Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: deVere Group

August 4 2026

Wildfire catastrophe bonds are moving well beyond their insurance origins to become a genuine new asset class for investors' portfolios, affirms the CEO of one of the world's largest independent financial advisory organisations.

Nigel Green of deVere Group's comments come as issuance of catastrophe bonds carrying wildfire exposure has already topped $5 billion this year, according to specialist data provider Artemis, putting 2026 on track to challenge last year's record.

The broader catastrophe bond market now stands at an unprecedented $61 billion outstanding, after a 45% surge in new issuance last year alone.

He says: “Most investors still think of catastrophe bonds as something insurers deal with, not something that belongs in a serious portfolio. This thinking is already out of date.

“Wildfire losses are rising by roughly 12% a year globally, faster than almost any other category of natural catastrophe.

“Standalone wildfire bonds, once considered too specialised to trade on their own, are becoming genuinely investable instruments in their own right. This shift matters far more than most allocators currently appreciate.”

The deVere CEO points to the fundamental appeal of catastrophe bonds for investors seeking genuine diversification rather than another variation on equity or credit risk.

“These instruments don't move because of a central bank decision or a disappointing earnings season.

“A wildfire either happens within the defined parameters of the bond or it doesn't. This is a completely different risk driver to almost everything else sitting in a typical portfolio, and it's exactly what makes it valuable.”

He argues the improving quality of wildfire risk modelling is the real story behind this year's surge in issuance.

“Investors were historically cautious about wildfire risk because the modelling wasn't good enough to price it with confidence,” Nigel Green explains.

“This has changed fast. Firms building these risk models have improved their data and their forecasting to the point where sophisticated investors are now comfortable putting real capital behind the numbers.”

The devastating Los Angeles fires of January 2025, which destroyed more than 16,000 buildings and caused a record $40 billion in insured losses, reshaped how both insurers and investors think about wildfire exposure.

“This event was a wake-up call for the entire industry,” he says.

“California's state-backed FAIR Plan has seen its exposure grow by over 50% in Los Angeles County alone in a single year, as traditional insurers pull back.

“Capital markets are stepping into a gap that private insurance increasingly can't fill on its own, and investors willing to take on that risk are being paid well for it.”

Nigel Green believes Europe represents the next major phase of growth for this asset class, even though the market there remains far less developed than in the US.

“Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth and wildfire risk there is only heading in one direction,” he notes.

“The market hasn't caught up yet, but it will have to. Once European wildfire modelling matures to the standard investors expect, capital will follow, the same way it did in California.”

He urges investors to look past the unfamiliar mechanics of catastrophe bonds and focus on what they actually deliver inside a portfolio.

“The instinct to treat this as a niche corner of insurance markets is understandable, but it's increasingly wrong,” Nigel Green says.

“What investors should focus on is genuine, uncorrelated return. During a sharp equity sell-off, a well-structured wildfire bond doesn't care what the S&P is doing. This kind of independence is rare and valuable, and it's becoming easier to access than most people realise.”

He concludes: “The growth of this market reflects a broader shift already underway among savvy investors.

“Climate risk used to be treated purely as a cost to manage.

“It's now becoming an asset class that a growing number of investors can actively allocate towards.”

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: Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission

Last updated: 03 July 2026

Commission calls for withdrawal of the Move-on Orders Bill, warning it risks criminalising those with greatest need.

Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission is calling on the Government to withdraw the Summary Offences (Move-on Orders) Amendment Bill, warning it risks criminalising poverty and homelessness rather than improving safety and addressing the root causes of harm in our communities.

In its submission to the Justice Select Committee on 2 July, the Commission believes the Bill gets the problem wrong and as a result, gets the solution wrong. The Bill risks further victimising and negatively impacting people for simply trying to survive sleeping rough, begging, or dealing with health and housing problems they need help addressing.

