The Tarawera River, where two people died on Thursday.Google Maps
Two local children were killed when a riverbank collapsed in the Tarawera River near Boyce Park in Kawerau.
The boys were aged 10 and 12.
Emergency services were called about 11.30am on Thursday, after a report of a party getting trapped under a bank.
“A group of children had been fishing and playing on the northern side of the river, when the bank collapsed, trapping two of the children underneath,” police say.
“Two police officers on arrival swam across the river and attempted to locate and dig for the boys with their bare hands.
“They were soon joined by volunteer fire brigade staff who roped down the cliff area with equipment.”
The boys were found dead.
Local kaumatua have performed karakia and a rahui has been placed on the Tarawera River.
Inspector Phil Gillbanks, acting Eastern Bay of Plenty area commander said two police staff and the local volunteer fire brigade staff did everything they could to find the boys in what were perilous circumstances.
“This was extremely tragic and sad, and we feel for the families.”
A Kawerau rafting operator said the area was a popular swimming spot for children.
The man, who works for Rafting Adventure Tarawera and did not want to be named, said he was at the scene on Thursday to try to help out with the rescue.
He said the side of the river by Boyce Park has a tree and a rope swing, and he would often see kids swimming there.
Police said the deaths would be referred to the Coroner.
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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 April 2026 – Paymentology, the leading global issuer-processor, today announced its official entry into the Australian market, marking a significant milestone in its global expansion strategy.
With a proven track record of enabling banks, fintechs, and digital disruptors worldwide, Paymentology is bringing its advanced, cloud-native processing platform to support Australia’s rapidly evolving payments ecosystem.At the heart of Paymentology’s Australian launch is its local processing infrastructure, enabling seamless connectivity to domestic payment rails, real-time payment systems such as the New Payments Platform, and global card schemes. Paymentology is also working with Cuscal to support connectivity to Bank@Post (Australia Post’s banking service) and EFTPOS, further strengthening its local infrastructure and supporting domestic transactions in Australia. This integration enables access to banking services via the Australia Post network, helping clients deliver more accessible and convenient payment experiences while supporting ongoing innovation in the market.
Australia’s payments market is evolving rapidly, driven by digital adoption, embedded finance, and a new generation of fintechs and neobanks. With cash now making up less than 13% of retail transactions and mobile wallets accounting for around 45% of in-person payments, the market is well positioned for continued innovation and growth.
That momentum is also helping expand access to financial services. Across Australia and the wider region, fintechs and digital banks are increasingly serving SMEs, younger consumers, and other underserved segments. Paymentology enables them to build inclusive, accessible products that broaden financial participation.
Minh Ha Truong, Head of Growth APAC at Paymentology: “Australia is one of the most dynamic payments markets in the world, and a new generation of fintechs and embedded finance providers is redefining what customers expect from financial services. To succeed in that environment, they need infrastructure that won’t slow innovation down or limit growth. By combining global scale with local expertise, we’re helping businesses in Australia build, launch and scale with greater speed, flexibility and confidence.”
Paymentology’s expansion is further strengthened through its partnership with Constantinople, a modern banking platform designed to simplify the complexity of building and operating financial services. Together, the companies are enabling banks and fintechs to launch and scale card programmes with greater speed, flexibility, and operational efficiency, accelerating time-to-market while reducing the burden of legacy infrastructure.
Launching a payment product, however, is only the starting point. Paymentology is designed to sustain momentum beyond go-live, supporting clients as they scale, optimise, and expand into new markets. As a cloud-native issuer processor, it combines global reach with deep local expertise to help banks and fintechs build card programmes that perform consistently across geographies and deliver long-term, compounding value.
Hashtag: #Paymentology #Fintech
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Professor Joan Bray Rose recognised for pioneering Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) as a global approach for assessing pathogen risks in water
QMRA adopted into global drinking water standards and enabled safe water reuse, benefitting millions worldwide
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 April 2026 – Professor Joan Bray Rose has been awarded the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2026 for her work as a key pioneer in the development and global adoption of Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA), a science-based approach to safeguard the quality of drinking water, as well as water reuse systems. Her work has transformed the science of microbial risk management and guided policies that protect public health and ensure safe water for communities worldwide. Her expertise in the domain of water quality and health has also played a key role in strengthening Singapore’s used water management, and the introduction of NEWater, Singapore’s third National Tap.
Professor Joan Bray Rose, Homer Nowlin Chair in Water Research and Director of the Water Alliance at Michigan State University and Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2026 Laureate
2. Commenting on her accolade, Professor Rose, 11th recipient of the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize said, “I am deeply honoured to receive this esteemed award. This recognition reflects our collective progress in advancing microbial risk science and its role in protecting public health today. Safe water is one of the world’s most fundamental yet unevenly distributed resource critical to sustaining human life. As microbial risks continue to evolve, strengthening the robustness of our water systems remains an ongoing endeavour to ensure they remain dependable and resilient; safeguarding both water quality and people’s lives.” She is currently the Homer Nowlin Chair in Water Research, Director of the Water Alliance at Michigan State University.
Uncovering invisible risks to revolutionise water safety
3. In the late 1980s and 1990s, Professor Rose led a team to investigate a series of waterborne disease outbreaks across the United States. Among the most severe was the 1993 Cryptosporidiosis outbreak in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where an estimated 403,000 residents fell ill and at least 69 deaths were recorded[1]. She was the first to demonstrate the widespread occurrence of Cryptosporidium as a zoonotic pathogen[2] in the United States, and its transmission to humans through inadequately filtered and disinfected drinking water supplies. By establishing Cryptosporidium as the causative agent of these outbreaks, she highlighted the vulnerability of drinking water systems to microbial contamination – a challenge with global public health implications. Her findings also revealed a critical gap: pathogens could evade conventional water treatment, existing monitoring systems detected microbes without quantifying risk, and public health responses were largely reactive rather than predictive.
4. Professor Rose then pioneered QMRA in the 1990s and early 2000s to address these critical gaps undermining water safety and public health. QMRA introduced a systematic, science-based approach to assess and manage microbial risks in drinking and other forms of water, including reuse water. By enabling scientists to quantify infection risks and illness probabilities based on pathogen concentrations, exposure pathways and consumption patterns, QMRA shifted water management from reactive “detect and correct” approaches to proactive “predict and prevent” strategies. This revolutionised water safety, boosting the quality of water systems to reliably meet health standards.
Global impact on water microbiology and water quality
5. QMRA is now widely adopted in drinking water regulations worldwide including the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Standards and the World Health Organisation’s Third Edition of the Drinking Water Quality Guidelines in 2004. Her work has enabled water utilities and regulators to define treatment requirements based on tolerable health risks for any given water source.
