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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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
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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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
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.
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 March 2026 – Across major sale periods, Malaysians are increasingly turning to content-led shopping to discover products and secure deals. During the Raya Bersama Shopee sale in 2025, shoppers tuned in to Shopee Live for real-time demonstrations and livestream-exclusive drops, generating over 1 billion views and driving more than 132 billion items sold via livestream. Over 67 billion vouchers were also claimed as households stacked brand and platform deals alongside Free Shipping to stretch festive budgets.
Shopee Bazar Hebat Raya
With Raya approaching once again, content-led shopping continues to influence how homes are refreshed, gifts are selected and outfits are planned. Running from now until 25 March, Shopee Bazar Hebat Raya taps into this shopping trend with creator-driven fashion inspirations and 50% Off Shopee Live vouchers for the season.
Discover Raya Fashion Trends with #GetReadyWithShopee
Raya styling now unfolds on-screen, where demos and virtual consultations inspire shoppers to decide their looks before adding to cart. EveryFriday 12PM to 2PM, alongside additional sessions on key campaign dates, #GRWS Raya Fashion Hacks on Shopee Live features popular fashion creators Farah Deluna, Sharifah Rose, and Qisthena breaking down trendy Raya looks and sharing styling tips – from colour pairing to tudung techniques – for chic festive outfits. Featured pieces can be secured instantly with upsized 50% Off Shopee Live vouchers, stackable with brand deals.
Fans of top local labels such as Adnaa, Siti Khadijah, and Haera HQ can also shop their latest collections through Shopee’s Raya Best Sellers and New Arrivals, restocked daily at 50% Off. Meanwhile, Shopee’s Super Brand Day live sessions on weekends, 1PM to 2PM will highlight labels such as Naelofar and My Ballerine, featuring exclusive drops and additional vouchers.
For even greater savings, shoppers can score midday RM10 Fashion & Beauty Flash Deals from 12PM to 2PM on key campaign dates not to be missed:
3 March: Jualan Persiapan Raya
10 March: Jualan Istimewa Raya
15 March: Jualan Hebat Raya
25 March: Jualan Akhir Raya
Plan Every Raya Open House with Shopee Live
As households finalise their open house checklists, Shopee Live becomes a touchpoint for festive inspiration. Streaming daily at12PM and 8PM, hosts spotlight Shopee Lagi Murah essentials across groceries, Muslim fashion, health and beauty, and electronics — featuring brands such as ZUS Coffee, Wardah, and PerySmith.
Livestream purchases unlock Daily 50% Off Shopee Live vouchers, on top of Shopee Lagi Murah deals and RM10 Knockout Deals from selected brands like Haier, Dreame and Gintell — so shoppers can stack their Shopee Live vouchers and save even more, with Free Shipping No Minimum Spend and Shopee Coins. For larger purchases, SPayLater’s reduced 12-month interest fee offers added flexibility when managing festive budgets.
Those hoping to perfect their Raya dishes and walk away with rewards can tune in to Khairul Aming on Shopee Live on 3 March at 5PM, where he shares his fan-favourite sambal and dendeng recipes alongside host Shopee’s Exclusive Sampul Raya Giveaway. Later that evening at 8.30PM, Shopee Brand Ambassadors Mimi Fly and Hael Husaini will take the spotlight in a special Raya livestream, featuring an exclusive interview and interactive game segment as they share how they’re celebrating the season.
Shopee Bazar Hebat Raya
Get inspired for every Raya moment and enjoy 50% Off Raya Fashion Trends, daily 50% Off Shopee Live vouchers as well as Free Shipping No Minimum Spend – all in one place at Shopee Bazar Hebat Raya. Discover more at: https://shopee.com.my/m/raya-sale
Hashtag: #Shopee
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 March 2026 –VinFast announced the completion of its strategic structuring into three automotive brand linesand officially unveiled two new flagship ultra-luxury models: the Lac Hong 800S and the Lac Hong 900S. The two vehicles join the Lac Hong line– VinFast’s ultra-luxury marque– alongside its established VF mass-market passenger vehicle range and Green commercial mobility brand.
Lac Hong 900S
Under this clearly defined brand structure, Lac Hong represents the pinnacle of ultra-luxury, conceived to honor national pride and currently comprising the 900 LX, 900S and 800S models. The VF line encompasses a comprehensive portfolio of mass-market passenger EVs across segments, from VF 3 to VF 9, including the seven-seat VF MPV 7. Meanwhile, the Green brand is purpose-developed for commercial and service mobility solutions, featuring models such as Limo Green, Herio Green, Nerio Green and Minio Green.
