NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Legendary architect’s works on show for Hawke Centre exhibition

    Source:

    29 April 2025

    Architect Guy Maron at UniSA’s City West campus.

    Award winning South Australian architect Guy Maron AM is responsible for some of Adelaide’s most iconic buildings, including UniSA’s original City West campus and the Bicentennial Conservatory in the Adelaide Botanic Garden.

    Yet his body of works also includes significant housing projects, educational facilities and commercial buildings.

    A retrospective exhibition Enduring Rationalism: The Architecture of Guy Maron will be held at The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, UniSA, from 30 April to 30 May.

    The exhibition, shown in collaboration with UniSA’s Architecture Museum, will showcase photographs, drawings and writings from Maron’s extensive body of work. This includes prizewinning housing at Clovercrest from 1964 and the modern Australian Automobile Headquarters in Canberra, as well as many of Maron’s innovative competition entries for significant national buildings.

    Maron played a major role in the foundation of UniSA’s City West campus, designed to promote interaction and the flow of ideas and knowledge between students and across disciplines.

    He spent his early years in Sydney where he studied architecture at the University of Sydney before moving to North America where he lived and studied for four years.

    “It’s the desire for any young architect to reach to the top of his profession and as new graduates we were inspired by the pioneers of modern architecture such Walter Gropius, Frank Lloyd Wright, le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe who were leading the world at the time as hero-architects,” Maron says.

    “Climate had a great deal of influence on me, and it became evident that the concept of shelter was of paramount importance in our environment. My parental home in Batavia (Djakarta) showed an ability to cope with the harshness of the tropical heat and humidity, which was a fortunate influence on me in dealing with the tropical environment where air-conditioning did not exist.

    “This early awakening to the environment was of crucial importance to my realisation of the importance of shelter as a prime determinant of architecture. The concept of functionalism and the acceptance of its importance came naturally to me and was never an issue I took for granted during my studies of architecture.”

    The Bicentennial Conservatory in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens.

    Relocating to Adelaide in 1972, Maron became the principal in the firm Cheesman, Doley, Neighbour and Raffen. His career took off in the late 1980s and he completed his most famous building, the Bicentennial Conservatory in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens in 1989, which went on to win 10 national awards as well as international design awards, including the BHP Architecture of the Decade Award. He also designed the Mount Lofty Lookout in the Adelaide Hills.

    Maron has said his architecture comes from ‘finding rational solutions to intricate problems’ with the credo ‘more for less’ informing his work, something evident across the photographs, drawings, and writings on display in this exhibition.

    He reflects on the world’s expanding population and need for new buildings to accommodate new arrivals.

    “The world is increasing by a net 200,000 new arrivals every day… meaning that we have a need for 50 million new buildings a year to accommodate our new arrivals. That must be achieved by one million registered architects worldwide. This is not possible,” Maron says.

    “In my opinion we are due for another major engineering invention of some kind that will bring about a revolution. An attitudinal change will be required as well so that people can divorce themselves from accepted forms of design and construction and embrace a new world, a world that will build houses and housing on an endless belt as for motor cars today and build hundreds of houses per day.

    “This engineering invention is overdue by a long time now and is urgent. It will be expected to cause the same revolution as reinforced concrete did.”

    Enduring Rationalism: The Architecture of Guy Maron is showing at The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre’s Kerry Packer Civic Gallery at UniSA, located on Level 3 of the Hawke Building, 55 North Terrace, City West Campus, from 30 April to 30 May, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm. Free entry.

    ……………………………………………………

    Media contacts

    Melissa Keogh, Communications Officer, UniSA Media M: +61 403 659 154 E: Melissa.Keogh@unisa.edu.au

    Dr Julie Collins, Director & Curator, Architecture Museum, University of South Australia, P: +61 8 8302 9235 E: Julie.Collins@unisa.edu.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: City takes another step towards smarter waste

    Source: South Australia Police

    Wanneroo Council has appointed Talis Consultants to progress concept and detailed designs for the Neerabup Resource Recovery Precinct.

    The concept designs will incorporate key infrastructure, including a waste transfer station, community recycling centre and materials recovery facility.

    Community engagement will form an important part of the design process, with consultation planned for late 2025.

    This milestone follows Council’s endorsement of the Neerabup Resource Recovery Precinct masterplan in December 2024, outlining how the City will deliver long-term, sustainable waste management solutions for Perth’s northern corridor.

    Mayor Linda Aitken said she was pleased to welcome Talis Consultants on board to bring the City’s vision for the precinct to life.

    “This is an exciting step towards building the facilities we need to manage waste more sustainably in the City,” she said.

    “I look forward to seeing the designs and sharing it with the community.”

    The new facilities will be designed to handle recyclables, organics and residual waste more efficiently, aligning with the City’s commitment to reducing landfill and reducing emissions.

    The Neerabup Resource Recovery Precinct remains a key priority in the City’s advocacy efforts and will help inform the development of the upcoming Waste Plan 2026–2030.

    Find out more on the Neerabup Resource Recovery Precinct page.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ‘Use it or lose it’ blitz targets digital currency exchanges

    Source: Australian Department of Communications

    AUSTRAC is encouraging inactive digital currency exchange (DCE) businesses to voluntarily withdraw their registrations or risk having it cancelled. 
    DCEs must be registered with AUSTRAC before they can offer a service to exchange cash for cryptocurrency, or vice versa. This includes cryptocurrency ATM providers. 
    There are currently 427 registered DCEs but AUSTRAC is concerned that a significant proportion are inactive. AUSTRAC is contacting any DCEs that appear to no longer be trading. 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Government exploring northern ‘energy bridge’

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Regional Infrastructure Fund will invest up to $2 million to investigate building additional electricity transmission and distribution capacity in Northland, which could also have benefits further afield, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says.

    “New Zealand needs significantly more electricity generation as the economy grows and demand for power increases. Northland is rich in natural renewable resources, such as wind and solar which are suitable for generating renewable energy,” Mr Jones says. 

    The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) will use up to $2m from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to investigate the feasibility of upgrading Northland’s electricity infrastructure to act as an ‘energy bridge’ between Northland and Auckland.

    MBIE will also carry out an economic analysis of the potential benefits in conjunction with local stakeholders.

    “This project has the potential to unlock $1 billion of private investment in new renewable energy. If this is feasible, Northland could become a significant electricity generator and supplier of power which might have flow-on benefits for Auckland and the rest of the country,” Mr Jones says.

    “This investment could increase electricity self-sufficiency in the region and improve the power generation capacity and resilience of the Northland network which will benefit local people. It could also reduce power prices for Auckland and nationally if wholesale prices can be brought down.

    “More detailed work needs to be done into the feasibility of expanding Northland’s power generation before further government funding can be considered but if the outcome is positive, the payoff could be massive.

    “This is a long-term project and there is a lot of water to pass under the bridge yet, but if it goes ahead some new power generation could come online as components are completed, with full commissioning by 2029,” Mr Jones says.

    The project aligns with the Coalition Government’s goals of building infrastructure and doubling renewable energy generation for New Zealand by 2035 to reduce emissions and enable economic growth.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Western Bay Road / SH 32 blocked

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Emergency services are in attendance at a two-vehicle crash on Western Bay Road – SH 32 – reported shortly before midday, which has blocked the road at Waihaha on the western side of Lake Taupo.

    Indications are there are serious injuries involved, and a helicopter has been dispatched to the scene.

    A diversion is expected at Whangamata Road, but motorists are asked to expect delays.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Classrooms under surveillance?

    Source:

    29 April 2025

    International researchers are urging a critical rethink of digital technology in schools, warning that many classroom education tools are collecting student data in ways that could threaten privacy and wellbeing.

    The team*, including experts from the University of South Australia and the London School of Economics and Political Science, say the hidden workings of education technologies make it difficult for schools and teachers to know what happens to the data they collect about children behind the scenes.

    UniSA researcher and contributing author to the new book – Handbook of Children and Screens – Dr Jamie Manolev says the lack of transparency around education technologies (ed-tech) raises concerns.

    “Edtech products have rapidly flooded classrooms worldwide, but this has outpaced regulation and research. As a result, many tools have been adopted without understanding their long-term educational or ethical impacts,” Dr Manolev says.

    “Children shouldn’t just be taught with technologies, but about them, which centres on the knowledge and competencies of each teacher, who should be supported to understand the inner workings of the programs they use.

    “While edtech does present new opportunities for engaging students, supporting personalised learning, improving access, and streamlining school processes, most tools are data-hungry, capturing information during every interaction from lessons and assessments to communication and monitoring.

    “It risks turning students into datapoints, limiting their potential as human beings, and raising concerns about student wellbeing, privacy, and surveillance.

    “Furthermore, while edtech is designed to level the playing field – especially for students in rural or remote areas – barriers like internet access, data bias, and cost can still leave many behind.”

    Platforms like ClassDojo, GoGuardian and Gaggle are used in schools worldwide. However, these technologies often oversimplify student behaviour, reducing it to numerical scores without the necessary context.

    Lead author, LSE’s Dr Velislava Hillman says that teachers need greater support to understand how education technologies work, including how data is collected and used, so they can make informed decisions in the classroom.

