ASB is preparing to support customers who may be affected by the forecast cyclone expected to impact parts of the North Island this weekend.
Targeted support will be offered to any weather impacted customers on a case-by-case basis, with options including:
Deferring home loan repayments for up to three months or interest only for three months.
Immediate consideration of requests for emergency credit card limit increases.
Tailored solutions for eligible ASB business and rural customers including access to working capital of up to $100,000.
ASB Executive General Manager Personal Banking Adam Boyd says the bank is ready to respond quickly to customer needs.
“With Cyclone Vaianu forecast to bring severe weather, we want customers to know support is available if they need it.
“Our teams are prepared to help and can work with customers to find practical solutions that suit their situation.”
To discuss support options, personal customers should call ASB’s contact centre on 0800 803 804. Alternatively, customers can email hardship@asb.co.nz. Affected ASB business and rural customers should speak to their relationship manager or call 0800 272 287.
Asia Pacific holds the largest share of ranked markets on the Index for the first time in more than a decade, claiming 10 out of 25 spots.
Japan, China, Singapore, South Korea and India see leaps in ranking as Thailand and Malaysia re-enter the top 25.
Technological and innovation capabilities emerges as the most important factor shaping investment decisions.
Industrial policy is now critical in investment decisions, with 84 percent of investors citing it as extremely or very important.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 April 2026 – Kearney’s Global Business Policy Council today released the 2026 Foreign Direct Investment Confidence Index (FDICI), an annual survey of global business executives that ranks markets most likely to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) over the next three years. The 2026 Index sees Asia Pacific (APAC) claiming the largest share of the ranked markets (10 out of 25) for the first time in more than a decade, amid a global investment environment shaped by intensifying geopolitical tensions, expanding industrial policy, and accelerating technological competition.
The survey, conducted in January 2026 among more than 500 senior executives from leading corporations worldwide, shows that companies remain committed to international investment despite mounting uncertainty. Eighty-eight percent of respondents say they plan to increase foreign direct investment over the next three years, signaling sustained confidence in long-term global opportunities.
The United States and Canada retain their first and second positions on the Index. Japan rises to third, and China (including Hong Kong) climbs to fourth. Singapore (8th), South Korea (11th) and India (22nd) post gains as Thailand (20th) and Malaysia (21st) re-enter the top 25 list after three and 12 years respectively— reflecting a strong showing from APAC.
“The APAC region emerges as a winner as investors recalibrate how they make decisions in a more turbulent operating environment,” said Shigeru Sekinada, Region Chair, Asia Pacific at Kearney. “The technological capability, economic growth potential, and geopolitical relevance offered by the top-ranking APAC markets make them choice FDI destinations among a business community that is both actively pursuing emerging opportunities and attentive to mounting complexities and risks.”
Middle powers and emerging markets attract renewed investor interest
Most APAC markets in the top 25 list saw improvements in rankings, but none as remarkable as Singapore, which rose from 15th to 8th place. This leap can be attributed to the city-state’s reputation as a hub for R&D and innovation, supported by tax incentives, research grants, and partnerships. One third (34 percent) of investors in the survey cite Singapore’s technological innovation as the strongest reason to invest there, followed by its economic performance (30 percent), driven by expansions in biomedical manufacturing and electronics, and sustained AI-driven semiconductor and server related growth.
Singapore’s significant gain in this year’s Index, alongside those of markets like Saudi Arabia, reflects the rise of “middle powers”—markets that are neither great powers nor small states but still exercise meaningful influence in international politics and generally abide by global rules and norms.
Meanwhile, emerging markets remain dynamic and increasingly interconnected with global investment flows. China ranks as the top market on the Emerging Markets Index for the third consecutive year. Thailand and Malaysia (6th and 7th on the Emerging Markets Index) post some of the largest gains in the rankings while Vietnam (16th) rises three spots.Investor sentiment toward emerging markets has improved modestly year over year, suggesting that companies are increasingly looking beyond traditional investment hubs as they expand supply chains and pursue growth opportunities across a broader set of emerging markets.
Innovation drives investment decisions
Technological and innovation capabilities rank as the most important factor influencing where companies choose to invest, surpassing traditional considerations such as regulatory efficiency and domestic economic performance. As investment in artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and data-driven technologies accelerates worldwide, markets with strong innovation ecosystems are increasingly viewed as the most attractive destinations for long-term investment.
Investors cite technological innovation as the strongest or tied strongest reason to invest in 10 of the 25 markets on the Index, including Japan, China, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan (China).
