Category: Transport

Posted on

Vintage cars celebrated in Nelson festival

Source: Radio New Zealand

Cars lined up for the teams relay as part of the Vero International Festival of Motoring Samantha Gee/RNZ

There have been flashbacks to the past on the roads around Nelson this week, with hundreds of veteran, vintage and classic cars hitting the streets as part of an international motoring festival.

The four-yearly Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring has drawn people in from all over the country, with some even shipping their beloved cars from as far as the US and Europe for the occasion. It was last held in Nelson in 1972.

The Auckland Veteran and Vintage Car Club brought a blue 1915 Renault Charabanc, known as Angelique, down for the event.

Club member John Stokes said vehicle was found and restored by the club in the 1960s. It had originally been used as a truck to haul timber, then as a speedway vehicle, before it became a farm hack and was left to disintegrate in a paddock.

The 1915 Renault Charabanc named Angelique which is owned by The Veteran and Vintage Car Club in Auckland. Samantha Gee/RNZ

“This type of vehicle was very common probably between about 1910, maybe earlier, and the Second World War. They largely disappeared after World War II.”

The crank start Renault was doing laps as part of a relay challenge at the festival on Friday, where teams of up to 30 vehicles compete to achieve the greatest collective distance over a four hour period.

Stokes said its comfortable cruising speed was somewhere between the 30 and 40 kilometre per hour range and it was maintained by a group of five to ten club members who met once a a month.

“Although it’s probably going to need a bit more maintenance after today when it gets back.”

Jim and Lynn Hefkey also made the trip down from Auckland in their 1975 Bricklin SV1 and Jim said didn’t want to think about how much the fuel had cost, given they still had to get home.

Jim and Lynn Hefkey with their 1975 Bricklin SV1. Samantha Gee/RNZ

“I’m hoping they don’t start shutting the pumps off, you know, when you’ve got a big American V8, they’re fairly thirsty.

He said the Bricklin were built in Canada for the American market, and with their gull wings, bear a striking resemblance to the DMC DeLorean.

“They all say, oh, back to the future, but no…This is the back, the DeLorean is the future.”

The Hefkey’s Bricklin which they drove from Auckland to the festival in Nelson. Samantha Gee/RNZ

Hefey said there were only two other Bricklin SV1’s in New Zealand, both in Christchurch and the couple would head there after Nelson to meet their owners.

Mike White is on the festival organising team and said there were around 1200 participants and 560 vehicles, with people travelling from as far as Czechoslovakia, Canada, the USA and the UK to take part.

“Not all of them have brought vehicles, but some have, some have shipped their Packard’s and the like out, it’s pretty amazing.”

Mike White with his 1955 series 1 Landrover. Samantha Gee/RNZ

The week-long event was tipped to inject $4.5 million dollars into the region.

Rally directors Jim and Kyra Wareing spent hundreds of hours compiling runs – so entrants had the chance to tour the region,

Their aim was to ensure festival-goers could see the region’s three national parks – Abel Tasman, Kahurangi and Nelson Lakes, travel on back roads, and visit places of interest like the Higgins Heritage Park, Gardens of the World and the Port Māpua Maritime Museum.

Jim and Kyra Wareing in their 1972 mark II. Samantha Gee/RNZ

“We’ve encouraged them to go to Marahau and get out of the car, walk across the boardwalk, and touch the [Abel Tasman] national park and same at St Arnaud, they were right at the [Nelson Lakes], so we encouraged them to go for a walk in the bush,” Jim Wareing said.

He said there were several runs each day, short ones to cater for small veteran cars which were over 100 years old, and longer runs to cater for newer models.

Nelson man Jared Dacombe is one of the younger festival attendees, at the age of 28. He owns several vintage cars and said his 1989 Nissan Skyline GTR was also among the newer vehicles.

Jared Dacombe with his 1989 Skyline GTR. Samantha Gee/RNZ

“Anything 30 years old is club eligible. It’s kind of a bit controversial but it has its own in history as well and that’s that’s what this thing is about – cars in history.

Dacombe, who owns an automotive business, said his love of motoring came from his great grandfather.

“We we did a lot of touring together both in vintage and classic cars, but the first one was a big international rally down in Invercargill.

“It was just awesome, as a kid, six years old, cruising on the back of a 34 Dodge, it was great touring from Nelson down the coast route and staying in different accommodation, it was just a big buzz.”

Nelson man Stephen Caunter has a 1937 International D2 truck, a 20-year restoration project that he said cost a bit to run, given the increasing cost of fuel.

Nelson man Stephen Caunter with his 1937 International D2 truck. Samantha Gee/RNZ

“There will be people that will go, is this an appropriate thing for the use of fuel at the moment? And, you know, this has been in the organisation stage for years, and did we know what the price of fuel was going to do the month before the event starts?”

He said some vehicles were more fuel efficient than others and a survey of fuel usage among those attending the rally was being done, in order to understand the total consumption.

Caunter said his truck had been in Nelson for years, it was used as a tow track during speedway racing and still had Tahuna Beach Auto Services painted on the side.

“Everyone takes an immense amount of pride in whatever sort of vehicle that they’ve got and I think their ability to share it with the public is one of the joys of vintage motoring.”

Festival director Ray Robertson said the event was several years in the planning and there had been a few recent curveballs – the fuel crisis, ferry cancellations and several car breakdowns.

Festival director Ray Robertson. Samantha Gee/RNZ

“We’ve really had a lot of influence over what happens in the Middle East, you can’t do anything about it.

“Could we have postponed it? Sure, we could have, but why would we?”

The festival finishes tomorrow with a public vehicle show at the Richmond A&P Showgrounds.

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/21/vintage-cars-celebrated-in-nelson-festival/

Posted on

One injured after boat explosion at Tauranga marina

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police said they were called to the scene at the marina about 1.35pm. RNZ / Nate McKinnon

Emergency services are responding to a boat explosion in Tauranga.

Police said they were called to the scene at the marina about 1.35pm.

One person suffered moderate injuries, police said.

Fire and Emergency said it heard from “another emergency service” that there was a fire on a boat, but there was only “a little bit of smoke”.

St John confirmed it had sent two ambulances and a manager.

“Our crews assessed and treated one patient who was transported in a moderate condition to Tauranga hospital.”

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/21/one-injured-after-boat-explosion-at-tauranga-marina/

Posted on

Fitch outlook reaffirms case for fiscal discipline

Source: New Zealand Government

Global economic volatility makes the Government’s programme of fiscal consolidation more important than ever, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.

“Fitch Rating’s decision to place New Zealand’s AA+ long-term credit rating on negative outlook is a reminder of why fiscal discipline is so important. 

“Over the past two years, this Government has pursued a balanced fiscal strategy – lifting investment in frontline services like health, education, and law and order, while charting a credible path back to surplus. That has required hard decisions: $43 billion of savings across the last two Budgets, with further savings planned in Budget 2026.

“The Government remains committed to achieving its three fiscal goals – reducing spending as a proportion of GDP, returning the headline operating balance measure to surplus and bending the debt curve down. 

“Treasury’s preliminary economic forecasts — prepared before the latest volatility in the Middle East — showed New Zealand’s economic recovery gaining momentum, with growth of around 3 per cent by early 2027 and a corresponding improvement in revenue that would support a more positive fiscal outlook

“Those forecasts will now need to be revised. Energy market disruption adds real uncertainty, and that is precisely why careless spending is off the table.

“My focus remains on a balanced approach: investing in frontline services like health, education and law and order and keeping debt at prudent levels.

“Increasing borrowing, spending and debt, as some political parties have proposed, would damage New Zealand’s reputation for responsible fiscal management and lead to increased borrowing costs for all Kiwis.”

