Education Minister Erica Stanford has often been tipped as a possible leadership contender.RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Education Minister Erica Stanford has been damning in her assessment of last week’s disastrous poll result for National, calling it a “bad week” for the party and for the caucus.
Speculation has been swirling about Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s leadership after the Taxpayers’ Union Curia Poll result put National on 28.4 per cent – the party’s lowest result since Luxon became leader.
Asked on Tuesday whether she was happy with the result, Stanford – often tipped as a possible leadership contender – said: “No, of course not”.
“We’ve got to do a lot better as a party, all of us pull together, we’ve got to respect what voters are telling us,” she said.
In addition to the horror poll, Luxon also struggled to articulate the government’s position on the Iran conflict and flubbed his answers to questions on the same topic at his post-Cabinet press conference last week.
Asked whether it was a bad week for the prime minister, Stanford said the result reflected poorly on the party.
“I would say it’s a bad week for the National Party and our caucus, and we’ve got to do better all of us together, pull together and remember that our focus is on the New Zealand people, and in my case, raising student achievement,” Stanford said.
Any speculation she was vying for the top job was “reporters interviewing their own typewriters”, Stanford said, adding that she supported the prime minister “100 percent”.
On Tuesday afternoon, Stanford ruled out making any bids for the leadership.
“We have a leader, he’s doing a really good job, and I am part of a high-performing team just doing my job, reforming the education system.”
Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka said he had “no intentions” to run for the top job.RNZ / Mark Papalii
Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka said he backed Luxon and looked forward to the coming election campaign.
Asked whether he wanted to be the leader, he repeatedly said he had “no intentions” to run for the top job but also refused to rule out a future bid.
“It’s got nothing to do with me… I’m not here to answer questions about me running for the leadership, because, as you know, I support the prime minister.”
Tim Costley, MP for Ōtaki, said that asking Luxon to step down, should his polling worsen, had never crossed his mind.
Banks Peninsula MP Vanessa Weenink said she was not concerned about her seat, which was one of the most marginal at the last election.
“I’m not worried about my job. I’m not worried about my seat. I’m worried about the country if we have an alternative government.”
Takinini MP Rima Nakhle put her level of support for the prime minister at “123 percent”, while Upper Harbour MP Cameron Brewer said the caucus was unified.
“We respect the guy, we’re tight, we’re disciplined, and you can see that with all our answers in the last 72 hours. You know, we actually just want to get on with the job.”
The prime minister himself continued to brush off concerns about the poll, telling reporters on Tuesday that the party’s caucus meeting would feature normal business, adding the team was “really united, really focused, really driven”.
But Labour leader Chris Hipkins blasted National for getting itself into “one heck of a mess”.
“They promised they were going to fix the economy, they’ve shrunk it. They promised they were going to get Kiwis into work, more Kiwis are unemployed now. They promised they were going to fix government debt, government debt’s gone up. They promised they were going to fix the cost of living, the cost of living’s got harder for New Zealand households.
“Whether it’s Christopher Luxon or one of the other ministers who was involved in all of those decisions leading the National Party, the problem is they haven’t done what they said they were going to do.”
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The move-on powers announced in February will mean police can move on rough sleepers or people displaying disorderly behaviour as young as 14-years-old.RNZ / Richard Tindiller
The Wellington region’s mayors, as well as iwi, church and social support agency leaders, say the government’s proposed move-on orders are not welcome in the region.
An open letter decrying the introduction of powers to enable police to relocate people from certain areas – under threat of fines or imprisonment – has been sent to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
But Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said the letter was “overly simplistic” and its signatories were “ignoring the facts”.
The letter – signed by 21 Wellington leaders – described the initiative as a “superficial and unhelpful” approach.
“Whilst we accept and understand that anti-social behaviour on the part of some must be able to be responded to, we don’t consider that moving a person to some other unspecified place fixes the problem, nor does anything to address the issues that individual is dealing with, and in fact, potentially causes significant harm,” the signatories wrote.
Community leaders ‘united’ in opposition – Mayor Andrew Little
Wellington City Mayor, Andrew Little, said it was important to show the government that leadership in the region was united in opposition to the legislation.
“What we’re all trying to do is just emphasise to the government that – if they’re serious about dealing with the issue – we actually need to be focussed on what the underlying solutions are. Not cosmetic measures that shift the problem to somewhere else,” Little said.
Little said he understood community and business concerns over rough sleeping and antisocial behaviour – but the initiative failed to offer any real solution to the problem.
“[The signatories] are all organisations that [have] people in the front-line dealing with the homelessness and rough sleeper issue and they don’t take their roles and responsibilities lightly. We know it causes concern to a lot of people – including people whose lives and business are disrupted by it. But the move on order – as a response to it – simply is not a solution,” Little said.
Legislation sends the wrong message to vulnerable people
Porirua mayor Anita Baker said the “vast majority” of people who found themselves on the streets we’re struggling with complex issues including mental health challenges, drug dependancy and a lack of appropriate services and housing options.
Baker said the legislation risked sending the wrong message to already disadvantaged people.
“It’s sending an indication to these people that we don’t really care. A $2000 fine, how are they even going to pay that? They can’t afford to be in a house so I think it is unhelpful.
We need more mental health services, we need more houses, how about providing those?” Baker said.
She said the legislation offered nothing to organisations already working to improve the circumstances of people living rough.
“Across the Wellington region there is already a strong collaborative approach between councils, police, health providers, housing organisations, iwi and NGOs.
“The focus is on outreach, connecting people to services, and creating pathways into stable housing. That work recognises that homelessness and related behaviour are usually the visible end of much deeper issues. Our priority will continue to be solutions that address those causes rather than measures that simply push the problem somewhere else,” Baker said.
Letter ‘overly simplistic’ – Paul Goldsmith
Goldsmith responded to requests for comment sent to Luxon.
He said the letter was “overly simplistic” and it’s signatories were “actively choosing to ignore the facts”.
“Only people who refuse those orders, will face prosecution. A move-on order, is not a criminal charge.
“This is about reclaiming our streets and our city centres for the enjoyment of everybody who visits, works and lives there” Goldsmith said.
Goldsmith said police had “the expertise to connect people with the support services they may require”.
“New Zealanders are fair-minded people, and our culture is one where we seek to help those who are in need, but that doesn’t mean we should accept our city centres, particularly our showcase tourist spots, becoming places of intimidation, and dysfunction,” Goldsmith said.
A protest against the move-on orders by people living and working in Auckland’s central city.Supplied
Police ‘overworked as it is’
Police Association head Steve Watt said police on the beat were “overworked as it is” did not have the resources to deal with the issues that led to people sleeping on the streets.
“The vast majority of people that are out on the street suffer from mental health issues, financial issues, anxiety issues. They’re all issues that really need to have specialist capability wrapped around them as opposed to police picking them up off the street and moving them along,” Watt said.