6. Professor Rose extended the application of QMRA beyond drinking water to assess microbial risks in treated wastewater and water reuse systems. This development greatly strengthened global confidence in leveraging recycled water as a viable and sustainable supply source, and Professor Rose has since strongly advocated for the adoption of water reuse to address global water scarcity. She also advised the Orange County Water District’s Independent Advisory Panel and the California State Water Resources Control Board’s Expert Panel on water reuse. Her guidance contributed to California’s Indirect and Direct Potable Reuse regulations, now models for water reuse standards worldwide, including in Australia, Spain, and the United States.
7. For over two decades, Professor Rose worked closely with PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency, to strengthen water quality and safety. She was instrumental in the advancement of NEWater which was introduced in 2003, serving on the NEWater Expert Panel from 1998 to 2002. In her role, Professor Rose shared her expertise, provided guidance on best practices for water quality monitoring, and reviewed findings from health studies which demonstrated the long-term safety of NEWater. From 2003 to 2019, she also chaired PUB’s External Audit Panel, supporting the safe and robust implementation of water reuse in Singapore. In recognition of her significant contributions, she was conferred the Honorary Citizen Award by the Government of Singapore in 2015. Tapping on the QMRA approach, PUB has since strengthened the capabilities to use water quality surveillance data to guide treatment processes and ensure compliance with local and international drinking water standards and guidelines. (Refer to Annex on how QMRA is applied in Singapore.)
8. Beyond research, she has advanced global knowledge and capacity in microbial risk assessment through training and collaborative initiatives such as launching the QMRA Summer Institute[3] and QMRAwiki[4]. She has also strengthened preparedness for waterborne disease outbreaks worldwide by spearheading major international initiatives such as the Global Water Pathogen Project[5] and Wastewater Sphere[6].
Recognising a steadfast champion of global public health
9. Professor Rose, who recently turned 72, has dedicated her professional life to improving water quality and safeguarding public health outcomes. She is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading authorities in water microbiology and received the 2024 International Water Association Global Water Award for her contributions. Today, she continues to lead research on emerging microbial health risks, driven by a deep and enduring commitment to improving lives worldwide. Her work remains critical as cities strengthen their water resilience against evolving public health and climate challenges.
10. Professor Rose will receive the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize – an award certificate, a gold medallion, and S$300,000, presented in partnership with Temasek Foundation – at an award ceremony on 16 June 2026, held during the official opening of the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) 2026. She will also deliver a keynote lecture the same day. SIWW2026 is expected to gather 2,500 leaders, experts and practitioners from governments, cities, utilities, and industry, and over 25,000 trade visitors.
[3] Launched in 2006, The QMRA Summer Institute has trained over 400 professionals worldwide in pathogen risk assessment across water, food, and environmental contexts, with extended collaborations in Singapore, Japan, India, China, Canada, Brazil, Australia, and parts of Europe.
[4] QMRAwiki is the first comprehensive database of microbial dose-response relationships, which has been instrumental in advancing disease transmission modelling and risk characterisation.
[5] The Global Water Pathogen Project (GWPP) is funded by Dow, Dow-Corning and GATES Foundations, in partnership with UNESCO. GWPP creates a comprehensive knowledge hub on water pathogens, aiming to improve global water safety and sanitation.
[6] A sub-portal of GWPP to advance environmental surveillance of sewage for SARS-CoV-2 and support public health measures. W-Sphere aggregated data from over 2,600 cities, counties and regional systems globally.
Annex
Application of QMRA in Singapore’s context
Leveraging on the concepts embedded in QMRA, PUB has established robust treatment processes and a comprehensive water quality surveillance programme to ensure that Singapore’s drinking water consistently meets both local drinking water regulations, as well as international drinking water standards and guidelines. Today, the approach has evolved from a reactive “end-of-pipe testing” to a “process monitoring” approach, one that is more proactive in identifying potential risks within the treatment process.
QMRA also enables PUB to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of different treatment technologies in managing microbial risks. This allows for informed, evidence-based decisions when selecting suitable technology for Singapore’s water sources, further strengthening the safety and reliability of our water supply. For instance, Singapore has adopted new and advanced technologies for water treatment, such as:
(i) reverse osmosis for removal of dissolved ions and particles, including viruses, which are too small to be removed through normal filtration; and
(ii) ultraviolet disinfection and ozonation for disinfection of a broader range of waterborne pathogens.
Hashtag: #SingaporeInternationalWaterWeek
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
A Papatoetoe man has been released on bail after appearing in court charged over anti-Indian graffiti sprayed outside an Auckland school.
The message, which incited violence against the Indian community, was first spotted on Saturday near Papatoetoe Central School and the man was arrested on Thursday morning.
Attributable to Inspector Phil Gillbanks, Acting Eastern Bay of Plenty Area Commander:
Local kaumatua have performed karakia and placed a rahui on the Tarawera River following two tragic deaths from a water-related incident this afternoon in Kawerau.
Emergency services were alerted to the incident at Boyce Park at around 11.30am today. A group of children had been fishing and playing on the northern side of the river, when the bank collapsed, trapping two of the children underneath.
Two police officers on arrival swam across the river and attempted to locate and dig for the boys with their bare hands. They were soon joined by volunteer fire brigade staff who roped down the cliff area with equipment.
Tragically, the two local Kawerau boys – aged 10 and 12 – were located deceased. Surf Lifesaving New Zealand lifeguards in an IRB assisted emergency services to bring the boys and rescue personnel back across the river where they have been met by grieving whanau.
“I am extremely proud of the two police staff and the local volunteer fire brigade staff who did everything they could to locate the victims in perilous circumstances.
This was extremely tragic and sad, and we feel for the families.
We have returned the bodies of victims to their whanau,” said Inspector Gillbanks.
Shoriful Islam of Bangladesh celebrates the wicket of Glenn Phillips, 2023.Aaron Gillions / Photosport
Black Caps coach Rob Walter says it is fortunate that there are so many New Zealand cricketers experiencing conditions in Asia.
Walter’s side has arrived in Bangladesh for a white ball series that includes three ODI’s and three T20 internationals.
New Zealand A is currently in Sri Lanka playing limited overs and four day games, while there are 18 Kiwi players involved in the Indian Premier League and the Pakistan Super League.
Walter said having so many players experiencing sub-continent conditions is great.
“We have 54 cricketers right now playing in different parts of the world and that is just under half of our contracted players in the country so for us it is a massive positive.
“We’re trying to make sure we strengthen our whole system and not just a small group of players. Ultimately we have to make sure we’re ready for whoever we compete against we have a number of cricketers who are internationally ready.