    “We need to move beyond the idea that more tech is always better,” Dr Hillman says.

    “The ed-tech sector is extremely fast, making it hard for teachers to keep up. And while teachers may try to engage in ongoing professional development, they need the time and support to be able to do so.

    “Stronger regulation is essential to protect students and ensure that technology supports their learning without compromising their privacy or wellbeing. We must prioritise children’s interests to safeguard their future in a safe and ethical way, in an increasingly digitised school environment.”

    Published in a landmark international volume on childhood studies, the chapter is part of growing calls for reform in how digital tools are used and understood in Australian classrooms.

    *Contributing authors include Dr Velislava Hillman, London School of Economics and Political Science; Dr Jamie Manolev, University of South Australia; Dr Samantha-Kaye Johnston, University of Oxford; Dr Priya C. Kumar, Pennsylvania State University; Dr Florence Martin, North Carolina State University; Assist. Prof Elana Zeide University of Nebraska; Prof Dr Gergana Vladova, Humboldt University of Berlin; and Dr Rina Lai, University of Cambridge.

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

    UniSA contact for interview (Australia):  Dr Jamie Manolev E: Jamie.Manolev@unisa.edu.au
    LSE contact for interview (UK): Dr Velislava Hillman E: v.hillman@lse.ac.uk
    UniSA Media contact: Annabel Mansfield M: +61 479 182 489 E: Annabel.Mansfield@unisa.edu.au

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: SCO health officials push for deeper coordination toward better future

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    XI’AN, April 28 — Senior health officials from Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) countries on Monday called for deepening public health collaboration, aiming to build a healthier future for all.

    Gathering in Xi’an, the capital of northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, health leaders from SCO member states and dialogue partners, and representatives of the SCO and the World Health Organization (WHO) attended the eighth SCO Health Ministers’ Meeting.

    Under the theme “Promoting Sustainable Health Development and Sharing a Healthy Future,” they discussed strategies for tackling shared global health challenges.

    Central to the discussions was the collective need to strengthen emergency response systems, expand access to primary healthcare, harness digital technologies, and promote the development of traditional medicine across the SCO countries.

    Presiding over the meeting, Lei Haichao, head of China’s National Health Commission, highlighted the role of dialogue and cooperation in pioneering reforms in regional and global health governance systems amid an evolving international landscape with overlapping crises.

    In his address, Lei outlined China’s domestic achievements in improving public health and healthcare reforms, and reaffirmed China’s commitment to advancing policy coordination and technological cooperation with SCO partners.

    He also called for greater use of existing platforms — including the China-SCO Emergency Medical Center, the SCO Hospital Cooperation Alliance, and the SCO Forum on Traditional Medicine — to enhance joint capacity-building efforts in emergency response, primary care, digital healthcare, and traditional medicine across the SCO countries.

    Senior health officials from Belarus, India, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Kazakhstan and other SCO countries shared updates on their national health initiatives and echoed the need to strengthen cooperation within the SCO framework.

    As the rotating president of the SCO for 2024-2025, China has introduced the theme “SCO Year of Sustainable Development” to guide cooperation efforts across multiple sectors, with public health identified as a key priority.

    Speaking at the opening ceremony, SCO Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev emphasized that building resilient and inclusive healthcare systems is essential to securing a sustainable future.

    “It is also the key to addressing the public health challenges faced by SCO countries, which together represent nearly half of humanity,” he added.

    Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, praised China’s leadership in global health and its vision for building a global community of health for all.

    “I am glad to see the SCO evolving into a model of constructive multilateralism, rooted in mutual trust and dialogue,” Kluge said. “The WHO looks forward to deepening its cooperation with the SCO to tackle pressing health challenges together.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: The Real Culture War

    Source: ACT Party

    The Haps

    Quiet? MPs are having a break from Parliament and the country is having a break from MPs thanks to a three-week Parliament recess. The Government announced $68.5 million of repayable loans to people building electric vehicle chargers. Free Press readers will be outraged by that, but under ACT’s coalition agreement it has come down from National’s version: $257 million of grants. Such are the victories under MMP. Meanwhile the Ministry for Regulation started a clean out of red tape from the $6 billion Early Childhood sector, following Brooke van Velden’s Health and Safety overhaul. Beside the resource management reforms at the start of the month, it’s been a good April for ACT and freedom.

    The Real Culture War

    We are taken with David Seymour’s speech over the Parliamentary recess. In it, Seymour says the real culture war is not about identity or bathrooms, but pioneers vs tall poppy choppers.

    Of course, you should be free to point out the very basic fact of a person’s biological sex at birth. The law should be able to use sex at birth as an identifier, when it matters, such as which prison someone goes to. All of that is correct, but only a fraction of a per cent of people claim anything different. The overwhelming majority people are never close to being harmed in real life by them doing so.

    The real culture war affects all of us, every day. It’s the war between our pioneering spirit and tall poppy syndrome. We, or our ancestors, all made brave voyages to these isolated islands. These were people with real courage who wanted better through their own efforts.

    Then, somewhere along the way, we ended up with one out of every six working-aged people on welfare. Some days half the children don’t show up to their school. We have one of the largest diasporas of people who left a country.

    No good deed goes unpunished. Landlords, small business owners, licensed firearm owners, farmers. Under Labour/NZ First/Green they were always just a patronising lecture and one more expensive regulation away from salvation. Now there is some relief for those long-suffering groups, but the culture carries on. Look out if you spent your life building up an owner-operated supermarket, or work at a bank.

    It’s easy to blame politicians, but in a democracy they ultimately reflect the culture. The treatment of Zuru lately is a classic.

    The toy and home supply company founded by three Kiwis just won Walmart supplier of the year. Walmart is the thirteenth largest company in the world, and by far the largest retailer. It’s difficult to overstate how big this business achievement is. The company put out a press release, which got zero coverage from the New Zealand media. One of the founders building a helipad in Herne Bay gets enough clicks to keep the Herald in business month after month.

    The end result is written in our founding story. People with get-up-and-go can get up and leave again, which they are doing in huge numbers right now. Easy come here, easy go away.

    How do you change a culture? Government should look at its policies by asking a simple question at every decision: Is this a meritocracy policy? It should favour policies that increase the difference people can make in their own lives. It should reject policies that pull down success or reward hectoring, bludging, nuisance behaviour.

    What should happen with taxes? They should be low and flat. If a person earning $20,000 pays $2,400 income tax, how much should a person earning $100,000 pay? If five times the income meant five times the taxes, they’d pay $12,000. Try $22,900, nearly ten times the taxes. Progressive tax rates send the wrong message: if you study, work, save, and invest hard, the IRD will whack you extra hard.

    What should happen with welfare? It’s a policy designed to help someone down on their luck. How long can bad luck last? Surely not 44 years, the tenure of our longest-serving (not really the right word) career beneficiary. There should be lifetime limits, and if you keep having children on the benefit you should get a plastic card with controlled spending. Otherwise, people have to ask themselves: why am I working to make a difference when I can make the same on a benefit?

    What should happen with red tape and regulation? The Government’s starting attitude should be, don’t regulate. Red tape doesn’t just add cost to things that do happen, it stops things that would happen without the extra cost. It doesn’t just stop things that would happen, though, it deprives children of heroes and gives them bad examples. It’s nice if your dad’s an engineer who’s building New Zealand, but he’s probably actually in traffic management.

    What should happen with race and identity? Is your life determined by what you do or what happened long before you were born? The argument against the Treaty being a partnership between races is really an argument for individual self determination. The argument against discrimination by sex, race, sexuality, or anything else you cannot change is really an argument for each person to have a fair chance at living their best life.

    There is a culture war in New Zealand, it’s the children of pioneers vs the blob of mediocrity. If you’re a Free Press reader, we can guess which one you are. Please support ACT since we all need to stick together.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Mexico

    Source:

    We continue to advise reconsider your need to travel to the states of Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Guanajuato, Sonora, Colima and Chiapas. There are lower levels within some of these locations. See our advice level summary for details.

    Plan your travel carefully. Don’t travel at night outside major cities. Use major toll roads wherever possible or access cities directly by air travel. Other travel options and routes may have higher security risks (see ‘Safety).

    If you have an ordinary passport with a chip, you can use the e-gates located at the airports of Mexico City, San Jose del Cabo, and Cancun. You’ll receive your FMM (Multiple Immigration Form) printed, which authorises Australians to stay for 180 days exclusively for tourism purposes.

    If you don’t have an ordinary passport with a chip, and you’re visiting for 180 days or less as a tourist, you’ll receive a visa on arrival. Mexican authorities advise to avoid being detained or deported, you must complete an online Multiple Immigration Form (FMM) and obtain a QR code (see ‘Travel’).

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Manawatū Tararua Highway open soon

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Minister of Transport Chris Bishop has confirmed the Manawatū Tararua Highway will be opened to traffic from June 2025, restoring an important connection for communities and businesses on both sides of the Tararua Ranges. 

    “The new highway between Ashhurst and Woodville will replace State Highway 3 through the Manawatū Gorge, which was permanently closed in April 2017 due to landslides,” says Mr Bishop.

