Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Exercise New Zealand

09 October 2026

67% of New Zealanders say mental wellbeing is a reason they exercise.

Mental wellbeing is now the second biggest reason Kiwis exercise, behind only overall health.

“Aotearoa has a chance to be a strong example internationally of an exercise industry that understands physical and mental wellbeing go hand in hand.”

This World Mental Health Day, Exercise New Zealand is highlighting the growing role exercise plays in supporting mental wellbeing, and what Kiwis experience can offer the global exercise industry.

World Mental Health Day is held each year on 10 October and was first observed in 1992 as an initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH). It was established to raise awareness and understanding of mental health issues and advocate for better mental health around the world.

The theme for World Mental Health Day 2026 is “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change.” It calls for people with lived experience of mental health challenges to have a meaningful voice in shaping the services, policies and environments that support them.

For the exercise industry, listening to why people choose to exercise is an important part of that conversation.

Mental Wellbeing Is One Of The Biggest Reasons Kiwis Exercise

ExerciseNZ's latest consumer research shows mental wellbeing is now the second most common reason Kiwis give for exercising, at 67%, behind only overall health at 78%. Chief Executive Richard Beddie says the findings reflect how much the role of exercise has changed.

“People come to gyms, studios and exercise classes for all sorts of reasons. Getting fitter and stronger is obviously part of it, but for a lot of New Zealanders, exercise is also about feeling better, managing stress and having something positive in their day.

“When two-thirds of New Zealanders tell us mental wellbeing is a reason they exercise, that's something our industry needs to pay attention to.”

Conducted annually, ExerciseNZ's consumer research has consistently identified mental health among the leading reasons New Zealanders choose to exercise. Previous research found 64% identified mental health as a reason to be physically active, alongside overall health at 76% and feeling good about themselves at 61%.

Aotearoa Offers An Example For The Global Exercise Industry

More than one million New Zealanders now engage with the structured exercise sector, with close to one in three adults accessing structured exercise services.

ExerciseNZ says those numbers, alongside the growing importance of mental wellbeing as a reason for exercising, show how the role of the exercise industry is broadening. “We have a real opportunity in Aotearoa to lead this conversation,” Beddie says.

“People are already telling us that exercise is an important part of how they look after their mental wellbeing. The industry needs to understand that and make sure the experience we provide reflects it.

“A good exercise facility can offer much more than equipment and a workout. For many people, it's part of their weekly routine, somewhere they know people, somewhere they feel comfortable and somewhere they leave feeling better.”

New Zealand is also one of a relatively small number of countries with a registration body for exercise professionals, providing assurance that registered professionals are appropriately qualified and understand their professional scope. Beddie says that professional foundation is increasingly valuable as people turn to structured exercise for a wider range of reasons.

What Does That Mean In The Gym?

For gyms, studios, group exercise providers and exercise professionals, the message is relatively simple: understand why people are there.

For someone walking into a gym, the most important part of their experience may be the workout. For someone else, it might be the routine, getting out of the house, seeing familiar faces or having an hour where they can focus on themselves. Beddie further states.

“Exercise professionals aren't there to provide mental health treatment. Their role is exercise. But how we deliver that exercise matters,”

“Being welcoming, knowing your members, creating a sense of community and making exercise a positive experience can make a genuine difference to someone's day.”

ExerciseNZ says World Mental Health Day is also a chance for the global industry to think more broadly about what people now expect from structured exercise.

For many people, appearance, performance and weight loss are no longer the main drivers. Health, mental wellbeing, connection and simply feeling better are becoming increasingly important.

“The numbers tell us what New Zealanders value. And if 67% of people are exercising for their mental wellbeing, then that needs to be part of how we think about our industry and the environments we create.”

“Aotearoa has a chance to be a strong example internationally of an exercise industry that understands physical and mental wellbeing go hand in hand.”

Source: Federated Farmers

Federated Farmers is welcoming National’s announcement of a scheme to help get water storage projects built, saying reliable access to water is vital for farming’s future and New Zealand’s economic success.

Federated Farmers president Colin Hurst says the policy recognises that water storage is critical infrastructure that can help farmers build resilience, grow their businesses and respond to changing land-use opportunities.

“Water storage is such an important strategic enabler of growth for the primary sector, unlocking huge economic opportunities for farmers and rural communities that all New Zealanders will benefit from.

“Reliable access to water gives farmers more options. It can help them increase production, build resilience through dry periods, or shift to higher value land uses when new opportunities emerge,” Hurst says.