Alongside the structured and clearly defined development of its three strategic brand lines, VinFast has officially unveiled two new ultra-luxury models, the Lac Hong 800S and 900S. These additions expand the Lac Hong ultra-luxury collection, complementing the flagship 900 LX (including a world-leading advanced armored version) introduced in 2025.
Inspired by Vietnam’s cultural heritage and embodying the courage, intellect and stature of the nation, the new models deliver design and craftsmanship on par with the world’s most prestigious ultra-luxury vehicles. The Lac Hong 800S projects a bold, powerful and refined aesthetic, while the Lac Hong 900S reflects timeless, classical values expressed through enduring elegance.
Both models share a cohesive, brand-specific design language enriched with symbolic detailing and premium materials. The grille features straight vertical slats inspired by the resilience of Vietnamese bamboo, while the wing-shaped emblem evokes the Lac bird in ascent. Decorative motifs derived from the Dong Son bronze drum and terraced rice fields are thoughtfully integrated and intentionally repeated across exterior and interior elements, celebrating cultural heritage and national pride. Notably, the “Lac Hong” wordmark is crafted in a calligraphic style and rendered in genuine gold-plated alloy, creating a distinctive and sophisticated brand signature.
Lac Hong 800S
Inside the cabin, the Lac Hong 800S and 900S are meticulously appointed with top-tier materials including Nappa leather, rare woods and refined gold-plated accents.
Both vehicles integrate advanced intelligent technologies and comprehensive safety systems, complemented by ultra-luxury amenities such as zero-gravity executive seating, automatic power-assisted doors and premium entertainment systems from globally renowned brands. The Lac Hong 900S further enhances exclusivity with a privacy partition separating the cockpit and rear cabin, a starlight headliner, a large-format projection entertainment system and a foldable executive workstation for second-row occupants. Together, these features transform each vehicle into a sophisticated mobile environment for travel, productivity and immersive leisure.
In terms of performance, both models are equipped with an all-new fully active suspension system engineered to deliver exceptional ride comfort and dynamic stability. They can be configured with a tri-motor powertrain comprising one front motor and two rear motors, generating a combined output of up to 460 kW and ensuring commanding performance aligned with their ultra-luxury positioning.
The Lac Hong 800S and 900S are scheduled for commercial launch in 2027.
Ms. Duong Thi Thu Trang, Deputy CEO of Global Automotivesat VinFast, stated: “Following a period of accelerated growth– achieving the No.1 position in Vietnam and establishing our presence in key regional markets– the completion of our three-brand structure lays the foundation for our next phase of development: structured, professional and breakthrough-driven. The Lac Hong 800S and 900S stand as further proof of VinFast’s technological mastery, product development capability and advanced manufacturing expertise. We believe products created by Vietnamese intellect, craftsmanship and resilience not only inspire national pride but also convey a powerful message about Vietnam’s cultural heritage and technological stature in this new era of global advancement.”
To date, VinFast has developed and introduced more than 15 electric vehicle models and has maintained an undisputed leadership position in Vietnam for the past 16 consecutive months. In 2025 alone, the Company set a national sales record with 175,099 vehicles delivered in Vietnam, further solidifying its status as the country’s most beloved automotive brand./.
Hashtag: #VinFast
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
The family of a young man shot and killed by a hunter on Stewart Island last year say the hunter’s failure to identify his target has left them facing a “lifetime of hell”.
Ashburton builder Paul William John Stevens, 39, has avoided jail time and instead been sentenced to five months’ home detention for shooting Jock Davies, 21, last July.
He had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of careless use of a firearm causing death.
At the Invercargill District Court on Tuesday, Judge Russell Walker ordered Stevens to make $20,000 in reparation payments, split equally between a scholarship in Jock Davies’ name for West Otago students and a New Zealand Deerstalkers Association hunter safety course.
Davies’ mother Sarah Davies told the court she never anticipated her son, who was a cancer survivor, would not return from the week-long much-anticipated hunting trip with his father and brothers.
“I miss Jock every day, I miss the twinkle in his eye, his naughty sense of humour. I miss his laughter, the way he used to light up a room. I miss his resilience, his kindness and I miss him leaving the lights on. Jock was one special human,” she said.
Davies’ oldest brother George Davies told Stevens that he had failed as a firearms licence-holder and the family was facing “lifelong effects” as a result.
