Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Free Palestine Party

Palestine Free from the River to the Sea

The Free Palestine Party is now an official New Zealand list party and will
be on every ballot paper.

The Free Palestine Party is the only party in this election dealing with
the most pressing economic, political and moral issue facing Aotearoa and
the world today. This crisis is caused by the apartheid colony of Israel
backed by US military power destabilising the Middle East.

Over 60% of the people of Aotearoa believe that the New Zealand government
should sanction Israel for its human rights abuses, this rises to 68%
amongst 18-29 year olds.

The only way to bring peace to the Middle East, stop a global depression
and end the holocaust of our time, is to put an end to the apartheid state
of Israel, just like apartheid South Africa.

The people of Aotearoa helped fight for the end of the apartheid state of
South Africa and thousands of Kiwis today have joined the ongoing protests
against the crimes of Israel. It is time for Kiwis and Aotearoa to be
leaders in the struggle against Zionism and Israel, as we were in the
anti-nuclear and anti-apartheid movements.

The Free Palestine Party is bringing this issue to the centre of New
Zealand politics where it should be. We have six main principles in our
platform that will help in the fight against apartheid and will stop New
Zealand from being complicit in the crimes against humanity of Israel and
the United States:
1. The right of Return for all Palestinians
2. The primacy of international law and UN resolutions
3. Upholding Universal Declaration of Human Rights in relation to Zionist
abuses.
4. Single State Solution in the whole of Palestine
5. Unconditional support for all forms of Palestine resistance.
6. Independent NZ foreign policy & withdrawal from military & security
alliances with US.

The Free Palestine Party thanks all its members and supporters that helped
it become a registered party. Thanks to their efforts the party will
receive $82 000 dollars in public funding, the same as all other new list
parties, to help us achieve our goals.

Resistance Until Victory!

Paul Hopkinson

President

Free Palestine Party

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

A contingent of 57 firefighters and incident management personnel departs this week for the United States of America to support the response to wildfires in the north-west of the country.

The team is made up of personnel from Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Department of Conservation, New Zealand Defence Force and the forestry industry.

The majority of the team are departing tomorrow, with the remainder leaving on Wednesday. Media are invited to meet the team leaving tomorrow for a photo opportunity at the conclusion of their pre-deployment briefing. A spokesperson from the US-bound team will be available for interview.

Time: 2.30pm

Venue: Holiday Inn, Ascot Road, Mangere. Please assemble in the hotel reception area by 2.25pm.

Please RSVP to media@fireandemergency.nz or 027 591 8837 by 9.30am Tuesday.

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

A large contingent of firefighters will leave for the United States of America tomorrow (Tuesday) to support the response to wildfires in the north-west of the country.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is leading the deployment, which includes crews from the Department of Conservation, the forestry industry and the New Zealand Defence Force alongside volunteer and career firefighters and incident management personnel.

Fire and Emergency Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler says the diverse membership of the contingent reflects the strength of New Zealand’s firefighting capability and the longstanding relationships that underpin it.

Of the 57 personnel leaving this week, 43 are from Fire and Emergency, four from DOC, five from forestry companies and five from NZDF.

“New Zealand is better prepared when all of our firefighting partners train, exercise and deploy together,” Megan Stiffler says. “Having depth in our response capability to manage simultaneous large incidents in New Zealand requires specialist skills from across the sector.

“The strong relationships that enable that cooperation and coordination are on display as the members of our joint taskforce from around the country mobilise in preparation for their departure to the United States tomorrow.”

Jarron McInnes from Manulife in Rotorua, is deploying as a Crew Leader with the forestry sector’s specialist crew. He has previously deployed to fight wildfires in Canada and Australia and says that forestry-trained firefighters have worked with Fire and Emergency in overseas deployments for decades, bringing specialised chainsaw skills and expertise.

Forestry workers are tough and used to extreme conditions. “But it’s their chainsaw skills where they really shine – tree felling, cutting fire breaks and fire lines,” Jarron McInnes says.

DOC’s Wildfire and Field Skills Manager Brent Swanson says DOC is pleased to send four experienced firefighters as part of the New Zealand team.