Geopolitical risk and industrial policy reshape the investment landscape
Executives remain alert to rising global risks even as investment intentions remain strong. Geopolitical tensions rank as the most likely development over the next year (36 percent), followed by commodity price increases and political instability in developed markets (30 percent).
“Geopolitical instability and rising commodity prices have proven to be major factors impacting global business this year, as reflected in the current Middle East conflict. Supply chain resilience, diversification of energy sources and government policies will be crucial for markets to maintain their attractiveness in the eyes of investors in the medium term,” said Sekinada.
At the same time, industrial policy is playing an increasingly central role in shaping investment decisions. According to the survey, 84 percent of investors globally say industrial policy is extremely or very important in determining where they invest, and 57 percent believe it has a positive impact on their company’s business performance. APAC investors show strong support for infrastructure development and subsidies as the most effective industrial policy tools, with 88 percent of investors in the region viewing infrastructure-focused industrial policy as favorable, and 80 percent saying the same for subsidies.
About the 2026 Kearney FDI Confidence Index®
The 2026 Kearney FDI Confidence Index® is constructed using primary data from a proprietary survey of 507 senior executives of the world’s leading corporations. The survey was conducted in January 2026. Respondents include C-level executives and regional and business leaders. All participating companies have annual revenues of $500 million or more. The companies are headquartered in 30 countries and span all sectors.
The Index is calculated as a weighted average of the number of high, medium, and low responses to questions on the likelihood of making a direct investment in a select market over the next three years.
Index values are based on responses only from companies headquartered in foreign markets. For example, the Index value for the United States was calculated without responses from US-headquartered investors. Higher Index values indicate more attractive investment targets.
All economic growth figures presented in the report are the latest estimates and forecasts available from Oxford Economics unless otherwise noted. Other secondary sources include investment promotion agencies, central banks, ministries of finance and trade, relevant news media, and other major data sources.
Legislation which strengthens trespass laws to make them more effective and practical for businesses has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
“This government is committed to fixing the basics in law and order, and building a future where all New Zealanders can feel safe in their communities. One basic function that needs fixing, is the ability for a business owner to trespass somebody and stop them from returning.
“The Trespass Act is not working effectively in a modern-day urban retail environment. Retailers are rightly very concerned about offenders engaging in criminal behaviour such as theft, and then just returning with impunity to do it all over again.
“These laws have remained virtually unchanged since the 1980s, when its focus was the removal of people from places like farms and private dwellings. They do not work for areas where the public freely enters, such as malls, busy shops, dairies and supermarkets. This legislation changes that.”
The Bill amends the Trespass Act by:
Increasing the maximum trespass period from two years to three years.
Allow businesses, such as franchises, to trespass individuals from multiple locations.
Increase the maximum fine for anyone refusing to leave when asked, or returning when trespassed from $1,000 to $2,000.
Increase the maximum fine for anyone refusing to give their name and address when requested, or giving false information, from $500 to $1,000.
The Bill will also close a loophole where people can avoid being trespassed by threatening the occupier, or simply walking away before they can be informed.
Under the Bill, a person will be ‘deemed’ to know they have been trespassed in retail and hospitality spaces, when the occupier has clear evidence of an attempt being made.
The panel which inquired into alleged conduct by Judge Ema Aitken has found her removal is not justified, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
“The Judicial Conduct Panel has found that Judge Aitken’s actions were a serious breach of comity. Comity requires each branch of Government – the Executive, the Judiciary and the Legislature – to act with mutual restraint and respect towards the others.
“However, the Panel considered the Judge’s conduct fell short of the high threshold of ‘misbehaviour’ necessary to warrant consideration of her removal. Therefore, Judge Aitken will remain an Acting District Court Judge until her warrant expires in February 2027.
“I would like to thank all those who participated in this assessment and the panel members for their service. Judicial conduct panels are an important mechanism to maintaining trust and confidence in the judiciary.
Police were working out what happened, treating the death as a homicide.
A post-mortem examination was underway, and a scene guard remained in place at the property.
An RNZ reporter on the scene on Thursday said there were armed officers there, and people in white forensics suits taking photos of items on the grass berm.
A tent had been set up across the footpath and part of the street, and another marquee was erected on a property’s front garden.
E-bikes are one way commuters are getting around. (File photo)RNZ / Richard Tindiller
Electric mobility devices like e-scooters and e-bikes are proving popular as more people look to beat anxiety over fuel supply questions.