“If we’re serious about doubling New Zealand’s export value and unlocking all of the economic benefits that will come with that ambition, access to water is absolutely critical.”

Hurst says getting projects built requires more than good ideas.

“There can be significant hurdles in the early stages of a project, particularly around consenting, construction risk and securing finance.

“That’s why initial Government support to help get projects off the ground early is so important.”

National’s announcement includes $300 million in concessional loans for water storage projects, a long-term national water infrastructure pipeline, and a national water storage register.

Five regions with storage work already underway – Northland, Tairāwhiti, Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa and Canterbury – will be prioritised.

The policy also includes a National Standard for on-farm and other lower-risk off-stream water storage, as well as a National Standard for Irrigation to make consenting easier for farmers and growers.

Hurst says the measures align closely with Federated Farmers’ 2026 election priorities, including national standards for on-farm water storage and irrigation, greater flexibility for land use, and support to build new water storage projects.

“Farmers are always good at adapting to new opportunities – it’s part of our DNA – but we need the tools and infrastructure to do it,” he says.

“Just like reliable access to fertiliser and other critical inputs matters, so does having reliable access to water.

“These are the foundations that allow farmers to invest, innovate and keep delivering economic benefits for all Kiwis – funding roads, schools, police and hospitals.”

Hurst says better water storage isn’t just good for farmers, but also for rural towns, the wider economy, and the environment.

“Having our rural towns running out of water is a really big issue, and building more water storage will alleviate that.

“It’s also good for the environment because we’ll end up storing water in times of plenty for when water is short, which evens the flow of rivers.

“If you’re sucking water out of the river, the levels get low, and then there can be environmental impacts. Having secure water storage prevents that.”

Federated Farmers water storage spokesperson Richard Dawkins says the concessional loan component addresses a specific problem Federated Farmers has repeatedly raised with the Government.

“Projects often get stuck in that awkward period where a bank is hardly going to lend tens of millions while consent and construction risk is still hanging over them,” Dawkins says.

“There’s real value in the Government helping bridge that gap, and it is directly aligned with what we’ve been asking for.

“The national pipeline, storage register and standards are useful too because they get us closer to treating water storage as a strategic national infrastructure issue, rather than making every community start from scratch.”

Dawkins says water storage can deliver significant benefits beyond individual farms – and that access to reliable water is critical if we want to grow our economy.

“A new irrigation scheme can add hundreds of millions of dollars to the local economy of small rural communities, grow exports, and support families.

“We’ve seen that in Canterbury, where the Central Plains irrigation scheme generated $400 million for Canterbury’s GDP in 2025 and supports more than 2,200 full-time jobs.

“That’s good for everyone and it matters even more in times like now, when Kiwi families are struggling to put food on the table and fuel in their cars.

“New Zealand is never going to be able to tax our way into prosperity, but we might be able to farm our way there. A growing economy means more jobs and higher incomes.”

Dawkins says there’s still work to do to make projects investment-ready and get more schemes moving, but the Government’s announcement is a significant step forward.

“Once up and running, many water storage schemes can be largely funded by water users, but there are major risks and costs in getting projects through the early development stages.

“Today’s announcement responds to a genuine need from the farming sector and is a great step towards getting more projects built.”

Source: Porirua City Council

Porirua City Council’s Maungaroa 2050 Māori Strategy is on track with its roadmap to support, elevate and enable the future aspirations of Māori, a progress report shows.

The strategy was developed following engagement with mana whenua and taurahere Māori and launched in late 2023. A report to Council today captured the first three years of achievements and progress and showed that a strong foundation has been established for advancing Māori outcomes across Council.

Manager Māori Strategy, Jade Williams, said the report highlights that meaningful progress has been made across all five strategic priorities of the strategy.

One significant strategic milestone during the period was the official signing of Te Wai Ora o Parirua – Porirua Harbour Accord (the Accord) on Waitangi Day 2025, she said.

“The Accord unites key partners (Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, Porirua City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Wellington City Council and Tiaki Wai) and signals our shared commitment to restoring the ecological, cultural, and environmental integrity of the harbour alongside stakeholders, community groups, and organisations.

“On-the-ground progress highlights include: planting and restoration projects; emergency preparedness and resilience through partnerships with Ngāti Toa Rangatira, marae and community organisations; support of Māori enterprise through BizHub, BizFest and Biz Ezi; expansion of bilingual signage; increased Council staff te reo and tikanga capability; and adoption of a new naming policy.”

At today’s meeting Ngāti Toa kaumatua Dr Taku Parai highlighted the significance of having a strategy based on Te Maungaroa – the anchor stone left by Kupe.

