Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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.

Source: New Zealand Defence Force

8 August 2026

A Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-8A Poseidon crew has found six people overdue in a small boat in Fijian waters, leading to their successful rescue in rough seas.

The Poseidon crew had been about to carry out a fishery patrol in Fiji when the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Fiji requested help in the search for the boat.

The six people had left Namuka Island for Fulaga in the Lau Group on Thursday morning but failed to reach their destination.

The initial search was carried out by local vessels before a chartered local aircraft and the RNZAF joined efforts on Friday.

The Poseidon crew carried out a radar and visual search of the area before, in fading light, they found the vessel at 5.30pm, 14.6 nautical miles southwest of Vanuavatu.

They radioed the Republic of Fiji Navy Ship Savenaca, which was operating near the search area and sailed to rescue the group in testing weather conditions shortly after 8pm.

The six people were taken to Suva for medical assessment before being reunited with their families and loved ones.

No. 5 Squadron tactical coordinator and crew member, Flight Lieutenant Holly Graham, said they were preparing for the planned fishery patrol when they were re-tasked.

“We quickly re-planned and headed out to the search area. The weather was challenging with strong winds and 3.5m swells creating salt spray which decreased visibility,” she said.

They spotted the boat after six hours of searching, and as the sea was rough they remained overhead until the Fijian Navy arrived.

“It was a long day, but the crew was delighted with the outcome. Our thanks to all who assisted, particularly the crew of RFNS Savenaca. Our best wishes to the survivors and their families.”

Source: Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi

Nurse Maude care and support workers will strike again on Monday 10 August, after their employer failed to come back with an acceptable offer for these workers, following their first strike on 31 July.

They will be joined on strike by around 35 workers at Nurse Maude's Care Coordination Centres in the Wellington region, known as 'CareCo', in a separate dispute over pay. In total, around 285 PSA members across Nurse Maude will take strike action tomorrow.

“After bargaining, Nurse Maude is still not giving these workers a fair pay deal and it's still trying to strip two days of sick leave from a workforce that can't afford to get sick on the job,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association, Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

Speaking to journalist Chris Lynch last week, Nurse Maude Chief Executive Louise Zacest said that the team was negotiating in good faith and that the organisation remained hopeful of reaching a settlement that was fair to everyone.

“Nurse Maude's Chief Executive talks about a settlement that is fair to everyone. There's nothing fair about where these workers already stand. Their pay equity claim was cancelled, and now this employer is refusing to give them a fair pay offer,” Fitzsimons said.

“If the organisation is genuinely negotiating in good faith, workers would have seen a fair offer by now. They haven't.”

Workers at CareCo also employed by Nurse Maude, who assess older people's care needs and coordinate the support they receive across the Wellington region, have only been offered 2% for Care Managers and 2.5% for admin staff on pay, which is well below inflation. Nurse Maude is refusing to move on this.

“The pay offer is effectively a pay cut once you account for the cost of living,” Fitzsimons said.

“These workers are already struggling to make ends meet on low pay. They simply can't take a pay cut.

“Nurse Maude needs to bring a fair pay offer for care and support workers and put a fair offer to CareCo workers. The door is open to settle this dispute.”

Picket details

• Christchurch — 8:30am — Cnr Papanui Road & Mansfield Ave, Merivale
• Nelson — 8:00am — Outside Nurse Maude's Offices, 4 Kidson Place, Stoke
• Hutt Valley — 8:30am — Cnr High Street and Daysh Street, Avalon, Lower Hutt
• Kāpiti — 8:30am — Cnr of Te Roto Drive and Kāpiti Road (near Bin Inn)
• Mana, Porirua — 8:30am — Mana Esplanade, down from the bridge (near NZ Sea Adventures)

The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand's largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

Source: BestBrokers.com

Paul Hoffman
July 16, 2026
Updated July 21, 2026

Artificial intelligence has rapidly evolved from a niche investment theme centred on a handful of technology giants into the defining force behind much of the U.S. and global stock markets. In 2024, at the height of the AI boom on Wall Street, investors primarily associated AI with companies such as Nvidia, Microsoft and AMD.