“It is a plus for us to expose our next in line cricketers to quality opposition in foreign conditions is a massive positive for us.”
Eight players with international experience were initially selected for the A tour of Sri Lanka: Muhammad Abbas, Adithya Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Mitch Hay, Ben Lister, Rhys Mariu, Ben Sears, and Tim Robinson. Sears has since left the group to play in the Pakistan Super League.
“You can’t buy experience, so you actually have to get out into the cauldron and actually play,” Walter said.
Will O’Rourke hasn’t played for New Zealand since the tour of Zimbabwe last July while Matt Fisher and Blair Tickner suffered injuries over the summer.
The first ODI against Bangladesh is in Mirpur on Friday.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Nicola Willis is in Washington DC is attending the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings.RNZ / Mark Papalii
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has promised to be “frank and candid” in her White House meetings overnight, as she seeks clarity about when the conflict in the Middle East might end.
But Labour said Willis’ plan to ask when the situation would return to normal was “naive to the point of embarrassing”.
Willis spoke to RNZ on Thursday (NZ time) from Washington DC where she is attending the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank spring meetings.
She had just wrapped several days of meetings with her counterparts from the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany and the Marshall Islands, as well as key leaders at the IMF and World Bank.
Early Friday morning (NZ time), Willis would sit down with one of President Donald Trump’s key economic advisers, Pierre Yared, and separately, outgoing under secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs, Francis Brooke.
Willis said she would stress New Zealand’s concern about potential fuel supply disruption and to reiterate calls for a “swiftly negotiated end to this conflict”.
“I will be frank and candid that we are many, many miles away from the Middle East, and yet the waves of this conflict are hitting hard on our shores,” she said.
“We’ve already experienced a more than doubling in the price of diesel, on which our economy depends. We’ve seen a downgrade in our growth forecasts. We are worried about inflation.
“I will also be asking the US administration for their views on when this conflict will end, and what they think the ramifications for the global economy will be.”
The Post earlier reported that Willis intended to press US officials over when global conditions might return to “normal”.
RNZ / Mark Papalii
Labour leader Chris Hipkins told RNZ that was “naive to the point of embarrassing:”
“The world has changed, and things aren’t going to just go back to normal,” Hipkins said. “We’re going to be dealing with disruption for quite a prolonged period of time. The government needs to be far more realistic about that and show New Zealanders that they have a plan.”
Willis said she would also use her meetings to underline the anxiety of other Pacific nations, which were dependent on imported fuel, given the United States’ interest in the region’s stability.
Asked what commitments New Zealand had made to support its Pacific neighbours, Willis said the government would work with Australia and others to ensure the realm countries – Cook Islands, Nieu and Tokelau – had the fuel supply they needed.
“In the first instance, New Zealand is looking to secure fuel for our own population at home, and that’s why we’re taking extra steps to secure additional commercial arrangements to add to our New Zealand reserves.
“We will also take steps to support the Pacific to ensure that they can access fuel. I’d expect that in the first instance, those would be separate arrangements from those which we have.”
Willis said there had been no discussions with Australia about whether it would need to call on New Zealand’s reserves, nor reason to believe that would be necessary.
She said she had “bumped into” Australia’s Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Thursday (NZ time) and passed on New Zealand’s concern about the fire at one of its refineries.
Willis said all her meetings to date conveyed a “clear and very shared concern” about the economic shock from the conflict, and a consistent view that responses needed to be temporary and targeted.
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The plan is to build a weir to divert water through a tunnel to generate 23 megawatts of power, enough to power the equivalent of about 12,000 homes.
Westpower said it would improve the resilience of electricity supply on the West Coast and contribute to New Zealand’s climate change commitments.
Federated Mountain Clubs (FMC), Forest and Bird, Greenpeace, the Canyoning Association, the Buller Tramping Club and former Whitewater NZ President Kev England were critical of the project.
They had signed an open letter calling on the panel to reconsider its draft decision.
FMC president Megan Dimozantos said the project would destroy a unique wilderness area.
“If this goes ahead the river will be reduced to little more than a residual flow causing permanent and significant damage to both its recreational and ecological values,” she said.
“We recognise that renewable generation is important but not at the expense of one of the country’s last untouched pristine wild river gorges.”
Federated Mountain Clubs said it could not make a submission to the fast-track expert panel on the proposal.
“FMC requested to comment on the proposal. We also wrote to the panel directly. Ultimately we’ve been ignored. The hundreds of recreational users who visit the area every year have been ignored,” Dimozantos said.
“The panel itself acknowledged the significant effects the scheme will have on the Morgan Gorge and Kiwi Flat even after all mitigation measures are in place.”
The scheme was previously declined in 2019 by then-Environment Minister David Parker.
“We are encouraged to see the Waitaha Hydro Project move forward. This is a major step for renewable energy in the region and New Zealand. We are committed to progressing responsibly, in partnership with Poutini Ngāi Tahu and our local communities,” Westpower chief executive Peter Armstrong said, at the time.
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Bruce Ford is head of the Stewart Island Seniors Cottage Trust.RNZ / Mark Papalii
Stewart Island resident Bruce Ford reckons there’s a problem with getting old on Rakiura – there’s nowhere suitable to do it.
The local of 60 years is the head of the Stewart Island Seniors Cottage Trust.
The trust is trying to raise an additional $1 million to build small, warm, accessible homes for elderly residents at a site in Oban.
It has already raised $750,000, purchased a section and drawn up plans for between six and eight one-bedroom duplex units.
Ford said seniors were stuck in ageing, draughty homes or paying housing costs beyond their means in a bid to stay put on the island.
“If there’s only one person in the house on a pension, you’re on about $28,000. By the time you take off $8000 of rates and insurance and perhaps another $4000 for electricity, you’ve still got to get some food and you’ve still got to do some maintenance on the property and it just doesn’t fit very well,” he said.
“We’ve got one chap here that lives on a boat because he doesn’t want to pay the insurance and the rates. And every day you’ve got to get in your dinghy and paddle ashore. If you’re in your 70s that’s a bit of a handful.”
Often people were being forced to leave the island and ended up in care facilities on the mainland far from friends, neighbours and familiar places, he said.
“People get medevac’d – perhaps they’ll have some ailment – so they get medevac’d and of course the chances are that they don’t get back because they can’t look after themselves quite well enough. We do have home help, some of those services are here, but some of the people that we’ve known have finished up in those rest homes and they die,” he said.
Seniors in Stewart Island are stuck in ageing, draughty homes or paying housing costs beyond their means in a bid to stay put on the island, Bruce Ford says.RNZ / Mark Papalii
Proud, independent islanders struggled to adjust to life in rest homes and retirement facilities, Ford said.