 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/21/fitch-outlook-reaffirms-case-for-fiscal-discipline/

Posted on

PSA – What is the Govt. hiding? MPI blocks key info on meat inspection privatisation

Source: PSA

MPI officials make flying visit to USA to reassure key export market
The PSA is calling on the Ministry for Primary Industries to lift the veil of secrecy on its controversial plans to privatise meat inspection services.
MPI has refused to release to the PSA under the Official Information Act the detailed analysis it carried out to justify its plan to allow meat companies to inspect their own export meat. This is currently an independent and effective service provided by government agency AsureQuality that has safeguarded the quality of our $12b/year meat export industry.
“The Ministry for Primary Industries took three months to respond to the OIA and then only because the Ombudsman intervened and still withheld the key analysis underpinning its controversial plan to privatise meat inspection,” said Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons.
The PSA is the union for meat inspectors employed by AsureQuality. Hundreds of meat inspectors could face the axe under this plan, with many forced to transfer to the private sector with lower wages and poorer conditions.
“This is appalling behaviour by a public sector agency which has an obligation to be transparent and explain its policies – what has it got to hide? The case for change has not been made.
“Hundreds of meat workers need to know why their futures are being upended, and the public has a right to know why the Government is playing fast and loose with our hard-won reputation for quality and safe export meat.”
The PSA requested all advice MPI has prepared on the proposal. The response only landed after the consultation closed preventing the PSA from making a fully informed view of the plan.
Only one internal memo was released, and a key document, the analysis of the proposal, Ante and postmortem project analysis was withheld in full because it ‘would prejudice the security or defence of New Zealand or the international relations of the Government of New Zealand’. Another five were withheld, four of these including even their titles, under the same grounds.
“This is extreme – surely sensitive issues around international relations could have been redacted. But this is par for the course from MPI which has consistently withheld information or limited the scope of requests from the PSA over the past year. Workers and the New Zealand public deserve better.
“We asked for this information because what MPI provided to the public as part of its consultation process was completely inadequate and provided no information about why they believe the proposal is an improvement on the status quo or what evidence that belief is based on. Throughout this entire process we’ve continued to ask for information about the analysis and advice underpinning their decisions and been provided with very little.”
This obfuscation comes as MPI officials make a flying visit to meet counterparts at the United States Department of Agriculture to convince them there are no risks to food safety. This is happening just weeks before final decisions on the plan are due to be made.
“Why the late dash to America? Surely any issues the Americans may raise should have been sorted well before the proposal was even hatched and consulted on. It just smacks of poor planning, but how do we know when MPI has shrouded this in secrecy?
“MPI must do better when the livelihoods of hundreds of AsureQuality meat inspectors and our meat export industry are at stake.
“The PSA calls on Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard to tell MPI to release all relevant information now, before final decisions are made in April.”
ENDS
Attached: Response letter from MPI re OIA document request
Previous statements
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/21/psa-what-is-the-govt-hiding-mpi-blocks-key-info-on-meat-inspection-privatisation/

Posted on

‘Huge explosion’: Firefighters respond to house fire in Christchurch’s Aranui

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ/Marika Khabazi

Two people have been seriously injured in a house fire in Christchurch.

Firefighters were called to a fire in the Christchurch suburb of Aranui on Friday evening.

Fire and Emergency said the house on Bournemouth Crescent was well ablaze when crews arrived.

It said the fire had since been extinguished and all people were accounted for.

Nearby residents posted on social media that they had heard a “huge explosion” and others reported their house shaking as a result.

Bournemouth Street resident, Scott, said he was listening to loud music at home when he felt that his house shook.

He went outside to have a look at what happened, only to discover that a nearby house was on fire.

“There was actually a guy screaming, because he was actually on fire, and he ran out of the house from what I saw, and someone aimed him with a fire extinguisher,

“And you could see the flames from one of the down stair windows as I was walking towards it, starting to leap around inside the house, and from there the fire pretty much took off and crept out a window.

“Thankfully by then there was about half the street out, going what the hell is going on, and they were calling fire brigade and the cops.”

Scott said the house on fire was one of two, two-storey units that are linked.

He said he heard there was a family living in the linked unit, who managed to get out safely.

St John ambulance said two patients in a serious condition were transported to Christchurch Hospital.

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/20/huge-explosion-firefighters-respond-to-house-fire-in-christchurchs-aranui/

Posted on

‘Huge explosion’: Firefighers respond to house fire in Christchurch’s Aranui

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ/Marika Khabazi

Two people have been seriously injured in a house fire in Christchurch.

Firefighters were called to a fire in the Christchurch suburb of Aranui on Friday evening.

Fire and Emergency said the house on Bournemouth Crescent was well ablaze when crews arrived.

It said the fire had since been extinguished and all people were accounted for.

Nearby residents posted on social media that they had heard a “huge explosion” and others reported their house shaking as a result.

St John ambulance said two patients in a serious condition were transported to Christchurch Hospital.

More to come…

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/20/huge-explosion-firefighers-respond-to-house-fire-in-christchurchs-aranui/

Posted on

Phuket Strengthens Position as a Secure International Residential Destination for Global Families

Source: Media Outreach

Growing international demand, strengthened long-haul connectivity, and the continued evolution ofLaguna Phuket are reinforcing Thailand’s largest island as a stable, private, and internationally accessible place to live and invest.

PHUKET, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 March 2026 – Phuket’s evolution from a world-renowned holiday island into a mature international residential community is entering a new phase, supported by expanding long-haul connectivity and sustained global confidence in Thailand as a safe and welcoming destination.

The island has recorded consistent growth in long-term residents and international property buyers, reflecting a broader shift among globally mobile families seeking stability, quality of life and secure residency pathways. Phuket offers privacy, natural beauty and international-standard infrastructure within a country known for hospitality and political stability.

Thailand welcomed more than 35 million international visitors in 2025. Long-haul arrivals exceeded 11 million, rising 13% year-on-year and generating approximately 668 billion baht in tourism revenue. Despite short-term geopolitical fluctuations, long-term demand for Thailand as a stable and accessible destination has remained resilient.

Connectivity continues to strengthen with new direct long-haul services from Europe, including Paris, London and Scandinavia. Improved access is driving interest in extended stays, family relocation and residential investment, as visitors increasingly explore long-term living options.

Phuket offers international-standard healthcare, leading international schools, yacht marinas, championship golf courses and well-developed infrastructure. High-speed connectivity and direct air links to more than 80 cities ensure seamless access to global business and travel networks while maintaining privacy and lifestyle comfort.

Industry research ranks Phuket among the world’s leading destinations for branded residences, alongside Dubai, Miami and New York. Foreign buyers account for more than 60% of condominium purchases, underscoring sustained international confidence.

Thailand’s structured long-term visa framework provides renewable residency pathways for retirees, investors, entrepreneurs and remote professionals. For buyers of select premium residences, Banyan Group facilitates Thailand Elite long-term residency visas, offering multi-year entry privileges.

At the centre of this evolution is Laguna Phuket, developed by Banyan Group. Over 35 years it has grown into one of Asia’s most established integrated resort and residential communities. Spanning more than 1,000 acres along Bang Tao Beach, Laguna Phuket includes six hotels, an award-winning golf course, wellness facilities, RAVA beach club and more than 3,000 branded residences linked by scenic lagoons. Residents from over 70 nationalities call it home.

The next phase includes approximately 5,000 additional residences across Laguna Phuket and neighbouring Laguna Lakelands, reflecting sustained confidence in Phuket’s long-term residential future.

Banyan Group Residences, ranked fifth worldwide and number one in Asia in branded residences, plans to launch approximately US$1 billion in new residential projects in Phuket, reinforcing its commitment to the island’s continued development.

Phuket today represents more than a luxury retreat. It has matured into a secure, internationally integrated residential market offering stability, privacy and long-term clarity for globally minded families.

Hashtag: #BanyanGroup

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/21/phuket-strengthens-position-as-a-secure-international-residential-destination-for-global-families/

Posted on

Phuket Sees Increasing Number of Americans Looking to Buy Property for Lifestyle and Investment

Source: Media Outreach

Growing international demand, strengthened long-haul connectivity, and the continued evolution ofLaguna Phuket are reinforcing Thailand’s largest island as a secure, globally connected and structurally mature place to live and invest.

PHUKET, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 March 2026 – Phuket’s transformation from a leisure destination into an established international residential market continues to gain momentum, supported by expanding air connectivity and rising interest from globally mobile investors and families.

The island has seen steady growth in long-term residents and international property buyers, reflecting a broader shift toward geographic diversification and lifestyle-driven asset allocation. Increasingly, Americans are exploring markets that combine quality of life with infrastructure reliability and clear long-term residency pathways.