Just two years later, AI extends far beyond chipmakers and cloud providers, encompassing utilities, networking firms, data centre operators, industrial suppliers and enterprise software companies.

To examine the progression of this trend, the team at BestBrokers analysed America's largest stock market index, the S&P 500 (Standard & Poor's 500 index), which tracks the stock performance of 500 of the largest publicly traded companies in the United States and covers approximately 80% of the total U.S. equity market value.

Our analysis of all S&P 500 constituents shows that 218 companies – more than two in five – are now directly exposed to the AI economy, collectively accounting for $42.4 trillion in market value, or 62% of the entire index. This illustrates that the AI boom has gradually evolved from the companies building the intelligence to those building the infrastructure that powers it.

Key Findings

• AI-linked companies now represent 218 of the S&P 500's 503 constituents (43.3%).
• Together, they are worth $42.39 trillion and account for 62.04% of the index's market capitalisation.
• Companies outside the AI ecosystem now represent only 37.96% of total market value, despite making up 285 companies.

AI: The Dominant Investment Theme in the S&P 500

Artificial intelligence has become the largest investment ecosystem in the S&P 500 – not because every company builds AI, but because AI now influences almost every layer of the modern economy. Only a few years ago, investors largely viewed artificial intelligence through the lens of a small group of companies building the technology itself. Nvidia, Microsoft, AMD, Alphabet and a handful of semiconductor businesses dominated conversations about AI investing.

That picture has changed dramatically. Today, 218 companies – more than two in every five S&P 500 constituents – have a meaningful connection to the AI economy. Together, they account for $42.39 trillion in market value, representing almost two-thirds of the index.

The remaining 285 companies, despite making up the majority of index constituents, collectively account for only 37.96% of total market capitalisation. This does not mean that fewer than half of the S&P 500 use artificial intelligence. In reality, almost every large business is now adopting AI in some form, whether through automation, productivity tools, customer service or internal analytics.

However, our analysis focuses on companies where AI has become materially important to their business model, investment thesis or long-term growth prospects. These businesses either develop AI technologies directly, provide the infrastructure that enables AI, supply essential components to the AI value chain or have deeply integrated AI into the products and services they sell. For that reason, the AI Adopters category in this report should not be interpreted as the only companies using AI.

Rather, it identifies companies where AI has become a defining strategic capability rather than simply another productivity tool.

The Dramatic Expansion of the AI Boom in Just 2 Years

The AI story of 2024 was relatively straightforward. AI investing revolved around a small group of technology leaders, with the biggest winners being companies building the technology itself: chip designers, cloud providers and the developers of increasingly sophisticated large language models.

Two years later, the market is rewarding a much broader range of businesses. Today, the AI economy extends well beyond the companies creating intelligence. It now includes those supplying electricity to data centres, manufacturing cooling systems, expanding fibre-optic networks, building server infrastructure and providing specialised enterprise software.

The numbers illustrate this transformation. While 58 Core AI companies, including chipmakers, cloud and model providers, AI software developers and AI security firms, collectively account for $32.20 trillion in market value, another 160 companies form the broader AI ecosystem, contributing an additional $10.19 trillion.

Mapping the Modern AI Economy

The largest segment of today's AI ecosystem remains AI Chips & Hardware Suppliers, representing 28 companies with a combined market capitalisation of $12.39 trillion and an index weight of 18.14%.

Close behind are AI Cloud & Model Providers, whose six companies, including the hyperscale cloud leaders, account for another $11.74 trillion, or 17.18% of the index. However, one of the most interesting developments is the growing importance of industries that would rarely have appeared in an AI investment report just a few years ago.

The AI Energy & Power Infrastructure category now includes 58 companies, the largest group by company count, reflecting surging investor interest in the enormous electricity requirements of AI data centres. Similarly, AI Infrastructure Suppliers (Pick-and-Shovel) and AI Infrastructure & Data Centres now comprise 60 companies, highlighting how AI has become as much a story about physical infrastructure as software.