As petrol prices conitnue to rise, TradeMe data shows searches for e-scooters had jumped 68 percent compared to this time last year.
Electric scooter shop owner Jen Hobbs said the devices were already popular among students.
“They’re everywhere. Young kids on the footpath going to and from school on these little scooters, and sometimes you see kids on big powerful scooters too, and I’m equivocal about that.”
But in Australia, one state had expressed concerns over teenagers zipping around too fast on the devices, endangering themselves and those around them.
A Queensland parliamentary inquiry recommended tighter rules around using e-mobility devices, including an age limit, and a learner’s driver’s license.
University of Melbourne researcher Milad Haghani said the recommendations would work well as a short-term solution.
“But from the standpoint of policy makers, you have to understand that they need to come up with quick policy lines that would fix the problem in the short term until we can figure out how to stop the infiltration of illegal and high-speed e-bikes and e-scooters into our streets.”
Dr Milad Haghani is a researcher at University of Melbourne, he supports banning under 16s from e-bikes and e-scooters in Queensland.Supplied/Milad Haghani
He said it’s a policy that can be viewed in the same “spirit” as the latest ban on social media.
“Can young kids benefit from accessing social media to some degrees as well if they use it responsibly? Yes, but the Australian policymaker has decided that the potential for harm is much greater than any benefit and as such has moved on to restrict the access.”
In New Zealand, concerns were also growing as data revealed young people were well represented in statistics on e-scooter related injuries.
In 2022, about 40 percent of new e-scooter related ACC claims were from those under 25-years-old. This grew to 47 percent last year.
Part of the rise was being driven by claims for 10 to 14-year-olds, which tripled during that time.
While Haghani believed a ban on under 16-year-olds would be fair, University of Queensland researcher Dorina Pojani thought even a temporary ban would impact some families too much.
“My own research focuses quite a lot on gender, and I found that mothers are often overburdened by the need to chauffeur children from activities to activity. Fathers do, but often these kinds of things are done by mothers. And having children be able to travel independently would be a huge thing for families.”
Dr Dorina Pojani from the University of Queensland doesn’t support banning under 16s from e-bikes and e-scooters.Supplied / Dorina Pojani
She did not support an age limit but believed teaching younger riders about road rules could help.
Hobbs said the appropriate age should depend on the child. For example, a 10-year-old with good spatial awareness could be trusted with an e-scooter that could go as fast as 30kph, but for other children they needed to be older.
“It is, of course, a good idea for the riders to have some training about how to be considerate of others. I think a sensible distinction is that if you don’t have a driver’s license, then you should not be operating any vehicle on the road.”
Anyone without a license could ride on the footpath or cycle lane instead, she said.
Hobbs wanted to see a policy that focused on rider behaviour.
“I think the speed limit on the footpath should be 15 kilometers per hour. I think the rule should be that you have to dismount around pedestrians. And I think the speed limit on all roads should apply. If the rule is there, then it can be enforced.”
Maurice Wells, from the Electric Bike Team, said neither rules would keep his children safe.
“I would absolutely have mixed feelings about putting them on an e-bike. My main concern about when they should ride an e-bike is not based on their exact age. It’s based on their skills at controlling a bike and it’s based on the environment in which they’re riding.”
Maurice Wells, from the Electric Bike Shop, thinks a driver’s license is not the best way to keep young riders safe on the road.Supplied
He said licensing would be difficult to enforce, and would not keep children safe on the road.
“That’s not to say people don’t have to know the road rules, but I think when you are a vulnerable road user on a bicycle or a scooter you have an in-built incentive or motivation to understand how the road rules work.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 April 2026 – With warmer conditions expected in the coming weeks, Singapore’s heat and humidity could contribute to increased fatigue and reduced mental clarity among urbanites balancing long commutes and high-pressure work.
Despite the sweltering weather, Singaporeans’ passion for an active lifestyle remains strong—from post-work gym sessions to weekend outdoor runs. To help Singaporeans maintain their peak performance, iHerb has curated a “Heatwave Essentials” guide focused on hydration, fatigue resistance, and recovery.
As part of this initiative, iHerb is offering a 22% discount sitewide from April 10 to April 24, with consumers able to apply the promo code “78IHERB” at checkout.
Essentials for Hydration and Recovery
In Singapore’s climate, sweating is constant—but many don’t realise that perspiration depletes both water and essential electrolytes, which is why plain water alone may not be enough to prevent fatigue.
For Instant Hydration:Nuun Sport Electrolyte Tablets are a top choice for active commuters, offering a balanced blend of sodium, potassium, and magnesium.