Compared with many major U.S. coastal cities, Phuket offers significantly lower living costs while maintaining international-standard healthcare, hospitality infrastructure and strong global connectivity.

Thailand welcomed more than 35 million international visitors in 2025, including approximately 1.2 million from the United States. Long-haul arrivals exceeded 11 million, up 13% year-on-year and generating approximately 668 billion baht in tourism revenue, underscoring continued international confidence.

Thailand is accessible from the U.S. via major hubs including Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok, with travel times comparable to many trans-Pacific routes. Expanding airline networks are further improving access through key Asian gateways.

Improved connectivity is driving interest in extended stays, remote work flexibility and international property ownership, with more visitors exploring long-term residency alongside leisure travel.

Phuket offers international-standard healthcare, leading international schools, yacht marinas, championship golf courses, premium retail and dining, and reliable high-speed connectivity. The island combines resort-style living with the infrastructure required for full-time residence.

Industry research ranks Phuket among the world’s leading destinations for branded residences, alongside Dubai, Miami and New York. Foreign buyers account for more than 60% of prime condominium purchases, reflecting broad global participation. Direct air links to more than 80 cities reinforce integration into global travel networks.

Thailand’s long-term visa framework provides renewable pathways for retirees, investors, entrepreneurs and remote professionals. For buyers of select premium residences, Banyan Group facilitates Thailand Elite long-term residency visas, aligning property ownership with multi-year entry privileges.

At the centre of this evolution is Laguna Phuket, developed by Banyan Group. Over 35 years it has grown into one of Asia’s most established integrated resort and residential communities. Spanning more than 1,000 acres along Bang Tao Beach, it includes six hotels, an award-winning golf course, wellness facilities, RAVA beach club and more than 3,000 branded residences. Approximately 5,000 additional residences are planned across Laguna Phuket and neighbouring Laguna Lakelands.

Banyan Group Residences, ranked fifth worldwide and number one in Asia in branded residences, plans to launch approximately US$1 billion in new residential projects in Phuket.

Phuket today represents more than a resort destination. It has matured into a stable, internationally integrated residential market offering infrastructure reliability and long-term growth potential for American families and investors seeking global diversification.

Hashtag: #BanyanGroup

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/21/phuket-sees-increasing-number-of-americans-looking-to-buy-property-for-lifestyle-and-investment/

Posted on

China’s 2026 Government Work Report Indicates a New Cycle of Quality Enhancement for Commercial Real Estate Stock

Source: Media Outreach

Cushman & Wakefield Interpretation Report Highlights Eight Impact Areas for Real Estate Market

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 March 2026 – Global real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield has released its China’s Two Sessions 2026: Interpreting the Government Work Report publication. Against a backdrop of increasingly complex domestic and international conditions, the 2026 government work report outlines more flexible and adaptive targets for national economic development. These policy directions will have a profound influence on the real estate sector. The market’s transition from focusing on incremental expansion to revitalizing and optimizing existing assets — combined with the accelerating integration of artificial intelligence across industries —will reshape market structures, redefine asset values, and reconfigure spatial development patterns in far-reaching ways.

Macroeconomic Stability Strengthens the Foundation for Commercial Real Estate Stabilization

China’s core economic targets for 2026 are clearly defined, with GDP growth set between 4.5%–5%, balancing the dual objectives of stabilizing growth and adjusting structure. This forms a strong macro foundation for the stabilization and gradual recovery of the commercial real estate sector. Between 2024 and 2025, GDP growth remained steady at around 5.0%. For 2026, the fiscal deficit ratio is maintained at a relatively high 4.0%, with RMB4.4 trillion in local special‑purpose bonds. The quota for ultra‑long‑term special treasury bonds is further expanded to RMB1.3 trillion. Coordinated fiscal and monetary policies will continue to support leasing demand recovery and improved business sentiment in the commercial property market.

Accelerated Industry Transformation Sees Quality Enhancement of Existing Assets Become the Core Theme

The report emphasizes a three‑pronged approach of “city‑specific policies to control new supply, reduce inventory, and improve quality”, while encouraging diverse channels to revitalize existing housing stock and advancing the construction of “good homes.” This marks an accelerated shift from incremental expansion to quality enhancement of existing assets. In 2024, China’s real estate value‑added as a proportion of GDP was just 6.3%, far below the 12.56% average of developed economies. This reflects a structural imbalance characterized by heavy investment in development and insufficient focus on services and leasing. The ongoing transition will make asset management, property services, and leasing operations increasingly central to asset valuation.

Consumption‑Driven Momentum Creates a New Growth Window for Retail Properties

Consumption‑boosting policies are injecting new vitality into the retail property market. The government work report allocates RMB250 billion of ultra‑long‑term special treasury bonds to support product upgrades and replacement, complemented by RMB100 billion in coordinated fiscal‑financial funds — creating a RMB350 billion consumption stimulus package. In 2025, China’s total retail sales of consumer goods exceeded RMB50 trillion, with per‑capita GDP reaching USD13,953, signaling a critical inflection point where service‑oriented consumption accelerates. With services currently accounting for just 46.1% of consumption, there remains significant room for growth. Policies promoting “high‑quality service consumption” and “new consumption scenarios,” combined with the promotion of staggered school holidays in spring and autumn, will create opportunities for high‑quality shopping centers focused on experiential and social retail formats.

AI‑Powered Intelligent Economy Drives an Upgrade in Office Market Demand

The rapid evolution of the intelligent economy is reshaping office market demand. The work report calls for expansion of “AI+,” wider deployment of intelligent agents, and accelerated development of large‑scale computing clusters, indicating the transition of AI into commercialized and scaled applications. In 2025, China’s core digital economy industries accounted for more than 10.5% of GDP, with the target set at 12.5% during the 15th Five‑Year Plan. AI‑related companies are expected to become key new leasing drivers in 2026. This will also stimulate a fresh investment cycle for data centers and industrial parks, with core computing hub cities — in the Beijing‑Tianjin‑Hebei region, Yangtze River Delta, and the Guangdong‑Hong Kong‑Macao Greater Bay Area — set to benefit first.

Capital Market Reforms Expand, Enabling a Full “Investment–Financing–Management–Exit” Cycle for Commercial Real Estate

Capital market reforms continue to support expansion in commercial real estate investment. The work report calls for deepened reform of comprehensive investment and financing mechanisms, expanded exit channels for private equity and venture capital, and accelerated growth of the public REITs market. By 2025, China’s public REITs issuance exceeded RMB210 billion, making it the largest REITs market in Asia. In 2026, commercial public REITs enter their first year of development, with pilots extended to hotels and commercial offices. This establishes a “dual‑engine” landscape of “infrastructure + commercial real estate” and enables a more complete investment‑financing‑management‑exit cycle

Further Opening‑Up Boosts Cross‑Border Logistics and Foreign Investment Demand

China’s opening‑up objectives in 2026 feature two core characteristics: expanding services sector openness to attract foreign investment, and promoting standardized, high‑quality development of cross‑border e‑commerce. In 2025, China’s cross‑border e‑commerce imports and exports totaled RMB2.75 trillion, with growth outpacing overall trade for the fourth consecutive year. The sector’s demand for high‑specification warehouses — characterized by high density and rapid turnover —continues to rise. Cushman & Wakefield data shows that the warehouse market is experiencing volume growth alongside price adjustment, with notable regional differences. As cross‑border e‑commerce becomes more regulated, and cold‑chain logistics demand continues to expand, green‑certified, intelligent high‑spec warehouses are expected to gain a competitive advantage.

Advancement of New Urbanization Brings Opportunities for Urban Clusters and Urban Renewal

A notable highlight among 2026 urbanization policies is the first‑ever proposal to build “innovation‑driven industrial communities and business communities.” This concept breaks the traditional boundary between industrial parks and business districts, fostering integrated complexes that combine office, commercial, and residential functions. The report also supports the development of world‑class city clusters in the Beijing‑Tianjin‑Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Greater Bay Area, while enhancing the dual‑city Chengdu‑Chongqing Economic Circle and accelerating growth in the middle‑Yangtze city cluster — further intensifying regional differentiation in the commercial property market. Urban renewal and revitalization of existing stock assets are core pillars of the current urbanization strategy. Policies promoting the reuse of existing land and idle buildings align closely with efforts to revitalize existing housing stock. For owners and operators of prime urban assets, regeneration projects offer strategic opportunities for repositioning and value enhancement.