He spoke of the trauma of seeing his brother after the shooting.
“The impact of having to carry my dead brother up the hill to rescuers is something I will have to live with forever, it’s something no-one should have to do. It was meant to be a trip of a lifetime which turned into a lifetime of hell,” he said.
Davies’ brother Tom Davies described the eight months since the death as a “living nightmare”.
“I’ve found myself in a dark hole where I didn’t know what was right or wrong anymore. It has been a battle to leave the house some days,” he said.
Paul William John Stevens in court.RNZ / Katie Todd
Jock Davies had been intending to join him in Christchurch at teachers’ college and it left a “huge ache” in his heart and soul to know that would not happen, he said.
“I’m trying my absolute hardest to be there for my family as we navigate a new way of life,” he said.
Davies’ father Peter Davies said his son had touched many lives, with his funeral attended by more than 1000 people.
“As a dad there should have been so many more proud moments, but now there’s only memories,” he said.
Stevens sat quietly, crying, as the victim impact statements were read to the court.
His lawyer Grant Fletcher told the court that Stevens, a father of two, could not possibly regret his actions more.
“He would do anything to make it right but obviously he can’t,” he said.
“He’s offered his most heartfelt, most sincere, most genuine remorse and regret.”
Reading from a summary of facts, Judge Walker said Stevens and Davies were part of the same group of eight people on the week-long trip, hunting in the South Lords River block.
The group split up on the morning of 6 July and Davies was dropped off from a dinghy, while Stevens and another associate went in the opposite direction to hunt.
Stevens told police the terrain was “gnarly and hard-going,” he said.
“You said you were not used to hunting in such thick and challenging bush.”
Stevens heard a shuffling noise 20 metres away and saw a “dark shadowy image”, he said.
“Confident it was a deer and not wanting to miss the opportunity, you chambered a round in your rifle and fired a single telescopically-aimed shot,” he said.
“You aimed for what you believed was the neck area of the deer.”
A rescue helicopter was dispatched at about 11am but when it arrived two hours later Davies was dead, he said.
Judge Walker found Stevens’ actions to show a “medium-to-high level of carelessness”.
Stevens “would and should have been well aware of the dangers of hunting” but did not attempt to sight the deer with his own eyes, he said.
“The terrain was challenging for you to the extent that you discussed turning back. You were clearly aware that others would have been in the area,” he said.
He found Stevens’ remorse to be genuine and said Davies’ death would have a life-long impact.
“I accept the mental health impact that this has had and will continue to have upon you. It is rightly described as profound,” he said.
From a starting point of 18 months’ imprisonment, Walker deducted eight months for mitigating factors and converted the resulting 10 months’ imprisonment into five months’ home detention.
He also ordered the forfeiture of Stevens’ rifle and ammunition.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 March 2026 – AgileAsia has recently entered into a lifelong learning partnership with SMU Academy to deliver practitioner-led sustainability and ESG programmes, hosted by SMU Academy.
As part of this partnership, AgileAsia will contribute its deep industry expertise in ESG strategy, sustainability transformation, and organisational change. At the same time, SMU Academy will bring its applied learning framework and established professional training infrastructure. By combining industry-grounded insight with academic rigour, the collaboration will deliver sustainability-focused programmes that equip organisations and working professionals with structured, credible pathways to develop real-world sustainability capabilities.
Delivering Sustainability Education Through SMU Academy AgileAsia’s industry specialists and the academic leadership of SMU Academy co-develop certified sustainability courses. AgileAsia provides sustainability professionals with hands-on industry experience as trainers, while SMU Academy serves as the academic host and programme platform. This integrated model allows participants to gain applied industry insight within a recognised university-backed learning environment.
The collaboration is structured to help organisations move beyond sustainability intent towards practical execution. Programme content emphasises equipping professionals with practical skills that respond to climate risk, ESG reporting requirements, regulatory awareness, and the operational realities of cross-functional organisational change.
This approach responds to growing demand from organisations seeking structured, SkillsFuture-supported sustainability training that is both implementation-focused and academically grounded.
Responding to Industry and Regulatory Needs The partnership was shaped by a convergence of industry demand, evolving regulatory expectations, and increasing client need for formal ESG upskilling. Organisations across sectors are navigating sustainability disclosure requirements, decarbonisation targets, and stakeholder scrutiny, while often lacking the internal capability to translate strategy into action.