For Natural Purity:Wilderness Poets Evaporated Coconut Water Powder provides a refreshing, sugar-free alternative rich in natural potassium.
For Long-term Balance:Nutricost Potassium + Magnesium capsules offer high-efficiency support to maintain neuromuscular balance and prevent heat-induced weakness.
Expanded Heatwave Essentials for Daily Wellness and Recovery
As part of its “Heatwave Essentials” guide, iHerb features a curated selection of products that supports broader daily wellness needs during warmer conditions. This includes supplements commonly incorporated into routines for general nutritional support, post-activity recovery, and day-to-day maintenance:
Swanson Albion Magnesium Glycinate is a popular choice for supporting relaxation and overall daily wellness.
California Gold Nutrition Brain Health vegetarian capsules provide multi-nutrient support for those requiring prolonged focus.
Nutricost HMB Capsules have become a favorite among the local fitness community for supporting physical endurance and recovery under high-temperature conditions.
Doctor’s Best Natural Vision Enhancers – formulated with lutein, zeaxanthin, and omega-3 (DHA/EPA), and included within iHerb’s broader wellness offering.
Shop Smarter, Live Cooler
To support the growing demand for daily health management, iHerb is offering a 22% discount sitewide from April 10 until April 24. Simply enter the promo code “78IHERB” at checkout to access savings across a wide range of health and wellness products, including those featured in the “Heatwave Essentials” selection.
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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
The Public Service Association (PSA) says further job cuts at Te Puni Kōkiri the Ministry of Māori Development would gut the Crown’s ability to meet Te Tiriti obligations.
The PSA said staff had recently received a change proposal which would cut 45 roles and establish 18 to meet government spending reductions.
If it proceeds 27 roles will be cut, impacting the ministry’s people capability and culture, Māori capability, health and safety, information systems, and property and finance functions.
PSA kaihautū Māori Jack McDonald said the cumulative job cuts would decimate Te Puni Kōkiri.
“These proposed cuts would mean the overall loss of more than 100 roles, about 21 percent of the workforce, further gutting the Crown’s ability to meet their Te Tiriti obligations and deliver improved outcomes for Māori.”
In a statement to RNZ, Te Puni Kōkiri said it was consulting with kaimahi on proposed organisational changes, and no final decisions had been made.
“We recognise that this is a challenging time for our people. Our priority is to ensure kaimahi are kept informed, supported, and have the opportunity to engage meaningfully in the consultation process.
“We are committed to a fair and transparent process and will carefully consider all feedback before any decisions are finalised. We will take the time to carefully consider all feedback before any decisions are made.”
McDonald said Te Puni Kōkiri led critically important work, including advising government on kaupapa Māori and Māori/Crown relations.
“These senseless cuts will mean the work of supporting ministers and senior leaders will fall on already stretched staff. This mahi is often unseen and unpaid and will increase the risks of burnout and increased stress for staff.
“Axing Māori capability roles that support Te Puni Kōkiri kaimahi strengthening their te reo Māori and tikanga Māori will hamper the organisation’s ability to engage effectively with te ao Māori, which is critical to the work of Te Puni Kōkiri.
“Te Puni Kōkiri has a proud tradition over decades in ensuring that public services deliver for Māori. It is very disappointing that its legacy is being undermined.”
The PSA said the final decision would be announced at the end of April.
The review was announced following an Official Information Act (OIA) request by RNZ about procurement practices at the agency.
In the OIA the SIA provided a table setting out all contracts with a value of over $100,000 that were initiated or maintained between January 2025 and March 2026.
The 13 contracts, which combined are worth nearly $7m, included work by Datacom, Potentia Wellington Limited, Chapman Tripp, Olympus Consulting Limited, First Stanza Limited, Deloitte Limited, Likemind Limited, Audit New Zealand and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Following further questions from RNZ, a SIA spokesperson said on Wednesday that internal procurement processes “including requirements for managing and declaring conflicts of interest, are being considered as part of the broader review of all contracts with a value exceeding $100,000”.
The SIA earlier said that 10 of the contracts related to work within the scope of the Deputy Chief Executive – Strategy and Performance and/or the Deputy Chief Executive – Technology, Transformation and Enabling Services roles.
“While this includes all contracts within those functional areas, not all of the contracts listed involved work commissioned or directed by the former Deputy Chief Executive.”
Lawyers acting for Reiri told RNZ on Friday she had no prior personal connection to providers that were contracted by SIA and therefore no conflicts to declare.