“The four DOC personnel have been selected based on their extensive wildfire suppression experience in New Zealand and internationally, as well as their specialist expertise in advanced and hazardous tree felling. It’s also a great opportunity for our crews to build on their experience and gain further learnings from our overseas colleagues, to improve our response to wildfires in New Zealand,” Brent Swanson says.

Staff Sergeant Matthew Anker, Fire Master at 4 Emergency Response Troop (Waiouru), says: “the deployment is closely aligned with what our soldiers train for. They are experienced in wildfire response and accustomed to operating in demanding environments as part of a coordinated multi-agency team.

“It is an opportunity for them to apply those skills in support of our international partners, while gaining further experience that will strengthen our response capability at home.”

Megan Stiffler says that a huge effort goes into sending a large deployment overseas. “Our deployment coordinators in each region have been working with our National Coordination Centre team for weeks to make sure that the people put forward for selection meet all the criteria to be eligible for a deployment. That includes checking their experience, qualifications and fitness align with the host country’s requirements and our own rigorous standards.

“Coordinating travel for 57 people from around the country is no easy task, and our logistics team in Auckland have been working for days to assemble the additional kit that the team needs to take with them.”

The team will be taking on multiple roles, ranging from firefighters and fire engine crews to chainsaw specialists, and including incident management roles such as helibase managers, logistics and liaison officers. The firefighters are experienced working in arduous conditions, including steep terrain and high temperatures, and living in fire camps in remote areas.

Two other deployments are already on the ground in the US and Canada, with five Incident Management personnel working on fires in Washington State and Oregon and six in British Columbia.

Megan Stiffler says that the experience gained working on large, complex fires is invaluable to New Zealand’s own rural firefighting and incident management capability.

Source: Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

10 August 2026

Sponges and black corals are among the spectacular species filmed by researchers surveying the underwater depths of rocky reefs in the Hauraki Gulf/Tīpaka Moana.

Using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), the research team from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington was able to film at depths of 30 to 110 metres, taking footage of reef communities in and around three marine protected areas.

“We sent the ROV down 62 times, filming at reefs off the Coromandel coast near Cape Colville and Te Ruamūhua—Aldermen Islands, as well as off the north Auckland coast at Mokohīnau Islands. We found a stunning diversity of marine communities, including protected species such as black coral, and lots of marine sponges,” said Professor James Bell, a marine biologist at the university.

The team has used this footage to create 3D models of the reefs, work that involved “stitching” together thousands of images collected by the ROV.

These models will provide a baseline for monitoring changes in recently created “high protection areas” in the gulf. Recreational and commercial fishing, discharge of waste, and disturbance of sea life through drilling or construction are banned in these areas.

It’s the first time 3D models have been developed in New Zealand to monitor changes in mesophotic reefs—reefs found at depths of 30 to 150 metres, said Dr Matteo Collina, a postdoctoral research fellow at the university, who played a key role in building the models.

The research team also collected images of reefs in control areas that lie outside protected zones. “This information will allow us to assess how reef communities within a protected area recover and change over time compared with reefs in unprotected areas,” said Professor Bell.

Video footage showed clear signs of previous human impacts in areas that are now protected.

“We found some dead black corals with fishing line wrapped around them. It’s most likely the fishing line had been there long before the protected zones were created in 2025. The footage shows the potential damage that lost gear can do to fragile marine species,” he said.

The survey work was funded by the Department of Conservation (DOC), which is responsible for monitoring and managing the Hauraki Gulf’s marine protected areas.

“Using ROVs is an important step in applying new technologies to better understand these newly protected areas and how they recover over time,” said Emma Kearney, marine technical advisor at DOC.

“Mokohīnau and Te Ruamūhua—Aldermen Islands are significant biodiversity hotspots, especially the deeper reef habitats that are beyond the reach of most divers. Working with specialists such as James and using ROVs gives us a unique opportunity to learn more about the remarkable species and ecosystems these protected areas are designed to safeguard,” she said.

