Category: Sport

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Tourists through new pathway triple in two months

Source: New Zealand Government

A new travel option that enables eligible Chinese and Pacific visitors to cross the ditch to New Zealand visa free is bringing in a considerable boost in tourism and revenue, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston say.

“In December, we announced that 13,000 Chinese and Pacific travellers had already visited, with 24,000 total requests approved. After two months, that number has now almost tripled to 36,800 visits, along with 54,000 requests approved,” Ms Stanford says.

“With average visitor spend at $5,800 for Chinese visitors, according to the International Visitor Survey, that amounts to an estimated economic injection of $210 million for Kiwi businesses from those who have visited, with Chinese visitors making up around 36,200 of visits through the new pathway.

“We are committed to supporting Kiwis businesses to thrive, and these results, which boost our wider tourism sector. Tourism is our second largest export and it is fantastic to see results which boost our wider tourism sector.” 

“Everybody wants the chance to visit and experience New Zealand, and through our change to allow more people to visit through visa-free travel from Australia, it appears to be a no-brainer.”

Ms Stanford says the change that was introduced was a deciding factor in people visiting New Zealand – 85 percent of Chinese travellers and 82 percent of Pacific travellers surveyed said they travelled here specifically because of the new NZeTA option.

Ms Upston says this is already bringing in a sizeable boost in revenue across the country, and in particular our key tourism regions.

“Visitor spending is going directly into local businesses. That includes shops, eateries, accommodation, and tour operators – and this is spending which may not have come into New Zealand prior to the change. This is all part of our Government’s plan to fix the basics and build the future. 

“The South Island remains extremely popular, with 67 percent of Chinese and Pacific visitors arriving at an international airport in the South Island to start their travels.

“The travel changes we’ve made are reflective of this Government’s stance – we back Kiwi businesses and we back our regions. We are relentlessly focused on making smart, commonsense, and sometimes simple changes, which bring big value for New Zealanders.”

Notes to editor:

Since November, eligible Chinese and Pacific Island Forum passport holders travelling to New Zealand from Australia no longer need to obtain a Visitor Visa . Instead, they can apply for a New Zealand electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) as part of a 12-month trial. 

Instead of spending $441 and waiting an average of 4 days, individuals from China travelling via Australia can pay as little as $117 and have their application for an NZeTA processed in 24 hours. Individuals from the Pacific can pay as low as $17 instead of spending $216 and waiting an average 6 days for a visitor visa.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/19/tourists-through-new-pathway-triple-in-two-months/

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British dual nationals with NZ passports no longer need new UK passport

Source: Radio New Zealand

Dual citizens face having to get both passports and keep them up to date – and to get a UK passport soon if they want to travel from the end of February. Gill Bonnett

The British government is now allowing dual nationals to have a lifelong digital stamp in their New Zealand passport instead of buying a new UK one.

Thousands of people have already rushed to buy a British passport after being told an alternative certificate of entitlement – costing £589 ($1329) – would last only as long as their current foreign passport.

But, in a change quietly announced on the UK passport’s website eight days ago, it said that from 26 February certificates of entitlement will be linked to new passports for free.

“At the moment certificates of entitlement are stickers (vignettes) placed in a passport. We are going to change this to a digital record.”

RNZ asked the British High Commission in Wellington if it had sent out a media release about any of the changes. It pointed to a January 2025 media release that dealt only with the issue of introducing ETAs (Electronic Travel Authorisations) and not the new requirement for British passport holders, or certificates of entitlement.

It has been asked for further comment on the issue of digital certificates of entitlement.

In questions about whether staff will be at airports to assist its citizens when the new passport requirement comes in next Wednesday, it said consular assistance was provided for all citizens abroad who needed it.

Many British migrants had asked why the passport requirement was introduced, after the UK government said it was to make their borders more secure. When asked for more information, the High Commission told RNZ it had already provided that reasoning.

Travel agents are warning travellers about next week’s border changes in the UK. Jasmine Fair / RNZ

Counting aliens

UK law professor Elspeth Guild, who specialises in border controls, said the rationale behind the changes could be led by a drive for better statistics.

“A number of countries insist that where their nationals are entering their ‘home’ country they must use their ‘home’ passport. This requirement seems to have a basis in the entitlement of countries to know whether their citizens are at home or not.

“The new insistence on the use of the home passport when entering a state, I think it [is] linked to the entry-exit databases where a lot of modifications were required to deal with dual nationals, and now states want to know. There is a justification in that citizens arriving home cannot be subject to immigration rules (at least in the UK), but if the authorities do not know that the person is a citizen they will be classified as an alien, and then when they fail to leave at the end of their permitted stay they mess up the statistics on how many ‘illegal’ immigrants are floating around.”

She said while revenue generation was also a possible reason for the new policy, several countries which permit dual nationality had tightened up their processes.

For travellers embarking on a trip to the UK next week who had British parents but no visible link to the UK, she had some words of comfort.

“Unless the place of birth stated on the passport indicates that the person may have birthright citizenship somewhere else, it is virtually impossible without a detailed investigation to know whether someone is a dual national. This is particularly so where citizenship was acquired through ancestry rather than place of birth.”

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/19/british-dual-nationals-with-nz-passports-no-longer-need-new-uk-passport/

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Cricket: White Fern Lauren Down announces retirement

Source: Radio New Zealand

Lauren Down playing for Auckland. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz

White Ferns and Auckland batter Lauren Down has announced her retirement from cricket.

Down debuted for the Hearts in 2011 and went on to play 202 games for her province and 48 for New Zealand.

The Hearts’ third all-time appearance maker, Down also ends her career as the Hearts’ third all-time leading T20 run scorer (1496) and fourth all-time leading List A run scorer (2690), and contributed 41 wickets during her early days as an allrounder.

She was a member of the Auckland side that won the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield five times.

Down made her full White Ferns debut in a one-run ODI win over the West Indies in Lincoln in March 2018.

She opted out of a White Ferns central contract for the 2023-24 season to welcome her first child, before returning to the 2024-25 list and featuring on the 2024 tours of England and India.

Down represented New Zealand for what would be the final time in the 3rd ODI against Australia at the Basin Reserve in December 2024.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/19/cricket-white-fern-lauren-down-announces-retirement/

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Winter Olympics: Zoi Sadowski-Synnott ‘stoked’ with silver medal effort

Source: Radio New Zealand

Zoi Sadowski-Synnott with her family after winning silver medal at the final of the Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle, Winter Olympics, 2026. www.photosport.nz

Wānaka snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott is yet to decide how she’ll celebrate becoming the sport’s most decorated Olympian.

The 24 year old picked up the silver medal in the Slopestyle final at the Winter Olympics in Italy overnight following up her silver medal performance in the Big Air earlier in the programme.

She now has five Olympic medals following her bronze in the Big Air in 2018 and gold in the Slopestyle and silver in the Big Air from 2022.

“I’m so happy that it’s over,” Sadowski-Synnott told RNZ.

“It has been such a big build-up and so much work has gone into this.”

Her immediate plan now is to watch the remaining New Zealanders compete at the Games.

“I’m just really stoked and proud to support the rest of the New Zealand team.

“After that I don’t know what comes, but I’m pretty keen to ride some powder or go to the beach and go surfing, I don’t know.”

Zoi Sadowski-Synnott of New Zealand reacts as she awaits her score in the Slopestyle final at the Winter Olympics, 2026. www.photosport.nz

After topping the qualifying round, Sadowski-Synnott headed into the third and final run of the Slopestyle final in fourth place, but turned in a flawless display to finish just 0.35 points behind Japan’s Mari Fukada, who took home gold.

“I was definitely feeling a lot of pressure. I took my time at the top though and just took it all in and felt really grateful that I had the opportunity to be here and represent my country no matter the result and so I just tried to do what I do best.

“I was proud of the run that I put together.”

She said it was an incredible feeling to reach the podium again.

“I can’t believe that I have another Winter Olympic medal, I’m just really grateful I was able to put it down when it mattered. I could really feel the support of New Zealand.”

She told Reuters she had “definitely not” imagined such success when she took up snowboarding at age eight. She said there were “zero expectations” for someone from New Zealand, a country not known for winter sports prowess.

“Just being a Kiwi, we’re always a bit of the underdog,” she said. “Any chance we get to show who we are on the world stage, we’ll try and do our best.”

Her drive began simply with “that feeling of slowly getting better and learning new tricks,” she said. “I just love the feeling because it makes me feel alive.”

Meanwhile, Dane Menzies finished seventh in the men’s Slopestyle final.