The lawyers earlier said that Reiri was not aware of any allegations relating to financial and procurement irregularities concerning herself or any other person.
“To the extent there are any allegations of this nature, these are false and denied.”
As part of the OIA RNZ also asked for a copy of all briefings, correspondence and reports in relation to investigations into Reiri.
“SIA has identified 63 documents within scope of your request. These documents relate to employment related processes and the internal consideration of allegations, including terms of reference, correspondence, and one email relating to alleged financial and procurement matters.
“The documents concern sensitive employment and internal matters and contain personal information. It is necessary for SIA to be able to manage employment issues and assess allegations effectively, including by enabling staff and other parties to communicate freely and candidly in the course of such processes.”
In an earlier OIA released to RNZ, the SIA confirmed there had been two employment investigations over the last 12 months.
“I am also able to confirm that there has been one investigation in response to four formal reports of bullying and harassment. In the interest of privacy, we cannot provide a breakdown as to what each allegation was concerning.”
RNZ understands the investigation, which is ongoing, relates to Reiri.
“As a responsible employer, SIA takes these matters seriously and all complaints are investigated and followed through to the end. We have robust policies and procedures to manage disclosure of any allegations including protected disclosures (speak safe) and bullying and harassment policies, which provide informal and formal options for staff to raise concerns of serious wrongdoing and bullying and harassment.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
The Oceania Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament has been thrown into sudden disruption, with key semi-final matches in Hamilton rescheduled due to the looming threat of Cyclone Vaianu.
Tournament organisers have brought Sunday’s fixtures forward by 24 hours as severe weather warnings blanket the North Island, with heavy rain and damaging winds forecast to intensify over the weekend.
Officials said the decision was made to ensure the safety of participants and fans attending the games.
The Oceania semi-finals between the Football Ferns and Fiji and Papua New Guinea (PNG) and American Samoa were originally scheduled for Sunday afternoon in Hamilton.
They will now be played Saturday, with PNG playing American Samoa at midday and New Zealand playing Fiji at 4pm.
The winner of those games will meet in Albany on Wednesday, with a place at the 2027 World Cup up for grabs.
The loser of the Oceania final will head to the inter-confederation play-offs.
In a bid to accommodate fans affected by the late change, organisers have made the matches free to attend. Supporters will not need to book tickets in advance and can simply arrive at the stadium on the day. All tickets purchased for the original Sunday fixtures will be refunded.
Lisa Jones, general manager competitions and international events at New Zealand Football, said the organisation supported the decision by OFC.
“From the advice we have been given, we strongly feel this is the best option to allow the fixtures to be played and to ensure the safety of everyone attending the matches.
“With a considerable number of people looking to attend the games, this is a decision we wanted made as early as possible to ensure we didn’t have people travelling in potentially dangerous conditions.
“We now look forward to two great semi-finals being played on Saturday ahead of next week’s final in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.”
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jennifer Parker, Adjunct Professor, Defence and Security Institute, The University of Western Australia; UNSW Sydney
Wednesday’s ceasefire announcement by President Donald Trump, linked to Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, prompted immediate optimism shipping would quickly resume. It didn’t.
The following morning, traffic remained minimal. A handful of vessels, largely linked to Iran, made the transit. But most of the ships waiting in the Gulf stayed put. Iran announced shortly afterwards that it would effectively close the strait because of Israel’s attacks on Lebanon.
The reality is the strait was never closed. Framing the issue as “open” or “closed” misses the point.
Ships are not being physically blocked. They are being deterred.
Over recent weeks, Iran has demonstrated both the capability and intent to target commercial shipping. Attacks and credible threats against vessels have driven daily transits down from around 130 to just a handful. Until that risk changes, ships will not return in meaningful numbers.
So what can be done to turn this around?
Both walking and talking
The ceasefire declarations have added to the uncertainty rather than resolved it.
Tehran’s messaging has been more ambiguous, including references to requiring vessels to inform Iranian authorities before transiting.
Some interpret this as a precursor to attempts to exert control over the waterway through a toll.
This ambiguity matters. Shipping is a commercial activity driven by risk calculations. Operators and crews will not move on the basis of political statements, particularly when recent experience suggests those statements may not hold.
In practice, restoring traffic through the strait will likely occur in two phases.
The first is reducing the threat. That can occur through military means, diplomacy, or a combination of both, but it must materially degrade Iran’s ability and willingness to target shipping.
The second is reassurance.