Watt said some members did welcome the additional powers but he felt the tools to deal with criminal behaviour on the streets were already available to police.
“There is legislation in place in order to deal with people that are on our streets, acting disorderly, being threatening towards members of the public or being offensive.
“We have powers under the Summary Offences Act in which we can deal with this. So what we’re talking about here is non-criminal activity and basically having an order to ship that problem down the street,” Watt said.
Legislation ‘another layer of mistreatment’
CEO of Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, Helmut Modlik said the legislation would add “another layer of mistreatment” into already difficult lives.
“Moving somebody from one spot to an undisclosed second spot without any substantive response to the reason why they were there in the first place is – by my definition – ‘superficial’.
“We don’t want want anything that just adds another layer of mistreatment, or ignoring or unhelpfulness into the lives of these people whose lives are full of all of that,” Modlik said.
He said the legislation was far removed from what he understood to be the values of New Zealanders.
“Nobody likes to see extreme examples of homeless people making a nuisance of themselves. But if people take just a few minutes just to actually understand what’s going on for those poor souls – why they’re there and what’s going on – then a very different response is what follows.
“That should guide us. That should guide our public policy, that should guide our investable activity in this domain. Not a nod to a narrow spectrum of interests and a superficial response. Which is what it is.
“There’s nothing about it that aligns with my understanding of what kind of people we are here in Aotearoa,” Modlik said.
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The Government has welcomed the Health Committee’s report following its inquiry into aged care support services for people experiencing neurological cognitive disorders. The formal response to the inquiry was tabled in Parliament today.
The inquiry was a commitment in the New Zealand First-National coalition agreement.
“New Zealand has very good aged care, but there are challenges in the system that are well-understood, and need to be addressed” Associate Health Minister Casey Costello says.
“This report makes a valuable contribution to the work underway to strengthen services.
“The Government is committed to ensuring that people needing aged care, including those with neurological cognitive disorders are supported and able to access the right services, in the right place and at the right time”
The Health Committee launched its inquiry into neurological cognitive disorders, like dementia, in 2024. It received more than 100 submissions and visited several aged care facilities and service providers across the country.
The Committee’s report made 14 recommendations on improving support for people with neurological cognitive disorders. These relate to access to aged residential care, home and community support services, carers and the aged care workforce.
The Government’s formal response to the inquiry notes all the recommendations.
“Many of the report’s recommendations will be considered through the work already underway on aged care, including through the Aged Care Ministerial Advisory Group,” Ms Costello says.
The Aged Care Ministerial Advisory Group was established last year to provide independent recommendations to Ministers on the sustainability and future direction of the aged care system.
It is expected to provide advice and recommendations to Ministers by mid-2026 and will consider the Health Committee’s report as part of this work.
“The Government thanks the Health Committee and all submitters for their contributions, which will inform the wider aged care work programme,” Ms Costello says.
“We are committed to ensuring older people, including those with neurological cognitive disorders, can access timely, high-quality services that support them to live and age well.”
The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 has been released today, delivering an independent account of the pandemic response and its lasting impact on New Zealanders, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
“New Zealanders lived through one of the most significant global public health and economic events. They made real sacrifices, and this report is an important step in understanding the impact of the decisions that were made and how we can learn from them,” Mr Brown says.
Key findings from the Royal Commission include:
Restrictions were initially balanced, then went too far: COVID-19 restrictions were initially balanced and appropriate but extended beyond what public health advice recommended as the response continued.
Economic warnings were not heeded: Treasury advised from the outset that pandemic spending should be timely, temporary, and targeted. The $60 billion COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund spanned 821 programmes, around half of which were unrelated to the pandemic. The Commission found that many investments, including shovel-ready projects, did not meet those tests. The spending that followed drove up house prices and the cost of living for New Zealanders.
Public debt has left New Zealand exposed: The Royal Commission has made it clear that the debt accumulated during the pandemic has left New Zealand with less flexibility to respond to future economic shocks, and that prudent fiscal management is required to rebuild those economic buffers.
Opportunities to do better were missed: Many opportunities to improve economic decision-making were missed throughout the response, with high-level data failing to capture what was happening on the ground for ordinary New Zealanders.
Auckland’s lockdown went longer than advice recommended: Auckland was kept in lockdown and separated from the rest of the country for longer than what officials advised was necessary. A former Minister has since acknowledged that the public health benefits of lockdowns did not emphatically outweigh the costs by the end of 2021, despite Auckland and parts of Northland and Waikato being kept in lockdown.
Vaccine mandate advice for under-18s was not made sufficiently clear: Former Ministers were informed of advice against applying a two-dose vaccine mandates to 12-17 year olds due to myocarditis risks. The two-dose vaccine mandate remained, which did not align with this advice.
“New Zealanders supported the initial 2020 response. Communities came together and made sacrifices, and it protected New Zealanders’ lives. But the Commission has also found that restrictions continued longer than public health advice recommended, and that the economic costs were not given sufficient weight alongside the health response.
“New Zealanders remember what that period felt like – not being able to visit loved ones in hospital, struggling to get home from overseas, and keeping children home from school for months.
“Aucklanders experienced this more than most, spending more than six months in lockdown, the longest lockdown of any region in the country, separated from family and missing some of life’s most important moments.
“The report also found that the cost of living pressures New Zealanders are still feeling today – and the ongoing lack of social cohesion for some – are part of that story.
“New Zealanders made enormous sacrifices and placed enormous trust in their government. We owe it to them to understand what happened and learn from it.”
The Government is carefully reviewing the Commission’s findings and expects to outline its response to the recommendations by July, ensuring any future decisions balance the health and economic needs of all New Zealanders.
Meat company ANZCO is working to get shipments of beef caught up in the Middle East conflict back to New Zealand to sell on the domestic market.
General manager of sales and marketing Rick Walker said shipments of premium beef cuts that were on the way to Dubai have been parked by shipping companies in various ports.
“We only had a handful of containers on route to Dubai so our exposure is very small compared to some other meat companies but we are now in the process of figuring out what the best alternative is for those containers is – whether we bring them home or we find another market for them.
“It depends on the product and what its end use was going to be, but a lot of it will come back to New Zealand.”
Walker said some of the beef has specific Arabic labelling which would make it difficult to transfer it into other markets.
“So it’s probably easier to bring it back to New Zealand, we can find homes for it here in the domestic market. There’s good demand here, so that’s probably the easiest answer for us at the moment.”
Walker said the containers are chilled so the meat has a shelf life of about 120 days.
“It’s important to remember we are only a week into dealing with this – so we do have time but at the same time we are not going to wait, we want to make decisions pretty quickly.”
So with shipments of meat bound for the Middle East possibly returning to New Zealand – could consumers be in for cheaper cuts? Walker doesn’t think so.
