The council’s proposed Annual Plan 2026/2027 is out now for all Aucklanders’ to have their say. The plan includes a proposed rates increase of 7.9 per cent for the average value residential property.
What does the annual plan mean for next year’s rates?
Each annual plan sets out rates for the year and the average increases or changes ratepayers can expect. A 7.9 per cent rates increase for the average value residential property is proposed for 2026/2027 (for the average value residential property).
Rates make up less than 40 per cent of council income and contribute significantly to the quality of life Aucklanders’ have. They help maintain and enhance the infrastructure, parks, facilities, activities and services that make Auckland a great place to live.
Rates help us invest in services and activities for our communities – improving public transport, maintaining parks, museums and art galleries, environmental services, rubbish collection and community facilities.
What’s the extra rates delivering?
A major highlight this year is the expected start of the City Rail Link (CRL), which will transform Auckland’s public transport. The CRL is a key investment for Auckland and is bringing a range of benefits to Auckland.
As CRL opens in 2026, the council will have additional annual costs come into play. These costs are the primary driver of the 7.9 per cent rates increase. The CRL will enhance Aucklanders’ ability to move around the region by delivering more trains and quicker, easier journeys. It will also bring economic and environmental benefits.
2026/2027 will see the council invest $3.9 billion into new capital infrastructure projects across Auckland – helping deliver a region with the physical assets it needs to thrive and grow. We will also invest $5.3 billion into continuing essential services Aucklanders rely on (operating costs). For more highlight projects for 2026-2027, read on.
Will all ratepayers have an extra 7.9 per cent to pay?
Not every household will pay exactly 7.9 per cent more – that is the increase for the average residential property (valued $1.28 million). Rates vary based on the capital value of each property. Individual properties might also be subject to specific targeted rates which might impact the rates change. Our online rates guide provides estimated rates for each property. See our online rates guide.
What is the average cost of rates?
For the average household, annual rates are proposed to increase by around $320 next year – from $4055 in 2025-2026 to $4375 in 2026/2027. This is a total weekly rates cost of around $84, or $6.16 more a week. These figures are based on an average $1.28m capital value (CV) residential property. Capital values help us share rates fairly across all property owners, and are only for setting rates.
How can I see what rates I will pay next year?
To find out estimated rates for your property during 2026/2027, see our online rates guide.
Are there changes to any targeted rates?
Targeted rates contribute to specific services or projects and are generally set across all ratepayers, or to specific ratepayers in certain areas.
Individual properties may see some changes to targeted rates. Proposed changes include: – the future of the Waitakere Rural Sewerage Scheme (affecting the associated targeted rate from 2027/2028 onward) – a proposed new local services targeted rate for Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board – a proposed new local services targeted rate for Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board
There are also several proposed changes to other targeted rates: – a proposed reduction to the area of the Onehunga Business Improvement District (BID) and changes to the BID targeted rate – a proposed expansion of the Kingsland BID and changes to the BID targeted rate – a proposed reduction in the Rodney Drainage District targeted rate for properties in the Te Arai Drainage District.
What about business rates?
Under our rates policy, businesses contribute 31 per cent of the rates revenue. In 2026/2027, the rates for an average value business property ($3.89 million) will rise by 9.84 per cent.
What about farm and lifestyle rates?
The rates for an average value farm/ lifestyle property will increase by 8.37 per cent in 2026/2027.
Individual business and farm/lifestyle properties might also be subject to specific targeted rates which might impact the rates change. Our online rates guide provides estimated rates for each property.
Rates increase numbers indicated in this article are subject to adoption of the council’s final budget in June 2026 and updated property information.
What is Auckland Council doing to cut costs?
Auckland Council is focused on delivering value for money and continues to forecast some of the lowest rates increases in New Zealand.
While the overall rates rise is higher than the council would like – we have delivered savings and increased efficiency across the council that have helped reduce what could have been an even higher rates rise.
For 2026–2027, we have set a savings target of $106 million, which includes an additional $20 million in annual savings as part of our ongoing commitment to financial sustainability. The $106 million equates to around 3.5 per cent of rates revenue.
In addition to savings, the council utilises value for money reviews, a Better Value Projects approach, a focus on non-rates revenue, sales of under-utilised assets and an ongoing focus on driving value for every dollar to manage new priorities and changing demands for the future.
How are rates calculated?
Rates increases for individual residential properties may differ from the average 7.9 per cent.
Rates vary based on the capital value of each property, its classification (residential, business farm or short-term accommodation) and location (urban or rural). Individual properties might also be subject to specific targeted rates.
If a property’s value has increased (such as due to renovation work) or decreased, its rates increase might be lower or higher than the average change.
Read more about rates on the council website.
Our online rates guide provides estimated rates for each property in 2026/2027.
After taking a break over summer, to avoid disruption to the busiest season for residents and visitors to Kawau Island, Auckland Council and our project partners are resuming the pest eradication programme on the island with operations commencing in March.
With our field camera network and drone survey data revealing that numbers of wallabies and possums are higher in the southern part of the island than previously anticipated, hunting efforts will be supported by the permitted use of toxins (1080 cereal bait and cut foliage treated with 1080 gel) from Monday 9 March.
This is dependent on the weather and ground conditions and will be undertaken in accordance with strict permit conditions.
Working towards a pest-free Kawau Island
Auckland Council has been working with Kawau Island landowners and residents to restore the extensive native forest on Kawau Island.
The presence of wallabies and possums means that the native forest cannot thrive as these introduced pests browse on seedlings and plants, destroying potential habitats and food sources for indigenous species.
After years of planning and preparation, the project began in early May 2025.
Working towards a pest-free Kawau Island, is a ground-based operation to remove wallabies and possums and is primarily being carried out by hunters using trained indicator dogs and thermal drones, supported using toxins (1080 and Feratox) in areas where the monitoring network has revealed higher numbers of wallabies and possums are present.
The next treatment area for the toxins is located on private land in the southern sector of the island (excludes residential areas and Public Conservation Land) and will be fenced and monitored.
You can read more on OurAuckland.
Important information
Safety is of utmost importance to us. Working towards a pest-free Kawau Island is underpinned by strict public health conditions from the National Public Health Service – Northern Region Auckland and robust health and safety precautions will be undertaken.
However, 1080 is a toxin that can be deadly to people and dogs. Small quantities of 1080 gel are lethal if eaten or swallowed.
Visitors and residents of Kawau Island must stay out of areas with toxic bait and avoid all contact with baits.
Anyone who consumes any of the toxic baits should call 111 immediately and contact the Poisons Centre for advice while waiting for emergency services.
Dogs are highly susceptible to 1080 poisoning if they consume baits or scavenge carcasses.
To keep dogs safe, visitors should avoid taking dogs to the island during the operational period.
Residents should keep dogs on a leash and closely supervised at all times, especially in the southern sector of the island. If you suspect your dog has been poisoned, induce vomiting and immediately go to a vet.
We have been working with Warkworth Vets, and the team are ready to treat any dogs brought in, if needed. Muzzles and emetic medication are available from Warkworth Vets for landowners and residents of Kawau Island, free of charge.
As per our permit conditions, there will be a six-month caution period. Uneaten foliage bait will be removed within 14 days of deployment, and soluble cereal bait will readily breakdown. However, secondary poisoning remains a risk for dogs during the six-month caution period.
