The Salvation Army is launching a $1.5 million methamphetamine harm reduction programme in Motueka.
The three-year pilot will include clinical addiction programmes to help people to get clean and stay clean, along with an education campaign to raise awareness about the class-A drug.
Salvation Army service development lead Emma Hunter said families directly affected by methamphetamine would be offered tailored support.
The programme brought together clinical expertise, support and community partnership to help people break free from the drug and rebuild their lives, she said.
“People deserve support that fits their real lives. We offer a harm reduction approach to suit each individual or whānau and we work closely with local services, iwi and the community so the help people receive is connected and effective,” Hunter said.
The education campaign would raise awareness about methamphetamine, where it comes from, its effects and where to get help.
Ministry for Social Development regional commissioner Craig Churchill said methamphetamine affected many communities and Motueka was chosen because of its size and location.
It was small enough for the funding to make a difference and large enough to demonstrate the difference it could make, he said.
“Ultimately we hope to see a reduction in methamphetamine use and related harm in Motueka, a safer community, increased access to support services, greater awareness and prevention and improved inter-agency co-ordination in the town,” Churchill said.
The money is coming from the Proceeds of Crime Fund.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Fresh data out this week shows international visitors are returning to New Zealand in droves and visitor spend is on the up, supporting local business and jobs across the country.
The latest International Visitor Survey showed international tourism contributed $12.5 billion to New Zealand’s economy for the year ending December 2025, up 3 per cent compared to the previous year.
“We have seen a really positive recovery of tourist numbers post-Covid, with visitor numbers at 90 per cent of 2019 levels (3.89 million). These latest results show annual spend has been steadily increasing since the borders reopened to international visitors,” Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says.
“International visitor spend from some countries has now surpassed or nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels, with our Aussie cousins contributing $3.0 billion — 111 per cent of their 2019 spend — and visitors from the United States contributing $1.5 billion, reaching 97 per cent of 2019 levels.
“Overall median spend per visitor ($2,248, up 3 per cent) and median daily spend ($309, up 8 per cent) are all up which means visitors are spending more in our accommodation, restaurants and local businesses, giving a significant boost to the economy.”
“These results highlight why the work we’re doing to boost our tourism and hospitality sector is so important.
“International tourism is New Zealand’s second-largest export earner and we are laser focussed on growing this vital sector, by doubling the value of tourism exports by 2034.”
“Overall, the resilience of the tourism industry is evident. Whether visitors are drawn by New Zealand’s landscapes, our welcoming culture, or the quality of the experiences on offer, the continued rise in visitor numbers and spending underscores tourism’s role in fixing the basics and building the future.
“More international visitors mean more customers for our businesses and ultimately more jobs.”
Editor’s note
The International Visitor Survey from MBIE is released every quarter and contains data for that quarter and for the year ending that quarter. Further details on data quality (sample sizes, response rates, margins of error) are available here.
Minister for Māori Crown Relations Tama Potaka.RNZ / Mark Papalii
A group of Tūhoe kaumatua say plans to remove the supervisory jurisdiction of the Māori Land Court (MLC) over many post-settlement governance entities (PSGE) will deny Māori access to justice and accountability.
The government is proposing legislation gives PSGEs the choice to be exempt from sections 237 and 245 of Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 – which give the MLC jurisdiction over trusts, to the High Court.
Cabinet signed off on the proposal in 2025 following a ruling from the Supreme Court in 2024 that meant Te Uru Taumatua (TUT), the settlement entity for Tūhoe, was subject to jurisdiction of the MLC.
In 2019, Tūhoe kaumatua Paki Nikora, a staunch critic of TUT, started legal proceeding against the PGSE over its election processes on behalf of Te Kaunihera Kaumātua o Tūhoe.
Nikora died in 2023, aged 73, but the legal battle continued, culminating in the Supreme Court’s ruling.
In a statement, counsel for the Kaunihera, Paul Harman, said the proposed Bill overruled that decision.
Harman implied the proposed bill showed how “far” the Crown and TUT were prepared to go to “override access to justice”.
“It weakens the rule of law when governments make legislation in such haste.” he said.
“We went to the Māori Land Court because Te Uru Taumatua had no meaningful dispute resolution process. This is one of several failures of its Trust Deed, with its election processes being another… all that remains is a High Court application, and I suggest that is too expensive for most Māori.”
Harman claimed the proposed Bill would effectively remove independent judicial oversight and deny Te Kaunihera Kaumātua o Tūhoe and other Māori due process and legal recourse.
In a statement to RNZ, Te Uru Taumatua chief executive Kirsti Luke said the Supreme Court’s ruling made “no real sense” for reality of iwi or PSGEs.
“It was never the Crown or iwi’s intent in reaching settlements, and enacting them in legislation, that the Māori Land Court would have any subsequent jurisdiction over iwi’s self-determination.
“The court acknowledged the situation, that its interpretation created, should be fixed by Parliament, and that is also the course of action we and other iwi support.”
A cabinet paper shows 42 of the country’s 73 PSGEs have formally requested exemption from the court’s oversight
In a statement, Minister for Māori Crown Relations Tama Potaka said the government recognised that PSGEs undertook important responsibilities on behalf of their Iwi.
“Many continue to do so in a diligent and professional way, with strong support from their members and uri.” he said.
“It is important to be clear, however, that a PSGE is not synonymous with the Iwi itself. An is an Iwi. A PSGE carries out defined roles and responsibilities on behalf of Iwi under its trust deed and settlement arrangements, but it does not define the identity or mana of the Iwi.”
Potaka said the proposed legislation reflected the engagement had with PSGEs across the country and the considerations of the Supreme Court had been carefully taken into account.
“This work has not arisen suddenly. Discussions have been underway for some time, including through the former Te Arawhiti structure, and have involved detailed consideration of how best to provide certainty within the PSGE framework.”
“It is also important to emphasise that matters relating to the structure, accountability and leadership of PSGEs ultimately sit with Iwi members. Where Iwi members believe change is needed, whether amendment or replacement of governance arrangements, there are established pathways within trust deeds and Iwi processes to do so. Those are decisions for Iwi to determine.”