    “Travel times will be greatly improved for both light and heavy vehicles using the new road. General traffic will take between 10 – 12 minutes to drive the road, which is a significant improvement on the current 20 – 25 minute detour route in place. The new road will be safer and more resilient than the road it’s replacing.

    “The road will support productivity for businesses by improving travel times for freight and lowering vehicle operating costs. This corridor is an important freight link between Hawke’s Bay-Wairarapa and the Manawatu-Whanganui regions. Having an efficient, four-lane highway, divided by a median barrier through this transport corridor will boost economic growth for this part of the country and the rest of the North Island.”

    “This highway will reconnect the communities severely affected by the closure of the old road. Woodville and Ashhurst have been impacted by the closure, and I would like to acknowledge their patience and their support for the project since its inception. 

    “The construction teams still have some work to do before the road can open. This includes laying the final stages of asphalt, installing barriers, line marking and, crucially, connecting the new road to the surrounding roading network. The expected cost to complete the project now stands at $824.1 million.

    “I’m looking forward to the road being open and I know local communities are too.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘I’m always afraid for the future of my family’: why it’s too hard for some refugees to reunite with loved ones

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mary Anne Kenny, Associate Professor, School of Law, Murdoch University

    When refugees flee their home country due to war, violence, conflict or persecution, they are often forced to leave behind their families.

    For more than 30,000 people who have sought asylum in Australia since arriving more than a decade ago, that separation has stretched into more than a decade. This group of people – known in policy circles as “the legacy caseload” – need a clear pathway to reunite with family members.

    Refugees separated from family are plagued by guilt and worry for their family members’ safety. This makes it extremely difficult to focus on education, work or getting settled.

    The right to family unity is a basic human right and vital to any humane refugee policy.

    However, tensions arise between refugees’ conceptions of family and the restrictive definitions embedded in Australian law.

    High costs, complex administrative requirements, and lengthy processing times often delay or prevent families from reuniting.

    The legacy caseload: more than a decade in limbo

    The so-called “legacy caseload” refers to approximately 30,000 people who arrived by boat between 2012 and 2014, and who were placed on Temporary Protection Visas.

    For more than a decade, they were denied a pathway to permanency and barred from sponsoring family members to join them in Australia.

    That policy made life so unbearable, more than 6,500 people from this group “chose” to return home despite the risks they face. This raises serious concerns about whether they were genuinely able to make a free choice, or were pushed into returning to danger.

    Since the Albanese government’s 2022 commitment to end temporary protection, almost 20,000 people have been eligible to transition to permanent visas through the Resolution of Status process.

    This is a crucial step. Without a permanent visa, they could not sponsor family members.

    Even with permanency, however, family reunion remains out of reach for many “legacy caseload” refugees. This is due to outdated laws, harsh policies and bureaucratic delays.

    Many of these refugees have not seen their spouses or children since before their arrival. Because they arrived by boat, they are barred from proposing family members through the humanitarian visa program and must use the family migration program.

    That’s significant because the humanitarian program has a much broader definition of “family”, and grants people access to settlement services after they arrive.

    Still unresolved is the fate of some 7,000 people who were refused protection under the flawed fast track system (a now abandoned policy that was supposed to speed up processing but actually introduced delays and unfairness).

    These people urgently need a pathway to permanency.

    Why family reunion remains so difficult

    The main barriers to family reunification for refugees include:

    • high visa fees (partner visa application charges, when they include children, can cost more than A$20,000)
    • strict legal definitions (children over 23 are not classified as “dependents”; a child who was 12 when their parent fled may now be 24 — legally an adult, but still dependent and at risk)
    • barriers to documentation (war and instability can make it difficult or dangerous to obtain documents, such as passports or identity papers)
    • limited access to embassies
    • technical issues with online applications
    • repeated health checks (there is a visa requirement health checks but they are only valid for 12 months, so may need to be repeated if visa processing is delayed)
    • unclear rules around exemptions.

    These uncertainties further delay the process and add emotional and financial strain.

    Calls for reform

    Several organisations, including the Refugee Council of Australia, have called for clear, achievable reforms. These include:

    • introducing visa application charge concessions for refugees
    • allowing people to pay fees in instalments
    • adapting visa processing to reflect realities faced by refugee and humanitarian visa applicants, such as challenges obtaining identity documents
    • establishing a dedicated unit in the Department of Home Affairs for processing visas from refugee families
    • prioritising families where children may “age out”.

    They have also called for changes to the legal definitions of “dependent” and “member of the family unit”. This is to reflect the diverse familial structures in many refugee communities.

    For many refugees, family extends beyond the Western concept of the nuclear family. It may also encompass, for instance, adult daughters and parents (who often play pivotal care-giving roles).

    Another big issue for many refugee families is single young women in Afghanistan being left behind because they have aged out.

    Reuniting families

    Australia can learn from other countries.

    Canada’s refugee sponsorship program actively supports family reunification.

    New Zealand offers a more affordable and flexible system. Their definitions of family are broader and visa fees are lower.

    Without family reunion, a refugee’s safety remains incomplete.

    As one refugee told researchers:

    I’m partly safer [in Australia], but inside I’m not safe […] I’m always afraid for the future of my family.

    Thousands of refugees in Australia are still waiting. Their families remain in danger. The legal and policy tools to fix this already exist. What’s missing, for now, is the political will.

    Reforming Australia’s family reunion system would mean more efficient refugee resettlement and integration, ultimately benefiting broader Australian society.

    Mary Anne Kenny is a member of the Migration Institute of Australia and the Law Council of Australia and an affiliate of the UNSW Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law. She was on the Ministerial Council on Asylum Seekers and Detention (an independent advisory body) between 2012 and 2018.

    – ref. ‘I’m always afraid for the future of my family’: why it’s too hard for some refugees to reunite with loved ones – https://theconversation.com/im-always-afraid-for-the-future-of-my-family-why-its-too-hard-for-some-refugees-to-reunite-with-loved-ones-254710

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘Do something about it before it gets worse’: young people want government action on gambling reform

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hannah Pitt, Senior Research Fellow – Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University

    David P. Smith/Shutterstock

    Do something about it before it gets worse.

    This was a response from a 16-year-old boy in one of our recent studies when asked what he would say to the prime minister about gambling in Australia.

    This response is not uncommon.



    Read more:
    Gambling in Australia: how bad is the problem, who gets harmed most and where may we be heading?

    Calls for action

    Even before they can legally gamble at the age of 18, young people recognise the harms that the gambling industry (and those who profit from gambling, such as sporting codes) can cause to Australians.

    And they are frustrated by a lack of government action to protect them from these harms.

    They tell us that rather than prioritising the wellbeing of the community, the government is prioritising the profits of a harmful business.

    Politicians are also hearing concerns about gambling from the young people they represent in their communities.

    Urging parliamentary action on gambling advertising, former Australian rugby captain and Independent ACT Senator David Pocock told parliament:

    Talk to parents and young people. They’ll name all the gambling companies. They’ll be able to recite odds. They’ll talk about the odds for the upcoming games of their favourite teams. What I’m hearing from people here in the ACT that I represent is that this is not the direction they want to go in.

    Gambling has become a costly pastime for many young Australians.

    Starting young

    For more than a decade, our team has been talking to young people and their parents about the normalisation of gambling in Australia. We have carried out multiple studies that show how pervasive marketing tactics are normalising gambling for young Australians.

    Young people tell us they see innovative marketing strategies for different gambling products (including betting, lotteries and casinos) everywhere, including during family-friendly television shows, through watching and attending sport and even while walking down the street.

    They increasingly see promotions on social media sites such as TikTok and Snapchat.

    They can name multiple gambling brands from a young age, and think gambling gives you a reason to watch sport.

    When asked why, they say gambling adds to the fun and excitement of the game. Some tell us they would be convinced to gamble if they got a good “deal” from a company.

    Newer forms of app-based gambling also make it is easier for young people to gamble anywhere, anytime when they turn 18.

    As an example, a young person couldn’t sit in a classroom and drink alcohol when they reach the legal age, but it is not unusual for young people to tell us that classmates use apps to bet on major events while at school.

    Some researchers have also documented the extent to which young people gamble before the age of 18.

    One study found 31% of 12- to 17-year-olds had ever gambled and 6% had gambled in the past month. They found 8% were at some level of risk of gambling harm.

    It’s no wonder parents are worried.

    Their concern about the risks of gambling are similar to their concerns about alcohol: 70% are at least somewhat concerned about the risks associated with gambling for their children, and 27.7% are extremely concerned.

    They comment that gambling products are “highly accessible”, “attractive” and “in your face”.

    When parents try to talk to their children about gambling, they say it is almost impossible to “get the message across” given the constant exposure to ads that their children see in their everyday lives. As one father told us:

    It’s advertised to children every day of the week when they watch their favourite sport stars, so they think it’s normal.

    It’s time to act

    Government decisions about how to respond to the gambling industry will have a major impact on young people’s futures. But young people have rarely (if ever) been given an opportunity by the government to put forward their views.

