Category: MIL-OSI

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Singer and songwriter Neil Sedaka dies at 86

Source: Radio New Zealand

American musician Neil Sedaka, who had a string of chart-topping hits in the 1960s and 1970s with songs like ‘Laughter in the Rain’, has died at age 86, his family said Friday.

Over a career spanning six decades, Sedaka scored three number-one hits in the United States and also wrote chart-topping songs for other artists.

“Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather,” Sedaka’s family posted on his Facebook page, describing the late artist as a “true rock and roll legend.”

Born in New York, Sedaka’s musical career began in the late 1950s. One of his first successes was writing ‘Stupid Cupid’ for one of the era’s most popular US female vocalists, Connie Francis.

Sedaka, an accomplished pianist, became a star in his own right in the early 1960s, with pop hits including ‘Breaking Up Is Hard To Do’.

His popularity faded in the second half of the 1960s as bands like The Beatles came into fashion, but it revived in the 1970s with easy-listening favourites like ‘Laughter in the Rain’ and ‘Bad Blood’.

Sedaka’s ‘Love Will Keep Us Together’ became a number one hit for the husband-and-wife recording duo Captain & Tennille in 1975.

Sedaka had dropped out of the charts by the 1980s. He remained a showbiz fixture and kept performing even as commercial successes waned.

No cause of death was given.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/28/singer-and-songwriter-neil-sedaka-dies-at-86/

Posted on

Singer and songwriter Neil Sedaka dies at 86

Source: Radio New Zealand

American musician Neil Sedaka, who had a string of chart-topping hits in the 1960s and 1970s with songs like ‘Laughter in the Rain’, has died at age 86, his family said Friday.

Over a career spanning six decades, Sedaka scored three number-one hits in the United States and also wrote chart-topping songs for other artists.

“Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather,” Sedaka’s family posted on his Facebook page, describing the late artist as a “true rock and roll legend.”

Born in New York, Sedaka’s musical career began in the late 1950s. One of his first successes was writing ‘Stupid Cupid’ for one of the era’s most popular US female vocalists, Connie Francis.

Sedaka, an accomplished pianist, became a star in his own right in the early 1960s, with pop hits including ‘Breaking Up Is Hard To Do’.

His popularity faded in the second half of the 1960s as bands like The Beatles came into fashion, but it revived in the 1970s with easy-listening favourites like ‘Laughter in the Rain’ and ‘Bad Blood’.

Sedaka’s ‘Love Will Keep Us Together’ became a number one hit for the husband-and-wife recording duo Captain & Tennille in 1975.

Sedaka had dropped out of the charts by the 1980s. He remained a showbiz fixture and kept performing even as commercial successes waned.

No cause of death was given.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/28/singer-and-songwriter-neil-sedaka-dies-at-86/

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Expanded NICU to support more babies in Christchurch

Source: New Zealand Government

A $13.9 million investment to upgrade and expand the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Christchurch Women’s Hospital will provide a significant boost to neonatal care services for families across Canterbury and the wider region, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

“Every New Zealander deserves access to timely, quality healthcare, and that starts with supporting our most vulnerable patients – our newborns,” Mr Brown says.

“Christchurch’s NICU services have been under increasing pressure in recent years, with demand for care often exceeding available capacity. 

“This investment will reconfigure the existing space to increase the number of neonatal cots from 44 to 54, meaning more babies will be able to receive the specialised care they need close to home.

“In addition to increasing capacity, the upgrade will enhance infection prevention measures, a vital part of protecting newborns and giving families peace of mind. The redesign will also ensure the facility meets the latest fire and safety standards, creating a safer, more modern environment for both patients and staff.”

Preparations for the upgrade are already underway, with careful planning to ensure all NICU services continue operating safely on the hospital campus during construction. Work is scheduled to begin next year and is expected to take around nine months, with the upgraded unit expected to be fully operational in early 2027.

“Improving New Zealand’s health infrastructure is a top priority for the Government, and this investment will make a real difference for families across Canterbury. More cots, better facilities, and stronger infection control measures mean that newborns get the care they need when they need it most.

“Our health system must keep pace with the growing needs of our communities, and projects like this show our commitment to supporting families and delivering timely, quality care for all New Zealanders” Mr Brown says.

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/28/expanded-nicu-to-support-more-babies-in-christchurch/

Posted on

Expanded NICU to support more babies in Christchurch

Source: New Zealand Government

A $13.9 million investment to upgrade and expand the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Christchurch Women’s Hospital will provide a significant boost to neonatal care services for families across Canterbury and the wider region, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

“Every New Zealander deserves access to timely, quality healthcare, and that starts with supporting our most vulnerable patients – our newborns,” Mr Brown says.

“Christchurch’s NICU services have been under increasing pressure in recent years, with demand for care often exceeding available capacity. 

“This investment will reconfigure the existing space to increase the number of neonatal cots from 44 to 54, meaning more babies will be able to receive the specialised care they need close to home.

“In addition to increasing capacity, the upgrade will enhance infection prevention measures, a vital part of protecting newborns and giving families peace of mind. The redesign will also ensure the facility meets the latest fire and safety standards, creating a safer, more modern environment for both patients and staff.”

Preparations for the upgrade are already underway, with careful planning to ensure all NICU services continue operating safely on the hospital campus during construction. Work is scheduled to begin next year and is expected to take around nine months, with the upgraded unit expected to be fully operational in early 2027.