Potaka said draft legislation was still being worked through and would be introduced “in due course”.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Here is everything you need to know about David Noel Rennie:
Born in Upper Hutt, Rennie was educated at Heretaunga College. His mother is from the Cook Islands (Titikaveka, Rarotonga), and Rennie played a non-test match for the country in 1990.
Rennie played his club rugby for Upper Hutt RFC before a shoulder injury forced him to hang up the boots at just 27.
He trained as a teacher, and was appointed to an intermediate school in Upper Hutt.
Rennie played 58 times for his province, Wellington, winning the NPC crown in 1986, the last time the Lions would lift the trophy until Rennie returned as coach.
He quickly moved into a coaching role at Upper Hutt RFC following his playing days.
Wallabies coach Dave RenniePHOTOSPORT
His coaching career continued in the capital as he took an assistant coaching role for the Wellington Lions in 1999.
Just one year later, he was promoted to the top role and would take the Lions on arguably the most memorable NPC run in history, culminating in one of the greatest games played in New Zealand.
Leading a team of legends such as Jonah Lomu, Christian Cullen and Tana Umaga, Rennie’s men overcame an All Black-laden Canterbury team to claim an historic 34-29 win.
After three seasons with the NPC side, Rennie was given his first Super Rugby assignment, named as assistant at the Hurricanes.
The 2002 season ended with the Hurricanes ninth with a 5-6 record. Graham Mourie would resign for the 2003 season with Colin Cooper taking over.
Rennie headed north in 2006 to take over at Manawatū, who he coached for 69 games until 2011.
Another big break came when Rennie was assigned the top job for the New Zealand Under 20s in 2008, leading them to three titles on the trot.
Among his players were Aaron Smith, Sam Whitelock and Julian Savea.
He was then given the reins at the Chiefs in 2012, and in his debut season, led them to an inaugural Super Rugby title.
In what ranks as a career highlight for Rennie, the Chiefs went back to back in 2013, with Aaron Cruden, Brodie Retallick, Liam Messam and Sam Cane in the side.
‘Father and Son’ – Dave Rennie (right) and Aaron CrudenPhotosport
Rennie spent a further three seasons with the Chiefs before making the move to Scotland to coach the Glasgow Warriors.
He again made a strong start, with the Warriors winning 10 straight before falling short in the Pro14 semifinal.
The next year the side went one better, but again fell at the final hurdle.
Rennie would step down after a Covid-interupted final season in Scotland.
Bar his new All Blacks assignment, Rennie’s toughest task as a coach came in 2019 when he was announced as the replacement for Michael Cheika as Wallabies head coach.
Covid would again wreak havoc during his time with Australia, and it included difficult tours to Europe which saw the Wallabies suffer a first ever loss to Italy.
Of his 34 tests in charge of the Wallabies, they won just 13.
‘Understand the expectations’
After three seasons in Japan with the Kobe Steelers, Rennie won the two-horse race for the All Blacks gig, beating out Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph.
“Coaching the All Blacks is an incredible honour. I’m extremely proud to have been entrusted with this role and understand the expectations that come with it,” Rennie said.
“I’m really clear on the way I want the All Blacks to play and I look forward to working with the players, management team, and the rugby community. We have a lot of talent here and we will be working extremely hard to make the country proud.”
Rennie’s first assignment is in July when the All Blacks host France, Italy and Ireland for three tests in New Zealand.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Missiles are seen in the skies over Doha on March 3.MAHMUD HAMS/AFP
The family car is filled with petrol and packed with supplies and go bags for a hasty escape.
But for now, a New Zealand family living in Qatar’s capital, said they would stay where they were while loud booms could be heard in the distance.
Since Israel and the United States launched an attack on Iran on Saturday, a number of countries in the Middle East have been hit by missile strikes including Qatar.
“If you’re calm and prepared, that’s probably the best thing that we can do,” Kathryn Rush said her Doha home.
Motorists drive past a plume of smoke rising from a reported Iranian strike in the industrial district of Doha on March 1.MAHMUD HAMS / AFP
She and her husband were oil and gas lawyers, meaning Doha was somewhere with work in their field.
Rush and their two children, Nick who’s 11 and 9-year-old Emily, moved over from Wellington at the end of December.
But now things had changed.
“It’s very reminiscent of Covid,” Rush said.
“We’ve spent the first few months getting ourselves into dance classes and bits and pieces, football clubs and things like that.
“So all of that’s now on hold as everyone has to stay at home as much as they can, my husband is working from home, the kids are home-schooling,” she said.
“Things are happening, you don’t know if it’s going to happen to you or not, and you’re just waiting and try to stay positive in the meantime.”
Rush was trying to stay positive for her young children too.
“The booms, you hear the booms and some of those sound closer than others… so they can be relatively loud,” she said.
“I popped outside and my daughter was on a trampoline tonight just to say ‘oh, do you want to come inside, those were quite loud’ and she said ‘yeah and there were some flashes in the sky too but I want to do some more trampolining’.”
Rush felt it was important to acknowledge with her children what was happening, “but not to be freaked out by it”.
“My 11-year-old is quite smart and quite onto it and is relatively are of what’s going on, but he’s settled in really nicely to school here, he’s got friends from all sorts of different countries and I think they probably talk about it a little bit as well,” she said.
For now, Rush felt comparatively safe – their house was among about 100 in a compound and all were low-rise.
They’re also to the north of Doha’s centre and airport, in the opposite direction to the American base further south.
For now, it felt like an added layer of safety, she said.
“We’re in an older compound… and the villas are really sturdy… so I don’t feel that we’re in as much of a target zone as perhaps some of the other areas.”
New Zealand’s advice to citizens remained to shelter in place but Rush said they would strongly consider leaving if the advice was upgraded.
“It would probably have to get a lot worse, I think, before we’d feel like we desperately wanted to get out,” she said.
The only real option was to drive to Saudi Arabia.
“I feel safer on the ground at the moment than I would in the air.”
Rush was sleeping fully clothed in case she had to quickly move in the night.
She and her neighbours regularly check on each other, but she said it felt like there was not much to check during the ongoing waiting for whatever happened next.