    Research shows when they are given the opportunity to comment on gambling policy (and gambling industry tactics), they carefully consider the issues. They are also able to use their own experiences to suggest strategies that would help protect them and other young people from gambling industry harm.

    The United Nations states children have the right to be consulted about issues that matter to them and impact their futures. This includes strengthening engagement with children and young people, recognising their “agency, resilience and their positive contributions as agents of change”.

    Young people have been central actors in the climate justice movement, and have been key stakeholders in initiatives to respond to the tactics of the junk food and tobacco industries.

    While we talk a lot about the impact of the gambling industry on young people, governments rarely consult them about the policies that are needed to protect them from harm.

    Yet their message to the government in our research is clear. They:

    • are concerned about the influence of gambling marketing on the normalisation of gambling for young people, and its short and long-term impacts

    • believe current restrictions aimed at protecting young people are ineffective

    • are critical of the overwhelmingly positive messages about gambling they are exposed to, with very limited information about the risks and harms associated with the industry and its products.

    The following comment from a 15-year-old sums it up best:

    The wellbeing of the population is more important than the revenue that comes in from these sorts of businesses.

    Dr Hannah Pitt has received funding from the Australian Research Council, Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, VicHealth, NSW Office of Responsible Gambling, Department of Social Services, ACT Office of Gambling and Racing Commission, and Deakin University. She is currently a member of the Editorial Board of Health Promotion International.

    Grace Arnot has received funding for gambling related research from the ACT Office of Gambling and Racing Commission, VicHealth, and Deakin University. Grace is currently a member of the Editorial Board of the journal Health Promotion International.

    Professor Samantha Thomas has received funding for gambling and related research from the Australian Research Council, ACT Office of Gaming and Racing, Department of Social Services, VicHealth, Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, Healthway, NSW Office of Responsible Gambling, Deakin University. She is currently Editor in Chief for Health Promotion International, an Oxford University Press journal. She receives an honorarium for this role.

    Dr Simone McCarthy has received funding for gambling and related research from ACT Office of Gaming and Racing Commision, the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, VicHealth, Department of Social Services, and Deakin University. She is currently a member of the Editorial Board of Health Promotion International.

    – ref. ‘Do something about it before it gets worse’: young people want government action on gambling reform – https://theconversation.com/do-something-about-it-before-it-gets-worse-young-people-want-government-action-on-gambling-reform-251614

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Echidna ancestors lived watery lifestyles like platypuses 100 million years ago – new study

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sue Hand, Professor Emeritus, Palaeontology, UNSW Sydney

    Mary_May/Shutterstock

    As the world’s only surviving egg-laying mammals, Australasia’s platypus and four echidna species are among the most extraordinary animals on Earth.

    They are also very different from each other.

    The platypus is well adapted for a semi-aquatic lifestyle, spending up to 20 hours a day swimming in Australian waterways to forage for freshwater invertebrates. Echidnas, on the other hand, live entirely on land. They are widely distributed across Australia and New Guinea, and adapted for feeding on termites, ants and earthworms.

    How did these differences emerge? Some researchers think echidnas evolved from a swimming, platypus-like ancestor. This hypothesis is based on evidence from aspects of their genes and anatomy, and from hypotheses about their evolutionary history.

    However, this idea is controversial because fossil evidence for such a profound evolutionary transformation has been lacking – until now.

    Did the ancestors of echidnas spend time in the water? It’s a controversial idea.
    Natalia Golovina/Shutterstock

    A bone from 108 million years ago

    In our study published today in PNAS, we gleaned new data from a 108-million-year-old mammal humerus (arm bone), found 30 years ago at Dinosaur Cove, Victoria, by a team from Museums Victoria.

    This arm bone, from a species called Kryoryctes cadburyi, belongs to an ancestral monotreme – a semi-aquatic burrower like the platypus. Our findings support the hypothesis that land-living echidnas evolved from a swimming ancestor.

    Kryoryctes lived during the Age of Dinosaurs (the Mesozoic), when monotremes and monotreme relatives were more common than they are today. Glimpses of this past diversity are found in the fossil record in southern Victoria and Lightning Ridge, New South Wales.

    Nevertheless, Australian Mesozoic mammal fossils are exceedingly rare, and mostly consist of teeth and jaws. Kryoryctes is the only one known from a limb bone, which provides significant information about its identity, relationships and lifestyle.

    Reconstruction of Kryoryctes cadburyi and a small dinosaur (above) at Dinosaur Cove, Victoria, Australia ~108 million years ago.
    Peter Schouten

    Tiny clues inside bones

    In order to test the evolutionary relationships of Kryoryctes, we added it to a broader data set of 70 fossil and modern mammals. From there, we calculated an evolutionary tree. This showed Kryoryctes is an ancestral monotreme.

    We also compared the external shape of the Kryroryctes humerus bone to living monotremes. These analyses indicated the bone is more like those of echidnas, rather than platypuses.

    But it was a different story on the inside. When we looked at the internal structure of the Kryoryctes humerus with several 3D scanning techniques, we uncovered microscopic features of this arm bone that were actually more like those of the platypus.

    Such tiny features inside bones yield crucial clues about the lifestyle of an animal. Numerous previous studies link bone microstructure in mammals and other tetrapods (four-limbed animals) with their ecology.

    Using the wealth of data available for living mammals, we compared characteristics of the Kryoryctes humerus microstructure to those in platypuses, echidnas and 74 other mammal species.

    These analyses confirmed that the Kryoryctes humerus has internal bone features found in semi-aquatic burrowing mammals (such as the platypus, muskrat and Eurasian otter), rather than land-living burrowing mammals such as the echidna.

    The Kryoryctes humerus we studied.
    Museums Victoria

    From water to land

    This discovery suggests that a semi-aquatic lifestyle is ancestral for all living monotremes. It also suggests the amphibious lifestyle of the modern platypus had its origins at least 100 million years ago, during the Age of Dinosaurs.

    In this scenario, the modern platypus lineage has retained the ancestral semi-aquatic burrowing lifestyle for more than 100 million years. Echidnas would have reverted to a land-based way of life more recently.

    For echidnas, a return to land appears to have resulted in adaptations such as their long bones becoming lighter, as shown in our study.

    They possibly also lost several other features more useful for spending time in the water rather than on land, including the loss of a long tail, reduction of webbing between fingers and toes, reduction of the duck-like bill to a narrow beak, and a reduced number of electroreceptors on that beak.

    However, precisely when this evolutionary transformation occurred is not yet known. The answer must wait until early echidna fossils are found – so far, nothing definitive has turned up anywhere.

    The modern habitats of monotremes are increasingly under threat from environmental degradation, interactions with humans and feral predators, and climate change. This is especially true for platypuses. To ensure the survival of this ancient lineage, we need to better understand how their unique features evolved and adapted.

    Sue Hand receives funding from the Australian Research Council

    Laura A. B. Wilson receives funding from the Australian Research Council

    Robin Beck receives funding from the UK’s National Environmental Research Council, and the Australian Research Council.

    Camilo López-Aguirre does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Echidna ancestors lived watery lifestyles like platypuses 100 million years ago – new study – https://theconversation.com/echidna-ancestors-lived-watery-lifestyles-like-platypuses-100-million-years-ago-new-study-254484

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: BusinessNZ – Regulatory roadblock to be removed

    Source: BusinessNZ

    Swift action to remove a regulatory roadblock in the way of medical innovation, global events and tourism has been applauded by BusinessNZ.
    A ‘nonsensical’ ruling by Medsafe effectively prevents major international medical conferences from being held in New Zealand because displaying new products or sharing the latest research with medics in trade shows is deemed to be “advertising” and therefore prohibited – but now the Government intends to fix the regulations concerned to allow these major global conferences to come here.
    The announced changes means more global organisations can consider New Zealand as a conference destination, and our tourism sector will benefit from the flow on effect of post-conference travel.
    BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich says it’s a good example of the Government taking action to remove regulatory barriers to economic growth.
    “New Zealand has been locked out of the multi-billion-dollar global medical conference market because Medsafe’s stance prohibits the trade shows and expos that are usually a valuable part of global medical conferences.
    “But the economics of running a large international conference often depend on there being a major expo or trade show associated with the event, where companies can share information about their latest products and medical research.
    “Medsafe’s ruling makes it uneconomic for large medical conferences to be held here, meaning multi-million-dollar lost opportunities for New Zealand and our medics have to travel to conferences outside of New Zealand to hear about the latest drugs, devices and procedures.
    “Over the years many professional associations and medical organisations with annual conferences on a global circuit have wanted to come to New Zealand, but have had to rule out coming here because of the financial hit of not being able to hold a world-class trade show to support their event.
    “New Zealand’s unique stance is nonsensical. Sharing information and new research with medical experts in a closed setting is in no way unsafe. We know of no other country that has taken the same stance, but we do know this is why New Zealand conference centres and our local economy regularly lose out to Australia when global conference circuits rotate to the Southern Hemisphere.
    “It’s excellent news that the Government plans to fix the regulations to make clear that global medical conferences are welcome in New Zealand.
    “New Zealand stands to gain an estimated $90 million in revenue over the next few years with the dismantling of this roadblock to economic growth.”
    The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central, Business Canterbury and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Brisbane’s Olympic Boom: Why Thousands of Kiwis Are Making the Move to the Sunshine State

    Source: Robert Walters

    • Migration Surge: 42% of New Zealanders are planning to move to Australia, with Brisbane a top destination. 
    • Key Motivators for Relocation: Better salaries (48%), improved job prospects (22%), and more affordable living (13%). 
    • Brisbane’s Growth: The city was voted Australia’s happiest city in 2024 and is already one of the fastest-growing urban centres in the country. 
    • Queensland’s Competitive Advantage: More affordable living compared to Sydney and Melbourne, making it attractive for skilled workers. 
    • Business Recruitment Efforts: Companies are accelerating hiring and offering competitive salaries, relocation assistance, and flexible work policies to attract talent. 
    • Economic Transformation: The 2032 Olympics are positioning Brisbane as a major employment hub. 