Video footage of the rocky reefs is available at: https://youtu.be/9RWox3g14jY
Video footage of fishing line on corals is available at: https://youtu.be/8A1lk89TSb4

Notes for editors
There are 12 high protection areas (HPAs) in the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana.

• These areas were created under the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act 2025.
• HPAs are intended to protect and restore marine ecosystems. The protection applies from the surface of the sea to the seabed.
• HPAs ban the discharge of sewage and waste, as well as activities such as dredging and drilling that disturb sea life.
• Commercial and recreational fishing are banned in these areas, except for limited commercial fishing in the Rangitoto and Motutapu HPA and the Kawau HPA.

A map of the areas (https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/conservation/marine-and-coastal/marine-protected-areas/hauraki-gulf/hauraki-gulf-marine-protected-areas-overview-map.pdf) and more information about the rules that apply (https://www.doc.govt.nz/our-work/revitalising-the-gulf/new-marine-protections-in-the-hauraki-gulf/) can be found on the Department of Conservation website.

Source: Quotable Value (QV)

Winter has deepened the chill across Aotearoa’s subdued housing market, with average home values falling across most of the country.

Our latest QV House Price Index shows residential property values reduced by 1.5% nationally throughout the three months to the end of July, as the modest momentum recorded earlier this year continued to fade.

The average Kiwi home is now worth $898,799, down 1.3% since the start of the year and 1.2% less than the same time last year.

QV national spokesperson Simon Petersen said the market remained patchy, but the winter slowdown had become more widespread as buyers grew increasingly cautious.

“The regional divide we highlighted last month is still evident, but there are fewer bright spots now. Winter has put a further chill through the market, while the prospect of higher borrowing costs and ongoing economic uncertainty have given buyers even less reason to rush.”

Across our largest cities, Christchurch (0.3%) continues to hold its own, while residential property values weakened in Auckland (-2.2%) and especially Wellington (-3.2%) this quarter. Only the former’s average home value is higher than at the start of this year.

Tauranga (0.7%) has quietly outperformed much of the North Island this quarter, while Canterbury and Southland have largely resisted the broader national trend once more.

“Tauranga has been one of the North Island’s most consistent performers this year, proving that buyers are still willing to compete where the fundamentals stack up. That’s also what we’re continuing to see across much of Canterbury and Southland.

“These markets are benefiting from their own mix of affordability, employment and supply-and-demand conditions. It’s another reminder that there is no one-speed housing market in New Zealand right now, and conditions are not playing out evenly everywhere.”

Elsewhere, average home values have generally drifted lower, although Mr Petersen cautioned against reading too much into the larger quarterly movements recorded in some of New Zealand’s smaller centres.

“Markets such as Gisborne and Greymouth can fluctuate more sharply because fewer sales have a greater influence on the index. The longer-term trend is often more meaningful than any single quarterly result.”

More broadly, Mr Petersen said winter conditions were combining with wider political and economic uncertainty to keep the market subdued.

“This isn’t another sudden correction. It’s an already subdued market losing what little momentum it had built earlier in the year.

“There is still activity, particularly from first-home buyers, and well-presented, realistically priced homes are still selling. But we’re seeing very little urgency now. With the general election looming late this year, many prospective buyers appear content to sit on the sidelines and wait for greater certainty.

“Until that happens, we expect buyers to remain cautious and the market to continue moving at different speeds across the country.”
Download a high resolution version of the latest QV value map here (https://us.list-manage.com/FT5tKZN7mb9?e=12a3161b1f&c2id=7634a27eb2b0ab4d6808b092b9170deb) .
Northland

It was all one-way traffic across the top of the North Island this quarter.

Residential property values fell furthest in Kaipara, down 3.2% to an average of $829,097. That figure is 2% less than the same time last year.

Whangārei’s average home value reduced by 0.6% to $730,872, leaving it 1.1% lower annually.

In the Far North District, the average home is now worth $694,632, down 2.2% this quarter and 1.1% less than one year ago.
Auckland

Home values have cooled across Auckland at an average rate of 2.2% this quarter.

