Category: Finance

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Universities – Traffic silently killing Aucklanders – UoA

Source: University of Auckland – UoA

Pollution from cars in Auckland is killing around 700 people a year and hospitalising 4,000 more, with health researchers calling for policy changes.

More than 700 Aucklanders die every year from air pollution from traffic, similar to the number who die from smoking cigarettes, with almost 4,000 more ending up in hospital, according to a new report.

Almost all Aucklanders, 90 percent, are exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution higher than international standards.

Nationally, 2,000 people die per year from traffic pollution.

“Because the particles are so small, they are not easy to see, so we often don’t even think about them being there,” says Dr Jamie Hosking, a public health researcher at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland.

“Sometimes, when we’re close to traffic, we can smell the exhaust, and that’s when we really notice it. But even when we can’t smell it, it’s still there, putting our health at great risk.”

Petrol and diesel burn to produce noxious gases, chiefly nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and minute particles of soot, smoke, dust and chemicals (PM2.5).

“Because they’re so small, these particles can get right into our lungs and then cross into the bloodstream. They cause health effects through their impact on the lungs, but also on our cardiovascular system – the heart – and can contribute to strokes,” Hosking says.

A report, Our Air, has just been published on Auckland’s air pollution by Healthy Auckland Together a collective of public health researchers and agencies working in the area. (ref. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/687d6be85b66bd72af52a027/t/69b9b755bab9e5730d58c9b8/1773778792896/Healthy+Auckland+Together+-+Our+Air.pdf )

Hosking and fellow public health researcher at the University of Auckland Professor Alistair Woodward will present the report to Auckland Council’s Transport Committee and call for urgent action on Auckland’s air pollution.

Auckland’s air pollution comes partly from household heating but pollution from traffic is by far the biggest cause of illness.

It is estimated traffic pollution causes 6,100 cases and 424 hospitalisations for childhood asthma every year in Auckland.

People in cheaper housing near motorways and busy roads are at extra risk, so there are equity issues.

“It’s often people on lower incomes who end up being more exposed to this dirty air and then having the health impacts as a result,” Hosking says.

What Auckland Council needs to do

The report outlines solutions. The 20 agencies comprising Healthy Auckland Together would like to see Auckland Council:

  • Invest in affordable, clean and frequent public transport services 
  • Introduce equitable congestion charges 
  • Build and maintain attractive footpaths and pedestrian crossings, and protected cycle lanes
  • Improve air quality monitoring 
  • Provide more parks and street trees 

What central government needs to do
Nationally, the government needs to:

  • Raise vehicle emission standards to ensure cleaner vehicles enter the country
  • Update New Zealand’s air quality standards to reflect the latest health evidence
  • Set transport charges – such as fuel excise, road user charges and registration fees – so they properly reflect the health and social costs caused by vehicle emissions.

Air pollution in Auckland results in a significant number of deaths and serious illnesses with unacceptable healthcare and social costs – urgent action is needed.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/18/universities-traffic-silently-killing-aucklanders-uoa/

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Opening address at Annual Immigration Law Conference

Source: New Zealand Government

Tēnā koutou katoa, thank you for inviting me to join you at the Immigration Law Symposium.

It’s a privilege to be here today and speak about the work we’ve delivered in the immigration portfolio over the last two years.

I want to acknowledge and thank you all for your contributions. As immigration professionals, you play a critical role in the system, helping deliver real benefits for New Zealand.

Immigration is integral to New Zealand’s prosperity. It supports this Government’s Going‑for‑Growth objectives, enables businesses to access the skills they need to compete globally, and enriches our communities. 

This Government has focused on making the immigration system smarter, faster, and fairer – attractive to talented people, one that prioritises New Zealanders for jobs, is workable for employers, and with the integrity New Zealanders expect.

Today I will talk about the importance of immigration for our economy and our society, and highlight some of the changes we have made so that the system is attracting talent, while managing risk.

I will also be announcing some proposed new changes to be incorporated into the Immigration (Enhanced Risk and Management) Amendment Bill that will be introduced this afternoon. These are to ensure our settings are working for New Zealanders. That means we can respond more effectively to non-compliance, hold people to account when they break the rules, and maintain public confidence in the integrity of the system. 

The importance of immigration to New Zealand’s success

Immigration is critical to New Zealand, and New Zealanders, success. Put quite simply, without immigration, New Zealand cannot thrive, grow, or deliver the aspirations that we have for future generations. 

New Zealand is now a multi-cultural society. Many of you in this room will be migrants or the child of migrants. People who came to New Zealand with a dream for a better life for themselves and their family, who have worked hard, and who contribute to the richness of our multicultural fabric.

Many migrants are fiercely proud, and protective, of the sacrifices they have made to call New Zealand home. Whether that’s pursuing higher education, growing their skills and experience so they can meet residence requirements, or working multiple jobs to be able to support family back in their homeland.   

Others have come to us through humanitarian or family reunification pathways. Feeling persecution or conflict at home, often coming to New Zealand with nothing other than determination to learn a new language and build a new life in a place they would not have necessarily have chosen if things had been different. Or leaving an established home to join with family settled here, for the privilege of watching grandchildren grow up and being part of their day to day lives rather than a face over an iPad or a phone that visits infrequently. 

Smart, targeted, and fair immigration settings makes New Zealand richer in every possible way.

I know that there are those with some concerns about immigration. I see it in the emails that come into my office, in some of the conversations that I have in the community, and in some of the broader public conversation that has been occurring. 

And my answer is you were right to be, and so was I.

As many of you will know, when I because the Minister in late 2023, net migration was running hot as an unsustainable 130,000 per year. This was on top of the over 230,000 people who had been granted residence as part of RV21. 

This was creating challenges across the system – from health, to education, to infrastructure. Many schools were overwhelmed with students with no or little English and high levels of additional learning needs. 

The previous Government was overwhelmed with demand when the borders re-opened in mid-2022 from employers who had been unable to access the international market for skills and talent for over two years. 

And in the rush to let that talent in some unfortunate shortcuts and decisions were made contributing to migrant exploitation, people coming to New Zealand for jobs without relevant skills or experience, wage inflation driven by median wage requirements, and people who were unable to succeed in New Zealand because they had no or little English.  

At the same time our post-COVID economic situation was deteriorating with New Zealanders losing jobs as workforces were downsized or, in some instances, disbanded.

It was immediately apparent to me that we needed to take urgent steps to tighten the settings, address migrant exploitation, prevent the erosion of the social licence for immigration and re-balance our approach to risk and verification. 

However, at the same time, we also had to continue to facilitate businesses being able to access overseas skills and experience where they genuinely could not recruit a suitable New Zealander, especially in skill shortage areas.

Some of the decisions I took through 2024 were difficult, all of them were necessary. Introducing minimum English language requirements for lower skilled roles, minimum relevant experience, no longer allowing partner work rights or domestic student status for the children of lower skilled workers, holding the line on the three year maximum continuous stay for lower skilled roles, continuing to require IELTS 6.5 or equivalent for the skilled migrant pathway, checks to ensure that employers are genuinely engaging with MSD, removing the median wage requirements to address wage inflation and the disadvantaging of New Zealand workers, lifting the bar on acceptable standards of health requirements for AEWV so that people don’t build a life here only to discover when they apply for residence that they aren’t eligible because a family member is not ASH and others.

At the same time, we know that the skilled migrant settings introduced by the previous Government were disconnected from the reality of many of the people that we wanted New Zealand to be attractive to – especially skilled trades and technicians. People without a degree, or in a registered occupation, or earning 1.5x the median wage but who were critical to our businesses and regions succeeding. That drove our changes to the Skilled Migrant Category that will be coming in in August. Two new pathways for people we desperately want to remain in New Zealand but who otherwise would have left. 

Our focus on smart and fit for purpose immigration system has not just meant significant changes for the accredited employer work visa and skilled migrant visa, we also made hugely successful changes to the Active Investor Plus visa, introduced two new seasonal visas, the Parent Boost visa, the business investor visa, and late this year will introduce a new short term graduate work visa for people doing Level 5-7 courses that do not currently qualify for post-study work rights. 

Alongside this, Immigration New Zealand has done an enormous amount of work to be both facilitative to genuine employers with real need, while strengthening their risk and verification processes.

The world is an unstable and uncertain place and the push factors out of some countries for people desperate to make a life for themselves somewhere else are significant. This means that Immigration New Zealand sits right at the often challenging intersection of needing to facilitate genuine migrants while adapting to new and innovative ways that desperate people try get around the checks and balances that protect New Zealand.

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of Alison McDonald, the head of Immigration New Zealand, who will shortly be retiring, for the incredible work that she has led over the last two and a half years. It is no easy thing to have a Minister who wants you to be faster and better and more engaged with the sector, while not compromising on quality, who is also either changing visa settings on you or introducing new ones every other month. 

Alison and her operational team, alongside the policy team in MBIE, have done an exceptional job the last two years. 

I would also like to thank David Cooper, who has chaired my Immigration Advisor Reference group, made up of six immigration advisors, including the Chair of NZAMI, who have voluntarily given their time and expertise to provide feedback on what is working and what isn’t, sense check changes, and even be in the detail of draft immigration instructions to make sure they are fit for purpose and will achieve the intended policy objective.

To those with concerns and reservations about immigration, I hear you and I have shared some of those concerns.  

When I became Minister we had 60 percent of the people coming in on work visas were lower skilled roles, and only 40% on mid or higher skilled roles. Today that has flipped and then some with currently over 70% of work visas for mid-high skilled roles and only 30 percent for lower skilled roles. 

We have held the line on people needing to leave New Zealand when their maximum continuous stay comes up so that the labour market can be re-tested to see if there is a New Zealander available for the job and we are unapologetic about the fact that a level of English is a requirement, not a nice to have;

We have also welcomed over 43,000 people have been granted residence under the Green List Sraight to Residence and Work to Residence pathways in high demand skilled shortage areas.  Doctors, engineers, early childhood, primary and secondary school teachers, mechanics, electricians, construction managers and many others.

Our schools, our hospitals, our infrastructure, our primary industries, and our businesses would literally not be able to function without immigration. Immigration isn’t a nameless faceless imposition, it’s

The nurse from the South Africa triaging your child late on a Friday night at after hours, the technician from India restoring communications after a storm the Filipino dairy farm worker out in the cow shed at 4am in rural Southland, the Italian engineer helping to deliver a major roading project, the French Senior Cellar Hand turning your favourite grape into your Friday evening drink, and yes, the cleaner from Brazil vacuuming an office block late at night because the cleaning company hasn’t been able to find a willing New Zealander.  