    With the 2032 Olympics on the horizon, Brisbane is gearing up for an economic and employment surge that’s already attracting thousands of skilled workers – including a growing number of New Zealanders.

    Recent research from global recruitment firm Robert Walters reveals that 42% of New Zealanders are considering relocating to Australia in the next 12 months, with Brisbane emerging as a top destination over traditional hotspots like Sydney and Melbourne due to more affordable living.

    With tens of thousands of jobs expected to be created in the lead-up to the Games, Kiwis looking for better salaries, career opportunities, and a lower cost of living are increasingly turning their sights to Queensland’s capital.

    Why Kiwis Are Choosing Brisbane

    New Zealanders have long been drawn to Australia for work, but the 2032 Olympics are accelerating this trend. Brisbane offers key advantages over other major cities, including:

    Job Creation: The Games are expected to generate over 91,600 jobs across construction, infrastructure, tourism, hospitality, and event management.

    Higher Salaries: Better pay remains the number one reason for relocation, with 48% of job seekers prioritising increased earnings when considering a move.

    Affordable Living: Brisbane’s cost of living is significantly lower than in Sydney or Melbourne, making it an attractive choice for professionals and families heading to Australia.

    Lifestyle Benefits: Voted Australia’s happiest city in 2024, Brisbane offers great weather, outdoor activities, and a strong sense of community.

    Brisbane’s Growing Appeal for Kiwi Talent

    According to Robert Walters, businesses across Queensland are ramping up hiring efforts, offering competitive salaries, relocation assistance, and flexible work policies to secure top talent.  

    Jane Lowney, Senior Director at Robert Walters Queensland, says, “Brisbane is at the centre of a once-in-a-generation economic transformation. We’re already seeing a surge in demand for skilled workers, and this is just the beginning. Now is the perfect time for New Zealand professionals to consider making the move.”

    New Zealand is currently experiencing record-high migration departures, with Stats NZ reporting 122,800 departures in the year to January 2025 – the highest annual figure on record. While Kiwis have traditionally favoured Sydney and Melbourne, Brisbane is now emerging as a strong alternative due to its job opportunities and affordability.

    Whilst there has historically been a trend of New Zealanders moving to Australia, they have often favoured cities like Sydney and Melbourne. However, Robert Walters has observed an increasing number opting for Brisbane.  

    “We’re seeing more Kiwis than usual seeking work specifically in Brisbane and we do have the jobs for them due to the Olympics. The cost of living and amount of job opportunities is a big pull for them.” Lowney added.  

    How to Make the Move

    For New Zealanders considering relocation, now is the time to explore opportunities in Brisbane. With increasing demand for skilled workers, businesses are actively seeking talent from across the Tasman and are offering relocation incentives to attract the right candidates.

    “The 2032 Olympics are a game-changer for Brisbane’s job market,” says Lowney. “For Kiwis thinking about moving, this presents a rare chance to secure career growth in a thriving, dynamic city.”

    With Queensland’s economy set to soar, Brisbane is positioning itself as the ultimate destination for professionals looking to advance their careers while enjoying an enviable lifestyle. You can utilise recruitment companies to make the move.  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Greenpeace – Luxon’s war on nature opens gate for more dairy conversion

    Source: Greenpeace

    Greenpeace Aotearoa is calling out the Luxon Government for “leaving the gate wide open” to more dairy conversion with no plan to protect fresh water from pollution.
    Temporary rules that restricted the conversion of farmland to intensive dairy were in place until 1 January this year, to allow time for Regional Councils to implement the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management. This was effectively a stop-gap to prevent further degradation of lakes, rivers and drinking water.
    However, the Luxon Government repealed many of those intended protections last year, blocked Regional Councils from implementing their own freshwater plans, and allowed the dairy conversion restrictions to be lifted without replacing them. BussinessDesk has reported that Environment Canterbury has approved several dairy farm conversions this year.
    Greenpeace spokesperson Will Appelbe says, “Everyone, no matter where they live, should be able to drink the water from their kitchen tap without getting sick. But this basic right is under threat by an already oversized intensive dairy industry that’s set to expand further.”
    “They were happy to delay freshwater plans for Regional Councils, and repeal the few freshwater protections we had, but did not extend the stop-gap on dairy conversions. Now that dairy conversions have started up again, we have to ask how many more communities have to have unsafe drinking water before intensive dairy is reigned in?”
    Nearly half of New Zealand’s rivers are now unsafe for swimming, and 20% of the population could be drinking water contaminated with unsafe levels of nitrate. Emerging evidence shows that drinking water nitrate levels from 1mg/L are associated with a higher risk of some health conditions, including colo-rectal cancer. The largest contributor to nitrate contamination is cow urine and the overuse of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser in the intensive dairy industry.
    At water testing events run by Greenpeace in the Ashburton District last month, almost half of all bore water samples tested were above 5 mg/L of nitrate, a level linked to an increased risk of preterm birth. Several Canterbury town supplies are close to or exceed this level, including Darfield, Hinds, and the Oxford Rural 1 supply. The New Zealand College of Midwives recommends that pregnant people consider avoiding water above 5 mg/L for nitrate.
    “We’ve already seen what dairy expansion does – unswimmable rivers and water that’s unsafe to drink. It’s now up to Regional Councils to step up and protect drinking water, lakes and rivers. And if they’re unwilling, for candidates to step up at the Local Body Elections this year to get the job done.”
    “Environment Canterbury must halt any dairy conversion or intensification applications, at a bare minimum, and swiftly take action to protect the health of people and fresh water from dairy pollution.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Stats NZ information release: Employment indicators: March 2025

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    Employment indicators: March 2025 – 29 April 2025 – Employment indicators provide an early indication of changes in the labour market.

    Key facts
    Changes in the seasonally adjusted filled jobs for the March 2025 month (compared with the February 2025 month) were:

    • all industries – up 0.2 percent (3,548 jobs) to 2.36 million filled jobs
    • primary industries – up 0.4 percent (462 jobs)
    • goods-producing industries – up 0.1 percent (453 jobs)
    • service industries – up 0.2 percent (2,762 jobs).

    Files:

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: 1 billion years ago, a meteorite struck Scotland and influenced life on Earth

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Kirkland, Professor of Geochronology, Curtin University

    Stoer Head lighthouse, Scotland. William Gale/Shutterstock

    We’ve discovered that a meteorite struck northwest Scotland 1 billion years ago, 200 million years later than previously thought. Our results are published today in the journal Geology.

    This impact now aligns with some of Earth’s earliest known, land based, non-marine microbial fossils, and offers new insights into how meteorite strikes may have shaped our planet’s environment and life.

    A rocky treasure trove

    The Torridonian rocks of northwest Scotland are treasured by geologists as some of the finest archives of the ancient lakes and river systems that existed a billion years ago.

    Those water bodies were home to microbial ecosystems consisting of eukaryotes. Eukaryotes are single-celled organisms with complex internal structures that are the ancestors of all plants and animals.

    But the Torridonian environments and their associated microbial communities were dramatically disrupted when a meteor slammed into the planet.

    A drone’s-eye view of the Stac Fada Member reveals towering blocks of sandstone preserving a meteorite impact frozen in time. Look closely and you’ll spot figures for scale, dwarfed by the chaotic jumble of rock fragments encased in impact-smashed debris.
    Tony Prave

    The record of this event is preserved in a geological unit known as the Stac Fada Member. It is comprised of unusual layers of rock fragments broken and melted by the impact.

    Also, crucially, there are shock-altered minerals that closely resemble those found in famous impact sites such as Chicxulub (Mexico) and Sudbury (Canada).

    In the case of the Stac Fada, these minerals were engulfed in high-energy, ground-hugging flows of smashed rock triggered by the impact that spread across the ancient landscape.

    What is exciting about our new date for the Stac Fada impact is that it now overlaps in age with microfossils preserved elsewhere in the Torridonian rocks.

    This raises some interesting questions. For example, how did the meteorite strike influence the environmental conditions those early non-marine microbial ecosystems relied on?

    Finding out the date

    Determining when a meteorite struck is no easy task.

    We can use minerals to constrain the age, but they have to be the right kind. In this case it means something that wasn’t overly altered by the intense heat, pressure and fluids generated by the impact, yet robust enough to survive the ravages of deep geological time.