Even the AI Software & Applications category has expanded beyond traditional technology firms to include businesses embedding generative and agentic AI into enterprise software, advertising, design platforms and decision-making systems. Together, these categories, however limiting or broad they may seem to different people, show that AI has become an entire industrial ecosystem – ever-expanding and ever-demanding, rather than a single technology sector.

The Market's Biggest Winners Are No Longer Just Chipmakers

One of the clearest signs of AI's evolution can be seen in stock performance. The strongest performers over the past two years are no longer limited to the largest technology companies. We looked at two-year growth rather than year-to-date performance or price changes over the past year, since we wanted to see the progress after the AI boom had already started.

Among the top-performing AI-linked stocks are optical networking specialist Lumentum Holdings (stock +1194.56% between July 2024 and July 2026), storage companies Western Digital (+788.71%) and Seagate (+668.44%), memory producer Micron Technology (+615.27%), enterprise AI leader Palantir (+354.96%), advertising platform AppLovin (+524.77%) and semiconductor infrastructure firms such as Lam Research (+211.73%), Applied Materials (+136.51%), and KLA Corporation (+163.97%).

Many of these businesses play supporting rather than starring roles in the AI revolution. Yet they have become indispensable to its expansion, and the growth in their stocks is demonstrating how investors think. The market increasingly recognises that every AI model ultimately depends on a much larger ecosystem of hardware, networking, energy and specialised infrastructure. In many cases, the companies selling the “picks and shovels” are proving just as attractive to investors as those digging for gold.

AI Is Reshaping the Entire Index

It is clear as day that artificial intelligence has become one of the fastest-expanding investment narratives in modern market history. In just two years, the number of companies materially linked to the AI economy has grown almost sixfold – from 38 to 218.

More importantly, AI's influence has spread far beyond the technology sector itself. Utilities, industrial manufacturers, infrastructure suppliers, cybersecurity firms and enterprise software providers now all form part of the same value chain, each enabling the continued expansion of AI in different ways.

But who is actually growing by creating and feeding artificial intelligence, and who is just riding the AI wave? As more businesses highlight AI strategies during earnings calls and product launches, investors must increasingly distinguish between companies genuinely creating value from AI and those simply benefiting from market enthusiasm surrounding the technology.

The AI economy is clearly becoming broader. Whether every company now presenting itself as an AI winner ultimately deserves that label remains one of the defining investment questions of the coming years. For now, however, one conclusion is difficult to dispute: AI is no longer a niche corner of the stock market. It has become one of the foundations upon which the modern S&P 500 is increasingly built.

Methodology

The analysis covers all 503 constituents of the S&P 500 Index as of July 2026. Companies were classified into one of eight categories based on their primary role within the AI value chain: AI Chips & Hardware Suppliers, AI Cloud & Model Providers, AI Software & Applications, AI Security & Trust Layer, AI Infrastructure & Data Centres, AI Infrastructure Suppliers (Pick-and-Shovel), AI Energy & Power Infrastructure and AI Adopters.

Classification was based on each company's products, services, infrastructure role and the material importance of AI to its business strategy and investment narrative.

Market capitalization as of July 6 2026, from CompaniesMarketCap, and index weight were aggregated for each category to measure AI's overall footprint within the index. Share prices were sourced from Yahoo Finance, with additional information about the index and its constituents taken from Nasdaq and S&P Global.

Original report: BestBrokers.com

Source: deVere Group

August 7 2026

A shock US jobs report has all but ended the case for a September rate hike, affirms the CEO of one of the world's largest independent financial advisory organisations.

Nigel Green of deVere Group's comments come as the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the US economy shed 23,000 jobs in July, a sharp reversal from the roughly 80,000 to 95,000 gain economists had forecast.

The unemployment rate ticked down to 4.1% from 4.2%, but that improvement was overshadowed by steep downward revisions.

June's already modest gain was cut to 20,000 from 57,000, while May's total was slashed nearly in half to 66,000 from 129,000.

Gold had already been climbing into the release, trading near a seven-week high and on track for its strongest week since January, as investors positioned for exactly this kind of surprise.