-RNZ with Reuters

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/19/winter-olympics-zoi-sadowski-synnott-stoked-with-silver-medal-effort/

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Liam Lawson shows improvement in latest F1 test

Source: Radio New Zealand

#30 Liam Lawson (NZL) Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Formula One Team MPS AGENCY / PHOTOSPORT

Liam Lawson got through 61 laps on the opening day of the second Formula 1 pre-season test in Bahrain.

The Racing Bulls driver shared the car with rookie Arvid Lindblad on the first day and managed the 12th fastest time.

His best lap was 2.3 seconds slower than that of Mercedes driver George Russell.

Lindblad had the 19th fastest time.

Oscar Piastri in a McLaren was the second fastest today, followed by the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc and the McLaren of world champion Lando Norris.

Lawson will drive the full day on day two with Linblad in the car on day three.

#30 Liam Lawson (NZL) Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Formula One Team. MPS AGENCY / PHOTOSPORT

The 24 year old voiced some concerns about the new 2026 car in last week’s opening test session in Bahrain.

The only driver not to take to the track today was Max Verstappen.

The first round of the 2026 championships is in Australia on 8 March.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/19/liam-lawson-shows-improvement-in-latest-f1-test/

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NZ Warriors facing early halves crisis through heavy NRL pre-season injury toll

Source: Radio New Zealand

Shaun Johnson and coach Andrew Webster at Warriors training. Andrew Cornaga/Photosport

NRL pre-season: Warriors v Dolphins

Kickoff: 8pm Friday, 20 February

Leichhardt Oval, Sydney

Live blog updates on RNZ

An old, familiar face made a rare appearance at NZ Warriors training this week, as coach Andrew Webster faced early test of depth among his halves to start the coming NRL season.

Club legend Shaun Johnson, who retired to a media career last year, was throwing his weight around without actually putting his TV face at risk with any contact drills.

“We sent an SOS out, but I think he brushed us,” Webster quipped. “He just wanted to come and watch – I didn’t see him tackling those boys on the pads today.

“It was good to have an old boy around – he would say not so old. He’s obviously a big part of our path and done so much for our club.

“Any time he wants to come, he’s welcome.”

Webster could use some Johnson magic right about now, with an injury crisis among his inside backs just two weeks out from round one against Sydney Roosters.

As it stands, Luke Hanson may be winning a battle of attrition for his first-grade debut, as he lines up alongside Tanah Boyd – a combination that guided the Warriors reserves to glory last year – for their second pre-season trial against the Dolphins on Friday.

Last year’s incumbents – Luke Metcalf and Chanel Harris-Tavita – are both nursing niggles that could impact their availability during the opening weeks of the schedule.

Metcalf is still rehabbing from knee surgery that ended his 2025 campaign midway through and will likely miss a couple of months of the coming season. Harris-Tavita – along with second-rower Marata Niukore – has picked up a calf complaint that has kept him out of the pre-season.

Luke Hanson in action for the Warriors against Manly Sea Eagles. Kerry Marshall/Photosport

“They’re minor, but they haven’t progressed as quickly as we’d like,” Webster explained. “I’m assured they’ll be up for selection for round one, but that could change.

“They will have to tick every box from here, but they’re only light injuries.

“The reason we haven’t announced them as injuries is, at a push, they could have played, but there’s no point in risking it.”

Meanwhile, the Warriors have suffered a major blow, losing utility Te Maire Martin for 12-14 weeks with a broken leg suffered during his stint with the Māori All Stars on Sunday. While he was used as a Swiss Army Knife off the bench last year, Martin is primarily a half and would have been third or fourth on the pecking order.

“He’ll get operated on tomorrow,” Webster said. “Really frustrating.

“As we’ve learnt with fractures, they’re really slow early and we’re not going to know when he’s back until we start seeing big chunks of improvement.”

Up-and-comer Jett Cleary – son of former Warriors coach Ivan and brother of Penrith Panthers star Nathan – was another bolter, but has had to deal with his own health challenges during the off-season.

“Jett’s just completed his first full session with the squad,” Webster said. “He had osteitis pubis [inflammation of the pubic joint] over the break and a long recovery.

“He did warm-ups the last couple of weeks, 80 percent of the session today and he’ll start progressing over the next two weeks to get ready for round one. He’s not available for selection this week.”

The other bolter is former Newcastle Knights junior Jye Linnane, who is also returning from anterior cruciate ligament knee surgery last year.

Jett Cleary at Warriors training. Andrew Cornaga/Photosport

Boyd stepped into Metcalf’s vacant spot for the latter stages of 2025 and, with 76 first-grade games to his name, will probably start the season in the No.7 jersey.

Hanson was signed from the Penrith system two years ago and has played 35 games for the Warriors reserves, playing a key part in their NSW Cup and NRL State Championship triumphs last season.

The ‘other’ Luke seemingly has his nose ahead of the pack right now.

“He’s going to play big minutes this week,” Webster said. “We’ve got options and people will stand up.

“We’ve got faith in those guys and Luke Hanson has had a great pre-season. He just keeps doing his job each day and putting himself one step closer.”

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/19/nz-warriors-facing-early-halves-crisis-through-heavy-nrl-pre-season-injury-toll/

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Olympics: Zoi Sadowski-Synnott wins silver at women’s Snowboard Slopestyle final

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand’s Zoi Sadowski Synnott reacts in the snowboard women’s slopestyle final run 3 during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Livigno Snow Park, in Livigno (Valtellina), on February 18, 2026. KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP

Zoi Sadowski-Synnott has won silver in the women’s Snowboard Slopestyle event, in a final run that left viewers on the edges of their seats.

The win secures New Zealand’s third medal of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy.

After topping the qualifying round, Sadowski-Synnott was up last in the line-up of 12 women. Her run one score of 73.01 immediately took her to third place, despite coming off early on one of the rails.

She dropped to fourth during round two, where she remained after her 77.61-scoring run when, despite some impressive jumps, she again came off early on the second rail.

However, the 24-year-old managed to turn the competition around in her last attempt, with a clean run bringing her up to second place with a score of 87.48 – just 0.35 points behind Japan’s Mari Fukada, who took home gold.

The win marks Sadowski-Synnott’s fifth Olympic medal.

It was a longer than expected wait for competitors, after heavy snow saw the event postponed on Tuesday (local time).

New Zealand’s Dane Menzies falls as he competes in the snowboard men’s slopestyle final run 2 during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Livigno Snow Park, in Livigno (Valtellina), on February 18, 2026. KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP

Earlier, Dane Menzies missed out on a medal in the men’s Snowboard Slopestyle final.

The 20-year-old from Wanaka was also 12th in the line-up after placing first in the qualifier, and got off to a strong start.

Run one earned him a solid score of 76.10, his best in the event, but run two saw him drop to fifth place with a score of 21.03.

Menzies was unable to up his score with a clean run on his last attempt, scoring 34.61, leading to a seventh place finish.

He only needed another three points to crack the top three.

China’s Su Yiming won the event with a top score of 82.41.

New Zealand has now secured three medals in this year’s games.

Luca Harrington brought home bronze at the men’s Freestyle Skiing Slopestyle event last week, while Zoi Sadowski-Synnott claimed New Zealand’s first medal of the games, taking silver in the Big Air event.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/19/olympics-zoi-sadowski-synnott-wins-silver-at-womens-snowboard-slopestyle-final/

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Infinix NOTE 60 SERIES Brings Innovation with Interactive Design and Snapdragon Processor

Source: Media Outreach

Designed as the next milestone in Infinix’s flagship journey, the NOTE 60 SERIES elevates the brand’s signature NOTE line with a sharper focus on flagship-class performance, expressive design, and immersive everyday experiences that go beyond expectations.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 February 2026 – At its annual flagship showcase, Infinix today unveiled the NOTE 60 SERIES, featuring the NOTE 60 Pro and NOTE 60—demonstrating a new chapter in delivering premium technology experiences to global users.

Infinix NOTE 60 Pro

Advancing design and performance within its class, the NOTE 60 Pro marks a significant milestone as Infinix’s first smartphone built on the Snapdragon® 7s Gen 4 Mobile Platform, delivering exceptional responsiveness and seamless multitasking that befits flagship-level performance.

It further elevates everyday experiences with an avant-garde Active Matrix Display that stays invisible when inactive, yet transforms into a dynamic interface for personalized interactivity, intelligent notifications, and on-screen entertainment—expanding what a smartphone can do in everyday life. Paired with a fluid 144Hz 1.5K Ultra HDR Cinematic Display and immersive SOUND BY JBL, the NOTE 60 Pro sets a new benchmark for premium multimedia experiences within its segment, proving that exceptional technology can be both powerful and pleasurable.