Green Transformation Prompts Sustainability Certifications to Become a Key Competitive Advantage

The work report dedicates a standalone section to the green transition, announcing dual controls on total carbon emissions and intensity, as well as new policy tools such as zero‑carbon parks and a national low‑carbon transition fund. In 2025, China’s national carbon market saw 235 million tons of allowances traded, with transaction value reaching RMB14.63 billion, up approximately 24% year‑on‑year. Carbon costs have become an increasingly important factor in corporate leasing and location decisions. With 97.9% of newly built urban buildings in 2024 meeting green standards, green retrofits of existing buildings are gaining momentum. Commercial properties certified under LEED, WELL, and China’s Green Building Label standard enjoy notable advantages in rental premiums and tenant attraction.

Sabrina Wei, Chief Policy Analyst and Head of Research, North China, Cushman & Wakefield, said, “The 2026 government work report outlines a clear development vision for commercial real estate characterized by macroeconomic stability, targeted policies, and structural transformation. A GDP growth rate of 4.5%-5% will provide market stability, a RMB350 billion consumption stimulus will activate demand for retail properties, “AI+” will reshape the office market; capital market reforms and public REITs will enable a full “Investment–Financing–Management–Exit” cycle, urban renewal will unlock values of existing assets, and green certification will define new competitiveness for the industry. As the real estate industry transitions from a construction‑focused model to one centered on operations and services, institutions with strong capabilities in asset management and high‑quality operational service delivery will be best positioned to capture the emerging opportunities of this transformative new cycle.”

To access the full report please click here.

Hashtag: #CushmanWakefield

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/20/chinas-2026-government-work-report-indicates-a-new-cycle-of-quality-enhancement-for-commercial-real-estate-stock/

Posted on

CGTN: Tackling the TB epidemic: From local innovation to global cooperation

Source: Media Outreach

BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 March 2026 – China’s multifaceted strategy to end the tuberculosis epidemic—ranging from high-tech local innovations to global humanitarian missions—is providing a new blueprint for international public health. CGTN published an article analyzing how this integrated prevention model, highlighted by Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping and also the WHO goodwill ambassador for tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS, leverages AI-driven screening in provinces like Jiangsu and the expertise of Chinese medical teams abroad to transform the vision of a TB-free world into a tangible reality.

In a written statement to a virtual event commemorating the World Health Organization (WHO) World Tuberculosis Day 2026 on Wednesday, Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping and also the WHO goodwill ambassador for tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS, called for international support and participation in global TB prevention and treatment.

Peng said that the event’s theme, “Led by countries, powered by people,” is of great significance for facilitating joint international action against TB as a public health challenge.

Peng noted that with a firm commitment to protecting people’s health and the goal of ending the TB epidemic, the WHO has done a great deal of effective work and reversed the recent upward trend in global cases. She highlighted that China’s progress is rooted in a multi-sectoral approach, leveraging technological innovation and a comprehensive healthcare network serving over 1.4 billion people.

This year also marks the 15th year of China’s large-scale volunteer campaign for TB prevention and control, involving over 1 million volunteers who have carried out over 80,000 programs.

“I have been joining many of them on visits to local neighborhoods, schools and healthcare facilities,” Peng said, adding that she is a “proud witness” to their compassion and the progress made in China’s fight against TB. She called on people from all walks of life to share warmth and care to “build a community of health for all.”

A proven model for incidence decline

China’s progress is exemplified by the practical efforts in Jiangsu Province, where the reported TB incidence rate fell to 21.17 per 100,000 in 2025. A key factor in this progress is a smart screening system that brings advanced technology to the grassroots level.

“In the past, we had to review every single record manually. Now, AI-assisted screening has drastically improved our diagnostic efficiency,” Wang Yangzhu, deputy chief physician of radiology at a community health center in Nanjing’s Jiangning District, told China Media Group (CMG).

Beyond AI-assisted diagnostics, which now cover over 100 medical institutions in the province, Jiangsu has pioneered a new short-course treatment that slashes the recovery period for drug-resistant TB from 18 months to just six. Complementing this technology is a robust policy safety net: the government provides free drug-resistance screening for all suspected cases and free second-line medications for those in need, ensuring patients can afford the care they require.

This localized practice is a reflection of a broader national achievement. Since 2012, both the incidence and mortality rates of TB in China have dropped by approximately 30%, a decline rate nearly double the global average, according to the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration. With a treatment rate consistently above 90%, China has transitioned into the ranks of countries with moderate-to-low TB prevalence while continuing to refine its integrated prevention and control system.

Global responsibility and humanitarian action

China’s expertise is also being shared through its commitment to international medical aid. Recently, the 23rd Chinese medical team in Zimbabwe successfully treated a 22-year-old patient suffering from TB with pleural effusion. By combining standard protocols with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to alleviate side effects and boost immunity, the team provided a practical model for TB control in resource-limited settings.

This assistance is part of a long-standing commitment to international humanitarian aid. In 2025, the Chinese government dispatched 1,061 medical personnel to 57 countries, serving over 2.06 million patients, according to China’s National Health Commission.

Since 1963, China has sent a total of 31,000 medical team members to 77 countries and regions, treating an estimated 300 million people. These teams have also helped strengthen local medical capacity, including performing first-of-their-kind laparoscopic procedures in countries such as Equatorial Guinea and Djibouti, enabling access to modern minimally invasive surgical techniques.

Extending their reach beyond hospital walls, Chinese medical teams frequently travel to remote, resource-scarce regions to provide essential care. In Simandou, the team provided health check-ups, hygiene training and medical lectures to thousands of Chinese and Guinean employees. They also visited a local orphanage, performing physical exams for over 70 children and donating essential school supplies.

“We go deep into remote areas, bringing much-needed health knowledge and infectious disease prevention methods to help establish a long-term barrier against illness,” Wang Bin, captain of the 31st Chinese medical team to Guinea, told CMG.

By integrating innovative technology with grassroots volunteerism and international aid, China continues to work alongside the global community to transform the goal of a TB-free world into a tangible reality.

For more information, please click here:
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-03-19/Tackling-the-TB-epidemic-From-local-innovation-to-global-cooperation-1LDNzGeLwdO/p.html

Hashtag: #CGTN

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/20/cgtn-tackling-the-tb-epidemic-from-local-innovation-to-global-cooperation/

Posted on

Police appeal for witnesses after Hastings pub brawl leaves several injured

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police want to identify the man in the fawn cap – the photo on the right shows him without the hat. Police/Supplied

Police are looking for the public’s help to identify people involved in a pub brawl in Hastings.

Detective Sergeant Heath Jones, Hastings Criminal Investigation Branch, said a fight involving both men and women took place inside the Common Room bar between 1.30 and 2am on Sunday 8 March.

Several people were injured, some seriously, with one requiring hospital treatment.

“Police are disappointed at the aggressive and careless behaviour on display at the Common Room that night and will be holding any offenders to account,” Jones said.

“We are asking the public for information to help identify the offenders and anyone else who was there at the time who may have suffered injuries or witnessed the fight.”

Police have released images of one of the people they wish to identify, a man wearing a fawn ‘Gucci’ baseball cap with a white shirt.

Information can be reported to Police by calling 105 or online using the file number 260308/6292, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/20/police-appeal-for-witnesses-after-hastings-pub-brawl-leaves-several-injured/

Posted on

Chuangxin Industries Posts a 33% Profit Jump as “Cost Leadership”

Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 March 2026 – Chuangxin Industries Holdings Limited (Chuangxin Industries, 02788.HK), a dominant leader in China’s fully integrated aluminum value chain, announced a stellar financial performance for the fiscal year 2025 this week. Despite a complex global macroeconomic environment, the company reported revenue of RMB 18.68 billion, representing a robust 23.2% year-on-year increase. Profit attributable to owners of the company surged by an impressive 32.8% to RMB 2.731 billion. Basic earnings per share rose to RMB 1.75 from RMB 1.37 in 2024. In a move that underscores its strong balance sheet and commitment to shareholder returns, the Board has proposed a final dividend of HK$ 0.77 per share.