Even if Iran’s attacks on civilian shipping stop as a result of the ceasefire, shipping will not immediately return. Confidence has been shaken and will take time to rebuild.
A credible reassurance effort would include limited naval escorts, at least initially. It’s notable the US did not move immediately to demonstrate confidence in the ceasefire by escorting US flagged and crewed commercial vessels out of the Gulf.
That would have sent a clear signal to industry, helped restore confidence in transits and undercut subsequent Iranian claims that ships require approval from its armed forces.
Given Iran’s interest in maintaining the ceasefire, it would have been unlikely to challenge ships under US naval protection. The US hesitation has instead created space for Iran to entrench its position, pushing vessels closer to its coastline and reinforcing its ability to shape how the strait is used.
An effective reassurance campaign would also involve a broader international presence to provide surveillance, information-sharing and rapid response capability. The international community should move quickly to establish this. Its very establishment would help restore confidence in transits.
We have seen this model before. The International Maritime Security Construct, established in 2019 following Iranian attacks in the Gulf of Oman, focused on transparency, coordination and reassurance rather than large-scale convoy operations.
I served as the construct’s Director of Plans in 2020. A similar, but more effective, approach is likely to be required again. It is not a silver bullet, but reassurance is layered, and this would at least provide the clarity and communication shippers need.
Diplomacy will also matter. Clear, coordinated messaging from the international community, backed by explicit economic consequences for any renewed attacks on merchant shipping, will be essential to rebuilding confidence.
The question of tolls
There has also been speculation about whether Iran might seek to impose a toll on vessels transiting the strait.
The legal position here is clear. The Strait of Hormuz is an international strait under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Ships enjoy the right of transit passage through the strait. Charging vessels for passage would cut directly against that principle and set a dangerous precedent for other strategic waterways.
There are early signs Iran is testing the boundaries. Reports of radio calls warning vessels they require approval to transit, and suggestions that ships should notify Iranian authorities before transiting, point to an attempt to exert greater control over the strait.
That should be resisted.
[embedded content]
Allowing a toll, or even limited restrictions, to take hold in the Strait of Hormuz would have far-reaching consequences, undermining the central principle of maritime trade: freedom of navigation. Regardless of Donald Trump’s flippant comments, the international community is unlikely to accept any enduring Iranian toll system.
If Iran attempts to pursue one, it should face clear economic consequences, including sanctions.
Questions remain about whether mines have been laid in or near the strait. Even the suggestion adds to uncertainty and reinforces the need for a coordinated international response, including transparent assessments of the threat environment.
A clear, public assessment from the international community on whether the strait has in fact been mined would go a long way. It should be an early priority for any coalition effort.
The bottom line
Ultimately, shipping will return to the Strait of Hormuz not when it is declared open, but when it is assessed to be safe enough.
That will require a sustained period without attacks, a visible international effort to secure the waterway, and clear signalling that the rules governing international straits will be upheld.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Priyanka Dhopade, Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
The four Artemis II astronauts who looped around the Moon this week are expected to splash down soon. NASA’s grand mission spells a return to human deep-space travel, with renewed interest in building a long-term Moon base.
The images captured by the crew are spectacular, offering a view from the far side of the Moon with Earth hovering low on the horizon.
They are another reminder of technical achievement and human ambition. But in the background, decisions about what happens next and who benefits are already taking shape.
While there have always been legal tensions around ownership, access and control of space, in 2026 they no longer seem like abstract concepts.
The 1967 Outer Space Treaty declares space “the province of all mankind”, barring countries from claiming ownership. Yet newer frameworks like the United States’ Artemis Accords introduce concepts such as exclusive “safety zones” around lunar activities, which could include mining of water or helium-3.
Space law expert Cassandra Steer views this as an example of the US “trying to carve out a loophole”. Legal scholar Michael Byers and space archaeologist Alice Gorman further note that even well-intentioned mechanisms can become tools for asserting control in a domain that is meant to remain shared.
This tension between cooperation and competition, shared benefit and private gain, is neither accidental nor new. It reflects fundamentally different ways of imagining the future of space.
So, is this new lunar era going to be one marked by countries’ collective stewardship of what lies beyond Earth – or yet another space race?
4 futures for the final frontier
Our latest research charts these competing visions for space across four different trajectories.
Some countries treat space as a frontier to be claimed and exploited, echoing earlier eras of terrestrial expansion. Others see it as a resource to fuel economic growth on Earth, prioritising rapid development over long-term sustainability.