“You turn up in Invercargill or wherever and you don’t know anybody and, of course, you don’t know who to ask for any assistance or anything,” he said.
“There was one lady we went to see one day, a lovely old lady, and she said ‘oh, I wish I was home with my own place and cat and garden’… She said ‘I don’t like it here’.”
The existing donations included a gift left in late island character Sam Sampson’s will, Ford said.
The trust had a memorandum of understanding with Habitat for Humanity and the charity would help decide who would get to stay in the new houses, Ford said.
The Stewart Island Seniors Cottage Trust is trying to raise an additional $1 million to build small, warm, accessible homes for elderly residents at a site in Oban.RNZ / Mark Papalii
Southland mayor Rob Scott said he was right behind the trust.
“I take my hat off to them. They’ve certainly rolled their sleeves up and they’ve done a heap of really good work and they’ve managed to attract some really good funding to date,” he said.
The council did not have the ability to fund the homes but the benefits were clear, Scott said.
“We don’t have a magic pot of money that we can throw at it so I’m supporting with advocacy – whatever I can and wherever I can,” he said.
Age Concern says the issue of a lack of suitable housing for older New Zealanders is not restricted to Stewart Island.RNZ / Mark Papalii
Age Concern chief executive Karen Billings-Jensen said the need for seniors housing went beyond Stewart Island.
Many older New Zealanders faced the same choice – unsuitable housing or leaving their community, she said.
“In some of our cities there are suburbs where there are only large houses or double-storey houses, which don’t make it easy if you want to look to move somewhere accessible or to downsize. We know in rural communities, similar to Stewart Island, that there just aren’t the choices of housing,” she said.
It was crucial to have housing stock in place that allowed people to age – “so they can age where they know the community, where they have connections”, Billings-Jensen said.
“The proportion of people aged 65 and over who are renting is expected to double by 2048… As home ownership rates decrease and there’ll be more people looking in the rental market, and we know there’s some real challenges around rental stock,” she said.
Often people are being forced to leave the island and end up in care facilities on the mainland far from friends, neighbours and familiar places, Bruce Ford says.RNZ / Mark Papalii
Ford said he had sought help from the government but they were not forthcoming.
“I’ve written to many different government ministers and, as often as not, they come back full of encouragement and say ‘oh, I’m very sorry but there’s nobody registered for poverty at your end of the country. There’s no need, because you have to be registered social welfare, MSD, to be recognised as a region in need’. And of course our people are proud enough that they don’t get registered… they just stick it out and try and survive,” he said.
Ford remained optimistic the trust would meet its goal.
“It’s a big challenge but we’ve had big challenges before, community-wise. We have a new museum across the road – it cost $4 million and there’s no rates on it. It was all fundraising to get there. We have a town hall and stadium around the corner there and I believe it’s got insurance value of $6 million and it was all done with community work. The bowling green has a synthetic turf – that’s all done with local fundraising,” he said.
“Nothing’s impossible and we’re having a damn good try.”
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The establishment of this cabinet position is politically significant and offers both substantial opportunities and potential risks. The key will be following the evidence, however uncomfortable.
A national first
Edbrooke’s new role represents the only formal cabinet-level “minister for men and boys” in Australia.
There have been calls from some men’s health advocates for such a role to be established federally. For example, Dan Repacholi was appointed by the federal government to be Australia’s first Special Envoy for Men’s Health in 2025.
But Victoria is the first government to identify “men and boys” as a distinct policy category, signalling that the influences shaping misogynist attitudes requires focused attention.
Why now?
The timing of this new portfolio is not accidental. It reflects a growing recognition that something has shifted in how misogyny is circulating, particularly among Australian men and boys.
In recent years, research has documented the rapid uptake of manosphere content in Australian schools. Teachers are reporting a marked increase in misogynistic language, resistance to women’s authority, and the normalisation of sexist and violent attitudes among some boys.
Crucially, Edbrooke acknowledged that responding to the manosphere will be a key focus of his portfolio.
Public concern about men’s violence against women has also intensified, alongside renewed attention to the drivers that underpin it. The connection between misogyny and violent political extremism now better understood, reinforcing the need for a strong prevention response.
Taken together, these help to explain why the need for a portfolio focused on men and boys has emerged at this time. The question is whether this opportunity will be used to create meaningful change where it is needed.
Proceeding with care
There is a risk this new ministerial role could deepen existing tensions if it is not carefully designed.
For instance, there are calls to do more to address men’s mental health. This is important work and should be done.
But improving boys’ mental health should not be overstated as the solution to gendered violence.
Responses that treat boys’ and men’s mental health as the key factor in violence against women ignore the complexity of the evidence. Abuse of women and girls is present across all socioeconomic demographics and among those with or without mental ill-health.
To make real progress, responses must be grounded in evidence and firmly focused on achieving the principles of gender justice.
The policies to prioritise
So to make a meaningful difference, what should the minister do? Schools would be a great place to start.
Australian evidence is clear that schools are a key site for preventing gender-based violence. This work is most effective when it is whole-school, properly supported and built into systems and curricula.
This means proper funding and meaningful support for Respectful Relationships Education, stronger teacher training in violence prevention, and a curriculum that helps young people think critically about gender, power and online influence.
It’s also essential that beliefs in boys and men “falling behind” or being victims of feminism and gender equality are strongly refuted. These beliefs are promoted by manosphere myths that cause significant harm.
United Nations bodies have recently warned about the risks of rising misogyny and all forms of violence. These risks are very real in Victoria and across the country.
Now is the time for misogyny to be named plainly and clearly, and for us to emphasise that misogyny appeals to boys and men because of the power it offers them, not because it provides a solution to their suffering.
Overall, the creation of a minister for men and boys signals the Victorian government is willing to engage with complex and sensitive questions about gender, men’s violence and misogyny.
Now the challenge is for policymakers and the minister to engage meaningfully with the evidence and be courageous enough to highlight the dangers of rising misogyny.
Late on Wednesday, Victorian firefighters were called to a large fire at Viva Energy Group’s oil refinery in Corio, a suburb of Geelong. The blaze is believed to have been an equipment failure. Thankfully, no-one was injured.
Viva is one of two refineries left in Australia, and supplies more than 50% of fuel in Victoria, and 10% of fuel in Australia. At the time of writing, the company was in a trading halt on the Australian sharemarket, pending an announcement regarding the impact of the fire.
In normal circumstances, Viva says the refinery can process up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day. The impact of the fire has been primarily to the production of petrol. The overall refinery will have to be assessed before it becomes clear whether diesel and aviation fuel production have been impacted.
In the immediate and short term, Viva’s supply of petrol will likely be met from storage, both on site and from other terminals. The fire will mean even greater pressure on securing supply from overseas. It is possible price changes may be no more than we have already seen, as they are currently being driven by the cost of imports.