The global aluminum landscape in 2025 was defined by extreme volatility in London Metal Exchange (LME) prices and escalating energy costs across traditional smelting hubs. Chuangxin Industries showcased notable resilience, underpinned by its fully integrated electrolytic aluminum industrial chain. The company’s revenue was anchored by its core electrolytic aluminum business, which contributed RMB13.62 billion (72.92% of total), while alumina and related products added RMB4.42 billion.

Central to Chuangxin Industries’ outperformance is its 100% self-sufficiency in alumina and power, the twin pillars of its strategic “cost moat.” This vertically integrated footprint is anchored by a 788.1 kt/a electrolytic aluminum smelter and a dedicated captive power plant in Huolinguole, Inner Mongolia, complemented by a 1.2 million t/a alumina refinery in Binzhou, Shandong, which is strategically positioned near import ports. This tightly coordinated infrastructure allows the Group to exert precision control over core input costs. Consequently, the Group ranks as a top-tier cost leader in China, possessing a structural advantage that serves as both a defensive shield during commodity downcycles and a powerful lever for earnings elasticity during market recoveries.

The Chuangxin Industries’ March 9 entry into the Hong Kong Stock Connect opens the door to mainland investors. Expected Southbound liquidity should enhance market depth and catalyze a valuation recovery. Analysts view its structural cost moat and green manufacturing leadership as a compelling, cash-flow-resilient proposition for long-term investors navigating today’s high-interest-rate environment.

Looking ahead, Chuangxin Industries is focusing on green growth and global expansion.

Domestically, Chuangxin Industries is rapidly building 1,750 MW of wind and solar capacity in Inner Mongolia, aiming to source over 50% of its power from renewable sources by the end of 2026, reducing both carbon emissions and long-term energy costs.

Internationally, Chuangxin Industries’ planned 500 kt/a aluminum smelting facility in Saudi Arabia will leverage Saudi Arabia’s competitive energy costs and port logistics to serve regional demand and diversify its production base beyond China. By establishing a footprint abroad, Chuangxin Industries is hedging against geopolitical barriers while enhancing its global edge through competitive energy costs in the Middle East.

Chuangxin Industries is cementing its status as a world-class green aluminum leader. Its synergy of integrated efficiency and global expansion offers investors a resilient, sustainable play at the heart of the sector’s high-growth future.

Hashtag: #ChuangxinIndustries

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/20/chuangxin-industries-posts-a-33-profit-jump-as-cost-leadership/

Posted on

Country Life: Inside Kapiro Farm’s quest to find the sheep of the future

Source: Radio New Zealand

The seven-year long Sheep of the Future project started off with a flock of Romneys and the fifth generation in the programme is ready for mating. Jess Burges Photography

Climate change, increasing costs, fussier consumers and changing rules have researchers and breeders working hard to develop a sheep that will not only be economic to farm but good for the planet.

Kapiro Farm in Northland is five years into a seven-year project to breed the sheep of the future.

The Sheep of the Future programme is a $10.5 million collaboration between the Ministry for Primary Industries, Pāmu and its subsidiary Focus Genetics.

How well the sheep grow on the feed they’re given in Northland’s warm and sticky climate, which other regions will likely increasingly experience, is being measured.

Sheep on the Sheep of the Future programme standing in yards, their bodies displaying shedding wool traits. Jess Burges Photography

The animals that do best are the ones to breed from, and there are other traits to balance too, including the animal’s resilience to disease like facial eczema and the amount of methane it emits.

Reducing costs for the farmer within a struggling wool industry has been a big consideration for the breeders.

“With the way the world’s heading with global warming and whatnot, [we’re also aiming for] an animal that is easy care, that has an element of shedding about it,” Kapiro Farm manager Ian Leaf told Country Life.

“An easy care sheep of the future that can handle what the future has in store for us.”

With wool prices strengthening of late Leaf said there was not as hard a focus on 100 percent shedding ability, ” more like 30 percent.”

Follow Country Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart or wherever you get your podcasts.

The fifth generation of ewes culled from the original 2000-strong flock of Romney sheep are being mated now.

Over the programme, at least 12 different breeds have been mated with the Romneys, including Dorper sires, Damaras, Exlanas and Wiltshires. They “basically chucked every shedding or no wool sire into the paddock,” Leaf said.

The Romney-based flock has had sires from at least 12 different breeds of ram including the Dorper, Damara and Wiltshire. Kara Tait Photography

The Damara from Namibia, known for its hardiness in arid climates and maternal instincts, was the first breed to be culled out, as much for its looks as anything, Leaf said, pointing out the final sheep must be acceptable to the market.

“They resemble a lot a goat. They have a lot of goat traits. They grow horns. They’re a bit bit more slender of a build. They hold their fat stores in their tail.”

“Moving forward, there’s always a visual aspect that you look to adhere to. A lot of people are going to have their own impressions and judgements visually before looking at data. So just cleaning that up and getting a nice uniformed animal that everyone’s used to seeing.”

The main breeds coming through now include the Wiltshire “definitely for the shedding ability,” UltraWhites and Exlanas, low maintenance sheep developed in Australia and the UK respectively.

“We’ve had our struggles with the Wiltshire with their feet. They don’t tend to have very good feet, so just making sure we’re mixing them in the right volumes of Wiltshire.”

They also want to end up with an animal that “gives you a decent lamb at weaning.”

“There’s a little bit of Texel in there … for the meat and carcass production.”

Ian Leaf, Kapiro Farm manager. RNZ/Sally Round

The ram lambs are methane-tested every year.

“That all has a huge impact on the selection process.”

So will there be a perfect sheep of the future at the end of the programme in two years’ time?

Lesf said they were starting to see a “nice, uniformed animal now … that is growing, well, growing at competitive rates to where we were as a Romney-based flock.”

He was interested to find out what the animals could do further south ” in the land of milk and honey”, saying there’s always room for improvement.

“What [the programme] is bringing is insurance on the data. The data is there. We now know exactly how much these guys emit in methane. We know exactly how much feed they take to convert into a kilo of carcass.

“What this Sheep of the Future has done is it’s given you actual facts, ‘what is’ not ‘what ifs’.”

Learn more:

  • Learn more about the Sheep of the Future project here

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/20/country-life-inside-kapiro-farms-quest-to-find-the-sheep-of-the-future/

Posted on

Tairāwhiti graduates celebrate milestone at EIT ceremony

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology

21 seconds ago

Fifty-seven graduates crossed the stage at the War Memorial Theatre in Gisborne today, in the first EIT Tairāwhiti graduation since the polytechnic re-established itself as a standalone institution.

The ceremony brought together graduates, whānau and community leaders from across the region to celebrate academic achievement and the journeys behind each qualification.

EIT Tairāwhiti graduates, led by CEO Lucy Laitinen, paraded through Gisborne.

In total, 443 qualifications were achieved in 2025 by students who studied at EIT’s Tairāwhiti-based locations. Of those, 73 were bachelor’s degrees or diplomas, while a further 370 certificates were awarded at other ceremonies throughout the year.

The average age of graduates was 30, with students ranging in age from 16 to 76.

A total of 993 students enrolled at EIT Tairāwhiti in 2025. While not all were expected to complete their studies within the year, the completion rate for those due to finish was 86 per cent – ahead of the overall EIT completion rate of 84 per cent across Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti.

Of those enrolled at EIT Tairāwhiti in 2025, 69 per cent identified as Māori and 7 per cent as Pasifika.

EIT Chief Executive Lucy Laitinen delivered opening remarks at her first Tairāwhiti graduation since taking the role, while EIT Chair David Pearson offered closing comments.

Lucy said the occasion was a moment of pride for both the institute and the wider community.

EIT Tairāwhiti graduates celebrated their success.

“We are incredibly proud of our graduates and all they have achieved. Education is transformative. It opens doors for individuals, strengthens whānau, and builds capability and confidence across our communities.

“Having regained our independence, EIT is more determined than ever to serve Tairāwhiti and the wider region, ensuring our graduates leave with the skills, knowledge and resilience to make a real difference, both locally and beyond.”

Tairāwhiti Campus Executive Director Tracey Tangihaere said the ceremony was a special occasion for the region.