Nigel Green says the scale of the miss removes almost any realistic path to a September rate increase.

“A jobs report this weak, layered on top of two months of substantial downward revisions, makes a hike next month almost impossible to justify.

“Three consecutive months of softening data is not noise. It's a labour market losing momentum in a way policymakers cannot responsibly ignore.”

The deVere CEO notes that markets are already repricing accordingly.

“Gold was rallying into this release, and reports of weak hiring will likely extend that move further.

“When a currency loses support at the same time a safe-haven asset gains it, that combination tells you plainly which way sentiment has shifted.”

He points to the dollar as the clearest early casualty of the surprise.

“Fewer jobs and slower wage growth reduce the case for tighter policy, and the dollar tends to weaken quickly once markets stop pricing in a hike.

“Investors who spent recent weeks preparing portfolios for a September increase now need to unwind that positioning fast.”

The deVere CEO adds that the scale of the revisions matters as much as July's headline figure.

“Downward revisions of this size change the entire narrative around the labour market's recent strength.

“May's number was cut by roughly half. June's was cut by nearly two thirds. This is not a one-month blip. It's an economy that has been losing jobs momentum for a season while the data initially suggested otherwise.”

He argues the report leaves the Fed with little room to manoeuvre.

“Officials who were debating whether to raise rates now face a labour market that is quietly deteriorating.

“Holding steady is no longer simply the cautious option. It is close to the only credible one available.”

Nigel Green says gold's rally reflects investors positioning ahead of, rather than reacting to, this shift.

“Gold heading into its best week since January, even before this report landed, tells you smart positioning was already underway,” he says. “Weak jobs data typically extends that kind of move rather than reversing it.”

He concludes: “Six weeks ago, investors were bracing for a possible hike.

“Today's numbers make that outcome hugely unlikely.

“Investment portfolios positioned for tighter policy need a serious rethink, and gold, along with other assets that benefit from a softer dollar and lower rate expectations, deserve fresh attention heading into the autumn.”

deVere Group is one of the world's largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients. It has a network of offices around the world, more than 80,000 clients, and $14bn under advisement.

Source: Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA)

Flicket, a provider of digital ticketing, booking and visitor management software, has won the ASB Bay of Plenty Exporter of the Year Award at a gala event this evening held at the Mercury Baypark Arena in Mount Maunganui.

Bay of Plenty software powering visitor experiences worldwide

Flicket has built a growing international presence by providing digital ticketing, booking and visitor management software for attractions, events and tourism operators around the world. The company has carved out a distinctive position in a highly competitive global industry through a technology platform backed by a strong customer partnership model and a disciplined approach to international expansion.

Judges praised Flicket's ability to identify specialised international market opportunities and successfully scale into overseas markets, particularly in the USA, Australia and the UK, while remaining focused on delivering value for customers and executing its long-term vision.

Innovation helping shape the future of global food production

Taura Natural Food Ingredients, a producer of high-quality fruit-based ingredients and inclusions for leading global food brands, won the Excellence in Innovation Award.

The company was recognised for embedding innovation into its business model and developing products that anticipate future consumer demand. Judges highlighted Taura's advanced technical capability, particularly its ability to preserve flavour and nutritional value through complex manufacturing processes, while responding to global demand for enhanced nutrition and protein-rich products.

Turning waste into valuable products for global markets

The Emerging Exporter Award was won by Cetogenix, a biotechnology company developing advanced bio-based materials and processing technologies for global industrial applications.

Cetogenix is developing technology that transforms organic waste streams into valuable products, including renewable natural gas, renewable chemicals and biomaterials. Judges recognised the company's ambition, innovation and potential to help create a more circular economy while addressing a major global challenge.

Recognising those who drive export success behind the scenes

There were two joint winners of the Unsung Export Hero – Outstanding Individual Contribution Award, which recognises individuals who have made a significant contribution to the export success of a business. The award was presented to Hadyn Natusch and Mark Swetman of Oasis Engineering.