Is the system perfect? No, and it never will be. There will always be opportunities for improvement, decisions that need to be revisited or recalibrated, and more to be done. But I can say with absolute conviction that we are in a lot stronger position and New Zealanders can have a lot more confidence in the operation and integrity of the immigration system than two years ago. 

The privilege of migration comes with responsibility  

As may of you know, the Immigration (Fiscal Sustainability and System Integrity) Amendment Act received Royal assent late last year. 

The amendments represent a significant step forward in ensuring our immigration system is fair, future-focused, and fit for purpose.  

Many of you here today provided feedback on the Amendment Act during its development or provided valuable submissions as part of the Select Committee process. Thank you for your input.

It is now an offence to charge a premium for employment. This is one of many changes we have made to stamp out migrant exploitation.

The Amendment Act also means that when someone pleads guilty or is found guilty of a criminal offence, this able to be considered by the immigration system in resident deportation liability decisions even if the migrant is discharged without conviction.

I want to touch on this one for a moment because it was one that I received some push back on. Some accused me of overreaching into the justice system, others that this would cause stress for migrants, yet others told me it would overwhelm Immigration New Zealand’s case management process because of the number of people who now may be subject to liability for deportation.

I want to be very clear on this. Residence in New Zealand is a privilege, it is not a right, and it comes with responsibilities. In some parts of New Zealand it was becoming the norm that migrants were getting discharged without conviction for criminal offending because it could trigger deportation liability while a New Zealander was convicted of the same crime because there was no possibility of deportation. This was unfair and unjust.

If a migrant would like to avoid stress in their life them my advice to them is very clear. Don’t drink and drive, don’t indecently assault children, don’t beat up your pregnant partner or do anything else that might lead to deportation liability.

And if this change leads to more volumes of cases and deportations that have to be managed by Immigration New Zealand then we will increase the resourcing for those teams.

There is nothing that will erode the social licence for immigration than a sense that people are coming to New Zealand, abusing our hospitality and the privilege it is to be granted residence by criminal offending, and not facing the appropriate consequences for it. 

It is in that vein that I want to talk about the Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill and a Parliamentary paper that will be introduced to Parliament.

The Bill aims to increase the effectiveness of immigration compliance and enforcement; improve the integrity of the refugee and protection system; and improve the operation of the wider immigration system.  Many of you will know some of the amendments in the Bill after I announced some late last year after policy decisions were taken.

First, the Bill proposes to extend the period during which a residence visa holder may become liable for deportation following criminal offending – from 10 to 20 years.

New Zealand has one of the more lenient criminal deportation liability regimes. Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Ireland all make residents liable for deportation indefinitely, including for relatively minor convictions. 

As proposed, deportation liability would continue to be scaled according to the seriousness of offending and the length of time a person has held residence. But longer-term residents who commit very serious offences will no longer evade deportation liability.

Two recent examples of migrants who committed serious crimes and cannot under the existing law be deported because they have been resident for more than ten years are:

  • the Australian Jaz brothers sentenced to 17 years’ and 16.5 years’ imprisonment, respectively, for serious sexual offending. As resident visa holders for more than 10 years, they will not be liable for deportation upon release.
  • and, in 2023, an individual was convicted of serious sex offences. He was not liable for deportation because he had held a resident visa for more than 10 years even though between 2014 and 2017, he committed lower‑level offences that made him liable for deportation; at the time, his liability was suspended because he had a New Zealand partner.

This change makes it clear that serious criminal offending will have serious consequences for resident visa holders.

The Bill also clarifies existing deportation liability settings.

It strengthens the consequences for migrants providing false or misleading information at any stage of the immigration process, making it clear that this could trigger deportation liability; 

It also clarifies that serious historical offending committed overseas before a person holds a New Zealand visa can give rise to deportation liability. 

The Bill also removes humanitarian appeal rights to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal for all visitor visa holders, and for temporary visa holders who are liable for deportation because of criminal offending. This recognises the different status and expectations of temporary versus resident migrants. It supports timely deportation action where appropriate and reinforces New Zealanders’ expectations that people in our country respect the law.

The Bill increases the maximum penalty for migrant exploitation to ten years’ imprisonment, better reflecting the harm that exploitation causes. 

It also extends the practical timeframe for MBIE to issue employer infringement notices to six years after the offending. This is because exploited migrants often do not report their employer until after the employment relationship has broken down, and some more complex investigations can take longer to complete. 

The Bill also establishes two new employer-focused infringement offences: 

  • for providing incorrect or incomplete information (for example in an accreditation or job check application), and
  • failing to provide wage and time record documents when requested. 

These changes will expand the range of tools available to address non-compliant employer behaviour. 

To improve the effectiveness of immigration compliance activity, the Bill also adjusts the threshold under which Immigration Officers can request basic identity information to people who may be liable for deportation or turnaround or may be in breach of their visa conditions. 

This change will make an existing power workable, supporting enhanced compliance outcomes.  I want to be very clear because there has been some untrue public commentary on this one, this will not permit broad, discretionary checks of people in public places. It certainly will not allow compliance officers to randomly stop or detain people to request their identification and then check on their immigration status without cause.  

Immigration officers will only be able to use this power when they already have a legitimate reason to be at the site or premises and they have a good cause, such as a person attempting to flee or hide, to suspect that the person might be in New Zealand unlawfully or in breach of their visa. 

If that bar is not reached, then an immigration officer will not be able to request identity information. I am sure that the Select Committee will ensure that this new provision is fit for purpose and will meet by intended objective and I look forward to their scrutiny and feedback.

Additional protection proposals in Parliamentary Paper

Like our international partners, New Zealand continues to experience large numbers of asylum claims and significant backlogs in determinations, as the world becomes more unstable and uncertain. Since the borders re-opened in 2022 there has been a significant increase in claims and there are currently over 4,000 asylum claims on hand. This is the largest number ever.  

While there are always genuine claims, there are many claims that are not meritorious. In some instances, people lodge an asylum claim in the final days of another visa, not because they will face persecution in their home country but simply because they want to remain in New Zealand and are not eligible for another visa. 

This frustrates the system, meaning that genuine claims take longer to approve and lengthening the time period that person with a non-meritorious claim remains in New Zealand. 

Resourcing and operational changes put in place in recent years have helped to improve processing, however, challenges remain.  

And so today I am announcing that I will also table a Parliamentary Paper alongside the Bill with an additional seven amendments to protect New Zealand’s protection system and over time support more efficient processing of claims so that those with genuine need are afforded protection. 

Importantly, they will serve New Zealand’s aim to tackle global challenges facing the system while affording protection to those who need it.

These most significant changes are: 

  • better managing claimants who fail to attend biometric appointments and those who act in bad faith,
  • claimants who commit serious crimes onshore before their refugee status is determined, addressing an omission in the Act relating to withdrawing claims. 

Two of the proposals relate to managing instances of bad faith. 

I am aware of cases where people take actions to deliberately engage in provocative political activity after arriving in New Zealand, such as seeking social media or media attention, in a cynical attempt to create or increase their grounds for recognition as a refugee.   

The bad faith proposals will ensure that both INZ and the Immigration Protection Tribunal have the ability to deal with cases made in bad faith as swiftly as possible, and that the benefits associated with refugee status are reserved for those who genuinely deserve them. 

They also ensure that we maintain our international obligation to not return someone to a country where they may face persecution or other serious harm.

Another proposal relates to the interpretation of Article 1F(b) of the Refugee Convention which excludes people who commit serious crimes before admission to the country of refuge from refugee status, to make sure refugee protections only go to those who genuinely deserve them. 

The proposal will broaden New Zealand’s interpretation of this obligation to exclude those who commit serious crimes after arriving onshore but before status determination from refugee status. These claimants may still be eligible for protection status where there is a genuine need. 

Although the numbers of people involve are small, the offending is serious. I know that many New Zealanders would be shocked to know, as I was, that if a person who has claimed refugee status has been convicted of a serious crime in New Zealand but before their claim has been decided Immigration New Zealand is currently unable to take that into account when determining their refugee status. 

Currently, INZ has on hand 14 refugee claims from people who have been convicted of serious offences since arriving in New Zealand, including one person convicted of murder, five for serious drug offences, three for sexual offences, four for family violence, one for arson, and one for burglary with a weapon.

The proposed amendment will ensure that people who commit crimes offshore and onshore are treated the same, sending a signal that this behaviour is not tolerated and maintaining public confidence in our refugee and protection system. 

Overall, this Bill is about further strengthening our immigration system and ensuring it is working well for both New Zealand and migrants. 

I want to acknowledge the groups who have contributed to the development of this Bill and provided feedback on the proposals. 

I welcome your feedback and suggestions through the Select Committee process.

I’m proud of what we’ve achieved in the immigration portfolio and the work we have underway to ensure the system is smarter, fairer, and better able to respond to and manage risk. 

I would like to thank you for all of your contributions over the last two years and I look forward to continuing working with you this year.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/18/opening-address-at-annual-immigration-law-conference/

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Health – Drug Foundation welcomes substance harm action plan

Source: NZ Drug Foundation

The NZ Drug Foundation is welcoming a new substance harm action plan that it says has many interventions the sector has long called for.

The government’s Action Plan to Prevent and Reduce Substance Harm 2026 – 2029 was announced by Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey this morning. (ref. https://www.health.govt.nz/publications/action-plan-to-prevent-and-reduce-substance-harm-2026-2029 )

Drug Foundation Executive Director Sarah Helm says the plan has a strong focus on early intervention and peer-based support.

“We’re delighted to see some of the cost-effective, commonsense solutions we’ve long called for set out in the government’s action plan,” she says.

“Many of the new actions in this plan came directly from a summit we convened with the addictions and harm reduction sector last year. It’s a real credit to Minister Doocey and the Ministry of Health that they’ve taken what came out of the summit seriously, consulted further with the sector, and put many of the solutions we’ve all called for into a clear roadmap.”

The plan includes a range of new actions and initiatives, including:

  • Establishing a community-based peer follow-up service for people who’ve been discharged after a non-fatal overdose or other drug harm event
  • Improving access to overdose reversal medication and overdose prevention training
  • Investing in community-based mutual aid and peer-led services
  • Expansion of the Pregnancy and Parenting Service to support women and whānau with substance use issues
  • Support to grow the skills and expertise of the addictions and harm reduction workforce.

Helm says the interventions will save lives and save the health system money.

“One of the biggest predictors of a fatal overdose is having had a non-fatal overdose previously, so the peer follow-up service for people who’ve been hospitalised after a drug harm event is an absolute no-brainer,” she says. “Glasgow runs a similar service that has seen great success. I have no doubt it will save lives here.”

