data loss protection and mitigating risks from human behaviours like screen photography and unsafe network use, uncovering hidden vulnerabilities in software systems, and simplifying the adoption of essential security measures through easy-to-deploy platforms.
These companies are supported by the S$20 million CyberSG Talent, Innovation and Growth Collaboration Centre (TIG Centre), a joint initiative between the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA). The TIG Centre works closely with cybersecurity companies and start-ups to co-develop solutions that help organisations stay ahead of emerging threats while enabling the safe and confident adoption of new technologies.
“Many businesses today, especially SMEs, face escalating cyber risks but often lack the resources to protect themselves effectively. In Singapore, online scams and ransomware attacks continue to be key concerns. At the same time, advances in AI are transforming both cyber threats and cybersecurity and rapidly expanding the attack surface of enterprises. Through the CyberSG Talent, Innovation and Growth Collaboration Centre, we support innovators developing practical solutions to address these challenges, and bring Singapore’s most promising cybersecurity start-ups to the global stage at the RSAC 2026 Conference,” said Mr Willis Lim, Executive Director, TIG Centre.
AgileMark: Preventing data leaks caused by everyday human actions
Many data exposure incidents stem not from sophisticated cyberattacks, but from routine behaviours such as photographing screens, copying sensitive documents or working in unsecured environments.
AgileMark mitigates this risk by introducing visible, dynamic watermarks on corporate screens. These act as behavioural cues to deter unauthorised capture, reinforce employee awareness of data sensitivity, and enable traceability if leaks occur. Designed with a human-first approach, it addresses the reality many SMEs face: limited time, resources and expertise to manage complex tools. By focusing on user behaviour rather than adding new systems, it reduces risk without increasing operational burden. Today, AgileMark protects over 300,000 devices globally, reducing investigation time from weeks to hours and enabling faster response to potential data breaches.
Scantist: Finding security flaws in software before hackers do
As organisations accelerate software development, greater reliance on open-source components and third-party dependencies has increased exposure to supply chain risks and hard-to-detect vulnerabilities.
Scantist provides an AI-powered application security platform that helps organisations manage open-source, software supply chain and AI-related risks across the development lifecycle, from code to deployment. Complementing its defensive capabilities, Scantist also offers an autonomous, agentic penetration testing solution that simulates attacker behaviour, enabling more frequent testing and reducing assessment timelines from days to hours. For SMEs in particular, Scantist makes advanced security testing and risk management more accessible without requiring large in-house security teams, helping businesses strengthen resilience and keep pace with evolving threats in a cost-effective, scalable manner.
StrongKeep: Making cybersecurity simpler and more affordable for SMEs
Many SMEs face barriers to adopting cybersecurity tools due to cost, complexity and the need for specialised expertise.
StrongKeep addresses this challenge with an all-in-one cybersecurity platform tailored for SMEs. The platform integrates essential protections such as device security, website filtering, phishing awareness training and password management into a single, easy-to-use system. Organisations can deploy the platform and begin protecting their systems in under 60 minutes, even without dedicated cybersecurity staff. With subscriptions starting from S$39 per month, the solution enables SMEs to achieve comprehensive protection and compliance up to 10 times faster than traditional approaches.
Showcasing Singapore’s cybersecurity solutions at the RSAC Conference 2026
AgileMark, Scantist and StrongKeep are among eight TIG Centre-supported companies that will showcase their solutions at Singapore’s national pavilion at the RSAC 2026 Conference, held from 23 to 26 March 2026 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, United States.
Organised by the TIG Centre and SGTech, the leading trade association for Singapore’s tech industry, the Singapore Pavilion underscores Singapore’s role as a cybersecurity innovation hub and a strategic gateway to Asia’s rapidly expanding digital economy.
The ACT Party should leave nursing to the professionals and medical evidence, NZNO says.
Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says ACT MP Todd Stephenson has dismissed the Nursing Council’s draft code of conduct – which proposes strengthening cultural safety, whānau-centred care and te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations – as political ideology.
“This is not political ideology. It is evidence-based health care which has been proven to be the key to lifting health outcomes for Māori.
“ACT should leave nursing to professionals and medical evidence,” Kerri Nuku says.
“Culturally safe care reduces health inequities, keeps more Māori out of hospital by helping identify the risk of preventable illnesses and enabling early intervention, and saves the health system money – something dear to the ACT Party,” she says.
“Todd Stephenson wants health care based on need not race. There can only be equal health care if there are equal health outcomes. Māori life expectancy is seven years lower than non-Māori and Māori are more likely to suffer heart disease, cancers, diabetes and mental health issues.
“Many Māori fear hospitals and the health system, which has been found to be systemically racist. Without culturally safe health care, Māori will continue to suffer poorer health outcomes and lead sicker and shorter lives than other New Zealanders.
“As well as the devastation to lives and whānau health and wellbeing, it costs Aotearoa more in the long run,” Kerri Nuku says.