The Bill also risks increasing police contact, displacement and criminalisation for people already experiencing significant hardship, while doing little to address genuinely harmful or threatening behaviour for which legal tools already exist.

“This Bill doesn't make anyone safer, it just makes homelessness and poverty harder to see,” says Prudence Walker, Disability Rights Commissioner.

“People don't sleep on our streets or ask strangers for money because our public spaces are too relaxed. They're there because housing, health care, addiction support and whānau support have run out. Moving them on doesn't fix any of that — it just moves the problem down the road.”

The Commission is especially concerned that move-on orders could be issued to children as young as 14.

“A 14-year-old sleeping rough needs care and a safe place to stay — not a move-on order,” says Walker. “This Bill would let us push children further away from the help they need, at exactly the moment they need it most.”

The Commission's submission also raises concerns under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, noting that Māori are disproportionately affected by severe housing deprivation, and that the Crown has existing obligations to actively protect and support Māori communities.

The Bill is also likely to disproportionately impact others already experiencing disadvantage, including disabled people, Pacific peoples, Rainbow communities, women and children, particularly where poverty, homelessness, family violence, addiction, mental distress or unmet disability support needs intersect.

The Commission recommends the Bill not proceed, and that the Government should instead take a human rights and evidence-based approach to address the upstream conditions that lead to homelessness, addiction and mental health directly. This should be done through investment in stable housing, Housing First approaches, kaupapa Māori housing, accessible health and addiction services, and whānau-centred support.

As a country, preventing poverty and homelessness is how we create a positive shared future for all of us. Lasting safety comes from decent homes, adequate incomes, accessible and culturally safe services, and whānau-centred support and prevention.

Chief Commissioner, Dr Stephen Rainbow adds:

“We have existing laws that deal with genuinely threatening or disorderly behaviour.

“Workers, businesses, residents and communities deserve safe and welcoming public places, but moving people experiencing hardship out of sight will not make communities safer, nor will it solve the challenges associated with addiction or mental distress that afflict many of those most likely to be impacted by this Bill.

“The real issue is the systemic failure behind the growth of antisocial behaviour, particularly in town centres, that’s impacting safety of workers, shopkeepers, public transport users and shoppers. The visible failure to care for the most vulnerable demands a long, hard look at what's causing this human tragedy.”

Click here to read the Commission’s full submission.

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Source: Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission

Last updated: 13 July 2026

New study finds pay equity settlement prior to Government changes boosted worker earnings and outcomes, reduced benefits.

A new study has found that the 2023 pay equity settlement for community and iwi social workers led to higher earnings, reduced reliance on government support, and stronger attachment to employment – providing some of the strongest evidence to date that pay equity can strengthen essential workforces and improve outcomes for workers.

The findings come amid ongoing scrutiny of New Zealand’s pay equity system following amendments to the Equal Pay Act passed under urgency in 2025. The amendments have made it significantly more difficult for workers in historically undervalued, female-dominated occupations to secure fair pay equity outcomes.

This study provides rare empirical evidence on what pay equity settlements – designed to ensure equal pay for work of equal value – can achieve in practice, including effects beyond wages.

Researchers from the New Zealand Human Rights Commission and the New Zealand Policy Research Institute at Auckland University of Technology analysed linked Census and administrative data.

Among the key findings:

• Annual earnings increased by approximately $10,100 per worker (around 17%) in the year following the settlement.
• Workers’ total income increased by about $6000, after accounting for reductions in other sources, such as government income support.
• Workers were more likely to remain in employment one year later – attachment increased by 1.8 percentage points
• Evidence of some positive effects on mental health outcomes.

“Pay equity is a fundamental human right,” says Professor Gail Pacheco, Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner at the Human Rights Commission.

“At a time when New Zealand’s pay equity system is harder to access, our findings reinforce the importance of a strong pay equity framework to help ensure our essential workers are treated fairly, valued equally, and paid what they are worth.”