So what does this mean for the supply and price of fuel in Victoria, and Australia?
Remind me, what do refineries do?
Using crude oil, refineries like Geelong produce liquid fuels for transport, including petrol for small cars, diesel for big cars and trucks, and aviation fuel for planes.
Crude oil is a hydrocarbon, created underground over millions of years from decaying organic matter. The chemical process of refining crude oil is highly sophisticated, and refineries are complex machines.
In Australia, almost 60 per cent of the fuel we consume is diesel. This is followed by petrol, and then aviation fuel. We consume more diesel per head of population than almost every other major economy, including the USA. This is because Australia has a large mining sector, and depends on long-distance road transport to move goods.
So what’s going to happen now?
Refinery fires are nasty because the fuels burn rapidly and the blaze can be difficult to extinguish.
This fire broke out in the plant’s primary petrol-production units, in an area of about 30 metres by 30 metres. The company has temporarily cut its output of petrol, diesel and jet fuel down to “minimum rates”, adding pressure on Australian fuel stocks. Although other parts of the refinery will still produce diesel and aviation fuel, and maybe some petrol, the overall volumes will be reduced.
In the short term, Viva will have a lot of product stored. But while it looks like diesel and aviation fuels might not heavily affected, the picture is less clear for petrol. They could still import petrol that has been refined elsewhere into Geelong to supply customers, which most refineries do. But this petrol is refined in countries like Singapore and Malaysia, which are already under since they source much or their crude oil from the Middle East and have their own domestic demand.
This is an undoubtedly frustrating turn of events in the current energy supply crunch. Optimistically, the damage will be repaired quickly and it won’t be too long until that part of the refinery is back on line. We must await a full assessment from Viva.
Even if the refinery is able to start production relatively quickly, this fire prompts us to consider the future role of liquid fuels in Australia.
Should we be building more refineries?
Firstly, to run a refinery you need crude oil. Where is that going to come from? At the moment, Australia sends most of the oil it extracts from the north-west shelf in Western Australia to nearby countries like Singapore and Malaysia.
In recent years, the Gippsland basin, offshore Victoria, has entered the depletion stage of its oil extraction after more than 50 years. While the north-west shelf remains a significant source of oil, very few other oil resources have been identified in Australia. Recently, there has been speculation about extracting it from the Taroom Trough, about 300 kilometres west of Brisbane. But that resource is speculative at present, being technologically challenging, and economically questionable.
Sometimes, bad things come in waves: the US-Iran war, Cyclone Narelle, and now the Geelong refinery fire. They underline the need to decrease our reliance on fossil fuels. And people are responding, which is good. For example we are seeing record numbers of people buying electric vehicles. In ten years from now, half of all car sales should be will be electric.
There’s other signs of rapid electrification. If you travel around Sydney or Melbourne you’ll notice electric buses and trucks have become more popular for short-haul trips. It was assumed it would take far longer for long-haul freight to electrify, but there’s now a company set up to run a fleet of 20 trucks between Sydney and Canberra.
The Geelong refinery fire adds another major challenge to Australia’s fuel crisis. It increases the urgency for a longer-term plan to rapidly electrify transport, more focus on biofuel production and, possibly, greater strategic onshore storage. This will be good for energy security and climate change.
Union members were asking police, the Public Service Commission and government to “repay the risks endemic in the role of a police officer”.
The Police Association says it’s “extremely concerned” a police memo to staff regarding a pay bargaining campaign was “an attempt to intimidate members”.
The association also says the memo showed the campaign “has hit a nerve and having an impact”.
On Wednesday, the association issued a press release which said that for the first time in its 90-year history it was driving a pay bargaining campaign that included “active and visible advocacy from a workforce that is legally forbidden to strike”.
Bargaining starts on 1 May.
“On that day police officers throughout the country will be making their feelings known by engaging in activities aimed at drawing Police, public and political attention to their bid for remuneration that matches the risks they face in doing their job to keep New Zealanders safe,” the association said.
The campaign slogan was “Repay the Risk”.
Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz
Association president Steve Watt said members were asking police, the Public Service Commission and government to “repay the risks endemic in the role of a police officer”.
“Those risks include exposure to violence and danger, unpredictable and traumatic incidents, increasing complexity in frontline policing, and the responsibility of protecting public safety.
“Members feel that when it comes to their pay negotiations, they are essentially invisible – no ability to work to rule, no marching in the streets, nothing to capture the attention of politicians or the public. That is why we are doing things differently this pay round.”
The press release said a significant part of the campaign strategy was direct engagement with politicians with postcards being sent from members.
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“We welcome pro-active engagement from MPs who often know the officers in their districts. I urge them to take some time to ask about the pressures driving this unique campaign.”
On Thursday morning, a memo was sent to staff on behalf of Assistant Commissioner Deployment Jeanette Park.
The memo, seen by RNZ, said police had always “positively engaged” with the service organisations and had a “long history” of supporting staff in being able to advocate their position.
“This does not change.”
Park said ahead of bargaining it was “important to remind you that our values continue to be front and centre of how we operate”.
“One of those values is professionalism: look the part, be the part which requires us all to maintain standards and present a professional image to ensure our communities have trust and confidence in us.
“Stickers, decals, ribbons, clasps, lanyards or other non-branded police material are not permitted on uniforms, or any police assets such as police vehicles, equipment, buildings, office spaces and noticeboards.”
Park said it was “essential for us to maintain our professionalism to ensure New Zealanders have trust and confidence in us”.
Following the memo, the association wrote to staff.
The email, seen by RNZ, said the association “rejects police’s view that participation in the ‘Repay the Risk’ campaign is unprofessional”.
“Our view is that it is highly professional to care about your terms and conditions and take collegial action to seek improvements, thereby aiding the viability of your occupation.
“We are extremely concerned that this morning’s Pānui was an attempt to intimidate members and to undermine our campaign.”
The association said it was “vital” members’ right to participate in the union was protected.
“Your employer should respect that and refrain from imposing any restrictions inconsistent with other external material, such as claiming that because our campaign materials – wristbands and stickers etc – are non-Police branded they are not permitted within your workplace or while in uniform.”
Any members who experienced “retaliation” were asked to contact the union.
“Before ‘Repay the Risk’ was under way Commissioner [Richard] Chambers was advised about the material that was to be distributed. No concerns were raised.
“Accordingly, association president Steve Watt has written to the commissioner outlining our concerns. We have also indicated our willingness to take things further if we must.”
RNZ has approached police for comment.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
An artist’s impression of one of the new ferries loading.FHL
Marlborough locals are being asked if they should pay Port Marlborough’s $110 million share of the Picton ferry redevelopment.