Signage will remain during this time, and all residents and visitors to the island must follow all instructions from the council and its teams during this time.
For more information on the Kawau Island restoration project, including FAQs and further factsheets, please visit our website or phone us on 09 301 0101. To support this project and ongoing conservation efforts, visit New Zealand Nature Fund.
HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 March 2026 – Can Giois Ho Chi Minh City’s coastal district,a threshold where a metropolis of more than 10 million people meets the vast ecological reserve of mangrove forests and the open sea. Such geography cannot be replicated. Now, at this rare intersection of city and biosphere, Vinhomes Green Paradise is steadily transforming vision into reality, shaping a new coastal urban paradigm for the next generation.
Among hundreds of candidates from across the globe, Vinhomes Green Paradise has emerged as the first official participant in the global campaign New7Wonders’ “7 Wonders of Future Cities”. It signals that on the southern edge of Ho Chi Minh City, in Can Gio’s coastal expanse, a new urban thesis is being tested – one in which development is calibrated not by vertical ambition alone, but by the durability of its quality of life.
“Vinhomes Green Paradise is a truly compelling model for the concept of a ‘future city,’” said Jean-Paul de la Fuente, Director of New7Wonders and President of the “7 Wonders of Future Cities” campaign. “Here, the benchmark of progress is measured in the quality of living across generations.”
That future is now materializing at pace. Construction advances with uncommon velocity. Infrastructure grids are being laid with the discipline of long-term urban choreography. At the center of this unfolding ecosystem lies a 50-meter-wide artery known as the “Future Boulevard” – planned as the district’s commercial spine and among the earliest components to be completed and activated.
To acquire a Boulevard Prime townhouse along this axis is, by many measures, to participate in the district’s economic overture before the crescendo. Can Gio is envisioned as a tourism capital welcoming up to 40 million visitors annually. As infrastructure scales and connectivity deepens, the pricing paradigm is expected to reset accordingly. Early ownership, therefore, is a position in an emerging consumption corridor.
The Irreplicable Value of a “Rare Axis”
In urban economics, frontage along a primary commercial axis carries a structural premium. In Can Gio, this logic is rendered tangible along the 50-meter Future Boulevard, the first commercial lifeline of Vinhomes Green Paradise.
Each segment of the street is anchored to a destination of international scale: a six-star luxury resort; the 5,000-seat Blue Waves Theater; the global entertainment complex VinWonders; a Safari park; the 24/7 retail and leisure hub Cosmo Bay; Landmark Harbour international marina; twin 18-hole golf courses; and a five-star Vinmec International Hospital.
According to development plans, these flagship amenities are slated for substantial completion by the third quarter of 2027. Once synchronized in operation, the boulevard will transcend its infrastructural role. It will function as a sustained “consumption corridor” – channeling a stable, continuous stream of visitors past the doors of Boulevard Prime properties.
The anticipated clientele arrives for resort stays, theatrical performances, golf tournaments, wellness programs, global events – activities that imply longer dwell times and elevated discretionary spending. The rhythm of commerce here is not circumscribed by office hours. It extends day and night, across all seasons.
Such an environment is naturally suited to structured, premium service models: fine-dining establishments; curated boutiques; concept stores; flagship showrooms; spa and wellness centers; branded hospitality hybrids. The boulevard’s design, retail interlaced with major attractions, ensures that each property benefits not from a single demand stream, but from layered and overlapping consumer flows.
This “amenity-adjacent” architecture confers resilience. When consumption is underwritten by an entire ecosystem rather than a solitary anchor, volatility is diffused. As the district matures and visitor patterns stabilize, assets positioned along the core axis are likely to see their competitive advantages sharpen.
It is this structural clarity, of connectivity, scarcity and projected demand, that positions Boulevard Prime as a focal point for international capital seeking long-horizon growth in Southeast Asia’s evolving urban markets.
Securing Capital Costs, Anticipating the Cycle
Urban planners often note that the intrinsic value of commercial property along a central axis derives from infrastructural singularity. A city may expand outward, layering additional amenities and residential clusters, but it rarely replicates its primary connective spine. Once established, such axes become enduring frameworks around which value consolidates.
In Can Gio, the 50-meter Future Boulevard is the sole route designed to link, directly and comprehensively, the district’s full spectrum of large-scale amenities. The supply of Boulevard Prime townhouses along this stretch is, by definition, finite. As the urban organism reaches operational maturity, that scarcity is expected to become increasingly pronounced.
If rarity underwrites long-term value, timing determines margin. At the present juncture, while the boulevard is advancing toward completion, pricing does not yet fully encode the district’s projected consumption capacity. Early investors retain latitude in site selection and stand to capture the repricing that typically accompanies infrastructural activation.
Complementing locational advantage is a financing structure engineered to minimize capital risk. The program “Buy a Vinhomes Home – No Worries About Interest Rates” offers 0% interest support for 36 months, followed by a capped maximum rate of 9% per annum for the subsequent 24 months. In effect, investors can model capital costs across a five-year horizon with unusual clarity.
This structure is calibrated to an entire economic cycle. Rather than remaining exposed to market rate volatility, investors can establish predictable cash-flow projections from the outset. In a climate where interest rates exhibit upward pressure and liquidity discipline tempers expansion plans, such insulation functions as a financial shield.
Long-term fixed-rate commitments of this duration are not commonplace in the current market. They presuppose balance-sheet strength and a willingness on the part of the developer to absorb rate risk alongside buyers. For investors, particularly those navigating cross-border allocations, this arrangement reduces friction at the point of entry and fortifies holding strategy during the formative years of the district’s growth.
A City Measured in Generations
What distinguishes Vinhomes Green Paradise is not a singular building or amenity, but its integrative thesis. It proposes that tourism, culture, healthcare, recreation and commerce need not exist as disjointed clusters. When orchestrated deliberately, they can reinforce one another, creating both a lifestyle destination and a durable economic engine.
In that sense, the project’s participation in the New7Wonders campaign reads less as accolade and more as validation of intent. The aspiration is to cultivate a city where daily life, for residents, entrepreneurs and visitors alike, unfolds within a coherent, future-oriented framework.
If cities of the past were defined by fortifications or factories, and the cities of the 20th century by skylines, the cities of the future may well be judged by their capacity to harmonize infrastructure with human experience. In Can Gio, that experiment is already underway – not as speculation, but as construction steel rising against the coastal horizon.
Hashtag: #Vinhomes
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Building on the acquisition of Illumex by NVIDIA, the firm validates its Seed-to-Exit thesis and reinforces its mission to bridge Asian capital with world-class DeepTech.
TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 March 2026 – Cardumen Capital, a leading European DeepTech venture capital firm, today marks a pivotal milestone in its international momentum following the acquisition of its portfolio company, Illumex, by NVIDIA. This landmark exit further solidifies the firm’s strategic presence in the Asia-Pacific region and cements its 2019 vintage fund’s position as a leading performer within its vintage cohort.
A Seed-to-Exit Success Story
Cardumen Capital was Illumex’s first investor and led its 2021 seed round, supporting the company from inception through to exit. General Partners Gonzalo Martínez de Azagra and Igor de la Sota identified the startup’s potential at the seed stage, guiding it toward this landmark milestone.