“I think that’s a big step to take, it will depend again on what cuts are coming back, are they chilled? Are they frozen? Every company will then have to make its decision on frozen product. Do you bring it back into inventory and then make a decision what to do with it from there in terms of other export opportunities?
“So in theory, more supply in New Zealand provides the opportunity for lower prices, but it’s hard to see that really playing out at any level that’s going to be material in the short term, particularly when we’ve got very tight livestock numbers here in New Zealand at the moment and very high livestock prices.”
Walker said demand for red meat around the world is high – so going forward any product that would have gone to the Middle East can go to other markets like the US and Asia.
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Disabled people will have more choice over how they use their flexible funding from April, while keeping the same level of support they receive today, Minister for Disability Issues Louise Upston says.
“Our Government committed to restoring flexibility, choice and control in a way that was sustainable,” Louise Upston says.
“The steps we have taken since 2024 to stabilise the disability support system have been successful. Because of this, we can now confirm two things: the current purchasing rules will be removed in April, and people’s flexible funding allocations will stay exactly the same as they are now.
“This means we no longer need to look at what people spent in previous years to set new budgets.
“People will also get more support, guidance or coaching to manage their flexible funding – in a way that reflects their situation.
“Flexible funding must still be spent in line with people’s plans, a few things will need pre-approval, and people must stay within their allocated budgets. However, they’ll have more choice and control over the supports that work for them, including respite options for carers.
“These changes reflect feedback from the disability community last year, and the recommendations of the 2024 Independent Review.
“In 2024, some difficult decisions were made to limit rapidly rising costs. The 2024 Independent Review found disability support services had unsustainable spending increases, unclear criteria for access to flexible funding, and an unfair postcode lottery for disabled people around the country.
“Since then, we have made real progress in stabilising services.
“DSS has strengthened financial controls, budgets and oversight for NASCs, Enabling Good Lives sites and equipment providers, fixed longstanding issues with residential care pricing, and improved the way people’s needs are assessed and funding for supports is allocated.
“Our Government also provided significant new funding in Budget 2025, with $1 billion to manage demand and inflation pressures.
“These steps mean the system is financially stable, sustainable, more consistent and easier to use. We can now restore flexibility and choice without creating uncertainty. Disabled people can be confident their support will continue.”
Editors Notes
From 1 April 2026:
Flexible funding budgets will stay at each person’s current allocation level.
The purchasing rules will be removed.
Flexible funding must still be spent in line with people’s funding plans, but people will have more choice about what works for them.
People still need to keep their spending within their allocated budgets.
Flexible funding still cannot be used for prohibited items such as alcohol, tobacco and gambling.
A small number of purchases will need pre-approval. For example, international travel or high-cost purchases, or certain kinds of equipment where safety and health need to be considered.
Hosts will support, guide or coach people to plan and manage their budgets. They will be talking to people about the support they need from April onwards. The level of support people get depends on their situation.
Iranian players saluting for the national anthem after being reprimanded for not singing in an earlier match.AFP
The New Zealand government may offer asylum to Iranian female football players in Australia who are likely to face persecution if they return to their home country.
The ABC reported that five players are currently being protected by police in Queensland after evading their team handlers at their Gold Coast accommodation.
The players, Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramazanzadeh and Mona Hamoudi, refused to sing the national anthem before their opening match with South Korea at the Women’s Asian Cup earlier this month, the ABC said.
It said fears that the players would be targeted by the Iranian regime when they returned home have grown after Iranian state TV labelled them as “traitors,” the ABC said.
US President Donald Trump has urged Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to grant the whole team asylum.
In a post on his social media platform, Trump said: “Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman’s Soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed. Don’t do it, Mr. Prime Minister, give ASYLUM. The U.S. will take them if you won’t.”
Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour.RNZ / Mark Papalii
On First Up, Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour was asked if Australia should grant the players asylum – or if New Zealand should offer it.
Seymour said the Australian government had to make that decision based on law and it didn’t help “for their cousins across the ditch to start lobbying advice at them”.
But Seymour said it was a humanitarian question.
“Any sort-of lay person would sit there and say ‘do they have a well-founded fear of persecution of they return to their home country?’ I think the common sense answer is that they do.
“Would a country like Australia, or New Zealand for that matter, want to help people in that situation? I think the answer is we would, so let’s let the Australian government work through that question according to law as they have to.
“But I think any person looking at it would come to a pretty obvious answer in their heart and mind.”
Seymour said New Zealand has done something similar for refugees/aslyum seekers in the past.
“Perhaps the New Zealand government will do something like that today.”
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Across Aotearoa, our indoor shoe etiquette is shaped by culture, faith, upbringing and our own ideas about cleanliness.
Guna Magesan, president of the Hindu Council, says that even if a host tells his whānau shoes are fine inside, they’ll usually remove them anyway. For him, it’s about respect, cultural values, discipline and cleanliness.
It’s a habit of daily life which he says most Hindus, especially those from rural or traditional backgrounds, have become accustomed to, he told RNZ in an email. Even while living abroad, it’s become a tradition passed down through generations, he says.
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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 March 2026 – Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the Food Expo PRO and Hong Kong International Tea Fair will be staged concurrently from 13 to 15 August 2026 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The fairs serve as a powerful business platform tailored for industry professionals to launch new products, build connections with influential buyers, and discover fresh market opportunities.
The Food Expo PRO open exclusively to trade buyers on the first two days, and welcome public ticket-holders on 15 August. The concurrent Hong Kong International Tea Fair will be open to both trade buyers and public ticket holders for all three days. The 2025 edition gathered some 18,500 buyers from 64 countries and regions. Buyers are mainly importers, wholesalers, distributors, hotel groups, restaurants, clubhouses, and retail leaders such as department stores, as well as e-tailers. Apart from Hong Kong, buyers came from Chinese Mainland, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, as well as ASEAN countries, including Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, among others, highlighting Hong Kong’s significant role as a key food trade hub globally.
Reserve a booth now to extend industry network: https://tinyurl.com/57zd6hx9 Register a buyer badge to source quality products: https://tinyurl.com/4nhckk3h
Food Expo PRO:new Meat zone debut
Positioned strategically at the heart of Asia, coupled with its exceptional logistics services and adept supply chain management, Hong Kong serves as a promising platform for global food manufacturers to extend their reach into markets across Chinese Mainland and the broader Asian region. As a renowned culinary capital of Asia, Hong Kong is also home to a thriving food services industry that captivates locals and visitors alike.
Food Expo PRO aims to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a business hub for the food industry in Chinese Mainland, Asia, and the world. As a pioneer in the F&B industry, the Expo has always kept a close eye on several key trends and innovation in order to capture the evolving dynamics of the food industry.
This year, Food Expo PRO will introduce a new Meat product zone to spotlight the dynamic meat sector and meet rising demand for premium, diverse, and innovative meat offerings. The zone will showcase a wide range of high-quality meat products, including chilled and frozen meats, processed meats, specialty items, and value-added solutions from global and regional suppliers. It aims to connect exhibitors with professional buyers seeking opportunities in premium proteins, sustainable sourcing, and market trends in the Greater Bay Area and beyond.