    Suitable minerals are extremely rare, but we found a few in the Stac Fada rocks. One was reidite, a mineral that only forms under extreme pressure. The other was granular zircon, a uranium-bearing mineral formed by immense impact temperatures.

    Electron microscope image of a shocked zircon: blue is granular zircon, red is reidite formed under extreme pressure from a meteorite impact.
    Timmons Erickson

    These minerals are, in effect, tiny stopwatches whose clocks start “ticking” at the time they form. Although these clocks are often damaged during the impact and the ensuing pulse of heat, we used mathematical modelling to determine the most probable time of impact.

    Together, these techniques consistently pointed to an event 1 billion years old, not 1.2 billion years old as previously suggested. Given such vast spans of time, a 20% change in age might not seem dramatic.

    However, the new age shows the timing of the impact coincides with early non-marine eukaryotic fossils. It also lines up with a major mountain-building event. This means the Torridonian lifeforms had to cope with significant, environment-altering phenomena.

    Why this is important for you, me, and life in general

    The origin of life is a deeply complex process that likely began with a series of pre-biotic chemical reactions.

    While much remains unknown, it is intriguing that two ancient meteorite impacts, the 3.5-billion-year-old North Pole impact in Western Australia and now the 1-billion-year-old Stac Fada deposit in northwest Scotland, occur close in time to major milestones in the fossil record.

    The North Pole impact occurs in a sequence of rocks containing stromatolites, some of the oldest-known fossils considered to be indicative of microbial life.

    These rippled layers in the Torridon rocks were built by ancient microbial communities, evidence of some of the earliest life on land.
    Tony Prave

    All life requires energy. The earliest forms of life are thought to be associated with volcanic hydrothermal springs. Impacts offer a plausible alternative. The immediate aftermath of a meteorite strike is extreme and hostile, and would ruin your day. But the long-term effects could support key biological processes.

    Meteorite strikes fracture rocks, generate long-lived hydrothermal systems and form crater lakes that enable the concentration of important ingredients for life, such as clays, organic molecules and phosphorus. The latter is a key element for all forms of life.

    In Scotland, the Stac Fada impact lies within an ancient river and lake environment that housed microbial ecosystems colonising the land. What makes the Stac Fada impact deposits fascinating is that, unlike most other impacts on Earth, they preserve the environments in which those pioneering organisms lived immediately prior to the impact.

    Further, the impact deposits were subsequently buried as non-marine microbial habitats became reestablished. So, the Stac Fada rocks provide an opportunity to see how microbial life recovered from impact.

    Extraterrestrial visitors in the form of meteorite collisions may not just have scarred Earth’s surface, but shaped its future, turning catastrophic events into natural crater-cradles of life.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. 1 billion years ago, a meteorite struck Scotland and influenced life on Earth – https://theconversation.com/1-billion-years-ago-a-meteorite-struck-scotland-and-influenced-life-on-earth-254285

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Major survey finds most people use AI regularly at work – but almost half admit to doing so inappropriately

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicole Gillespie, Professor of Management; Chair in Trust, Melbourne Business School

    Matheus Bertelli/Pexels

    Have you ever used ChatGPT to draft a work email? Perhaps to summarise a report, research a topic or analyse data in a spreadsheet? If so, you certainly aren’t alone.

    Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are rapidly transforming the world of work. Released today, our global study of more than 32,000 workers from 47 countries shows that 58% of employees intentionally use AI at work – with a third using it weekly or daily.

    Most employees who use it say they’ve gained some real productivity and performance benefits from adopting AI tools.

    However, a concerning number are using AI in highly risky ways – such as uploading sensitive information into public tools, relying on AI answers without checking them, and hiding their use of it.

    There’s an urgent need for policies, training and governance on responsible use of AI, to ensure it enhances – not undermines – how work is done.

    Our research

    We surveyed 32,352 employees in 47 countries, covering all global geographical regions and occupational groups.

    Most employees report performance benefits from AI adoption at work. These include improvements in:

    • efficiency (67%)
    • information access (61%)
    • innovation (59%)
    • work quality (58%).

    These findings echo prior research demonstrating AI can drive productivity gains for employees and organisations.

    We found general-purpose generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, are by far the most widely used. About 70% of employees rely on free, public tools, rather than AI solutions provided by their employer (42%).

    However, almost half the employees we surveyed who use AI say they have done so in ways that could be considered inappropriate (47%) and even more (63%) have seen other employees using AI inappropriately.

    Most survey respondents use free, public AI tools, such as ChatGPT.
    Tada Images/Shutterstock

    Sensitive information

    One key concern surrounding AI tools in the workplace is the handling of sensitive company information – such as financial, sales or customer information.

    Nearly half (48%) of employees have uploaded sensitive company or customer information into public generative AI tools, and 44% admit to having used AI at work in ways that go against organisational policies.

    This aligns with other research showing 27% of content put into AI tools by employees is sensitive.

    Check your answer

    We found complacent use of AI is also widespread, with 66% of respondents saying they have relied on AI output without evaluating it. It is unsurprising then that a majority (56%) have made mistakes in their work due to AI.

    Younger employees (aged 18-34 years) are more likely to engage in inappropriate and complacent use than older employees (aged 35 or older).

    This carries serious risks for organisations and employees. Such mistakes have already led to well-documented cases of financial loss, reputational damage and privacy breaches.

    About a third (35%) of employees say the use of AI tools in their workplace has increased privacy and compliance risks.

    ‘Shadow’ AI use

    When employees aren’t transparent about how they use AI, the risks become even more challenging to manage.

    We found most employees have avoided revealing when they use AI (61%), presented AI-generated content as their own (55%), and used AI tools without knowing if it is allowed (66%).

    This invisible or “shadow AI” use doesn’t just exacerbate risks – it also severely hampers an organisation’s ability to detect, manage and mitigate risks.

    A lack of training, guidance and governance appears to be fuelling this complacent use. Despite their prevalence, only a third of employees (34%) say their organisation has a policy guiding the use of generative AI tools, with 6% saying their organisation bans it.

    Pressure to adopt AI may also fuel complacent use, with half of employees fearing they will be left behind if they do not.

    Almost half of respondents said they had uploaded company financial, sales or customer information into public AI tools.
    Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock

    Better literacy and oversight

    Collectively, our findings reveal a significant gap in the governance of AI tools and an urgent need for organisations to guide and manage how employees use them in their everyday work. Addressing this will require a proactive and deliberate approach.

    Investing in responsible AI training and developing employees’ AI literacy is key. Our modelling shows self-reported AI literacy – including training, knowledge, and efficacy – predicts not only whether employees adopt AI tools but also whether they critically engage with them.

    This includes how well they verify the tools’ output, and consider their limitations before making decisions.

    Training can improve how people engage with AI tools and critically evaluate their output.
    PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock

    We found AI literacy is also associated with greater trust in AI use at work and more performance benefits from its use.

    Despite this, less than half of employees (47%) report having received AI training or related education.

    Organisations also need to put in place clear policies, guidelines and guardrails, systems of accountability and oversight, and data privacy and security measures.

    There are many resources to help organisations develop robust AI governance systems and support responsible AI use.

    The right culture

    On top of this, it’s crucial to create a psychologically safe work environment, where employees feel comfortable to share how and when they are using AI tools.

    The benefits of such a culture go beyond better oversight and risk management. It is also central to developing a culture of shared learning and experimentation that supports responsible diffusion of AI use and innovation.

    AI has the potential to improve the way we work. But it takes an AI-literate workforce, robust governance and clear guidance, and a culture that supports safe, transparent and accountable use. Without these elements, AI becomes just another unmanaged liability.

    This research was supported by the Chair in Trust research partnership between the University of Melbourne and KPMG Australia and funding from KPMG International. The research was conducted independently by Professor Nicole Gillespie and Dr Steve Lockey and their research team at Melbourne Business School, The University of Melbourne, and published in collaboration with KPMG.

    – ref. Major survey finds most people use AI regularly at work – but almost half admit to doing so inappropriately – https://theconversation.com/major-survey-finds-most-people-use-ai-regularly-at-work-but-almost-half-admit-to-doing-so-inappropriately-255405

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Stats NZ information release: Employment indicators: March 2025

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    Employment indicators: March 2025 – 29 April 2025 – Employment indicators provide an early indication of changes in the labour market.

    Key facts
    Changes in the seasonally adjusted filled jobs for the March 2025 month (compared with the February 2025 month) were:

    • all industries – up 0.2 percent (3,548 jobs) to 2.36 million filled jobs
    • primary industries – up 0.4 percent (462 jobs)
    • goods-producing industries – up 0.1 percent (453 jobs)
    • service industries – up 0.2 percent (2,762 jobs).

    Files:

     

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fiordland’s Lake Marian Track temporarily closed for construction

    Source: Department of Conservation

    Date:  29 April 2025

    Lake Marian Falls and Lake Marian Track are about 30 km from Milford Sound/Piopiotahi on the lower Hollyford Road off State Highway 94.