“SMU Academy was a natural academic partner for us due to its strong emphasis on applied learning, sustainability thought leadership, and close engagement with industry and government stakeholders,” said Sharan Mangalore, CEO of AgileAsia. “Its focus on professional education aligns closely with our delivery philosophy, making this lifelong learning partnership a strong strategic fit for advancing practical sustainability capability-building.”
Programmes Hosted Under the Partnership The collaboration has launched two certification programmes hosted by SMU Academy: the Sustainability Project Management and the Certified Climate Resilient Officer (CRO) programme. Both of these sustainability management courses are SkillsFuture-supported and aligned with SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) frameworks.
The Sustainability Project Management course addresses common execution gaps faced by organisations, equipping professionals with structured project governance, stakeholder management, and delivery approaches tailored to ESG initiatives. The CRO programme, on the other hand, focuses on building practical capability in climate risk assessment, resilience planning, and organisational adaptation to climate-related disruption.
Across both programmes, participants engage with applied case studies, practical tools, and methodologies that can be directly contextualised to their organisations.
Audience and Organisational Impact This partnership builds on AgileAsia’s experience in enterprise transformation and leadership development, translating sustainability principles into structured execution frameworks that address real organisational challenges.
What’s Next for the Partnership As a long-term collaboration, it reflects a shared commitment to developing future-ready sustainability professionals through applied, university-hosted education pathways.
Organisations and professionals seeking to strengthen sustainability and ESG execution capabilities can explore AgileAsia’s upcoming programmes or browse SMU Academy’s professional course offerings.
Hashtag: #AgileAsia, #sustainability
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
16-Hour U.S. Stock Trading Session*, Money Market Funds with T+0 Settlement
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 March 2026 – PAO Bank Limited (“PAObank”) is pleased to announce the official launch of wealth service, debuting a dual-advantage wealth solution. This service empowers customers to flexibly switch between investing or earning interest, offering unmatched flexibility and control over their finances. The wealth service combines the agility of a brokerage with the security of a bank, enabling customers to seamlessly manage investments, insurance, deposits, and more through a single account. Customers can flexibly allocate funds and trade a wide range of products, including U.S. stocks, Hong Kong stocks, funds and money market funds, at any time.
PAObank’s existing retail banking customers can open an investment account in as fast as 3 minutes, while new customers can open both savings and investment accounts in one-go, greatly simplifying the onboarding process. Customers can instantly deploy funds from their savings account to purchase stocks and funds directly, without the need for additional transfers. Investment returns can be credited back into the savings account to earn interest, supporting both the pursuit of timely market opportunities and steady interest income, all within one single PAObank account.
Mr. Ronald Iu, Chief Executive of PAObank, said, “The launch of wealth service marks a significant milestone in PAObank’s retail banking development. Retail banking at PAObank is rooted in user-friendliness. Our team believes that if we can save each customer one single step, we collectively save 10,000 steps for 10,000 customers. The design of our wealth service is customer-centric — streamlining procedures and eliminating unnecessary fund transfers, allowing customers to SWITCH flexibly between investment and deposit services. We will continue to upgrade our retail banking services, striving to become one of Ping An Group’s integrated financial platforms in Hong Kong, delivering a more comprehensive and user-friendly wealth management experience, and being recognised as the preferred digital bank in the minds of customers.”
U.S.& Hong Kong StocksTrading: Broker-LevelAnalyticsToolsforCapturingOpportunities PAObank’s wealth service offers broker-level professional analytics tools, providing comprehensive insights from macro market trends to detailed stock information to help customers seize every investment opportunity. Key features include:
40+ Technical Indicators: Multi-angle market analysis, covering company performance, market trends, stock price movements, and peer comparisons to support deeper investment insights and discover potential opportunities.
Free Level 1Real-TimeQuotes: Instant access to real-time indices and quotes, enabling customers to make informed decisions and act quickly.
Industry Heatmap & Real-TimeTradingRankings: Intuitive visualisations of industry momentum and real-time rankings of active stocks, helping customers track market hotspots and pinpoint focus stocks with ease.
Flexible TradingCapabilities:
Up to 16Hours ofU.S.Stock Trading Sessions: Trade U.S. stocks day and night to maximise market opportunities, with flexible pre-market and after-hour trading sessions in response to major news or unexpected events.
Unlimited 24-hour Real-Time Quotes: Access the latest market information around the clock.
Multiple Order Types: Support for limit orders, stop-limit orders and more, empowering customers to respond flexibly to market volatility.
