Category: Politics

Posted on

More staff, extra beds as hospitals prepare for winter

Source: New Zealand Government

Health New Zealand will invest an additional $25 million to boost hospital capacity, increase staffing, and prepare the health system for higher demand over the busy winter months, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

The investment will deliver:

  • Up to an additional 378 full-time equivalent staff across the country to support meeting winter demands in our hospitals.
  • 71 extra winter hospital beds across key hospitals.
  • Up to 567 short stay beds through aged residential care facilities to help free up hospital capacity and reduce bed block.
  • Expansion of Hospital in the Home services to support earlier discharge from hospital.

“Emergency department presentations continue to rise alongside population growth and an ageing population, placing hospitals under increasing pressure during the winter months, and creating sustained demand across emergency departments and other health services nationwide,” Mr Brown says.

“Despite these challenges, Health New Zealand has seen emergency department performance improve since the reintroduction of the Government’s health targets, with more patients now being seen sooner, reversing several years of declining performance.”

“While hospitals undertake seasonal planning each year as part of normal operations, winter demand still places significant pressure on services and frontline staff. That’s why strengthening capacity early, ahead of the winter months, is critical to ensuring patients receive timely care.

“In my Letter of Expectation to the Health New Zealand Board last November, I made it clear that I expected a plan to prepare our hospitals for winter to be in place early. This gives New Zealanders confidence that the system is getting ready to support them heading into winter.”

The Board endorsed the plan on 3 March, with implementation now underway nationwide. It provides a coordinated national approach to manage increased winter demand and support frontline teams.

The plan focuses on four key priorities:

  • Prevention:  More vaccination opportunities, clearer winter wellness information, targeted support for older people and those at higher risk, earlier access to antivirals, stronger vaccination support in aged care, and easier access to multiple vaccinations in a single visit.
  • Strengthening primary care: Expanded telehealth services, expansion of urgent and after hours care clinic hours, and working with pharmacies to treat more minor conditions.
  • Improving flow through emergency departments and hospitals: Additional staff and beds to manage higher demand, seasonal winter wards at Middlemore, Waikato, Wellington and Christchurch hospitals, faster diagnostic testing and imaging, and systems to help clinicians respond more quickly to critical results.
  • Supporting timely discharge from hospital: Expanded hospital‑in‑the‑home services, additional transitional and aged residential care beds, increased allied health support for patients returning home, and improved weekend discharge processes.

Mr Brown says every winter brings added pressure on hospitals, with performance against the shorter stays in ED health target historically lower during the winter months.

“Hospitals will still face high levels of demand this winter. But by planning early, expanding capacity, and supporting our frontline teams, we are giving them the tools, resources, and flexibility they need to better manage pressure, reduce delays, and deliver care for New Zealanders.

“I want to thank everyone working across the health system in advance. We know winter will be busy, and this investment is about supporting you to keep patients at the centre of our health system.”

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/17/more-staff-extra-beds-as-hospitals-prepare-for-winter/

Posted on

Moving health decisions closer to home

Source: New Zealand Government

From 1 July, decision-making within Health New Zealand will shift closer to patients, communities, and hospitals, ensuring decisions are made in the right place at the right time so Kiwis get better access to care, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

Local authority: Health New Zealand regions and districts will receive delegated decision making over workforce decisions, budgets, and service delivery.
National focus: Health New Zealand will retain responsibility for strategy, standards, and system-wide planning.
Easier hiring: Hospitals will be able to recruit and deploy staff without central sign-off, reducing response times when demand rises.

“The message from frontline doctors and nurses has been clear: healthcare works best when decisions are made by those who understand their communities and work directly with patients.

“The previous Government’s decision to restructure the health system in the middle of a pandemic shifted decision-making away from the frontline – away from the doctors and nurses delivering care, and away from the patients they serve. Wait times ballooned and service delivery declined.

“The result was a system that became too centralised, with too many decisions made by head office that should have been made much closer to the bedside. These changes, which ensure a nationally planned, locally and regionally delivered health system, will come into effect on 1 July.

“Regions and districts will have clearer authority over workforce, resources, and service delivery, while national leadership focuses on strategy, standards, and system planning.

“This is the most significant structural change our Government is making to improve how the health system operates. It is not a return to the District Health Board model, but it will reduce bureaucracy and give hospitals greater authority to make decisions that ensure delivery of the health targets within their budgets, in a way that reflects the needs of their communities.

Mr Brown says the changes are designed to ensure healthcare services delivered in communities directly improve the lives of patients.

“Health New Zealand’s regions and districts will be responsible for delivering the health targets in their areas, with delegated budgets, the ability to deploy staff where they are needed, and the flexibility to respond faster when demand rises – helping reduce wait times and improve access to care for New Zealanders.

“Putting patients at the centre of the system means decisions about services and resources are made as close as possible to those receiving care. These changes will deliver a health system that is more responsive, efficient, and focused on getting patients the care they need.

“Our Government is focused on fixing the basics of our healthcare system while building for the future. These changes support that priority and will ensure a healthcare system focused on putting patients first in every decision.”

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/17/moving-health-decisions-closer-to-home/

Posted on

Settlement welcomed for PSA members

Source: New Zealand Government

Health Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the ratification of a new collective agreement for Policy, Advisory, Knowledge and Specialist (PAKS) members represented by the Public Service Association (PSA).

“I am pleased for the approximately 4,400 Health New Zealand staff across the country who will benefit from this agreement. It recognises the critical role they play in enabling the delivery of health services and supporting frontline teams across the health system,” Mr Brown says.

The agreement provides a 2.5 per cent pay increase in the first year, followed by a further 2 per cent increase in the second year. Staff covered by the settlement will also receive a $500 lump-sum payment, alongside increases to on-call allowances and other after-hours provisions.

“This ratification means around 20,000 Health New Zealand employees are now covered by recently negotiated collective agreements, including PSA Public and Mental Health Nurses, PSA Allied Public Health, Scientific and Technical members, APEX dietitians, APEX pharmacy members, and APEX psychologists.

“I want to acknowledge Health New Zealand and the unions for their constructive engagement in reaching these agreements, which provide certainty for staff and help ensure New Zealanders continue to receive the care they need.”

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/17/settlement-welcomed-for-psa-members/

Posted on

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Unsplash / Emil Kalibradov

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Susan St John. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

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

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

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

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

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

She said there was a lot of flexibility.

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

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

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

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

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

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/2026/03/17/emergency-package-could-help-low-income-families-amid-financial-crisis-economist-says/

Posted on

Leaked papers show ‘extreme risk’ around Health NZ decentralisation

Source: Radio New Zealand

Health NZ faces the “extreme risk” of not having enough of the workers it needs to push through the government’s order to decentralise rapidly. Unsplash / RNZ

Papers show that Health New Zealand faces the “extreme risk” of not having enough of the workers it needs to push through the government’s order to decentralise rapidly.

Health Minister Simeon Brown last November ordered the agency to “rapidly devolve decision-making to its four regions and 20 districts” to improve healthcare.

A new devolution committee has been set up and last month was presented a report assessing the “current state” across the board.

RNZ has seen papers from the report.

“People capability is an extreme risk,” it said.

“Workforce has the lowest capability rating identified across regions and their districts with critical resourcing gaps.”

The “most common” gaps were around staff to handle infrastructure, procurement, health and safety, planning, finance and analysis.

Brown had pushed for speed, but the assessment said there was “a feeling that basics need to be in place first”.

“The transition back to a devolved model too quickly may remove the current controls and undermine the effective oversights that have been put in place.”

That included around finances, it said.

Health NZ told RNZ on Monday it was working to address the workforce gaps and capability issues identified.

The papers showed gaps in devolution resources in areas where the centralised agency in the last two years cut jobs and accepted hundreds of voluntary redundancies.

“The highly centralised organisation structure has led to a loss of experience” in making organisational, operational and strategic decisions in districts, the assessment said.

Even at national senior leadership level there were big gaps – “all interim apart from one role”.

Health Minister Simeon Brown. RNZ / Mark Papalii

‘As quickly as possible’

The government two years ago castigated Health NZ for loose financial controls, sacked its board and under a reset the new commissioner Lester Levy embarked on a $2 billion savings plan.