“It feels a bit probably like a Covid lockdown, except for the sound of the occasional loud boom.
“The car is full of petrol and packed with effectively camping gear and the usual kind of go back scenarios like water and that kind of thing, sunscreen, so you know we are prepared – if we have to go we have to go – but where that would be going is a little uncertain.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 March 2026 – Can Giois Ho Chi Minh City’s coastal district,a threshold where a metropolis of more than 10 million people meets the vast ecological reserve of mangrove forests and the open sea. Such geography cannot be replicated. Now, at this rare intersection of city and biosphere, Vinhomes Green Paradise is steadily transforming vision into reality, shaping a new coastal urban paradigm for the next generation.
Among hundreds of candidates from across the globe, Vinhomes Green Paradise has emerged as the first official participant in the global campaign New7Wonders’ “7 Wonders of Future Cities”. It signals that on the southern edge of Ho Chi Minh City, in Can Gio’s coastal expanse, a new urban thesis is being tested – one in which development is calibrated not by vertical ambition alone, but by the durability of its quality of life.
“Vinhomes Green Paradise is a truly compelling model for the concept of a ‘future city,’” said Jean-Paul de la Fuente, Director of New7Wonders and President of the “7 Wonders of Future Cities” campaign. “Here, the benchmark of progress is measured in the quality of living across generations.”
That future is now materializing at pace. Construction advances with uncommon velocity. Infrastructure grids are being laid with the discipline of long-term urban choreography. At the center of this unfolding ecosystem lies a 50-meter-wide artery known as the “Future Boulevard” – planned as the district’s commercial spine and among the earliest components to be completed and activated.
To acquire a Boulevard Prime townhouse along this axis is, by many measures, to participate in the district’s economic overture before the crescendo. Can Gio is envisioned as a tourism capital welcoming up to 40 million visitors annually. As infrastructure scales and connectivity deepens, the pricing paradigm is expected to reset accordingly. Early ownership, therefore, is a position in an emerging consumption corridor.
The Irreplicable Value of a “Rare Axis”
In urban economics, frontage along a primary commercial axis carries a structural premium. In Can Gio, this logic is rendered tangible along the 50-meter Future Boulevard, the first commercial lifeline of Vinhomes Green Paradise.
Each segment of the street is anchored to a destination of international scale: a six-star luxury resort; the 5,000-seat Blue Waves Theater; the global entertainment complex VinWonders; a Safari park; the 24/7 retail and leisure hub Cosmo Bay; Landmark Harbour international marina; twin 18-hole golf courses; and a five-star Vinmec International Hospital.
According to development plans, these flagship amenities are slated for substantial completion by the third quarter of 2027. Once synchronized in operation, the boulevard will transcend its infrastructural role. It will function as a sustained “consumption corridor” – channeling a stable, continuous stream of visitors past the doors of Boulevard Prime properties.
The anticipated clientele arrives for resort stays, theatrical performances, golf tournaments, wellness programs, global events – activities that imply longer dwell times and elevated discretionary spending. The rhythm of commerce here is not circumscribed by office hours. It extends day and night, across all seasons.
Such an environment is naturally suited to structured, premium service models: fine-dining establishments; curated boutiques; concept stores; flagship showrooms; spa and wellness centers; branded hospitality hybrids. The boulevard’s design, retail interlaced with major attractions, ensures that each property benefits not from a single demand stream, but from layered and overlapping consumer flows.
This “amenity-adjacent” architecture confers resilience. When consumption is underwritten by an entire ecosystem rather than a solitary anchor, volatility is diffused. As the district matures and visitor patterns stabilize, assets positioned along the core axis are likely to see their competitive advantages sharpen.
It is this structural clarity, of connectivity, scarcity and projected demand, that positions Boulevard Prime as a focal point for international capital seeking long-horizon growth in Southeast Asia’s evolving urban markets.
Securing Capital Costs, Anticipating the Cycle
Urban planners often note that the intrinsic value of commercial property along a central axis derives from infrastructural singularity. A city may expand outward, layering additional amenities and residential clusters, but it rarely replicates its primary connective spine. Once established, such axes become enduring frameworks around which value consolidates.
In Can Gio, the 50-meter Future Boulevard is the sole route designed to link, directly and comprehensively, the district’s full spectrum of large-scale amenities. The supply of Boulevard Prime townhouses along this stretch is, by definition, finite. As the urban organism reaches operational maturity, that scarcity is expected to become increasingly pronounced.
If rarity underwrites long-term value, timing determines margin. At the present juncture, while the boulevard is advancing toward completion, pricing does not yet fully encode the district’s projected consumption capacity. Early investors retain latitude in site selection and stand to capture the repricing that typically accompanies infrastructural activation.
Complementing locational advantage is a financing structure engineered to minimize capital risk. The program “Buy a Vinhomes Home – No Worries About Interest Rates” offers 0% interest support for 36 months, followed by a capped maximum rate of 9% per annum for the subsequent 24 months. In effect, investors can model capital costs across a five-year horizon with unusual clarity.
This structure is calibrated to an entire economic cycle. Rather than remaining exposed to market rate volatility, investors can establish predictable cash-flow projections from the outset. In a climate where interest rates exhibit upward pressure and liquidity discipline tempers expansion plans, such insulation functions as a financial shield.
Long-term fixed-rate commitments of this duration are not commonplace in the current market. They presuppose balance-sheet strength and a willingness on the part of the developer to absorb rate risk alongside buyers. For investors, particularly those navigating cross-border allocations, this arrangement reduces friction at the point of entry and fortifies holding strategy during the formative years of the district’s growth.
A City Measured in Generations
What distinguishes Vinhomes Green Paradise is not a singular building or amenity, but its integrative thesis. It proposes that tourism, culture, healthcare, recreation and commerce need not exist as disjointed clusters. When orchestrated deliberately, they can reinforce one another, creating both a lifestyle destination and a durable economic engine.
In that sense, the project’s participation in the New7Wonders campaign reads less as accolade and more as validation of intent. The aspiration is to cultivate a city where daily life, for residents, entrepreneurs and visitors alike, unfolds within a coherent, future-oriented framework.