The work in Picton is estimated to cost $531m and is part of the $1.867 billion Cook Strait Ferry Replacement Programme.
The Marlborough District Council is proposing to borrow the money from the Local Government Funding Agency, with Port Marlborough to repay the loan in full, including interest, while also paying its annual dividend to the council.
The council previously agreed to borrow money from the Local Government Funding Agency on the port’s behalf to go towards the iReX upgrades, which has since been canned.
Marlborough Mayor Nadine Tayor said the community had fought for many years to keep the ferries in Picton, and Port Marlborough had successfully negotiated a 60-year commercial agreement to cement Picton’s role in the Cook Strait crossing.
“We have been here before of course, with public consultation in 2021/2022 to finance Port Marlborough’s contribution towards the previous ferry redevelopment programme. Since then, the government stopped the previous programme to replace the ageing Interislander fleet and progressed a revised approach, including different vessels and a new ownership model for infrastructure assets at Port Marlborough.
“Under the Local Government Act, Council is required to consult the public once again. This consultation proposal is for council to borrow the same $110 million through the Local Government Funding Agency at a favourable rate, to on-lend to Port Marlborough to pay for its share of the ferry infrastructure.”
The Bluebridge’s Connemara and Interislander’s Kaiarahi in Picton.RNZ / Samantha Gee
Taylor said the port’s business plan had been through a rigourous governance process.
“The financial principles and risk mitigations have been considered and approved by the boards of Port Marlborough and MDC Holdings, both of which have independent directors. The proposal has also been endorsed by councillors.”
She encouraged everyone with an interest in the project to read the statement of proposal document carefully, to attend one of the public meetings and to make a submission.
Public information meetings are being held on 13 May at the Port Marlborough Pavilion (1-3pm and 6-8pm) and at Lansdowne Hub, Blenheim on 14 May (6-8pm).
Submissions open tomorrow and close on 19 May and submitters can also choose to speak at hearings scheduled for 20 and 21 May, with a final decision to be made at council meeting on 26 May.
To make a submission, go to the online form at https://links.marlborough.govt.nz/haveyoursay
Queries can be emailed to portconsultation@marlborough.govt.nz
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
The fire at a major oil refinery in the Victorian city of Geelong has now reportedly been extinguished. But with thick smoke from the blaze lingering in the air on Thursday, many residents in Geelong and surrounding areas will understandably be worried.
What is released into the air when a refinery burns? And is the smoke bad for your health?
For most people, serious long-term health effects are unlikely. However, there can be short-term risks, and some groups are more vulnerable than others. So here’s what to look out for and how to stay safe.
What is in the air when an oil refinery burns?
Smoke from an oil refinery fire is made up of many different pollutants. The exact mix depends on what material is burning, how hot the fire is, and how long it lasts.
Typically, these fires release fine particles, known as PM2.5 and PM10, which are small enough to travel deep into the lungs.
They can also release toxic gases such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide, along with volatile organic compounds including benzene.
For people living further from the fire, fine particles are typically the main concern because they can travel long distances and linger in the air.
What are the health risks?
For most healthy adults living in the area, short-term exposure to these pollutants will cause irritation rather than lasting harm.
You may notice sore or watery eyes, a scratchy throat, coughing, headaches or a feeling of chest tightness. These symptoms are unpleasant but usually settle once air quality improves and exposure is reduced.
This kind of exposure is very different from the long-term occupational exposure experienced by refinery workers or emergency responders, for whom risks of cancer and lung diseases are much higher and better studied.
Who is most at risk?
When air quality worsens, people with existing lung conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are more likely to experience symptom flare-ups.
Smoke particles can irritate already inflamed airways, leading to increased breathlessness and coughing. For those with existing respiratory conditions, this may mean needing to use reliever medications more frequently than normal.
Those with heart disease are also at greater risk as air pollution can place extra strain on the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of chest pain, irregular heartbeat and heart failure.
Older people are also generally more sensitive to poor air quality because they are more likely to have chronic diseases and their heart and lungs might not work as well as they did when they were young.
Children have the greatest risk of developing health issues in the longer term, as their lungs are still developing. But the risks from an isolated exposure, such as the Geelong fire, are relatively low.
The fire has caused some damage to the Viva Energy Geelong refinery in Corio, Victoria.Jay Kogler/AAP
Some studies suggest repeated or prolonged exposure to air pollution during pregnancy may increase the likelihood of adverse outcomes for babies, such as low birth weight. But again, the risk for pregnant people from an isolated incident such as this is low.
These kind of events often make people worry about cancer risk. But based on what we know, being exposed in the short term, from a single fire, does not meaningfully increase your risk of developing cancer – though these kinds of events are difficult to study, so evidence remains limited.
Cancers associated with oil refinery emissions are linked to years or decades of exposure, usually among workers and those in heavily polluted environments.
So while monitoring the air pollution and for any health issues is still necessary, it’s important to keep the risk in perspective.
Continued follow-up of workers directly involved in firefighting or cleanup will be essential, as their exposure levels are likely to be much higher than those in the surrounding community.
How to protect yourself from smoke
There are practical steps people can take to reduce their exposure if smoke or poor air quality persists.
It sounds obvious, but the less time you spend outside in smoke, the lower your risk of health issues cause by smoke inhalation.
Staying indoors with windows and doors closed can significantly reduce your exposure to particles, especially if air conditioning is set to recirculate indoor air.
If you have asthma or other chronic lung diseases, it’s important to keep your reliever close at hand, follow your existing written action plan, and seek medical advice early if symptoms worsen. This can prevent more serious flare-ups.
Well-fitting P2 or N95 masks can reduce inhalation of fine particles when worn correctly. Loose-fitting surgical or cloth masks provide much less protection against smoke.
Residents in and around Geelong concerned about air quality can check real-time monitoring data for the area at the Victorian Environment Protection Authority website.
If your symptoms worsen or persist, you should speak to a health-care professional, and in emergency always call triple 0.
Business New Zealand is making what it says is a rare plea for business supports – in the form of below-market rate loans to help businesses shift away from gas.
The pitch comes on the back of a report by the group’s Energy Council, which has found up to 8 percent of GDP and about 264,000 jobs directly rely on businesses using gas, expanding out to up to $36 billion in GDP and up to 400,000 jobs indirectly.
The group’s director of advocacy Catherine Beard told RNZ that because gas fields had declined faster than expected, gas costs were going up.
“The reason it’s getting expensive is because there’s not enough of it. So if we actually free up a bit for those that you know can’t move for maybe 10 years, then we think the transition will go a lot better.