Franklin (-0.5%), Papakura (-0.6%), Manukau (-1.5%) and Waitākere (-1.8%) fared better than average; North Shore (-2.8%), Auckland City (-2.5%) and Rodney (-2.3%) fared worse.

The average home in the region is now worth $1,173,343, which is 2.6% less than at the start of this year and 3.8% lower than the same time last year.

Local QV registered valuer Hugh Robson said Auckland’s average home value had reduced for the last three months in a row.

“The Auckland market continues to be sluggish, as it has been for around three and a half years now. There are still lots of houses on the market, giving buyers plenty of choice and bargaining power.

“First-home buyers remain quite active across Auckland, although mortgage rates are starting to creep up. Despite the softer overall conditions, sought-after suburbs are generally faring reasonably well, while rents now appear to be stable.”
Bay of Plenty

Tauranga was a rare green arrow among a sea of red this quarter.

It was the only main centre in the North Island to record any growth, with its average home value increasing by 0.7% to $1,052,045. That figure is now 1.8% higher than at the start of the year and 2% more than the same time last year.

Rotorua was the only other main North Island centre to avoid a decline. Its average home value remained unchanged this quarter at $683,685.

Home values reduced everywhere else in the Bay of Plenty.
Waikato

Residential property values eased across the Waikato region by an average of 1.6% in the July quarter.

Hamilton once again performed slightly worse than the regional average, with its average home value reducing by 1.7% to $778,656. That figure is now 2.1% lower than at the start of this year.

QV registered valuer Marshall Wu said the local market remained relatively stable but subdued, with conditions continuing to favour buyers.

“Listing levels remain elevated, giving buyers greater choice and stronger negotiating power. Sales volumes have eased, while pricing momentum is limited and values continue to show little upward pressure.

“First-home buyers remain active and are benefiting from improved affordability and increased stock levels. However, investor activity has become more cautious amid uncertainty around interest rates, potential property tax changes and the upcoming general election,” Mr Wu said.

Across the wider region, just Waikato District (3.5%), Waipa (1%) and Matamata-Piako (0.8%) remain in the black this calendar year.

“Limited price growth is expected in the near term, with affordability constraints, cautious lending conditions, persistent inflation, global economic uncertainty and election-related sentiment likely to continue weighing on market activity throughout the remainder of 2026,” Mr Wu concluded.
Hawke's Bay

Home values have continued to reduce in Napier and Hastings.

The cities’ average home values decreased by 0.4% and 2.3% respectively this quarter to $750,085 and $758,265. That compares with reductions of 1% and 1.2% respectively in our previous index.

Across the wider region, Central Hawke’s Bay (0.8%) was the only district to record a small net gain in the July quarter.
Taranaki

House values have reduced by an average of 1.3% in New Plymouth this quarter.

The city’s average home is now worth $710,719, which is 1.2% less than at the start of this year and 1.7% lower than the same time last year.

Its neighbouring districts fared better, with average home values increasing by 3.4% in Stratford and reducing by just 0.2% in South Taranaki.
Manawatu

The average home value in Palmerston North has been flat or gently falling since the start of the year.

Our latest QV House Price Index shows July was no different, with values reducing by an average of 0.7% this quarter, including a 0.6% decline last month alone. At $627,557, the average home is now worth 1.4% less than at the start of this year.

Across the wider Manawatū, only Tararua’s (0.5%) average home value is slightly higher today than it was one year ago.
Wairarapa

The average home in Wairarapa reduced in value by 2% this quarter.

Masterton (-1.7%) and Carterton (-0.3%) recorded smaller declines than the regional average; South Wairarapa (-2.7%) recorded a larger one.

However, South Wairarapa’s average home value is still 0.3% higher than at the same time last year at $737,420. Masterton’s average home value is 1.9% lower annually at $562,191, while the average home in Carterton is now worth $589,618, down 3.9% year on year.
Wellington

The downturn in Wellington’s property market deepened this quarter.

Our latest QV House Price Index shows the region’s average home value reduced by 2.8% to $787,197 throughout the July quarter. That compares with average declines of 0.9% in the three months to the end of June and 0.4% in the three months to the end of May.