The goverment then embarked on rolling back large parts of the centralisation reforms of 2022.

“We want a nationally and regionally planned system, but one that has strong clinical input and buy-in at the hospital level,” said Brown last November.

He gave HNZ a New Year’s Eve deadline to come up with a devolution policy in his letter of expectations.

“This reinforces my expectation that regional accountability, production planning, and local decision-making is embedded as quickly as possible,” his letter said.

“Local districts and regions should be empowered to manage within their allocated budgets, including hiring decisions.”

On Monday a spokesperson for Brown said the government had had to stabilise and turn around a system Labour had restructured during a pandemic “without a plan”.

It “cannot simply be switched off” and must still deliver more care to more patients, faster, and a key to that was moving health decisions closer to communities, they said in a statement.

The report – the second one done on devolution by consultants Deloitte – offered a glimpse of how devolution had been going.

The senior doctors’ union, the ASMS, in principle supported devolution but warned against districts having to take on more responsibility without the resources.

“The chatter that we’re picking up from around our regular set of meetings with the districts is a massive concern that this is just pushing responsibility onto districts without any realistic means of achieving what needs to be done in terms of providing health care,” said executive director Sarah Dalton.

ASMS executive director Sarah Dalton. LANCE LAWSON PHOTOGRAPHY / Supplied

‘Carefully managing the transition’

The assessment said some areas like in strategy and finance showed progress.

But it varied alot. What it called ‘People and Culture’ would be hugely impacted by devolution and was rated the worst, with ‘low’ assessments across all six measures; it was especially weak in the South Island and central North Island from Taranaki to Bay of Plenty.

“Regional and district finance and operational capacity remain concentrated at national level and many local teams are under-resourced in financial management,” it said.

The solution? “Build capability across the organisation.” The districts had lost key roles, now they needed them back.

A chart showed 12 categories – such as budgeting, analysis and auditing – and rated nine of them as less than fully effective. Three were only partially effective – the second-to-lowest rating – including HNZ’s savings programme and its internal audit programme.

Among the other gaps was technology. Key devolution changes were predicated on AI that was not yet in place, and so manual “workarounds” persisted.

Health NZ executive national director of strategy performance improvement Jess Smaling said the current state assessment report was to support “carefully managing the transition back to frontline decision making”.

It came only after HNZ had addressed the first priority of fixing the financial crisis and improved performance, she said in a statement.

“We are committed to ensuring our districts are ready, able and most of all supported, to have more autonomy over their clinical decisions and operational budgets.”

‘Not driven by … cost savings’

Health system commentator Ian Powell had long called for devolution but said that required the right capabilities.

“And we’ve lost that through short-sighted restructuring.”

He did not see signs in the assessment that the topdown command culture was being overhauled. “That’s the missing bit.

“Overwhelmingly on the management side of Te Whatau Ora, both regionally and nationally, there’s a high level of job insecurity, and that is a terrible environment to actually to have to work in, and it guarantees a destabilised organisation.”

Health system commentator Ian Powell had long called for devolution but said that required the right capabilities. Supplied

Health NZ Te Whatu Ora subsumed all 20 of the old district health boards – DHBs – almost four years ago. Its establishment cost tens of millions of dollars including large sums in consultant fees.

Brown in his letter of expectations to the board chair late last year said it was “clear to me that Health NZ is too centralised”.

“Too many decisions are made by people who are removed from the problems that frontline clinicians are trying to solve.

“While the final devolved structure may result in a smaller national office than in recent years,

this change is not driven by restructuring or cost savings.”

The driver instead was to embed local clinicians in budgeting and planning services, and set up straight lines of accountability everywhere, Brown said.

But the papers the committee looked at last month indicated that districts might struggle with budgeting.

“Staff churn and the absence of robust costing systems and processes has created knowledge gaps, making it difficult to form an accurate bottom-up budget based on cost of services delivered, paticulary in H&SS [Hospital and Specialist Services].”

It talked about reducing some of the risks by adopting a devolution “timeframe” that allowed regions and districts to get critical activities in place to take on more autonomy.

‘Trade-offs and risks’

It sounded other notes of caution, too.

“While there is a desire to accelerate the devolution process, HNZ recognises that there are trade-offs and risks involved,” said Deloitte’s assessment.

This could lead to “lack of control, poor decision-making, duplication of effort, inconsistent reporting and accountability gaps”.

The solution was good planning.

But this appeared a long way off.

“The desired end state has not yet been clearly defined, including the [transition] from a national to a regional structure,” it said.

The “scope, sequence and pace” of devolution all needed defining.

Dalton said while 2022’s centralisation had caused “chaos” by distancing clinicians from decisionmaking, devolution had to be resourced and the minister would be wise to taihoa.

“I mean, it really does smack of trying to come up with what looks like some quick wins in an election year, and that’s no way to run a health system.”

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/2026/03/17/leaked-papers-show-extreme-risk-around-health-nz-decentralisation/

Posted on

HKUST Launches 35th Anniversary Celebrations Showcasing a Legacy of Miracles and a Vision for the Future

Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 March 2026 – The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today officially launched its 35th Anniversary celebrations with a vibrant ceremony, bringing together distinguished government officials, industry leaders, and members of the university community to reflect on an extraordinary journey of excellence.

The Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR Government Mr. CHAN Kwok-ki (middle), Deputy Director of LOCPG Mr. LUO Yonggang (third right), Secretary for Education of the HKSAR Government Dr. Christine CHOI Yuk-lin (third left) and members of the HKUST leadership team, including Pro-Chancellor Dr. John CHAN Cho-Chak (first right), Council Chairman Prof. Harry SHUM (second right), Court Chairman Dr. the Honorable Andrew LIAO Cheung-Sing (first left), and President Prof. Nancy IP (second left) inaugurate a series of commemorative initiatives for the HKUST 35th anniversary.

Themed “Where Miracles Happen,” the milestone event honors the pioneering spirit that has propelled generations of HKUST members to achieve remarkable feats. Officiating at the ceremony were Mr. CHAN Kwok-Ki, Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR Government; Mr. LUO Yonggang, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR (LOCPG); and Dr. CHOI Yuk-Lin, Secretary for Education of the HKSAR Government. They were joined by HKUST Pro-Chancellor Dr. John CHAN Cho-Chak, Council Chairman Prof. Harry SHUM, Court Chairman Dr. the Honorable Andrew LIAO Cheung-Sing, and President Prof. Nancy IP to inaugurate a year of commemorative activities.

A Journey Forged with Vision and Purpose

In her welcome address, President Ip, who joined HKUST in 1993, offered a personal reflection on the University’s remarkable ascent. She witnessed its evolution into a world-class institution; a success built on academic excellence and a vibrant innovation ecosystem created from the ground up. She credited this profound transformation to the extraordinary foresight of the University’s Founding President, Prof. Chia-Wei Woo.

“From its very inception, HKUST was built on a bold and unprecedented vision: to become Hong Kong’s first research-intensive university,” President Ip shared. “Long before the Greater Bay Area concept existed, our founders, led by Prof. Woo, understood that Hong Kong’s future was inextricably linked with the region. This visionary courage saw them forge vital connections with the Chinese Mainland, laying the groundwork for what would become HKUST (Guangzhou) in 2022. Their courage, dedication, and tenacity built the unshakeable foundation on which we stand today.”

President Ip emphasized that the University’s success is measured not by rankings alone, but by its tangible impact on society. This founding DNA—to anticipate and meet societal needs with excellence—is now driving HKUST’s most ambitious chapter yet: the establishment of a new School of Medicine. “This is a transformative milestone, fulfilling a dream pursued for over three decades,” she stated. “We are deeply grateful to the HKSAR Government for its trust and partnership. Together, we will build a technologically advanced, humanistic medical school that ushers in a new era for healthcare in Hong Kong. Let us honor those who walked before us by carrying their courageous legacy into a new era of excellence.”

A Cornerstone of Hong Kong’s Global Leadership

Mr. Chan Kwok-Ki commended HKUST’s profound impact on Hong Kong’s development. “Over the past 35 years, HKUST has evolved from a bold new institution into a globally respected university, driven by visionary leadership, dedicated faculty, a continuing flow of talented students, and an enduring spirit of innovation. Its strong international rankings, vibrant start-up ecosystem, and diverse global student body demonstrate how research and education can deliver tangible societal impact,” he stated. “As Hong Kong advances its role as an international education hub, HKUST stands as a shining example of how universities can nurture global talent while supporting national development priorities. With strengths spanning artificial intelligence, science, and its planned School of Medicine, HKUST is exceptionally well-positioned to shape the future of innovation and talent development.”

Carrying a Pioneering Spirit into the Next Chapter

Prof. Harry Shum reflected on the University’s unique position. “Thirty-five years is a fascinating milestone. In human terms, it is the age of maturity, the point where youthful energy meets seasoned wisdom. And I see the same spirit alive in this institution. We still possess the curiosity and drive of our early years. But now we have the strength, the reputation, and the alumni network that only decades can build. The world is changing faster than ever before. If we are to serve the next generation as well as we have served the past, we must lead, we must innovate, and we must redefine what education can be. In this regard, HKUST is ready to open a new chapter.

“The HKSAR Government has appointed HKUST with the trust to build the third medical school in Hong Kong. We envision the University’s medical school that will bridge traditional medical curriculum with the latest technology and AI breakthroughs, will gradually revolutionize the entire medical spectrum—from diagnosis to treatment to recovery, prevention and personalized medicine. I am confident that this future-oriented medical school, which will admit its first cohort in 2028, will play an important role in educating and training a new generation of scientists and clinicians in the next 35 years and beyond.”

A Celebration of Innovation and Heritage

Reflecting the theme “Where Miracles Happen,” the ceremony showcased HKUST’s leadership in technology in a truly spectacular fashion. In a breathtaking fusion of tradition and innovation, the university’s Guangzhou campus team presented a robotic lion dance. This remarkable creation brought the classic folk art to life through advanced robotics, embodying the spirit of cultural heritage reimagined through cutting-edge engineering.

For the grand officiating ceremony, HKUST turned into an unexpected source of inspiration: humanity’s best friends. But there were no ordinary dogs. A team of robotic dogs—developed by Direct Drive Technology (an HKUST-nurtured startup), the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and the Cheng Kar-Shun Robotics Institute—took center stage. Engineered to navigate complex, uneven terrain and perform dangerous industrial inspections, these four-legged helpers were given a far more meaningful mission for the day: carrying the ceremonial “Miracle Balls” to the officiating guests. As robotic dogs trotted majestically onto stage bearing their precious cargo, they symbolized the University’s commitment to channeling cutting-edge research into real-world applications—and its penchant for making miracles happen.

The ceremony reached its pinnacle with a dramatic display of innovation. In a symbolic gesture of bridging past and future, a drone—generously donated by distinguished alumnus Mr. WANG Tao, Founder of DJI—soared into the venue carrying the commemorative “35th Symbol Key.” As the drone gracefully descended to deliver the key to the officiating party on stage, it signaled the formal inauguration of the anniversary celebrations.

HKUST expressed its deep gratitude to Mr. Wang for his generous donation of two of the latest drone solutions to the university. These state-of-the-art drones will serve as an inspiration for faculty and students to explore and address new challenges in the rapidly evolving low-altitude economy.

The campus itself has been transformed with a “Circle of Time” visual theme, inspired by the iconic Sundial sculpture—a symbol of the University’s enduring legacy and its continuous measurement of progress in education, research, and knowledge transfer.

A Legacy of Excellence and National Trust

Since its founding in 1991, HKUST has risen to rank among the world’s top 50 universities. This commitment to excellence is underscored by the deep trust the nation has placed in the University. Following the reorganization of two existing State Key Laboratories, HKUST has secured approval from the Ministry of Science and Technology to establish a new one, further strengthening its role in advancing cutting-edge research critical to national development.

In a major national space endeavor, HKUST is developing a multi-functional robot for the historic Chang’E-8 lunar mission, designed to operate on the lunar surface and contribute to China’s advancing space exploration capabilities. The University is also leading the development of a high-precision, point-source greenhouse gas detection instrument. This groundbreaking project is set to make history as it will become HKSAR’s first payload to China’s Tiangong Space Station aboard the Tianzhou cargo spacecraft for research and application.

Celebratory Events

A full year of celebratory activities is planned, including co-hosting Asia Universities Summit with Times Higher Education, an AI Film Festival, and joint celebrations with HKUST (Guangzhou).

Global Thought Leadership

Following the symposium held earlier this year, where multiple Nobel laureates and world-leading scholars were invited to engage with HKUST faculty, students and alumni, the University will co-host the THE Asia Universities Summit 2026 with Times Higher Education (THE) this April. The event will draw university presidents and industry leaders from around the world to Hong Kong to explore Asia’s leadership role in driving global change. HKUST will also host the China Association of Higher Education’s flagship “World University Presidents Forum” for the first time in Hong Kong.

AI and Innovation Thematic Events

HKUST will organize a series of events focused on AI, technology governance and creative culture—including an AI Film Festival—to highlight the University’s leadership and societal impact in AI.

Building the HKUST Community

The University will host joint celebrations across its Clear Water Bay and Guangzhou campuses, including a year-long blood donation drive, a marathon, a “Mixed Reality x AI” art exhibition, and more, to foster closer interaction between faculty and students from the two campuses. HKUST will also organize a grand anniversary gala dinner to celebrate with faculty, students, alumni and community leaders, alongside a digital commemorative booklet that recounts the University’s 35 years of outstanding achievements with society.

Hashtag: #HKUST

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/17/hkust-launches-35th-anniversary-celebrations-showcasing-a-legacy-of-miracles-and-a-vision-for-the-future/

Posted on

DITP Positions Thailand as Asia’s Content Hub at Thai Night Hong Kong 2026, Highlighting Four Strategic Pillars and the Global Rise of Y and GL Series

Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 March 2026 – The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Ministry of Commerce, Royal Thai Government, continues to promote Thailand’s content and entertainment industry in international markets. This initiative is carried out through business networking activities at “Thai Night Hong Kong 2026”, alongside Thailand’s participation in the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART) 2026, one of Asia’s most prominent marketplaces for film and television content.

FILMART 2026 will take place from 17–20 March 2026 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. The event provides an opportunity for Thai content companies to connect with international buyers, investors, and industry partners while showcasing the strengths of Thailand’s entertainment industry on the global stage.

Ms. Sunanta Kangvalkulkij, Director-General of the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), stated that the department places strong emphasis on supporting Thailand’s content and entertainment industry in international markets. DITP aims to help Thai entrepreneurs expand business opportunities and strengthen partnerships with global industry players, while enhancing the competitiveness of Thai companies in the global marketplace.

“Thailand’s participation in FILMART and the organization of Thai Night Hong Kong 2026 provide an important platform to present the capabilities of Thai content companies and to foster new partnerships with international producers, distributors, and investors. These activities will help expand business opportunities and further promote Thai content in global markets,” she said.

At FILMART 2026, Thailand will showcase the strengths of its entertainment industry through four strategic pillars: Talents, Locations, Production, and Post-production. These pillars highlight Thailand’s skilled creative professionals, diverse filming locations, internationally recognized production standards, and advanced post-production capabilities, including visual effects and animation, supported by government measures that help facilitate international investment.

At the same time, DITP continues to capitalize on the growing global popularity of Y and GL series, one of the fastest-growing segments of Thailand’s entertainment industry, with valued at more than THB 4.9 billion in 2025. These genres have gained strong international fan bases and present significant opportunities for Thai content to reach global audiences.

Thailand is also encouraging the development of new content formats such as short-form dramas, which are increasingly popular on digital platforms and streaming services. These formats allow Thai creators to expand their presence across global distribution channels and reach wider international audiences.

With the remarkable growth and international recognition of Thailand’s entertainment industry in recent years—driven by talented filmmakers, diverse filming locations, and high production standards—Thai Night Hong Kong 2026 aims to move beyond showcasing industry capabilities toward fostering concrete international business collaboration.

A key highlight of the event will be the creation of a strategic platform for partnership discussions between Thai entrepreneurs and international industry partners. The event is expected to welcome more than 500 global investors, producers, directors, and media representatives, providing opportunities to expand business partnerships and further strengthen Thailand’s presence in the global entertainment industry.

For more information and updates about Thai Night Hong Kong 2026 and Thailand’s participation in FILMART 2026, please visit:
www.ditp.go.th
www.facebook.com/thailandfilms

Hashtag: #DITP

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/17/ditp-positions-thailand-as-asias-content-hub-at-thai-night-hong-kong-2026-highlighting-four-strategic-pillars-and-the-global-rise-of-y-and-gl-series/

Posted on

MyRepublic Collaborates with Singapore Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry to Support SME Digital Adoption, Cyber Resilience, and AI Enablement

Source: Media Outreach

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 March 2026 – MyRepublic has entered into a collaboration with Singapore Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI) to support digital adoption, strengthen cyber resilience, and enable AI readiness among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the wider business community in Singapore, following the signing of a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) on 21 January 2026.

MyRepublic and the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI) collaboration

The collaboration aims to support businesses through structured programmes, capability-building workshops, and accessible transformation pathways to accelerate digital adoption. It also focuses on strengthening cyber resilience by equipping SMEs with practical tools, assessments, and best practices to protect and sustain their digital operations, while enabling AI innovation and readiness through education, proof-of-concept opportunities, and pilot initiatives to future-ready businesses.

Tech Symposium 2026

The signing of a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) on 21 January 2026.

Mr Mark Lee, Chairman of SCCCI’s Technology Committee, said:
“As businesses navigate a rapidly evolving economic and technological landscape, AI and digitalisation are becoming essential tools for improving productivity, competitiveness, and long-term resilience. This Tech Symposium is designed to help SMEs move beyond awareness towards practical adoption, with a strong focus on real-world applications that deliver measurable business outcomes. SCCCI works with Institutes of Higher Learning and technology providers to co-develop and pilot AI-driven solutions that address fundamental SME challenges such as operational efficiency, cost management, and scalability. By grounding innovation in actual business problems, we aim to make AI adoption more accessible, practical, and commercially meaningful for our members. As digital adoption accelerates, cyber risks inevitably rise, making cybersecurity a core business risk rather than just a technical issue. While national cybersecurity frameworks are led by the relevant authorities, SCCCI supports awareness and readiness among its members through engagement with government agencies and ecosystem partners.”

The collaboration aims to support SMEs through structured programmes and initiatives that strengthen digital adoption, cyber resilience, and AI readiness across the business community.

Imran Nazi, Head of ICT at MyRepublic, said:
“Singapore’s SCCCI SME community has always been resourceful and adaptive, and AI opens a new chapter in that journey. Our collaboration with SCCCI is centred on bringing meaningful AI enablement to businesses of all sizes, alongside strengthening cyber resilience and wider digital adoption. The goal is simple: equip SMEs with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to thrive in a digital-first world.”

Collaborative Areas of Focus and Impact

Through the collaboration, MyRepublic and SCCCI will work closely to support SMEs and the wider business community across several key areas, combining business network access, industry expertise, programme management capabilities, and technology expertise.

The collaboration will focus on community access and engagement by providing access to SCCCI’s extensive business network for outreach and engagement initiatives, promoting digital transformation programmes and activities through relevant communication channels, and curating relevant business segments for targeted digitalisation programmes.

Programme development will include the co-development of workshops, masterclasses, clinics, and outreach events with ICT partners to introduce digital tools and encourage adoption. Activities will be hosted and organised either at SCCCI facilities or partner venues, supported by programme management, training, demonstrations, and hands-on support at engagements.

The collaboration will also emphasise advocacy and thought leadership, championing digital adoption initiatives in alignment with national strategies. This includes supporting the development of co-branded thought leadership materials such as case studies, guides, and digital readiness resources, as well as sharing success stories and adoption outcomes to raise awareness of digital transformation benefits.

Industry insights, including SME challenges and sectoral digitalisation needs, will guide programme design and support the tailoring of solutions to better meet SME requirements and address capability gaps. Where relevant, pilot projects and proof-of-concept initiatives may be supported for selected SCCCI members, alongside data insights on programme outcomes to support continuous ecosystem improvement.

Together, MyRepublic and SCCCI aim to create business-relevant initiatives that help SMEs adopt digital solutions with greater clarity, confidence, and sustainability.

https://myrepublic.net/sg/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/myrepublic
https://x.com/myrepublic
https://www.facebook.com/MyRepublicSG/
https://www.instagram.com/myrepublicsg/

Hashtag: #MyRepublic #SCCCI #Technology

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/16/myrepublic-collaborates-with-singapore-chinese-chambers-of-commerce-industry-to-support-sme-digital-adoption-cyber-resilience-and-ai-enablement/

Posted on

Parents left stranded as Waiheke Island’s only respite care house for kids with disabilities closes

Source: Radio New Zealand

Melanna House has been closed since September. Supplied

Waiheke Island’s only respite care house for kids with disabilities has closed, leaving parents who booked their children in for school holiday programmes and overnight stays in the lurch.

Spectrum Care said the service at Melanna House was running at a loss and they made the difficult decision to close it last September.

So far no other provider has filled the gap.

Sixteen-year-old Gen has very high, complex needs and requires round-the-clock care. She has been a regular at Melanna House’s school holiday programme for children with disabilities.

Her mum Christabel Tomlinson said its closure six months ago has had a big impact on the family.

“It made me really consider my ability to continue a full time job. I decided that it wasn’t the best move to continue employment and look after my daughter, in fact that would have been impossible.”

She finished her job at the end of last year to take on the full time care of her daughter because finding carers on the island isn’t easy.

By the end of the summer school holidays, Tomlinson had burned out.

“I realised just how burnt out I was looking after her, it’s relentless and you just feel exhausted and tired and I’ve used more than a month to get back to full health and full energy.”

Andrew Sexton’s son James also needs round-the-clock care. He has complex needs.

He said James has been a regularly at Melanna House for almost a decade and the out-of-home care provided them a much-needed break.

“It’s huge it just gives you some space that you desperately need to rest your mind. James he’s a clapper so he claps all the time and he’s got a very loud clap. Just some quiet time makes you feel a lot better.”

Melanna House has provided parents respite since the early 1990s, under various providers.

“It’s quite an essential service to have one house on the island that should be utilised for the community.”

The house is owned by Kainga Ora and its director of supported homes Lucy Ashby said it was one of 1455 homes it leased nationally to housing and support services providers.

She said the Waiheke house was leased at market rent to the service provider, who must also hold an eligible government funding contract to deliver residential care.

“We are continuing discussions with potential providers to assess whether they can take over this service as these homes can only be leased to providers who hold an eligible government funding contract to deliver residential care,” Ashby said.

“If we are unable to identify an eligible provider, we will need to consider next steps, including the potential sale of the property. No decisions have been made at this stage, and we are working through the options.”

She said Kainga Ora remained committed to keeping families updated as this process continued.

Melanna House was Waiheke Island’s only respite care house for kids with disabilities. Supplied

Spectrum Care general manager of communications Justin Walsh said after six years running Melanna House, it was a difficult decision to close, but the high costs of operating and the small number of people accessing the support means they’re running at a loss.

He said four families were regularly using the respite house and it operated for four days a week – its only funding were the payments it would get from families booking in their children, via their individualised funding.

“We made sustained efforts to ensure these services could be delivered in a way that was both high-quality and financially sustainable,” Walsh said.

“Despite these efforts, the combination of a very small number of people accessing support and the high costs associated with delivering safe, quality services on the island meant we were unable to achieve a sustainable model.”

Walsh said Spectrum Care worked closely with Disability Support Services, Kainga Ora, Kaikaranga, local partners, and affected people and whānau; reviewing service models and staffing arrangements; and exploring a range of funding and delivery options.

“Following an extensive review and careful consideration, Spectrum Care made the difficult decision to cease respite support services on Waiheke Island,” he said.

“This decision was not made lightly. We recognise the impact it has on people and whānau, and endeavoured to manage the transition with care, respect and ongoing engagement with those affected.”

Ministry of Social Development general manager of commissioning and funding Catherine Poutasi said Disability Support Services (DSS) contracted Spectrum Care to deliver respite services on Waiheke Island for disabled people.

She said DSS were advised in July last year that Spectrum would close Melanna House at the end of September.

“We understand that Spectrum Care offered service options in Auckland for those impacted by the closure on Waiheke,” she said.

Carers NZ chief executive Laurie Hilsgen said more needs to be done to keep the service going for the island community.

“I think that’s a tragic, unacceptable loss. Not that a service might close because that is a reality, sometimes services do come and go but you have to replace it with something or there has to be another plan.”

She said families caring for disabled children need to have respite care options.

“Those parents, those families, they’re not robots. At the end of the day we all go home from our jobs and we rest. For these people that will be placing extra pressure because they are unable to get a wellbeing break.”

A local trust that provides residential rehabilitation, Waiheke Island Supported Homes Trust, is looking at whether it could run the service.

General manager Andrew Walters said they would need to be assured the right funding is available.

Tomlinson said Melanna House is crucial for Waiheke – and everything should be done to keep it going, including lowering the rent on the state house.

“To keep those services going on the island I think is super important because we will always be an island and cut off from mainland services and we will always have disabled and special needs people in amongst our community here on Waiheke.”

She said they would also like to hear from any philanthropists interested in helping to keep the service going on the island.

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/2026/03/16/parents-left-stranded-as-waiheke-islands-only-respite-care-house-for-kids-with-disabilities-closes/

Posted on

Government’s failure to provide any relief for fuel crisis

Source: Green Party

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MIL OSI

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

Posted on

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon moves on from Samoan matai title ‘miscommunication’

Source: Radio New Zealand

Christopher Luxon is putting the question of whether or not he asked for a matai title behind him, saying it was a miscommunication and both he and the Samoan prime minister have moved on.

Samoa’s government had to clarify on Monday morning that neither Luxon nor his representatives had requested he be given an honour, shortly before the presentation.

Luxon thanked those present for the title Tuisinavemaulumoto’otua, saying it was a great honour.

“We are now connected forever,” Luxon told the crowd, which included representatives of villages and the wider community, as well as the New Zealand delegation.

At the end of the lengthy ceremony, in which Luxon and assembled ministers and delegation members drunk kava (prompting an “I love Samoa” from police minister Mark Mitchell), Luxon and his wife Amanda joined Samoa’s representatives for a dance.

Luxon then met privately with La’aulialemalietoa for a bilateral discussion, before a joint Cabinet meeting.

Memorandums of arrangement were signed on Police and Customs matters, with commitments around combatting transnational crime and drug trafficking.

Afterwards, Luxon said the Pacific had become a “super-highway for drugs,” and he and La’aulialemalietoa were committed to more information sharing.

RNZ / Giles Dexter

“We’ve got to make sure we cut down the drugs out on the sea. We’ve got to make sure that the borders are strong, because actually, the border around the Pacific is the border for all of us. We’ve got to make sure that we disrupt it in-country,” he said.

“And then, importantly, we also need to make sure we work with good organisations like the Salvation Army and others to deal with the social harm that is happening inside our own communities as well.”

He said the conversations were “illuminating,” and the two had shared what more could be done in healthcare and education as well.

Luxon invited Samoan ministers to visit New Zealand later in the year for further collaboration.

Asked about what went wrong with the matai title mixup, Luxon said he was “done and finished” with the matter.

“We’ve worked our way through that issue in the last few hours, the last day, and what I’d say is important is our conversation has been about how we take our relationship forward,” he said.

“And so I appreciate there was some miscommunication and all of that, but we’ve got ourselves to the right place where we are wanting to build our relationship in a deeper way.”

A question was put to La’aulialemalietoa about the matai title, which he did not answer, but earlier said it was a “token of respect.”

RNZ / Giles Dexter

La’aulialemalietoa also spoke of the importance of the relationship between New Zealand and Samoa, which he described in sibling terms.

“You see the changing nowadays in the world. Big countries bully, start to change things dynamically, tariffs, pushing things, patrolling, and all that taking over. Samoa’s focus is to make sure we look after ourselves by ourselves, and controlling by ourselves,” he said.

“So that’s why it’s very, very important for Samoa, New Zealand, and Australia, and all Pacific regions, to come back together again, formulate our Pacific island nation, and make sure we have the capacity to look after ourselves in our own side of the world.”

Luxon was asked about what the government would do to improve visa access, but gave the same answer he has previously given New Zealand media – that the government has made it easier, cheaper, and faster but remains concerned about overstayers.

“We’ve had two attempts, I think, at visa free in New Zealand’s history, and they had to get stopped very quickly, because our hospitals got filled up, our schools got filled up, and people didn’t go home. “

Neither leader mentioned the HMNZS Manawanui in their opening remarks, but La’aulialemalietoa later indicated he did not believe the matter to be finished.

The New Zealand government paid $6 million in compensation last year, but La’aulialemalietoa said where it would go was still being finalised.

“At this stage, the continuation of the negotiation is still on, and we need to have time, better time with New Zealand, to consider what is good for us here, and protective, and also preserve what’s going to be affected in the future. That’s the where the discussion should be.”

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/2026/03/16/prime-minister-christopher-luxon-moves-on-from-samoan-matai-title-miscommunication/

Posted on

Chris Hipkins’ ex-wife makes series of unsubstantiated claims about him

Source: Radio New Zealand

Chris Hipkins has rejected the allegations. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

Labour leader Chris Hipkins is seeking legal advice about a series of unsubstantiated claims made by his ex-wife on social media, RNZ understands.

The allegations – which do not relate to any unlawful activity – were posted on Jade Paul’s private Facebook page on Sunday evening but have since been removed.

In a brief statement on Monday, Hipkins said: “I reject the allegations entirely and don’t intend to make any further comment.”

In response to questions from RNZ, Paul said she stood by her comments.

The couple married at Premier House in early 2020 and separated in 2022. They have two children.

Hipkins publicly confirmed the split in January 2023, shortly after becoming prime minister, saying they had made the decision in the best interest of their family.

Later that year, Hipkins revealed during his election night concession speech that he had a new partner, Toni Grace.

Hipkins proposed to Grace in November.

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/2026/03/16/chris-hipkins-ex-wife-makes-series-of-unsubstantiated-claims-about-him/

Posted on

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

Source: PSA

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

MIL OSI

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

Posted on

Bill introduced to cut red tape and modernise alcohol law

Source: New Zealand Government

A Bill is being introduced today to reform alcohol laws as part of the Government’s work to unleash New Zealanders and businesses from the stranglehold of red tape and support economic growth, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee and Regulation Minister David Seymour say.

“Alcohol is a legal product that the vast majority of New Zealanders consume responsibly. But over time the law regulating it has become increasingly complex, bureaucratic, and disconnected from the harms it is supposed to address,” says Mrs McKee.

“The Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Improving Alcohol Regulation) Amendment Bill is a necessary correction to make the licensing process fairer, make it easier to host events, and cut a heap of other red tape affecting everything from hairdressers to major concerts. 

“Allowing licensed premises to remain open to televise significant events outside their normal licensed hours is a good example of how these changes will give people more freedom to enjoy their lives and provide significant benefits to the hospitality sector.

“What previously required campaigns by David Seymour for law changes in 2015, 2019, and 2023 for the Rugby World Cup will soon be able to be done by the Governor-General following a recommendation from the responsible Minister, without the need for any legislative change.”

Regulation Minister David Seymour says the changes make substantial improvements to the law that will later be complemented by the Ministry for Regulation’s review into the hospitality sector. 

“The hospitality sector supports tens of thousands of jobs and contributes billions of dollars to our economy across hospitality, tourism, retail, manufacturing, and events,” says Seymour.

“The Ministry for Regulation is currently engaging with the sector on how we can make life easier for businesses. Already we’re seeing opportunities for practical improvements that reduce unnecessary compliance, improve consistency, and make the system easier to understand and operate within.

“In a free society adults should be trusted to make their own choices. The role of the law is to target harm, not to micromanage responsible behaviour.

“Among many great changes, I’m pleased to see this Bill adopts the recommendation of the Hairdressing and Barbering Regulatory Review to allow those businesses to serve their customers a drink without having to go through an excessive licensing process.

“We know there are additional changes the hospitality sector would like to see and many of these will be recommended following the Ministry for Regulation’s review.”

The sector will also have an opportunity to propose additional changes during the select committee process.

Key changes in the Bill include:

  • Limiting objections to licence applications or renewals to only those living or working in the same council area, or within 1 kilometre of the proposed licensed premises.
  • Giving licence applicants a right of reply to licensing objections to ensure a fairer process.
  • Preventing licence renewals from being declined solely because a local alcohol policy has changed.
  • Allowing clubs to apply for on-licences if they wish to serve the wider public.
  • Allowing certain restaurants with on-site retail areas to sell alcohol for customers to take home.
  • Streamlining special licence requirements to make it easier to host events.
  • Creating a permanent mechanism allowing licensed premises to open and serve alcohol outside licensed hours to televise major events such as the Rugby World Cup.
  • Exempting hairdressers and barbers from needing an on-licence to supply their customers a limited amount of alcohol such as a beer, glass of wine, or gin and tonic.
  • Extending cellar door tasting provisions beyond wineries so other producers such as breweries and distilleries can charge for tastings without needing an on-licence.
  • Allowing licensed premises to meet their legal obligations by stocking either low-alcohol or zero-alcohol drinks.
  • Clarifying responsibilities for rapid alcohol delivery services to ensure alcohol is not delivered to underage or intoxicated persons.

Notes to editor:

The Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Improving Alcohol Regulation) Amendment Bill is expected to be available on Parliament’s website later today.

A detailed explainer of the key policy changes is attached.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/16/bill-introduced-to-cut-red-tape-and-modernise-alcohol-law/

Posted on

Foresight in volatility: APAC executives’ early pivot to regional trade provides critical buffer against global shocks

Source: Media Outreach

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 March 2026 – Months before the current geopolitical crisis hit global markets, Asia Pacific (APAC) executives had begun shielding their businesses by shortening supply chains and focusing on regional trade. Forvis Mazars’ C-suite barometer 2026: Adapting in uncertainty shows this proactive approach, alongside with efficiency-driving AI investments, is now key to navigating today’s global challenges.

While the number of APAC leaders expecting revenue growth had dropped to 67% (down from 80% in 2025) ahead of this year, underlying business confidence had notably strengthened to 41% (up from 30% in 2025). This contrast, lower growth expectations yet stronger confidence, highlights a resilience paradox: leaders are separating financial outlook from global turmoil, actively reinventing their operations to endure anticipated shocks rather than waiting for conditions to improve.

Key findings for APAC:

  • Measured confidence amidst geopolitical volatility: Amidst ongoing geopolitical volatility, APAC leaders remain acutely aware of the shifting landscape. Notably, 29% cite geopolitical instability and social unrest as a top trend impacting their organisation over the next 12 months, outpacing the global average of 26% and tying with regulatory pressures. Consequently, growth expectations are tempered: while 83% still anticipate positive growth in 2026, this trails the global average of 92% and marks a decline from 84% in 2025.
  • Expansion turns inward: Driven by geopolitical and tariff risks, expansion plans have shifted to regional neighbours, with China (36%), Australia (29%) and Hong Kong (29%) as the top destinations.
  • AI is a net job creator: Defying global displacement fears, 43% of APAC leaders say AI has created new roles in their organisation, significantly outpacing the 28% who say it replaced them.
  • The sustainability gap: While 91% are confident in meeting reporting compliance, only 73% feel prepared to manage the actual physical impacts of climate change.

The APAC resilience paradox: Building structural resilience despite lower revenue expectations

The anticipated dip in revenue expectations was primarily driven by converging pressures that have only intensified: economic uncertainty, political instability and intensifying competition. Yet, this foresight did not dampen investment. In a clear sign that businesses are fortifying their foundations, investment in human capital remains strong across the region, with 63% of APAC respondents plan to increase spending on acquiring new talent and 68% intend to upskill their workforce.

APAC’s underlying optimism is supported by a high level of operational readiness. Even as geopolitical instability remains a top concern, 76% of executives express confidence in their organisation’s preparedness to manage it. This sentiment extends to navigating supply chain challenges (85%) and new regulatory requirements (91%), showing that leaders are turning global disruptors into manageable areas of control.

Rick Chan, Managing Partner Singapore, Head of Audit & Assurance APAC and Member of Group Governing Board, Forvis Mazars, observed, “Asia Pacific has always had to move fast. The region’s businesses are built on agility – on reading the market, adjusting quickly and staying close to customers. That DNA is proving invaluable right now. The data shows leaders are transitioning from short-term firefighting to building lasting resilience. By investing in localised supply chains and AI, they are taking highly practical steps to insulate their operations against escalating geopolitical risks and secure long-term growth.”

The strategic pivot: strengthening intra-regional trade

The barometer reveals a fundamental change in how APAC firms plan to grow. Rather than facing global trade barriers head-on, executives are pivoting to markets closer to home. The top three expansion destinationsareChina (36%), Australia (29%) and Hong Kong (29%).

This inward shift is a direct, data-driven response to rising global tensions. A striking 67% of APAC leaders who revised their expansion plans this year cited geopolitical instability as the primary driver, making it the top catalyst for changing global strategies. Furthermore, 42% cite costs and operational issues due to tariffs as their biggest challenge when entering new markets. Facing these dual threats, APAC businesses have pragmatically shortened their supply chains to secure growth in neighbouring markets where geopolitical and tariff risks are more manageable.

The growth engine: AI as a workforce catalyst

In an environment where operational margins are under pressure, AI has become a critical tool for efficiency. Notably, the data indicate that AI is a net job creator in the region. 43% of APAC C-suite leaders report that AI has already prompted the creation of new roles, compared to 28% who report job replacements.

While 47% of executives rank AI as their top technology priority, their approach is disciplined. APAC leaders are prioritising high-impact applications such as forecasting (65%), knowledge acquisition, banking and retrieval (61%), client services, recommendations, relationships (61%), and operational efficiency, including automation (60%). Interestingly, they are achieving these gains with leaner investment; 41% (versus 35% globally) allocate less than 10% of their budget to AI, suggesting a focus on cost-effective, high-return AI adoption.

The blind spot: the sustainability gap – compliance versus operational resilience

While the report highlights strategic maturity in technology and trade, it reveals a critical disconnect in sustainability. Although 91% of APAC executives express confidence in meeting sustainability reporting compliance, only 73% feel prepared to manage the actual physical and operational impacts of climate change. This disparity indicates that while they are confident in meeting regulatory expectations, the priority now is to bridge the gap between compliance and reality, specifically by strengthening supply chains and building physical resilience against tangible climate risks.

Chester Liew, Partner, Head of Risk Consulting & Sustainability, Forvis Mazars in Singapore, said, “High confidence in reporting compliance is an encouraging baseline, but paperwork does not protect operations. The foresight APAC leaders are demonstrating in navigating geopolitical risks must now be urgently applied to climate risks. With regulatory timelines providing some breathing room, the prudent next step is to pivot resources from disclosure to physical defence – ensuring that supply chains and physical assets can actually withstand extreme weather and emerging environmental shocks.”

Forvis Mazars’ 2026 C-suite barometer survey captures insights from 3,012 senior executives worldwide prior to the US-Israeli war with Iran in February 2026. This independent research was conducted in October and November 2025 and captures the views of C-suite leaders at for-profit organisations with annual revenues of over US$1 million across 40 countries, including 260 respondents from seven markets in the Asia-Pacific region: Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Singapore and South Korea. Findings reflect executive sentiments at the time of fieldwork.

http://www.forvismazars.com/sg
https://www.linkedin.com/company/forvis-mazars-singapore
https://www.facebook.com/ForvisMazarsSingapore/
https://www.instagram.com/forvismazarssingapore/?hl=en

Hashtag: #ForvisMazars #ForvisMazarsSingapore #APACBusiness #BusinessOutlook2026 #ExecutiveInsights #LeadershipTrends #AIAdoption #DigitalTransformation #Sustainability #ClimateResilience

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/16/foresight-in-volatility-apac-executives-early-pivot-to-regional-trade-provides-critical-buffer-against-global-shocks/

Posted on

Foreign and Defence Ministers to visit Canberra

Source: New Zealand Government

Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins will attend the third annual Australia and New Zealand Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ANZMIN) in Canberra this week. 

 “The ANZMIN is a critical opportunity to engage with Australia – our closest friend and only formal ally – to set the strategic direction and confirm our shared approaches to foreign policy, security, and defence,” Mr Peters says. 

 “New Zealand and Australia face the most unpredictable and dangerous strategic environment in decades. In the face of this instability, our commitment to work together is as strong as ever.”  

 Ms Collins says this year marks 75 years of the New Zealand-Australia Alliance. 

 “We recognise the deep historical bond and broader defence alignment that forms the foundation of our Alliance,” Ms Collins says. 

 “Since the Alliance began in 1951, we have continuously built on these foundations to ensure that our Alliance remains ready to meet modern challenges.”  

 The Ministers will discuss a wide range of strategic issues, including partnering in the Pacific and Antarctica, responding to growing instability in the Indo-Pacific and global tensions and developments.  

 Mr Peters and Ms Collins will also hold separate bilateral meetings with their respective counterparts, Penny Wong and Richard Marles. 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/16/foreign-and-defence-ministers-to-visit-canberra/

Posted on

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Finance Minister Nicola Willis. Nick Monro

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

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

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

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

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

He said it had been rising quickly.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“There’s nothing to worry about.”

He expects to see the demand soften.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Finance Minister considering govt response to rising prices

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

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

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

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

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

She said the rebate was very untargetted.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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/2026/03/16/no-need-to-panic-fuel-supplier-says-as-average-petrol-price-surges-past-3/

Posted on

Government’s climate change plans go to the High Court

Source: Radio New Zealand

Climate Action and the Environmental Law Initiative are asking the High Court to declare Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ decisions unlawful. RNZ / Mark Papalii

A landmark legal case that argues the government’s plan to tackle climate change is unlawful and risky will go ahead today.

Climate advocates will argue that the government broke the law when it dismantled dozens of climate policies soon after the 2023 election, before it had consulted the public.

They also say the current plan relies too heavily on planting trees to offset greenhouse gas emissions, instead of reducing the amount of emissions the country produces in the first place.

Lawyers for Climate Action and the Environmental Law Initiative (ELI) are jointly taking the case against Climate Change Minister Simon Watts.

The organisations are asking the High Court to declare the minister’s decisions unlawful and to throw out the current emissions plan so a new, more ambitious one can be prepared.

An environmental law expert says the case is “hugely significant” and has similarities to challenges in the UK, which resulted in changes to that government’s climate plans.

Under New Zealand’s climate laws, the government must produce five-yearly emissions reductions plans, which set out how the country will meet its domestic climate targets.

At the moment, those targets are to reduce carbon dioxide and other long-lived gas emissions to net zero by 2050, and to reduce methane emissions to 14 to 24 percent below 2017 levels by the same deadline.

The methane target was originally a 24 to 47 percent reduction by 2050, but the government changed this last year in response to lobbying from the agricultural sector, which produces half of New Zealand’s methane emissions.

There are also interim targets for 2030: to halve long-lived gases from their 2005 levels, and a 10 percent reduction of methane emissions from 2017 levels.

Subsidies for electric vehicles, and a fund to help businesses electrify their coal- and gas-fired industrial processes, were among policies that the government chose to scrap in late 2023.

ELI senior legal researcher Eliza Prestidge-Oldfield said climate laws allowed the government to make changes to an emissions reduction plan, but they must consult on any changes that are more than minor or technical.

Instead, the government scrapped large parts of the plan before formally amending it.

“By the time the plan was actually amended, there were over 30 initiatives that were being consulted on where the decisions had already been made,” she said.

“What the government should have done is consulted on any amendments before it locked in those changes.”

‘Phenomenal’ reliance on pine planting

The latest emissions reduction plan, which kicked in at the start of this year, was not really an emissions reduction plan at all, Prestidge-Oldfield said.

“Instead of having arranged policies that might substantively reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, or replace sectors of the economy that currently are reliant on out that equipment with new equipment, they’ve just relied on baseline modeling and trees offsetting carbon emissions.”

The reliance on forestry planting in the plan was “quite phenomenal”.

“The reliance on forestry means that people aren’t going to be doing the other things that they can do, that are technically feasible now and may even have a good payoff, unless they’re cheaper than a forestry credit,” she said.

Relying on mostly pine plantations was “inherently risky”, she said.

“As the climate heats, the risk of them burning down is pretty significant. We’ve already seen issues with extreme weather events, windfall, forestry slash – so these are not a robust solution in and of themselves.”

Lawyers for Climate Action executive director Jessica Palairet said using trees and other types of carbon sequestration was an important part of the climate response, because it would help to remove carbon dioxide already warming the planet.

It could not simply replace reducing emissions at their source, though.

“The government shouldn’t treat reductions and removals as equivalent,” Palairet said.

“They’re different, they needed to be treated differently under the law, and we don’t think the minister even turned his mind to whether this plan of planting our way out of the climate crisis complied with international law.”

The global Paris Agreement did not explicitly state that governments must prioritise reducing emissions over removing them from the atmosphere, Palairet said.

“But there’s numerous parts … that do suggest a preferencing of reductions over forestry removals.”

States were also expected to take a precautionary approach to reducing their emissions, she said.

“So reduce emissions now, rather than keep them at high levels and leave them for future generations to deal with.”

Case is significant – environmental law expert

The hearing in Wellington will add to a growing body of climate law cases being levelled at governments around the world.

An advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice last year found that developed countries like New Zealand were expected to lead the way in making emissions reductions, and that the way was open for countries to sue each other for failing to take action.

Auckland University associate professor Vernon Rive said the latest case was “hugely significant”.

“It concerns some quite fundamental planks of the government’s policy and approach on climate mitigation,” he said.

“It tests whether from a legal perspective the policy reliance on the [emissions trading scheme] – almost to the exclusion of everything else – is a legitimate approach.”

The outcome could set a precedent for how emissions reduction plans were set, especially about the level of certainty the government needed to have that a plan could meet an emissions budget.

“I don’t think anyone expects there to be 100 percent certainty, because this involves modelling and predictions of what will happen in the future,” Rive said, “But there is an expectation of a level of certainty and robustness and credibility.”

That included what wiggle-room there was if some policies did not succeed, or something else unexpected happened.

“The government’s plan – by its own recognition – is cutting it very, very fine,” he said. “There’s a very small buffer for achieving it or not achieving it.”

New Zealand’s system of setting greenhouse gas budgets and emissions reduction plans was similar to Ireland and the UK, where governments had also faced legal challenges.

“[There have been] two significant cases in the UK where environmental interests have successfully challenged the UK government’s emissions reduction plans, or their equivalent,” Rive said.

“The court has said look, there are just too many uncertainties here involved in your plan – you need to go back and do it again, and do it properly this time.”

New Zealand’s legal system was similar to the UK’s, so he expected the courts here to take a similar approach to the law.

“Each of these cases will turn on their own facts … but this is a very credible claim.”

The hearing is expected to last three days, with a reserved decision later this year.

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/2026/03/16/governments-climate-change-plans-go-to-the-high-court/

Posted on

‘AI illiterate’: NZ at risk of being left behind as data centre plans move forward

Source: Radio New Zealand

Artist’s impression of how the data centre is to look. Datagrid / supplied

A new $3.5 billion data centre that will be built near Invercargill is being touted as the country’s first “artificial intelligence factory”, but a tech expert says New Zealand is currently “AI illiterate” and without urgent action, the country’s economic growth is at stake.

Datagrid New Zealand has received resource consent for the 78,000 square-metre data centre, which will be built in Makarewa, north of Invercargill. The company was founded by Rémi Galasso and Malcolm Dick in 2021.

“This approval is the result of years of dedication and collaboration, and we are excited about the transformative impact this project will have on Southland and New Zealand as a whole,” Galasso said.

The centre will have a dedicated substation and consume 280 megawatts of power, making it the country’s second-biggest electricity user after the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter, consuming around 6 percent of New Zealand’s total annual electricity demand.