“This acquisition validates our DeepTech thesis,” said Gonzalo Martínez de Azagra. “By backing visionary founders early, we demonstrate our ability to identify the core building blocks of the AI era.”
Igor de la Sota added: “The success of the Illumex exit underscores the global demand for robust data infrastructure in the age of Generative AI. We are proud to have supported the team from day one in building a platform that now sits at the heart of the world’s AI computing network.”
Strengthening the Bridge to Asia-Pacific
Illumex joining NVIDIA serves as a powerful catalyst for Cardumen Capital’s mission in Asia. Led by Taipei-based APAC Venture Partner Stan Yu, a serial entrepreneur turned venture capitalist, the firm is intensifying its efforts to bridge Asian strategic capital with world-class innovation hubs in Europe, Israel, and global DeepTech ecosystems.
“Building on this milestone exit to NVIDIA, we are seeing unprecedented momentum for our strategy in the APAC region,” said Stan Yu. “The journey of Illumex proves the caliber of opportunities we bring to our partners. From our base in Asia, we are uniquely positioned to facilitate these high-stakes connections, ensuring that Asian institutional capital has exclusive access to the next wave of transformative DeepTech and frontier innovations.”
As a pioneering venture capital firm with a dedicated partner presence in Taipei bridging the EMEA tech ecosystem, Cardumen Capital is uniquely positioned to drive cross-border synergies and deliver the performance expected by the institutional investment landscape in Asia.
A new CT scanner is now operational at Wairarapa Hospital, marking a significant upgrade to diagnostic services in the region, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
“This $2.46 million investment will strengthen diagnostic services for Wairarapa, bringing faster, more reliable imaging closer to home and improving access for local patients,” Mr Brown says.
“The previous end-of-life CT scanner has experienced regular outages, disrupting care and delaying appointments. The new, modern scanner will significantly improve reliability and capability, providing faster imaging, better technology, and a more consistent experience for patients and staff.”
“The upgrade is expected to deliver around a five percent increase in output and productivity, supporting faster diagnosis, stronger cancer pathways, and better access to imaging for both inpatients and outpatients.
“It will also strengthen the wider regional diagnostics network, ensuring hospitals are better able to manage demand and maintain timely care across the region.
“By investing in frontline infrastructure like this, we are ensuring regional communities like Wairarapa get the quality care they deserve.
“This is about putting patients at the centre of our health system – investing in the infrastructure and technology that supports frontline clinicians, strengthens regional services, and ensures communities like Wairarapa can rely on modern, quality care now and into the future,” Mr Brown says.
Two offenders tried it on, and failed, after an alleged shoplifting at a clothing retailer.
The pair face court today after Police caught up with them in west Auckland on Tuesday morning.
Waitematā West Area Prevention Manager Acting Inspector Nick Salter says around 11am a unit was travelling through Henderson CBD, when a shoplifting was reported.
“A vehicle had been parked outside the retailer on Great North Road, with three people reported to be stealing clothing from inside,” he says.
“The offenders were confronted by staff, before they fled to the vehicle with stolen property.”
A Police unit came across the vehicle a short time later.
“Officers signalled for the vehicle to stop, however it failed to do so and sped away,” he says.
“The unit did not pursue and lost sight of the vehicle.”
A short time later units saw the vehicle again on Lincoln Road, not far from where it had originally been signalled to stop for Police.
“Eagle deployed into the area and was quickly above the vehicle, tracking its movements,” Acting Inspector Salter says.
“When the vehicle stopped at a red-light officers took the opportunity to apprehend the occupants.”
With the alleged offenders in custody Police were able to conduct further enquires.
“We discovered that the plates on the vehicle did not match the VIN number, and the correct registration showed it as stolen,” Acting Inspector Salter says.
“This was great work by our staff in continuing to follow up and look out for this vehicle until it was eventually found and the alleged offenders taken into custody.”
Two men, with gang links, will appear in court.
A 24-year-old man will appear in the Waitākere District Court today charged with shoplifting, failing to stop and cannabis-related offences.
A 34-year-old man will also appear in the Waitākere District Court today charged with shoplifting.
4 March 2026 – Woolworths New Zealand’s customers gave an extraordinary $326,000 during the Woolworths Salvation Army Christmas Appeal in December, boosted by a further $100,000 donation from the supermarket company.
On 27 February, a giant cheque for $426,000 was presented by Woolworths New Zealand to Major Christina Tyson, head of The Salvation Army’s Community Ministries, at its Manukau Community Ministries.
“This is an unexpectedly kind way to start the year! The Salvation Army’s dreams to transform people’s difficult circumstances often outstrip our resources. These funds will strengthen our capacity to provide essential food support and do the deep and wide work that shifts people from crisis to resilience. Thank you Woolworths for backing The Salvation Army’s mission to change lives. Thank you, too, for making it so easy for your customers to support our mahi. It’s reassuring in these tough times that so many are committed to caring for others and want to play their part,” said Major Christina Tyson.
Woolworths is The Salvation Army’s largest single corporate supporter and so far during financial year 2026 around $700,000 has been donated by Woolworths and its customers to The Salvation Army. More than $153,000 was donated by customers during July 2025’s Winter Appeal, with a further $100,000 donated by Woolworths.
“Our customers’ generosity is just absolutely amazing – even when we aren’t running our two annual appeals they continue to give. We partner with The Salvation Army because of their national scale, with about 60 foodbanks across the country. We know there are plenty of people doing it tough out there and we also know that we can rely on the Sallies to get help to where it’s needed,” said Kate Eastoe, General Manager Public Affairs and Sustainability for Woolworths New Zealand.
In addition to its support for The Salvation Army, Woolworths supports KidsCan, The Little Miracles Trust and NZ Red Cross and more than 30 food rescue organisations across Aotearoa. This financial year Woolworths will invest around $1 million in cash grants for food rescue groups and will donate thousands of tonnes of safe, surplus food as part of its aim to send no food to landfill.
For more on Woolworths’ support of community in Aotearoa, see our series of videos with The Spinoff: A little better every day, featuring Sunday Blessings, Fair Food, KidsCan and Netball’s FutureFerns, and our Mini Woolies programme of mini-supermarket sites in special schools.
About Woolworths New Zealand:
Woolworths New Zealand is one of New Zealand’s largest employers with 21,000 team members across over 185 supermarkets, distribution centres, processing plants and support offices. Each week we serve over three million customers and work with hundreds of food producers and suppliers throughout Aotearoa. We’re committed to delivering New Zealand’s best supermarket experiences for customers and team with more value, innovation and accelerated investment in our stores. We’re proud to give back to the communities we live and work in and every year we donate more than $7 million in food, funding and sponsorship to our communities. Woolworths New Zealand is also the franchisor of more than 70 FreshChoice stores, which are locally owned and operated. Woolworths New Zealand is part of Woolworths Group.
Whitireia and WelTec has launched the 2026 teaching year with a series of uplifting Pōwhiri, Mihi Whakatau and orientation events across their campuses, marking an exciting beginning for both new and returning ākonga (students). The events brought together ākonga and their whānau, kaimahi (staff), and community in a spirit of unity and anticipation for the year ahead.