A third vision imagines space as an escape hatch: a place to build new societies as Earth becomes less habitable. And finally, a smaller but emerging perspective views Earth and space as strongly interconnected, requiring stewardship across both domains.
These scenarios are already playing out in current policy and practice.
At the same time, geopolitical competition is intensifying.
Artemis II might be framed as an international mission, but it also reflects strategic positioning – particularly as major powers like the US and China race towards their lunar ambitions.
Lunar ambition: the Artemis II flight control team in the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.NASA
A sense of possibility
Within this increasingly contested landscape, Indigenous worldviews offer a fundamentally different way of imagining space: not as a frontier apart from Earth, but as part of a shared living system.
Our research, using a method known as “causal layered analysis” developed by Pakistani-born Australian political scientist Sohail Inayatullah, shows these tensions reflect deeper competing assumptions about what space is for.
Depending on who is making the rules, it becomes either a marketplace, a lifeline, a refuge or an ecosystem.
Artemis II brings those differences into sharp relief. The decisions being made now about regulation, access and governance will shape the future of space activity for decades.
We argue for a shift towards an “Earth-space sustainability” model, one that treats Earth and space as interconnected rather than separate domains.
That means setting shared sustainability goals and involving Indigenous peoples in co-governance, bringing values of reciprocity, shared responsibility and long-term stewardship into decision making.
These principles need to be embedded in institutions as well as rhetoric.
Co-governance frameworks that bring together governments, industry and Indigenous communities – alongside enforceable standards and tools such as the Space Sustainability Rating – offer one path towards more responsible stewardship.
This is not the easiest route for countries to take. It challenges powerful economic incentives and geopolitical rivalries. But the alternatives – unchecked competition and environmental degradation – are worse.
The return to the Moon offers a sense of possibility. It is natural to be captivated by the engineering, the scale and the ambition of it. But the more consequential story lies beneath.
As humans circle the Moon once again, the question is no longer whether we can go back, but how we choose to behave when we get there.
The author acknowledges the contribution of Ronda Geise who led this research as part of her masters degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Auckland.
The Green Party is calling on the Government to ensure emergency housing is available to all people experiencing homelessness this weekend as Cyclone Vaianu approaches the North Island.
“Luxon is telling everyone to stock up and prepare to stick out this storm at home. What does that mean for the people he has made homeless?” says Green Party Co-leader and Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick.
“The Government must choose to ensure everybody who needs it gets access to emergency housing this weekend, or they are choosing to leave New Zealanders on the street during what they’ve warned is a potentially ‘life-threatening’ event.”
“As an indication of how crazy the current system is, Aucklanders displaced from their homes during the Anniversary Floods got rehoming support, but that resource was not available for those already displaced and without homes. We cannot let that happen again.”
“This is a political choice. We can choose to ensure everyone is safe at home through this climate-change-charged extreme weather, and we are asking the Government to step up to that responsibility,” says Swarbrick
People are often surprised when Renata Herrera Rojas, a fifth-year university student flatting in Dunedin, says she eats just as well as she did at her home – even though she uses some canned food.
But many students struggle: a 2024 University of Auckland survey found 45 percent of 347 students, especially those living away from home, faced food hardship. And the Otago University Student Association has seen rising food bank demand over the past few years.
“There’s this massive culture around that; ‘this is just what’s going to happen. This is what’s normal, that you’re going to be eating bad food for this number of years, and that’s totally fine’, and like a kind of complacency around it,” says Herrera Rojas, who has created the Beginner’s Guide to Nourishment.
Dunedin law and global studies student Renata Herrera Rojas has written a manual to make cheap and healthy student eating easy.
A late-night burglary attempt in New Plymouth ended with three young adults and one youth in custody after being caught by Police for unlawfully being in not just one, but two, buildings.
Around 12.30am on Tuesday 7 April Police were called to an abandoned building on Powderham Street following reports people had been seen and heard breaking glass inside.
Police officers attended the area, and three offenders were located by police inside the building.
One offender tried to run but was caught and alluded to being in the building next door earlier in the night. The four were arrested and taken into custody for being unlawfully inside the building.
Further inquiries undertaken at the commercial property next door revealed the building had been breached via the abandoned building, with the offenders gaining access to the store.
Alcohol to the value of around $500 was taken and several thousand dollars’ worth of damage was done to the commercial business.
This was a great result for Police. We’re glad to have apprehended those responsible in the act and potentially preventing further burglaries from occurring.
We will continue to send the message that this type of offending is not acceptable.