    Lake Marian Falls’ new platform will be semi-circular and positioned to allow visitors to enjoy the dramatic waterfalls and water-sculpted rocks, away from the river’s edge.

    The platform will also mark the start of the advanced Lake Marian Track, which continues past the falls up to Lake Marian/Hinepipiwai.

    Lake Marian Track (advanced tramping) is closed until approximately 30 May while the platform is built. The timing of construction should be less disruptive to visitors as the track is busiest in summer.

    Access along the Lake Marian Falls Track (easy walking) will be limited over the construction period. It won’t be possible to view the upper falls, but visitors can still access viewing spots over the lower rapids.

    John Lucas, DOC’s Operations Manager Te Anau, says barriers will protect people while the new platform is built.

    “Climbing over or around barriers to have a closer look could result in serious injury or death. For your own safety, respect the advice on signage and stay behind barriers.”

    Signage is in place at both the starting footbridge of the Lake Marian Falls Track and the point at Marian Falls where the track is closed. Visit DOC’s website for updates.

    Note: All visitors to Lake Marian Track should avoid walking near the creek. The rocks are slippery, and Marian Creek’s current is strong. A fall into the water could cause serious injury or death. Stay on the track. Keep children within arm’s reach and watch them carefully.

    While construction is underway at Lake Marian, visitors may like to explore stunning alternative tracks in the Fiordland National Park such as Key Summit Track or Hollyford Track.

    Contact

    For media enquiries contact:

    Email: media@doc.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: African Development Bank signs $3.2 billion Exposure Exchange with Inter-American Development Bank

    Source: African Development Bank Group (AfDB)

    Since 2015, the African Development Bank has used these agreements to diversify lending within its sovereign portfolio and deploy capital effectively while preserving a resilient financial base.

    WASHINGTON D.C., United States of America, April 28, 2025/ — The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) has signed a $3.2 billion Exposure Exchange Agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), renewing a prior agreement originally executed between the two institutions in 2015. The agreement was signed in Washington DC, on the sidelines of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund Spring meetings.

    This is the fourth exposure exchange undertaken by the African Development Bank with other Multilateral Development Banks, in the continuous pursuit of innovative ways of strengthening the capital adequacy and efficiency of Multilateral Development Banks, as well as boost their development lending capacity.

    Since 2015, the African Development Bank has used these agreements to diversify lending within its sovereign portfolio and deploy capital effectively while preserving a resilient financial base. The tool ensures the African Development Bank remains agile, well-capitalized, and committed to innovation in support of development in Africa.

    Today’s transaction follows previous successful agreements between the African Development Bank and other Multilateral Development Banks, including the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Asian Development Bank.

    The African Development Bank President Dr Akinwumi Adesina said, “This transaction underpins the African Development Bank’s forward-looking approach to capital and risk management.”

    “We are pleased to continue our positive longstanding collaboration with Inter-American Development Bank in structuring and executing innovative financial solutions to align with the G20’s call for Multilateral Development Banks to work together as a system in expanding development impact to our member countries,” said Adesina.

    Inter-American Development Bank President Ilan Goldfajn pointed to the success of the first agreement signed with the African Development Bank ten years ago. He said, “This new agreement marks yet another milestone in our strong and fruitful collaboration with the African Development Bank. Thanks to this operation we’re strengthening the financial resilience, creditworthiness, and financing capacity of both of our institutions. A win-win for all, that will benefit the people of Latin America and the Caribbean and Africa”.

    Adesina added that Multilateral Development Banks should do more of such transactions because of their proven success and impact.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Auckland Council botanical pioneer retires

    Source: Auckland Council

    After 48 years and many career highlights, Auckland Council’s Manager of Auckland Botanic Gardens Jack Hobbs is stepping down.   

    Jack’s connection to the gardens goes right back to its beginning when, as a young recruit, he helped shape the Manurewa grounds into a public botanical garden for its official opening in 1982.

    Director of Community Rachel Kelleher says that while many Aucklanders will certainly be sad to see Jack go, he has achieved the extraordinary vision of helping transform what was originally farmland into the beautiful gardens and thriving visitor attraction that it is today.

    “Under Jack’s leadership, the gardens have grown into a world-leading showcase where the focus is not only on plants but also people, with its exceptional collections attracting more than 1 million visitors of all ages each year,” Rachel says.

    “Jack is unique in his approach to horticulture because of his ability to connect with people and inspire them to learn more about why plants are so important. For as long as I can remember, he has worked hard to welcome new visitors into the gardens by making their experience more meaningful,” she says.

    Manager of Visitor Services, Micheline Newton, says Jack’s departure will leave large shoes to fill for the Gardens’ team and for supporters like the Friends of Auckland Botanic Gardens.  

    “Nobody knows the gardens as well as Jack does, and his vision and leadership are evident everywhere you go. We are all proud to have worked alongside him and learnt so much,” says Micheline.

    “Though we can never replace the depth and breadth of Jack’s 48 years of experience, he leaves behind a team of passionate and skilled people who will continue his legacy and vision to connect Aucklanders to the wonderful world of plants.”

    Mid-way through his career, Jack made the bold move of establishing sustainable horticultural practices at the gardens that reduced the need for spraying. This represented a major shift in direction at the time and kept the wellbeing of visitors and staff as a priority.

    “I am proud of the work we achieved to stop the use of pesticides on our plants. It was controversial 25 years ago but thanks to the team’s commitment, it has now become almost mainstream,” Jack says.

    A few years later, Jack advocated for an education centre to be built and fought hard to get the Huakaiwaka Visitor Centre and café across the line, which has become an incredibly popular destination for people to connect.

    Similarly, he pushed to get the Potter Children’s Garden established, which now provides thousands of students with the opportunity to learn how humans, plants, animals and insects are inter-connected in our environment. 

    Jack says the decision to leave a job he loves so much has been tough, but the timing feels right following another two major highlights of his career.

    “It’s been such a privilege to be involved in the opportunity to acquire the Nathan property adjacent to the Botanic Gardens, followed by Rosemary Platt’s offer to donate her 14 acres of land in Greenhithe complete with the most significant collection of trees I have encountered,” he says.

    Over the years, Jack has earned huge respect as a horticulturist internationally and won multiple awards for plant breeding, with his star performers from the Wiri species now established around the world.

    He’s starred in various television gardening programmes and published books, sharing his extensive knowledge far and wide. He developed a pivotal connection with the Friends of the Botanic Gardens and ensured this relationship was prioritised by all staff.

    In keeping with this approach, Jack is quick to acknowledge the many talented staff who have supported along the way.

    “Most of all I am proud of the passionate and dedicated teams we have at the Botanic Gardens and the Domain who have a common vision to connect people with plants, and who work so hard to deliver great experiences for our visitors,” Jack says. “I feel privileged to have been part of such a great bunch.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Govt’s austerity Budget to cause real harm in communities

    Source: Green Party

    The Government’s Budget looks set to usher in a new age of austerity. This morning, Minister of Finance Nicola Willis said new spending would be limited to $1.4 billion, cut back from the original intended $2.4 billion, which itself was already $100 million below what Treasury said was needed to keep the lights on.

    “New Zealanders looking around at the state of global politics and asking how things got so bad have their answer in the kind of slash and burn economics Nicola Willis has promised the country today,” says Green Party co-leader and spokesperson for Finance Chlöe Swarbrick. 

    “The Government has decided its job isn’t done growing poverty, climate changing emissions and homelessness. They’ve announced they’re going to go harder shredding the services we all rely on, meaning life is set to get harder and more expensive for regular people.

    “This is the austerity play book: defund public services to failure, watch them fail, then privatise; take the so-called ‘cost’ off the Government’s books and watch those costs rise for regular people.

    “It doesn’t have to be this way. We can reduce the cost of living and climate changing emissions while increasing our quality of life – if we have a Government that cares to actually do these things.

    “It’s not inevitable that people’s lives get worse, as the Government seems intent on telling everyone. In a few weeks’ time, the Greens will release our plan for the future entirely within our reach: a Government budget that supports the wellbeing of people and planet, instead of exploiting and exhausting both,” says Chlöe Swarbrick. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Govt vocational education reforms will cause massive disruption

    Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

    The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi is warning that the Government’s decision to adopt a new model for the vocational education and training sector will lead to massive disruptions and instability in an already fatigued sector.

    “The NZCTU remains fundamentally opposed to these reforms, which will create further disruption across the sector and come off the back of a period of disruption and change in the sector over the past five years,” said NZCTU Acting President Rachel Mackintosh.

    “We are concerned by the impacts that another several years of change processes will have on the sector, learners, and industries.

    “Our major concern regarding the model that the Government is adopting is the risk of the creation of new private agencies competing for public funding within the sector; this model has not served New Zealand well in the past.

    “Profit motives drive instability in education, and it is not a good use of resources to have multiple agencies competing for funding as they must focus attention on securing funding at the expense of focusing on delivery for learners.

    “The whole process for these reforms has been flawed. There is no reason why the consultation needed to have such a narrow scope, excluding critical stakeholders, and key subject matter experts.