“Improving New Zealand’s health infrastructure is a top priority for the Government, and this investment will make a real difference for families across Canterbury. More cots, better facilities, and stronger infection control measures mean that newborns get the care they need when they need it most.

“Our health system must keep pace with the growing needs of our communities, and projects like this show our commitment to supporting families and delivering timely, quality care for all New Zealanders” Mr Brown says.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/28/expanded-nicu-to-support-more-babies-in-christchurch/

Posted on

Why don’t we get a higher pension? – Ask Susan

Source: Radio New Zealand

Unsplash – Towfiqu Barbhuiya

Got questions? RNZ has launched a new podcast, ‘No Stupid Questions’, with Susan Edmunds.

We’d love to hear more of your questions about money and the economy. You can send through written questions, like these ones, but even better, you can drop us a voice memo to our email questions@rnz.co.nz

You can also sign up to RNZ’s new money newsletter, ‘Money with Susan Edmunds’.

I thought NZ super was 65 percent of the average wage. Where do they get an average wage of the current rate from? Considering the minimum wage for a 40-hour week is $49,816, and Stats NZ says median weekly earnings from wages and salaries were $1380 in the June 2025 quarter, which equals $71,360, 65 percent of that equals $46,384 or $1784 a fortnight compared to NZ super of $1254.28.

NZ Super is set at a rate of 66 percent of the after-tax average ordinary time wage for couples and 40 percent for single people. But the key point to note is that it’s after-tax income. The figures you’ve quoted here are pre-tax. It is also calculated net of any ACC levies.

I was 50 years old when KiwiSaver was introduced! And at that stage the government did not suggest that we would not be able to live on the retirement benefit. I was working unpaid part-time for my former husband as a secretary/receptionist. I had two teenage children, both born in my 30s. In those days there was no paid leave for parents. One of my children is autistic and state subsidised childcare was available two mornings a week. I had to resign from my full time job and work part-time. The expectations that we all fund our retirement is unrealistic, especially for women and for people with children who are disabled. I am now nearly 70 years old. What do I do?

I’ve talked to Liz Koh at Enrich Retirement about your situation.

It’s hard to give any advice without knowing your full situation, but here are some high-level thoughts.

Your ability to access NZ Super hasn’t changed. You’re right that there is increasing talk about people not necessarily being able to rely on it into the future to the same degree, as it becomes more expensive. But any changes made won’t affect people who are already receiving it.

Koh says your biggest challenge is probably finding affordable accommodation. Depending on your situation, you might be able to get the accommodation supplement – that will rely on you having very few other assets though. It is worth checking with the Ministry of Social Development that you are getting all the assistance and support you are entitled to.

She says you could look at moving to a cheaper area, social housing or taking in some boarders for extra income.

“There’s a number of strategies for securing affordable accommodation but not all of them are palatable. It’s much cheaper to live in smaller towns and if your accommodation is secure, it is possible to live on NZ Superannuation if you are able to cut your costs right back, for example by growing vegetables, reducing power consumption, using public transport.”

You could potentially consider whether a reverse mortgage is an option, too, depending on whether you own your home.

My question is about the upcoming increase in KiwiSaver employer contribution to 3.5 percent from 1 April. Does my employer have to apply the increase if I’m already contributing more than 3.5 percent?

Yes, your employer’s contribution will need to lift to 3.5 percent from 1 April.

If people request that their rate does not increase temporarily, employers have the option of matching their lower contribution. But if the employee is contributing the higher amount, as you already are, your employer has to match it.

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

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/28/why-dont-we-get-a-higher-pension-ask-susan/

Posted on

Auckland community leader tired of telling governments how to combat youth offending

Source: Radio New Zealand

Dave Letele in studio with Guyon Espiner. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

A community leader in Auckland says he is tired of telling governments how to combat youth offending.

Fewer 10- to 17-year-olds went through the youth justice system in the year to June 2025 compared to the previous year, a new Ministry of Justice report has shown.

The Youth Justice Indicators report, published on Friday, said in the year to June 2025 the rate of police action against children decreased by 22 percent, and against young people by 9 percent.

The report defines those aged 10 to 13 years old as children, and 14- to 17-year-olds as young people.

However, Pacific young people experienced an increase in police action. Pacific young people were also more likely to experience a more serious response from the justice system than other groups, the report showed.

For example, 29 percent of Pacific young people proceeded against by police appeared in court, compared with 26 percent for the total population and 38 percent of the Pacific young people who appeared in the Youth Court were remanded into custody, compared with 32 percent for the total population.

Buttabean founder Dave Letele said that was not surprising to people like him who work with youth.

“Research like this is great because it tells the truth, and it’s not telling us anything we don’t know.

“But it’s frustrating because every time these reports are released, we keep having the same conversation.”

There was obviously a correlation between the high number of Pacific youth facing material hardship and going through the youth justice system, he said.

Data released by Stats NZ this week for the year to June 2025 showed one in seven children was living in hardship.

Letele said for Pacific children, it was one in three.

“Until all governments understand that they must invest in grassroots community-led programmes, and invest in them sustainably, so they’re not having to worry about funding all the time, nothing is going to change.

“I keep saying that, they just need to listen.”

Louise Upston. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Minister for Child Poverty Reduction Louise Upston earlier this week said reducing children’s material hardship was a priority in the government’s child and youth strategy.