Money Market Funds: T+0 Settlement, $0 Subscription & Redemption Fees, Same-Day Liquidity PAObank’s money market funds offer a reliable and flexible way for cash management solutions, offering customers a stable and adaptable platform for capital growth. These funds primarily invest in short-term deposits and high-quality money market instruments, targeting lower risk and stable returns. Featuring: “T+0” same-day settlement, $0 subscription & redemption fees, low entry threshold, investors enjoy 24X7 access to subscriptions and redemptions, with proceeds credited to bank accounts as soon as the same day. Funds are available 365 days a year, enabling efficient and always-on cash management regardless of public holidays.
CuratedSelectionof Funds from Top-tierGlobalFund Houses: Popular ThematicRankingsIncluding “Monthly Dividend Funds” PAObank partners with leading global fund houses, including Ping An of China Asset Management (Hong Kong), Allianz Global Investors, Invesco, and Schroders, to curate nearly 60 global funds spanning popular themes such as technology, Asia and consumer sectors. The platform provides diverse, thematic fund rankings, including a dedicated “Monthly Dividend Funds” category tailored for dividend lovers. Transparent fund performance and data-driven analytics give customers the flexibility to adjust their portfolios in response to market trends, seizing global investment opportunities with ease.
*U.S. market trading sessions are based on Hong Kong time: Summer time – Pre-market: 16:00 – 21:30; Market opening: 21:30 – 04:00; After-hours: 04:00 – 08:00. Winter time – Pre-market: 17:00 – 22:30; Market opening: 22:30 – 05:00; After-hours: 05:00 – 09:00. Total trading hours are 16 hours.
Investment involves risk. The price of investments fluctuates, sometimes dramatically. The price of investments may move up or down, and may become valueless. There is an inherent risk that losses may be incurred rather than profit made as a result of buying and selling investment products. Foreign investments carry additional risks not generally associated with the domestic market. You should carefully consider whether any investment products or services mentioned herein are appropriate for you in view of your investment experience, objectives, financial resources and circumstances.
Singapore’s credit and charge card payments market is projected to grow by 9.2% to reach SGD116.8 billion ($88.4 billion) in 2026. This growth is being driven by a confluence of factors including widespread card acceptance, a near-100% banked population, and increasing adoption of contactless cards, according to GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.
GlobalData’s Payment Cards Analytics reveals that the credit and charge card payment value in Singapore registered an estimated growth rate of 7.6% in 2025, to reach SGD107 billion ($80.9 billion), driven by the rise in consumer spending.
Poornima Chinta, Senior Banking and Payments Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “While debit cards also enjoy strong usage, especially in everyday transactions, credit and charge cards have pulled ahead through superior value-added benefits, instalment options, cashback, and rewards programs. Regulatory backing, high public awareness of payment cards, robust merchant acceptance, and infrastructural enhancements including broader contactless card penetration are all reinforcing their lead.”
Rewards, discounts, and flexible payment schemes play a key role in driving credit and charge card usage in Singapore. Banks such as UOB offer instalment plans for online purchases over three, six, 12 or 24-month periods with 0% interest at partner merchants, while Citibank’s Citi SMRT card delivers up to 5% cashback on purchases in stores and online.
A well-developed POS infrastructure is also supporting the rise of credit and charge cards. Singapore boasts one of the highest number of POS terminals per million inhabitants in the Asia-Pacific region, which stood at 62,551 in 2025, significantly higher compared to some of its peers such as Malaysia (29,093), Hong Kong (27,992), and Thailand (13,017).
Regulatory and policy developments are also enhancing the environment for credit and charge card payments. Initiatives such as the Productivity Solutions Grant support SMEs with subsidized POS installations (up to 50% funding from April 2023), increasing merchant acceptance.
Chinta concludes: “Credit and charge card payments in Singapore are poised for steady growth over the next five years, underpinned by the expanding e-commerce adoption, a well-developed payment infrastructure, attractive rewards and instalment offers, and robust regulatory support. The credit and charge card market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% between 2025 and 2029 to reach SGD144.2 billion ($109.1 billion) in 2029.”
Notes
Quotes provided by Poornima Chinta, Senior Banking and Payments Analyst at GlobalData Information is based on GlobalData’s Payment Cards Analytics
About GlobalData
GlobalData operates an intelligence platform that empowers leaders to act decisively in a world of complexity and change. By uniting proprietary data, human expertise, and purpose-built AI into a single, connected platform, we help organizations see what’s coming, move faster, and lead with confidence. Our solutions are used by over 5,000 organizations across the world’s largest industries, delivering tailored intelligence that supports strategic planning, innovation, risk management, and sustainable growth.