Recognising the promising landscape of the Halal Market, the Expo introduced a dedicated Halal food and beverage label in 2024, bringing a diverse variety of Halal certified products ranging from snacks, condiments to seafood. In 2025, more than 120 food suppliers showcased halal products from around the world. A seminar will guide through the importance and the progress of promoting halal-friendly environment in Hong Kong. This session will explore the growing demand for halal products and the standard.
Highlighted zone “Food Science and Technology” brings alternative food and future food products to the professional buyers. The Coffee zone, debuted last year, will showcase coffee products, accessories, and machines from various origins. Events such as coffee demonstrations and seminars covering the coffee value chain will also be held concurrently.
Food Expo PRO also features a variety of seminars and forums covering the latest developments and market opportunities in the food industry. The Food Tech Symposium will focus on the latest technological advancements transforming the sector. The discussion will cover how new technologies can enhance efficiency and quality, benefiting both producers and consumers.
Hong Kong International Tea Fair: Brewing opportunities in tea business
The concurrent Hong Kong International Tea Fair is Asia’s premier marketplace for the tea industry, showcasing a variety of high-quality specialty teas, delicate teaware and tea related products. Building on the positive feedback from adopting the B2B2C format in 2025, which attracted over 500,000 visits together with the four concurrent fairs, the 2026 Tea Fair will once again open to the public during the three-day exhibition period, bringing the rich culture of tea to a wider audience.
To capture the evolving trends in the tea industry, the 2025 edition featured a diverse variety of new-style tea beverages such as sparkling tea, Kombucha, non-alcoholic wine-tea concoction beverage, herbal tea and yuenyeung in a capsule. A thematic zone “Friends of Tea” also presented tea-related lifestyle products such as tea-pairing food and tea perfume. The 2026 edition will strengthen the zone to enrich the overall visiting experience of public tea lovers.
Each day at the fair is filled with different activities and events. The 2026Hong Kong International Tea Culture Forum will be organised, with the purpose of creating an international platform for communication, promoting tea culture, and driving the international development of the tea industry. The China and Greater Bay Area KamCha Competition 2026 (Hong Kong Milk Tea) – Hong Kong Final will be held during the Hong Kong International Tea Fair, aiming to select the top Hong Kong-style milk tea masters, showcase the skills and unique flavours of Hong Kong-style milk tea production, and promote Hong Kong-style milk tea culture. Other events, such as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Youth International Tea Art Competition 2026, Youth Tea Ceremony, Tea Tasting Sessions and Tea Art Performances, offer an immersive exploration of tea’s rich history and latest trends.
The International Tea Event Space Design Competition 2026continues to promote tea culture. Participants can present their creative tea-serving space designs through the competition, and the shortlisted designs will be displayed and judged during the fair. Another fair highlight is the Hong Kong International Tea Fair Tea Competition. Exhibitors’ teas will be judged in six categories: Green Tea, Oolong Tea, Black Tea, Chinese Black Tea, Raw Pu’er, Others. The entries will also compete for “The Best Aroma Award” and “The Best Taste Award”. Visitors can enjoy free tea tasting of winning teas during the Fair.
The two fairs will continue to adopt the HKTDC’s EXHIBITION+ model that integrates online and offline elements, extending face-to-face interactions from physical events to smart business platform, Click2Match, which will be open to participants from 6 to 22 August.
In addition, the International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products (ICMCM), organised by the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association (MCMIA), together with the HKTDC and ten scientific research institutions and industry associations, will be held at the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Centre on 13 and 14 August to deliver professional traditional Chinese medicine insights into the industry.
BARCELONA, SPAIN – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 March 2026 – From March 2 to 5, the 2026 Mobile World Congress (MWC) was grandly held in Barcelona, Spain. China Telecom attended the Congress with two high-profile keynote speeches, an immersive interactive exhibition booth, and a Low-Altitude Economy Launch Event, presenting a panoramic showcase of its strategic vision and innovative achievements in transforming into a key promoter in the AI era. Having also won multiple prestigious international awards in the telecommunications field, China Telecom earned wide attention and high recognition from international operators, ecosystem partners, and global media with its hard-core technological strength and open, collaborative spirit.
China Telecom MWC 2026
Two Keynote Speeches Set the Tone: Charting a New Vision for Transformation in the AI Era
On March 2, China Telecom President Liu Guiqing attended the Congress opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech entitled “The Transformation of a Large Telco to a Key Promoter in AI Era.” Liu Guiqing stated that China Telecom is fully embracing AI and advancing its corporate strategy toward the “Cloudification, Digital Transformation and AI for Good” upgrade, consistently placing technological innovation at the core of its corporate strategy and driving the company’s transformation from a traditional telecommunications operator into a technology-oriented enterprise.
At the Congress, Liu Guiqing put forward five key judgements on the direction of operator development in the AI era: First, 6G standard innovation and network deployment must fully account for the rapid development of AI. Second, cloud-network integration will play an ever greater role in the AI era. Third, AI security governance will become a mandatory topic for global operators, and is also a watershed defining the strength of operational and service capabilities in the intelligent era. Fourth, computing-power and electricity coordination capability will become the key to the sustainable development of intelligent computing infrastructure. Fifth, the flourishing development of AI applications requires operators to open up and cooperate with greater force.
On March 3, Liu Guiqing attended the World Broadband Association (WBBA) Broadband Development Congress and delivered a keynote speech entitled “From Connectivity to Intelligence: A New Era for Cloud-Network Broadband.” Liu Guiqing noted that AI is fully advancing into the Agentic AI stage — characterized by autonomous execution and intelligent collaboration — heralding the dawn of an Agentic Internet. How to accurately seize the transformational opportunities driven by Agentic AI has become a shared challenge for telecommunications operators worldwide.
Liu Guiqing emphasized that China Telecom is willing to join hands with WBBA and all industry stakeholders, with Agentic AI as the core engine, to drive the iterative upgrade of new digital information infrastructure. Three proposals were put forward: First, to strengthen technological innovation in collaboration with WBBA, leading the transformation of new digital information infrastructure. Second, to deepen industrial cooperation through WBBA, expanding the value of new digital information infrastructure. Third, to leverage WBBA to bridge the global digital and intelligent divide, elevate the standard of global cloud-network services, lower the threshold for applying intelligent technologies, and ensure the dividends of Agentic AI development benefit a broader population.