“Our government is taking action to reduce child poverty by fixing the basics and building the future.”

She said the just-released statistics showed no statistically significant changes in the three primary child poverty measures compared to 2023/24.

“Our government has made a number of changes to improve the lives of Kiwi families, we’ve increased the in-work tax credit, lifted the threshold for Working for Families, provided working families with tax relief, reduced inflation and introduced FamilyBoost to make childcare more affordable.

“Unemployment is the last thing to come right after a recession and that is why our government is focused on growing the economy, reducing the number of people on the jobseeker benefit and reducing the number of children in benefit dependent households.”

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/28/auckland-community-leader-tired-of-telling-governments-how-to-combat-youth-offending/

Posted on

Why don’t we get a higher pension? – Ask Susan

Source: Radio New Zealand

Unsplash – Towfiqu Barbhuiya

Got questions? RNZ has launched a new podcast, ‘No Stupid Questions’, with Susan Edmunds.

We’d love to hear more of your questions about money and the economy. You can send through written questions, like these ones, but even better, you can drop us a voice memo to our email questions@rnz.co.nz

You can also sign up to RNZ’s new money newsletter, ‘Money with Susan Edmunds’.

I thought NZ super was 65 percent of the average wage. Where do they get an average wage of the current rate from? Considering the minimum wage for a 40-hour week is $49,816, and Stats NZ says median weekly earnings from wages and salaries were $1380 in the June 2025 quarter, which equals $71,360, 65 percent of that equals $46,384 or $1784 a fortnight compared to NZ super of $1254.28.

NZ Super is set at a rate of 66 percent of the after-tax average ordinary time wage for couples and 40 percent for single people. But the key point to note is that it’s after-tax income. The figures you’ve quoted here are pre-tax. It is also calculated net of any ACC levies.

I was 50 years old when KiwiSaver was introduced! And at that stage the government did not suggest that we would not be able to live on the retirement benefit. I was working unpaid part-time for my former husband as a secretary/receptionist. I had two teenage children, both born in my 30s. In those days there was no paid leave for parents. One of my children is autistic and state subsidised childcare was available two mornings a week. I had to resign from my full time job and work part-time. The expectations that we all fund our retirement is unrealistic, especially for women and for people with children who are disabled. I am now nearly 70 years old. What do I do?

I’ve talked to Liz Koh at Enrich Retirement about your situation.

It’s hard to give any advice without knowing your full situation, but here are some high-level thoughts.

Your ability to access NZ Super hasn’t changed. You’re right that there is increasing talk about people not necessarily being able to rely on it into the future to the same degree, as it becomes more expensive. But any changes made won’t affect people who are already receiving it.

Koh says your biggest challenge is probably finding affordable accommodation. Depending on your situation, you might be able to get the accommodation supplement – that will rely on you having very few other assets though. It is worth checking with the Ministry of Social Development that you are getting all the assistance and support you are entitled to.

She says you could look at moving to a cheaper area, social housing or taking in some boarders for extra income.

“There’s a number of strategies for securing affordable accommodation but not all of them are palatable. It’s much cheaper to live in smaller towns and if your accommodation is secure, it is possible to live on NZ Superannuation if you are able to cut your costs right back, for example by growing vegetables, reducing power consumption, using public transport.”

You could potentially consider whether a reverse mortgage is an option, too, depending on whether you own your home.

My question is about the upcoming increase in KiwiSaver employer contribution to 3.5 percent from 1 April. Does my employer have to apply the increase if I’m already contributing more than 3.5 percent?

Yes, your employer’s contribution will need to lift to 3.5 percent from 1 April.

If people request that their rate does not increase temporarily, employers have the option of matching their lower contribution. But if the employee is contributing the higher amount, as you already are, your employer has to match it.

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

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/28/why-dont-we-get-a-higher-pension-ask-susan/

Posted on

Auckland community leader tired of telling governments how to combat youth offending

Source: Radio New Zealand

Dave Letele in studio with Guyon Espiner. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

A community leader in Auckland says he is tired of telling governments how to combat youth offending.

Fewer 10- to 17-year-olds went through the youth justice system in the year to June 2025 compared to the previous year, a new Ministry of Justice report has shown.

The Youth Justice Indicators report, published on Friday, said in the year to June 2025 the rate of police action against children decreased by 22 percent, and against young people by 9 percent.

The report defines those aged 10 to 13 years old as children, and 14- to 17-year-olds as young people.

However, Pacific young people experienced an increase in police action. Pacific young people were also more likely to experience a more serious response from the justice system than other groups, the report showed.

For example, 29 percent of Pacific young people proceeded against by police appeared in court, compared with 26 percent for the total population and 38 percent of the Pacific young people who appeared in the Youth Court were remanded into custody, compared with 32 percent for the total population.

Buttabean founder Dave Letele said that was not surprising to people like him who work with youth.

“Research like this is great because it tells the truth, and it’s not telling us anything we don’t know.

“But it’s frustrating because every time these reports are released, we keep having the same conversation.”

There was obviously a correlation between the high number of Pacific youth facing material hardship and going through the youth justice system, he said.

Data released by Stats NZ this week for the year to June 2025 showed one in seven children was living in hardship.

Letele said for Pacific children, it was one in three.

“Until all governments understand that they must invest in grassroots community-led programmes, and invest in them sustainably, so they’re not having to worry about funding all the time, nothing is going to change.