Having started their careers together as apprentices, the pair have played a critical role in Oasis Engineering's growth, helping turn research and development concepts into commercially successful products through their technical expertise, problem-solving ability and longstanding commitment to the business.

Long-serving export advocate honoured

The Services to Exporting Award was presented to David Cotter, Customer Manager at NZTE, in recognition of his longstanding contribution to helping Bay of Plenty businesses succeed in international markets.

Through decades of experience across international markets, manufacturing, technology and export development, Cotter has become one of the region's most respected export advocates, supporting businesses of all sizes to pursue growth opportunities and navigate increasingly complex global trading conditions.

Celebrating the Bay of Plenty exporting community

The awards celebrate the exceptional achievements of Bay of Plenty businesses and individuals who export goods and services to markets around the world.

Organised by the local Bay of Plenty Export Advisory Board, EMA and ExportNZ, in partnership with NZTE, the awards are proudly backed by principal sponsor ASB, together with Port of Tauranga, Zespri, Page Macrae, Sharp Tudhope and Trimax.

According to EMA’s Head of Export & Membership, Simon Devoy, “Exporting is an integral part of the Bay of Plenty business community, so we’re delighted these awards showcase the inspiring businesses and individuals from the region who are succeeding in offshore markets. Well done to all the winners!

“The awards are more than just recognition – they’re a platform for sharing insights, fostering collaboration, and strengthening the network of export-focused companies that drive the region’s economic success.”

Chair of the ExportNZ BoP Executive Committee Warwick Downing says, “This year’s winners exemplify the innovation, resilience, and global ambition that define the Bay of Plenty’s export community.

“Their success is a testament to the region’s ability to compete, and thrive, on the world stage.”

Head of Trade Finance at ASB Bank Mike Atkins says, “We congratulate all the winners – they are true export champions of the Bay of Plenty region.

“At ASB we are passionate about enabling exporters to scale up, be it through working capital and debt capital funding or other advisory initiatives across productivity, sustainability, food and fibre. Our partnership with ExportNZ in celebrating these awards underscores that commitment.”

Executive Director of ExportNZ Josh Tan says, “ExportNZ is delighted to help showcase these incredible export stories. Behind every successful exporter are years of innovation, perseverance, and ambition.”

“These businesses are taking Bay of Plenty excellence to the rest of the world and helping to build New Zealand’s reputation for high-quality products, services, and technology. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners and finalists on their outstanding achievements.”

Complete list of winners and full judges’ citations

ASB Bay of Plenty Export Awards

1. Exporter of the Year – in partnership with Sharp Tudhope

Winner: Flicket – a provider of digital ticketing, booking, and visitor management software for attractions, events, and tourism operators worldwide.

Highly Commended: Pure Mama

– This award recognises the outstanding success of a business that is established in its international growth journey, with more than five years of international operations and total annual revenue above $5 million.

Judges’ citation: The judges were highly impressed by Flicket’s vision, commitment and execution in building a disruptive export business in a highly competitive global industry.

Rather than replicating existing ticketing models, Flicket has developed a distinctive approach that combines technology with a strong customer partnership model. The judges noted the company’s ability to identify targeted international niches and build momentum in highly specialised but significant markets.

Flicket has shown particular strength in the United States, where it has secured opportunities in sports and event categories that are major overseas markets. The judges were also impressed by the company’s disciplined approach of proving its offering locally before expanding internationally.

What stood out most was Flicket’s focus – its understanding of where it can compete, the value it can deliver for customers, and the talent required to achieve its vision. For the judges, Flicket is a standout example of a New Zealand business using innovation, strategy and execution to succeed on the world stage.

2. Excellence in Innovation – in partnership with Port of Tauranga

Winner: Taura Natural Food Ingredients – a producer of high-quality fruit-based ingredients and inclusions for leading global food brands.

Highly Commended: Flicket

– This Award recognises success in the commercialisation of innovation in international markets, incorporating intellectual property, strategy, processes and monitoring

Judges’ citation: The judges were impressed by the way Taura Natural Food Ingredients has made innovation a core part of its business model.