“NOTE 60 SERIES is our annual flagship showcase—an ‘all‑out’ blockbuster created with industry leaders,” said Tony Zhao, CEO of Infinix. “Embracing a whole-series 5G strategy, we are bringing together the best of performance, design, and entertainment—from our first NOTE powered by Snapdragon from Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., to premium design craftsmanship with Pininfarina, and immersive SOUND BY JBL. This ensures we deliver a pleasurable, fun experience that lets our global consumers actively enjoy the best modern technology.”

Performance Without Compromise with Snapdragon

The NOTE 60 Pro is powered by the Snapdragon® 7s Gen 4 Mobile Platform, delivering robust multitasking and exceptional gaming efficiency with up to 75%¹ faster CPU performance and 210%¹ improved GPU rendering compared to the NOTE 50 Pro. Infinix and Qualcomm Technologies have collaborated for the NOTE 60 Pro, integrating Infinix’s proprietary performance engine to fully harness the hardware’s capabilities. These optimizations deliver up to 25%¹ enhancement in multitasking performance, significantly faster app launch speeds, and a smoother, more stable experience when switching between apps during heavy use.

Powered by its strong Snapdragon chipset, the NOTE 60 Pro takes gaming performance even further, delivering smooth high‑frame‑rate gameplay across popular titles. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Honor of Kings run up to 120 FPS, ensuring ultra‑responsive, fluid action even during intense team battles. To maintain consistent performance, the NOTE 60 Pro also introduces an upgraded 3D IceCore Vapor Chamber cooling system featuring a 0.36 mm copper sheet that directs heat from the chipset to the vapor chamber, reducing temperature by up to 3 °C¹ during intense gaming for stable, sustained performance.

Active Matrix Display: Functionality Through Design

Featured on the back of the NOTE 60 Pro, the all-new Active Matrix Display represents a major design innovation for the NOTE SERIES.

This miniature, interactive LED interface stays invisible until activated, then instantly lights up to show smart notifications, animated pets, or mini-games. It enables at-a-glance information, versatile alerts, and moments of playful interaction. Users can personalize it with custom signatures, emojis, or dynamic patterns, giving users a creative outlet to express their personality and emotions, and turning the phone into a more emotionally connected personal companion.

Built around a robust one-piece frame of high-strength aluminum alloy with a refined micro-matte texture, the NOTE 60 Pro delivers a sophisticated, high-end feel while offering durable practicality and dependable IP64 protection² against dust, splashes, and everyday wear. Infinix NOTE 60 SERIES introduces multiple practical functions on the robust middle frame, including the new One‑Tap Button providing instant, customizable activation of Silent Mode or tools like the flashlight. It also features an industry-exclusive Advanced Health Monitor, providing proactive wellness tracking of key vitals like heart rate, blood oxygen, and long-term HRV to deliver actionable health insights.

Immersive Entertainment: A Stunning 1.5K Display Paired with SOUND BY JBL

The NOTE 60 Pro is engineered for an immersive, all-day comfortable audiovisual experience. It features a vivid 1.5K display with ultra-slim bezels, reaching 4500 nits peak brightness for visibility in any light and a 144Hz refresh rate for ultra-smooth visuals. The display is designed for extended viewing comfort, featuring motion sickness prevention technology, which helps users stay comfortable while reading, watching videos, or gaming when commuting or traveling. Last but not least, NOTE 60 Pro is protected by durable Corning® Gorilla® Glass 7i, and this visual excellence is complemented by a high-fidelity stereo sound system with SOUND BY JBL, to complete a truly compelling entertainment experience.

Capture Anything, Day or Night: The Pro-Grade Camera Setup

At the core of the Infinix NOTE 60 Pro’s imaging system is the exclusive 50MP OIS Night Master Camera, engineered to deliver crystal-clear photos and stable videos even in low light. Paired with a 112° ultrawide sensor, the system effortlessly captures everything from expansive landscapes to group portraits.

The device marks a major leap in imaging with Infinix’s first Ultra HDR pipeline, enabling full-chain HDR imaging, from capture and processing to display for brilliant, true-to-life photos. This high-end shooting mode preserves details in shadows and highlights that standard shots often miss, resulting in greater dynamic contrast range and rendering everything from daylight to neon with perfect clarity. Complementing this, the new Live Photo mode captures life as it happens and turns every photo into a vivid, pocket-sized memory.

Rounding out the professional imaging suite are intelligent features like 2x Lossless Portrait Zoom for studio-quality framing, 4K Ultra-Steady Video recording³ with creative filters, and the Infinix AI Studio for effortless, intelligent editing.

All-Day Power, Intelligent Care

The NOTE 60 Pro features a battery capacity up to 6500mAh⁴, a substantial 25%¹ increase over its predecessor. This provides ample power to support all-day browsing, messaging, and gameplay. To ensure power and performance are maintained in the long run, Infinix combines the increased energy density with an industry-first active healing system that automatically repairs internal battery materials in the long term, extending the battery longevity up to 200 cycles over time and ensuring at least 6 years of effective, hassle-free battery performance. The NOTE 60 Pro keeps you charged with 90W wired and 30W wireless⁵ charging. For the fastest wireless experience, an Infinix MagCharge phone case⁵ is included to guarantee perfect alignment. This gives you both the speed and the flexible convenience to power up seamlessly throughout your day.

Infinix NOTE 60: Flagship Implementation with Greater Accessibility

A design similar in high-end refinement to the NOTE 60 Pro’s graces Infinix NOTE 60, another 5G phone featuring a premium metal frame, a 1.5K Ultra HDR display at up to 144Hz, and exceptional battery capacity with advanced charging and longevity management. It’s built around the ultra-efficient MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Ultimate 5G mobile platform and delivers true 5G performance. The NOTE 60 sports many of the quality features common to the latest NOTE lineup, including Active Halo notification lighting, highly optimized system-level software, and the 3D IceCore Vapor Chamber cooling system. It retains the 50MP OIS Night Master Cam and Live Photo mode of NOTE 60 Pro, promising fun memory capture, editing, organization, and sharing with family, friends, and more.

Beyond “Pro”: Expanding the NOTE 60 SERIES

As a key step in its flagship journey, Infinix also previewed the NOTE 60 Ultra, marking a bold move into the premium segment. Designed by Pininfarina, the NOTE 60 Ultra introduces breakthroughs in form and delivers comprehensive upgrades in imaging, performance, and connectivity—representing the pinnacle of performance and experience within the NOTE 60 SERIES. More details about the NOTE 60 Ultra will be announced at a later date.

Demonstrating Infinix’s commitment to long‑term user support, the entire NOTE 60 SERIES comes equipped with the upgraded XOS 16, offering three generations of XOS platform upgrades and five years of security patches⁶. In addition, the whole series also supports eSIM connectivity⁷, providing users with greater flexibility and convenience in managing their mobile network experience.

Product availability

NOTE 60 Pro is available in five colors:* Mist Titanium, Solar Orange, Deep Ocean Blue, Mocha Brown, Frost Silver, Torino Black (Design by Pininfarina)*

It will be available in three variants:* 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB, 12GB + 256GB

NOTE 60 is available in five colors:* Mist Titanium, Rose Gold, Fizz Blue, Midnight Black, Mocha Brown

It will be available in two variants:* 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB

*Availability may vary by country/region. The Turino Black (Design by Pininfarina) will be released at a later date. Please consult local retailers and third-party shopping websites for more purchasing options.

*Available storage and RAM are less than the total memory due to storage of the operating system and software pre-installed on the device.

Price and availability vary between markets and sales channels. Please refer to the Infinix Official website for product availability and detailed regional sales information.

Disclaimer

Snapdragon is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. Snapdragon is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.

¹All data comes from Infinix laboratories. The testing data may vary slightly between different test versions and testing environments.

²The phone is dustproof and splash-proof under normal use. Under controlled laboratory conditions, its performance can reach IP64 level under IEC 60529 standard. Differences exist between real-life scenarios. Any damage caused to the phone by immersion in liquid is not covered under the warranty.

³Record at up to 4K 30 fps, with ultra-steady stabilization and a wide range of creative filters.

⁴Battery capacity and configurations may vary by market.

⁵MagCharge requires using the Infinix-branded magnetic attachment phone case.

⁶The specific XOS upgrade plan for each model will be announced separately. Please note that availability of this upgrade may be limited in certain countries.

⁷eSIM availability is carrier and region-dependent; it may not be supported in all countries.

Hashtag: #Infinix

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/19/infinix-note-60-series-brings-innovation-with-interactive-design-and-snapdragon-processor/

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Is Mount Victoria tunnel ‘all go’, or still under consideration?