“I keep saying that, they just need to listen.”

Louise Upston. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Minister for Child Poverty Reduction Louise Upston earlier this week said reducing children’s material hardship was a priority in the government’s child and youth strategy.

“Our government is taking action to reduce child poverty by fixing the basics and building the future.”

She said the just-released statistics showed no statistically significant changes in the three primary child poverty measures compared to 2023/24.

“Our government has made a number of changes to improve the lives of Kiwi families, we’ve increased the in-work tax credit, lifted the threshold for Working for Families, provided working families with tax relief, reduced inflation and introduced FamilyBoost to make childcare more affordable.

“Unemployment is the last thing to come right after a recession and that is why our government is focused on growing the economy, reducing the number of people on the jobseeker benefit and reducing the number of children in benefit dependent households.”

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/28/auckland-community-leader-tired-of-telling-governments-how-to-combat-youth-offending/

Posted on

Cuban ambassador denounces US aggression and violations of international law

INTERVIEW: By Eugene Doyle

This is a moment of great peril for the small Caribbean nation of Cuba. Nothing less than its sovereignty is on the line as the US drives its knee into the neck of 10 million Cubans by means of a crushing air and sea blockade and a set of secondary sanctions designed to muscle the nations of the world into compliance to the hegemon.

The issues are not particular to Cuba; we are in the midst of a militant US that is determined to assert domination through force.

It was therefore a pleasure to spend time this week with Luis Ernesto Morejón Rodríguez, Cuba’s Ambassador to New Zealand in Wellington.

EUGENE DOYLE: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s speech in Davos received considerable attention. He said: “Middle powers must act together because if we are not at the table, we are on the menu.” Cuba has been on the US menu for decades. What would be your message to those who support Carney’s call to “come together to create a third way with impact”?

AMBASSADOR RODRIGUEZ: Cuba believes a genuine “third way” can only exist if it defends the economic sovereignty of states against coercion. For more than 60 years, our country has been subjected to a policy explicitly designed to generate material hardship in order to force political change.

The issue therefore is not ideological but systemic: no nation can claim strategic autonomy while tolerating that another punishes third countries for lawful trade. True multilateralism begins when middle-sized nations act collectively to prevent the global economy from becoming an instrument of political pressure.

How does Cuba intend to use the United Nations General Assembly — where it enjoys near-unanimous support — to challenge the legality of “secondary sanctions” that weaponise the global financial system against trade with third parties?

Cuba will continue using the General Assembly to document and expose the extraterritorial nature of these measures. Each year the discussion goes beyond a vote: evidence is presented of banks cancelling humanitarian transfers, shipping companies refusing to transport fuel, and medical suppliers withdrawing contracts due to fear of penalties.

The objective is to consolidate an international legal and political consensus that no domestic legislation should be globally imposed or obstruct legitimate trade among sovereign states. The process is cumulative  — it builds legitimacy and normative pressure over time.

In what other ways will Cuba navigate this latest campaign of maximum pressure by the United States? What support will it seek?

Historically Cuba responds through a combination of internal resilience and external cooperation: diversifying energy and trade partners, strengthening South-South relations, and promoting alternative financial arrangements. At the same time, priority is given to protecting essential social sectors.

Cuba does not seek geopolitical confrontation but economic normality — the ability to purchase food, fuel, spare parts or medicines without third parties being penalized. The support we request is straightforward: respect for our right to trade.

Many people do not follow international news closely. Could you describe life in Cuba today and how the population and government are responding to what must be a severe economic crisis and the threat of US pressure?

Daily life is marked by material scarcity linked to severe financial and energy restrictions. Limited access to fuel can lead to extended power outages; families organise cooking around electricity availability and neighbours share refrigeration space to prevent food spoilage. Hospitals maintain essential services using constrained backup power systems.

Despite this, the state preserves universal health and education, and communities rely heavily on solidarity networks. It is less a conventional economic cycle than a society operating under continuous external pressure.

For an audience in Wellington that might interpret this as a “political dispute”, what does “maximum pressure” mean for a Cuban mother trying to feed her children, or for a doctor performing surgery during a 20-hour blackout?

Maximum pressure is experienced through ordinary situations: planning daily meals around electricity schedules, transporting patients when fuel for ambulances is scarce, or sterilising medical instruments under limited power conditions.

These are not political slogans but cumulative consequences of restrictions that prevent the country from freely purchasing fuel, spare parts or financing. Administrative decisions taken abroad translate into domestic difficulties at home.

In the West we often speak about international law but do not always apply it to ourselves. What is your message to those who want to live in a world governed by law rather than force?

Cuba asks for legal consistency: if international trade is rule-based, no country should be penalised for lawful commerce. We also recognise and appreciate New Zealand’s consistent favourable vote in the United Nations General Assembly in support of the resolution entitled “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba.”

That position reflects a principled commitment to multilateralism. In this context, we have encouraged New Zealand to continue upholding its traditional opposition to unilateral coercive measures and to the extraterritorial application of national laws. Silence regarding such sanctions weakens the very legal principles that protect all small states alike. The issue extends beyond bilateral relations — it concerns the integrity of international law itself.

What is your life like as a diplomat in New Zealand? How is your contact with government officials and the diplomatic community?

Diplomatic work in New Zealand takes place in a serious institutional environment where dialogue exists even amid disagreement. Our exchanges with officials are respectful and professional; positions may differ, but there is willingness to listen and understand context.