If cities of the past were defined by fortifications or factories, and the cities of the 20th century by skylines, the cities of the future may well be judged by their capacity to harmonize infrastructure with human experience. In Can Gio, that experiment is already underway – not as speculation, but as construction steel rising against the coastal horizon.
Hashtag: #Vinhomes
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 March 2026 – VinEnergo announces its large-scale global expansion plan, initially focusing on Asia and Europe with a renewable energy project portfolio totaling 10 GW that has officially secured development agreements. In addition to the capacity already approved in Vietnam, over the next three years VinEnergo will continue expanding its operations and increase its total deployed capacity to 100 GW, positioning itself as a leading global renewable energy enterprise and deepening its participation in the international energy transition.
Mr. Nguyen Anh Khoa, CEO of VinEnergo (left), and Mr. Karsten Nielsen, Founder and CEO of GreenGo Energy Group (right), at the partnership signing ceremony between the two parties.
Under its overall plan, VinEnergo targets the development of 100 GW of renewable energy over the next three years, including 50 GW in core international markets such as North America, Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, and Southeast Asia. These regions demonstrate rapidly-growing power demand, strong renewable energy promotion policies, and significant development headroom for international investors.
In parallel, VinEnergo will also explore expansion into other potential markets such as Central Asia and Africa, where electricity demand and emissions reduction requirements are rising rapidly. Through collaboration with governments and relevant stakeholders, VinEnergo will develop sustainable energy sources, support businesses in accessing clean electricity, contribute to Net Zero goals, and directly participate in shaping green energy policy.
To establish a solid foundation for the structured and long-term deployment of renewable energy projects, VinEnergo has signed partnerships with international financial institutions to access green credit. In addition, VinEnergo has reached agreements with multiple reputable foreign partners to develop a 10 GW project portfolio, with the overall objective of mastering all stages, from design, schedule management, and commercial structuring to long-term operations.
Specifically, in Northern Europe, VinEnergo partners with GreenGo Energy to develop a renewable energy project portfolio of 2 GW in Denmark and Sweden. In the long term, the company plans to expand its capacity in Northern Europe and across Europe to 6.2 GW.
In the Philippines, VinEnergo will develop projects totaling 1.3 GW with NKS Renewables Inc, 1.2 GW with URG Asia Corporation, and 1.3 GW with 11.11 Growth Properties, focusing on large-scale solar power projects in favorable areas such as Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
In these co-development projects, VinEnergo holds over 80 percent ownership and acts as the primary developer, responsible for capital mobilization, construction, and long-term operations. Several projects commenced in early 2026 and are expected to begin operations during 2027 to 2028.
Mr. Andre Pablo G. Fausto, President of NKS Renewables (left), and Mr. Nguyen Anh Khoa, CEO of VinEnergo (right), at the partnership signing ceremony between the two parties.
With in-house capability in the manufacturing and integration of battery energy storage systems (BESS), VinEnergo can standardize design, secure equipment supply proactively, and synchronize technical solutions across its entire portfolio. This ensures high operational stability, reduces schedule risk, and optimizes project economics, particularly in markets with high renewable penetration and increasingly stringent dispatch requirements.
According to the plan, in the first quarter of 2026, VinEnergo will increase its total international renewable energy portfolio to 20 GW, with at least 8 GW of additional projects in Southeast Asia and Africa to be signed during the period.
Mr. Nguyen Anh Khoa, Chief Executive Officer of VinEnergo, stated: “Entering 2026, VinEnergo moves into a new development phase with the aspiration to become a renewable energy enterprise with global scale and competitiveness. The simultaneous deployment of a large portfolio across multiple markets affirms our capacity for governance and execution of complex projects. VinEnergo believes we will make an important contribution to the global energy transition process, while elevating the stature of Vietnamese enterprises on the global green energy map.”
In 2025, VinEnergo broke ground on the Hai Phong LNG thermal power plant, with a total investment of approximately VND 178 trillion and a designed capacity of 4,800 MW, placing it among the largest LNG-to-power projects in Vietnam and globally. VinEnergo has also been assigned as the investor for two offshore wind power projects in Ha Tinh, totaling approximately 900 MW with a combined investment exceeding VND 39 trillion.
Most recently, VinEnergo also invested in Phase 1 of the Hon Trau Wind Power Plant project in Gia Lai, with a capacity of 750 MW, one of the largest renewable energy projects in the province. In addition, VinEnergo has been approved as the qualified investor for the Vinh Thuan Wind Power Project, with a capacity of 143 MW.
Co-operation agreements both domestically and internationally reflect partners’ confidence in VinEnergo’s financial strength, governance, and execution capability, while affirming the company’s increasingly established position in the international renewable energy value chain.
With a long-term development orientation and as part of the Vingroup ecosystem, VinEnergo pursues the mission of providing clean, stable, and efficient energy, aligned with disciplined investment, international governance standards, and sustainable value creation for the community, while proactively adopting the latest trends such as AI and big data applications in operations and smart power solution development.
Hashtag: #VinEnergo
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Building on the acquisition of Illumex by NVIDIA, the firm validates its Seed-to-Exit thesis and reinforces its mission to bridge Asian capital with world-class DeepTech.
TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 March 2026 – Cardumen Capital, a leading European DeepTech venture capital firm, today marks a pivotal milestone in its international momentum following the acquisition of its portfolio company, Illumex, by NVIDIA. This landmark exit further solidifies the firm’s strategic presence in the Asia-Pacific region and cements its 2019 vintage fund’s position as a leading performer within its vintage cohort.
A Seed-to-Exit Success Story
Cardumen Capital was Illumex’s first investor and led its 2021 seed round, supporting the company from inception through to exit. General Partners Gonzalo Martínez de Azagra and Igor de la Sota identified the startup’s potential at the seed stage, guiding it toward this landmark milestone.
“This acquisition validates our DeepTech thesis,” said Gonzalo Martínez de Azagra. “By backing visionary founders early, we demonstrate our ability to identify the core building blocks of the AI era.”