“It is always a wonderful occasion to recognise and celebrate the success of so many graduates and honour the many people who have supported their academic journey,” she said.

“This year carries added significance as we re-establish EIT as an independent institution for our region.”

She also acknowledged the passing of long-serving kaumātua Ngāti Porou leader Taina Ngārimu, and welcomed Dr Wayne Ngata, who officiated the ceremony.

“We acknowledge the legacy and contribution of Taina Ngārimu, and we are honoured to have Dr Wayne Ngata step into this role, continuing that guidance and leadership.”

Guest speaker Jordan Lima (Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti, Ngāpuhi) addressed graduates, alongside valedictorian Ami Hokianga (Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Porou, Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi). Gisborne Deputy Mayor Aubrey Ria was also in attendance.

Tracey said the day was also a time to reflect on the values carried forward by graduates.

“I love the sentiments of ‘keep your face to the sunshine, be the change you wish to see, live life to the fullest, and spread positivity in the world’.”

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/20/tairawhiti-graduates-celebrate-milestone-at-eit-ceremony/

Posted on

University students facing the ‘toughest time’ in years as costs increase

Source: Radio New Zealand

Victoria University of Wellington Students Association president Aidan Donoghue displays empty boxes at the association’s foodbank. SUPPLIED

Student association leaders warn more students are struggling to make ends meet and rising prices will make the problem worse.

Victoria University’s student association says its food bank shelves are being cleaned out every week, AUT’s association says international students are especially hard hit, and Lincoln University’s association says demand for financial assistance has remained high since the pandemic began in 2020.

Their comments accompanied the launch of a study that found a marked increase in student hardship across several universities in the past five years.

The report by an Otago University student during an internship with the Green Party said there had been sustained growth in the use of foodbanks and hardship grants at several universities since 2019.

It said numbers were highest during the height of the pandemic in 2020, but remained above pre-pandemic levels last year.

The report said international students, single parents and female students were more likely to seek help for food insecurity.

It said the the number of students using a foodbank at AUT jumped from about 100 in 2020 to more than 1800 last year, about three-quarters of them foreign students.

At Victoria University, the student association’s spending on its food bank jumped from about $7000 in 2019 to more than $13,000 last year.

The report said Otago University Students Association provided about 250 food bags in 2019 and nearly 700 last year.

The three associations awarded on average $20,000 each in hardship grants last year, less than at the height of the pandemic but about double the figure in 2019.

The report’s author Anika Texley said the students’ associations collected different data about student hardship, but the overall picture was of growing demand for help.

“They’re struggling to meet their needs and their most basic needs. So things like rent tend to be prioritized over groceries,” she said.

Texley said students were struggling with rising expenses across the board.

“It’s not just groceries, it’s also bills, rising utility, rent is going up, and it’s consistently going up. So it’s an ongoing issue,” she said.

Texley completed her report while working as an intern for Green Party MP Francisco Hernandez.

He said students had been struggling for years and the report showed that the situation had worsened.

“And sadly, things are only going to get worse with the war ongoing in Iran. The cost of everything, gas, energy, groceries, rents, will spike up even further,” he said.

Hernandez said all students should be eligible for an allowance, rather than having to borrow for living costs through the student loan system.

The cupboard is bare

Victoria University of Wellington Students Association president Aidan Donoghue said its foodbank cupboards had been cleared out by hungry students.

“This Monday we had an order to completely fill out that food bank and it’s completely gone already,” he said.

“We’ve seen an increase of us having to order from roughly once every fortnight to once every week to now twice a week.”

Donoghue said the association received about $10,000 a year from the university to stock the foodbank and it would need double that sum to keep up with demand.

He said the fund ran out before the end of the year in 2025 and this year it has cut back on non-food items.

“We’ve had to cut all of our non-food expenditure. We’ve really just had to keep it to the basics of rice, pasta, food in cans,” he said.

“There’s no more toilet paper, there’s no more toothpaste, there’s no more deodorant, because all that costs far too much, and we need to stretch the food bank as far as it will go.”

Donoghue said about 100 students a week were visiting the food bank and many more students were struggling to pay their bills.

“Students are facing the toughest time they’ve had in years when it comes to just meeting the basics of rent, power, public transport,” he said.

He said students could receive up to $320 for living costs from the student loan scheme or as a student allowance if they qualified but needed roughly a further $100-200 to make ends meet.

AUT student association president James Portegys told RNZ students were coming every day for food vouchers or food bank packs and rising prices were making the situation worse.

“Obviously, the prices were already high, and now they’re increasing, so it’s quite a few students are now struggling,” he said.

Portegys said last year some students stopped coming to university because they could not afford the bus fare and the association successfully campaigned for discounted fares for students.

“We heard evidence of students choosing between paying rent, eating, or coming to campus. And what are you going to do? You’re going to choose to pay your rent and eat food,” he said.

Lincoln University students association president Zara Weissenstein told RNZ

“We had a huge increase in all of our financial assistance fund applications during COVID-19, of course and that consistently stayed quite high,” she said.

Weissenstein said the university ran a food bank and the association had noted an increase in students attending events with free food.

“Food is a really big thing because that’s often the first thing that students won’t prioritise because you have to prioritise your general expenses first, so your rent and your utilities that happen every month,” she said.

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/20/university-students-facing-the-toughest-time-in-years-as-costs-increase/

Posted on

Global Talent Summit Week Looks Ahead to the Future Workplace in the AI Era

Source: Media Outreach

Nobel Laureate affirms Hong Kong’s strengths in attracting global high-calibre talent, contributing to the country’s drive to become a high-technology hub

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 March 2026 -The Labour and Welfare Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) are jointly hosting the Global Talent Summit Week (GTS Week) in Hong Kong. The two flagship events — the International Talent Forum and the CareerConnect Expo — were held over the past two days, drawing over 10,000 participants and 170,000 live-stream views. Through a series of keynote sessions, panel discussions and networking opportunities, the events further solidified Hong Kong’s dual advantages as an international talent hub and the country’s gateway for talent.

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, attended the Global Talent Summit Week. Photo shows (front row, from third left) the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun; Nobel Laureate and Regius Professor of Economics of the Department of Economics of London School of Economics, Professor Christopher A Pissarides; Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Mr Yu Jiadong; Mr Lee; the President of Peking University, Professor Gong Qihuang, and other guests at the ceremony.

Among the distinguished speakers at the International Talent Forum was Professor Christopher A Pissarides, 2010 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences. In his keynote address, he said that Hong Kong possesses clear strengths in traditional industries such as finance and commerce, and is home to a world-class education system. With the rapid development of advanced technology across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) — in particular its proximity to Shenzhen as a hub for innovation hardware and industrial artificial intelligence (AI) — Hong Kong is well placed to develop into a regional high-tech hub, further strengthening its appeal to global talent.

“Hong Kong possesses a vibrant service-based economy, a high-quality talent pool and productivity, proactive government policies, and a thriving entrepreneurial culture. These strengths define Hong Kong’s unique role within the GBA and will be key to its continued ability to attract international talent,” he said.

Professor Pissarides emphasised that AI is having a comprehensive impact across all areas of production and work. He stressed that AI should be positioned as a tool to complement human resources — designed to enhance productivity and improve employee well-being, rather than to replace the workforce. He anticipated that proficiency in AI development and application, such as engineers and data analysts, would be at the forefront of the coming wave of global talent competition.

Hong Kong’s Unique Advantages Attracting Global Talent to Thrive with Confidence

Mr John Lee, the Chief Executive of the HKSAR, officiated at the opening ceremony of the GTS Week and delivered the opening address at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre(HKCEC) on the 18th March. He said that Hong Kong is fast rising as an international talent hub, driven by a comprehensive and forward-looking strategy that integrates talent development with economic transformation, technological advancement and regional co-operation. Such efforts have been widely recognised, with Hong Kong rising to fourth globally and first in Asia in the International Institute for Management Development’s World Talent Ranking 2025.

Mr Lee said that Hong Kong will continue to uphold openness, deepen international engagement and align closely with national development strategies. Policies in education, innovation and infrastructure will be further refined to ensure Hong Kong remains a fertile ground for ideas and enterprises, where global talent feels welcomed, valued and supported. He stressed that while economic indicators and technological achievements are important, human development remains the ultimate goal, and Hong Kong will continue to place people at the centre of its vision for the future.