“It’s all sorts. It’s dairy, meat, food and beverage, product manufacturing, wood product manufacturing, textile, leather, clothing, footwear, cropping agriculture, but it’s also small businesses, from bakeries to breweries to dry cleaners, hot houses.
“It’s more of a central North Island problem because the South Island tends to be on bottled gas, and they’re not having the same cost increase. But, yeah, it’s right through the whole economy.”
The situation was created by the political decision to ban oil and gas while moving towards net zero, she said.
“The oil and gas ban certainly didn’t give anyone confidence to go out looking for more gas – so … a whole lot of businesses that are facing increased costs for gas which are pretty much threatening their survival.
“It’s not something that Business NZ would normally advocate for, you know – we’re not into calling for subsidies, but … we feel like this is a politically created problem and it’s not a normal market situation that you would kind of cut off access to a lower cost energy source before you had to.”
She said businesses faced a cost barrier in switching from gas to other energy sources, so interest-free or concessionary loans from the government could help.
“We need to have some sort of plan. Other countries do this, it’s very common. We seem to have just ended up in a very high cost energy situation, and it’s not really sustainable.
The $200 million the government set aside for co-investment in oil and gas exploration was unlikely to be used, she said, and could help fund the loans.
“We talked to the oil and gas companies as well and if there’s a case for them to invest, it normally stacks up on its own. And I’m not sure that it has removed the sovereign risk when you still have the opposition saying that they would continue with a ban of oil and gas if they get back in.
“That’s potentially money that is going to be sitting on the table and not used. So we would like them to do a pretty good, thorough investigation of what support is needed on the demand side.
“If I had a political legacy, I wouldn’t be happy to have have boosted energy supply and forgotten about the demand side – and there’s no point in having this energy in the future if there’s no one left to use it.”
RNZ has sought comment from Energy Minister Simeon Brown.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
The managers of the New Zealand’s $86 billion Super Fund failed to properly address human rights issues when considering whether to exclude companies from its investments, the High Court has found
Justice Simon Mount granted an application by the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA) for judicial review of Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation’s policies relating to ethical investment.
In a decision released today, Justice Mount declared parts of the fund’s policy documents, standards and procedures, and its sustainable investment framework were “unreasonable and unlawful”.
The court also ordered the crown entity to pay PSNA’s legal costs.
PSNA co-chair John Minto said the decision was a victory for Palestinian rights, while Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation said it was considering its next move.
The sovereign wealth fund was created in 2001 to help provide for New Zealander’s superannuation costs.
By law, Guardians are required to invest the funds on a prudent commercial basis, manage and administer the fund with best-practice portfolio management, and avoid prejudice to New Zealand’s reputation as “a responsible member of the world community”.
Backbone of case That last duty formed the backbone of the case taken by PSNA, who have long lobbied the Guardians to divest from companies it claims to be complicit in human rights abuses in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The Guardians excluded development, construction and technology companies involved in settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories in 2012.
In 2021, following years of lobbying by PSNA, the Guardians also excluded five Israeli banks from its portfolio on the grounds there was an unacceptable risk the banks were materially contributing to breaches of human rights standards and that engaging with the banks themselves was unlikely to be effective.
PSNA continued to request the exclusion of other investments due to alleged human rights breaches and focused on four companies that featured on a United Nations Human Rights Council database of companies trading with illegal Israeli settlements — Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia, and Motorola.
Justice Mount said the chief executive of the Guardians replied to the group in mid-2024 noting none of the companies “currently meets the exclusion threshold under our Sustainable Investment Framework”.
Justice Simon Mount . . . Super Fund policies failed to meet the basic requirements of the law when alleged breaches of human rights standards were concerned. Image: Stuff/Robyn Edie/RNZ
In later correspondence, the Guardians’ head of sustainable investment reiterated that stance, which led PSNA to indicate it would seek the judicial review.
In his findings, Justice Mount noted the Guardian’s 2020 policy documents identified several standards and benchmarks that were later removed — including the Principles for Responsible Investment, principles of the UN Global Compact, and a broad reference to “other good practice standards”.
Earlier policy removed The earlier policy referred to several sets of standards described as “universally recognised by the world community — with signatories including investment managers, investee companies and the peers of Guardians — and unlikely to be superseded”.
The 2020 policy stated its applicable principles were based on the UN Global Compact, in particular the requirements to support and respect human rights and “no complicity in abuses”.
It also set a threshold for excluding government bonds where there was “widespread condemnation or sanctions by the international community and New Zealand has imposed meaningful diplomatic, economic or military sanctions”.
Justice Mount noted the almost 3000 pages of evidence filed for the judicial review allowed him to gain a picture of how the Guardians had used their policy documents in practice.
The judge noted the Guardians’ approach to excluding investments was not entirely coherent and the policies failed to meet the basic requirements of the law when alleged breaches of human rights standards were concerned.
The Guardians had a duty to reformulate its policy documents to be consistent with the Act, he said.
Minto celebrated the court’s ruling.
PSNA co-chair John Minto . . . The country’s leading sovereign wealth fund should . . . not be deriving money from war crimes and massive human rights abuses. Image: RNZ/Nate McKinnon
Fund raking in money The group was confident the Super Fund would divest from Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia and Motorola once it had rewritten its policies to comply with the law, he said.
The High Court judgment showed the Super Fund had invested $67 million in the four companies.
Minto said the fund was raking in money from appalling breaches of international law by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territories of Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The country’s leading sovereign wealth fund should be setting the benchmark for all New Zealand investment funds, not deriving money from war crimes and massive human rights abuses, he said.
The lack of a clear grounds to exclude companies from investment because of human rights abuses were particularly problematic, Minto said.
“This is beyond outrageous. Our largest sovereign wealth fund, owned by the government on behalf of the people of New Zealand, has no specific references to human rights standards in its investment exclusions policy.”
The case had revealed the exclusions policy was weakened and direct references to human rights standards were removed the year after the fund divested from five Israeli banks, Minto said.
Replaced with vague policy “The Super Fund replaced a principled policy with an entirely vague and subjective assessment of companies which meant they could resist pressure from human rights groups such as PSNA.
“The fund was entirely making up legal sounding excuses as it went. It meant they could now keep on their books other companies which abuse the human rights of Palestinians,” he said.
“The Super Fund owes us all an apology and in particular an apology to Palestinians here and in Palestine, whose suffering is helping pay the price of the fund’s increasing wealth.”
Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation chief executive Jo Townsend said the crown entity was still considering its response to the decision.
“We recognise that we are investing on behalf of all New Zealanders, and that gives people a legitimate interest in how we manage the fund,” she said.
“We will thoroughly evaluate today’s decision and determine how best to respond to it,” she said.