Igor de la Sota added: “The success of the Illumex exit underscores the global demand for robust data infrastructure in the age of Generative AI. We are proud to have supported the team from day one in building a platform that now sits at the heart of the world’s AI computing network.”
Strengthening the Bridge to Asia-Pacific
Illumex joining NVIDIA serves as a powerful catalyst for Cardumen Capital’s mission in Asia. Led by Taipei-based APAC Venture Partner Stan Yu, a serial entrepreneur turned venture capitalist, the firm is intensifying its efforts to bridge Asian strategic capital with world-class innovation hubs in Europe, Israel, and global DeepTech ecosystems.
“Building on this milestone exit to NVIDIA, we are seeing unprecedented momentum for our strategy in the APAC region,” said Stan Yu. “The journey of Illumex proves the caliber of opportunities we bring to our partners. From our base in Asia, we are uniquely positioned to facilitate these high-stakes connections, ensuring that Asian institutional capital has exclusive access to the next wave of transformative DeepTech and frontier innovations.”
As a pioneering venture capital firm with a dedicated partner presence in Taipei bridging the EMEA tech ecosystem, Cardumen Capital is uniquely positioned to drive cross-border synergies and deliver the performance expected by the institutional investment landscape in Asia.
Autistic nonspeakers may use various strategies to manage the overload and lessen sensory distress.Unsplash / Naila Conita
Southern Cross Health Insurance says ADHD and autism are once again covered under its policies, after an earlier decision to exclude them.
RNZ reported last month families were blind-sided by the decision, which left them without funding for treatment.
At the time, the insurer said it was not a change in policy, but a “clarification” – as ADHD and autism were considered mental health conditions, they came under the mental health exclusion and were therefore not covered.
But now, after a review of its diagnostic classification system, it told RNZ they were, in fact, classified as neurodevelopmental conditions, not mental health conditions, and accordingly the mental health exclusion did not apply.
Regan Savage, chief sales and marketing officer for Southern Cross Health Insurance, said they undertook a review after feedback from clinicians, members and sector stakeholders highlighted uncertainty about how that November guidance to providers was being interpreted in practice.
“That feedback informed a more detailed review to ensure our guidance is clear, consistent and aligned with both clinical understanding and our policies,” he said.
“We appreciate the constructive engagement with our members and specialists that helped inform this review, and we are currently reviewing any claims that may have been affected.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Dave Rennie has been selected as the side’s new head coach.PHOTOSPORT
Dave Rennie has been named the new All Blacks head coach through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, seeing off Jamie Joseph in the two-man race to replace Scott Robertson.
The 62-year-old former Chiefs coach and coach of the Wallabies was unveiled as the national coach in a New Zealand Rugby social media post just before midday.
He will take up the role in June, when the Japanese Rugby League One season ends, where he coaches Kobelco Kobe Steelers.
He will take charge ahead of the July home series against France, Italy and Ireland.
PHOTOSPORT
Rennie, who is of Cook Islands descent through his mother, becomes the first All Blacks head coach with Pasifika heritage.
NZR chair David Kirk said Rennie has a proven track record as a successful head coach.
PHOTOSPORT
“On behalf of the Board, I’d like to congratulate Dave on his appointment as All Blacks head coach. He is a world-class coach who has consistently shown he can build strong performance environments and win.
“Dave understands what it means to coach the All Blacks and play a style of rugby that reflects who we are as New Zealanders.
“He has a deep understanding of rugby in New Zealand and the role the All Blacks play in shaping our national identity and bringing communities together.”
Rennie said his appointment was a privilege.
“Coaching the All Blacks is an incredible honour. I’m extremely proud to have been entrusted with this role and understand the expectations that come with it.
“I’m really clear on the way I want the All Blacks to play and I look forward to working with the players, management team, and the rugby community. We have a lot of talent here and we will be working extremely hard to make the country proud.”
David Kirk, the chair of NZ Rugby, speaks to media following the departure of All Blacks coach Scott RobertsonAndrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Kirk said he believed the appointment process had been the most thorough the organisation has undertaken for an All Blacks coach.
“The All Blacks are set for a challenging and exciting two seasons ahead and it’s critical we followed a thorough process to find the right head coach. Dave has a clear direction for the team that gives us confidence the team will be well positioned to perform as we head into the 2027 Rugby World Cup.”
NZR will now work with Rennie to confirm the wider All Blacks coaching and management team, with updates to be provided in the coming weeks.
Chiefs coach Dave RenniePHOTOSPORT
Rennie emerged as top level coach when he steered the New Zealand under-20 team to three consecutive junior world championships between 2008 and 2010, guided the Chiefs to back-to-back Super Rugby titles in 2012 and 2013 and took the Glasgow Warriors to a Pro14 Final in 2019.
He has also delivered domestically in New Zealand with the Wellington Lions and Manawatu Turbos in the National Provincial Championship.
Under the first set of conditions, some open work visa holders, including those on Post Study Work Visas and a range of partner visas, will be able to work for an employer or be self-employed, including as a sole trader or by owning and operating a business.
Under the second set of conditions, open work visa holders on Victims of Domestic Violence Work Visas, Migrant Exploitation Protection Work Visas, Asylum Seeker Work Visas and all working holiday visas will still be required to work for an employer, either under an employment agreement or a contract for services.
The change makes clear that open work visa holders will not be allowed to employ other people, either directly or indirectly through a business they own or operate, including where the business is the named employer.
Peter Elms, director of visas at Immigration New Zealand, said the changes were prompted by sector feedback and were intended to remove uncertainty created by existing work visa settings for both visa holders and immigration advisers.
He said updating and standardising the conditions would provide clearer guidance and reduce the risk of unintentional breaches of the Immigration Act.
“Overall, the changes are intended to help migrants better understand their visa conditions and work rights while they are in New Zealand,” Elms said.
The upcoming changes have been welcomed by immigration lawyers and advisers.
David Cooper, chief executive of New Zealand Immigration PartnersSupplied
David Cooper, chief executive of New Zealand Immigration Partners, said the update to immigration instructions and policy would remove confusion and close a grey area that had existed previously.