“We’re also really pleased to see more investment in community-based mutual aid and peer support groups, which will increase the options for people with addiction issues to get accessible support early,” Helm says. “These groups provide spaces for people experiencing problems to support each other to make changes. For many people this approach can be an effective way to prevent more serious harms that would cost the health system much more down the track.”

“It’s also great to see an emphasis on overdose prevention, including improving access to overdose reversal medication, information and training. We’ve been calling for action on this for a very long time.”

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/18/health-drug-foundation-welcomes-substance-harm-action-plan/

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Breaking through ‘last mile’ of green energy: CHN Energy’s solution for retired wind and solar equipment

Source: Media Outreach

BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 March 2026 – Wind power and photovoltaic energy are reshaping China’s energy landscape. As of March 2025, the combined installed capacity of wind and solar power nationwide has exceeded 1.48 billion kilowatts, surpassing thermal power in terms of total installed capacity in history.

However, early-generation wind and solar equipment, designed to last 20 to 25 years, is now entering a phase of large-scale decommissioning. It is estimated that by 2050, decommissioned photovoltaic modules will amount to 20 million tonnes, while retired wind turbine blades are expected to reach 3 million tonnes by 2035. How to properly handle this massive volume of retired equipment has become a pressing challenge that the industry must confront.

“True green development lies in delivering green power while ultimately achieving a closed loop through comprehensive end-of-life solutions,” said Hou Bo, deputy general manager of China Energy Investment Corporation (CHN Energy) Longyuan Environmental Protection Co., Ltd.

CHN Energy holds the world’s largest installed wind power capacity. Its combined installed capacity of wind and solar power is close to 120 million kilowatts, accounting for nearly 10 percent of the national total. After several years of technological breakthroughs, in October 2025, the company put into operation a kiloton-scale photovoltaic module recycling demonstration line, independently developed and constructed by CHN Energy Longyuan Environmental Protection Co., Ltd. In 2026, CHN Energy Longyuan Environmental Protection Zhangjiakou Branch is expected to commence operations, with an annual processing capacity exceeding 10,000 tonnes of decommissioned wind and solar equipment.

Meanwhile, CHN Energy Longyuan Environmental Protection has taken the lead in establishing a specialized committee on the circular utilization of retired wind and solar equipment under the China Association of Circular Economy. It has led or participated in the drafting of approximately 17 international, national, and industry standards. While ensuring a stable supply of green electricity, the company also gives due consideration to the full life-cycle utilization of all equipment, including the impacts on environmental governance, in an effort to break through this critical “last mile.”

“By building an integrated industry–academia–research–application system, we aim to address shared challenges together and foster the growth of this emerging sector,” said Hou. For CHN Energy, closing the loop on wind and solar is more than an environmental goal; it is the defining test of true green power.

Hashtag: #ChinaNewsService

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/2026/03/17/breaking-through-last-mile-of-green-energy-chn-energys-solution-for-retired-wind-and-solar-equipment/

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Joint Statement Australia–New Zealand Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations 2+2

Source: New Zealand Government

17 March 2026

  1. Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence the Hon Richard Marles MP and Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator the Hon Penny Wong hosted New Zealand Minister of Defence Hon Judith Collins KC MP and Minister of Foreign Affairs Rt Hon Winston Peters MP on 17 March in Canberra for the third Australia-New Zealand Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations (ANZMIN 2+2). Ministers also met separately for a Defence Ministers’ Meeting and Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
  2. Australian Ministers expressed gratitude for the sympathy shown by the people of New Zealand for the families and friends of the 15 people who tragically lost their lives in the horrific terrorist attack at Bondi Beach and affirmed their commitment to stamping out antisemitism in all of its forms.
  3. Ministers recognised that the trans-Tasman relationship is more important than ever given the fundamental shifts in the global geostrategic environment and the risks posed to our shared national interests. They reaffirmed Australia and New Zealand were fundamentally aligned and rising to the challenge of permanent strategic contest through closer cooperation and major strategic investments by both countries to strengthen the fabric of peace in our region.
  4. Ministers discussed the evolving situation in the Middle East and Iran’s long record as a destabilising force and a threat to international peace and security, including through its nuclear program, support for proxy groups, and brutal acts of violence against its own people and beyond its borders. Ministers condemned Iran’s reckless and indiscriminate attacks on countries in the region.  Ministers urged the protection of civilian life, resumption of dialogue and diplomacy and adherence to international law.

 Our Alliance 

  1. Ministers reaffirmed that our Alliance is the foundation of our foreign policy and defence partnership, and is built on trust, shared values and collective security. Our Alliance has a critical role in safeguarding both nations’ security, supporting stability in the Pacific, and advancing a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific where sovereignty is respected. Ministers highlighted the centrality of ANZMIN in setting the Alliance’s direction, and our shared commitment to using the full suite of statecraft tools to respond to intensifying global competition and a deteriorating strategic environment, both individually and together. Ministers welcomed the 75th Anniversary of the ANZUS Treaty, which underpins our formal commitments for the Australia-New Zealand Alliance.
  2. Ministers welcomed the “Anzac 2035: Operationalising the Alliance” Joint Statement, issued today by Deputy Prime Minister Marles and Minister Collins KC, which sets out the Defence Ministers’ vision for our defence Alliance over the next ten years. It focuses on enhancing interoperability, including through collaborating on defence industry, preparedness and resilience, combined operations and exercises, and force posture, so we are increasingly ready to combine as an integrated Anzac force to deter, counter and respond to shared threats.

 Partnering in the Pacific

  1. Ministers recognised the peace, stability and prosperity of all countries and territories in the Pacific are interconnected. They reaffirmed their commitment to working in partnership with fellow Pacific countries and to supporting Pacific‑led regional architecture, with the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) at the heart of Pacific regionalism. Ministers committed to support Palau’s hosting of the PIF Leaders’ Meeting in 2026 and welcomed New Zealand’s hosting in 2027.
  2. As fellow founding members of the PIF, Ministers recognised Australia and New Zealand’s roles in contributing to a stronger Pacific family, upholding common values and norms. They underscored the importance of supporting the PIF Chair and the principle of engaging on issues through talanoa. Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the Pacific’s priorities set out in Pacific Leaders’ 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and its Implementation Plan, as well as to the Blue Pacific being an Ocean of Peace. They called on the international community to engage in the Pacific in ways that respect and strengthen regional norms and institutions, and respond to Pacific-led approaches to peace and security.
  3. Ministers highlighted the Revitalised Pacific Leaders’ Gender Equality Declaration to accelerate gender equality and social inclusion in the Pacific and noted the growing challenge of maintaining hard‑won gains and sustaining momentum, including in addressing gender-based violence. Ministers agreed that continued, appropriately supported and well‑coordinated efforts on gender equality, social inclusion and human rights will help achieve the vision for a resilient, peaceful, prosperous and stable Pacific Region.
  4. Ministers emphasised that climate change remains the single greatest threat to Pacific countries. COP31 presents an opportunity to deliver genuine progress towards keeping warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C. This comes at a critical time in this decisive decade for climate action.  Ministers noted Australia and New Zealand would continue supporting Pacific priorities and amplifying Pacific voices globally, including to enhance access to climate finance, and elevate the ocean-climate nexus. They reaffirmed the Pacific Pre-COP and Special Leaders’ event to be held in Fiji and Tuvalu in October 2026 as cornerstone opportunities to support these priorities. Ministers reiterated support for the Pacific Resilience Facility as a Pacific-led solution with global benefit as a model, to which Australia and New Zealand had pledged significant contributions, and encouraged further pledges at the special climate finance session for small island developing states at COP31.   
  5. Ministers acknowledged the impact of transnational organised crime on Australia, New Zealand and throughout our Pacific neighbourhood, and agreed that combatting transnational organised crime, including drug trafficking to and through the Pacific, is a shared challenge and an urgent priority. Ministers committed to using defence and foreign affairs resources, where appropriate, to support efforts to combat transnational organised crime. Ministers acknowledged the call from PIF Leaders for a coordinated regional response to transnational organised crime and agreed to work with Pacific partners to develop collective approaches, including for consideration at the Transnational Crime Summit to be held in Fiji in May 2026.
  6. Ministers acknowledged the value of our close coordination to maintain shared awareness of our maritime areas of interest and counter the risks posed both by concerning military vessel activity and the shipment of illicit drugs by sea.
  7. Ministers reaffirmed their enduring commitment to cooperating closely to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to the Pacific and to support Pacific-led responses in that regard. They commended the rapid establishment of the Pacific Response Group (PRG) through the South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM), as a regional asset to strengthen Pacific‑led responses to Pacific humanitarian and disaster response events and welcomed New Zealand’s forthcoming leadership as the host of the PRG headquarters after Australia. Ministers welcomed SPDMM’s direction to explore expanding the mandate of the PRG to cover wider Pacific security threats. They noted regional efforts to enhance Pacific-led responses to regional security challenges including through the scoping of a SPDMM Status of Forces Agreement, the Regional Operations Deployment Framework being scoped by the Joint Heads of Pacific Security and efforts to better coordinate regional defence and security architecture.
  8. Ministers welcomed the Political Declaration between New Zealand and Niue of 2025 and acknowledged New Zealand’s special constitutional relationships with the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau, which are part of the Realm of New Zealand. They recognised New Zealand’s responsibility for the defence and security of the Realm and the benefits that these relationships bring to New Zealand and to the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau.
  9. Ministers welcomed the signing of the historic Pukpuk Treaty between Papua New Guinea and Australia and the new Alliance in the region. They welcomed negotiations to finalise the Nakamal Agreement with Vanuatu and to elevate the Australia–Fiji Vuvale Partnership and the intention to establish the Kaume‘a ‘Ofi Partnership Agreement with Tonga.

  10.  These partnerships reflect a firm commitment to ensuring that the Pacific is in the driving seat to shape its future and that we are supporting each other in shared interests and challenges. 