Home values fell furthest in Lower Hutt, down 3.9% to a new average of $700,204. That figure is 5% less than at the start of this year.

Local QV registered valuer David Cornford said home values were continuing to track downwards across the region.

“This softening is due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the high number of properties on the market, and the relatively weak economy in the capital. Interest rates are continuing to trend upwards, creating another headwind for the market,” he said.

“It's the depth of winter, with fewer active buyers in the market. Those who are active have plenty of choice and are continuing to take a cautious approach. With the election looming in November, it's likely that caution will continue.”
Nelson/Tasman/Marlborough

It has been another quarter marked by slow decline across the top of the South Island.

In Nelson, the average home value reduced by 0.8% to $772,417, a slightly larger decline than in our previous index. That figure is 2.2% lower than at the start of 2026 and 1.2% less than at the same time last year.

Home values also declined by an average of 2.3% in Marlborough. The average home here is now worth $692,058, which is still 0.2% higher than at the start of 2026 but 0.8% lower annually.

Tasman was no exception. Its average home value reduced by 1.3% to $817,366, which is 0.8% less than at the start of 2026 but 0.3% higher than one year ago.

QV Nelson/Marlborough manager Craig Russell said activity remained subdued with low sales volumes and limited buyer enquiry.

“Entry-level to mid-range homes continue to be the most active part of the market, with first-home buyers making up much of that demand.

“We’re also seeing growing buyer resistance to 1990s-built homes across the region, with some very weak prices emerging. Lifestyle blocks remain under pressure and are attracting limited buyer enquiry, particularly those requiring significant renovation.

“Although the number of properties available for sale has reduced over winter, listing levels remain higher than this time last year. We would expect more new listings to come onto the market when spring eventually arrives.”
West Coast

Home values have reduced across the West Coast this quarter.

Our latest QV House Price Index shows average home values decreased by 4.7% across the wider region throughout the three-month period to the end of July. That compares with a 0.1% decrease for the three-month period to the end of June.

Of the three districts that make up the region, Westland recorded the largest quarterly decline at 5.1%, with an average home value of $495,276, and a 4.4% increase from 12 months ago. That compares with a 1.1% quarterly decrease in our previous index.

Grey recorded a quarterly decrease of 5%, taking its average home value to $452,452, which is 2.7% lower than 12 months ago. That follows a 2.2% quarterly increase in our previous index.

Buller recorded a decrease of 4% for the three-month period, taking its average home value to $377,432 and leaving it 2.2% lower than 12 months ago. That compares with a 2.7% decrease for the three-month period to the end of June.

Local QV registered valuer Rod Thornton commented: “The market has been more subdued over the past few months. We are now seeing that coming through in the statistics. This is in contrast to 2025 and earlier this year, when the Coast was outperforming many other districts.”

He pointed out that fluctuations in the data could be expected in a market like the West Coast, where there is a wide mix of housing types, locations, price points and value drivers that can unduly influence results when sales volumes are relatively low.
Canterbury

Canterbury is one of only two regions to record average home value growth this quarter, alongside Otago.

The regional average increased by 0.3% throughout the three months to the end of July, down from 0.9% growth in the three months to the end of June and 1.3% in the three months to the end of May.

But that growth was not spread evenly across the region. The average home value in Waimakariri reduced by 0.5% this quarter to $744,589. Selwyn was flat, while Ashburton also recorded a small 0.5% decline.

Christchurch recorded modest quarterly growth of 0.3%, down from 0.9% in our previous index. Its average home value remains just above $800,000 despite a 0.4% decline during the month of July.

QV South Island professional services manager Michael Tohill said the slowdown could be put down to normal winter seasonality and the wider effects of the Middle East conflict on the cost of living.

“The recent Official Cash Rate adjustment has also resulted in slightly higher interest rates from the major banks, which is having an influence on buyer decisions,” he said.

“Building activity across the Canterbury region remains strong, particularly in the Waimakariri and Selwyn districts, where new stages of major subdivisions continue to be released.

“The Christchurch market remains active across all property categories, with relative affordability and steady demand continuing to draw interest from first-home buyers and local owner-occupiers. Higher-density residential areas also remain hotspots for new townhouse development.”
Otago

Otago was another patchwork of pluses and minuses this quarter.

Waitaki (-2.1%), Central Otago (-0.7%) and Dunedin (-0.8%) all recorded modest reductions in average home value throughout the three months to the end of July, while Queenstown (0.2%) and Clutha (4.8%) recorded gains.

Despite those mixed results, Otago is one of only two regions to record overall growth this quarter, alongside Canterbury. It’s also one of just three where the average home is worth more than at the start of this year, along with Canterbury and Southland.

Every district except Waitaki (-0.7%) has a higher average home value than at the same time last year. In Dunedin, the average home is now worth $651,616, up 2.3% annually.
Southland

Even Southland’s property market was patchy this quarter.

Home values in Invercargill (0.1%) and especially Gore (3.2%) have continued to grow, while Southland District recorded a 2.3% reduction in average home value.

Seven months into 2026, Southland (3.1%) remains one of just three regions where the average home value is higher than at the start of this year, along with Canterbury (1.3%) and Otago (2.8%).
You can check value changes over time in your region with QV’s interactive map on www.qv.co.nz/price-index/

The QV HPI uses a rolling three month collection of sales data, based on sales agreement date. This has always been the case and ensures a large sample of sales data is used to measure value change over time. Having agent and non-agent sales included in the index provides a comprehensive measure of property value change over the longer term.

Source: Sustainable Business Council

The Sustainable Business Council (SBC) and 123Carbon, a Netherlands based platform specialising in decarbonising hard-to-abate industries, are launching a blockchain-based registry to support the introduction of the Low Emission Freight Certificate (LEFC) programme in New Zealand.

The LEFC programme is a market-based mechanism designed to accelerate decarbonisation of New Zealand's road transportation sector by facilitating investments in lower-emissions freight vehicles and supporting infrastructure. It has been developed by SBC (a global network partner of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development – WBCSD) and is supported by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

The registry is designed to help create stronger commercial incentives for investment in lower-emissions freight by enabling verified emissions reductions to be recognised and traded.

The new registry allows carriers to verify their low carbon transport activities and generate LEFC Environmental Attributes Certificates, which can be sold to forwarders and cargo owners who can book and claim a reduction in transport emissions within their supply chain. This flexible system provides carriers with new pathways to recover their investments in low emissions and alternate fuels and trucks. The registry will be operated by 123Carbon, a global leader in market-based registries.

SBC’s Charlotte Kootstra, Sustainability Manager – Climate and Environment says, “The LEFC has been designed in partnership with industry to help accelerate the decarbonisation of New Zealand's freight sector.

By creating a credible and transparent mechanism for recognising and rewarding lower-emissions freight, we can help unlock investment in the vehicles, fuels, and infrastructure needed to reduce freight emissions.

We're delighted to be partnering with 123Carbon, who have a global track record in providing market-based registries, as we move into the next phase of testing the programme in a real-world environment.”

SBC’s CEO Mike Burrell says, “The freight sector is one of the most important and challenging areas of New Zealand's decarbonisation journey. The launch of this registry marks an important milestone, demonstrating the power of collective action in tackling some of our most difficult decarbonisation challenges.

Moving from framework design to a live registry is a significant step towards creating the market conditions needed to accelerate investment in low-emissions freight. It's exactly the kind of practical, business-led solution needed to help New Zealand reduce emissions while supporting a productive and competitive economy.”

James Veale: Managing Partner APAC at 123Carbon says, “It is our mission to introduce our solution to local markets in cooperation with organisations like SBC. With their local knowledge and network and our advanced platform, we can support the road freight sector in accelerating and achieving their sustainability goals.”

The registry will be piloted in Q3 2026 with leading companies who are operating biofuels, BEV and hydrogen trucks within New Zealand, after which the registry will be made available to the entire New Zealand road market. Though the initial focus will be on the New Zealand road freight market, there is potential to expand into other modalities (Air/Sea/Rail) and other regional geographies such as Australia.

Source: Solomon Islands Government Ministry of Rural Development

PRESS STATEMENT

DATE: SUNDAY 9TH AUGUST, 2026

The people of Ou'oumatawa Community in Small Malaita Constituency (SMC) have boosted their emergency response and transport capabilities with the arrival of a new 2-ton tipper truck on 27 July 2026.

Member of Parliament for SMC, Honourable Rick Hou, officiated the handover, marking a major milestone in the constituency's transport infrastructure and service delivery.

Funded by the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) at a cost of $190,000 under the SMC 2025 budget, the truck is expected to improve access for the movement of people, emergency health cases, agricultural produce, building materials, and essential supplies. It will also support community development activities and improve access to schools, healthcare, and markets.

Speaking at the ceremony, Hou reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring CDF resources improve the lives of people throughout SMC, saying the truck reflects his dedication to practical projects that promote economic opportunities and community wellbeing.

Lesly Hekoiu, Chairman of the Ou'oumatawa Transport Committee, expressed gratitude on behalf of the community, noting it was the first time since the village's establishment that they had received such a valuable gift from the government.

He credited Hou's leadership and support for making the vehicle possible, and thanked him for listening to the community's needs and delivering a project that will benefit current and future generations.

The community pledged to properly manage and maintain the vehicle to ensure it serves them for years to come.

The truck reflects SMC's ongoing commitment under Hou's leadership to improving socio-economic wellbeing through practical projects and an enabling environment for economic opportunity, particularly through continued road infrastructure development in the constituency.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD), John Misite'e, congratulated SMC on the achievement, emphasising the importance of empowering communities through practical projects and an environment conducive to economic growth, particularly through road and transport infrastructure.

He said this aligns with the ministry's vision “to empower Solomon Islanders toward self-sufficiency, improved livelihoods, and sustainable development,” and that providing an enabling environment for economic opportunities, especially through road infrastructure and transport, remains a priority.

PS Misite'e said that the ministry looks forward to continuing to work closely with SMC and supporting other constituencies to deliver meaningful projects that improve rural livelihoods.

CDF is the financing component of the Solomon Islands Government's Constituency Development Program, administered by MRD and implemented across 50 constituencies to improve livelihoods.

The Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) is one of the 24 ministries within the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) machinery. MRD is established on the 28th September, 2007.

Its core mandates as contained under Legal Notice 164 in accordance with the Constitution of Solomon Islands is to oversee the effective planning and implementation of Government’s Rural Development Policies.

Our vision is to ensure all rural Solomon Islanders become meaningfully participated in development activities to improve their social and economic livelihood.

Source: Palestine Forum of New Zealand

The Palestine Forum of New Zealand (PFNZ) has congratulated the Free Palestine Party on its successful registration as a political party in Aotearoa New Zealand, calling it a significant moment for both the Palestine solidarity movement and New Zealand's democratic landscape.

The party's registration follows years of sustained public advocacy marches, petitions and direct lobbying calling on New Zealand to take a principled stance on Palestine, international law and Palestinian rights.

“For years, thousands of people across Aotearoa have marched, protested, petitioned and written to politicians demanding a principled position on Palestine,” a PFNZ spokesperson said. “The registration of a political party dedicated to bringing these issues into Parliament represents a new chapter in that struggle. Palestine must no longer be treated as a peripheral issue in New Zealand foreign policy or domestic political debate.”

PFNZ said the ongoing situation in Gaza, the expansion of settlements, and the occupation of Palestinian territory demand political accountability, and that the new party gives New Zealand voters a direct democratic avenue to raise these concerns.

The organisation congratulated the founders, members, volunteers and supporters involved in achieving registration, describing it as “the beginning of a new political chapter” rather than the end of the campaign.

Source: Human Rights Without Frontiers

SEOUL, South Korea, 7 August 2026 — Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF), together with CAP Liberté de Conscience (CAP LC), which has accredited ECOSOC status at the United Nations, FOREF, CESNUR and Bitter Winter, held a press conference today at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents' Club on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Freedom of Expression in South Korea. The issues addressed included concerns about the treatment of elderly religious leaders in pretrial detention, including questions of proportionality, humanitarian considerations, and due process. The organizations called on South Korean authorities to review the detention of 95-year-old Shincheonji Chairman Lee Man-hee and to ensure that the legal and administrative response to religious minorities remains neutral, proportionate, and consistent with South Korea's international human-rights obligations, including with respect to 83-year-old Mrs. Hak-ja Han Moon of the Family Federation.

The issues discussed today form part of a broader pattern of Freedom of Religion or Belief concerns in South Korea. Concerns have also persisted regarding Segero Church in Busan, which has reportedly continued to face harassment and official scrutiny even after Pastor Son Hyun-bo was released from detention.

Reporting has also raised questions about conscientious objection, public hostility toward a mosque project in Daegu, and religious accommodation in educational settings. Over the past decades, HRWF has documented the imprisonment of hundreds of Jehovah's Witnesses in South Korea as conscientious objectors, and although alternative civilian service was later introduced, critics maintain that it has been implemented in a punitive manner rather than as a genuine rights-respecting alternative, notably because it requires 36 months of service in correctional facilities, twice the length of regular military service. Recent court decisions have also upheld key features of that system against constitutional challenge.

Opening the conference, Hans Noot, Associate Director of HRWF, said the issues at stake “lie at the heart of democratic society,” warning that when religious communities are stigmatized, peaceful gatherings are restricted, and dissent is treated as a problem to be contained, the consequences “extend far beyond any single group or case.” He said the conference was not about defending any one theology or movement, but about “defending a principle: that fundamental rights apply equally to all.”

Thierry Valle, President of CAP Liberté de Conscience, addressed the legality of Chairman Lee's detention under international law. Referring to South Korea's ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1990 and the Convention against Torture in 1995, he questioned whether placing a 95-year-old in pretrial detention is consistent with those obligations. He stressed that the presumption of innocence must prevail over any presumption of guilt.

There are alternative more proportionate and more humane measures respecting the presumption of innocence and human dignity in democratic countries. And he cited precedents including Cardinal Joseph Zen's 2022 release on bail in Hong Kong and Vietnam's decision to place Buddhist Patriarch Thich Quang Do under house arrest rather than in prison.

Michael Langhans, Executive Director of FOREF Germany, presented a legal analysis questioning whether pretrial detention for Chairman Lee of the Shincheonji Church was necessary given evidence already sufficient for an indictment, and whether that evidence was gathered neutrally rather than through a narrative framing the defendant's community as a “sect” or “cult.” He argued that the case raises a broader question for lawmakers: whether measures meant to protect fair elections can be applied without nullifying the constitutionally and internationally guaranteed right to freedom of religion.

Márk Nemes, Deputy Director of CESNUR, shared his thoughts on the effects of ongoing persecution and its possible ramifications for minority faiths. He noted three recent scholarly investigations conducted in selected Shincheonji congregations in Europe, Argentina, and Australia, each finding worrisome increase in hostility toward the otherwise peaceful and cooperative religious movement. He stressed that Shincheonji is not simply a South Korean minority church but a global religious movement with congregations worldwide. The disproportionate persecution in South Korea affects the lives of those congregants abroad, whose freedoms for expressing and practicing faith, enshrined in ICCPR Articles 18 and 19, are inalienable rights and must be considered during this current process.

Massimo Introvigne, Managing Director of CESNUR and Editor-in-Chief of Bitter Winter, said South Korea “has crossed a worrying line” by arresting Chairman Lee, arguing that international standards such as the Mandela Rules would call for house arrest rather than imprisonment for a 95-year-old accused of a non-violent offence. He said the charges, tied to ordinary political participation by members of a religious minority, “appear legally and conceptually overstretched,” and warned that the case fits a broader pattern of pressure against minority faiths in the country.

The organizations called on South Korean authorities, the media, and the international community to examine these developments with close attention to due process, proportionality, and the equal protection of fundamental rights, and made further documentation available to support continued reporting.

At the conclusion of the press conference, the scholars in attendance signed an official letter calling on the Government of the Republic of Korea to immediately release Chairman Lee from custody.