Multiple Awards, Crowning Honours: International Recognition Sets a New Benchmark
On March 4, at the Global Mobile Awards (GLOMO Awards) — widely regarded as the “Oscars of the mobile communications industry” — China Telecom claimed an impressive haul of four accolades. The EasyOn 5G-A-RobotNet solution, developed jointly with ZTE, won the “Best Private Network Solution Award”; the direct-to-high-orbit satellite connectivity project for mobile phones, co-developed with Huawei, won the “Best Non-Terrestrial Network Solution Award”; the “Green Pepper Programme” in Lancang County, Pu’er, jointly submitted with the YouCheng Foundation and Huawei, won the “Best Mobile Innovation for Enhancing the Lives of Children and Young People Award”; and the “5G-A Empowering a New Model of Wireless Concert Livestreaming” project, developed together with ZTE and other industry partners, won the “Best Event Activation Award.” The multiple awards won underscore China Telecom’s comprehensive strength across technological innovation, social responsibility, and commercial application.
During the Congress, the GSMA Foundry Awards Ceremony was held with great fanfare. Three innovative proposals jointly developed by China Telecom with Huawei and ZTE stood out from the competition, capturing a total of four awards across two categories of the Foundry Excellence Awards 2026 and the GSMA Foundry Innovation GLOMO Award. Specifically, the “Mobile Network for Thriving AI” project, developed jointly with Huawei, received the Intelligent Networks & AI-Driven Infrastructure Award under the GSMA Foundry Excellence Awards; the “5G-Advanced Facilitates Multi-Robot Collaboration” solution, co-developed with ZTE, won the GSMA Foundry “Enterprise Innovation & New Revenue Models” award; and the “Relieving the Pressure on Physicians” solution has claimed both the GSMA Foundry “Cross-Cutting Excellence” Award and the GSMA Foundry Innovation GLOMO Award, demonstrating China Telecom’s globally leading capabilities in the convergence of 5G-A and AI technologies for industry applications.
One Exhibition Booth, One Launch Event: Co-Drawing a New Vision of Intelligence in the AI Era
During this year’s MWC, China Telecom’s exhibition booth was meticulously arranged under the theme “Embracing the Intelligent Era with New AI Infra.” From the stunning debut of the Xirang 2.0 “Triless Three-Independence Architecture,” to the “Xing Xiao Chen Intelligent Agent”‘s multi-task intent understanding and central control capabilities; from the quantum infrastructure covering over 40 major cities across China, to the panoramic vision of a low-altitude intelligent network and satellite communications spanning “air, space, ground, and sea” — China Telecom showcased four major infrastructure pillars, namely “AI + Intelligent Cloud,” “AI + Quantum,” “AI + Low-Altitude,” and “AI + Satellite Communications,” outlining the foundation of the intelligent era with a forward-looking vision and attracting numerous senior executives and professionals from international operators for in-depth exchanges.
On March 2, China Telecom Unmanned Technology held a Low-Altitude Economy Launch Event, unveiling China Telecom’s AI-powered “1+1+4+N” Low-Altitude Economy Capability System to the world. Leveraging key technologies including 5G-Advanced (5G-A), RedCap, millimeter-wave sensing, and Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC), China Telecom has built an intelligent connected network with deep integration of “connectivity, sensing, computing, and platform,” forming a full-stack capability system covering low-altitude infrastructure, operational supervision, security protection, and intelligent operations. To date, the Capability System has been deployed in over 60 cities across China, generating more than 1,000 application scenarios, and has achieved application deployment in regions including West Africa, demonstrating mature large-scale rollout capabilities. The event also saw the launch of four digital platforms — Xingyun, Xingdun, Xingxun, and Xinghan — along with the “Tianqing” 5G-A RedCap Low-Altitude Module, delivering integrated and replicable system solutions to help low-altitude flight “fly safely and fly efficiently.”
Throughout the four-day exhibition, technological depth and the warmth of everyday life blended perfectly at the China Telecom booth. This year, the booth featured a dedicated AI Live TechShow, where performers presented China Telecom’s AI technologies and products woven into everyday life scenes in a lighthearted and entertaining way: the eSurf IntelliHub captured real-time footage of mischievous pets at home; the eSurf AI health & wellness companion robot precisely reminded users about their medication; the eSurf AI sports companion robot dog danced in time to the music… Every performance drew crowds of visitors who stopped to watch.
The “AI + Chinese Opera Face-Changing” interactive experience, powered by the Xingchen Large Model and image algorithms, allowed overseas visitors to instantly complete a Chinese opera costume transformation. Exquisite gifts given out on site — including Xing Xiao Chen magnetic snap figurines and panda blind box plushies — proved enormously popular with Congress attendees. This cross-language beauty of AI came with a very real sense of “something to take home,” leaving everyone with wonderful memories.
During the exhibition, mainstream media, industry media, and overseas outlets provided comprehensive coverage of the China Telecom booth through livestreaming, exclusive interviews, articles, and other formats, sparking extensive attention and discussion, with related topics trending continuously. On March 3, well-known media hosts took up position at the China Telecom booth and launched a global “Exhibition Exploration” livestream, offering tens of millions of online viewers an immersive, first-person experience of the cutting-edge technologies, igniting wave after wave of online buzz. China Telecom’s AI products and technological capabilities successfully achieved breakthrough viral reach well beyond the industry.
This MWC 2026 journey was not only a vivid demonstration of China Telecom’s transformation into a key promoter in the AI era, but also a profound dialogue with global partners on technology and development. Standing at the forefront of the intelligent era, China Telecom will continue to deepen its “Cloudification, Digital Transformation and AI for Good” strategy, responding to the questions of the times with forward-looking technological innovation, and moving forward hand in hand with partners in an open and mutually beneficial spirit, jointly ushering in a brighter new era of AI.
There are calls for a ban on social media for under 16’s in New Zealand. (File photo)NurPhoto via AFP
Principals of two Auckland schools say they’ve had to hire counsellors specifically for dealing with the harm caused to children by social media.
The principal of East Auckland’s Riverina Primary School, Bryce Mills told Checkpoint children as young as eight were being exposed to extreme online content.
He said his school hired a counsellor to help deal with the damage and he was not the only one.
Auckland’s Whangaparāoa College had hired the equivalent of five school counsellors last year to help teenagers harmed by social media, it said.
It comes days after Parliament’s Education and Workforce Committee released its final report on the inquiry into the harm social media causes for young people, offering recommendations including banning under-16 year olds from social media.
Saasha Jolley is a teacher at Riverina Primary School and she regularly heard students talk about scrolling Instagram, Tiktok and Snapchat as well as gaming online the night before.
Primary school children were using social media apps like Instagram and Tiktok, a teacher said. (File photo)RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
“Roblox in particular is a big one at the moment, in terms of the chatter that happens, the games they have access to.
“I know that it’s both a platform for kids and adults, they can both access it, they can create the games on there, so I guess that makes it a lot more open.”
What the students see and hear online at night arrived with them at school the next day, she said, and they didn’t always understand what they were repeating.
“They heard it from their friend or they heard it from this person online, so they thought that it was okay to say.”
Last year, research from Te Mana Whakaatu the Classification Office, found young people don’t generally go looking for objectionable content.