Collaborating to address global challenges

  1. Ministers reaffirmed their enduring commitment to multilateralism and international law and to supporting UN and regional institutions. Challenges to the rules-based multilateral system called for strong partnerships in our region and beyond. Ministers agreed on the need for bold and effective reforms to achieve a UN system capable of better delivering on its core mandates. Ministers welcomed the adoption of a new Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, setting out practical actions for stronger accountability, safer access, and better protection for aid workers everywhere.  They affirmed the need for deeper bilateral engagement and with regional partners to support the full implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda, including promoting women’s full, equal, safe and meaningful participation and leadership across all levels of conflict prevention, and regional peace and security. Ministers announced their support for Australia’s and New Zealand’s respective United Nations Security Council candidacies in 2029-2030 and 2039-2040.
  2. Ministers discussed economic security and the importance of maintaining open and connected supply chains to facilitate the flow of fuels and goods.  Respect for the commitments we and our trading partners have made underpins our prosperity and resilience, and that of our region. Both countries remain committed to working together and with other trade partners to ensure that trade continues to flow unimpeded.
  3. Ministers committed to uphold and promote the Antarctic Treaty System rules and norms that keep this part of our region peaceful and free from conflict, cooperative and protected, and dedicated to scientific research. They agreed officials would strengthen cooperation through an annual strategic dialogue.
  4. Ministers reaffirmed their support for ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN-led regional architecture, and highlighted ASEAN’s central role in shaping a peaceful, stable and prosperous region. As Comprehensive Strategic Partners of ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand reiterated their commitment to building upon longstanding ties with our region by deepening economic engagement. Ministers welcomed progress implementing Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 and New Zealand’s increased focus on Southeast Asia as part of its Foreign Policy Reset.  Ministers committed to continue working together on shared priorities under regional free trade agreements.
  5. Ministers emphasised the need for strategic competition to be managed responsibly and welcomed continued dialogue between the United States and China. They acknowledged our collective agency and shared responsibility for the stability of our region. They reaffirmed the need to promote open channels of communication, transparency and practical measures to reduce the risks of misunderstanding, miscalculation, escalation and conflict.
  6. Ministers reiterated concerns about the intensification of destabilising activities and instances of unsafe and unprofessional behaviour by China in the South China Sea. They reiterated all countries must adhere to international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and maritime disputes must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law. They recalled the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award is final and binding on the parties. Ministers affirmed their shared commitment to promoting regional stability and security and to working with partners to build capability and strengthen interoperability, including through Multilateral Maritime Cooperation Activities. They also reiterated their concern about the situation in the East China Sea and unsafe and unprofessional conduct in the sea and air.  
  7.  Ministers reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, opposing any unilateral action to change the status quo and encouraging dialogue rather than resorting to coercion or the use of force. They also reiterated their will to continue deepening relations with Taiwan in the economic, trade, and cultural fields as well as enhancing development coordination in the Pacific.
  8. Ministers reiterated their grave concerns about human rights violations in Xinjiang. They expressed deep concerns about the erosion of religious, cultural, educational and linguistic rights and freedoms in Tibet. They shared deep concern over the erosion of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong, including the actions of Hong Kong authorities in targeting pro-democracy activists both within Hong Kong and overseas.
  9. Ministers reiterated continued investment in the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA). The FPDA remained an indispensable anchor for regional security as the only multilateral security arrangement of its kind in Southeast Asia.
  10. Ministers reaffirmed the importance of our relationships with global security partners, such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), including through cooperation as Indo-Pacific partners of NATO.  Ministers agreed that the Five Eyes partnership remained vital to our shared security architecture.
  11. Ministers unequivocally condemned Russia’s illegal and unprovoked full‑scale invasion of Ukraine. They condemned the ongoing deployment of troops and transfer of military material from the DPRK to Russia, which supports the continued conflict. As active participants of the Coalition of the Willing discussions, Ministers welcomed the efforts of the United States of America, European countries and others aimed at ending the war, in line with international law. Ministers again urge Russia to end its war of aggression and engage in good faith with Ukraine on a ceasefire and peace deal. Ministers called on all those with influence on Russia, particularly China, to exert it now to end the war.
  12. Ministers urged all parties to uphold the terms of the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict and agreed Australia and New Zealand, together with our partners, would continue to do what we can to contribute to a just and enduring two-state solution. Ministers expressed deep concern over Israel’s actions that undermine the path to peace, including the expansion of settlements and control over the West Bank, increasing settler violence against Palestinians, and restrictions on INGOs that impede their humanitarian operations.
  13. Ministers strongly condemned the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and its malicious cyber activities used to evade sanctions and fund these programs, and urged compliance with UNSC resolutions. 
  14. Ministers reiterated their grave concerns about the political and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar and the military regime’s airstrikes against civilians and civilian infrastructure. Ministers noted that recent elections did not meet the conditions of a free, fair and inclusive process. Ministers reiterated their calls for a cessation of violence, the release of those unjustly detained, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and inclusive dialogue. Ministers confirmed their countries stand ready to support genuine efforts to alleviate humanitarian suffering, improve economic and social conditions and advance a sustainable resolution to the ongoing crisis in Myanmar. Ministers reaffirmed their full support for ASEAN’s central role in resolving the crisis and called again for the full implementation of the Five-Point Consensus.
  15. New Zealand looks forward to hosting the next ANZMIN 2+2 in 2027.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/17/joint-statement-australia-new-zealand-foreign-and-defence-ministerial-consultations-22/

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CARSOME Raises Over USD 30 Million in a Strategic Fundraising Round

Source: Media Outreach

PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 March 2026 – CARSOME Group Inc (CARSOME or the Group), Southeast Asia’s largest integrated car e-commerce platform, today announced a strategic investment round of more than USD 30 million from a set of new and existing investors including the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited (HKIC), Gobi Partners, and Asia Partners. This fundraise underscores the investors’ confidence in CARSOME’s journey to profitability and long-term vision across the region, as demonstrated by the recent record FY25 results. These funds will further accelerate its profitable growth in the region for the coming years.

CARSOME Group Inc (CARSOME or the Group), Southeast Asia’s largest integrated car e-commerce platform, today announced a strategic investment round of more than USD 30 million from a set of new and existing investors including the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited (HKIC), Gobi Partners, and Asia Partners.

This investment and partnership reflect a shared ambition to strengthen connections between Southeast Asia and Greater China, leveraging Hong Kong’s role as a regional gateway for advanced automotive capabilities, technology development, and global talent. With the support from the HKIC, CARSOME will drive initiatives across areas such as supply chain sourcing and technology collaboration, accelerating the application of data and artificial intelligence (AI) in the automotive sector, which further empowers CARSOME for its regional expansion.

“CARSOME has spent the last several years focused on building a resilient, profitable business with strong fundamentals,” said Eric Cheng, CARSOME Group Co-founder and CEO. “This strategic collaboration and fundraise is a vote of confidence in our continued momentum and long-term vision. This partnership gives us crucial access to innovation capabilities, cross-border networks, and world-class talent that will support our work in AI, data, and next-generation mobility services across Southeast Asia.”

Clara Chan, Chief Executive Officer of the HKIC, said, “We are pleased to support CARSOME as part of our continued effort to harness technology to drive industry transformation, contributing to Hong Kong’s long-term economic development and resilience. With Hong Kong’s unique position as a gateway connecting global innovation and investment opportunities, CARSOME exemplifies the type of high-conviction, technology-driven enterprise that aligns with the HKIC’s mandate to foster scalable innovation across our strategic sectors. We look forward to supporting forward-thinking companies like CARSOME in creating tangible value for the future of Hong Kong.”

Chibo Tang, Managing Partner of Gobi Partners, said, “CARSOME is a leading example of how Southeast Asian startups are well-positioned to create close ties with partners in Greater China, leveraging each region’s unique strengths. We are pleased to be a returning investor in CARSOME, having supported them for almost a decade. Gobi was an early believer in CARSOME’s ability to scale across international borders, and we are happy to see their early potential come to fruition as they reimagine the way consumers across Asia purchase vehicles.”

http://www.carsome.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/carsome/

Hashtag: #CARSOME

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/2026/03/17/carsome-raises-over-usd-30-million-in-a-strategic-fundraising-round/

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Operation Celtic: Police continue to investigate death of Abdulhassan Nabizadah

Source: New Zealand Police

Attributable to Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Leitch, Wellington Area Investigations Manager:

Police continue to investigate the death of Abdulhassan Nabizadah, a year on from when he was critically injured on Camperdown Road, Miramar.

Mr Nabizadah was assaulted and robbed around 12.30am on 17 March 2025, in what Police believe was part of a premeditated attack.

The offenders, who stole nothing more than his car keys, then callously left him bleeding and unconscious on the footpath.

No one has yet been held responsible for his killing, and police are committed to continue their pursuit of justice for the Nabizadah family.

The investigation team has gathered a significant amount of information and believe they know who is involved.

We know the people responsible will have talked about the death with friends and family.

We ask those people tell us what they have heard. Any information, no matter how small may make the difference for investigators.

Mr Nabizadah has been described as a gentle, caring man, and his family continue to grieve their loss of him. It is not too late to provide Mr Nabizadah’s family with answers – if you know something, we encourage you to speak with us.

If you have any information that could assist the Operation Celtic investigation team, please get in touch with us online through 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update Report” or by calling 105.

Please use the reference number 250317/6324, or reference Operation Celtic.

ENDS 

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/17/operation-celtic-police-continue-to-investigate-death-of-abdulhassan-nabizadah/

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‘Emergency package’ could help low income families amid financial crisis, economist says

Source: Radio New Zealand

Unsplash / Emil Kalibradov

The war in the Middle East could see inflation in New Zealand hit 3.7 percent in a worst case scenario, Finance Minister Nicola Willis revealed on Tuesday.

Willis said the government was focused on mitigating the impact of the war on critical supply chains and the New Zealand economy.

The cost of filling the petrol tank of an average car had gone up about $23 and about $36 for diesel, she said.

Willis said that the government was aware of the pressure that could put on some households, but warned if there was to be any assistance, it would be very specific.

University of Auckland associate professor of economics Susan St John told Checkpoint New Zealand was already in a “crisis” and low income families were likely most affected.

She said it was about time that “something significant” was done.

“An emergency package could be developed, much like John Key did in 2008 in the global financial crisis,” she said.

“But a package that gets that money directly into the lowest of income families.”

Susan St John. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

One way to do that is to pay them the full amount of working for families that they currently do not get, St John said.

St John said they missed out on about $100 a week.

“It could be temporary, as was John Key’s policy in 2008 for 16 weeks and be extended if more time was needed,” she said.

“But that would be very focused and go to the very lowest families, the ones that miss out on the full package, the ones who are on benefits, all part benefits, including about 250,000 of the poorest children.”

If you gave the full working for families package, it would mean nearly $100 extra a week, she said.

She said there was a lot of flexibility.

“The beauty of it is that it’s so highly targeted, which is what the minister wants and it’s not the only thing that should be done.

“Because those families who are getting the full package, the working low income families also need help.”

St John said the government would have provide payments without expecting to make cuts elsewhere.

“They’ve already cut far too much out of people on low incomes and so it can’t be found by making their lives any more miserable in other ways,” she said.

“There are different ways if you do want to do something really significant for families and make it stick and that might involve creaming a little bit off the top end of New Zealand Super and redistributing that back through the programs that need it in the social security budget.”