Source: Radio New Zealand

Artist’s visualisation of a second Mt Victoria Tunnel in Wellington. NZTA / Waka Kotahi

The Transport Minister says holding off on a second Mount Victoria tunnel is something under consideration, if congestion charging shows it is not needed.

But the Finance Minister insists the project is “all go,” with work already underway.

A second tunnel through Mount Victoria was a key 2023 campaign promise from National, and the project made its way into the Roads of National Significance programme.

A second Terrace Tunnel has also been proposed, reserved solely for southbound traffic, while the existing three-lane tunnel would become a dedicated route for northbound traffic only.

The New Zealand Transport Agency estimated the costs of the new tunnels, along with removing parking on Vivian Street, would cost between $2.9 billion and $3.8 billion.

Transport Minister Chris Bishop says a question on whether the Mount Victoria tunnels would be tolled was “complicated” by potential time-of-use pricing. RNZ/Mark Papalii

The National Infrastructure Plan, released on Tuesday, said time of use charging for congested urban networks would encourage people to travel during less congested times or take public transport.

This, the plan said, would reduce delays and improve network performance, but also “defer the need for expensive capacity expansions”.

The government has legislated to implement time-of-use charging, establishing a framework to allow councils to set up a congestion charging scheme.

The plan said New Zealand ranked fourth to last in the OECD for asset management, or the practice of looking after existing infrastructure.

The commission said better understanding of existing assets would help avoiding diverting maintenance spending into new capital investment, to the cost of future generations.

“Reform is needed to better align transport investment with what users can fund, supported by clearer and

more independent oversight to ensure spending is focused on maintaining existing networks and delivering new projects only where they respond to demand and provide clear value for money.”

Transport Minister Chris Bishop said a question on whether the Mount Victoria tunnels would be tolled was “complicated” by potential time-of-use pricing.

“Which is why I’m not getting ahead of any of that. There’s a variety of quite complicated issues around tolling and time-of-use pricing in both Auckland and Wellington, which we’re working our way through, and any decision on that is a long time away.”

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the tunnel has not been cancelled. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Asked whether time of use charging should be used first before committing funds to two tunnels, Bishop said it was an option under consideration and he would have more to say soon.

“I’m not cancelling the tunnel, but we are giving active consideration to what time-of-use pricing might do to our transport projects. You have to factor these things in, because thay are a mechanism for demand management and making more efficient use of our infrastructure, which is exactly what the commission says.”

Finance Minister Nicola Willis said the tunnel had not been cancelled.

“Mount Vic Tunnel is all go. And in fact, work is already underway on that project, which is to say there’s around I think $150 million of geotechnical work underway already, which has involved drills and spades in the ground.”

Willis was more ambiguous when asked whether the second Terrace Tunnel “all go” as well, referring questions back to Bishop.

She said the point the Infrastructure Commission was making was that when deciding how to prioritise, sequence, fund, and finance projects, one of the things to consider was the role of different financing tools like petrol taxes, tolls, and congestion charging.

Wellington mayor Andrew Little said the Mount Victoria tunnel was always the government’s project, so it decides what happens.

“From Wellington’s point of view, what matters most is we have good infrastructure that means people can move around and across the city,” he said.

“What we need most of all is certainty about what the government is doing so that the council and residents can plan with confidence.”

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/18/is-mount-victoria-tunnel-all-go-or-still-under-consideration/

Posted on

NZ Warrior seek improvement in second NRL pre-season trial against Dolphins

Source: Radio New Zealand

Harry Tauafiafi-Iutoi scores a pre-season try for the Warriors against Manly. Kerry Marshall/Photosport

NRL pre-season: Warriors v Dolphins

Kickoff: 8pm Friday, 20 February

Leichhardt Oval, Sydney

Live blog updates on RNZ

Still smarting from a subpar performance in their first pre-season hitout, NZ Warriors will seek a drastic improvement, when they take on the Dolphins at Sydney’s Leichhardt Oval on Friday.

Coach Andrew Webster was probably eight players short of his top starting line-up against Manly last weekend, but still expected more than the disorganised 33-18 defeat to a makeshift Sea Eagles outfit in Napier.

“Parts were disappointing, definitely,” he said. “We would have liked to represent our fans a bit better, particularly down the road.

“I thought our tackling and our contact was really good, but was disappointed in our tryline defence – I thought we leaked some simple points there. Our attack was probably a bit clunky, we had some missing pieces.

“We trained 28 guys that week to give them all a go.”

His players were just as frustrated.

“You obviously want to go into a game, whether it’s a trial or a round game, and you want to win,” lock Erin Clark reflected. “We had a tough pre-season and wanted to put into play what we’d been practising.

Erin Clark frustrated with the Warriors performance against Manly. Kerry Marshall/Photosport

“It felt like, in patches, defensively we did, but I felt we missed the mark on attack and that’s definitely something we have to work on this coming week.

“We’ve got a few new players and need to get combinations going. Pre-season is about getting fit and game fitness only comes from playing footy, but it’s mainly about combos.”

For his second team of the year, Webster will welcome back several players from Māori-Indigenous duty to a gameday squad much closer to his round one selection in two weeks.

No-one wins a championship before round one, so it’s way too early to sound alarm bells, but winning is also a habit that requires practice and no time is too early to establish that routine.

“We want to win everything we do,” Webster insisted. “We talk about winning every day.

“You’re always going to have that scenario at the back of your mind, but never at the cost of subs and how many minutes people play and how we do it – we’ll always stick to that.

“It’s about a little bit of practice, but more about getting ready for game one.”

Among the rubble were a handful of individual performances that gave hope for the coming season.

Young forward Tanner Stowers-Smith came off the interchange to lead most of his team’s statistical categories, notably tackle count (39) and run metres (134).

“Tanner’s probably been our best trainer this off-season,” Clark observed. “He’s grown in confidence, after getting that taste last year.

Tanner Stowers-Smith led the Warriors in most key statistical categories against Manly. Kerry Marshall/Photosport

“He was good last year, but far out, the way he has come back to pre-season has not surprised everyone, but he’s gone to a new level.

“I reckon he was our best player on the weekend. He just came on and did all the tough stuff well.

“We’ve got to take a leaf out of his book, a few of us this week, get over the [advantage] line and be tough.”

Stowers-Smith, 21, made his debut last May against the Dolphins and logged 13 games to earn a contract extension through the 2028 season.

Another to show out was centre Ali Leiataua, who promised so much in 2025, but could not shake off an injury bug that limited him to just eight games. Against Manly, he scored two first-half tries to open his account for the season and his presence will be important, as midfield partner Rocco Berry recovers from two off-season shoulder surgeries.

“I’ve got a lot of time for Ali,” Webster admitted. “He hasn’t had much luck, but he’s had a good pre-season and put a lot of sessions together now, so I’m really happy for him.”

Perhaps the biggest silver lining to come from defeat were the final moments, when a long bench filled with age-group and reserve-grade prospects had a chance to show their wares.

Winger Motu Pasikala was called into the starting line-up, after veteran Roger Tuivasa-Sheck tweaked a hamstring in training, while fellow winger Harry Tauafiafi-Iutoi scored a late try and hooker Makaia Tafua also bamboozled the defence with a weaving 30-metre run to cross.

“I thought our regular first-graders put a lot into it, but you could see the kids’ spirit and how much it meant to them,” Webster said. “They were playing like it was their grand final and they did a great job.

Centre Ali Leiataua had a first-half try double for the Warriors against Manly. Kerry Marshall / www.photosport.nz

“I said to them before the game, this is an opportunity for every single person in the room to elevate their career, either cementing a spot in round one, being closer to round one or, if you’re a young guy, showing ‘Oh, he’s got something’. I think they learnt a lot and I loved the way they went about it.”

Clark was even more impressed.

“We get to see a few of those boys, when they come in and help us out at training,” he said. “My mum texted me after the game and said the Warriors are in a good place.

“The future is so bright and I was so proud of them, just the simple things they did really well.”

Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Ali Leiataua, 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Haizyn Mellars, 6. Luke Hanson, 7. Tanah Boyd, 8. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Kurt Capewell (c), 12. Jacob Laban, 13. Erin Clark

Interchange: 14. Sam Healey, 15. Morgan Gannon, 16. Leka Halasima, 17. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava

Reserves: 18. Taine Tuaupiki, 21. Kayliss Fatialofa, 22. Jack Thompson, 23. Makaia Tafua, 24. Motu Pasikala, 25. Sio Kali, 26. Caelys-Paul Putoko, 27. Geronimo Doyle, 28. Rodney Tuipuiotu-Vea, 29. Paea Sikuvea

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/18/nz-warrior-seek-improvement-in-second-nrl-pre-season-trial-against-dolphins/

Posted on

Super Rugby Preview: Seven Moana debutants, Barrett back, duel derbies await

Source: Radio New Zealand

Jordie Barrett is back in the capital and will start in the midfield against Moana. Photosport

The Hurricanes have entered the chat.