Delivered in partnership with Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Te Āti Awa, the Pōwhiri and Mihi Whakatau remain a cornerstone of the Whitireia and WelTec experience. These ceremonies formally welcome ākonga into the Whitireia and WelTec whānau, honouring te ao Māori and reinforcing the values of connection, culture, belonging and manaakitanga from day one.
International students were also welcomed as part of the 2026 intake, with dedicated orientation activities designed to help them settle confidently into life and study in Aotearoa New Zealand. This year’s cohort represents a vibrant mix of countries including Germany, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Philippines, Russia, Ireland, Vietnam, Ukraine, Poland, Bangladesh, Denmark, South Africa, Nepal, and Malaysia, reflecting the growing global reach of the institute.
Across campuses, student expos are underway offering ākonga the chance to meet support teams, explore student services and discover the wellbeing, learning and pastoral resources available to them. Local businesses, community groups and student associations have joined the celebrations, contributing to a welcoming, festival-like atmosphere that showcases the strength and diversity of the local communities.
“At Whitireia and WelTec, ākonga success is about more than the classroom,” says Dr Leanne Ivil, Operations Lead. “Our wraparound support model ensures every ākonga feels connected, supported and confident throughout their learning journey. Starting the year with such powerful iwi-led ceremonies sets ākonga up with a sense of belonging that will carry them forward.”
With energy high and campuses buzzing, Whitireia and WelTec is excited to support ākonga as they take their first steps into a year of learning and opportunity.
Families are sleeping in cars, in the street and in damaged schools seeking safety as the number of people displaced in Lebanon rises and with seven children reported killed, Save the Children said.
About 58,000 people, including an estimated 16,000 children have been displaced in Lebanon in the past three days according to the Ministry of Social Affairs due to Israeli airstrikes and forced displacement orders.
With media reports of an Israeli ground incursion more families are fleeing their homes. [1]
As armed conflict spreads in the wider region, Israeli strikes have reportedly killed 40 people including seven children in Lebanon and a further 246 injured since Saturday.[2] [3]
Save the Children is urgently calling for a cessation of hostilities to protect children from further harm. Save the Children is responding on the ground by distributing essential items such as blankets, mattresses, pillows, baby supplies, hygiene items and water to people that are displaced.
Nora Ingdal, Save the Children’s Country Director for Lebanon, said: “Our team is hearing cases of children across Lebanon sleeping in cars, on cold pavements, and in partially damaged classrooms with cracks in the walls, while parents are sitting on the side of the streets crying, exhausted from little sleep after being unable to get into proper shelters with their children.
“The buildings that they are finding and using as shelters are places no child should have to sleep in. Some of the schools housing families have water dripping through the walls from broken pipes, and there are no beds. These buildings are becoming increasingly crowded are not designed to house families.
“In the south, families attempting to flee are stuck in huge queues of traffic. The situation is pure chaos for those on the move. Journeys that should take an hour are now taking over 15. Parents are telling Save the Children staff how anxious they feel, as they smell smoke and see bombs and drones loom in the sky over them.
“I heard a 10-year-old ask her mother “Why are they attacking us?” Her mother was completely lost for words and unable to give any answer to her child. This isn’t a question any child should have to ask.
“Many of these children have been displaced before and are completely terrified, families are being forced to relive their trauma and have nowhere safe to go. With media reports of an Israeli ground incursion, families are glued to the news for any updates, but nothing is clear at the moment, and the future remains unknown for millions.
Every possible effort must now be taken to prevent further escalation and to safeguard children. There must be an end to the hostilities. All parties involved in the conflict must uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law. Children must be protected at all times.”
SOURCES: [1] Lebanon Ministry of Social Affairs [2] Lebanon Ministry of Social Affairs [3] UNICEF Lebanon
Notes:
There are no cooking facilities in the shelters currently and toilet and washing facilities very minimal. Families are being forced to share toilets in schools meant for children in schools. One school Save the Children is responding in is meant for 130 students but there are already over 230 people sleeping there with the number rapidly rising. Rents have almost tripled overnight, with people being forced to stay with friends and relatives. All Save the Children staff in Lebanon have been affected. Some have had to flee with their own families during the night. They have barely slept, yet they still show up for work to help others with many fasting for Ramadan.
The Experiences of Care in Aotearoa report found that Oranga Tamariki has continued to not comply with the National Care Standards Regulations, six years after they have come into effect.
The National Care Standards Regulations set out the minimum standard that tamariki and rangatahi in care should receive.
The fifth Experiences of Care in Aotearoa for the period 1 July 2024 – 30 June 2025 was published today by Aroturuki Tamariki | Independent Children’s Monitor.
State care survivor and advocate, Ihorangi Reweti Peters, says this report is yet again highlighting that tamariki and rangatahi in care are not having their needs met, and they are being failed by the very system that is supposed to be caring for them.
“The Independent Children’s Monitor found that 246 tamariki and rangatahi stayed in a hotel or motel during the reporting period. Hotels and motels are not homes; they are meant to be used as a last resort in emergency situations for a short period while a more suitable care option is identified. When tamariki and rangatahi are living in hotels or motels they are cared for by a security guard, a casual staff member, a reliever, or a social worker – these are not people who should be caring for our tamariki and rangatahi. It is also shocking that tamariki and rangatahi with high and complex needs, which includes disabilities are more likely to be placed in motels. Tamariki and rangatahi need to feel safe, they need to have stability – which these motels or hotels do not provide,” Mr Reweti Peters said.
“The report also found that the number of tamariki and rangatahi found to have been abused or neglected while in Oranga Tamariki care has increased from 507 in 2023/24 to 530 in this reporting period. This is one in 10 tamariki and rangatahi in care. Māori tamariki and rangatahi make up 73 percent of those who were found to have been abused in care. Since 2022/23 the number of tamariki and rangatahi found to have been abused has increased. No abuse should ever be inflicted on tamariki and rangatahi in Aotearoa New Zealand, let alone in the very agency that is supposed to be protecting tamariki and rangatahi from harm and abuse.”
Oranga Tamariki needs and must do better to ensure that all tamariki and rangatahi in their care are safe and have stable accommodation.
Mr Reweti Peters said, “Kei te rongo koe? Are you listening? – VOYCE Whakarongo Mai’s State of Care Report and scorecard shows the importance of making sure that our tamariki and rangatahi in Oranga Tamariki care have their basic needs met, which include safety and stability. Kei te rongo koe? Paints another bleak picture – that Oranga Tamariki is still not doing enough to make sure that the minimum standards of care are being met and that tamariki and rangatahi in Oranga Tamariki care have their basic needs met. In 2027 VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai will do another scorecard and hopefully the scores will improve so that our tamariki and rangatahi in Oranga Tamariki care are safe and have their basic needs met and have the minimum standard of care that they deserve.”
“I welcome the report today by the Independent Children’s Monitor. I hope that in the interim Oranga Tamariki will start to comply with the National Care Standards Regulations so Aotearoa can see that there has been improvement. However, Oranga Tamariki is still in no place to care for some of our nation’s most vulnerable tamariki and rangatahi. I again, echo the calls from survivors, academics, and whānau that Oranga Tamariki needs to be dismantled and iwi, hāpu and whānau need to take over the provisions of caring for our tamariki and rangatahi,” said Ihorangi Reweti Peters.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand is enforcing a total fire ban for the St Arnaud zone, which will take effect from 8am on Wednesday 4 March, until further notice.