    “The Minister’s insistence on pushing ahead with these poorly thought through reforms is likely to create several more years of instability in the sector, and more uncertainty for learners, industries, and the vocational education and training workforce,” said Mackintosh.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Unions launch campaign to ban engineered stone

    Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

    The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi has today launched a campaign to ban the import, supply, and use of engineered stone in Aotearoa New Zealand.

    “We are urging the Government to do the right thing and save workers’ lives by banning engineered stone, an extremely dangerous product that causes the fatal lung disease silicosis”, said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.

    “Engineered stone is the asbestos of our times. It is not an essential product and there are many safe alternatives already in the market.

    “Silicosis is a debilitating disease that cannot be cured. The evidence is clear that the only solution is to stop workers from being required to process engineered stone, which exposes them to the dangerous silica dust.

    “Brooke van Velden has the power to save workers’ lives. All she needs to do is follow Australia’s example and implement a total ban.

    “There is broad support for this campaign. Last year the CTU joined with 18 other organisations, including public health experts and health and safety specialists, and called on the Minister to act.

    “Aotearoa has a terrible record when it comes to work-associated deaths. The Government has the opportunity to help turn that around by banning engineered stone. It’s time they stepped up on behalf of Kiwi workers,” said Wagstaff.

    The NZCTU have today launched a public petition calling on the Minister to implement a full ban on the import, supply, and use of engineered stone.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Mark Cameron drafts bill to stop banking wokery and protect rural borrowers

    Source: ACT Party

    ACT Rural Communities spokesperson Mark Cameron has drafted a bill to scrap the red tape forcing banks and financial institutions to make climate-related disclosures, by repealing Part 7A of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013.

    “Rural and regional New Zealanders are being hammered by banking wokery that judges businesses on political fashion rather than commercial sense,” says Mr Cameron.

    “Farmers are already seeing discrimination creeping into interest rates based on perceived emissions. They fear they’ll be the next to be ‘debanked’, not because of financial risk, but because they don’t fit the agenda of the suit-and-tie bigwigs. We’ve already seen it happening to essential industries like mining and service stations.

    “These rules are the ultimate virtue signal that only ACT opposed back in 2021. They reduce banking competition and force significant costs on lenders – and therefore borrowers – for absolutely no environmental gain.

    “This week I wrote to the Minister for Commerce and Consumer Affairs, raising concerns about the harmful impact these regulations have on borrowers, banking competition, and economic growth, and encouraging him to adopt my proposal as a Government Bill.

    “The Bill I’ve drafted sends two clear messages to the banks. First, they will no longer win political favour by making ideological lending decisions, and they can be confident that they won’t be punished for sticking to their core role of serving customers. Second, for those banks that have fallen under ideological capture, it’s a signal to get back to basics – or risk losing customers to competitors who understand what banking is really about.

    “For government and the regulators of banks, it’s about getting back to basics too. The role of financial regulation is to ensure the sound functioning of financial markets in a way that promotes trust, efficiency, and stability. The climate-disclosure requirements are a departure from this limited function into social engineering.

    “It’s also unnecessary. We already have an Emissions Trading Scheme that makes these woke rules completely redundant – emissions are capped and the cost of carbon is already factored into investment and production decisions.

    “So while the disclosure requirements haven’t reduced a single gram of global emissions, they do put pressure on the banks by waving a stick at the banks, tacitly saying ‘if we don’t like who you’re lending to we’ll hit you’. That is part of what’s driving this madness and why ACT believes markets, not ministers should decide where investment is directed.

    “The answer to woke lending practices is not more red tape, it’s getting rid of the existing stuff that’s causing it in the first place.

    “We’ll win the war on banking wokery by letting better ideas and businesses compete against out-of-touch lenders. Piling on additional heavy-handed regulations risks scaring off new entrants to the market, further entrenching the power of the big players. If we want to force their hand, the market is best placed to do it.”

    Mark Cameron’s letter to the Minister can be read here.

    A copy of the Financial Markets Conduct (Repeal of Climate-related Disclosure Requirements) Amendment Bill can be read here.

    The climate-related disclosure requirements were introduced by Labour in 2021 through the Financial Sector (Climate-related Disclosures and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2021.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Serious crash, Whitiora, Hamilton

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Motorists are asked to avoid the intersection of Mill and Ulster Streets in Whitiora, Hamilton, this morning, after a crash has left one person seriously injured.

    Police were called to the crash, involving a vehicle and a cyclist, about 5.55am. 

    Traffic management will be in place. 

    Motorists should take an alternate route, or expect delays.

    ENDS 

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Leaves of hope; first signs of mistletoe success at Pirongia

    Source: Department of Conservation

    Date:  29 April 2025

    Long-term restoration efforts began at Pirongia in the early 2000s, and DOC’s Waikato team has been working with Pirongia Te Aroaro ō Kahu Restoration Society, Te Pahū Landcare, and local iwi to restore the maunga and reintroduce native species.

    DOC Waikato Biodiversity Ranger Cara Hansen says the mistletoe species were historically found on the maunga, but the introduction of possums to New Zealand completely wiped the plants out.

    “Possums are the main threat to mistletoe,” Cara says. “They love it, and will they’ll often devour the entire plant if they can. Controlling them is vital; this mistletoe species is only found in New Zealand, just like a massive 84% of our native plants. Species like this need our help, and it’s great to work alongside iwi and the community to protect them.”

    Beginning in 2023, the translocation of pirita/mistletoe (Ileostylus micranthus and Tupeia antarctica) saw DOC staff and volunteers attach seeds to dozens of host trees at Kaniwhaniwha and Pirongia Lodge on the edge of Pirongia Forest Park. The translocation method is simple, swiping the sticky mistletoe seeds on to host trees, much like birds do when naturally spreading the seeds.

    Each host tree received between 10 and 20 mistletoe seeds, which were sourced from a property near Maungatautari. Recent monitoring of 18 host trees at Kaniwhaniwha showed 53 individual mistletoe plants had germinated, and after one year they had between two and four leaves each.

    “The plants can be a little slow to get going, so they’re still pretty tiny,” Cara says. “Once they germinate, they can take a while to attach successfully to the host tree, and will reach maturity in about five years. By then, they’ll have grown to the size of a basketball, and will have started producing fruit.”

    “Over a 10-year period, mistletoe seed will be sown into trees around Pirongia. Sites like Kaniwhaniwha campground are great, as they have a good range of hosts and a lot of light, which really helps the mistletoe since they photosynthesize in addition to taking food and water from their host trees.”

    “Even though this is a great sign, we’re not out of the woods yet,” says Cara. “Continued control of possums and rats at place is key to the project’s success, both to protect mistletoe from browsing pressure, and to increase the native bird species who act as pollinators and seed-dispersers.”

    Pirongia is part of DOC’s National Predator Control Programme, which uses aerially applied toxins to control possums & rats. The two community groups have also contributed to the programme with extensive ground control efforts.

    Aotearoa New Zealand’s has more threatened species than anywhere else in the world, with more than 4000 considered threatened or at risk of extinction. Most of these are only found here, so once they’re gone, they’ll be gone for good.

    Background information

    New Zealand has nine mistletoe species, and the fruit they produce is key food source for many native birds.

    Host tree species for the translocation a Pirongia include mangeao, mahoe and kohūhū.

    Contact

    For media enquiries contact:

    Email: media@doc.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Events – REPORTERS FACING MULTIPLE CHALLENGES COVERING THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY – AUT

    Source: Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
    The challenges faced by journalists covering the climate emergency will be at the heart of a public symposium at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) next month.  
    The symposium, titled Framing the Emergency: Climate Journalism in Aotearoa New Zealand, will explore how journalists report on the climate crisis, what more they can do, and how more climate stories might be told.  
    Speakers will include leading journalists Eloise Gibson (RNZ), Marc Daalder (Newsroom), and Miriama Kamo (TVNZ).  
    Experts and activists in the line-up include Russel Norman (Greenpeace), Jessica Palairet (Lawyers for Climate Action), and Joe Nagera (Pacific Climate Warriors).
    The symposium convenor, Professor Geoffrey Craig, said New Zealand climate journalists had a challenging job relating how the planetary crisis was impacting the nation.  
    They needed to “traverse the complexities of governmental policies and emission trading schemes, the power of corporations and the technicality of scientific research”, he said.  
    “They must cover the politics of land and water management, the advocacy of activists, and the struggles of citizens responding to disasters and building greater sustainability in their communities and everyday lives.”
    Journalists also face the challenge of reporting independently on the “actions and discourses of stakeholders” who frame climate issues in different ways, based on their interests. 
    The climate emergency could be said to transforming our understanding of the relationships between economy, environment and society.  
    “Yet some might argue there is little sense of an ’emergency’ in our public responses to the climate crisis,” he said.  
    “Do we need other climate stories in our media where the mahi and hope of communities point the way forward?”  
    Auckland University of Technology (AUT) is one of the world’s best modern universities. Home to 28,000 students across three campuses, AUT has more than 60 research centres and institutes delivering leading research – from artificial intelligence to robotics,
    and ecology to public health. As a contemporary university, AUT is connected to an extraordinary range of organisations sharing expertise and resources, collaborating on ground-breaking research, and connecting students with industry leaders and employers. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –