Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Posted on

Save the Children – Children dying because of hunger as famine risks detected in two new locations in Sudan

Source: Save the Children

Two more areas of Sudan have fallen into famine-levels of malnutrition, signalling a deadly expansion of a hunger crisis in the conflict-torn country that is threatening millions, Save the Children said.
New data released today by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), global acute malnutrition rates in the Um Baru and Kernoi localities have reached nearly 53% and 34% respectively, with concerns that nearby areas may also be experiencing similar catastrophic conditions, with the extent remaining unknown due to access constraints [1].
This latest announcement comes on top of an already severe hunger crisis sweeping through conflict affected parts of the country, with famine confirmed in Zamzam displacement camp in North Darfur in August 2024. In September 2025, the expanding famine was also confirmed in El Fasher (North Darfur) and Kadugli (South Kordofan).
For famine conditions to be reached, many people must already be experiencing an extreme lack of food, with starvation, death, destitution and extremely critical acute malnutrition levels evident [2].
In some cases, families have already sold all their assets including land and animals, with many others eating the seeds they had been saving for the next planting season, or selling their only means of income – including sewing machines and wheelbarrows [3].
Across Sudan, acute malnutrition is expected to worsen in 2026 according to the alert, with a 13.5% increase in cases of acute malnutrition in children under five and pregnant and breastfeeding women – from 3.7 million children and women in 2025, to nearly 4.2 million in 2026. Violent conflict ensues, undermining humanitarian service delivery and disrupting people’s access to agriculture production and livelihoods, exacerbating vulnerability and suffering.
Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) – the most dangerous and deadly form of extreme hunger – is expected to increase to 800,000 cases, up 4% since 2025 [4].
Severe acute malnutrition is a life-threatening condition requiring urgent treatment, which is impossible to access across much of Sudan due to the collapse of the country’s health system, with hospitals in conflict-affected zones no longer functional due to attacks, looting, and shortages of staff, medicines, and essential supplies.
Mohamad Abdiladif, Country Director for Save the Children in Sudan, said:
“In many parts of Sudan, children’s lives are hanging by a thread, and some already dying from hunger-related causes. Families who have escaped bullets and bombs and those who are in difficult to access areas are now facing extreme and life threating shortages of food. Every day we hear devastating stories of parents selling the last of what they own simply to keep their children alive from one day to the next. Without immediate action, more lives will be lost.
“As our frontline teams in Sudan consistently witness, extreme hunger can be both life-altering and life-ending for a child. Children facing severe malnutrition have dramatically higher death rates-succumbing not only to starvation and dehydration, but also to preventable diseases that become deadly as hunger weakens their bodies.
“We urgently need donor governments to step up now, to restore the lifeline before it breaks entirely, and to push for strong, sustained diplomatic pressure on parties to the conflict that protects civilians and guarantees safe, unhindered humanitarian access.
“Without this, any chance of restoring reliable access to food will disappear. Supporting mutual aid, strengthening communities’ coping capacities, and ensuring unimpeded, large-scale humanitarian response are essential to prevent people from being pushed into starvation and to avert further loss of life and suffering.
Beyond immediate survival, childhood malnutrition causes irreversible long-term harm. Affected children often experience stunted growth, impaired cognitive development, and learning difficulties. They face elevated risks of chronic illnesses throughout their lives, along with lasting psychological trauma.
Save the Children has worked in Sudan since 1983 and is currently supporting children and their families across Sudan providing health, nutrition, education, child protection and food security and livelihoods support.
Notes
[1] The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) defines famine as IPC Phase 5, the highest level of the IPC Acute Food Insecurity scale. An area is considered to be in famine when it meets the following criteria: At least 20% of households are experiencing extreme food shortages; At least 30% of children are suffering from acute malnutrition; Two people out of every 10,000 are dying each day from starvation or malnutrition and disease.
[2] The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) provides a common scale for classifying the severity and magnitude of food shortage and acute malnutrition.
[3] From the FAMINE REVIEW COMMITTEE: SUDAN, OCTOBER 2025 Conclusions and Recommendations: https://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/IPC_Famine_Review_Committee_Report_Sudan_Oct_2025.pdf
[4] From IPC Alert 5 February 2026 and UNICEF Report January 2025 https://www.unicef.org/sudan/stories/generational-crisis-looms-sudan
Posted on

Waitangi Day – Palestine Forum of New Zealand – Waitangi Day Statement

Source: Palestine Forum of New Zealand – Te Huinga mō Pāhirītina I Aotearoa.

On Waitangi Day, we acknowledge Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the foundational agreement that affirms Indigenous sovereignty, justice, and the rights of Māori as tangata whenua.
E whakanuia ana e mātou a Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ā, ka tuku whakamoemiti ki te tangata whenua.

We recognise the ongoing journey to honour both the spirit and the promises of Te Tiriti, and the continued pursuit of tino rangatiratanga in Aotearoa.
Ka tautoko mātou i te tino rangatiratanga me te mana motuhake o te iwi Māori.

For Palestinians, the principles at the heart of Waitangi Day, self-determination, protection of land, language, culture, and dignity,  resonate deeply. Māori experiences of colonisation, land dispossession, and systemic injustice reflect struggles shared by Indigenous and colonised peoples around the world, including Palestinians.
He rite ngā mamae o te raupatu me te whakakāhoretanga o ngā motika taketake ki ngā iwi maha o te ao.

As Palestinians and allies living in Aotearoa, we stand in solidarity with Māori aspirations for justice and self-determination.
Ka tū mātou i runga i te kotahitanga me te iwi Māori, mō te tika me te rangatiratanga.

We also reaffirm our call for an end to the occupation of Palestine, and for international law and human rights to be upheld equally and without exception.
Kia mau te tika, kia mau te pono, kia mau te rangimārie.

Waitangi Day is not only a day of remembrance, but a call to action, to confront colonial injustice, to speak truth, and to stand alongside Indigenous peoples everywhere in their pursuit of freedom and dignity.
Kia kaha tātou ki te whakatika i ngā hara o te ao, kia ū ki te mana o ngā iwi taketake.

Palestine Forum of New Zealand

Te Huinga mō Pāhirītina i Aotearoa

Posted on

Total greenhouse gas emissions fall 1.1 percent in the September 2025 quarter – Greenhouse gas emissions (industry and household): September 2025 quarter – Stats NZ news story and information release

Posted on

Waitangi Day – Governor-General’s message for Waitangi Day 2026

Source: Government House

The Governor-General of New Zealand, Her Excellency Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, has released a message to mark Waitangi Day 2026. A download link to the filmed message is included below.
Please note that this message is embargoed until Waitangi Day, and may not be published, broadcast, or shared in any form before 12:01am on 6 February 2026. Media are welcome to use the full video or excerpts across television, radio, online, and social media platforms following that time.
Posted on

Waitangi Day – Celebrating Shared Voyages for Waitangi Day 2026

Source: Mango, DOB Group – for Google.


Anchored in history and guided by stars, today’s Waitangi Day Doodle was created by Kiwi artist Morgan Darlison of Kaitiaki Studios, reflecting our shared histories of migration and voyage to Aotearoa’s shores. 

Image

“We all came under the same stars and across the same ocean,” explains Morgan. “This artwork represents the wairua (spirit) of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi), as we move toward a better future with mutual respect and safety for all – especially for the next generation.”

The Doodle, in commemoration of Te Tiriti o Waitangi signed on February 6, 1840, depicts beautifully drawn elements of shared cultural navigation techniques:

  • The ‘G’ holds a Kūaka bird (bar-tailed godwit) that undertakes a significant migration from Northern Alaska returning annually, connecting to the idea of Pacific migration routes that would have been followed on journeys to New Zealand.

  • Alongside, the ‘o’s hold a western-style compass and a map of Aotearoa New Zealand. 

  • Below the “g,” is a pūnga (anchor), which represents the story of landing and putting down roots, intentionally tethered to the “l” to convey a sense of settling. 

  • The “l” includes a Pacific motif, symbolising the dispersal of people across the Pacific during the journey and the shared collective histories and similar cultures of the region. 

  • The final “e” contains a whai (stingray), symbolising Pacific migration journeys, and species seen along the way. Whai also symbolise kaitiakitanga, representing the idea of having someone look after you on your journey.

In the creative process, Morgan began with concepts before letting her hand take over and the creative expression flow onto the page. Having started as a pencil and paper artist in Ōtautahi Christchurch, Morgan’s formal arts education truly began once she found her place at Toihoukura in Gisborne. Morgan has been involved in varied areas such as spatial design, corporate design and branding, commissions of visual art, interiors range, workshops and community projects. Having been mentored locally by many tohunga in different industries, Morgan’s personal style is characterised by very detailed work, fine lines, feminine themes, and a preference for single-colour compositions.


Google has celebrated Waitangi Day through a Google Doodle since 2018 with each year's artwork offering a unique perspective on te Tiriti and current context. From revitalising language in the digital age to sharing our rich histories on a global stage, by integrating te ao Māori into our technology and elevating local artists, we aim to honour Aotearoa’s unique legacy.
Posted on

Greenpeace – Massive win for moana as Taranaki seabed mining application rejected

Source: Greenpeace

Greenpeace along with iwi and environmental groups are calling the decision to reject Trans Tasman Resources proposal to mine the Taranaki seafloor “a massive win for people power and the ocean”.
In a draft decision, released today, the Fast Track expert panel declined the Australian company’s application to mine the seabed in the South Taranaki Bight.
The panel declined consent for the project, finding it would likely cause material harm to marine ecosystems, threatened species like pygmy blue whales and penguins, and concluded it could not be safely managed, even with conditions attached.
Greenpeace Aotearoa seabed mining spokesperson Juressa Lee says: “This is the outcome we have been fighting for over 12 years. It shows exactly what happens when communities, iwi, experts and ocean protectors stand together.
“This win today is a powerful validation of what iwi and the communities of Taranaki and Aotearoa have been saying for years – seabed mining is simply too destructive to go ahead.
“The resistance to seabed mining in Aotearoa and around the Pacific is strong and persistent. From Taranaki, to the Cook Islands, and across Te Moananui a Kiwa, people are rising up against this destructive industry.
“Now the New Zealand government must listen. Nearly 60,000 people around Aotearoa signed petitions calling for an outright ban on seabed mining in Aotearoa. 
“As we head into an election year, government officials should remember that this is who they represent and commit to taking bold action to protect the moana by banning seabed mining.
“Greenpeace Aotearoa protested against Trans Tasman Resources‘ attempt to start a seabed mine in Taranaki, occupying the offices of mining industry lobby group Straterra in September 2024. Just months later, along with Ngāti Ruanui, Greenpeace activists shut down the Sydney AGM of Australian mining company Manuka Resources, the parent company of Trans-Tasman Resources.
Lee says: ,”Iwi, the local community, and tens of thousands of New Zealanders have stopped Taranaki being carved up for sale. To prevent this happening again, we must ban seabed mining outright for the waters of Aotearoa, and ensure the moana is never pillaged to line mining industry pockets.”
Posted on

BREAKING! Fast Track panel rejects seabed mining bid

Source: Kiwis Against Seabed Mining

Kiwis Against Seabed Mining are celebrating the Fast Track Panel's draft decision to decline Trans Tasman Resources' bid to mine the South Taranaki seabed.

The decision was published at 6pm this evening. (ref. https://kasm.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=40fd433e2f2344060946f0bb8&id=6c68a26fd7&e=26e06db549 )

“This is a victory for the moana, for all the people across Taranaki and Aotearoa, from Iwi and hapu and councils and everyone who loves our ocean,” said KASM chairperson Cindy Baxter.

“We've been fighting this ridiculous proposal since 2013, all the way to the Supreme Court, and back to the Fast Track, and it doesn't matter how many times the government tries to help this company with ever more lenient legislation, it simply doesn't pass muster.”

“This activity has been shown time and time again to be utterly inappropriate in the 21st century and it's time for Aotearoa to move to a full ban on seabed mining.”

Excerpts from decision ( https://kasm.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=40fd433e2f2344060946f0bb8&id=276e7f5c66&e=26e06db549 )
Sections 23 and 24:
“The South Taranaki Bight is an ecologically important area for marine mammals, including twelve threatened taonga species. The Panel has identified underwater noise, sediment plume effects, and cumulative impacts as credible risks and has found that for highly vulnerable species any additional impact would be unsustainable and cannot be reliably avoided or remedied through conditions.”

“The Panel has reached the view that the adverse impacts …are sufficiently significant to be out of proportion to the project’s regional or national benefits.”

Posted on

Education Appointments – Open Polytechnic welcomes new Chief Executive and Council members

Source: Open Polytechnic

On 3 February a Pōwhiri was held at Open Polytechnic’s Lower Hutt campus to formally welcome new Chief Executive Sharon Cooke as the organisation returns to standalone governance.
The Pōwhiri was led by local Ahi Kaa (Mana Whenua) and Open Polytechnic’s Kaiwhakahaere Matua, Executive and Senior Leadership team. Also formally welcomed at the Pōwhiri were Ministerial appointed Council members, Darren Linton; Chair, Dr Neil Barns; Deputy Chair, and Maea Puriri-Pivac (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua, Ngātiwai, Ngāti Hine).
Ms Cooke joins the Open Polytechnic, New Zealand’s specialist provider of open online and distance learning, at a significant time as the organisation celebrates its 80th Anniversary year.
Previously Chief Executive at Airways International Ltd, she brings over 20 years executive leadership experience across aviation, technology, and higher education, with a focus on strategic growth, digital transformation, and improving customer and learner outcomes.
During her first day on campus, Ms Cooke took the opportunity to meet with the Open Polytechnic’s wider leadership team, and host an all kaimahi (staff) hui to introduce herself and hear what was top mind for kaimahi as the organisation begins its standalone journey and as an anchor polytechnic in the Federation under the Government’s redesign of vocational education.
“The Open Polytechnic has a long and successful history of delivering vocational education throughout all of Aotearoa New Zealand. There are great opportunities ahead of us to build on that legacy,” says Ms Cooke.
Council Chair Darren Linton says, ” On behalf of the council and Open Polytechnic NZ I would like to warmly welcome Sharon to the organisation. We are privileged to have Sharon's extensive leadership experience from the public and private sector, and I look forward to working with her.”
The recruitment to fill the remaining three Council roles in the six-member Council will be carried out later this year.
About Open Polytechnic
Open Polytechnic is New Zealand’s specialist provider of open and distance learning, enrolling around 40,000 mainly part-time learners per year. The majority of learners are adults, combining work and study.
Posted on

Greenpeace – Kiwi-killing Bill 2.0: Government’s RMA reforms strip wildlife protections

Source: Greenpeace

Greenpeace says it has identified a “kiwi-killing clause” in the 300-page Natural Environment Bill (NEB), which is set to replace the country's primary environmental law – the Resource Management Act.
Last year, the Government legalised killing kiwi for commercial activity with a permit from DOC, under the Wildlife Act. The Government is now proposing to override the Wildlife Act, bypass its safeguards, and give Councils the power to issue permits to companies to kill protected wildlife in the new planning system.
“Legalising killing kiwi was bad enough, but now the Government wants to make it even easier for companies to get permission to kill native wildlife, ” says Greenpeace Aotearoa campaigner Gen Toop.
“So many of our native species are already on the brink of extinction, yet the Government is proposing to dramatically weaken remaining legal protections for wildlife in Aotearoa.”
New Zealand has one of the highest extinction rates in the world. In the Cabinet paper on the Bill, the Government dedicates just two paragraphs to its proposed overhaul of the nation’s wildlife protection and states they inserted the override clause to “reduce the burden on developers“. Greenpeace says that framing is “chilling”.
“This kiwi-killing clause shows just how far the Government’s overhaul of the RMA has strayed from what New Zealanders value.
“Millions of dollars are spent and thousands of people volunteer their time trying to save Kiwi every year across the country. This Government plans to undermine all that effort by letting roading and mining companies kill them off to make a quick buck.”
Under clause 128 of the NEB, Councils would replace DOC as the decision-maker on killing and harming wildlife. The protective purpose of the Wildlife Act and its safeguards would no longer apply to permit decisions, which would instead be made under the new and more permissive planning system.
“The purpose of our new environmental law should be to protect and restore nature, not allow corporations to kill it off, ” says Toop.
“The Government’s RMA reforms are specifically designed to allow more environmental harm, and nowhere is that made clearer than in this kiwi-killing clause.
“Decisions about protected wildlife must stay with DOC, under the Wildlife Act, where protection is the clear and sole purpose. Councils simply do not have the specialist, species-by-species expertise or national oversight needed to make those decisions.”
Greenpeace is calling on the Government to remove the Wildlife Act override from the Natural Environment Bill.
Posted on

Weather News – Waitangi Weekend split: Heat builds in the North, fronts bring rain to the South – MetService

Source: MetService

Covering period of Thursday 5th – Monday 9th February
 
– North Island: Mostly fine and dry for the long weekend, with high temperatures for eastern areas

– South Island: More changeable, with rain at times as weak cold fronts move north

– Waitangi Day: Dry for most in the north, including Waitangi itself, with some morning cloud. Rain in parts of the south

It’s a split weather story as we head into Waitangi Weekend, with many North Islanders enjoying settled, summery weather, while the South Island sees more cloud and rain at times as weak cold fronts brush the country.

For the North Island, a weak ridge of high pressure persists through the long weekend, bringing plenty of fine spells. While western areas may see occasional cloud and the odd shower, eastern regions such as Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, and Wairarapa are expected to stay mostly sunny, with temperatures climbing, and potentially nudging into the low 30s on Saturday and Sunday in Hawke’s Bay.

Waitangi is expected to be mainly fine for the big day, but there may be some patchy cloud through the day and the chance of a shower before dawn.

MetService meteorologist Devlin Lynden says the contrast between the islands will be noticeable.

“It’s a tale of two islands this Waitangi Weekend. The North Island is shaping up well, with just the odd shower for western areas and high temperatures in the east, while the South Island will be more variable as several weather systems move north, bringing periods of rain.”

The South Island has a bit more weather to contend with. A cold front approaches the south late Thursday, then tracks north on Friday, gradually weakening but still delivering periods of rain for many areas south of Ashburton at the start of the long weekend. Another weak front follows late Saturday, keeping conditions unsettled at times, especially for Fiordland and Southland, where daytime temperatures are likely to stay in the teens.

For the northeastern South Island, there will be more dry breaks, but a passing shower remains possible, so keeping an umbrella handy is a good idea.

Overall, it’s a weekend of contrasts, so checking the local forecast before making outdoor plans is recommended. For the latest updates, head to metservice.com