At a critical juncture in the global transformation of innovation, technology and talent development, Hong Kong — positioned as a regional nexus for high-calibre talent — is leveraging the GTS Week to foster international talent collaboration, showcase diverse development opportunities and garner insights from government, business and academic leaders on future talent trends.

Centred on the integrated development of education, technology and talents, the GTS Week includes a series of discussions and exchanges across multiple sessions. Speakers so far have included Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, and Mr Joe Ngai, Chairman of McKinsey & Company Greater China, who discussed the evolving demand for skilled professionals and how innovation is reshaping China’s talent development landscape.

Experts and Leaders Envision the Future Landscape of Education, Technology and Talents

The Forum also held panel discussions on education, technology and talents, bringing together industry leaders including Professor Gong Qihuang, President of Peking University; Dr Lin Dahua, Co-founder and Chief Scientist of SenseTime Group Limited; and Ms Ruchee Anand, Vice President of Talent Solutions of Asia Pacific at LinkedIn. They examined the emerging talent ecosystem and explored how cross-border and cross-sector collaboration could nurture future-ready talent.

During the GTS Week, HKTE welcomed around 100 government representatives responsible for talent development in the Chinese Mainland and the Macao SAR, as well as delegates from leading universities in the Mainland to take part. They shared valuable experiences from various regions in talent attraction, retention, nurturing and recruitment, and explored strategies for talent attraction and development under the National 15th Five-Year Plan.

In recent years, the HKSAR Government has introduced a series of talent admission measures to attract and facilitate talent from around the world to develop their careers in Hong Kong, and settle down in the city.

Another highlight of this year’s GTS Week was the CareerConnect Expo, held concurrently with the Forum at the HKCEC. The Expo brought together around 70 corporations, educational and technology institutions, and government departments across five thematic zones, presenting Hong Kong’s latest talent admission policies and industry information, settlement support services, and career prospects across the GBA.

GTS Week continues until March 29, with nine satellite events covering regional conferences, career fairs and corporate award ceremonies, establishing a comprehensive platform for professional networking and information exchange. These include the signing of a cooperation agreement between HKTE and Junior Chamber International Hong Kong (JCIHK). Leveraging JCIHK’s network of over 150,000 young leaders and members across 114 countries and regions worldwide, HKTE will reach out and invite global talent to explore development opportunities in Hong Kong and the GBA.

Building on the success of its inaugural edition in 2024, this year’s GTS Week has expanded into a series of events, themed around the integrated development of education, technology and talents. The GTS Week follows Hong Kong’s historic ascent to the top position in Asia on the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Talent Ranking 2025, fully demonstrating Hong Kong’s strong appeal to global talent.

To learn more about the highlights of the GTS Week and Professor Pissarides’ insightful views, please visit gts.hkengage.gov.hk/en/video-gallery or follow HKTE on social media.

Hashtag: #HongKongTalentEngage

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/20/global-talent-summit-week-looks-ahead-to-the-future-workplace-in-the-ai-era/

Posted on

Understanding Auckland’s regional flood maps

Source: Auckland Council

In Auckland, we’ve seen how natural hazards like flooding, coastal erosion and landslides can impact people, homes and businesses.

We’re also seeing more Aucklanders interested in knowing about their flood risk including when they’re looking to purchase property or move into a new rental property. This includes checking the flood hazard maps on Auckland Council’s Flood Viewer or Geomaps beforehand, or by purchasing a Land Information Memorandum (LIM) report.

Here is some useful information on how and why we publish these maps, and what they mean.

Why does Auckland Council publish flood maps?

Auckland Council is required to maintain hazard information that is publicly available – including flooding. This publicly available flood information, including flood plains, flood prone areas, and overland flow paths are free to view and published online on Flood Viewer and Geomaps websites.

The maps are produced for a whole catchment, group of catchments or at a regional level to show how water moves across the landscape. They’re not site specific (based on individual property data) and don’t include flood mitigations to a building.

What else are these maps used for?

In addition to informing the public, these flood maps are underpinned by detailed hydrological and hydraulic modelling that Auckland Council uses to analyse catchments and understand how flooding occurs.

This modelling helps the council design, upgrade, and prioritise stormwater infrastructure across the region. It is also used by the transport sector when designing roads, culverts, and associated assets, ensuring they are resilient to flooding.

Property developers rely on the same information to understand stormwater requirements for new developments and to ensure their proposals appropriately manage flood risk.

Why is this information on LIM reports?

A LIM report provides a high-level summary of information we hold about a property. It’s a ‘snapshot in time’ and identifies hazard information the council holds about a property at the specified date and time – new information and reports are not created when a LIM is purchased, we compile the most recent information we hold at that time. 

For flood maps, information is taken from regional and/or catchment maps and an overlay is applied showing the boundaries of the requested property. It is not based on individual property data and does not include any mitigations that may have occurred at the property for a building or home.

Auckland Council has a legal obligation under the law (the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 section 44B) to identify natural hazards relating to a property, which are known to us, on LIM reports – this includes flooding.

How can I find out more information about the natural hazard information (like the flood maps) on a LIM?

The LIM report does not provide or replace site-specific information or property-level reports. It’s a starting point and a summary of the information we hold.

Those receiving LIMs are encouraged to use the report to further their due diligence, like ordering a copy of the council’s property file, reaching out to our technical specialists or seeking opinions and/or advice from independent third-party specialists.

What flood maps are included in LIMs?

LIMs include a map entitled ‘Natural Hazards – Flooding’, which displays information about the following potential flood hazards in relation to the site:

  • Flood plains
  • Flood prone areas
  • Flood sensitive areas
  • Overland flow paths

The absence of flooding information on the maps does not exclude the possibility of site flooding, including from local depressions or overland flow paths on nearby properties.

Also important to know is that Auckland Council does not have information on flood sensitive areas for all of Auckland. This potential hazard will only be depicted if the information exists.

What’s the difference between flood plains, flood prone areas and overland flow paths?

Flood plains:

Flood plains appear in low-lying areas and next to streams and rivers. As many historical streams have been piped, flood plains may appear in areas where you haven’t seen water before.

Flood plains are mapped from hydraulic modelling results and show the predicted flood extents during a 1 per cent annual exceedance probability (AEP) storm, assuming the stormwater system is functioning as intended and not blocked.

Flood prone areas:

Flood prone areas are topographical depressions/low lying areas where water can become trapped and pool.

In flood prone areas, water pools and gets trapped when the stormwater outlet pipe is blocked, or when the rainfall intensity exceeds the capacity of the stormwater network. Flood Prone Areas are identified by GIS techniques and not hydraulic modelling.

Overland flow paths:

Overland flow paths show the route water will take as it flows downhill through the landscape when there is no piped network or the capacity of the piped stormwater system is exceeded.

Water can move very quickly over land during heavy rain, forming temporary fast‑flowing streams. On Flood Viewer, these are shown as lines, but in reality, the water will spread more broadly across the surrounding area.

Overland Flow Paths are identified using GIS‑based terrain analysis, which connects the lowest points in the landscape (known as the thalweg) to map the route that water will take downhill. These paths are derived from topography and are not based on hydraulic modelling.

Major earthworks can alter the topography, and in some instances, developers may provide surveyed data to the council following a development which may result in changes to the flood mapping.

You can learn more about the different types of flood hazards on Auckland Council’s Flood Viewer.

What data are the flood plain maps based on?

The flood plains on LIM reports, and published on Flood Viewer, are based on an extreme weather event with a one per cent chance of occurring or being exceeded in any given year – this is also called a 1-in-a-hundred-year event.

To produce these maps, we consider things like:

  • the hydraulics of water flowing through pipes, channels, and overland
  • the hydrology of different rainfall events
  • land‑use types and soil characteristics
  • and climate change.

The data is then updated across the region at catchment scale, to reflect the best and most current information available at the time.

It uses surface topography captured through LiDAR – laser imaging, detection and ranging via aircraft like drones. The LiDAR data used for 95 per cent of our maps was flown in 2016, which means the flood‑plain map on the LIM reflects the landscape as it existed at that time.

The topography (land features like elevation, water bodies) data the models are based on is from 2016. How does the council account for this?