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/17/emergency-package-could-help-low-income-families-amid-financial-crisis-economist-says/

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Scenic Group Expands the Singapore based APAC Team to Drive Regional Growth

Source: Media Outreach

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 March 2026 – Scenic Group today announced the expansion of the dedicated Asia Pacific (APAC) team based in Singapore, operating as Scenic Tours APAC Pte. Ltd. This significant commitment reinforces the company’s continued global expansion strategy and long-term commitment to growth across the APAC region.

From left to right: Lim Yee Sher, Ally Grueter, Quoc Huy To, Anthony Laver, Dominic Tan, Sophia Lam. Jessie Tan

The Singapore office represents an important part of Scenic Group’s strategy, to capitalize on the increasing demand from high-net-worth individuals and the rapidly growing luxury cruising segments across the key Asia Pacific markets. This will build on the strong foundations form its established businesses in Australia, New Zealand, United States, United Kingdom, Canada and EMEA.

The APAC team is led by Mr. Anthony Laver, Scenic Group, General Manager Sales & Marketing, APAC (based in Sydney, Australia), alongside the founding members:

  • Mr. Quoc Huy To– Director of Finance Asia (Singapore & Vietnam offices)

E-mail: Quochuy.to@scenic.com.sg

  • Ms. Lim Yee Sher– Marketing & Partner Services Manager APAC (Singapore office)

E-mail: yeesher.lim@scenic.com.sg

  • Ms. Ally Grueter– Senior Sales Manager, Charters & Partnerships APAC (based in Zug, Switzerland)

E-mail: Ally.Grueter@scenic.eu

Further strengthening the team, Mr. Dominic Tan – Regional Sales and Marketing Manager, APAC (E-mail: dominic.tan@scenic.com.sg) joins Scenic Group, coming from Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. He brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across APAC travel markets, including senior roles within travel agencies and travel technology sectors. Also joining the team are:

Sophia and Jessie are very experienced sales and marketing professionals, bringing strong corporate and MICE expertise, with previous roles at Royal Caribbean Group and luxury travel organizations, including Resorts World Sentosa and Chan Brothers Travel.

Anthony Laver, General Manager, Sales & Marketing, APAC said, “To support the strong demand for Luxury Scenic & Emerald, Ocean and River Cruises, together with the significant growth in joint programs with our valued travel partners, Scenic Group has expanded the Asia Pacific regional team. We are delighted to have created such a highly experienced and professional team of travel experts. They will continue to build our Charters, Groups, MICE and F.I.T business opportunities with Travel Partners and their Clients, in all the key markets across the region.”

Collectively, the team brings more than 60 years of combined industry expertise across luxury travel, including cruise, land journeys and travel partnership development. With a rapidly expanding fleet of luxury ocean yachts and award-winning river cruise ships, plus curated land journeys and extensions, Scenic Group continues to invest in dedicated marketing resources, cruise ship capacity and joint partnerships – demonstrating its commitment to delivering high quality business services and guest experiences.

Hashtag: #sceniccruises #emeraldcuises

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/2026/03/16/scenic-group-expands-the-singapore-based-apac-team-to-drive-regional-growth/

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Government’s failure to provide any relief for fuel crisis

Source: Green Party

Finance Minister Nicola Willis today announced no new support for families hit by the fuel crisis.

“Nicola Willis pulled together a press conference to announce that there is no new support on the way for families, despite it costing $23 more than normal to fill an average petrol car and $36 more to fill a diesel vehicle,” says Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson.

“Governments across the world are taking steps to support their citizens while our government has no answers on providing relief to everyday New Zealanders.

“They instead ask you to tighten your belts even more.

“People are facing huge price increases, and the Finance Minister has said ‘I have not taken recommendations to Cabinet and I have not considered specific responses.’

“Many people are already struggling with the daily cost of living. Instead of coming with a plan to alleviate hardship, the Finance Minister has nothing on the table to give the support that is needed.

“New Zealanders are looking for a plan. They want to understand what will happen and when as the fuel crisis intensifies. Willis has nothing to give them. 

“This crisis has also exposed a deeper failure in the Government’s long-term planning.

“They cancelled the Clean Car Discount, weakened the Clean Car Standard, hiked public transport fares and are locking in further exposure to volatile fossil fuel prices with their LNG terminal.”

“We need real actions that help regular people hurting from these price increases, and a serious plan to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels so the next crisis does not hit families just as hard,” says Davidson.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/16/governments-failure-to-provide-any-relief-for-fuel-crisis/

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PSA – Help us now – 23,000 home support workers hit by petrol price hikes urge Govt. to act

Source: PSA

The PSA is urging Finance Minister Nicola Willis to walk the talk and deliver support for a key group of hard working New Zealanders struggling with rising fuel costs from the Iran war – 23,000 home support workers.
The Finance Minister today said the Government was considering targeted, timely and temporary options for low income New Zealanders facing increased fuel costs triggered by the Iran war.
“There are 23,000 home support workers on low wages who look after our most vulnerable people – the elderly, disabled and injured – every single day who need help urgently, right now. They deserve better than being left to foot the bill,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
Workers like Pam McLaren from Blenheim are feeling the squeeze on her budget as petrol prices rise. “I’ve done the calculations, it’s going to cost me $75.66 more per week to run my vehicle. I don’t know where that money’s meant to come from. It’s ending up costing a lot to go to work, and it’s not like I can ride a bike between clients, the distance is too far.”
Fleur Fitzsimons: “If the Government is serious about relieving cost of living pressures in a targeted way, then it must follow through on today’s promise and make it a priority to compensate them for rising fuel bills. It’s the right thing to do.”
Home support workers drive their own cars between clients, caring for the elderly, disabled and injured every day, but are being reimbursed at just 63.5 cents per kilometre, well below the IRD rate, and less than half of the travel costs they face.
“These workers were already being undercompensated before the fuel crisis. They are also disadvantaged by the Government’s scrapping of a pay equity pay rise last year. They cannot afford to subsidise the cost of delivering essential government-funded services.”
Travel costs for home support workers are governed by the In Between Travel Settlement Act, introduced under a National-led Government in 2015. There have been only two increases to the mileage rate in a decade, the last one was four years ago.
“It’s well past time for an urgent review,” said Fleur Fitzsimons.
“Funding for home support already flows through MSD and the Ministry of Health. An increase to the mileage rate can be delivered quickly and efficiently through existing channels. There is no excuse for delay.”
The PSA will be raising this issue urgently with the Government.
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/16/psa-help-us-now-23000-home-support-workers-hit-by-petrol-price-hikes-urge-govt-to-act/

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Man charged with murder of Gisborne father who was shot dead in September

Source: Radio New Zealand

The arrested men will appear in court later this month, say police. RNZ / Angus Dreaver

Two men have been charged with the murder of a Gisborne father of four who was shot and killed last year.

Bill Maangi died in hospital after being shot at an address on Ormond Road in the early hours of 29 September.

Four people were arrested in December and charged with aggravated robbery, as well as firearm and drug related charges.

Gisborne police confirmed on Monday that two of those arrested people were now facing further charges.

A 25-year-old man has been charged with the murder of Maangi, and a 28-year-old man has been charged with party to murder.

Both men are due to appear in Gisborne District Court on 27 March.

Eastern District Criminal Investigations manager Detective Inspector Marty James thanked members of the public who responded to police appeals and assisted with “necessary information”.

“While this does not change the devastating loss that Mr Maangi’s family are coping with, I hope that holding these people to account will bring them some sort of closure,” Detective Inspector James says.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/16/man-charged-with-murder-of-gisborne-father-who-was-shot-dead-in-september/

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Update: Men charged in relation to murder of Bill Maangi

Source: New Zealand Police

Gisborne Police have charged two men in relation to the murder of Bill Maangi late last year.

Mr Maangi died in hospital after being shot in the early hours of 29 September 2025, at an address on Ormond Road. Between 9 December and 11 December 2025, Police arrested four people in relation to the homicide.

Police have now laid further charges against two of those people. A 25-year-old man has been charged with the murder of Mr Maangi, and a 28-year-old man has been charged with party to murder.

Eastern District Criminal Investigations Manager Detective Inspector Marty James extends his appreciation to all those involved in the investigation.

“I commend the team for all their hard work throughout this investigation and would also like to thank the public who responded to our appeals and assisted with necessary information.

“While this does not change the devastating loss that Mr Maangi’s family are coping with, I hope that holding these people to account will bring them some sort of closure,” Detective Inspector James says.

Both men are due to appear in Gisborne District Court on 27 March. 

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/16/update-men-charged-in-relation-to-murder-of-bill-maangi/

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‘No need to panic’, fuel supplier says as average petrol price surges past $3

Source: Radio New Zealand

Finance Minister Nicola Willis. Nick Monro

Drivers are being urged not to panic-buy fuel as motorists worry about rising prices.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Nicola Willis stands by her government’s decision to stop the electric car rebate scheme, as she looks at how the government could respond to rising prices.

Petrol stations across the country are seeing a surge of drivers filling up as petrol prices rise.

Petrol price monitoring app Gaspy says the average price of 91 petrol is now above $3 and has risen 20 percent since the start of the month.

Spokesperson Mike Newton said the average national price at the start of March was about $2.50 per litre.

He said it had been rising quickly.

Petrol has tipped over the $3 a litre mark in some areas. RNZ / Dan Cook

The rise in prices was largely due to the conflict in the Middle East.

US President Donald Trump is calling for countries to send ships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, which is effectively closed as Iran launches attacks to halt maritime traffic.

The area is critical because around 20 percent of the world’s oil consumption or 20 million barrels a day, usually passes through it.

It’s resulted in several petrol stations running dry over the weekend.

Newton said most of the petrol stations running low on gas seemed to be Gull.

“It’s not a supply problem, they have plenty of fuel in the tanks. It’s just they have to get it into the tankers and get it to the stations. Hopefully we’ll start to see that be alleviated in the next couple of days.”

He said the average price was now just 6c away from the level it reached when the Government cut the fuel excise tax, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“We’re starting to get into that territory and this government has said they’re less interested in doing that… so it’ll be interesting to see when the pressure starts to build.”

Finance Minister Nicola Willis told Morning Report the government was carefully monitoring fuel stock levels.

New Zealand has around 32 days’ worth of fuel in the country and 25 days in ships on the way to the country.

“There is no current issue with the availability of fuel,” Willis said. “Were that to be the case, we would get very good forewarning because we would be aware of fuel companies reporting to us that orders had been disrupted or cancelled. They have not made any reports of that sort to us at this stage.

If we got that warning, Willis said we would have several weeks to plan for it.

“This is why we have these minimum stock holdings in the country, so we don’t get ourselves into a panic situation.”

She said the government hasn’t needed to review its sanctions on Russian-origin oil.

“This is, obviously, an event that is unfolding; if there are changes in that position, we will review them when they occur.”