Some examples of this included pornography and real-world violence.
Riverina Primary School principal Bryce Mills said similar content was being seen by children as young as eight at his school.
“There is the odd occasion unfortunately where you do hear some of that sexual stuff coming through as well,” he said.
The school of 150 students was self-funding its own online security system, which costed them $3000 each year.
But Mills said the school couldn’t control what the students saw once they went home for the day.
“I had a parent the other day say to me, that they got up at one in the morning to go to the bathroom and they could see a glowing light from a bedroom.
A child using the Roblox app. (File photo)MARIJAN MURAT
“Their daughter had gone out and got the phone off the dining room table and was on their phone.
“If they hadn’t gone up to go to the bathroom, they wouldn’t have known that. It [happens] behind those closed doors.”
The situation was similar at Auckland’s Whangaparāoa College.
Principal Steve McCracken said he had to hire the equivalent of five school counsellors last year to help teenagers harmed by social media.
It was costing the school hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“I think that it is largely driven by social media and what they see is cool, the people that they see online with rich backgrounds and fast cars and all the bling.”
Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO. This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends
BALI, INDONESIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 March 2026 – The multi-award-winning architecture ofFour Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan – an awe-inspiring, suspended rice bowl structure – remains as pioneering today as when it was unveiled 28 years ago. Now, the Forbes Five-Star resort draws on those cutting-edge foundations to reveal a thoughtful reimagining of its luxury riverside suite accommodations and jungle-view dining spaces.
The resort has partnered with the world’s largest hospitality design firm, Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA), for a revamp anchored in Balinese harmony and heritage. Guided by an ethos of refined, rejuvenated, and liveable, the resort refresh launches in July 2026 across seven suite accommodations: five Premier Duplex Suites and two Family Premier Suites.
Ayung Terrace – the resort’s elevated jungle-vista restaurant – and Jati Bar, its river valley hideaway, will also showcase new furniture, colour schemes and styling. Every element of the refresh is rooted in respect for the jungle, rice paddy and Ayung River valley surrounds.
Inspired by Craftmanship and Culture
Existing design elements combine with Balinese textiles and craftsmanship to weave a rich tapestry of local artistry in the upgraded guest sanctuaries. Light, earthy fabrics inspired by Ubud’s rice paddies partner with dark, stained wood for a fresh contemporary vibe.
Through the redesign, HBA pay homage to the resort’s original architectural concept while offering a renewed aesthetic and meeting contemporary demands. Integrated smart home elements like LUTRON lighting offer seamless control over the suite environment.
The Following Reimagined Suites Will be Open to Guests from July 2026:
Premier Duplex Suite – The ultimate retreat for couples who appreciate extra space, this two-level one-bedroom suite includes a dining area with floor-to-ceiling river-view windows, and a sun terrace. Rich teak wood and hand-loomed fabrics create a warm, welcoming ambience.
Family Premier Suite – Ideally located in the resort’s main building near the restaurants and spa, this luxury one-bedroom suite features a beautifully designed kids’ room. A large living space and views over the river valley provide a soothing retreat for the entire family.
Driven by Sustainability
From reused materials to energy-saving fixtures, the redesign is deeply grounded in sustainability principles. All new guest rooms have energy-efficient LED lighting alongside new air conditioning units that use environmentally friendly energy-saving refrigerants.
Optimising the existing framework and reusing and refurbishing through careful craftmanship has reduced the need for new building materials. Any new materials used have been carefully chosen for longevity and locally sourced where possible.
Dining with a Difference
Soaring over the lush jungle river valley, Ayung Terrace restaurant has long immersed diners in a sense of wonderment and natural beauty. Now, new elements such as plush grey river-view sofas, elegant wooden chairs and marbled-topped tables infuse a vibrant burst of energy. At Jati Bar, welcoming sofas and chairs in natural green and grey tones offer an elevated setting in which to enjoy creative cocktails, light bites and river vistas.
“Four Seasons Sayan is known for its cutting-edge design and architecture,” comments Tim Churchmack, Resort Manager, Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan. “This new design honours that heritage and pays further homage to our incredible natural home. We’re thrilled to unveil these elevated living and dining spaces with intuitive, modern facilities within refreshed surrounds. It’s an exciting new era for Four Seasons Sayan.”
The refresh follows a stand-out few years for the multi-award-winning riverside hideaway, including earning an inaugural Michelin key in 2025 for exceptional, unforgettable guest experiences. In the same year, the newly re-launched Sacred River Spa secured a Four-Star rating from Forbes Travel Guide, hot on the heels of Ayung Terrace’s 2024 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for its unique, locally focused wine list.
Hashtag: #FourSeasonsBali
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
PSNA has written to Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith today requesting proposed ‘move-on’ laws will specifically continue to allow free speech and the right to protest under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act.
The approach to government comes in the wake of last week’s attempt by Christchurch City Councillor, Aaron Keown, to close down Palestine solidarity protests at Christchurch’s Bridge of Remembrance.
Asreported on Radio New ZealandKeown is insisting the police are keen to use the proposed new laws to shift protests on:
Keown said police told him months ago that they needed powers like theproposed move-on orders, which he believed would help disperse protesters.
Councillor Keown welcomed thenewly announced move-on powers, which he believed would “absolutely help” disperse protesters, something Woods (Amnesty International director of advocacy and movement building Lisa Woods) said was of grave concern to Amnesty International.
Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa’s Co-chair, John Minto says Keown’s statements contradict assurances made by senior police when a PSNA delegation met with them two weeks ago in Wellington to discuss increasing attacks on Palestine solidarity supporters by IDF soldiers and other elements of the pro-Israel lobby.
“At the meeting police specifically told our delegation these ‘move-on’ orders would NOT be used to restrict protest rights.”
“So, there is a mass of confusion around over the proposed new law.”
“We need the Justice Minister to use clear wording, when he introduces legislation into Parliament, that anyone exercising their rights under the Bill of Rights Act will not be included.”
“We already have many laws which were introduced for a particular purpose, but which have been used to restrict the right to protest – for example trespass orders and ‘unlawful assembly’ provisions under the Crimes Act,” Minto says.
“New Zealanders rights to free speech and right to protest in public are under attack. Last year police and the Independent Police Conduct Authority colluded to propose legislation which would have required police permission to organise a protest”
“Authoritarian regimes the world over are putting heavy restriction on the right to protest. Many of them claim to be democracies. It’s important we resist jack-boot policing here.”
SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 March 2026 – OPPO, the world’s leading smart device brand, today announced the global launch of its latest foldable flagship, OPPO Find N6. Set to debut on March 17, 2026, in its new Binhai Bay Campus, China, Find N6 is designed to completely transform the foldable experience with its revolutionary Zero-Feel Crease1.