The research paper, Pay Equity and Worker Outcomes: Evidence from New Zealand’s Social Worker Settlement, forms part of the wider research programme Boosting productivity growth through creating equal workplace opportunities for all, funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Endeavour Fund.

Find out more about the Commission’s work on Pay Equity.

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Source: Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission

Last updated: 08 July 2026

Rights & Realities: Remembering 1986 draws on first-hand accounts of the 1985-86 campaign that changed New Zealand law.

Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission today announced the launch of Rights & Realities: Remembering 1986, a new podcast marking the 40th anniversary of the Homosexual Law Reform Act, the law that decriminalised consensual sex between men in New Zealand.

The Act passed its third reading in Parliament on 9 July 1986, following a 16-month nationwide debate that divided the country. It came into force on 8 August, finally ending the threat of prosecution and imprisonment that gay men had lived under.

The Act, introduced as a member's bill by then-Wellington Central MP Fran Wilde in March 1985, was a major step forward for human rights and justice in Aotearoa New Zealand.

“The passing of the Homosexual Law Reform Act 40 years ago today represented far more than the passing of a piece of legislation – for gay men who lived during that era, the act represented a watershed,” said Dr Stephen Rainbow, Chief Commissioner, Human Rights Commission.

“As New Zealand’s first openly gay Chief Human Rights Commissioner, this anniversary carries particular significance for me,” said Dr Rainbow. “The 40th anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on how fortunate we are to live in a democracy that enables minority voices to be heard, protected and promoted.”

Disability Rights Commissioner and Rainbow rights spokesperson, Prudence Walker adds: “This anniversary is a chance to celebrate social progress in Aotearoa New Zealand, while also acknowledging that some Rainbow people don’t yet enjoy the freedoms that generation fought to achieve.”

Rights & Realities: Remembering 1986 is a limited series of five episodes featuring interviews with political and social campaigners, archival audio, and reflection on the impact of the law change for gay men in New Zealand.

For the Human Rights Commission, it’s a chance to reflect on its role in history – including deciding not to recommend to Parliament in 1979 that the Human Rights Act be amended to add ‘sexual orientation’ to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination.

“Although the Commission supported decriminalising sex between men and strengthening anti-discrimination in the Human Rights Act later in 1985, we wanted to take this opportunity to acknowledge we did not provide the leadership expected of us to Rainbow communities at that time,” says Walker.

In the podcast leaders from Rainbow communities guide us through the changing story of sexuality and gender in New Zealand, revisit the moments that shaped the landmark Bill, and honour the courage of those who fought on the frontlines for equality.

Episodes feature:

• Takatāpui scholar and artist Professor Elizabeth Kerekere, and professor of gender studies, Professor Chris Brickell.
• Frontline activists Linda Evans and Gavin Young.
• Fran Wilde, former Labour MP who introduced the Homosexual Law Reform Bill, and Dr Stephen Rainbow, Chief Commissioner, Human Rights Commission.
• Niuean fakafifine and rights activist Phylesha Brown-Acton, and wahine takatāpui, former MP, and marriage equality changemaker, Louisa Wall.
• Disability Rights Commissioner and Commission Rainbow rights spokesperson, Prudence Walker, and legal scholar and advocate Vinod Bal.

Listen to all five episodes now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

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Source: Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission

Last updated: 29 July 2026

Commission opposes review that seeks to repeal or dilute Treaty references in legislation.

“At its heart, this issue is simple. The Government says it wants clarity, but many Māori, legal experts, the Waitangi Tribunal, the Human Rights Commission, and international bodies say the review risks doing the opposite: weakening protections, reducing accountability, and increasing conflict.”

Human Rights Commission's Indigenous Governance Partner Rongomau Taketake, Dayle Takitimu.

Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission has today released an advance submission and information guide on the proposals announced by the government to repeal or dilute Treaty references in legislation.