Demand at Waitomo petrol stations has increased by 15 percent. RNZ/Nikki Mandow

Waitomo CEO Simon Parham said demand at the company’s petrol station has increased by about 15 percent.

“We’ve had the odd run out from here and there, but it’s really been for a maximum of 30 minutes,” he told Morning Report.

“What we are seeing is that increase in demand, coupled with a very stressed driver system, anything from a delay at the terminal to a truck breaking down, it’s just caused that slight delay in he system, so you have a slight run out.

“There’s nothing to worry about.”

He expects to see the demand soften.

“We’re still in good shape… There’s no need to panic. Yes, we are suffering from high prices, which is tough on everyone, but there is no need to panic at the moment.”

He said if the cargo orders can’t be placed, that’s when New Zealand may need to look at managing stock.

“If we are staying around that 50-day mark, that’s a rolling 50 days, then we’re fine. If we start to see that drop back, then that’s when we have to manage stock,” Parham said.

Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold said next month will be very difficult if things don’t improve.

“The refiners in Asia are going to run out of feed stocks to be able to continue to produce at the levels we are used to,” he said.

“I think if we are sitting here in mid-April and things haven’t improved, I think we will be looking at the possibility that everybody is just going to have to rein things in a bit.”

Brent crude has been sitting around US$100 a barrel, but if it reaches US$150 a barrel, Eckhold said that’s when the real damaging impacts on businesses and consumers would be seen.

Finance Minister considering govt response to rising prices

Willis has shut down suggestions of temporarily cutting the fuel excise tax, as the Labour government previously did in response to the Russia-Ukraine war, saying it was too broad.

She said she was closely looking at the cost of living impacts the rise in fuel prices has on lower-income working New Zealanders.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis said the government was carefully monitoring fuel stock levels. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

“When the petrol prices go up this much, that has an effect on the cost of living, particularly for working New Zealanders who use their cars to get to work. We are very conscious of that and are considering whether a government response is warranted,” Willis said.

Willis stands by her government’s decision to remove the electric vehicle rebate.

She said the rebate was very untargetted.

“I simply don’t accept the idea that giving subsudies to millionaires in Remuera would help those afflicted by high petrol prices,” Willis said.

She said if the government were to give support, it would be targeted, temporary and timely.

Willis said she has not taken advice to Cabinet yet on these matters.

The owner of a bus company said more people could opt for public transport over private vehicles.

Kiwi Coaches owner Dayton Howie told Morning Report petrol price rises were cutting into margins.

He said the costs were currently being absorbed, but it was unclear how long that could last.

Howie said students could miss out on school trips if fuel prices keep going up.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/16/no-need-to-panic-fuel-supplier-says-as-average-petrol-price-surges-past-3/

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GrabForGood Fund Increases Commitment to US$3.2 Million for 2026 to Education and Community Resilience Programmes across Southeast Asia

Source: Media Outreach

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 March 2026 – Grab, a leading super app in Southeast Asia, today announced a US$3.2 million commitment for 2026 from the GrabForGood Fund, an endowment dedicated to supporting its partners and the community-at-large. This latest allocation will fund programmes across Southeast Asia to support the Fund’s three core pillars: Education, Community Care, and Disaster Relief.

Đặng Phương Ngân, one of Vietnam’s first GrabScholar recipients in 2025

The 2026 roadmap includes the flagship GrabScholar programme, which provides bursaries for underprivileged school-going children and full-ride merit scholarships for students with demonstrated financial need and strong academic potential, as well as health and meal nutrition programmes for schools.

The GrabForGood Fund was established by Grab to ensure the company’s success is directly shared with the communities it serves. This commitment was anchored by a personal contribution of over US$16 million from Grab’s Group CEO and Co-Founder, Anthony Tan, as a marker of leadership accountability to the Fund’s long-term mission, as well as additional contributions from other individual and organisational donors.

“We started the GrabForGood Fund to provide a foundation for people across Southeast Asia to build the future they want for themselves. I’ve seen first-hand the incredible resilience of our partners and our communities, yet there can be systemic barriers that are hard to overcome alone. In 2026, we aim for these programmes to be the stepping stones to better opportunities – whether by ensuring a child has a nutritious meal to focus in class, or providing a student with a full scholarship to reach university and create new possibilities for their family’s future,” said Anthony Tan, Group CEO and Co-Founder of Grab.

2025 Programme Highlights

The 2026 commitment builds on a year of significant momentum. In 2025, the GrabForGood Fund disbursed more than US$2 million, directly supporting over 3,600 students in the GrabScholar programme across Southeast Asia with bursaries and full-ride merit scholarships. The Fund also backed a suite of community initiatives to support caregiving networks, address school nutrition to improve educational outcomes, and foster learning and innovation development across Southeast Asia.

Since its inception in 2022, the GrabScholar programme has supported 8,238 students across Southeast Asia, including driver- and merchant-partners and their immediate family members, as well as members of the public. In 2025 alone, 3,486 school-going children received GrabScholar bursaries, and 117 university students were awarded full-ride merit scholarships. The programme expanded to Thailand and Vietnam last year, and is also available in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Đặng Phương Ngân is one of Vietnam’s first GrabScholar recipients in 2025, and she is pursuing Finance at the University of Economics HCMC. Her father is a Grab driver-partner and her mother is a factory cleaner. Ngân said, “Becoming a GrabScholar feels like coming full circle. My father driving with Grab opened the first door for our family. Grab now supports my education, and I hope to use it not only to build a career in finance, but to create a foundation that allows me to give back to others who are still waiting for their chance.”

In the Philippines, Rise Against Hunger Philippines launched the Dietary Supplementation Programme, with support from the GrabForGood Fund. This initiative will provide daily rice-soy meals to over 2,600 children to improve their nutrition and create a healthy learning environment.

Additional Community Initiatives

Beyond the GrabForGood Fund, Grab runs several long-standing community programmes as part of its triple bottom line commitment to deliver financial performance, while driving social impact and environmental sustainability.

In Singapore, Grab offers the Emerald Circle Scholarships, a bond-free award for children of eligible driver- and delivery-partners to study at local universities, alongside various student bursaries.

To support partner earnings and resilience, GrabAcademy provides continuous training and skills development to help driver-partners improve their earning potential. In 2025, more than 1.5 million driver-partners completed at least one GrabAcademy course. In addition, Grab runs programmes such as the Grab Women Drivers’ Programme and GrabAccess for persons with disabilities to reduce barriers to earning opportunities for the underrepresented on the platform.

There were also 17 environmental projects supported in 2025 to support local conservation, and empower consumers to make sustainable choices. This is facilitated by Grab’s in-app Green Programme feature that channels consumer contributions towards independently verified environmental projects across Southeast Asia, supporting climate action, nature conservation, and community resilience.

Hashtag: #Grab, #GrabForGood #GrabScholar #SocialGood #CommunityImpact

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/13/grabforgood-fund-increases-commitment-to-us3-2-million-for-2026-to-education-and-community-resilience-programmes-across-southeast-asia/

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Bridge Data Centres Plans Major Investment with Global Partners to Strengthen Singapore’s Position as Asia Pacific’s Leading AI Hub

Source: Media Outreach

  • Strategic Investment of S$3-5 billion in Singapore to advance AI-ready data centre developments, supporting over 2 GW of AI-ready capacity globally, and driving technological innovation with international ecosystem partners.
  • First-mover advantage as one of Asia Pacific’s top three hyperscale data centre developers, with proven track record delivering large-scale campus developments in Malaysia, Thailand and India, supporting regional AI and cloud demand.
  • Pioneering sustainable energy solutions, including Singapore’s first floating hydrogen power generation model leveraging the nation’s strengths in maritime transport, port infrastructure and global energy supply chains and research into nuclear energy as a future clean power source for data centres.
  • Building an integrated innovation ecosystem in Singapore through partnerships with universities, research institutions and global technology companies, while supporting job creation and talent development initiatives for around 3,000 students and professionals.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 12 March 2026 – Bridge Data Centres (BDC), a Singapore-headquartered digital infrastructure platform backed by Bain Capital, has announced ambitious plans to invest S$3-5 billion in Singapore to advance next-generation digital infrastructure and strengthen the country’s position as a leading AI and cloud hub in Asia Pacific.

BDC had announced its new strategic brand identity in early 2026 that reflects the Company’s position of being a leading hyperscale and AI-infrastructure builder with a growing network of mega-campus developments in Asia Pacific. With close to a decade of experience developing high quality data centres, BDC’s new brand identity reflects BDC’s reputation as platform built on disciplined execution, certainty of delivery, and the ability to scale with customers.

As AI and high-density workloads accelerate across Asia Pacific, customers are looking for partners who can offer world-class capabilities and local agility, provide bespoke solutions at scale, and deliver and operate with a proven track record.

With Singapore serving as its global headquarters, BDC is uniquely positioned to support hyperscale customers and global technology companies seeking high-performance, sustainable and scalable data centre platforms across Asia Pacific, while enabling global technology companies to establish and expand their presence in Singapore as they develop AI and digital capabilities in the region.

Over the past decade, BDC has established itself as one of Asia Pacific’s leading digital infrastructure developers and operators. The Company currently operates and develops hyperscale campuses across Malaysia, Thailand and India.

Building on strong relationships with global hyperscale customers and ecosystem partners, BDC is on track to expand its regional capacity to approximately 2 GW by 2030.

By deepening its investments in Singapore, BDC aims to support customers seeking world-class digital infrastructure expertise, strong technology partnerships and integrated energy solutions that enable the sustainable growth of AI workloads.

First-mover advantage

BDC is among the first data centre developers to foray into Malaysia, where the Company has several large-scale data centre campuses – both operational and under development.

BDC’s flagship MY06 campus is the Company’s first project in Johor, as well as the state’s first hyperscale data centre development. In addition, BDC is the first data centre developer in Southeast Asia to adopt a build-to-suit (BTS) model for hyperscale data centre construction. BDC was also among the first hyperscale operators in the region to deploy advanced liquid cooling technologies at scale, including cold plate liquid cooling, to support high-density and AI-driven workloads. BDC’s suite of sustainability initiatives at MY06 enabled the facility to achieve an annualised Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of below 1.2.

BDC is also the first in Southeast Asia to incorporate Prefabricated, Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC) construction, an innovative method that assembles large building sections off site. This enabled BDC to complete MY06 within eight months, which is 40 per cent faster than traditional methods, while reducing on-site dust, waste and noise. This strategy is one of BDC’s key competitive advantages to support the growing needs of hyperscale customers in the region, including Singapore, who need to rapidly scale to meet increasing demand for more capacity to power AI-workloads.