After sitting out round one with the bye, the Canes will open their campaign in the capital on Friday night against a buoyant Moana side bringing Pasifika bragging rights back from Lautoka. Jordie Barrett is back after a sabbatical in Ireland while Japan captain Warner Dearns makes his Super Rugby debut. Coach Clark Laidlaw will also have plenty of fire-power from the pine in the form of All Blacks Cam Roigard and Billy Proctor.

For Moana, it was a case of ‘Ardie who? as Tana Umaga’s men pulled off one of the toughest tasks in Super Rugby, victory in the sweltering fortress of Lautoka over the Drua in round one. They return to Wellington for the first time since the Canes crushed them 64-12 to close out their 2025 campaign.

Umaga has opted to give seven debutants a run at the caketin, while Sam Moli will lead the team with Miracle Faiʻilagi to bring impact from the bench.

After surviving gruelling New Zealand derbies in round one, the Highlanders and Chiefs will collide in another all-kiwi clash under the roof in Dunedin. A clutch Cameron Millar penalty and gutsy defence in the dying stages saw the Highlanders earn their first win since May of 2025 as they upset the defending champion Crusaders in round one.

The Chiefs’ win came in far more controversial fashion, with All Blacks lock Tupou Vaa’i’s early try against the Blues awarded at the time, later ruled to constitute an illegal action as he left the ground to launch over two defenders. The result struck however, unlike many passes in a clunky display by both sides. The same fixture closed out the regular 2025 season with the Chiefs taking a 41-24 victory.

Closing out the weekend is one of Super’s greatest rivalries. The Crusaders and Brumbies have engaged in several iconic battles over 30 seasons, including the 2000 and 2004 deciders. It was a typically thrilling encounter the last time these sides met, the Crusaders snatching a 33-31 win courtesy of a late George Bell try. Round one brought contrasting fortunes for both teams, the defending champion Crusaders edged by their southern rivals while the Brumbies battered the Force 56-24 in Perth.

Elsewhere, the Blues head across the Tasman to meet the Force with both teams searching for their first wins of the season and the Waratahs host the Drua in Sydney.

Other selection notes

A big weekend for Japanese rugby with both Dearns and Mamoru Harada making their debuts, Harada named on the bench for Moana Pasifika.

Also joining Super Rugby ranks will be newcomers Alefosio Aho, Faletoi Peni, Simon Peter Toleafoa, Lolani Faleiva Konrad Toleafoa former Brisbane Bronco Israel Leota, all earning callups for Moana.

Cortez Ratima will sit out the trip to Dunedin for the birth of his second child while Emoni Narawa will play his 50th match for the Chiefs. Jona Nareki will also notch his half century for the Highlanders.

Injury ward

The Chiefs will be without bruising flanker Samipeni Finau who is recovering from while Wallace Sititi is out for the week with a hamstring niggle. Du’Plessis Kirifi misses the next fortnight for the Hurricanes as he manages a calf complaint while Ruben Love’s ankle will keep him out of action for the next month at least.

Moana are still without former All Black Augustine Pulu, lock Jimmy Tupou and the promising young Niko Jones. For the Highlanders, Finn Hurley is still at least three weeks from a return while Xavier Tito-Harris and Andrew Knewstubb could be back for round three.

The Blues are down their two top locks with Sam Darry out with concussion and Patrick Tuipulotu still recovering from a shoulder injury, targeting a round six return.

Team lists

Hurricanes vs Moana

Kick-off: 7:05pm Friday February 20

Sky Stadium, Wellington

Live blog updates on RNZ

Hurricanes: 1 Xavier Numia, 2 Asafo Aumua, 3 Siale Lauaki, 4 Hugo Plummer, 5 Warner Dearns, 6 Devan Flanders, 7 Peter Lakai, 8 Brayden Iose, 9 Ereatara Enari, 10 Brett Cameron, 11 Fehi Fineanganofo, 12 Jordie Barrett (c), 13 Bailyn Sullivan, 14 Josh Moorby, 15 Callum Harkin

Bench: 16 Jacob Devery, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Matolu Petaia, 20 Brad Shields, 21 Arese Poliko, 22 Cam Roigard, 23 Billy Proctor

“It was a huge crowd against Moana last year, so hopefully we can create that again and put in a performance that gets our fans excited and gets them coming back for the rest of the season.” – Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw

Moana Pasifika: 1 Abraham Pole, 2 Samiuela Moli (c), 3 Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou, 4 Veikoso Poloniati, 5 Alefosio Aho, 6 Semisi Paea, 7 Konrad Toleafoa, 8 Dominic Ropeti, 9 Siaosi Nginingini, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 11 Tuna Tuitama, 12 Faletoi Peni, 13 Glen Vaihu, 14 Israel Leota, 15 Simon Peter Toleafoa

Bench: 16 Mamoru Harada, 17 Tito Tuipulotu, 18 Lolani Faleiva, 19 Allan Craig, 20 Miracle Faiilagi, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 William Havili, 23 Tevita Ofa

“It’s a great opportunity to showcase the depth within our group, if we want to get all the way to the end of this competition, we’re going to need everybody.” – Moana coach Tana Umaga

Highlanders vs Chiefs

Kick off: 7.05pm Saturday February 21

Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

Live blog updates on RNZ

Highlanders: 1 Ethan de Groot, 2 Jack Taylor, 3 Rohan Wingham, 4 Oliver Haig, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 7 Sean Withy (VC), 8 Lucas Casey, 9 Folau Fakatava, 10 Cameron Millar, 11 Jona Nareki (50th Highlanders Game), 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (C), 13 Jonah Lowe, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens

Bench: 16 Henry Bell, 17 Josh Bartlett, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Will Stodart, 20 Veveni Lasaqa, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Reesjan Pasitoa, 23 Tanielu Tele’a

“The Chiefs are a bit like the Crusaders, stacked with All Blacks and have performed very well in recent seasons, so another huge challenge for us and one we are looking forward to.” – Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph

Chiefs: 1 Jared Proffit, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3 George Dyer, 4 Josh Lord, 5 Tupou Vaa’i (vc), 6 Kaylum Boshier, 7 Jahrome Brown, 8 Luke Jacobson (c), 9 Xavier Roe, 10 Josh Jacomb, 11 Leroy Carter, 12 Quinn Tupaea (vc), 13 Daniel Rona, 14 Kyren Taumoefolau, 15 Etene Nanai-Seturo

Bench: 16 Tyrone Thompson, 17 Benet Kumeroa, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Simon Parker, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Tepaea Cook-Savage, 23 Emoni Narawa

“These local derbies are brutal. There is no inch given and it will go up another notch against the Highlanders who are coming off an equally tough win against the defending champions Crusaders.” – Chiefs coach Jonno Gibbs

Force vs Blues

Kick off 9.35pm Saturday February 21

HBF Park, Perth

Blues: 1 Joshua Fusitu’a, 2 Bradley Slater, 3 Marcel Renata, 4 Laghlan McWhannell, 5 Josh Beehre, 6 Anton Segner, 7 Dalton Papali’i (c), 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 9 Finlay Christie, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 11 Caleb Clarke, 12 Pita Ahki, 13 AJ Lam, 14 Cole Forbes, 15 Zarn Sullivan

Bench: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 19 Che Clark, 20 Torian Barnes, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Xavi Taele, 23 Codemeru Vai

“Going over there, we know we need to be at our best. We’ve taken a lot of lessons from last week and the focus is on being accurate, disciplined, and connected for the full 80 minutes.” – Blues coach Vern Cotter

Crusaders vs Brumbies

Kick off 3.35pm Sunday February 22

Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch

Live blog updates on RNZ

Crusaders: 1 Finlay Brewis, 2 George Bell, 3 Fletcher Newell, 4 Antonio Shalfoon, 5 Jamie Hannah, 6 Dom Gardiner, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 9 Noah Hotham, 10 Rivez Reihana, 11 Sevu Reece, 12 David Havili (c), 13 Braydon Ennor, 14 Chay Fihaki, 15 Will Jordan

Bench: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Tahlor Cahill, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Louie Chapman, 22 Taha Kemara, 23 Leicester Fainga’anuku

“We always look in the mirror first. Collectively, we could have done some things a little differently, but it is what it is. We’ve got to look forward now and take what we learned into the game we’ve got at home on Sunday.” – Crusaders coach Rob Penney

Waratahs vs Fijian Drua

Kick off 9.35pm Friday February 20

Allianz Stadium, Sydney

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/18/super-rugby-preview-seven-moana-debutants-barrett-back-duel-derbies-await/

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CRL to lift tourism and major events in Auckland

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland competes in a highly dynamic global market for tourists and major events. The City Rail Link (CRL) is tipped to give the city a new edge in both arenas. 