Its approach is disciplined, long-term and commercially focused, with the company investing in product development that anticipates future consumer needs.

The judges noted its strong technical capability, particularly in maintaining flavour and nutritional profiles through complex production processes, and its focus on global demand for enhanced nutrition and protein-rich products.

Taura Natural Food Ingredients stood out as a business using innovation with purpose, precision and clear international relevance.

3. Emerging Exporter – in partnership with Trimax

Winner: Cetogenix – a biotechnology company developing advanced bio-based materials and processing technologies for global industrial applications.

– This Award recognises a successful business in the early stage of its international growth journey, with up to 5 years of international operations and total annual revenue under $5 million.

Judges’ citation: The judges selected Cetogenix for the scale of its ambition and the potential global impact of its technology.

The company is developing ways to transform organic waste streams into valuable outputs such as renewable natural gas, renewable chemicals and biomaterials. In doing so, it is helping create a more circular system that reduces waste and captures value.

The judges saw Cetogenix as an emerging exporter with significant international potential – a purposeful, innovative business working to solve a major global challenge.

4. Unsung Export Hero – Outstanding Individual Contribution – in partnership with Zespri

Joint Winners: Hadyn Natusch & Mark Swetman of Oasis Engineering.

– This award recognises an individual or individuals who have made a substantial material contribution to the export success of a business.

Judges’ citations: The judges selected Hadyn Natusch and Mark Swetman in recognition of their longstanding contribution to the growth and success of Oasis Engineering and the important role they have played behind the scenes in the company’s export journey.

Having started their careers together as apprentices, Hadyn and Mark have become instrumental members of the Oasis Engineering team.

The judges were impressed by their commitment, technical expertise and ability to solve complex problems, while helping transform research and development concepts into products that work in real-world applications.

Often working behind the scenes, they have consistently supported customers, overcome technical challenges and contributed to the development of innovative solutions that have helped fuel the company’s growth. The judges described them as two halves of a whole – a partnership built on trust, skill and a shared commitment to excellence.

For their dedication, ingenuity and sustained contribution to the export success of Oasis Engineering, the judges are proud to recognise Hadyn Natusch and Mark Swetman as the recipients of the Unsung Export Hero Award.

5. Services to Exporting – in partnership with Page Macrae

Winner: David Cotter, Customer Manager, NZTE

– This Award recognises an individual or business, who may or may not be directly involved with exporting, but has made a significant contribution to exporting success in the Bay of Plenty.

Judges’ citation: The recipient of the 2026 Services to Exporting Award has spent decades helping New Zealand businesses succeed on the world stage.

Through a career spanning international markets, manufacturing, technology and export development, David Cotter has become one of the Bay of Plenty’s most trusted and respected champions of exporting.

Since joining New Zealand Trade and Enterprise in 2013 and relocating to the Bay of Plenty, David has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to support exporters across the region. He has been a particularly strong advocate for businesses in the manufacturing, engineering, timber and wood sectors, helping companies of all sizes navigate international opportunities, overcome challenges and achieve sustainable growth in global markets.

David has played an important role in strengthening the wider Bay of Plenty export ecosystem, including Rotorua’s innovation and manufacturing communities, and has been actively involved with ExportNZ Bay of Plenty and numerous initiatives supporting exporters.

What sets David apart is his unwavering commitment to the businesses he serves. He has supported businesses through international growth opportunities, market disruption, capability challenges and increasingly complex global trading conditions, always bringing a calm, pragmatic and solutions-focused mindset.

Whether working with established manufacturers, emerging exporters or deep-tech innovators, David brings commercial insight, international experience and a genuine desire to help New Zealand businesses succeed.

Quietly, consistently and without seeking recognition, David has helped countless companies achieve their export ambitions, exemplifying the spirit of this award through his enduring contribution to exporting success in the region.

The judges are delighted to present the 2026 Services to Exporting Award to David Cotter.

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand received calls for 18 incidents between 12 pm and 1pm today, Friday 7 August, the fifty-second time the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) has taken strike action.

Of the 18 incidents, 12 were in areas impacted by the strike.