During a prohibited fire season, no fires are allowed in the open and all fire permits are suspended.
The St Arnaud zone incorporates the urban settlement of St Arnaud and all public conservation land within the zone including Buller Campsite, Jetty Campsite, and the Teetotal Freedom Campsites located to the west of St Arnaud.
Announcing the fire season changes, District Manager Grant Haywood says no further permits will be issued until conditions ease across the area.
“Fires will start and spread very easily and will be more challenging for our firefighters to contain and put out in these conditions,” he says.
“If anyone sees signs of smoke, please call 111 immediately.”
Due to changes in the fire weather conditions, the Lake Rotoiti zone will also enter a restricted fire season from 8am on Wednesday 4 March until further notice.
A restricted fire season means a permit is required to light an open-air fire.
The Lake Rotoiti zone runs from Kikiwa in the north, Rainbow Road to the east, Kawatiri to the west, and incorporates all of the Nelson Lakes National Park.
“Having a restricted fire season gives us greater control of who can burn and when, and we can provide direct fire safety advice to those completing burns,” Grant Haywood says.
All fires in the open air now required an authorised fire permit, these can be obtained by applying online atwww.checkitsalright.nz.
“We are asking the public to take extra care during these conditions.
“Go towww.checkitsalright.nzfor full details of the fire season status and what activities are restricted or banned.”
There has been no real improvement in compliance with the National Care Standards (NCS) Regulations, six years after coming into effect. The regulations are the minimum standard the more than 5,600 tamariki (children) and rangatahi (young people) in care should receive. Oranga Tamariki has custody of nearly 99 percent of those in care.
The latest Experiences of Care in Aotearoa for the period 1 July 2024 – 30 June 2025 was published by Aroturuki Tamariki | Independent Children’s Monitor today.
Aroturuki Tamariki Chief Executive Arran Jones says this is the fifth full report on compliance with the regulations. The key reasons for there not being more improvement are that social workers need more help, and tamariki and rangatahi in care are still not sufficiently prioritised for government services.
“The three most common reasons tamariki and rangatahi enter care are parental alcohol and drug use, family violence, and neglect. They need to be well cared for and they need stability,” Mr Jones said.
The report found:
· 28 percent of tamariki and rangatahi in care had a change in caregiver. Half of these changes were unexpected. The most common reason for change was because the caregiver was unable or unwilling to continue providing care
· nearly 250 tamariki and rangatahi in care spent time in motels in the last year, a total of more than 4,000 nights – 1,000 more than the previous year. The median length of stay was four days.
· one third of tamariki and rangatahi were still not being visited by their social worker as often as they should. Tamariki and rangatahi still have an average of 11 social workers during their time in care
· 530 tamariki and rangatahi were found to have been abused in care – a continued increase. Those in secure residences or who had been returned home to live with their parent were more likely to experience abuse
· one in 10 tamariki and rangatahi of compulsory school age were not enrolled in school. Those who were enrolled had a lower rate of regular attendance than those not in care – particularly at secondary school (34% regular attendance)
· tamariki and rangatahi in care have high mental health support needs and accessing services is a struggle. The rate of hospitalisation for self-harm is much higher for those in care
· only 11 percent of eligible rangatahi had a completed life skills assessment and only one third received help from Oranga Tamariki to obtain identity documents (such as a birth certificate) and set up a bank account.
The report again highlights challenges accessing health and education services, and the need for greater prioritisation of tamariki and rangatahi in care.
“Ultimately Oranga Tamariki is responsible for securing health and education services for tamariki and rangatahi in its care. But it is tamariki and rangatahi who are missing out when government agencies waste time debating who should fund them. Improved communication and clearer prioritisation across government will help Oranga Tamariki meet its obligations – and ensure tamariki and rangatahi get the help they need.”
Mr Jones said Oranga Tamariki also has a duty to ensure rangatahi who are in care and getting ready to live independently at the age of 18 have the basics they need.
“There has been a concerted effort to improve the referral rate to transition support services – this is good to see. However, nearly one quarter of rangatahi are still not being offered this help. And they need to be referred earlier – of those offered, only 63 percent of rangatahi were referred at age 16.
“In early 2025 Oranga Tamariki developed a National Care Standards Action Plan. This is the first time it has had a clear plan with specific targets for improving compliance with the regulations. Our next report will reflect any improvement that results from this plan,” Mr Jones said.
Social worker visits are required in accordance with the child’s plan, or at least every eight weeks if there is no frequency specified. This is the requirement set out in the NCS Regulations. The operational data measure Oranga Tamariki uses for its quarterly reporting is if the child has been visited once in the previous eight weeks.
The National Care Standards Regulations came into effect in 2019 and set out the minimum standards required when a child comes into care. These regulations apply to Oranga Tamariki, Open Home Foundation and any other agency with custody and care responsibilities. The lead indicators Oranga Tamariki uses to measure its own performance do not necessarily align with what the NCS regulations require.
Aroturuki Tamariki | Independent Children’s Monitor checks that organisations supporting and working with tamariki, rangatahi and their whānau are meeting their needs, delivering services effectively, and improving outcomes. We monitor compliance with the Oranga Tamariki Act and the associated regulations, including the National Care Standards. We also look at how the wider system (such as early intervention) is supporting tamariki and rangatahi under the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Act.
Aroturuki Tamariki works closely with its partners in the oversight system, Mana Mokopuna – Children’s Commissioner and the Ombudsman.
The completed project which stood up well to heavy rain in January.Suppled / NZTA
A critical section of State Highway 35 has been raised by almost a metre as part of an upgrade to make the road more flood resilient.
The New Zealand Transport Agency says the 230 metre section at Rototahe, just south of Tolaga Bay, is typically the first to flood and close during extreme weather events.
The now completed upgrade will help reduce road closures and keep it open during severe weather and emergencies.
Six new culverts have also been installed and two more upgraded, increasing the site’s water-carrying capacity.
Transport Rebuild East Coast alliance was responsible for the work.
Project manager Richard Bayley said the upgrade has already proven its value.
“We were pleased to see that it performed well in the late January rain event, as the road had been lifted to its final height. This work is an example of the resilience being built into the network and will provide communities, freight and first responders with a more reliable route.”
Suppled / NZTA
TREC partnered with local Iwi Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti throughout the project. Kaitiaki lead Anne McGuire said the project reflected the importance of SH35 to local communities.
“SH35 is a lifeline for our communities. This upgrade will make a real difference to those that travel this road to Gisborne regularly,” she said.
Work on the second flood resilience site which is being funded through cost savings – SH2 Hakanui Straight project (formerly Nesbitt’s Dip) – is expected to be completed next month.
The highway has been raised by around 3 metres and culverts have been installed to help manage water and protect the road. Remaining work on the project includes road surfacing and marking, safety barriers and signage.
As of January, almost 90 percent of the overall Tai Rāwhiti recovery programme has been completed.
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New Zealand and Uruguay have reaffirmed their natural partnership as small, open democracies, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.
“Today’s discussions in Montevideo have underlined that New Zealand and Uruguay have much in common, as small, export-oriented countries buffeted by global forces over which we have little control,” Mr Peters says.