Annie Dundas, Director Destination for Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, says greater ease of access enabled by the CRL will support the agency’s aims.

“CRL will help elevate all our goals. We work hard to secure a strong pipeline of major and business events. In the last financial year, the events we supported in Auckland delivered more than $89 million in GDP – they are crucial for our success as a region and a country,” she says.

We sat down with Annie Dundas and asked her more about how she thinks the City Rail Link will enhance Auckland’s tourism and events sectors when the new rail system opens in the second half of 2026.

This is part of an occasional Q&A series with urban and economic development leads within the Auckland Council group, looking ahead at the region-wide benefits of the City Rail Link for multiple sectors.

Our Q&A with Annie Dundas:

Q. What is the role of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited?

We are Auckland Council’s cultural, events and destination agency. We attract visitors to the region, invest in major and business events and deliver cultural events such as Pasifika Festival and BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival.

We champion Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s global reputation and strive to make it a vibrant place to live and visit. We own and operate venues and cultural institutions including Auckland Zoo, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, Aotea Centre, New Zealand Maritime Museum Hui Te Ananui a Tangaroa, The Civic, Western Springs Stadium, North Harbour Stadium and Go Media Stadium.  

We also attract performing arts to the city through New Zealand’s largest performing arts organisation Auckland Live, and put on free Auckland Council Events in public spaces for all to enjoy.

Q. How will the CRL help visitors to our region experience it better?

Getting people around more swiftly will be a game-changer. The CRL is not just about new stops in the city, it enables better train services across Auckland by linking up the network and unlocking space for more trains to travel more often. It will provide visitors an easier way to experience more of our region – if they’re in downtown Auckland or arriving on a cruise ship, they’ll be able to hit Karangahape Road or an event at Go Media Stadium much more easily. If they’re staying further away, they can get to the waterfront, which we know is a major drawcard for visitors, much more easily.

This ease of travel will be especially valuable for visitors here for business events. Usually they’ll stay longer than three or four days, and are likely to attend a conference at say, the new NZICC or Aotea Centre. The new Te Waihorotiu Station will be right on those venues’ doorsteps – this will make us an even more business event friendly city. There will be frequent services, meaning no long waits for the next train. It will be a true international experience. It positions our reputation very well internationally.

CRL stations and surrounding areas also incorporate beautiful Māori design – it’s important to represent our unique culture in this way and we know visitors value this. 

Recently re-opened glasshouse entrance to Waitematā Station.

Q. How about locals – will it make coming into the city for events easier?

It will take away parking stress and cost for a much wider group of people and make it easier for them to get to events and shows. If you live in Maungawhau (Mt Eden) for example, you’ll be able to get to Waitematā Station in less than 10 minutes, then Spark Arena is right there. If you live in Henderson, you’ll be able to get to Te Waihorotiu Station in 35 minutes, 24 minutes quicker than the current public transport. That station is very close to The Civic, Basement Theatre, Q Theatre, Auckland Town Hall and Aotea Centre – so suddenly getting to that concert or a free festival in Aotea Square becomes a lot more attractive. From Glen Innes in the east, you’ll be able to get to Te Waihorotiu Station in 15 minutes, 10 minutes quicker. So we are really excited about the barriers it will reduce and cultural participation it will encourage for all Aucklanders.  

Q. What about major events in Auckland with crowds of more than 10,000 people?

For major events coming up including the British & Irish Lions Women’s Series in 2027, Cricket World Cup in 2028, and men’s Lions tour in 2029, the CRL will be amazing. Fans flowing in and out of Eden Park will be able to hop down to Waitematā Station at the waterfront in just 13 minutes. That will make it easier to enjoy bars and restaurants before and after matches and give huge crowds multiple hospitality options. There will also be a single train ride from the east to Eden Park on the new network, which will make it easier for families in the eastern suburbs to go along.

At Go Media Stadium in Penrose where Ed Sheeran just performed, access will be easier with a single train ride from the west to the stadium on the new network.

We’ve just brought in a wayfinding map at Go Media Stadium that links through to public transport and gives information about the nearby Penrose train station that will connect to the new CRL stations. We’ll be able to integrate it with our existing tools and strategies to reduce barriers to attendance.

Q. What if people want to go out or stay out after work for a cocktail or to see a live band – will the CRL help?

Yes. Part of our work at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited is to encourage a humming night-time economy. More frequent trains until about midnight from Sunday to Thursday, and between 1am and 2am on Fridays and Saturdays, will make it easier to go out or stay out later for a larger group of people.

There will also be a single train ride from the south to the famous night-time precinct of Karangahape Road. No more switching between trains and buses on the way. Fewer people will need to bring a car into town just so they can stay out at night after work. So definitely – the CRL is an important piece of the puzzle to help us elevate Auckland nightlife.

Q. How important is transport connectivity for what Tātaki Auckland Unlimited is tasked with achieving?

Ease of access, which the CRL will improve, will help us achieve our goals. We work relentlessly to secure a strong pipeline of major and business events in a hugely competitive global market. 

We also push hard to attract screen production and boost visitor numbers from key markets including Australia, North American and Asia and run world-class attractions including Auckland Art Gallery and Auckland Zoo – in all these areas, ease of access and movement is vital. Visitors know about our scenery – but we need to offer more.

Having a truly international city where it’s easy to get around is a crucial part of the ecosystem of drawcards we offer to make Tāmaki Makaurau an amazing place to live, work and visit.

Viaduct Harbour. Photo credit: AucklandNZ.

Read more about the benefits of CRL in earlier Q&A on OurAuckland.

Learn how the new network is expected to lift Auckland’s international standing with Barry Potter; support the region’s productivity with Gary Blick; and provide everyday benefits for Aucklanders and visitors across the region with George Weeks.  

City Rail Link information brochures are available in eight languages on the Auckland Transport website.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/18/crl-to-lift-tourism-and-major-events-in-auckland/

Posted on

Next stop for the Northwest Busway

Source: New Zealand Government

NZTA has applied for statutory approvals for the Northwest Busway project under the Fast‑track Approvals Act (FTAA), marking a major milestone for a project that will deliver faster, more frequent and more reliable public transport for Auckland’s growing northwest, says Transport Minister Chris Bishop. 

“The project, similar to the successful Northern Busway, will provide a busway alongside State Highway 16 (SH16) between Brigham Creek and the city centre, and seven stations connected to the local bus and road network,” says Mr Bishop.

“People in the northwest are crying out for better transport options in one of the region’s largest planned growth areas, where an additional 100,000 people, along with 40,000 new homes and 40,000 new jobs, are expected by 2051.

“Lodging under the FTAA represents progress for the Northwest Busway, which is going to provide more transport choices for communities in the northwest. This is about building the future of public transport in New Zealand. Auckland is our largest city, and this will help support jobs and drive growth.  

“The Northwest Busway includes a park and ride station at Brigham Creek and stations at Westgate, Royal Road, Lincoln Road, Te Atatū, Point Chevalier and Western Springs. It will be able to move up to 9,000 passengers per hour in each direction, the equivalent of four motorway lanes.  It will also provide a reliable 25-minute journey time from Brigham Creek to the city centre – all day, every day.  

“Construction is already underway on the new Westgate Station, which will open later this year, and works on the Brigham Creek Station are expected to start next year.

“The busway will increase the capacity of State Highway 16 by nearly 20% during peak times by freeing up space on the motorway for freight and those that need it.  

“Aucklanders want better, faster and more reliable public transport and this project is a priority for this Government, so I welcome the progress being made by NZTA with the lodgement of statutory approvals for the project under the FTAA.

“The approvals will enable NZTA to construct the project in stages as further funding is made available. 

“The Northwest Busway project has received around $550 million, covering statutory approvals, design and site investigations, construction of the Westgate Station and Brigham Creek Station and Park & Ride, and targeted property acquisition. 

“The Northwest Busway project is part of an integrated plan to provide better connections to the wider transport network and maximise investment in other public transport projects like City Rail Link.” 