Four were medical events that were attended to by Hato Hone St John & Wellington Free Ambulance, as per contingency planning. Four were minor incidents. Three were false alarms. One was for a small outdoor rubbish fire.

One was for a structure fire at Lookout Point in Dunedin that Fire and Emergency was alerted to at 12.40. An Assistant District Commander arrived at 12.50 to find the house well involved in fire. Volunteer fire crews were deployed from Ravensbourne, Outram, Port Chalmers and Brighton due to paid firefighters being on strike.

Lookout Point paid station is approximately one minute’s drive away from the house fire.

The first volunteer crew took eight minutes to get to the house fire.

At the conclusion of NZPFU industrial action, paid crews from Lookout Point and Roslyn Stations left Dunedin Fire Station and took five minutes to arrive.

There were no other callouts in Dunedin at this time and our network approach means other volunteer crews were available to provide cover if needed.

“Thankfully there were no people in the dwelling, however we recognise the significant impact this will have on the residents, Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler says.

“We have repeatedly warned about the risk the NZPFU is placing the public in every time it goes on strike.

“We acknowledge and appreciate the dedication of the volunteers and Operational Commanders who responded to this incident and the Communication Centre Managers who coordinated the response. We also recognise the volunteers and staff across the country who have managed the 52 strike responses to date.

“We continue to call on the NZPFU to call off these reckless strikes and have asked it to urgently return to independent facilitation so we can make progress toward a fair and sustainable settlement.

“Fire and Emergency remains committed to achieving a fair and sustainable settlement so we can continue working to keep communities safe,

“As we have unfortunately seen today, emergency responses will be delayed when strike action takes place,” Megan Stiffler says.

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand

7 August 2026

Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) Governor Dr Anna Breman, Board Member Jeremy Banks, External Monetary Policy Committee Member Carl Hansen, and Director of Stakeholder Engagement Naomi Mitchell have travelled to Nelson-Tasman to engage with local businesses, industries, and communities as part of the RBNZ's regional leadership engagement programme.

So far in 2026, the RBNZ's leadership team have visited six centres across the regions as part of the programme outside of Wellington and Auckland, including Canterbury, Waikato, Hawke's Bay, Bay of Plenty (Rotorua and Tauranga), and Nelson-Tasman.

Across these visits, the RBNZ leaders met with more than 50 organisations, including councils, community and advocacy groups, farmers and agribusinesses, hospitality and tourism operators, iwi, exporters, and other regional stakeholders. In total, they have connected directly with around 600 local business operators and community members.

During their visit to Nelson-Tasman, RBNZ leaders met with local iwi, the regional economic development agency, aquaculture representatives, retirement providers, and transport companies to better understand current economic and financial conditions, opportunities, and the challenges facing the region.

“Hearing directly from people living and working in communities across New Zealand is an important part of our work,” Dr Breman says.

“I acknowledge that economic conditions remain challenging for many New Zealanders, and the recent increase in the unemployment rate reflects that. However, if we look a bit deeper, we can now see more people in employment and more people participating in the labour market.”

“Conversations on these topics like these help us understand how nationwide economic developments are affecting different regions, industries, businesses, communities, and households, and how experiences can vary across the country.”

“They also provide an opportunity for us to explain the work we do,” Dr Breman says.

Alongside its work on financial stability and cash and payments, the RBNZ seeks to keep inflation low and stable. The Monetary Policy Committee’s remit is to keep annual inflation between 1 and 3% over the medium term, with a focus on 2%, while avoiding unnecessary volatility in the economy.

The RBNZ undertakes a wide range of engagement and outreach activities to understand perspectives and sentiment from across New Zealand and to communicate the work it does. These include regional business visits led by different teams across the RBNZ, quarterly surveys of 500 to 700 businesses and around 1,000 households, public consultations, speaking engagements, and bilateral meetings with stakeholders.

The regional leadership engagement programme, alongside the RBNZ's ongoing engagement activities, helps inform the Bank's understanding of economic conditions across New Zealand and complements the economic and financial data it monitors.