BDC has built Malaysia’s first large-scale Water Treatment Plant (WTP) to treat effluent and convert it into high grade effluent water to cool its upcoming 400MW campus in Ulu Tiram, Johor. The WTP applies advanced Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) and Reverse Osmosis (RO) technologies to deliver superior water recovery and quality. Since commencing operations in 2025, the WTP has been significantly reducing reliance on potable water. It further strengthens the long-term resilience of BDC’s operations and supports Johor’s broader environmental agenda.

The WTP has also attracted interest from regional public agencies. In 2025, BDC hosted a technical visit by representatives from PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency, who were presented with an overview of the plant’s design and its use of advanced membrane technologies for sustainable water reuse in data centre operations.

BDC’s MY-06 Campus (Building 1) has achieved Singapore’s BCA Green Mark Platinum Award granted under the BCA-IMDA Green Mark International for Data Centres 2024 (GMDC: 2024) framework. The BCA Green Mark Award recognises developers, building owners and individuals who have made outstanding achievements in environmental sustainability in the built environment. BDC is the first data centre operator to achieve this recognition for a facility based outside of Singapore. Beyond project certification, BDC has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with BCA International (BCAI) to support the international adoption of Singapore’s Green Mark standards in global data centre developments. Through this partnership, BDC will promote Singapore’s sustainable building standards globally while reinforcing the country’s position as a leading AI and green digital infrastructure hub in the region.

These capabilities are aligned with Singapore’s Green Data Centre (DC) Roadmap, which emphasises energy efficiency, sustainable resource use and the integration of green energy to support the growth of digital infrastructure. BDC’s experience in delivering high-efficiency campuses positions it well to contribute to these objectives through practical, deployable solutions.

Pioneering energy solutions

As AI workloads drive the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure, energy resilience, data security and sustainability are becoming increasingly important. BDC is advancing a range of initiatives to explore alternative energy pathways and strengthen long-term power strategies.

A key collaboration is with Concord New Energy (CNE), where the partners are jointly developing Singapore’s first floating hydrogen power generation solution tailored for next-generation AI digital infrastructure, marking a significant milestone in advancing low-carbon energy pathways for the data centre sector.

BDC and CNE will also collaborate with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) to support the development of Singapore’s hydrogen ecosystem, accelerating research, engineering and the deployment of scalable clean energy technologies for digital infrastructure applications.

In addition, BDC is working with Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research Institute of High Performance Computing (A*STAR IHPC) and HY to evaluate the potential of nuclear energy as a long-term clean power source for data centres.

BDC’s alliance with A*STAR IHPC and HY will leverage advanced modelling and engineering expertise to explore innovative low-carbon energy pathways that will support Singapore’s sustainable digital growth while reinforcing the nation’s position as a trusted global technology hub.

BDC has also established partnerships with global leaders in energy and energy storage technologies, including CATL, EcoCeres, SK Innovation. Through these collaborations, the partners will jointly explore the establishment of innovation and research platforms to advance the development and pilot deployment of clean energy solutions such as hydrogen and biomass energy, as well as next-generation energy storage technologies designed for tropical climates. These initiatives aim to enhance thermal management, improve safety performance and increase the power density of data centre energy storage systems.

These collaborations and pilot initiatives will also contribute to talent development and workforce capability building in Singapore’s digital infrastructure and energy sectors. Through joint research programmes, technology pilots and knowledge exchange with universities, research institutions and industry partners, BDC aims to support the development of specialised expertise in areas such as advanced energy systems, sustainable data centre design, and next-generation cooling and energy storage technologies.

The initiatives are also expected to create high-value job opportunities in Singapore, spanning engineering, energy systems research, digital infrastructure operations and advanced technology development. By nurturing local talent and strengthening cross-disciplinary capabilities, these efforts will help build a robust talent pipeline to support Singapore’s growing AI and digital infrastructure ecosystem.

These partnerships represent a strategic step in BDC’s long-term roadmap to diversify power sourcing pathways, enhance energy security, and future-proof its Singapore data centre portfolio amid evolving grid constraints and decarbonisation dynamics. They also reinforce Singapore’s position as a regional hub for AI-ready digital infrastructure, while supporting the nation’s broader ambitions in sustainable energy innovation and green economic growth. Furthermore, these advancements accelerate Singapore’s ambition to achieve its net zero emissions goal by 2050.

Advancing technology and ecosystem growth

BDC is also pushing the envelope in innovative and sustainable cooling solutions through collaborations with ecosystem technology partners such as Vertiv, Terahop and Teracule, which are subsidiaries of Zhongji Innolight, as well as Delta Electronics and Supermicro.

Many of these partners are established leaders in data centre cooling, power systems and high-performance computing infrastructure, and are active participants in the broader AI infrastructure ecosystem, working closely with leading chipmakers to support next-generation compute environments.

Through its collaboration with Teracule and Terahop, the subsidiaries of Zhongji Innolight, BDC is exploring opportunities to jointly develop next-generation liquid cooling modules and high-performance optical connectivity solutions tailored for AI data centre environments. By combining Innolight’s expertise in optical modules and high-speed interconnect technologies with BDC’s experience in hyperscale data centre design and operations, the partners aim to advance integrated solutions that enhance thermal efficiency, data transmission performance and system reliability for high-density AI workloads.

The collaboration will also explore the establishment of joint research and development initiatives in Singapore, bringing together industry, academia and research institutions to support innovation in AI infrastructure technologies. Through this industry–academia-research collaboration model, the partners aim to accelerate the development and commercialisation of advanced cooling and connectivity technologies while contributing to Singapore’s broader push to strengthen research, talent development and innovation within the digital infrastructure ecosystem.

Together, these alliances focus on the development of advanced liquid cooling architectures, high-density GPU cooling solutions, and energy-optimised HVAC systems designed to support increasingly compute-intensive workloads. These technologies are critical in enabling the efficient operation of AI infrastructure, particularly as rack densities and thermal loads continue to rise in next-generation data centre environments.

Driving regional connectivity

As a Singapore-headquartered digital infrastructure platform, BDC continues to strengthen Singapore’s position as a regional hub for digital infrastructure and AI-driven innovation. With its highly developed connectivity ecosystem, robust regulatory environment and strong international network links, Singapore plays a central role in enabling the growth of the digital economy across Asia Pacific.

In this context, Singapore serves as one of the primary regional hubs, supporting high-value and latency-sensitive digital services such as edge computing deployments, international data traffic management and regional digital service platforms.

To support the burgeoning demand for AI and cloud computing across the region, complementary infrastructure resources across Asia Pacific can help provide additional capacity for compute-intensive workloads, including AI inference, machine learning and large-scale data processing. This cross-border model enables Singapore to remain the connectivity and innovation anchor of the ASEAN digital ecosystem, while regional infrastructure supports the scaling of digital capacity.

BDC’s collaborations with ecosystem partners, including major telecommunications companies and global technology firms, also help expand connectivity networks beyond Asia Pacific, further reinforcing Singapore’s role as a key regional interconnection hub.

One such ecosystem partner is Zenlayer, a leading global edge cloud and connectivity provider with a well-established customer base across Asia Pacific, North America and Europe. Through this partnership, BDC continues to strengthen its regional and international network connectivity anchored in Singapore.

This expanded network reach supports low-latency cross-border digital infrastructure integration, enabling hyperscalers to scale efficiently across markets while leveraging Singapore as one of the core regional gateways for digital services.

Catalysing Singapore’s AI-driven digital growth

Looking ahead, BDC will continue to leverage its operating model as a glocal platform, combining regional scale with deep local execution capabilities to expand across Asia Pacific. The Company’s strategy focuses on connecting key economic corridors, developing high-density, utility-integrated campuses, and working with ecosystem partners to align digital infrastructure growth with evolving energy pathways.

Anchored in Singapore as its strategic regional hub, BDC’s investments and partnerships contribute to the development of a robust digital infrastructure ecosystem that supports AI-driven workloads and cross-border connectivity.

BDC is also adopting an industry–academia–research collaboration mode， bringing together industry partners, universities and research institutes to accelerate innovation in AI infrastructure, advanced cooling technologies and sustainable energy systems. This integrated approach supports the development of new technologies while nurturing local talent and strengthening Singapore’s innovation ecosystem.

BDC’s initiatives in hydrogen, low-carbon power solutions and energy storage further contribute to the growth of Singapore’s green economy, catalysing investment in sustainable energy infrastructure and support the transition towards lower-carbon digital operations.

BDC’s efforts support the creation of high-value jobs and the development of specialised technical expertise in Singapore, spanning engineering, digital infrastructure and advanced energy systems. In addition, BDC will work with universities, research institutes and industry partners to support talent development initiatives, including internships, training programmes and collaborative research opportunities, contributing to the development of a strong local talent pipeline for Singapore’s AI and digital infrastructure ecosystem.

Collectively, these contributions reinforce Singapore’s position as a leading AI and digital infrastructure hub in Asia Pacific, underpinned by resilient, efficient and sustainable infrastructure.

Hashtag: #BridgeDataCentres #Singapore

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/2026/03/12/bridge-data-centres-plans-major-investment-with-global-partners-to-strengthen-singapores-position-as-asia-pacifics-leading-ai-hub/

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The Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report 2026: Global art sales rose 4% to USD 59.6 billion in 2025

Source: Media Outreach

The global art market returned to growth in 2025, led by renewed confidence at the high end, with dealer sales up 2% year‑on‑year and public auction sales rising 9% by value.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 12 March 2026 – The Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report 2026, authored by Dr. Clare McAndrew, Founder of Arts Economics, provides a comprehensive benchmark analysis of the global art market in 2025. Co‑published by Art Basel and UBS, the tenth edition of the report examines the performance of key market segments, including galleries and dealers, auction houses, and art fairs, against the backdrop of shifting economic conditions, evolving buyer behavior, and changes in global wealth. The publication is the most comprehensive data-driven overview of the forces shaping today’s art market.

Clare McAndrew, Founder, Arts Economics, said: “The market welcomed a shift in direction in 2025, from the contraction of previous years to modest growth. However, it continued to operate in a volatile geopolitical environment, particularly regarding cross-border trade, the full implications of which are still unfolding in 2026. While some categories of art were relatively insulated from the direct effects of tariffs, broader policy uncertainty and trade fragmentation created challenges for businesses, affecting pricing and supply. A wider shift toward protectionism and more domestically focused sales also poses longer-term risks, as the art trade relies heavily on international circulation and access to global audiences. Early indicators suggest cross-border trade in art remained broadly stable in 2025, but how these flows evolve will be critical to the market’s future growth.“

Adrian Zuercher, Co‑Head Global Asset Allocation and Co‑Head Global Investment Management APAC, UBS Global Wealth Management CIO, said: “The Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report 2026 highlights a nuanced picture across Asia Pacific. China maintained its position as one of the world’s leading art markets while Hong Kong continues to play a central role in the Asia art ecosystem with several high‑value sales and early signs of macroeconomic stabilization this year. Singapore sustained its trajectory as a growing regional hub. Against a backdrop of moderating inflation and improving regional fundamentals, these dynamics reinforce Asia Pacific’s growing importance on the global art market stage.”