The Commission concludes that the proposed reforms are constitutionally regressive, inconsistent with established Treaty jurisprudence, incompatible with domestic and international human rights standards, and likely to deepen legal uncertainty, litigation risk and racial division rather than reduce them.

The Commission’s Rongomau Taketake, Dayle Takitimu stated:

“At its heart, this issue is simple. The Government says it wants clarity, but many Māori, legal experts, the Waitangi Tribunal, the Human Rights Commission, and international bodies say the review risks doing the opposite: weakening protections, reducing accountability, and increasing conflict.”

“Achieving clarity – if that is the aim of the exercise – doesn’t require watering down obligations to the bare minimum. Certainty and clarity are better achieved by following agreed human rights standards which support honouring treaties and respecting Indigenous peoples’ human rights.”

The submission reiterates the position taken by the Commission on the Treaty Principles Bill, noting that the same pattern of unilateral Crown action, flawed human-rights reasoning, and distortion of Te Tiriti underpins the current legislative review.

“Te Tiriti is not a side issue or a drafting inconvenience; it is part of the constitutional and human rights foundation of Aotearoa,” says Takitimu.

The paper recommends that the current proposals be abandoned, and that any replacement be developed with the meaningful involvement of Tiriti partners. The recommendations echo those made previously by the Waitangi Tribunal and the UN Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

The Commission’s paper raises human rights concerns regarding both the substance of the proposals and the process through which decisions have been made, namely that the proposals were developed without due consideration of the views of those most affected, and the domestic and international accountability mechanisms that exist to safeguard rights and serve as checks on the exercise of public power.

These include the United Nations Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, whose December report on New Zealand’s compliance with anti-discrimination obligations, expressed concern about the review. The Committee urged the Government to ensure that relevant legislative reviews were undertaken “in full and effective consultation and partnership with Māori” and “in accordance with the [human rights] principle of free, prior and informed consent”.

To learn more, download the Commission’s explainer and full draft submission:

• Explainer PDF
• Submission PDF
• Submission Word document

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Source: Greenpeace

Parliament is set to vote today on what Greenpeace says is the most reckless demolition of environmental protections in a generation.

The Coalition Government's Resource Management Act (RMA) replacements – the Natural Environment and Planning Bills – return to Parliament for their second reading after emerging from the Select Committee process environmentally worse than when they were first introduced.

Greenpeace campaigner Gen Toop says, “These Bills are an all-out assault on the law that is supposed to protect the rivers we swim in, the water we drink, the forests that hold our hillsides together, the wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique, and the places New Zealanders love.”

“These Bills turn the purpose of our main environmental law on its head. Instead of safeguarding clean water, healthy ecosystems and communities, these proposed laws would protect companies who profit from polluting and exploiting the environment.”

The Government has retained its controversial ‘regulatory relief’ scheme, which could force ratepayers to compensate companies when stronger environmental protections affect profits, potentially costing the public nearly $2 billion.

They have also removed the precautionary principle – a cornerstone of environmental law that recognises action should be taken when there is a credible risk of serious or irreversible environmental harm, even where scientific certainty is incomplete.

“These Bills even flip the polluter pays principle on its head,” says Toop.

“If a council wants to stop erosion from forestry, a wetland from being drained or strengthen safeguards for native wildlife, the New Zealand public may have to compensate the very companies responsible for the damage. It is absolutely perverse”

Toop says the legislation has become even more extreme since it was first introduced.

“The Government is planning to throw environmental limits and the precautionary principle out the door, tear up agreements between iwi and councils, force the public to compensate polluters, and make it easier for companies to kill native wildlife.”

Among the most alarming changes is the decision to scrap existing Mana Whakahono ā Rohe established arrangements between councils and iwi for shared environmental decision-making.

“These Bills roll back Māori participation in environmental decision-making and sideline tangata whenua from decisions about the lands and waters they have cared for for centuries. That is unacceptable. Parliament must reject these Bills,” says Toop.