Much of our work here is explanatory rather than confrontational: clarifying that the Cuban situation is not merely a bilateral dispute but part of a broader debate about how the international order functions. The diplomatic community in Wellington is active and collegial, allowing frank discussions on global issues such as climate change, development and multilateralism.

The US objective is explicitly described as regime change through economic collapse. If Cuba yielded to these demands, what would the Global South lose?

A crucial precedent would be lost: that a nation can choose its political system without external tutelage. If prolonged economic strangulation succeeded in imposing internal change, it would legitimise a model of intervention applicable to any developing country.

It would no longer be necessary to negotiate with societies — sustained financial pressure would suffice. The Global South would see its effective autonomy reduced.

What is your vision for Cuba? Where would you like it to be in 10 or 20 years?

The aspiration is a fully normalised Cuba within the global economy — able to access financing, trade, and technology without restrictions — while preserving universal social policies in health, education, and equity. Change will continue, but it should occur by national decision, not external pressure.

In 20 years we hope Cuba will be known less for conflict with a major power and more for contributions in medical cooperation, biotechnology innovation, cultural exchange, and regional development. The ultimate goal is not perpetual resistance, but the freedom to choose its own path.

Eugene Doyle is a community organiser and independent writer based in Wellington, publisher of Solidarity and contributor to Asia Pacific Report. His first demonstration was at the age of 12 against the Vietnam war. This article was first published by Solidarity on 26 February 2024.

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/28/cuban-ambassador-denounces-us-aggression-and-violations-of-international-law/

Posted on

Lindis Pass reopened after crash leaves one seriously hurt

Source: Radio New Zealand

The closure is from Broken Hutt Road and Old Faithful Road. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

Lindis Pass / State Highway 8 has reopened after a single-vehicle crash resulted in a closure and left one seriously injured on Saturday morning.

The closure was from Broken Hutt Road and Old Faithful Road after the single-car crash.

Police said one person had sustained serious injuries and was seen by ambulance services.

The Serious Crash Unit was notified.

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/28/lindis-pass-reopened-after-crash-leaves-one-seriously-hurt/

Posted on

CUKTECH Officially Launches Its Online Store in Indonesia, Expanding Charging Technology Presence in Southeast Asia

Source: Media Outreach

JARKATA, INDONESIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 February 2026 – CUKTECH, a consumer electronics brand specializing in charging technologies, has officially launched its online store in Indonesia, further advancing its expansion strategy across Southeast Asia. The launch provides Indonesian consumers with a dedicated official channel to access CUKTECH’s charging products and related technical information.

CUKTECH focuses on the development of power and charging solutions, with a product portfolio that includes power banks, charging cables, wall chargers, and car chargers. Product development emphasizes charging efficiency, safety standards, and long-term reliability, addressing everyday usage scenarios involving smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other connected devices. The brand’s solutions are designed to support increasingly common multi-device lifestyles, including mobile work and frequent travel.

Prior to the launch of the official online store, CUKTECH operated in Indonesia mainly through third-party distribution channels, resulting in limited product availability. With the establishment of an official channel, the company is gradually introducing a more complete product lineup to the Indonesian market, aligning local availability with that of other Southeast Asian markets such as Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

According to the company, the official online store serves as a centralized platform for presenting product specifications, technical features, and launch updates in a consistent manner. This approach is intended to improve transparency and accessibility for consumers while supporting a more structured, long-term market strategy in Indonesia.

Looking ahead, CUKTECH plans to continue expanding its product portfolio in Indonesia, introducing additional products to address evolving local usage needs. Future launches will focus on scenarios such as multi-device charging, mobile productivity, and daily commuting, reflecting changing consumer behavior.

This market-oriented approach aligns with CUKTECH’s brand philosophy, “In somewhere, For somewhere,” which emphasizes adapting products and solutions to the specific needs of each market rather than applying a uniform global model.

Updates on product launches, brand developments, and the official online store can be found through CUKTECH’s official social media channels on Instagram and TikTok:cuktech_id

https://www.tokopedia.com/cuktech-official-store

https://shopee.co.id/shop/1748675224

Hashtag: #CUKTECH

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/28/cuktech-officially-launches-its-online-store-in-indonesia-expanding-charging-technology-presence-in-southeast-asia/

Posted on

Lindis Pass reopened after crash leaves one seriously hurt

Source: Radio New Zealand

The closure is from Broken Hutt Road and Old Faithful Road. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

Lindis Pass / State Highway 8 has reopened after a single-vehicle crash resulted in a closure and left one seriously injured on Saturday morning.

The closure was from Broken Hutt Road and Old Faithful Road after the single-car crash.

Police said one person had sustained serious injuries and was seen by ambulance services.

The Serious Crash Unit was notified.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/28/lindis-pass-reopened-after-crash-leaves-one-seriously-hurt/

Posted on

Person seriously injured, another arrested in Auckland’s Glen Eden

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police were called to Great North Road around 10am. RNZ

A person has been seriously injured in the Auckland suburb of Glen Eden.

Police were called to Great North Road around 10am after a report of an incident involving people known to each other.

They did not share any details about the nature of the incident, but said enquiries were ongoing.

Another person has been taken into custody.