“Particularly for people who held open work visas, whether or not they were allowed to work for themselves was never clear in the immigration instructions,” Cooper said.
“This will now allow them to do it and make it very clear that it’s legal for them to be able to do that.”
Cooper said that while self-employment would not apply to every type of open work visa, it would give eligible visa holders another option beyond finding a job.
“If they do struggle to find a job, they can at least consider setting up their own small business and trying that,” he added.
Sonny Lam, an immigration lawyer at Queen City Law, said clearer guidance could spur a modest lift in the recruitment of non-resident workers.
“The rules become muddled due to frequent changes and create a perception in busy employers’ minds that they can only hire someone on the Accredited Employer Work Visa,” he said.
Sonny Lam is an immigration lawyer at Queen City Law in Auckland.Supplied
“With this latest change, it will likely remind employers that they can hire such workers on open work visas again, leading to a slight increase,” he said.
Lam said the restriction preventing open work visa holders from employing others appeared to envisage gig-economy work, such as ride-share driving or delivery services.
This sort of work was a popular way for migrants to generate income and could provide a small boost to the wider economy, he said.
Arunima Dhingra, a senior licensed immigration adviser and chief executive of Aims Global, said clearer rules could reduce risk and improve compliance.
“In recent years there has been increasing confusion around what ‘open’ actually means,” she said.
“Many migrants and employers assume ‘open’ means unrestricted in all respects. At the same time, we have seen growth in contracting, project work and small-scale sole-trading arrangements.
“Those grey areas can create compliance risks if visa holders inadvertently step outside what is permitted.”
Arunima Dhingra, chief executive of Aims GlobalSupplied
Dhingra said that once the rules were explicit, employers could have greater confidence in engaging open work visa holders under appropriate arrangements.
For visa holders, she said, it reduced the risk of unintentionally breaching visa conditions.
Dafydd Parry, a licensed immigration adviser at Greenstone Immigration, said the restriction preventing open work visa holders from employing others could affect some current open work visa holders who are already running businesses that employ staff.
He said transitional arrangements and support would be available for those people until their current visa expires, after which the new rules would apply.
He said the clarification could also help ensure that employment created by temporary visa holders was sustainable and compliant, and that vulnerable workers were protected.
“Allowing temporary visa holders to employ staff could be deemed to create risks,” he said.
“If the visa holder must leave New Zealand, their employees may suddenly lose their jobs,” he said.
“Some cases may raise concerns about exploitation or non-genuine job arrangements.”
Elms said not all migrants were familiar with New Zealand’s employment laws or business obligations, and that allowing self-employment and business ownership while restricting the ability to hire staff helped support safe and compliant work practices.
He said it also reduced the risk of employers unintentionally breaching employment or immigration requirements.
Elms added that the rules also reflected a distinction between activities that signal temporary intent and those that suggest a more permanent footing.
“Running a business that employs others generally indicates a more ongoing and established presence in New Zealand, which is not the intent of a temporary open work visa,” he said.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
The Seascape apartment project in Auckland is at a standstill.RNZ / Ziming Li
The owner and developer of the 187-metre 52-storey Seascape development near Auckland’s waterfront has been put into receivership.
Receivers Brendon Gibson and Neale Jackson of Calibre Partners said the immediate priority was to ensure Shundi Customs’s development continues to remain safe and secure.
Shundi has been unable to restart major construction works since it was ceased on-site in August 2024.
“We will work with the current contractor onsite (Icon Construction) to ensure the development remains safe and secure. Our focus will then move to assessing options that will see funds generated to repay creditors,” Gibson said.
“Seascape is a partially completed development. While we will move as quickly as possible to assess options, it may take some time considering the nature of the asset.”
The receivers will make further statements as the receivership progresses.
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Two Talbot Mills polls have revealed New Zealanders overwhelmingly want politicians to think long-term with future generations in mind; our economic system to change; and for the ultra rich to be taxed more to fund public goods like healthcare, housing and climate action.
The first poll, conducted from the 9th to the 20th of October 2025, asked:
How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following:
Major political parties, from across the spectrum, should work together to find long-term solutions to major challenges that affect our future wellbeing, such as climate change, healthcare, and poverty reduction. 84% total agree. 3% total disagree.
We should have a national conversation about our values and long-term goals, in order for our major political parties to build consensus on the big issues facing our country. 78% total agree. 3% total disagree.
The interests of future generations should be a priority when making decisions on important policies in the present day. 78% total agree. 4% total disagree.
Political decisions in New Zealand are often characterised by short-term measures instead of creating sustainable solutions for the future in the next 10-20 years. 76% total agree.
It is frustrating how the major political parties constantly change positions on important national issues. 75% total agree. 5% total disagree.
Children born today will be financially worse off than their parents. 61% total agree. 9% total disagree.
The second poll, commissioned from the 11th to the 26th of February 2026, asked:
How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following:
The economic system in New Zealand is not set up to effectively address the big issues like housing, healthcare, and climate change. 66% total agree. 10% total disagree.
No one should be a billionaire while so many people struggle to afford basic necessities like housing, food, and healthcare. 50% total agree, 24% total disagree.
How strongly do you support or oppose the following in NZ:
Billionaires paying more tax to fund public goods like healthcare, housing, and climate action. 68% total agree. 13% total disagree.
Introducing a billion dollar wealth cap – a maximum amount of wealth any person can legally hold. 37% total agree. 34% total disagree.
Gareth Hughes, Director of Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa, says, “Every day here in New Zealand we can feel the impacts of an economy that isn’t serving us and that is evidenced in these polls.
“There is an overwhelming view that politicians need to stop making decisions around election cycles and instead take a longer term view, so that our kids and their grandkids can prosper on a healthy planet.
“New Zealanders can see and feel inequality rising above them, whilst more wealth is siphoned to the very wealthy. As an election draws near, politicians of all stripes must take a good look at how we can reorient our economy so that wealth doesn’t accumulate at the top whilst everyone else falls further behind.
“We are at a crossroads, and New Zealanders have shown in this poll the path they want to take. We must zoom out, rethink our economy so we can start addressing the huge crises facing us: that of housing inequality, crumbling infrastructure, and climate change”.