Noah Horowitz, CEO, Art Basel, said: “2025 marked a return to growth for the art business and a strategic inflection point in its continued evolution. Over the year, dealers refined their programs and client engagement strategies with clear intentionality, while art fair-related sales strengthened. Although elevated costs, geopolitical uncertainty, and tariff concerns are still affecting business, buyer confidence improved as the year progressed and the year closed with a succession of dynamic sales moments. As the market recalibrates within a more disciplined range, sustained growth will depend on bringing exceptional works to market, deepening client relationships, and broadening participation across the global ecosystem – priorities that are guiding our focus in 2026.”

The key findings include:

  • Global sales: The global art market returned to growth in 2025, with sales increasing by 4% year-on-year to an estimated USD 59.6 billion. Aggregate sales in the dealer sector rose to USD 34.8 billion (up 2%) and public auction sales increased to USD 20.7 billion (up 9%), while reported auction house private sales declined to just under USD 4.2 billion (down 4%). The volume of transactions reached an estimated 41.5 million in 2025 (up 2%).
  • Leading art markets: The United States, the United Kingdom, and China accounted for 76% of global art sales by value, in line with last year. The US remained the largest market with a 44% share, followed by the UK at 18% and China at 14%. France increased its global share by one percentage point to 8%, consolidating its position as the fourth‑largest market and the largest within the EU.
  • Mixed regional market performance:
    • Sales in the United States reached USD 26 billion (up 5% year-on-year), with a strong rebound at the high-end of the auction market and despite trade unpredictability.
    • UK sales increased to USD 10.5 billion (up 2% year-on-year), driven by growth in public auctions.
    • In China, sales increased to USD 8.5 billion (up just over 1% year-on-year). The market stabilized despite the real estate downturn and other economic concerns that weighed on consumer confidence.
    • France saw sales rising to USD 4.5 billion (up 9% year-on-year), driven by strong performance in both the auction and dealer sectors. That performance lifted the market above its 2019 level.
    • Across Europe and Asia, performance year-on-year was mixed, with growth in markets such as Switzerland (up 13%), Austria (up 13%), Spain (up 6%), and South Korea (up 6%), and slower conditions in Germany (down 10%), Italy (down 2%), and Japan (down 1%).
  • Dealer market recovery: Global dealer sales reached USD 34.8 billion (up 2% year-on-year). While 42% of dealers reported higher sales, rising operating costs (up an average5%) continued to weigh on profitability. Lower‑end dealers (turning over less than USD 500,000) recorded the strongest growth, while sales among mid‑market dealers (turnover between USD 1 million and USD 10 million) softened slightly. At the top end, dealers with turnover above USD 10 million returned to growth.
  • Dealer resilience and business longevity: A review of published gallery activity based on media announcements showed despite high‑profile gallery closures in 2025, there was no evidence that closures outpaced openings overall. Gallery launches represented 42% of reported activity, compared with 25% closures, underscoring continued adaptation and resilience within the dealer sector.
  • Gender representation: Female artist representation strengthened further in 2025, reaching 50% of total artists among primary market galleries and 45% across all dealers. Works by female artists accounted for 37% of sales by value (up from 28% in 2018), although disparities persist at the highest revenue levels.
  • Growing importance of art fairs: Art fair sales increased to 35% of dealer turnover (up 4% year-on-year), their highest level since 2022. Overseas fairs accounted for the majority of sales, though growth was recorded at both international and local events, particularly among mid‑sized dealers.
  • Auction market dynamics: Combined public and private auction sales reached USD 24.8 billion. Public auction sales increased to USD 20.7 billion (up 9% year-on-year), driven by the ultra-high‑end sales above USD 10 million (up 30%) and record prices in the second half of the year, while private sales declined to just under USD 4.2 billion (down 5%).
  • Online sales moderation: Online art sales declined to USD 9.2 billion (down 11% year-on-year), their lowest level since 2019, as high‑value transactions shifted back to in‑person channels. Online‑only sales accounted for 15% of total market value, down 3% in share year-on-year, remaining an important channel for engaging new buyers.
  • Improving outlook: Confidence strengthened heading into 2026, with 43% of dealers expecting sales to improve and 38% anticipating stable performance. Sentiment also improved among mid-tier auction houses, reflecting greater optimism despite ongoing economic and geopolitical uncertainty.

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Hashtag: #UBS

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/2026/03/12/the-art-basel-and-ubs-global-art-market-report-2026-global-art-sales-rose-4-to-usd-59-6-billion-in-2025/

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Greenpeace – Luxon’s climate policies leave Kiwis hurting as petrol hits $3 a litre

Source: Greenpeace

As petrol prices climb to around $3 a litre, Greenpeace is pointing to a series of Government decisions that have left Kiwis hit harder by the oil price spike.
“The Luxon Government has spent the last two years dismantling policies that were helping wean New Zealanders off expensive imported oil,” says Gen Toop, Senior Campaigner at Greenpeace Aotearoa.
“Instead of helping households escape volatile and expensive petrol prices, they have crashed the EV market, slashed public transport funding and are spending billions on new roads.
“These decisions are making the climate crisis, and the cost of living crisis worse.”
Greenpeace points to a number of decisions that it says have increased New Zealand’s dependence on imported fossil fuels including:
“This Government is effectively turning New Zealand into a dumping ground for the world’s dirtiest, most oil-hungry cars while other countries rapidly switch to EVs,” Toop says.
“At the same time they are slashing public and active transport options which forces more people into cars leaving them facing more pain at the pump when petrol prices spike.
“This latest plan to build a multi-billion dollar LNG import terminal is ludicrous. Importing and burning another volatile fossil fuel is the last thing our climate, and power bills need. Especially when we have all the wind, sun and renewable energy potential we need right here at home.”

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/greenpeace-luxons-climate-policies-leave-kiwis-hurting-as-petrol-hits-3-a-litre/

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Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation board chair reappointed

Source: New Zealand Government

John Williamson has been reappointed as Chair of the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation Board, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.

The Board manages the investment of government contributions to the NZ Super Fund and administers the Elevate NZ Venture Capital Fund.

John Williamson’s reappointment – for a further two years from October 1 this year – reflects his strong board leadership, Nicola Willis says.

“It also maintains stability and continuity during the pre-election period and beyond, particularly as five of the seven board members are in their first term.

“Mr Williamson brings extensive experience in senior leadership, private equity, and governance, including eight years as managing director of former NZX-listed Hellaby Holdings Ltd. He has held diverse governance roles and legal expertise in competition and Māori resource law.

“This reappointment underscores the Government’s commitment to ensuring the Guardians continue to deliver robust investment performance and fulfil their mandate to grow New Zealand’s sovereign wealth funds for future generations.”

Mr Williamson has been a board member since 2016, and Chair since March 2024.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/guardians-of-new-zealand-superannuation-board-chair-reappointed/

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Indonesia Highlights Forest Governance and Traceability System in Dialogue with Japanese Energy Companies

Source: Media Outreach

JAKARTA, INDONESIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 March 2026 – The Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia reaffirmed the country‘s commitment to sustainable forest governance and transparent supply chains during a meeting with representatives from Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. and Hanwa Co., Ltd. at the Ministry‘s office on Wednesday (March 4).

Official Meeting on Sustainable Forestry The Indonesian Ministry of Forestry receives representatives from Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. and Hanwa Co., Ltd.—key buyers of wood pellets from PT Biomasa Jaya Abadi

The meeting was part of Indonesia‘s ongoing engagement with international partners to strengthen mutual understanding of sustainable forest management and the governance framework underpinning Indonesia‘s forest-based industries, including the emerging biomass sector.

Ade Mukadi, Director of Forest Product Processing and Marketing Development at the Ministry of Forestry, emphasized that Indonesia continues to strengthen its forest governance architecture to ensure that forest utilization is conducted responsibly and in accordance with national regulations and sustainability principles.

“Indonesia has established a comprehensive forest governance framework that integrates legality assurance, sustainability standards, and independent verification. We continue to enhance this system to ensure transparency, accountability, and supply chain integrity,” Ade stated.

Official Dialogue with Ministry of Forestry’s Ade Mukadi (second left), Director of Forest Product Processing and Market, and Tony Rianto (second right), Head of the Sub-Directorate, meet with Tokyo Gas and Hanwa representatives

Tokyo Gas and Hanwa are buyers of wood pellets produced by PT Biomasa Jaya Abadi (PT BJA), which operates in Pohuwato Regency, Gorontalo Province. Tony Rianto, Head of the Sub-Directorate for Forest Product Certification and Marketing, explained that Indonesia‘s forest governance system is guided by four key pillars: sustainable forest management that balances ecological, social, and economic functions; transparency and accountability; regulatory compliance; and respect for indigenous peoples and local communities.

Central to this framework is Indonesia‘s Timber Legality and Sustainability Verification System (SVLK), a national assurance system ensuring that forest products originate from legal and sustainably managed sources. The system covers the entire supply chain—from harvesting and transportation to processing and export—and is implemented through independent verification bodies accredited to audit forest operators, industries, and exporters.

Furthermore, Indonesia continues to enhance the system in line with evolving global market expectations, including the development of geolocation-based monitoring at harvesting sites and the digitalization of transport and export documentation.

These measures are designed to strengthen traceability and support compliance with emerging international due diligence requirements, such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

During the meeting, discussions also covered Indonesia‘s forest utilization planning framework, including the Annual Work Plan (RKT), which regulates harvesting activities under approved long-term forest management plans and incorporates biodiversity safeguards and conservation measures.

The Ministry reaffirmed that forest utilization activities are subject to rigorous regulatory oversight and monitoring mechanisms to ensure compliance with environmental safeguards and sustainable forest management practices.

The meeting followed an earlier discussion between Tokyo Gas and Hanwa and the Pohuwato Regency Government on Monday (March 2). Regent Syaiful A.

Mbuinga confirmed that PT BJA has fulfilled all licensing requirements, operates legally, and contributes to the local economy by employing more than 1,500 workers.

Investment in Pohuwato, including from PT BJA, has contributed to regional economic growth of around 9%, with the local government maintaining strict oversight of investment activities in the region.

Hashtag: #TirtoIndonesia

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/2026/03/12/indonesia-highlights-forest-governance-and-traceability-system-in-dialogue-with-japanese-energy-companies/