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/28/person-seriously-injured-another-arrested-in-aucklands-glen-eden/

Posted on

AI scribe tool being used in emergency departments

Source: Radio New Zealand

Simeon Brown has announced that every emergency department in the country now has access to the tool. RNZ / Mark Papalii

The health minister says a doctor using an artificial intelligence scribe tool is able to see, on average, one additional patient per shift.

Simeon Brown has announced every emergency department in the country now has access to the tool, which records consultations and generates draft clinical notes, referral letters and follow-up summaries.

He claimed 80 percent of surveyed staff at Auckland’s Middlemore Emergency Department said it improved productivity or efficiency.

While 84 percent said it had a positive impact on their overall experience and wellbeing during a shift.

“This places New Zealand among the fastest health systems in the world to move from pilot to nationwide frontline AI use in emergency departments, helping clinicians spend more time with patients and less time on paperwork,” Brown said.

“AI will never replace clinical skill or judgement, but it will play an increasingly important role in supporting frontline healthcare staff and helping patients access care faster and more efficiently, now and into the future.

“We will continue investing in digital technology that puts patients at the centre of the healthcare system, improving access to care, and delivering better health outcomes for New Zealanders.”

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/28/ai-scribe-tool-being-used-in-emergency-departments/

Posted on

Person seriously injured, another arrested in Auckland’s Glen Eden

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police were called to Great North Road around 10am. RNZ

A person has been seriously injured in the Auckland suburb of Glen Eden.

Police were called to Great North Road around 10am after a report of an incident involving people known to each other.

They did not share any details about the nature of the incident, but said enquiries were ongoing.

Another person has been taken into custody.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/28/person-seriously-injured-another-arrested-in-aucklands-glen-eden/

Posted on

AI scribe tool being used in emergency departments

Source: Radio New Zealand

Simeon Brown has announced that every emergency department in the country now has access to the tool. RNZ / Mark Papalii

The health minister says a doctor using an artificial intelligence scribe tool is able to see, on average, one additional patient per shift.

Simeon Brown has announced every emergency department in the country now has access to the tool, which records consultations and generates draft clinical notes, referral letters and follow-up summaries.

He claimed 80 percent of surveyed staff at Auckland’s Middlemore Emergency Department said it improved productivity or efficiency.

While 84 percent said it had a positive impact on their overall experience and wellbeing during a shift.

“This places New Zealand among the fastest health systems in the world to move from pilot to nationwide frontline AI use in emergency departments, helping clinicians spend more time with patients and less time on paperwork,” Brown said.

“AI will never replace clinical skill or judgement, but it will play an increasingly important role in supporting frontline healthcare staff and helping patients access care faster and more efficiently, now and into the future.

“We will continue investing in digital technology that puts patients at the centre of the healthcare system, improving access to care, and delivering better health outcomes for New Zealanders.”

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/28/ai-scribe-tool-being-used-in-emergency-departments/

Posted on

One dead after Northland single-vehicle crash

Source: Radio New Zealand

123rf.com

One person died following a single-vehicle crash in Northland Saturday morning.

Emergency services were called to Mahuta Gap in Te Kopuru about 7.15am.

Police said one person was found dead at the scene.

The Serious Crash Unit has examined the crash site.

The death will be referred to the coroner.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/28/one-dead-after-northland-single-vehicle-crash/

Posted on

Fatal crash, Te Koporu

Source: New Zealand Police

One person has died after a single-vehicle crash on Mahuta Gap, Te Kopuru, this morning.

Emergency services were called to the scene about 7.15am.

Sadly, one person was located deceased.

The Serious Crash Unit has examined the scene.

The death will be referred to the Coroner.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/28/fatal-crash-te-koporu/

Posted on

The migrant communities reporting some of the worst mental health

Source: Radio New Zealand

Khawat, a sisterhood for ethnic women, hosting a run club. SUPPLIED

From watching homelands burn on social media to being stuck between cultures, there is one migrant community facing some of the worst mental health.

Middle Eastern, Latin American and African (MELAA) young people are an ethnic minority reporting unique challenges.

Having to navigate trauma, mixed identities and many other potential obstacles, some young people are also saying there is a gap in culturally sensitive mental health support.

In December 2024 the Ministry of Ethnic Communities released its ethnic evidence summary. As part of its findings, it stated that while most ethnic communities faced mental health challenges, MELAA people were reporting lower overall wellbeing with more than one third of the youth having seriously considered attempting suicide.

As heartbreaking as the statistic was, it had not come as a shock to some in the community.

Carrying the trauma

Fatima Sanussi is a refugee and the founder of ‘Do You Still Dream?’, a creative platform for migrants and refugees.

She said she was not surprised that MELAA youth were reporting such low mental health.

“During this time where you can see what’s happening in Palestine, you can see what’s happening in Congo, you see what’s happening in Sudan, we have communities here that are impacted … that carry these narratives.”

Community advocate Fatima Sanussi SUPPLIED

Originally from Sudan and Ethiopia, Sanussi was a year and a half when she resettled to South Auckland with her family.

She said a significant portion of the MELAA community were in Aotearoa due to forced displacement, and they did not always receive enough support.

Many of the youth Sanussi had grown up with in Otahuhu had left a brutal conflict.

“That type of trauma was not addressed, the trauma that they carried from the conflict.”

Community advocate Fatima Sanussi SUPPLIED

Her own mental health had suffered because of the war in Sudan, especially with the exposure on social media.

“I watched my homeland be destroyed, a tremendous amount of death, displacement as well as the loss of my own and the worry of my family being in a war zone.”