A new CT scanner is now operational at Wairarapa Hospital, marking a significant upgrade to diagnostic services in the region, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
“This $2.46 million investment will strengthen diagnostic services for Wairarapa, bringing faster, more reliable imaging closer to home and improving access for local patients,” Mr Brown says.
“The previous end-of-life CT scanner has experienced regular outages, disrupting care and delaying appointments. The new, modern scanner will significantly improve reliability and capability, providing faster imaging, better technology, and a more consistent experience for patients and staff.”
“The upgrade is expected to deliver around a five percent increase in output and productivity, supporting faster diagnosis, stronger cancer pathways, and better access to imaging for both inpatients and outpatients.
“It will also strengthen the wider regional diagnostics network, ensuring hospitals are better able to manage demand and maintain timely care across the region.
“By investing in frontline infrastructure like this, we are ensuring regional communities like Wairarapa get the quality care they deserve.
“This is about putting patients at the centre of our health system – investing in the infrastructure and technology that supports frontline clinicians, strengthens regional services, and ensures communities like Wairarapa can rely on modern, quality care now and into the future,” Mr Brown says.
Negotiator Liam Rutherford told RNZ the Education Ministry made an offer which was only slightly different from the offer the union’s members rejected in December last year.
He said it fell well short of what members had told the union they wanted prior to mediation.
“I think it’s fair to say that teachers didn’t get the outcomes from that they went into it with and as a result, we’ve called for urgent facilitation from the Employment Relations Authority. We’re really hoping that might be the circuit breaker to get the government to come to the table and for us to get this settled,” he said.
The December offer would have provided a pay rise of 2.5 percent at the end of January and a further 2.1 percent a year later.
The Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche warned earlier this week that primary teachers were missing out on increased pay and benefits because they had refused to settle.
Roche said since the end of January, primary teachers at the top of their pay scale were missing out on about $50 a week before tax they would have received had they settled last year.
He said the sums were even larger for the 60 percent of primary teachers who had management units for extra duties.
Under the December offer, a teacher at the top of the scale with one unit was missing out on around $63 (before tax) per week, and those with two units were missing out on around $76 (before tax) per week, Sir Brian said.
“Teachers know there are no lump sums or backpay available in this bargaining round.
“Every week without settlement is money teachers aren’t receiving.”
Rutherford said NZEI members understood what they had rejected.
“Teachers are well aware that if they had accepted the offer, they would be getting the pay increases on offer. But I think that more points to the strength of the issues that we’re facing in the sector,” he said.
Rutherford told RNZ the government’s curriculum changes were a big factor in teachers’ expectations of a better pay offer.
“What came through more strongly than we ever have is this absolute avalanche of curriculum change that people have found themselves in at the start of 2026,” he said.
“I think it’s been one of those areas where people have known that it’s coming, but to be in 2026 and to look at not just the size, but the speed of the ambition of the Minister of Education to implement this, lots of people are feeling like they’re drowning.”
Rutherford said the union advised the Education Ministry on Tuesday that it wanted facilitated bargaining.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Parliament. (File pic)VNP / Phil Smith
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon had to make a personal explanation in the House on Tuesday night, after he stated incorrectly the government was automatically extending visas for people in New Zealand affected by the war in Iran.
The Greens co-leader says he “snuck” into the House “late last night” to correct the record and it shows he’s “not across his brief”.
“He simply does not seem to understand the weight of the things that he is talking about, or the substance or logic that sits behind them,” Chlöe Swarbrick said.
Earlier this week the Prime Minister admitted he “misspoke” when he said New Zealand supported “any actions” to prevent Iran having nuclear weapons.
She says it’s disconcerting to have a leader of New Zealand talking about things that are “currently so much of a powder keg” and every time he opens his mouth “we have no idea how that is going to place our country in the context of the very tense international relations at play”.
Greens co-leader Chlöe SwarbrickRNZ / Mark Papalii
In Question Time on Tuesday, Swarbrick asked Luxon if the government would commit to automatically extending visas for people who are in New Zealand now whose home countries have been affected by the war, as happened in the context of the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Luxon responded saying, “I understand that we are doing that, and the Minister of Immigration will continue to take advice on that too.”
That was in contradiction to what his Immigration Minister Erica Stanford had said earlier that day, where she advised anyone who might be affected by the conflict to contact Immigration New Zealand.
“If they contact Immigration, we will be really pragmatic about making sure that they remain legally in New Zealand.”
Immigration Minister Erica StanfordRNZ / Mark Papalii
She said it would be considered on a case-by-case basis, and the current visa that may be expiring could be extended.
Swarbrick said on Wednesday the Prime Minister had effectively said a blanket extension was happening when “we know it wasn’t happening”.
“So [the Prime Minister] then snuck into the house at 9:02pm I believe, late last night, to correct the record and to say that there was a case-by-case process, which we all already knew, available to those people.”
At 9.03pm on Tuesday night, Luxon sought leave to make a personal explanation.
“To be perfectly clear, Immigration New Zealand has a well established process for international conflicts, and will facilitate and take a pragmatic approach to visa renewal when people are unable to return home,” he explained.
“This was not an automatic process in the context of the invasion of Ukraine, and decisions will continue to be taken on individual visas.”
Swarbrick told RNZ he also “misspoke” or “got his correction incorrect” when he said there wasn’t a blanket extension applied during the war in Ukraine.
“We have it in black and white from a Cabinet paper,” she said.
The paper stated Cabinet agreed to “extend by 12 months the visas of all Ukrainians onshore whose temporary visas were due to expire by the end of 2022”.
She said the extension meant people didn’t have to go through an arduous “case-by-case” basic to have them extended.
Swarbrick said she was now expecting the Prime Minister to have to “correct his correction”.
She said politicians were human beings, “all of us will screw up, we will stumble over our words, we will also make mistakes.”
“But I think there is quite a substantive difference between that and what the Prime Minister has modelled time and again, but very evidently over the last few days, which is that he is not across his brief.”
Missiles are seen in the skies over Doha on March 3.MAHMUD HAMS/AFP
The family car is filled with petrol and packed with supplies and go bags for a hasty escape.