“In these uncertain and challenging times, it’s vital that small, like-minded countries such as New Zealand and Uruguay work together to protect and advance our mutual interests.
“We should be promoting democracy, human rights and the international, rules-based system, and deepening our long-standing and mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation. There is broad scope for doing more together, including on trade policy, education, sport, science and culture.”
Mr Peters held official talks today with Uruguay’s President Yamandú Orsi and Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin – after which the two Foreign Ministers released a Joint Statement. Mr Peters is accompanied in Uruguay by a Parliamentary and business delegation.
“Our discussions with the President and Foreign Minister highlighted how much Uruguay welcomes the significant New Zealand business engagement here – and the potential for this to grow further, especially in high value-added sectors, such as forestry and agribusiness technology. Uruguay and New Zealand also have an abiding interest in trading arrangements that boost exports,” Mr Peters says.
“We also talked about major international issues, including developments in Iran, Ukraine, and Venezuela and the geo-strategic environments in both Latin America and the Indo-Pacific.”
Mr Peters will also attend a New Zealand-Uruguay friendship dinner in Montevideo tonight where he and the accompanying business and parliamentary delegation will meet and exchange perspectives with government officials and private sector representatives. He will also acknowledge the contribution of New Zealand Honorary Consul to Uruguay, Ricardo Shaw, for his 13 years of distinguished service.
Mr Peters and the Parliamentary and business delegation leave for Brazil tomorrow, before programmes later in the week in Chile (Santiago and Rapa Nui) and French Polynesia.
The procurement of a new Chatham Islands supply vessel has hit another major milestone with the signing of a ship delivery agreement, paving the way for its construction to begin.
Associate Transport Minister James Meager says the milestone ensures the 77-metre-long vessel’s delivery by the end of 2027, ahead of the current Southern Tiare ship’s retirement.
“The vessel is an economic and community lifeline for the Chatham Islands. The new ship meets locals’ needs and ensures a reliable, long-term service which can be scaled up to grow alongside the Chathams over the next 20 years,” Mr Meager says.
“The ship, which will be bigger than the nearly 40-year-old Southern Tiare, has been designed to cover all freight requirements. This includes the ability to carry livestock, fuel, vehicles, general and bulk freight.
“This increase in capacity and service reliability will strengthen sectors such as fishing, farming and tourism. Importantly, it provides certainty to businesses and the community.”
The contract with 44 South Shipping Limited Partnership, the joint venture of McCallum Bros Ltd and Nova Marine Carriers, follows last year’s preferred supplier decision.
“I want to thank the Chatham Islands community for its patience and cooperation throughout this process. With negotiations concluded, we now have certainty around cost, delivery timeframes, and performance expectations,” Mr Meager says.
“With this agreement, we have secured reliable and affordable shipping services between the Chatham Islands and mainland New Zealand for the coming decades.
“This is a great outcome for the people in our most remote community, and is another example of our commitment to fixing the basics and building the future.”
Notes to Editor:
The Government began a procurement process in March 2025. It selected the joint venture involving McCallum Bros Ltd and Nova Marine Carriers SA (44 South Shipping Limited Partnership) as the preferred supplier in September 2025.
The Crown is funding $24.3 million towards the cost of the new vessel. The ship’s total cost is commercially sensitive.
The new ship’s length was previously reported to be 78 metres. This has now been confirmed to be 77 metres, following the vessel’s design finalisation.
Hunting in Fiordland National Park. Photo: George Ledgard.
Hunting is part of New Zealand’s outdoor heritage. For many people, it’s how they were first introduced to the bush. Early starts, learning to read the land and weather, the thrill of the chase, spending time with friends and family, passing knowledge down through generations, and enjoying the harvest.
Hunting also offers something more. It’s a way to connect with nature, to understand the places we care about, and to play a part in protecting them for the future.
Seeing the forest up close
When you’re hunting, you see animal sign, hear birdsong, and notice where the good feed and habitat is, or isn’t. This is naturing. Many hunters can tell which areas are recovering, and which are under pressure from browsing wild animals like deer and goats. Hunters’ observations often match what monitoring shows: where browsing is high, the forest is less diverse and preferred plants struggle to regenerate; where deer numbers are lower, those same plants recover 1–3. Hunters also see that reflected in the condition of the animals they harvest, animals are in better condition in when numbers are low.
That observation is one reason many hunters value healthy ecosystems and support conservation outcomes. Across the country, hunters already give back in practical ways by trapping predators, maintaining huts, reporting wild animal sightings, and contributing to local conservation projects.
For many, hunting is both recreation and stewardship.
Introduced wild animals such as deer, pigs, tahr, and goats are becoming more widespread and abundant across New Zealand. When numbers are high, they browse heavily on seedlings and understory plants. Over time, this can change forest structure and reduce the ability of native plants to regenerate and replenish the canopy. This then puts pressure on the habitats our native species depend on.
Recreational hunters help reduce numbers across many parts of the country. More than 7 million hectares of public conservation land is available for hunting, and hunter effort plays a part in managing wild animal numbers across this wider landscape.
But there’s an important reality to be clear about. Recreational hunting on its own isn’t enough to reduce animal numbers to levels that protect forest health in many areas. Research and expert commentary in New Zealand indicate relying on recreational hunting alone, without additional targeted control, often isn’t sufficient to reduce animals to low numbers that allow species preferred by introduced wild deer and goats to regenerate in our forests. It’s not a criticism of hunters. It reflects the scale of the ecological challenge.
In our own monitoring, sites with high deer numbers, like Ruahine Forest Park, show clear signs of browsing pressure on key plant species.
Why DOC needs to do intensive, targeted management
Some populations of introduced wild animals, particularly wild deer, are breeding faster than they’re being hunted. Current estimates suggest there are over 1 million wild deer in New Zealand. With a reproductive rate of around 20-30%, that means more than 300,000 new wild deer are added to the population each year. It takes a coordinated effort to keep numbers at levels that protect forest health. In many areas, the annual offtake needed just to stop populations growing is beyond what recreational hunting can achieve on its own. That’s why collective, targeted work is needed in high priority places to make a difference.
Red deer. Photo: John Neilsen.
DOC focuses intensive management on around 1.4 million hectares of high-priority conservation land, where biodiversity values are highest. Including, about 1.2 million hectares where the aim is to reduce browsing pressure from wild goats at priority sites.
Healthy forests aren’t just about trees. They provide food and shelter for birds, insects, and other native species. Every plant and animal plays a role in keeping ecosystems balanced and more resilient to changing conditions, including climate change. When introduced wild animals browse heavily, key plants struggle to survive, and the animals that depend on them are affected. Protecting biodiversity ensures these ecosystems can continue to function, thrive, and be enjoyed by future generations.
In these areas, the level of control needed is beyond what recreational hunting alone can usually achieve. That’s why New Zealand needs to use a mix of tools, selected to suit the location, terrain, and ecological values involved:
Professional ground hunting – trained teams targeting specific populations in specific areas
Aerial control – necessary in remote and rugged areas
Exclusion fencing – to protect sensitive ecological sites
Management hunts – community-led management hunting projects that contribute to the overall effort to manage animals
Commercial Wild Animal Recovery Operations (WARO) – as part of wider management and a contribution to reducing numbers
Recreational hunting – as part of wider management and a contribution to reducing numbers
All of these tools are used together where and when they’re needed. No single approach will work everywhere.