“It’s a very unique baseline to base strategy and reporting on. It belongs to us here, in Porirua,” he said.

Mayor Anita Baker welcomed the report, saying that partnering with Ngāti Toa and Māori communities means partnerships are stronger, Māori identity is more visible and community resilience is growing and Council capability is improving.

“In August this year Porirua City Council & Te Rūnanga O Toa Rangatira refreshed and signed Whakaaetanga Patuitanga 2026 | Strategic Partnership Agreement 2026, which outlines our shared commitment to our partnership with each other and provides the opportunity for Te Rūnanga to contribute to Council decisions and to provide leadership with the Council for Porirua,” Mayor Baker said.

The report shows that a strong foundation has been established for advancing Māori outcomes across Council, while also identifying the key gaps and opportunities that should shape the next phase of work.

A designed version of the full report presented today will be published in the coming weeks, and you can view the summary and tabled report here.

You can read the Maungaroa 2050 Māori Strategy on our web page.

Source: Porirua City Council

A progress report on year two of Ola Kamataga – Beginning of Life 2024-2027, Porirua City Council’s first Pacific Strategy, shows that Pacific initiatives are now embedded in the organisation as part of standard operating practices.

The strategy was developed following engagement with Pacific businesses, community groups, service providers and community members. It provides a framework for Council to work inpartnership with Pacific communities, to support, elevate, and enable the future aspirations of Tangata Moana communities in Porirua.

A progress report presented to Council’s Te Puna Kōrero committee today set out progress across the strategy’s priorities and focus areas.

Perenise Ropeti, Manager Pacific Strategy, said that year two of the strategy had consolidated the shift from discrete cultural initiatives to embedded organisational practice at Porirua City Council.

“Pacific responsiveness is now reflected in procurement policy, project governance templates, capital works design, and executive reporting protocols. This indicates a move from pilot activity to standard operating procedure,” he said.

Cutural competence is a cornerstone of the strategy, and 192 Porirua City staff have now completed Yavu cultural capability training delivered by the Ministry for Pacific Peoples.

Co-design was another key focus, and this was reflected in the Pacific community co-design of the garden at the news Cannons Creek Library, translation support at Whenua Tapu and in the parking and waste management areas.

External engagement was another success highlighted in the report, with the inaugural Pacific Business Fono attracting 63 participants, the quarterly Pacific Night Markets averaging 35 stallholders per event, three emergency management community workshops specifically designed for Pacific communities, and Council hosted flag-raising ceremonies for all 12 Pacific Language Weeks.

Mayor Anita Baker welcomed the report, which showed the collective contributions of Council and community.

“Pacific people make up more than one-quarter of Porirua’s population and are a huge part of what makes our city so special,” she said.

“It’s appropriate that one of the focus areas is Fa'asinomaga, or identity and belonging.

“We have worked to make Pacific languages, cultures and identity visible across civic life and facilities, including Pātaka Pasifika events, library displays, Pacific Night Markets and cultural performances, and Pātaka art + Museum exhibitions and events,” Mayor Baker said.

The proposed next step will be to undertake a Pacific Strategy review co-designed with the Porirua Pacific Services Network, Pacific business representatives, and Pacific youth in 2027. The review, to be carried out in the third year of the strategy, will evaluate whether the current priorities are still appropriate and set measurable long-term targets for employment, procurement, and representation.

You can read the progress report that was presented to Council, alongside a year two stakeholder infographic. Designed versions of these documents will be made available on our website in the coming weeks. You can download the original strategy.

Source: SAFE For Animals

With voters preparing to head to the polls next month, animal rights organisation SAFE has launched its 2026 election scorecard, revealing some stark differences between political parties on some of the country's most pressing animal welfare issues.

SAFE’s scorecard compares parties’ responses across eleven questions, covering issues from factory farming, farrowing crates, caged hens, intensive winter grazing, live animal export, rodeo, food-system reform and independent animal welfare oversight.

SAFE’s Head of Campaigns Jessica Chambers says the scorecard is intended to help voters make informed decisions about where parties stand on animal issues.

“The next government will make decisions that affect the lives of millions of animals. This scorecard gives voters a clear picture of where parties stand on issues directly impacting animals.”

SAFE says its scorecard makes it easy for voters to compare which parties are prepared to strengthen protections for animals, and which would maintain the status quo. It also provides an opportunity for voters to engage with parties directly, raise concerns about animal welfare policies, and encourage stronger commitments for animals.

“Animals aren’t able to vote, but voters can make their interests count” says Chambers.