By Councillor Josephine Bartley, Chair of the Regulatory and Safety Committee
Like most people, I was extremely sad to read about last week’s fatal dog attack in Northland – the fourth in the country in four years.
In my role as the chair of Auckland Council’s regulatory and safety committee, I hear about vicious dog bite injuries from our staff regularly: toddlers who will never smile in the same way again, adults whose limbs are so badly mauled they require amputation and older people whose bodies won’t heal like they used to. I know how brutal dog attacks can be and the trauma they leave on victims.
I also felt frustration. Just hours before the news broke, our staff received a letter from the Department of Internal Affairs. It was a response to yet another plea from the council to work with us on updating New Zealand’s 30-year-old dog control laws – changes that could help prevent attacks like the one that killed Mihiata Te Rohe.
Escalating problems in Auckland
In Auckland, we have not yet lost a life to a dog attack, but our Animal Management staff fear getting that call every day. Since 2021, the number of roaming dogs and reported attacks has climbed steeply – a flow-on effect of Covid lockdowns, when there was a boom in puppy ownership and a corresponding lack of desexing and socialisation. Throw in a cost-of-living crisis and we are left with a large population of dogs whose owners lack either the means or the will to care for them properly.
The council is doing everything it can to keep our region safe. In the past year, we have invested an extra $10 million into tackling dog-related issues: expanding shelter space, bringing on more staff and standing up an in-house vet service to ramp up free desexing of dogs in high-risk areas. These initiatives go well beyond the council’s core remit as a regulator, but the council is doing its best to reduce the risk to our communities with the tools available.
Last year, Auckland Council impounded a record 10,000 dogs, only half of which were claimed by owners. And while council staff, along with many rescue groups, are doing their best to rehome dogs where possible, many dogs have significant behavioural issues that mean they cannot be safely rehomed. There are also many more dogs than there are people willing to adopt. High euthanasia rates are the last thing our staff of dog-lovers want to see happening, but there is literally nowhere for these dogs to go.
Efforts not enough to curb trends
Despite the staff doing all they can, our streets still aren’t safe. Every day, Animal Management gets around 100 requests from the public for help with dog-related issues, most related to roaming dogs, which carry the risk of turning into attacks. I hear about people in our communities being scared to walk to school or the shops, and those experiencing blindness being unable to access guide dogs because the risk to them is too high. I’ve even witnessed my own senior shih tsu, Milo, being badly injured in an attack while I was walking him in Glen Innes.
As challenging as the situation in Auckland is, we are fortunate to be relatively well resourced compared with other regions across the country. There are councils facing the same pressures with far less capacity to respond, and that is why we are leading the charge for national reform. Introducing a local bill (as has been suggested) is not the right solution as these issues are not unique to Auckland. Nor do we need additional guidance or reporting. We need law change.
Law reform must come next
The Dog Control Act 1996 has not had a substantial review in almost 30 years and is no longer fit for purpose. Auckland Council has carried out significant policy work, backed up by years of data, and come up with clear, practical changes that could be enacted quickly – measures people might be surprised to learn are not already in place. Allowing councils to desex roaming dogs that pass through shelters, for example, or to require owners of dogs that repeatedly roam to install secure fencing.
We also need stronger powers to detain or seize dogs that pose a threat. Under current law, it is very difficult for councils to seize dogs, or to detain claimed dogs past a seven-day holding period, even when it is clear they’re going to offend again. Even after attacks, in many cases, they must give the dogs back to their owners, the alternative being a lengthy and costly prosecution process that can take years to go through the courts.
Despite last week’s letter, we are hopeful that the Government is now reviewing this position. I was pleased to hear the Prime Minister’s comments on RNZ on Monday morning – which followed three more people being critically injured in Christchurch in a dog attack over the weekend – when he said the Government will do what it can to give councils more powers.
As well as the loved ones of Mihiata Te Rohe and the wider Kaihu community, I feel for our neighbours at Kaipara District Council. I know they’ll be gutted that they couldn’t have done more to prevent Tuesday’s death. But here’s the hard truth: until we overhaul our outdated dog control laws, there will be an increasing number of tragedies like this one. The kind our officers can often see coming and still lack the power to stop.