We need to use a mosaic approach, applying different tools in different places in a coordinated manner. In some areas, sustained and intensive work is required over many years to reduce browsing pressure to levels that allow high priority forests to recover. In some locations, management may include fencing to protect sensitive ecological or land-use values by keeping animals out. In other areas, recreational hunting, or commercial recovery can contribute to reducing numbers across the wider landscape.
Animal exclosure plot in Ruahine Forest Park showing the effect of browsing. Photo: DOC.
DOC ranger hunting. Photo: Karl Drury
Working together for healthy forests
The message is straightforward: hunters are part of the solution and so is targeted DOC management. Protecting New Zealand’s landscapes requires a mix of approaches informed by monitoring and science. Many of DOC’s efforts also involve iwi and hapū, hunters, and local communities working together to get better outcomes for biodiversity.
For example, in Molesworth’s ecologically sensitive Turk’s Head area, we teamed up with volunteers from the Marlborough NZ Deerstalkers Association to give wild goat control a real lift. With us providing coordination, some helicopter support and ammunition, the wide-open country became the perfect place for recreational hunters to make a meaningful contribution. In just a few days, volunteers removed more than 1,000 goats, and our DOC team followed soon after also removing over 1000. Working side by side in the right terrain, this combined effort made a noticeable dent in goat numbers and is part of ongoing work aiming to ease pressure on the rare plants and fragile landscapes that make Molesworth so special.
Lake McRae, Turk’s Head, Molesworth. Photo: DOC.
Get outdoors. Go hunting. Make sure you have a permit. Enjoy the places you care about and be part of looking after them, so nature and everything that depends on it can thrive. And if every hunter knocks over just a few extra animals while they’re out, maybe one for the freezer and one for the forest, it can help reduce numbers across the wider landscape.
1. Nugent, G., Forsyth, D. M., Smith-Flueck, J.-A. M. & Latham, A. D. M. Non-Native Deer: Origins, Status, Impacts, and Management. in Deer of the World: Ecology, Conservation and Management (eds Melletti, M. & Focardi, S.) 887–912 (Springer Nature Switzerland, Cham, 2025). doi:10.1007/978-3-031-17756-9_60.
2. Tanentzap, A. J. et al. Landscape‐level vegetation recovery from herbivory: progress after four decades of invasive red deer control. (2009).
3. Nugent, G., Fraser, W. & Sweetapple, P. Top down or bottom up? Comparing the impacts of introduced arboreal possums and ‘terrestrial’ ruminants on native forests in New Zealand. Biological Conservation 99, 65–79 (2001).
4. Allen, K. et al. Long‐term exclusion of invasive ungulates alters tree recruitment and functional traits but not total forest carbon. Ecological Applications 33, e2836 (2023).
5. Latham, A. D. M. & Nugent, G. Introduction, impacts, and management of non-native deer and other hunted ungulates in New Zealand. Journal of Japan Deer Studies 2017, 41–57 (2017).
6. Fraser, W. The Effect of Recreational Hunters on Deer Populations in Pureora Conservation Park. Science for Conservation 38 (1996).
7. Nugent, G. & Choquenot, D. Comparing cost-effectiveness of commercial harvesting, state-funded culling, and recreational deer hunting in New Zealand. Wildlife Society Bulletin 32, 481–492 (2004).
8. Fraser, K. W. Status and Conservation Role of Recreational Hunting on Conservation Land.
9. Forsyth, D. M., Allen, R. B., Marburg, A. E., MacKenzie, D. I. & Douglas, M. J. Population dynamics and resource use of red deer after release from harvesting in New Zealand. New Zealand journal of ecology 277–287 (2010).
Auckland Council has less than two weeks to respond to a letter from the government wanting the council to outline its plan for housing intensification.
But mayor Wayne Brown says the council is already spending millions on the project and the request is too costly.
In February, Minister for Housing and RMA Reform Chris Bishop announced that Cabinet agreed to reduce the city’s minimum housing capacity requirement from 2.08 million to 1.6 million.
In a letter to Brown dated 24 February, Bishop asked for an outline of the approach the mayor intended to take to review the plan, and of what areas or suburbs may be affected by the change.
Brown refused. “We’ve spent $10 million on Plan Change 78, and by Christmas we’d blown another $3 million on Plan Change 120, as well as having 50 staff reading 10,000 submissions… so this is expensive,” he told a planning committee meeting on Tuesday.
“Preparing maps requires investing significant time and money. It’s not as simple as pushing a button. In this organisation you’re lucky to get a lift by pushing a button. We’ll be telling the government what Aucklanders want, not the other way around.
“What’s important is for Auckland to lead the process from here, not producing maps to see if some ministers worried about their jobs might like them.”
A spokesperson from Chris Bishop’s office later clarified to RNZ that the minister had never asked Brown for a map.
Brown was adament that Auckland Council would not invest any more resources.
“I’m reluctant to commission a hell of a lot of expenditure, which may not meet an unknown criteria from an unknown number of Cabinet Ministers. Most of them don’t live in Auckland.
“That’s just stupid. I’m not going to do that. I’m the mayor of Auckland. If they want to be the mayor of Auckland, have a crack at me.”
Bishop asked Brown to respond to the letter by 17 March.
Councillor Shane Henderson agrees with the mayor’s approach saying the council should not provide an outline until feedback from the public had been considered, and accused the government of “political desperation in an election year”.
Councillor Sarah Paterson-Hamlin was concerned Aucklanders would have to be consulted again.
“I’m really conscious that we asked a lot of Aucklanders,” she said.
“We asked them for feedback on a really complicated thing over Christmas and they came to the party, 10,000 submissions is a lot for a process like that. I don’t know how we can go back out in good faith, and how we communicate to those 10,000-plus people that they will be heard.”
However, deputy mayor Desley Simpson did not understand why it would be too difficult.
“Respectfully it does seem pretty obvious, for me, for a layman, surely if you just up-zoned along the major transport corridors and around the stations added the city centre you’d get a number.
“Why can’t you just tell us straight away what those suburbs would look like going up and the suburbs that would look like going down? That seems like, from a layman, quite a logical thing to ask.”
Auckland Council chief of strategy Megan Tyler responded that it would be too time-consuming.
“It’s not simple. If it was a button, I would happily show you the button. You can press the button yourself. There isn’t one.”
Auckland Council will meet again on 10 March, where Bishop’s letter will be on the agenda.
Fresh strikes have hit half a dozen countries across the Middle East in the widening conflict surrounding Iran.
The latest blasts were reported in Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, as Israel urged countries to cut ties with Iran.
Israel said its air force had launched a new “large scale” wave of strikes “targeting the Iranian terror regime’s infrastructure in Tehran”, following the latest salvo of missiles fired from Iran, including in Tel Aviv and in several sites in central Israel.
Iran, in turn, appealed to the UN Security Council to step in, while warning of more intense attacks on US forces and Israel as the war raged for the fourth day.
Iranian drones struck the US embassy in Saudi Arabia after previously hitting the mission in Kuwait.
In Lebanon, air strikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs, an area where Hezbollah holds sway, while Hezbollah said it had targeted a military facility in Israel in response.
Israel ordered its forces to take control of more positions inside Lebanon to create a buffer zone, and the Lebanese army pulled back some of its forces.
Explosions were also heard in the Bahraini and Qatari capitals of Manama and Doha.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said a key Iranian nuclear site, Natanz, was damaged, but “no radiological consequence” was expected.
The UN refugee agency said the escalation of hostilities has displaced at least 30,000 people in Lebanon, and the Iranian Red Crescent said more than 780 people have been killed nationwide.
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A man who was abused in state care is “angry and saddened” that the number of children and young people being abused in care has continued to increase.
The Independent Children’s Monitor’s latest report said 530 tamaraki and rangatahi were abused in state care during the 2024/25 year, up from 507 during the 2023/24 year.
State abuse survivor Keith Wiffin said that was difficult for him and many other survivors to hear.
“In particular the 3000 courageous survivors who gave testimony to the royal comission on the basis that the appalling rates of abuse that continue would cease and we would see change and improvement.”
But he said the government and faith based institutions had not made enough changes after the Royal Comission on Abuse in Care.
“They have generally ignored the findings and recommendations of the royal comission, and therefore been contemptous of it, and that’s played a role in these continuing appalling rates of abuse.”
Keith Wiffin was abused in state care in the 1970s at Epuni boys home in the Hutt Valley and testified to the Royal Comission.
He said tinkering with the care system would not work, and fundamental change was needed for things to improve.
“That approach is: families, communties, iwi, hapu need to be resourced to look after their own. The best way to stop abuse in care is to see our young don’t go into care in the first place.”
Keith Wiffin said during his time in state care, he had a good social worker but he was completely overworked with a caseload of 80 boys.
Independent Children’s Monitor chief executive, Arran Jones, said social workers being overworked was still a problem today.
“Social workers spend a lot of time trying to find homes for young people that have to be removed from mum and dad … so that places pressure on the social work day job.
“The second thing is trying to access the help these kids need – so time taken negotiating with health and education over who will pay for supports.”
The report found a third of tamariki and rangatahi were not being visited by their social worker as often as they should be.
It also highlighted problems acessing health and education services, and Jones suggested prioritising tamaraki and rangatahi in care for these services over the general population.
“Because what the evidence tells us is tamariki in care have far worse outcomes into their adult lives than other children.”
Oranga Tamariki has been working on a National Care Standards Action Plan since early last year which Jones hoped would make a difference.
“This is the first time in the six years I’ve seen Oranga Tamariki commit to a very clear actionable plan. So this is a positive sign.”
Minister responds
Minister for Children Karen Chhour.RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Minister for Children Karen Chhour said turning around generations of failures would not happen overnight, but she believed the most recent data from Oranga Tamariki showed progress was being made towards a stronger safety net for young people in care.
Chhour acknowledged the report identified silos and gaps between government agencies and said she had spoken to ministerial colleagues about working more closely together.
She said she was particularly proud of the progress towards working more closely with communities, strategic partners, and iwi and hapu
Oranga Tamariki responds
Oranga Tamariki chief social worker Nicolette Dickson.RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Oranga Tamariki chief social worker, Nicolette Dickson, said it had seen performance improvements in eight out of the 10 focus areas in the National Care Standards Action Plan, and was confident about seeing sustained improvements through a focus on that work.
Dickson said more tamariki were being supported to remain safely with their whānau, and of those surveyed, 96 percent of children in care said they felt safe, 90 percent felt supported to achieve their goals and 89 percent felt they had somewhere to belong.
She agreed there were a number of areas to improve on, but said the organisation was on the right track to address them.
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HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 March 2026 – Vinhomes Green Paradise – Can Gio has officially launched its Smart City Certification Project in collaboration with Korea Management Association Consulting (KMAC), the World Council on City Data (WCCD), and the Standardized Urban Metrics (SUM) initiative. Through this initiative, Vinhomes Green Paradise aims to become the first internationally certified smart city in Vietnam, thereby establishing new global standards for sustainable and intelligent urban development.
Vinhomes Green Paradise features an exceptional collection of world-class amenities, setting a new standard of living for a future-ready urban development.
The partnership is designed to support the mega development in achieving the WCCD/SUM Custom ISO 37122 Smart City Certification. This certification is based on a customized indicators framework derived from the internationally recognized ISO 37122 indicators, tailored specifically for greenfield development projects and urban areas.
Under the partnership, KMAC will provide strategic consulting and technical advisory services to align the city’s development with the ISO 37122 indicators across key domains such as mobility, energy, environment, safety, and digital infrastructure.
The WCCD and SUM, headquartered in Toronto, Canada, is preparing a new customized indicators framework for greenfield development, based on the strategic smart city goals in the Vinhomes Green Paradise development. The WCCD/SUM teams, will oversee the assessment and smart city certification process, ensuring compliance with the ISO international standards and best practices.
The consortium agreed on a roadmap to deliver an Interim Certification within 2026, paving the way for full certification in subsequent phases.
“This project symbolizes a landmark collaboration between Vietnam and Korea in advancing global smart city standards,” said Mr. Chulse Oh, Head of AX Group at KMAC. “By combining Vinhomes’ visionary urban development with KMAC’s consulting expertise and WCCD/SUM’s global certification framework, VinhomesGreen Paradise will become a model for data-driven governance, sustainability, and smart innovation.”
“Vietnam is emerging as one of the most promising leaders in smart and sustainable city development. The Vinhomes Green Paradise is a remarkable new development in Vietnam that deserves global recognition,” said Dr. Patricia McCarney, President & CEO of the World Council on City Data (WCCD) and Director of SUM. “We are honored to partner with Vinhomes and KMAC to ensure that Vinhomes Green Paradise achieves global recognition through our WCCD/SUM ISO 37122 Custom Certification.”
Vinhomes Green Paradise benefits from a rare geographical setting, surrounded by the Can Gio Sea and the UNESCO-recognized Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve spanning over 75,000 hectares. The project features a 121-kilometer coastline, a total scale of 2,870 hectares, and a construction density of only 16%. It pioneers an upgraded ESG++ model, structured around five pillars: Environment, Social, Governance, Regeneration, and Climate Adaptation.
Upon full operation, the entire urban management system will be comprehensively greened with the following objectives: 100% clean electricity sourced from offshore wind farms, solar energy systems, and battery storage; 100% net-zero emission transportation, including electric cars, electric scooters, electric buses, electric bicycles, electric boats, and a high-speed railway system directly connecting to central Ho Chi Minh City.
In addition to strict compliance with environmental protection standards, Vinhomes Green Paradise places strong emphasis on biodiversity conservation and ecosystem regeneration throughout the development process, aligned with Ho Chi Minh City’s long-term climate adaptation strategy. A Forest Regeneration and Climate Adaptation Fund has been established to support research, restoration, and long-term resilience initiatives, with a core focus on mangrove restoration in Can Gio to establish a protective green belt for the entire development.
With its pioneering ESG vision, Vinhomes Green Paradise has become the first official participant in the “7 Wonders of the Future Cities” campaign initiated by New7Wonders, reinforcing its global recognition as a benchmark model for sustainable, AI-ready, and data-driven urban innovation.
Hashtag: #Vinhomes
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