Following significant setbacks on animal welfare including preventing the ban on farrowing crates from taking effect and an attempted reversal of the live animal export ban, SAFE says the general election gives voters a chance to have their say on what the future looks like for animals.

“We encourage New Zealanders to explore the scorecard, see where political parties stand, and let parties know if they expect stronger action for animals. Positions can change, and elections provide an important opportunity for voters to influence the policies they want to see.”

“This scorecard is about transparency. We want voters to be informed, have conversations with candidates and parties, and make it clear that animal protection matters when they head to the polls.”

SAFE is Aotearoa’s leading animal rights organisation.

We're creating a future that ensures the rights of animals are respected. Our core work empowers society to make kinder choices for ourselves, animals and our planet.

Notes

Location of scorecard on SAFE's website: https://safe.org.nz/news/putting-animals-on-the-agenda-the-2026-election-scorecard/

Source: Amnesty International

A growing number of states across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are taking positive steps towards reducing the use and scope of the death penalty, creating new momentum towards abolition in a region historically associated with strong support for this cruel punishment, said Amnesty International ahead of the World Day Against the Death Penalty on 10 October. The progress taken by many countries highlights the isolation of Singapore as an outlier in the region, as executions globally remain confined to a small group of countries.

Over the past 20 years, a wave of reforms and decreases in executions across the now 11 ASEAN member states have changed the picture of the death penalty in the region, moving it closer in line with the three countries fully abolitionist in law (Cambodia, Philippines, Timor-Leste), details Amnesty International’s new briefing, Changing Tides: Reform and resistance on the death penalty in ASEAN. Earlier this year, Indonesia marked 10 years without executions, while Malaysia and Thailand are poised to do the same in 2027 and 2028. Brunei Darussalam and Laos have also maintained hiatuses in executions, with death sentences imposed sparingly in recent decades. However, Myanmar, Singapore and Viet Nam remain staunch in their use of the death penalty.

“The number of executing countries across ASEAN has steadily decreased, with just Myanmar, Singapore and Viet Nam recording executions in the past five years” said Joshua Ericsson, Executive Director of Amnesty International Malaysia.

“This shift underscores the growing isolation of states that continue to carry out executions and justify the retention of this cruel punishment as uniquely effective for public safety. The reforms across ASEAN prove that this is not a tenable position. When human rights are put at the centre of criminal justice responses, the foundations of the death penalty begin to crack. States must move from consolidating execution hiatuses toward formal moratoriums and, ultimately, full abolition in law.”

Singapore remains at odds with regional trends

Singapore remains the only ASEAN member state known to carry out executions regularly and to openly oppose substantive reform, putting the country at odds with broader regional and global trends towards restriction and abolition. As of 30 September 2026, the authorities have carried out 19 executions this year, all for drug-related offences, already exceeding the 17 executions recorded in 2025 and more than double the nine recorded in 2024. Amnesty International has continued to document mandatory death sentences, mostly imposed for drug trafficking and based on unfair proceedings – rendering the executions unlawful and arbitrary under international human rights law and standards. Alarmingly, the authorities have intensified their efforts to target and silence activists and human rights defenders involved in anti-death penalty campaigning.

In a major setback, the military authorities in Myanmar resumed judicial executions following grossly unfair proceedings in 2022, after more than three decades without any; and then expanded the scope of the death penalty in 2025 and 2026. In Viet Nam, although the official number of executions remains a state secret that makes it difficult to confirm numbers, the authorities have driven reforms that are expected to reduce the number of capital offences from 18 to four in just over a year.

Shifting tides towards abolition

Several ASEAN countries have put in place significant reforms, including narrowing the scope of capital offences, removing mandatory death sentences, and implementing resentencing processes and new policy commitments to review or reduce the use of this cruel punishment.

“Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Viet Nam are leading the new wave of reforms as they continue to narrow the scope of the death penalty,” said Joshua Ericsson. “If the tide continues to turn, we will see a significant decrease in the number of people sentenced to death or on death row.”

Thailand has reduced the circumstances in which the death penalty can be imposed for drug-related offences under its 2021 drug control law. In Malaysia, recent legislative reforms have substantially transformed the country’s death penalty framework, leading to a reduction in the number of people under sentence of death from more than 1,200 to approximately 100 at the end of 2025. In Indonesia, a new Criminal Code classifies the death penalty as a “special punishment” to be applied as a last resort, while the number of capital offences in Viet Nam are set to be reduced from 18 to four in just over a year.

Death penalty for drug-related offences remains in place

Despite the progress, international safeguards and restrictions on the use of the death penalty have been frequently violated in the name of public safety and the so-called “war on drugs”.