At 28, Sanussi was still navigating her own mental health journey, recalling the first time she went to therapy following the passing of her father.

“It was hard to speak to the therapist, I remember I was about 14 or 15 and I felt like she couldn’t understand me,” Sanussi said.

She felt there was no cultural awareness in the process with little understanding for her struggles as a young ethnic person and the experience discouraged her from seeking help until recently.

It was only last year, more than a decade later, that Sanussi decided to give it another go after feeling the impact of the war in Sudan.

Stuck in the ‘in-between’

Eman Ghandour, an AUT career advisor and founder of Khawat, a network for ethnic women, said the poor mental health for MELAA youth was due to many layered factors.

Eman Ghandour SUPPLIED

Originally from Jordan, Ghandour said she had struggled with depression for many years and one of the main reasons was a flickering sense of belonging.

She identified as a 1.5 generation migrant, a term for migrants who moved from their country of origin during their childhoods.

Lost between the culture they were born with and the culture they were trying to adopt, she said young migrants could struggle with their identity.

“I always say to my parents you’ve never doubted that you were Arab right, you’ve never doubted that you’re a Muslim… but for us we’ve always tapped in and out of that.

“One of the biggest barriers for mental health is actually that in-between feeling.”

Khawat, a sisterhood for ethnic women, hosting a run club. SUPPLIED

Although most migrants can experience this feeling, MELAA youth are considered a minority within a minority, making up only 3 percent of the population.

The ethnic summaries report had also stated that MELAA people could face employment barriers “on a similar scale as Māori and Pacific peoples”, although the types of barriers were not necessarily the same.

Ghandour pressed the point that mental health was holistic and was linked to things like employment and education for young people.

As a career consultant, Ghandour said there was a high expectation for second generation immigrants to achieve employment and get into industries with the same ease as non-migrants.

However, this was often not the case, even with the many migrants who graduated with top grades.

“They don’t have an in, they don’t understand the recruitment process they don’t see themselves like they belong to a certain workplace so there’s massive barriers of even getting through the door.”

Some of the young women from Khawat, a community for ethnic wahine, at a gym session. SUPPLIED

What do the stats say and what’s next?

The ethnic summaries report was the first of its kind in identifying how ethnic communities were doing across a range of sectors including mental health.

It had also highlighted that being a female, having a sexual or gender minority status were also some of the factors associated with higher suicidal and self-harming behaviour amongst MELAA youth.

Ministry of Ethnic Communities deputy chief executive Pratima Namasivayam said the statistics for MELAA youth mental health were concerning and the group was now one of the ministry’s priorities.

“It was the first time when we brought together Ethnic Evidence, we went, ‘Oh my God look at this particular finding for MELAA youth’.”

The Ministry of Ethnic Communities deputy chief executive Pratima Namasivayam. SUPPLIED

While young migrants contributed strongly to their communities’, factors like racism in schools, biases in workplaces, non-recognition of overseas qualification and trauma were still contributing to low mental health.

The report stated that for Asian and MELAA young people in particular, racial discrimination at school and low family support were “risk factors for self-harm”, however, high cultural self-esteem was a “protective factor”.

In 2023, the ministry worked with the Education Review Office to release a report which showed racism and ethnicity-based bullying in schools remain prevalent.

Namasivayam said nearly one in five MELAA learners had reported feeling that they did not belong and one in three reported loneliness, this was just one of the factors explaining the poor mental health statistics.

“We’re now doing a deep dive into it because we want to really understand what’s happening.”

Namasivayam said MELAA youth were now a top priority when it came to improving mental health for ethnic communities.

She said some positive movements had resulted from the findings of the report such as the Auckland, Kuwaiti community hosting a wellbeing event for young women.

Having spoken to the Ministry of Health, a search into MELAA youth mental health was now part of the New Zealand Suicide Prevention Action Plan.

However, there was still work to be done and Namasivayam said the ministry was now focused on communicating with existing youth groups and service providers to further its knowledge of an underrepresented group.

“We’re thinking that what would be really good is we go and talk to existing youth groups, to talk about mental health, rather than doing a wide general community consultation.”

Ghandour said there was a need for a more holistic approach, that looked at improving physical and mental health while empowering communities and giving them shared spaces.

“If you have a really good sense of identity and understanding your whakapapa, who you are, your migration story … you have a better career outcome, you have better confidence”

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/28/the-migrant-communities-reporting-some-of-the-worst-mental-health/

Posted on

The migrant communities reporting some of the worst mental health

Source: Radio New Zealand

Khawat, a sisterhood for ethnic women, hosting a run club. SUPPLIED

From watching homelands burn on social media to being stuck between cultures, there is one migrant community facing some of the worst mental health.

Middle Eastern, Latin American and African (MELAA) young people are an ethnic minority reporting unique challenges.

Having to navigate trauma, mixed identities and many other potential obstacles, some young people are also saying there is a gap in culturally sensitive mental health support.

In December 2024 the Ministry of Ethnic Communities released its ethnic evidence summary. As part of its findings, it stated that while most ethnic communities faced mental health challenges, MELAA people were reporting lower overall wellbeing with more than one third of the youth having seriously considered attempting suicide.

As heartbreaking as the statistic was, it had not come as a shock to some in the community.

Carrying the trauma

Fatima Sanussi is a refugee and the founder of ‘Do You Still Dream?’, a creative platform for migrants and refugees.