But for now, a New Zealand family living in Qatar’s capital, said they would stay where they were while loud booms could be heard in the distance.
Since Israel and the United States launched an attack on Iran on Saturday, a number of countries in the Middle East have been hit by missile strikes including Qatar.
“If you’re calm and prepared, that’s probably the best thing that we can do,” Kathryn Rush said her Doha home.
Motorists drive past a plume of smoke rising from a reported Iranian strike in the industrial district of Doha on March 1.MAHMUD HAMS / AFP
She and her husband were oil and gas lawyers, meaning Doha was somewhere with work in their field.
Rush and their two children, Nick who’s 11 and 9-year-old Emily, moved over from Wellington at the end of December.
But now things had changed.
“It’s very reminiscent of Covid,” Rush said.
“We’ve spent the first few months getting ourselves into dance classes and bits and pieces, football clubs and things like that.
“So all of that’s now on hold as everyone has to stay at home as much as they can, my husband is working from home, the kids are home-schooling,” she said.
“Things are happening, you don’t know if it’s going to happen to you or not, and you’re just waiting and try to stay positive in the meantime.”
Rush was trying to stay positive for her young children too.
“The booms, you hear the booms and some of those sound closer than others… so they can be relatively loud,” she said.
“I popped outside and my daughter was on a trampoline tonight just to say ‘oh, do you want to come inside, those were quite loud’ and she said ‘yeah and there were some flashes in the sky too but I want to do some more trampolining’.”
Rush felt it was important to acknowledge with her children what was happening, “but not to be freaked out by it”.
“My 11-year-old is quite smart and quite onto it and is relatively are of what’s going on, but he’s settled in really nicely to school here, he’s got friends from all sorts of different countries and I think they probably talk about it a little bit as well,” she said.
For now, Rush felt comparatively safe – their house was among about 100 in a compound and all were low-rise.
They’re also to the north of Doha’s centre and airport, in the opposite direction to the American base further south.
For now, it felt like an added layer of safety, she said.
“We’re in an older compound… and the villas are really sturdy… so I don’t feel that we’re in as much of a target zone as perhaps some of the other areas.”
New Zealand’s advice to citizens remained to shelter in place but Rush said they would strongly consider leaving if the advice was upgraded.
“It would probably have to get a lot worse, I think, before we’d feel like we desperately wanted to get out,” she said.
The only real option was to drive to Saudi Arabia.
“I feel safer on the ground at the moment than I would in the air.”
Rush was sleeping fully clothed in case she had to quickly move in the night.
She and her neighbours regularly check on each other, but she said it felt like there was not much to check during the ongoing waiting for whatever happened next.
“It feels a bit probably like a Covid lockdown, except for the sound of the occasional loud boom.
“The car is full of petrol and packed with effectively camping gear and the usual kind of go back scenarios like water and that kind of thing, sunscreen, so you know we are prepared – if we have to go we have to go – but where that would be going is a little uncertain.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
The man, aged in his 50s, has interim name suppression that prevents RNZ detailing much of the case.
Judge David Robinson extended the interim suppression order when the man appeared via audio-visual link in the Christchurch District Court on Wednesday.
The man is yet to enter a plea and name suppression will remain in place until at least his next appearance in May.
He was charged last October with five counts of exposing girls under the age of 16 to indecent communication.
Court documents show he is accused of propositioning the first girl after sexually taunting her and asking for her phone number in March last year.
Just over a week later, he verbally taunted the girl again.
He was accused of telling a second teenage girl “you’re gorgeous, you can earn some money if you give me five minutes of your time” in June.
He was also accused of saying “you’re pretty” to a third girl before offering her $100 to perform a sex act on him in early August.
Police were notified in the days following the approaches and the man was arrested a few weeks later.
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Two offenders tried it on, and failed, after an alleged shoplifting at a clothing retailer.
The pair face court today after Police caught up with them in west Auckland on Tuesday morning.
Waitematā West Area Prevention Manager Acting Inspector Nick Salter says around 11am a unit was travelling through Henderson CBD, when a shoplifting was reported.
“A vehicle had been parked outside the retailer on Great North Road, with three people reported to be stealing clothing from inside,” he says.
“The offenders were confronted by staff, before they fled to the vehicle with stolen property.”
A Police unit came across the vehicle a short time later.
“Officers signalled for the vehicle to stop, however it failed to do so and sped away,” he says.
“The unit did not pursue and lost sight of the vehicle.”
A short time later units saw the vehicle again on Lincoln Road, not far from where it had originally been signalled to stop for Police.
“Eagle deployed into the area and was quickly above the vehicle, tracking its movements,” Acting Inspector Salter says.
“When the vehicle stopped at a red-light officers took the opportunity to apprehend the occupants.”
With the alleged offenders in custody Police were able to conduct further enquires.
“We discovered that the plates on the vehicle did not match the VIN number, and the correct registration showed it as stolen,” Acting Inspector Salter says.
“This was great work by our staff in continuing to follow up and look out for this vehicle until it was eventually found and the alleged offenders taken into custody.”
Two men, with gang links, will appear in court.
A 24-year-old man will appear in the Waitākere District Court today charged with shoplifting, failing to stop and cannabis-related offences.
A 34-year-old man will also appear in the Waitākere District Court today charged with shoplifting.
Dave Rennie has been named the new All Blacks coach, seeing off Jamie Joseph in the two-man race to replace Scott Robertson.
The 62-year-old former Chiefs coach and coach of the Wallabies was unveiled as the national coach in a New Zealand Rugby social media post just before midday.
Rennie, who is of Cook Islands descent through his mother (Titikaveka, Rarotonga), becomes the first All Blacks Head Coach with Pasifika heritage.
Rennie said it was a privilege to be appointed Head Coach of the All Blacks.
“Coaching the All Blacks is an incredible honour. I’m extremely proud to have been entrusted with this role and understand the expectations that come with it,” he said.
“I’m really clear on the way I want the All Blacks to play and I look forward to working with the players, management team, and the rugby community. We have a lot of talent here and we will be working extremely hard to make the country proud.”
More to come…
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