The UN Human Rights Council database featuring the four companies is from a list of 97 companies involved with illegal Israeli settlements.
Israeli media reported at the time that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully proceeding with the resolution wold be considered a “declaration of war”.
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 April 2026 – EduCareerSG has enhanced its Experiential Career Accelerator (ECA) programme through the integration of AI-enabled monitoring and support tools designed to strengthen trainees’ emotional readiness as they transition into the workforce.
The integration reflects EduCareerSG’s long-held belief that emotional management is not separate from employability, but a critical component of it. By embedding AI capabilities into its existing systems and modules, EduCareerSG is able to detect potential stress signals earlier, enabling faster intervention and more personalised support from its human welfare team.
“Technical skills and qualifications may get someone through the door, but emotional management determines whether they stay, grow, and cope when things get difficult,” said Mike Teo, Founder of EduCareerSG. “We have seen trainees who are capable on paper, but overwhelmed in practice. By integrating AI into our system, we are able to spot early warning signs and intervene sooner. Career readiness isn’t just about competence, it’s about resilience.”
Through structured weekly check-ins and ongoing engagement within the ECA ecosystem, the system helps surface early signs of workplace stress, adjustment challenges, or emotional strain commonly faced by young people entering live work environments. When potential concerns are identified, alerts are routed to EduCareerSG’s welfare team, where trained staff step in to provide direct guidance and counselling support.
Importantly, the AI functions as an assistive layer rather than a replacement for human oversight. The organisation maintains a human-first approach, with welfare officers taking over whenever emotional risk indicators arise.
The enhancement comes at a time when employers increasingly expect “day-one productivity”, while many young workers struggle with the emotional realities of adapting from classroom settings to workplace environments.
Recent Singapore reports have highlighted rising stress levels among employees and early-career professionals, alongside broader conversations around resilience and sustainable employability. Against this backdrop, EduCareerSG’s approach seeks to address not only skills gaps, but the emotional preparedness required to sustain performance in real-world settings.
Initially implemented within EduCareerSG’s ECA trainees in Singapore, the enhanced system forms part of a broader roadmap to continually upgrade the organisation’s training, welfare, and productivity frameworks. EduCareerSG will review performance and feedback over the coming months before assessing potential regional expansion.
By combining sponsored academic pathways, structured workplace immersion, and technology-enabled emotional support, EduCareerSG continues to refine a holistic workforce preparation model, one that recognises productivity, wellbeing, and long-term employability as interconnected pillars of success.
Hashtag: #EduCareerSG
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 April 2026 – On April 14, the two-day 2026 World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit, themed “Digital and Intelligent Empowerment for Innovative Development — Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace,” came to a successful conclusion.
This year marks the second consecutive time that Hong Kong has hosted the international conference. Approximately 1,000 participants attended, including ministerial-level officials from government departments, senior representatives of international organizations, diplomatic envoys to China, leaders from prominent internet enterprises, as well as experts and scholars from more than 50 countries and regions.
John Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, stated that the successful hosting of the summit fully demonstrates Hong Kong’s unique advantages under the “One Country, Two Systems” framework. The HKSAR Government is accelerating the development of innovation and technology, with artificial intelligence as a key pillar. Hong Kong ranks among the world’s leading economies in AI readiness and is committed to harnessing the power of AI in a responsible and inclusive manner.
Zhuang Rongwen, Chairman of the World Internet Conference and Director of the Cyberspace Administration of China, noted that the summit aims to align with the accelerating trends of digitalization, networking, and intelligent transformation. It seeks to build consensus and pool strengths across sectors, leveraging new achievements and cooperation outcomes in the digital and intelligent fields to make greater contributions toward a brighter digital future for the Asia-Pacific region.
On the afternoon of April 13, the main forum of the 2026 World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit, along with the Distinguished Contributors Ceremony, was held in Hong Kong.
Wang Jingtao, Deputy Director of the Cyberspace Administration of China, and Francis Gurry, Vice Chairman of the World Internet Conference and former Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization, attended and delivered keynote speeches. Ren Xianliang, Secretary-General of the World Internet Conference, was also present.
Wang Jingtao pointed out that the global wave of intelligent transformation is surging, with breakthroughs in artificial intelligence emerging collectively. He emphasized the need to build consensus and deepen cooperation to address the critical question of how digital technologies can better benefit humanity. He proposed four key measures:
Uphold openness and cooperation to expand the digital economy;
Promote inclusiveness and shared benefits to bridge digital and intelligence divides;
Strengthen coordinated governance to build a fair and equitable cyberspace order;
Reinforce security foundations to safeguard cyberspace safety.
Francis Gurry stated that digital and intelligent empowerment means enabling individuals, enterprises, institutions, and diverse cultural and economic actors to adapt to the digital and AI environment, seize social and economic opportunities, and share in development dividends. He emphasized that all stakeholders bear important responsibilities in this process. The Distinguished Contributors Ceremony was established to honor individuals and enterprises that have driven the development of digital and intelligent technologies, recognizing both their technological excellence and their deep concern for the societal impact of technological transformation.
Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government, and Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, also attended and delivered speeches. Other distinguished participants included Wu Jianping, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Director of the Zhongguancun Laboratory; Nii Quaynor, Chairman of Ghana Dot Com and recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Contribution Award; and Kilnam Chon, Honorary Professor at KAIST and also a 2024 award recipient. Wu Dong, Chief Engineer of the Cyberspace Administration of China, also attended the event.
The event invited individuals, enterprises, and prominent figures who have made outstanding contributions to the development of the global internet. Through keynote speeches, roundtable discussions, and personal narratives, participants shared their practices and insights on building a community with a shared future in cyberspace. The program featured four thematic sections: “Tribute to the Connectors of the World,” “Tribute to Technological Innovators,” “Tribute to Digital Pioneers — Hong Kong Dialogue,” and “Tribute to Technology for Good.” Participants also explored future directions and opportunities for artificial intelligence.
During the event, the launch of the 2026 World Internet Conference Leading Science and Technology Awards and the global call for case studies on jointly building a community with a shared future in cyberspace were announced. The launch ceremony for the 2026 Distinguished Contribution Awards was also held.
On April 14, six sub-forums on different themes were held in Hong Kong. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on topics including intelligent agent innovation and applications, digital finance, AI safety governance, smart livelihoods, digital health, and the digitalization and dissemination of classical texts.
On the same day, ten think tanks participating in the World Internet Conference Think Tank Cooperation Program released a series of research outcomes at the Smart Livelihoods and Digital Finance Forum of the 2026 Asia-Pacific Summit.
The 2026 World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit was organized by the World Internet Conference, hosted by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, and co-organized by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the HKSAR Government.
Hashtag: #WorldInternetConference
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.