She said she was not surprised that MELAA youth were reporting such low mental health.

“During this time where you can see what’s happening in Palestine, you can see what’s happening in Congo, you see what’s happening in Sudan, we have communities here that are impacted … that carry these narratives.”

Community advocate Fatima Sanussi SUPPLIED

Originally from Sudan and Ethiopia, Sanussi was a year and a half when she resettled to South Auckland with her family.

She said a significant portion of the MELAA community were in Aotearoa due to forced displacement, and they did not always receive enough support.

Many of the youth Sanussi had grown up with in Otahuhu had left a brutal conflict.

“That type of trauma was not addressed, the trauma that they carried from the conflict.”

Community advocate Fatima Sanussi SUPPLIED

Her own mental health had suffered because of the war in Sudan, especially with the exposure on social media.

“I watched my homeland be destroyed, a tremendous amount of death, displacement as well as the loss of my own and the worry of my family being in a war zone.”

At 28, Sanussi was still navigating her own mental health journey, recalling the first time she went to therapy following the passing of her father.

“It was hard to speak to the therapist, I remember I was about 14 or 15 and I felt like she couldn’t understand me,” Sanussi said.

She felt there was no cultural awareness in the process with little understanding for her struggles as a young ethnic person and the experience discouraged her from seeking help until recently.

It was only last year, more than a decade later, that Sanussi decided to give it another go after feeling the impact of the war in Sudan.

Stuck in the ‘in-between’

Eman Ghandour, an AUT career advisor and founder of Khawat, a network for ethnic women, said the poor mental health for MELAA youth was due to many layered factors.

Eman Ghandour SUPPLIED

Originally from Jordan, Ghandour said she had struggled with depression for many years and one of the main reasons was a flickering sense of belonging.

She identified as a 1.5 generation migrant, a term for migrants who moved from their country of origin during their childhoods.

Lost between the culture they were born with and the culture they were trying to adopt, she said young migrants could struggle with their identity.

“I always say to my parents you’ve never doubted that you were Arab right, you’ve never doubted that you’re a Muslim… but for us we’ve always tapped in and out of that.

“One of the biggest barriers for mental health is actually that in-between feeling.”

Khawat, a sisterhood for ethnic women, hosting a run club. SUPPLIED

Although most migrants can experience this feeling, MELAA youth are considered a minority within a minority, making up only 3 percent of the population.

The ethnic summaries report had also stated that MELAA people could face employment barriers “on a similar scale as Māori and Pacific peoples”, although the types of barriers were not necessarily the same.

Ghandour pressed the point that mental health was holistic and was linked to things like employment and education for young people.

As a career consultant, Ghandour said there was a high expectation for second generation immigrants to achieve employment and get into industries with the same ease as non-migrants.

However, this was often not the case, even with the many migrants who graduated with top grades.

“They don’t have an in, they don’t understand the recruitment process they don’t see themselves like they belong to a certain workplace so there’s massive barriers of even getting through the door.”

Some of the young women from Khawat, a community for ethnic wahine, at a gym session. SUPPLIED

What do the stats say and what’s next?

The ethnic summaries report was the first of its kind in identifying how ethnic communities were doing across a range of sectors including mental health.

It had also highlighted that being a female, having a sexual or gender minority status were also some of the factors associated with higher suicidal and self-harming behaviour amongst MELAA youth.

Ministry of Ethnic Communities deputy chief executive Pratima Namasivayam said the statistics for MELAA youth mental health were concerning and the group was now one of the ministry’s priorities.

“It was the first time when we brought together Ethnic Evidence, we went, ‘Oh my God look at this particular finding for MELAA youth’.”

The Ministry of Ethnic Communities deputy chief executive Pratima Namasivayam. SUPPLIED

While young migrants contributed strongly to their communities’, factors like racism in schools, biases in workplaces, non-recognition of overseas qualification and trauma were still contributing to low mental health.

The report stated that for Asian and MELAA young people in particular, racial discrimination at school and low family support were “risk factors for self-harm”, however, high cultural self-esteem was a “protective factor”.

In 2023, the ministry worked with the Education Review Office to release a report which showed racism and ethnicity-based bullying in schools remain prevalent.

Namasivayam said nearly one in five MELAA learners had reported feeling that they did not belong and one in three reported loneliness, this was just one of the factors explaining the poor mental health statistics.

“We’re now doing a deep dive into it because we want to really understand what’s happening.”

Namasivayam said MELAA youth were now a top priority when it came to improving mental health for ethnic communities.

She said some positive movements had resulted from the findings of the report such as the Auckland, Kuwaiti community hosting a wellbeing event for young women.

Having spoken to the Ministry of Health, a search into MELAA youth mental health was now part of the New Zealand Suicide Prevention Action Plan.

However, there was still work to be done and Namasivayam said the ministry was now focused on communicating with existing youth groups and service providers to further its knowledge of an underrepresented group.

“We’re thinking that what would be really good is we go and talk to existing youth groups, to talk about mental health, rather than doing a wide general community consultation.”

Ghandour said there was a need for a more holistic approach, that looked at improving physical and mental health while empowering communities and giving them shared spaces.

“If you have a really good sense of identity and understanding your whakapapa, who you are, your migration story … you have a better career outcome, you have better confidence”

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/28/the-migrant-communities-reporting-some-of-the-worst-mental-health/