“The death penalty for drug-related offences remains in place across all eight ASEAN member states that still retain this cruel punishment, in violation of international human rights law and standards,” said Joshua Ericsson. “Singapore remains the outlier in the region as the only country in ASEAN where we could confirm executions for drug-related offences and where mandatory death sentences continue to be imposed for drug trafficking”.

As of 2025, amended laws in Viet Nam repealed the death penalty for eight offences, including drug transportation. New legislative changes are expected to further reduce the number of capital offences to four, including for production of drugs. Thailand reduced the circumstances in which this cruel punishment can be applied for drug-related offences. Following the abolition of the mandatory death penalty in 2023, drug-related death sentences imposed by Malaysian High Courts have been commuted on appeal.

The perception of the death penalty is changing

Significant progress has been made over the past 20 years in ASEAN countries, increasing the gap between those carrying out executions and those making progress towards abolition.

“It’s clear that the way in which the death penalty is used is slowly but surely changing across the region. Abolition is evidently emerging as concerns over human dignity and compliance with international human rights law increase,” said Joshua Ericsson.

“It’s time to find a way to convert this changing discourse into concrete measures to secure the prompt and full abolition of the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.”

Amnesty International is calling on governments of ASEAN member states that still retain the death penalty to immediately establish, or maintain, an official moratorium on executions and take urgent steps to fully abolish this cruel punishment. Pending full abolition, states should remove the death penalty for drug-related offences, uphold the right to a fair trial and remove any laws and policies that result in the discriminatory application of the death penalty.

“The death penalty remains the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, but abolition across the region is possible if we continue to stand strong against the isolated few,” said Joshua Ericsson. “Millions of people worldwide campaign against the death penalty every year, proving the true power of humanity. Amnesty International will continue to call for an end to this cruel punishment until the world is free from the shadows of the gallows.”

Notes to editors

Member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Viet Nam.

The 24th World Day Against the Death Penalty (World Day), a global day of activism against this cruel punishment observed on 10 October 2026, offers a timely opportunity for reflection and mobilization. The World Day is an initiative coordinated every year by the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, of which Amnesty International is a founding member.

The total number of countries known to have carried out executions in 2025 – 17 – remained in line with low yearly totals recorded since 2018 of 20 countries or fewer.

Amnesty International activists in many countries will be mobilizing against the death penalty, including by joining forces to ask Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, to commute all death sentences in the US state; and highlight the use of the death penalty on people with intellectual and severe psycho-social (mental) disabilities in Japan.

Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception.

Source: New Zealand National Party

Today we reignited a much-needed conversation about New Zealand’s welfare system.

National believes we need a system that is firm, fair and affordable. A safety net for Kiwis who need help, not a system that gets abused and burdens taxpayers across the country.

So, if re-elected on 7 November, here are five changes National will make to Jobseeker:

1. Introduce random drug testing for Jobseekers
2. Invest earlier to help 30,000 long-term Jobseekers into work, with more intensive employment support.
3. Strengthen expectations after two years on Jobseeker. Those who have received Jobseeker for two of the previous three years will move to a lower payment rate.
4. Double the stand-down period to 26 weeks for people who repeatedly leave work without good reason.
5. Increase the residency requirement for benefits from two years to five.

Under Labour, the number of people receiving a Jobseeker unemployment benefit for more than two years surged by 60%. That’s a waste of their potential and not fair to hardworking taxpayers who fund the system.

Labour, the Greens and New Zealand First all disagree with our plan to introduce random drug testing for Jobseekers, but we know our five-point plan will provide more support to help people get off welfare and into work, while making clear that those who can work are expected to.

Authorised by J de Joux, 41 Pipitea St, Wellington.

Source: Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre

Date: Thursday, 8 October 2026

Time: 6:00pm – 7:35pm

Venue: Yatu Lau Hotels (formerly Studio 6), Waimanu Road, Suva

About the Event

The graduation ceremony marks the successful completion of FWCC's four-week Regional Training Programme, which brought together 42 participants from 12 Pacific Island countries and 22 organisations.

Participants represented women's crisis centres, government departments, non-governmental organisations and frontline service providers from Fiji, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Palau, Nauru, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Samoa and the Cook Islands.

Since its establishment in 1995, the Regional Training Programme has trained more than 2,000 women and men from Fiji and across the Pacific, making it one of the region's longest-running and most respected capacity-building programmes on violence against women and girls, gender equality and women's human rights.

Media representatives are welcome to attend and cover the event.