Energy-hungry data centres are a boom industry in New Zealand, with international companies keen to reduce their climate impact by using the county’s renewable electricity.

Technology expert Mark Laurence said the term “AI factory” was coined by Jensen Huang, the chief executive of American technology company NVIDIA. It describes a data centre that was built to serve AI technology, through training and inference.

AI training involved teaching a model by feeding it datasets to learn patterns, while AI inference was the application of that knowledge.

“Take ChatGPT, for example – whenever OpenAI decides to train their next version of ChatGPT, they essentially take mountains of data, give it all to their algorithms, throw it all into a data centre and that data is processed for months and months by the AI algorithm to create the next version of ChatGPT,” Laurence said.

“Every time we use one of these AI tools, like ChatGPT or Copilot, every time we type in something and press enter, that is called inference,” he said.

ChatGPT sparked the recent artificial intelligence hype on its release in 2022. Koen van Weel / ANP MAG / ANP via AFP

Laurence runs Ten Past Tomorrow, a strategic advisory and AI training company with the aim of increasing AI literacy and capability in New Zealand.

He said demand for training and inference was increasing as more people used AI tools, with New Zealand well-positioned geographically and climatically to host data centres to do that work.

“Data centres use a lot of water and because the massive computers inside them generate so much heat, they need to be cooled down as well,” he said.

“In Invercargill, the average annual temperature is around 10C, which means they can simply cool those centres with the outside air.”

The Invercargill facility is not the first large scale data centre in New Zealand. Microsoft opened a data centre in Auckland in 2024, while Amazon Web Services (AWS) spent $7.5b building a cluster of data centres in the city.

He said to illustrate what the AI factory was capable of, once complete it would have the capacity to process around 960 million ChatGPT conversations per day, which was between 5 to 10 percent of the conversations processed by the AI chatbot globally each day.

Who benefits from the data created in these centres?

Laurence said Microsoft and AWS (Amazon) were supplying output from their centres to New Zealand organisations and the public service, but output from the Datagrid centre would instead be piped offshore through a subsea cable to serve overseas markets.

Datagrid has not said who its customers will be, or how the information its centre produces will be used.

Laurence said he wanted to see a government commitment that New Zealand was able to use and benefit from the technology that centres like the Datagrid’s AI factory were powering.

Laurence said the country was at risk of becoming “AI illiterate”, and statistics showed New Zealanders were not being trained at the rate or the capability that most developed nations around the world were in terms of being able to use AI tools, which meant the country was falling behind in its ability to keep pace with the international market.

“We’re still a nation that’s using AI to change the tone of an email and summarise long documents, while the rest of the world is pulling ahead in terms of redesigning whole workflows and injecting agentic AI at the full edge of its capability.

“It’s exciting to have the infrastructure being built, particularly when it contributes to our economy but what needs to go hand-in-hand with that is national capability training programs so that we can actually harness the outputs of this infrastructure and use it to the benefit of our people, our companies, our organisations, and ultimately our economy.”

A project years in the making

Southland Business Chamber CEO Sheree Casey said the new data centre provided an opportunity for the region to broaden its economic horizons.

“Once operational, Datagrid estimates it could generate hundreds of millions annually in data service exports and add approximately $60 million to GDP each year.”

The construction phase alone was expected to create more than 1200 skilled jobs and inject around $4b into the economy.

She said Southland had a strong foundation in traditional industries, and adding a “weightless export” sector, where the region delivers digital services globally-could be a natural complement.

The proposed Tasman Ring Network. Datagrid / supplied

Transpower said it was confident the national grid could meet the energy needs of the new data centre.

Executive general manager of grid development Matt Webb said while the centre required a big load, there was a lot of new electricity generation emerging and Transpower was responsible for facilitating a balance between the two.

He said the national grid operator had been in serious discussions with Datagrid for a year or more and a formal connection application process was now underway.

Webb said there were a number of significant Southland wind projects going through the consenting process, along with solar projects.

Transpower expected 1300MW of new projects (generation and battery storage systems) to be commissioned in 2026, increasing capacity by around 13 percent.

Webb said having a confirmed electricity load of that size gave investors confidence in renewable energy investments.

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/2026/03/15/ai-illiterate-nz-at-risk-of-being-left-behind-as-data-centre-plans-move-forward/

Posted on

Northlanders stage windblown protest against Bream Bay sand-mining application

Source: Radio New Zealand

About 700 people gathered on Northland’s Ruakākā Beach to protest a proposed sand-mining operation. Supplied / Bream Bay Guardians

At least 700 people have staged a noisy protest at Northland’s Ruakākā Beach against a controversial fast-tracked proposal to mine up to 8 million cubic metres of sand.

The crowd included many of the region’s civic leaders, MPs, kapa haka groups and even the Waipū Highland Pipe Band.

However, high winds put paid to plans by waka ama and boating clubs to join the protest on the water.

Whangārei Mayor Ken Couper and local hapū Patuharakeke led the crowd onto the beach just after 11am Sunday.

Couper, a dairy farmer at nearby Waipū, said he wanted to help give a voice to the community, which risked being shut out of the fast-tracked consenting process.

“We are very concerned that the benefits of this proposal will not come into Northland and, in fact, the outcomes will not be good for us at all. We will suffer ecological damage to our beaches and our people are very, very concerned about that.

“We’re here to make sure our voices are heard.”

Couper said strong winds had curtailed some of the organisers’ plans and had forced the bagpipers to adapt their uniforms, but had not deterred them from heading to the beach.

Protesters make their feelings clear about a proposed sand-mining operation. Supplied / Bream Bay Guardians

“They’re really engaged,” he said. “It’s a great peaceful protest, a real testament to the Bream Bay and wider Northland community.”

The protest was organised by the Bream Bay Guardians community group, who oppose plans by Auckland company McCallum Brothers to dredge up to 150,000 cubic metres of sand per year from the seabed about four kilometres offshore.

After three years, the amount dredged would increase to a maximum of 250,000 cubic metres per year. If granted, the consent would last 35 years.

McCallum Brothers lodged an application for fast-track consent at the end of January, with the application deemed complete on 17 February.

Under fast-track rules, community groups do not have a right to be heard, but the expert panel making the decision can invite them to make a submission.

Many of Northland’s civic leaders took part in the protest. As well as Couper, they included Far North Mayor Moko Tepania, Northland Regional Council chairman Pita Tipene, councillors and Green list MP Hūhana Lyndon.

Local residents included Ethan Pirihi of Waipū, a kaiāwhina (assistant) at nearby Ruakākā School. He said this was “a big take” (cause) for his whānau.

“I originate from Patuharakeke, so I thought I’d come and tautoko [support] the cause,” Pirihi said. “I used to lay concrete in Auckland and I always wondered where all the ingredients to make concrete came from.

“Now I see it’s coming out of our backyard, I’m here to help stop it.”

Protesters opposed to a sand-mining proposal off Northland’s Bream Bay march down Ruakākā Beach. Supplied / Bream Bay Guardians

Pirihi’s main concern was the potential effect of the removal of millions of tonnes of sand on sealife and kai moana.

Ruakākā accountant Nicole Butturini said sand mining offered “absolutely no benefit” to Northlanders.

“In fact, we’d be worse off, because of the detrimental effect to marine ecosystems,” she said. “It could also jeopardise far more significant long-term economic opportunities for Northland through tourism and recreation.”

Butturini said more innovative solutions were needed, rather than “unsustainably pillaging the environment”.

Far North Mayor Moko Tepania said he had come to the protest, even though Bream Bay was not in his district, to tautoko (support) the cause.

“We’ve heard the concerns of the community here, and the concerns of iwi and hapū and our cousin councillors, so why wouldn’t I come down and show support? This could have intergenerational detrimental effects on this community, regardless of district borders.

“We’re all Northlander at the end of the day and no way do I want this sand mining proposal to go ahead.”

Tepania said the protest had a “beautiful wairua” and local concerns were “very palpable”.

McCallum Brothers has been contacted for comment.

In December, Whangārei district councillors voted unanimously to urge the expert panel to allow groups, such as the Bream Bay Guardians, to have a say in the fast-track consenting process.

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/2026/03/15/northlanders-stage-windblown-protest-against-bream-bay-sand-mining-application/