OPPO Find N6 Global Launch is set on March 17th
“The OPPO Find N series has always led the foldable market by being on the front end of innovative technologies,” said Pete Lau, Senior Vice President and Chief Product Officer at OPPO. “With Find N6, we have achieved a major breakthrough in hinge architecture and display materials. By introducing the industry’s first Zero-Feel Crease, we are opening up new possibilities for what a foldable smartphone experience can be.”
Since the first days of foldable technology, screen creases have always been a key user concern, taking something away from the natural appeal of foldable devices’ fuller displays. The OPPO Find N Series has relentlessly pursued solutions. In 2021, the original Find N reshaped the foldable experience with its pioneering waterdrop Flexion Hinge, turning deep, noticeable creases into something subtle and shallow. Since then, each successive generation has refined this technology, leading the industry in both visual and tactile smoothness.
Find N6 marks a leap forward with its Zero-Feel Crease, allowing users to be fully immersed in an expansive, large-screen experience with seamless visuals and smooth touch response. And even better, it’s built to stay that way, keeping flat and smooth even after years of use.
Building on its predecessor’s ultra-slim legacy, Find N6 is among the thinnest book-style foldables on the market. It rivals conventional bar-style flagship smartphones in ergonomics, offering a comfortable, fatigue-free grip even during extended use. The refined, symmetrical Cosmos Ring houses the all-new 200MP Hasselblad Ultra-Clear Camera, delivering professional-grade imaging without the typical bulk of a massive camera protrusion.
Find N6 will be available in two stunning colorways: the deep, classic Stellar Titanium and the vibrant Blossom Orange. To achieve a perfectly uniform rose gold finish on the titanium alloy hinge casing, Find N6 in Blossom Orange features Gold Hinge Trim that utilizes a precise gilding technique incorporating genuine gold, adding a touch of timeless luxury to its durable titanium frame.
To further boost productivity, Find N6 supports OPPO AI Pen so users can take full advantage of the bigger screen. More than just a stylus, it is an AI-powered tool that turns Find N6 into a true mobile workstation, helping users accomplish more with integrated intelligent features.
Stay tuned to discover more about OPPO Find N6 at the upcoming global launch.
1 “Zero-Feel Crease” refers to a visual effect where the crease is typically not visible from most viewing angles and under normal use conditions. It does not mean the crease is physically absent. Visibility may vary depending on individual perception, lighting, and specific content displayed.
Hashtag: #OPPO
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Canterbury Police remind motorists that drink driving is never worth the risk.
If you’re heading out to enjoy an event, a gathering, or a night with friends, plan a sober ride home for your safety, and for everyone else on the road.
Over the weekend, several well‑attended events were held across rural Canterbury, including at the Lincoln Domain on Saturday evening and in Waipara on Sunday.
Senior Sergeant Rachel Walker says Police were pleased that the events were largely trouble‑free, but that it was disappointing to see that some drivers still chose to consume alcohol and then get behind the wheel.
“These decisions put themselves, their passengers and other road users at serious risk.”
Police commend the many motorists who made the right call by arranging safe transport and driving responsibly but have seen enough when it comes to impaired driving.
“The consequences of crashes caused by alcohol or drugs are devastating,” says Senior Sergeant Walker.
“For whānau, communities and for the emergency responders who attend them.
“Our staff will continue to maintain a strong presence on the roads to educate drivers and prevent harm.
“We see the damage so we’re unapologetic about prevention.”
With several major events coming up, including Supercars, Super Rugby fixtures and two busy long weekends with Easter and ANZAC Day, Police urge everyone to plan before heading out.
“If you’re drinking or using drugs, legal or illegal, don’t drive.
“Choose a sober driver. Call a taxi. Use public transport. Stay the night.
Employers trying to insert 90-day “fire at will” clauses into new collective agreements will face protests outside their workplaces, the PSA says.
“We need to resist 90-day trials whenever employers attempt to use them. We will hold rallies and keep opposing them.
“Employers are on notice about the damage 90-day trials cause to individuals and we will not hesitate to name and shame them if they go ahead anyway,” Fitzsimons said.
“This Government has made it easier to employ people on insecure employment but it is still wrong, oppressive and immoral to do so.
“The message employers could not be clearer: you don’t need trial periods, treat people fairly from day one, show respect for working people. Good employers don’t need to hide behind 90-day trials. More humane, dignified and fair employment rights are good for workers, good for business and actually good for New Zealand too.
Fitzsimons was speaking today at a rally in Dunedin outside the office of mental health and addiction support provider Able Minds, where staff represented by the PSA are pushing back on their employer’s insistence at introducing 90-day trials.
The rally heard from Jacqueline Atkinson who worked in a previous career as a baker on a 90-day trial and was suddenly dismissed from a local bakery just after Easter when the seasonal demand ended.
Jacqueline talked about balling her eyes out in her car after it happened.
“I remember going home quite devastated and thinking how could my boss say I was not good enough? I had told him I was going there to learn.
“I was freaking out about how I was going to pay the mortgage on my first house that I had bought with my partner if I didn’t find another job.
“It was an awful experience. Nobody should be subject to that. You should absolutely have the right to work in a job where you are treated fairly. You should have the right to a job where there are opportunities to grow and excel,” Atkinson said.
The rally also heard a stirring speech from Taieri MP Ingrid Leary about this Government’s appalling record on employment rights and from three Greens MPs – Dunedin-based MP Francisco Hernandez, Workplace Relations and Safety Spokesperson Teanau Tuiono and Green MP Mike Davidson.
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahiis 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.
DUBAI, UAE – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 March 2026 – As aviation disruptions continue in the Gulf region following reports of a drone strike near Dubai International Airport, global company 1win has organized a private evacuation operation for its VIP clients currently in the United Arab Emirates.
“Safety first,” the Owner of 1win commented on X. “When airports in Dubai closed, and many were stranded, not knowing how to get out, in less than a day, we organized the evacuation of our VIP clients on all private jets, so they could return home safely without waiting for the situation to stabilize. We are here to support you in any situation.”
Commercial aviation in the region has been heavily disrupted. The airline Emirates temporarily suspended flights to and from Dubai International Airport, urging passengers not to travel to the airport until the security situation stabilizes. Several international routes have also been cancelled in the coming weeks as airlines reassess operational risks.
To provide additional flexibility for VIP clients who were unable or unwilling to rely on disrupted commercial flights, 1win coordinated private aviation options with several international charter operators. The initiative focused on offering direct departures from airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi to destinations across Latin America, Asia, and the CIS region.
Industry reports indicate that demand for business aviation in the UAE has surged sharply as travelers seek alternatives to disrupted commercial flights. Several aviation outlets and international media reported a significant spike in private jet charters and sharply rising prices for departures from Dubai, reflecting the growing demand for alternative travel options during the crisis.
1win’s charter program remains ongoing, with additional aircraft arranged depending on client travel needs.
Hashtag: #1win
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About 1win
Founded in 2016, 1win is a crypto platform in the global gaming industry. Operating across Asia, Latin America, and Africa, 1win offers a wide range of services adapted to regional audiences. In 2024, 1win partnered with actor Johnny Sins as its brand ambassador. In 2025, MMA legend Jon Jones joined 1win as its global ambassador. American professional wrestler and mixed martial artist, Gable Steveson, stepped into the 1win global ambassador team earlier this year.
Blues winger Caleb Clarke scores a second half try during the Super Rugby Pacific – Blues v Crusaders at Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand.Photosport
Prior to the weekend, an uncomfortable question had started to form in the Blues camp.
An increasingly one-sided rivalry against the Crusaders had the Blues begin to wonder whether a mental block had crept in when facing the perennial powerhouses.
Heading into Saturday night’s 29-13 win at Eden Park, the Blues had won just three of 23 against the Crusaders dating back to 2014.
“I’ve only beaten them twice before in my career, third time tonight. So it’s always been a tough ride against them. Every team has that one team you always struggle with.”
Blues coach Vern Cotter said earlier in the week that the record against the Crusaders spoke for itself, and may have acted as a motivator for his troops.
“It was said, so I think the players said ‘we’ve had enough of that.’ I think it was more about us than the record. It was about us playing our game, imposing our game on them and you see what happens. I think that’s a real turning point for this team, knowing that when we do it right and we focus on it during the week, then put it out in the paddock.”
Papali’i said the head to head history can be given too much credence.
“You talk about that mental barrier, and in the years that we’ve played them and we’ve lost, we maybe push it a bit too much throughout the week and talk a bit too much about them.
“But the times I have beat them, we focused on ourselves. You study the other team as you always do, but then you’ve got to look within yourselves and actually find the buttons that push you to go forward.”
The All Blacks flanker said despite dropping two of three to start their campaign, the confidence did not wane.
“Tonight was no surprise, the whole week we were building and we weren’t panicking on the results, we talked our forward pack wanting to be dogs out there.
“I feel like when we have our attitude right, then we’re a team that can decide games and it’s all on us. I felt like we had the foot on the throat the whole game.
“I always think it is for a statement game as a forward pack to go against these guys.”
Elsewhere, the Hurricanes continued their dominance over the Waratahs, picking up their ninth win on the trot to shoot back up to third after the Lautoka slip.
The pace-setting Brumbies suffered their first loss, coming in dramatic and controversial fashion against the Reds.
Moana continue to look listless without Ardie Savea, with the Chiefs maintaining their unbeaten run against the bottom-placed battlers.
Jamie Joseph put the disappointment of missing out on the All Blacks job in the rear with a quality Highlanders win over the Force, with Caleb Tangitau continuing his stellar season in Dunedin.
Try of the round: Cody Vai’i’s miracle at Eden, launching himself to sensationally snag a Beauden Barrett crosskick and expertly grass it inches inside the line.
Stock rise: Highlanders flanker Veveni Lasaqa put in an absolute shift against the Force, bagging a try, three pilfers and making 17 tackles.
Stock drop: Taha Kemara was given the fullback jersey in Will Jordan’s absence, but made little impact from the back against the Blues, and was subbed at half-time.
Super Rugby standings after four rounds:
1. Brumbies
2. Chiefs
3. Hurricanes
4. Blues
5. Waratahs
6. Reds
7. Highlanders
8. Crusaders
9. Fijian Drua
10. Force
11. Moana Pasifika
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
If you’re responsible for the mental load in your home and feel that burden isn’t understood, supported or recognised, this article is for you.
Because the mental load is invisible and constant cognitive and emotional labour involved in managing a household or family life, it can be hard to quantify.
All that organising, planning and remembering isn’t a “normalised form of work”, even though it’s relentlessly present, says Allison Daminger.
Cognitive labour is the “thinking part” of the mental load.
Unsplash
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
A new University of Auckland project aims to turn about 1200 Auckland houses destroyed by cyclones into a resource for a more sustainable future.
Associate Professor of Architecture Mike Davis has launched a research project identifying reusable materials in houses that have been deemed unsafe, after being hit by Cyclone Gabrielle and floods in 2023.
The aim is to turn cyclone-damaged houses into an “urban mine” that reuses as much as possible, saving the planet from the pressures of endlessly providing brand new materials, says Davis.
“The tragedy of these houses being lost would be deepened if all the reusable materials in them were dumped in landfills.
“We need to look after the land, which is not about putting stuff in landfills, it’s about reusing materials and putting them into a circular economy,” says Davis, who works in the University’s Māori and Pacific Housing Research Centre, MĀPIHI, and Future Cities Research Centre.
Davis is mapping what materials have come out of the red-stickered houses and where these materials have gone.
“Then we can start to predict what might come out of houses that have been red-stickered or that are damaged in storms in the future,” he says.
Hand-held devices and drones are making 3D scans of various types of houses, such as Keith Hay and Universal homes, villas and bungalows, and state houses. This helps identify the quantities of various building materials typically found in each type of house.
“Building a knowledge bank of the reusable materials available from red-stickered houses will help the construction industry know what materials are likely to be available for reuse,” Davis says.
The project also aims to highlight environmentally harmful materials coming out of cyclone-devastated houses.
This information will be used to develop more sustainable building practices for the future, he says.
“One example is polystyrene, which doesn’t go away, so when a house comes down after 50 years, it’s a massive problem.
“We want to look for alternatives and ask what we can learn about building better in the future.”
Davis says older houses tend to be richer repositories of valuable materials, such as kauri, matai and rimu timber.
“More than 50 percent of timbers can often be reused from earlier buildings.
“Once you get into houses from the 2000s, lots of materials are glued together and it’s much harder to reuse something that’s been glued.”
The research could have real-world impacts in expanding the quantities of building materials available at recycling centres and demolition yards, Davis says.
About 600 red-stickered houses have already been relocated or deconstructed, but another 600 have yet to be removed from properties.
“The aim is to normalise the idea of buying second-hand materials and seeing that as a positive thing.
“We’re moving away from the idea that everything has to be new, new, new, because that’s resource intensive and not sustainable.”
He aims to develop design principles that will help to future-proof housing, so it is more adaptable, more readily disassembled, and easier to repair.
“We will look at what can we do with relocated houses to make them more affordable and fit for purpose.”
Davis, who has Samoan ancestry, says a fondness for recycling and a hatred of waste is in his DNA.
His great-grandfather built churches and other buildings in the Pacific Islands, where resources are limited and valued.
“New Zealand is also two islands and when you live on an island, what you’ve got is what you’ve got, so you make it last.
“But that’s not going on in the building industry in New Zealand at the moment – there’s a rip, strip and bury mentality,” he says.
Over the past 15 years, his own creative projects have focused on recycled materials.
“We need to see those awesome old timbers as having cultural heritage as well as economic value, because there’s not much kauri coming out of our forests these days,” he says.
Results from the research are expected later this year.