Notes to the editor: 

  • The northwest of Auckland is home to 90,000 people and is one of the city’s largest planned growth areas. 
  • 60 percent of residents commute out of the area for work and education, which means the Northwestern Motorway regularly suffers from congestion and delays.
  • This project covers an 18km corridor and navigates a heavily built-up urban environment. This means it requires underpasses and structures to navigate motorway interchanges, and it impacts some utility assets and property which also add to the cost. 
  • The whole project has a benefit cost ratio of 2:1, with the first stage at 6.3:1 so for every dollar that’s spent we’re getting high benefits in return.
  • Stage 1 will see new stations at Brigham Creek and Lincoln Road as part of a $330m – $380m package of work. 
  • Stage 2 will include the separated and bi-directional busway from Brigham Creek to Te Atatū, along with the stations at Royal Road and Te Atatū, the second stage of Westgate station, and the city centre connection at Newton at an estimated investment of $4,100m – $4,600m*. 
  • The Point Chevalier and Western Springs stations are to be delivered as a third stage. 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/18/next-stop-for-the-northwest-busway/

Posted on

Outgoing Netball NZ chairperson denies any pressure to step down

Source: Radio New Zealand

AAP / www.photosport.nz

The outgoing Netball New Zealand chairperson says changes at the top will help inject new energy into a sport that is facing significant challenges.

The national body last night confirmed that chairperson Matt Whineray and three appointed board members had decided to step down.

It followed the resignation of CEO Jennie Wyllie in December after a disastrous year for the sport, which included the suspension of Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua, who was later reinstated.

The story dominated headlines for weeks and calls for “heads to roll” at Netball NZ were loud.

Whineray denied anyone felt pressure to step down but said the board accepted the netball community expected some changes at the top after a difficult 2025 and new blood would be beneficial.

“It really came out of individual reflections on what was right for them personally and what we think is right for Netball New Zealand going forward. So the opportunity to get some new perspectives, new capabilities, some new energy and really reset the momentum and focus on the really important next couple of years is what we’re all thinking about,” Whineray said.

The national body was working in an environment that had changed rapidly in the past decade, including greater competition from other female codes. The future of the ANZ Premiership was still up in the air, with no broadcast rights agreement in place from beyond 2026.

While participation rates at grass roots are pleasing, Whineray believed the next CEO has a tougher job than what it entailed a few years ago.

“The media landscape, broadcast rights opportunities, and commercial environment has all changed. The person who is heading up a national sporting organisation has to be able to manage the commercials on one hand and balance that with the delivery of the community game and high performance programmes and that’s a challenging space to be.”

Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua after her reinstatement. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

There were eight members on the Netball NZ board, split between four elected members and four appointed members, including Whineray.

Aliesha Staples, Stephen Cottrell, and Pavan Vyas are the other appointed members leaving their roles. Appointed members help ensure a board has a range of skills and experience to call on across a number of fields including commercial, legal, IT and tech.

Cottrell for instance brought 25 years of experience, including strategy and project management roles for New Zealand Rugby. He currently works for a global events and entertainment company, and is a principal in his own sports advisory law firm.

The Netball NZ constitution sets a maximum of three terms of three years. With Whineray’s nine year limit on the board due to finish at the start of next year, he said stepping down now made sense as his replacement will be in charge of recruiting the next CEO.

Jane Patterson was brought in as interim CEO but the board will advertise for a permanent boss in a few months.

The board positions will be advertised soon and an appointment panel will be made up of a couple of board members and one external member, expected to be veteran administrator Kereyn Smith.

Netball NZ has called in Smith, who in recent years has helped cycling and yachting with their issues.

“Kereyn’s been giving us a hand on a number of fronts and helping both within Netball New Zealand but also with our connections with the wider netball community so it’s been very helpful to have her in there, given her really deep experience in sports administration but also really great connections across the netball system.”

Matt Whineray has served on the board for over eight years. Supplied/NZ Super Fund

Whineray said Smith had been involved in looking at some high performance changes but said that was now largely being run by Chelsea Lane, who was appointed as Head of Performance – Silver Ferns, in the new year.

The decision to suspend Dame Noeline and her coaching team in September was met with widespread shock in the netball community. The lack of information led to a lot of speculation and fans vented their frustrations on social media, mostly directed at Wyllie and the board.

Whineray emphasised that the decision to suspend the Silver Ferns coaching team, was a board decision, not driven by any individual.

“The board made that decision on advice from our legal advice.”

He said the board can not make decisions on how the public might react.

“That’s the board making a decision about what’s in the best interests of the Silver Ferns environment and of the players and all of those who are working in the environment. Ultimately we have to wear the public response but you shouldn’t be making decisions like that with an eye on how the public is going to react.

“The board were all involved in this, we were supporting Jennie and working with Jennie through this process and I think the personal insults and the abuse were awful for all involved.”

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/18/outgoing-netball-nz-chairperson-denies-any-pressure-to-step-down/

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Advocacy – Up to 50 New Zealanders are fighting Israel’s genocide in Gaza – PSNA

Source: Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa – PSNA

 

PSNA is calling for government accountability to stop and punish New Zealanders going to fight in Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza.

 

A UK report by Classified, from official Israeli sources, shows 39 dual New Zealand/Israeli citizens, and 11 others with more than one additional passport, are serving in the Israeli Defence Force, which is carrying out genocide in Gaza. (The full dataset is in Hebrew at the foot of the article at this link) 

 

“The news that New Zealanders are participating in ongoing mass killing and starvation of Palestinians in Gaza is abhorrent,” says Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa Co-Chair Maher Nazzal. “Our government must do what it can to stop these New Zealanders perpetrating genocide.”

 

“Israel’s political and military leaders are charged with war crimes by the International Criminal Court. Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu, for example, is wanted for trial on war crimes and crimes against humanity.”

 

“As well as killing perhaps hundreds of thousands and wholesale starvation of Palestinians in Gaza, Israel is still systematically destroying all civilian infrastructure: schools, hospitals, churches and mosques, farmland and crops.  Even New Zealanders’ graves in World War One cemeteries are not immune.”

 

“There’s no excuse for anyone fighting for a state committing genocide” says Nazzal. “Our government must step in and rigorously investigate the actions of each and every one of these 50 New Zealanders in the IDF.”

 

“New Zealand has obligations under the international Genocide Convention to do what it can stop a genocide.  New Zealand charged Mark Tayor for membership of ISIS in 2004.  There is ample precedent.  The government must be consistent.”

 

“All of these New Zealanders serving in the IDF have various degrees of culpability in the genocide, certainly the moment they set foot in Gaza.  But they would also be liable for actions at military facilities inside Israel, fuelling up bombers, for example, or calculating missile coordinates.”

 

“These soldiers must be identified, and their service in Israel’s army examined, alongside their social media accounts and those of the brigades and soldiers they joined.”

 

“The government must also collaborate with international agencies for evidence of how many of these people have already been identified for investigation of war crimes.”

 

“The Hind Rajab Foundation is working to identify specific Israeli war criminals for referral to the International Court of Justice,” says Nazzal.

 

New Zealand law does not specifically prohibit citizens from fighting overseas. But the government must act in this case, where New Zealand citizens are participating in a genocide, and also under our Fourth Geneva Convention obligations, where these New Zealand citizens are also enforcing an illegal occupation of Palestinian Territory.

 

“Despite the so-called October 2025 ceasefire, Israel has continued its daily killing of Palestinians, destruction of infrastructure and occupation creep.  Israel still refuses to allow the agreed amount of food, water and humanitarian supplies to enter Gaza.”

 

“Here is a case of direct responsibility by New Zealand citizens, about which the government can’t wash its hands and ignore.”

 

Maher Nazzal

Co-Chair PSNA

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/18/advocacy-up-to-50-new-zealanders-are-fighting-israels-genocide-in-gaza-psna/

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Willis calls $9 Auckland crossing toll a ‘completely hypothetical scenario’

Source: Radio New Zealand

Finance Minister Nicola Willis RNZ / Mark Papalii

National’s Nicola Willis says the government has not given any consideration to putting a $9 toll on both the Auckland Harbour Bridge and a new crossing, calling it a “completely hypothetical scenario”.

And Labour says any such move would have to be “thought through very carefully” given the cost of living.

The Infrastructure Commission this week suggested twin $9 tolls as way of funding a tunnel or a second bridge across Waitematā Harbour.

In response, Transport Minister Chris Bishop said any new crossing would be tolled, but the government was still seeking advice regarding the existing bridge.

Speaking on Morning Report‘s political panel, Willis played down the $9 figure.

“I just want to be really clear that that is a completely hypothetical scenario in the Infrastructure Commission’s plan. It’s not something that the government has given consideration to.”