An 18-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman appeared in New Plymouth District Court this week on charges of burglary and of being unlawfully in a building. They have been remanded on bail to reappear on 22 April.
A youth is expected to appear in Youth Court next week on the same charges, while an 18-year-old woman has been referred to Te Pae Oranga.
Flooding near Kerikeri in March 2026.RNZ/Tim Collins
Northland farmers are still grappling with the fallout of last month’s flooding as they prepare for an incoming cyclone.
Cyclone Vaianu is forecast by MetService to reach Northland late on Saturday night then spread across the rest of the island.
Rural Support Te Tai Tokerau has been doing what it describes as “rapid rural assessments”, including checking in on farmers and offering support.
Chair Michelle Ruddell said the main areas of concern were from Kaitaia through to the Hikurangi swamp, just north of Whangārei.
“There’s a lot of silt, a lot of woody debris accumulating, fencing damage, culverts washed out, newly sown grass paddocks under water, maize crops not being able to get harvested – the list goes on, unfortunately.”
Ruddell said stock water and feed had also been affected in some areas, while kumara growers were feeling the pinch.
“There are quite a number of stressed growers in Dargaville around the weather, they haven’t really had a great season since [Cyclone] Gabrielle, so we are looking at year-on-year impacts here.”
She said the cumulative effects obviously affected people’s wellbeing, and the importance of rural communities staying connected and supporting each other.
Kaitāia flooding after heavy rain, March 2026.Supplied FNDC via LDR
And while the fuel industry was indicating there would be some relief at the petrol pump over the next week, in the meantime Ruddell said farmers were facing the added pressure of bigger clean-up costs.
“We still have got farmers up here that have got maize to harvest, but you need heavy machinery for that. We’ve got grass that needs resowing and planting, but [again] you need heavy machinery to do that.”
A map of the Bell Block/The Links area water zone that has been under a precautionary boil water notice.New Plymouth District Council
A boil water notice for Bell Block and The Links near New Plymouth has been lifted.
The advisory was put in place on Thursday following a positive test for E. coli.
However, it remains in place for New Plymouth airport, where a water tanker will remain on site.
New Plymouth District Council said it tested water samples from eight sites throughout Bell Block and four sites at New Plymouth Airport yesterday, and all have come back clear.
“The boil water notice applies only on the airport side of the airport’s gates. It’s a precautionary measure while we continue testing for the next two days – if the samples continue to come back clear of E. coli, we’ll lift the notice there on Sunday evening,” New Plymouth District Council manager Three Waters Amy Quattlebaum said.
“This cautious approach is standard practice and allows time for further testing to ensure drinking water remains safe.
“Thank you to everyone in Bell Block and The Links for their patience during the precautionary boil water notice period.
“E. coli can be pretty nasty for vulnerable people and it was great to see locals sharing information and supporting each other yesterday while we gathered more information.”
The cause of the positive test is still under investigation.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Manufacturing activity eases marginally to 53.2 from 54.8 in February – above 50 is expansion
All five sub-indexes positive, growth slows in production, new order, and deliveries
Firms may have moved to cushion Middle East conflict impact by stockpiling, building up inventory
Sharp lift in negative comments about business outlook, as conflict clouds outlooks
Manufacturing sector activity remained resilient in March and has yet to be significantly hit by the Middle East conflict.
The BNZ-Business NZ Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) slowed to 53.2 from 54.8 the month before. A reading above 50 indicates the sector is expanding.
“The PMI result supports our view that economic growth was reasonable in the first quarter of the year, even though material headwinds had accumulated by quarter’s end,” BNZ senior economist Doug Steel said.
All five sub-indices stayed in expansion with gains for employment and finished stocks, and a slowing for new orders, production, deliveries of raw materials.
Steel said the sector was resilient, although it was likely too early for the conflict to have had a significant negative impact on activity.
“While the PMI is no longer trending higher, it hasn’t been unduly hit by the fuel price surge and uncertainty of war. At least not yet.”
“There is evidence of some temporary PMI support from spending being brought forward and businesses stockpiling.”
However, the level of negative comments from firms about their outlook rose markedly to 62 percent from 44.5 percent.
“While the PMI only eased a touch, the drop in positive comments suggests the energy price shock is front of mind for many,” Steel said.
He said it was difficult to forecast how the Middle East would end up, with manufacturing activity rising and falling in line with commodity price moves, which at the moment were being driven by a supply shock.
“Currently rising prices are more likely to dampen manufacturing activity and economic growth, both in New Zealand and abroad.”