As the topography data used to inform the flood hazard maps is from 2016, when requested, we have provided a written acknowledgement of this to property owners. In the letter, we acknowledge that this means that the maps may not reflect changes made on the property including flood mitigation measures that may have been introduced by development.

Alongside this, we are in the process of providing a clarifying statement on all LIM reports to indicate when the data used to model the flood risk was gathered.

New models are expected soon. A new Auckland wide LiDAR survey was flown in 2024, and we are currently rebuilding all flood models using this updated data. This is detailed, technical work that must be done catchment by catchment – but it could be done more frequently in the future.

How often are the flood plains updated?

Councils are not required to update natural hazard information immediately whenever development occurs. Given the scale of construction across Auckland, it would be impracticable to continuously remodel every catchment for every change in topography as soon as earthworks are completed.

Auckland Council has followed a regular, cyclic update process since regional flood‑plain mapping began in 2012. Historically, this schedule has been appropriate, and only since the severe weather in early 2023 has public awareness of flood risk increased to the point where this timing has become more visible in the property market.

With more interest from Aucklanders, we’re looking at increasing how frequently we run this exercise including increasing the cadence.

Why can’t the information on my resource consent be used to show a property’s flood exposure – can the maps be adjusted?

We do not base flood‑plain maps on individual resource consent information. Earthworks plans provided for resource consents only analyse the immediate development site, not the full catchment.

Developments often occur in stages over several years, consents may be varied, and construction frequently changes from the original design. For these reasons, resource consent data cannot be used as a basis for catchment wide flood plain modelling.

However, in some cases, this data can be used to update flood prone areas. This is as it is a different type of hazard to flood plains and does not require modelling – so the topographical data can be more easily updated.

My property is showing as in a flood risk area – who can I talk to for more information?

In the first instance – reach out to Auckland Council. By talking to us, we can see if we can provide you with the information you’re looking for and explain what it means and why a property is impacted. 

We often find that the concerns people have with flood information are based on a misunderstanding of the data rather than the information itself. A conversation may be a simple way to avoid the expense of engaging an expert to dispute information which is unlikely to change.

For more information on addressing or updating information that appears on a Land Information Memorandum (LIM) from Auckland Council, visit our website. 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/20/understanding-aucklands-regional-flood-maps/

Posted on

Venue access: how we manage our bookable community spaces

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Council’s Director of Community Rachel Kelleher responds to concerns about the council’s approach to venue hire of our community meeting halls and shared spaces.

It is with huge gratitude that I acknowledge the messages of support our staff and the council has received over the past few days, regarding our response to the awful disruption of a family-friendly Pride event at Te Atatū Peninsula Library last weekend.

It has been uplifting to see the voices of leaders throughout New Zealand also extend their support to our brave staff and affected communities, along with the widespread public condemnation of this harmful activity.

We are also grateful for police support, to ensure that all remaining Pride events at our venues continue to be uplifting occasions to celebrate Auckland’s rainbow communities.

We are actively monitoring any health, safety or security risks at future events.

Venue hire

We have been asked questions about the use of our community venues and whether the council should apply tighter restrictions on bookings – particularly from groups like Destiny Church with strong views that not everyone shares.  

So, I’d like to take this opportunity to talk about how Auckland Council provides access to our collection of more than 100 bookable community venues across the region on the principle that they are available for anyone to hire. We are obliged to ensure everyone throughout Auckland has fair and equal access to connect and enjoy using these spaces.

This doesn’t mean that we endorse the content of an event, or the views of participants, but rather that we must manage our venues in a neutral and non-discriminatory manner.

It is not always easy to maintain that careful balance between providing a public service (venues for hire) and expressing our council values, including ensuring our people feel supported on our position on diversity and inclusion.

This sometimes leads to tension, and pressure to do more in support of one community or group, over another.

When differences arise between the views of the various groups using our community venues, and there is potential for conflict or any risk to public safety, we work closely with the police and security experts to determine if activities should go ahead.

An example of this occurred in 2023, when the council terminated venue bookings at the Mount Eden War Memorial Hall in response to safety concerns from two groups with strong opposing views planning to gather on the same night.

Consistent with our obligations as a public authority, we will continue to operate our venues on the principle that they are available to all Aucklanders, but will not hesitate to address or terminate bookings if terms are breached or safety compromised.

With respect to the events at the events at the at Te Atatū Peninsula Library last Saturday, council is supporting the police with their investigations and has not ruled out taking further action against those individuals involved.  

Venue hire requirements:

  • All venue hire bookings agree to comply with council’s venue hire terms and conditions. These set out the circumstances in which the council may terminate a booking and include situations where the event might breach the law or the conditions themselves or where the management or control of the event is deficient.

  • It is always the responsibility of venue hire users to ensure their events are managed safely, and to meet the terms and conditions of our venue hire policy.

  • Where we have concerns that an event may raise health and safety or security concerns we work with the organisers and relevant agencies to ensure that these concerns are addressed ahead of the event. 

  • Our community venues are operated on the principle they are available for anyone to hire. If a booking is accepted, it doesn’t mean that we endorse the content of the event, but rather that we are obliged to manage our venues in a non-discriminatory manner.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/20/venue-access-how-we-manage-our-bookable-community-spaces-2/

Posted on

Appeal for information on fight at Common Room bar in Hastings

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Detective Sergeant Heath Jones, Hastings Criminal Investigation Branch

Police are appealing for witnesses and anyone else affected by a group of people fighting at a local Hastings pub, to come forward.

The fight occurred between 1.30 and 2am on Sunday 8 March.

Police received reports of a brawl involving men and women inside the Common Room bar which is located at 227 Heretaunga Street East, Hastings. 

Several people were injured, some seriously, with one requiring hospital treatment.

Police are disappointed at the aggressive and careless behaviour on display at the Common Room that night and will be holding any offenders to account.

We are asking the public for information to help identify the offenders and anyone else who was there at the time who may have suffered injuries or witnessed the fight.

If you were there, or you know someone affected please call 105 or make a report online by clicking ‘Make a report’ referencing the file number 260308/6292.

Police are looking to identify the male in the images attached. In two photos he is seen wearing a fawn ‘Gucci’ baseball cap with a white shirt.

You can also provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

We encourage anyone who witnesses illegal activity and violent behaviour to call Police immediately on 111.

END

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/20/appeal-for-information-on-fight-at-common-room-bar-in-hastings/

Posted on

Empty pumps at two North Island truck stops concern rural transporter

Source: Radio New Zealand

Danniverke Carriers owner Nigel Castles expects further price rises for fuel are inevitable. 123rf

A rural transport company carting stock to the meat works couldn’t get the fuel it needed at two North Island commercial truck stops.

Pumps ran dry in Wairoa and Eltham on Thursday when the Stephenson Transport truck and trailer units from Central Hawke’s Bay were on a freezing works run.

Owner Bruce Stephenson said it’s a situation he’s never faced during his seven decades in the business.

“We had stock trucks on the road obviously all over the place. We couldn’t get fuel in Wairoa and we couldn’t get fuel in Eltham,” he said.

“They were loaded with stock heading to the works, so we had to stretch things out a bit – it gets a bit tricky when you’re doing that sort of thing.”

He fielded phone calls from his concerned drivers wondering what to do next.

“I’m talking about truck stops where we fuel up and where we get our contract prices from. That’s where access is relatively easy for a big truck and trailers with crates on.”

“So we had to go to service stations and find one we could get under the canopy of.”

Danniverke Carriers owner Nigel Castles is also coping with the swiftly evolving situation.

His company also carts stock around the country and he’s concerned about the massive spike in prices.

And his family-owned business can’t absorb the soaring fuel prices alone.

He’s reluctantly passing these increases on to farmers and estimates his fuel bill is up 20 percent from the start of the year.

The company filled its tanks last week, and he hopes the next delivery will arrive in a week.

With no signs of tensions easing in the Middle East, he expects further price rises for fuel are inevitable.

“The next lot of fuel supply is actually going to go up again,” he said.

“Definitely out on farm there’s a lot of worry, and as transporters we certainly don’t want to come to a grinding halt either.”

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/20/empty-pumps-at-two-north-island-truck-stops-concern-rural-transporter/