Willis said both National and Labour faced a challenge in paying for the “essential” multi-billion dollar project as no funding had been put aside.

“How do you pay for it? And what the experts and advisers always say is, you should make sure that the users of roads are contributing the cost to them.

“And actually, that’s a road that would have so many vehicle movements a day that actually a toll to help pay for it would mean you could deliver it sooner.”

Labour’s deputy Carmel Sepuloni said her party was “not completely opposed” to the notion of tolling but said they needed to be “thought through very carefully”.

“For someone like me who doesn’t go over the the Harbour Bridge very often, and perhaps is in a better position to be able to pay the $9, it’s not a big deal, but for someone who’s travelling over that bridge every day and going to work and perhaps not on the highest income, that becomes quite a big deal.”

Sepuloni said the government needed to think about ways to ensure any tolls were affordable given the pressures of the cost of living.

“We need to make sure that any measure, including tolls, are fair and equitable.”

Willis said both political parties had made decisions in recent years to keep petrol taxes a bit lower, meaning that road funding had had to be topped up from general taxation.

But she said that also raised questions of fairness: “we used to have the concept that those who use the roads pay for them”.

Greater Auckland editor Matt Lowrie had told Morning Report that the estimated revenue from the toll is between $7 and $9 billion, while the projected costs of the crossing could exceed $20b.

He said while a second crossing is needed to provide more capacity, other payment options could be considered.

Lowrie agreed that tolling both crossings was necessary because just tolling the new one meant people would simply continue using the existing bridge, however he suggested a lower toll be implemented to see the impact of it.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/18/willis-calls-9-auckland-crossing-toll-a-completely-hypothetical-scenario/

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Luca Harrington finishes sixth in Winter Olympics big air final

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand’s Luca Harrington during the Freeski Big Air final at the 2026 Winter OLympics. KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP

New Zealand’s Luca Harrington has finished sixth in the men’s big air final at the Milan Winter Olympics, missing out on a medal.

Harrington, the reigning big air World Champion, had a great first run to sit fourth after the first round, but failed to land his second run and had a sloppy landing in his third attempt to slip down the leaderboard.

The Wānaka freeskier won bronze in last week’s men’s slopestyle.

New Zealand’s Zoi Sadowski-Synnott’s will try to defend her women’s slopestyle title tomorrow morning after today’s final was postponed due to heavy snow.

More to come…

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/18/luca-harrington-finishes-sixth-in-winter-olympics-big-air-final/

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Charging $9 toll wouldn’t cover cost of new Auckland harbour crossing, advocate says

Source: Radio New Zealand

Auckland Harbour Bridge. 123rf

Imposing tolls on the existing Harbour Bridge won’t raise enough revenue to cover long-term costs of a new crossing, the editor of an advocacy website says.

The Infrastructure Commission has suggested a toll as high as $9 to help pay for a second crossing.

Greater Auckland editor Matt Lowrie told Morning Report that the estimated revenue from the toll is between $7 and $9 billion, while the projected costs of the crossing could exceed $20b.

When the bridge was first opened in 1959, motorists had to pay 2 shillings and 6 pence, a figure the Commission said equalled around $9 in 2025.

Tolls were removed in 1984.

Lowrie said while a second crossing is needed to provide more capacity, other payment options could be considered.

He also agreed that tolling both crossings was necessary because just tolling the new one meant people would simply continue using the existing bridge.

That would see a “multi-billion dollar piece of infrastructure … sit unused”.

Lowrie suggested a lower toll be implemented to see the impact of it.

He said the addition of the Northern Busway in 2008 had delayed the need to spend billions of dollars on a harbour crossing as the uptake from commuters had taken the pressure off the existing bridge.

Whether a toll was introduced or not, Lowrie said Aucklanders would end up paying the bulk of the cost through a road tax or fuel taxes being raised.

But the majority would come from Crown investment – and that had to be weighed up amongst the need for improvements to hospitals and schools, he said.

On Tuesday, Transport Minister Chris Bishop said the new crossing would be the biggest infrastructure project New Zealand has ever done.

While the new crossing would be tolled, a question remained over whether the existing bridge would be tolled as well.

“We are working our way through that. That’s a very big decision for the country to make,” he said.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/18/charging-9-toll-wouldnt-cover-cost-of-new-auckland-harbour-crossing-advocate-says/

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T20 World Cup: Black Caps beat Canada by eight wickets

Source: Radio New Zealand

Glenn Philips in action for the Black Caps against Canada in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup clash. www.photosport.nz

The Black Caps have comfortably chased down Canada’s total in their T20 World Cup clash.

Canada scored a respectable 173 in the match at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, with batsman Yuvraj Samra scoring 110 in 65 balls.

But the Black Caps chased the total down with 29 balls remaining – Glenn Phillips top scored with 76 runs off 36 balls, while Rachin Ravindra also reached a half-century, scoring 59 in 39 balls..

The win has secured the Black Caps a place in the Super 8s, where they will be divided into two groups of four each, and play each other in a round-robin format.

The top two teams from each Super 8s group will progress to the semi-finals.

See how all the action unfolded with our live blog:

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/17/t20-world-cup-black-caps-beat-canada-by-eight-wickets/

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Broken leg sidelines NZ Warriors veteran Te Maire Martin for start of NRL

Source: Radio New Zealand

Te Maire Martin will miss about three months with his fractured fibula. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz

NRL pre-season: Warriors v Dolphins

Kickoff: 8pm Friday, 20 February

Leichhardt Oval, Sydney

Live blog updates on RNZ

NZ Warriors have suffered their first significant injury of the 2026 NRL campaign, with the loss of utility Te Maire Martin to a broken leg.

Martin left the field during the first half of last weekend’s Māori v Indigenous All Stars clash at Hamilton and has been diagnosed with a fractured fibula (lower leg) that keep him out of action for about 12 weeks.

Martin was a key component of the Warriors interchange last season, with his ability to cover a variety of positions off the bench. He will now join halfback Luke Metcalf, who continues to rehab his knee, after season-ending surgery last July.

The Warriors had seven players involved in the pre-season spectacle and have named four to return for their second trial against the Dolphins on Friday.

The other absentees are co-captain James Fisher-Harris, who is given the week off, and winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira, who suffered concussion in action for the Indigenous side.

Coach Andrew Webster fielded a makeshift line-up against Manly Sea Eagles last Saturday, with several untested at first grade, and watched them tumble to a 33-18 defeat at Napier.

Six days later, his team is much closer to full strength, with the addition of fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, centre Adam Pompey and second-rower Jacob Laban.

Young forward Demetric Vaimauga has also been given a rest, while veteran winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is still nursing the hamstring twinge that forced him out of the Manly fixture.

Second-rower Marata Niukore and five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita are other notable omissions, but back-up fullback Taine Tuaupiki has been named 18th man, after an off-season leg injury delayed his return to training.

Five-eighth Luke Hanson and winger Haizyn Mellars are the only players named yet to play first grade.

Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Ali Leiataua, 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Haizyn Mellars, 6. Luke Hanson, 7. Tanah Boyd, 8. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Kurt Capewell (c), 12. Jacob Laban, 13. Erin Clark

Interchange: 14. Sam Healey, 15. Morgan Gannon, 16. Leka Halasima, 17. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava

Reserves: 18. Taine Tuaupiki, 21. Kayliss Fatialofa, 22. Jack Thompson, 23. Makaia Tafua, 24. Motu Pasikala, 25. Sio Kali, 26. Caelys-Paul Putoko, 27. Geronimo Doyle, 28. Rodney Tuipuiotu-Vea, 29. Paea Sikuvea

Meanwhile, the Dolphins have added several frontliners, including former Warriors Kodi Nikorima at five-eighth, after suffering a 24-12 loss to Gold Coast Titans last week,

Dolphins: 1. Trai Fuller, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Jake Averillo, 4. Herbie Farnworth, 5. Selwyn Cobbo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Isaiya Katoa (c), 8. Francis Molo, 9. Bradley Schneider, 10. Tom Gilbert, 11. Connelly Lemuelu, 12. Oryn Keeley, 13. Morgan Knowles

Interchange: 14. Tevita Naufahu, 15. Thomas Flegler, 16. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, 17. John Fineanganofo

Reserves: 18. Sebastian Su’a, 19. Elijah Rasmussen, 20. Brian Pouniu, 21. Zac Garton, 22. Brent Woolf, 23. Adquix-Jeramiah Watts-Luke, 24. Sangstar Figota, 25. Noah Fien, 26. Elijah McKay

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/17/broken-leg-sidelines-nz-warriors-veteran-te-maire-martin-for-start-of-nrl/