Toop says the Bills are yet another assault in the Coalition Government's war on nature and is calling on people to join the March for Nature in Auckland on 19 September.

“From fast-track consenting to proposing to sell off public conservation land, this Government has spent the last three years systematically dismantling the environmental protections New Zealanders fought for over generations,” says Toop.

“Governments can pass laws, but they can't change what New Zealanders value. On 19 September, we're calling on people to stand together and march for the forests, oceans, rivers, coastlines and wildlife of Aotearoa.”

Source: D-Link ANZ

SYDNEY, 4 August 2026 – D-Link ANZ has unveiled its expanded Industrial Switch Range, delivering enterprise-grade networking solutions purpose-built for Australia's and New Zealand's harshest operational environments.

From factory floors and transport networks to outdoor surveillance deployments and remote utility sites, the new range gives systems integrators, IT managers and operations leaders the durability, speed and intelligence they need to maintain mission-critical connectivity where standard enterprise equipment simply cannot survive.

DIS-310G-24X Layer 3 Managed Switch

The expanded portfolio comprises four new models: the flagship DIS-310G-24X Layer 3 Managed Switch, the smart-managed DIS-210G-12 and DIS-210G-12UP PoE switches, and the compact, cost-effective DIS-100E-05 entry-level model. Together they span the full spectrum of industrial networking requirements from high-density aggregation to simple edge connectivity.

As Australian and New Zealand industries accelerate digital transformation, edge networks are being pushed into environments they were never designed for. Extreme temperatures, electrical noise, vibration and power surges are daily realities in manufacturing plants, mining operations, agricultural facilities and outdoor CCTV deployments.

Consumer-grade and even standard commercial switches fail quickly in these conditions, causing costly downtime, data loss and maintenance headaches. D-Link's Industrial Switch Range addresses these pain points with IP40-rated metal housings, fan-less thermal designs, 6kV surge protection across all Ethernet ports, and operating temperature ratings from –40°C to +75°C.

The flagship DIS-310G-24X is a 24-port Gigabit Industrial Managed Layer 3 Switch designed for larger-scale industrial networks that demand both high availability and advanced traffic management.

It features 16 x 10/100/1000BASE-T copper ports, 4 x Gigabit SFP fibre uplinks, and 4 x 10G SFP+ ports for high-speed backbone or aggregation connectivity, all packed into a compact 100 x 140 x 170 mm chassis that maximises cabinet space.

DIS-310G-24X Key Features

• Layer 3 management with advanced routing, security and QoS functions
• 16 Gigabit copper + 4 Gigabit SFP + 4 x 10G SFP+ ports
• Fan-less design with ruggedised metal housing rated for –40°C to +75°C operation
• 6kV surge protection on all Ethernet ports
• DIN-rail clip and wall-mount options for fast deployment
• Loopback detection and cable diagnostics for rapid troubleshooting
• ERPS ring support for sub-50ms failover redundancy

For enterprise and government customers deploying outdoor surveillance, smart transport networks or large-scale industrial automation, the DIS-310G-24X delivers the performance of a data-centre switch with the resilience of hardened infrastructure. Its 10G uplinks eliminate bandwidth bottlenecks when aggregating multiple high-definition camera streams or sensor arrays, while Layer 3 intelligence enables secure segmentation of operational-technology (OT) and information-technology (IT) traffic.

The DIS-210G-12 is a 12-port Gigabit Industrial Smart Managed Switch that strikes the ideal balance between capability and simplicity for mid-sized deployments. It offers 8 x Gigabit copper ports plus 4 x SFP fibre uplinks, smart management via an intuitive web interface and ERPS ring protection to keep networks running even if a cable is severed.

DIS-210G-12 Key Features

• 8 x 1000BASE-T + 4 x SFP Gigabit uplinks
• Web-based smart management – no command-line expertise required
• 6kV surge protection and IP40-rated metal housing
• –40°C to +75°C operating range
• ERPS ring topology for continuous monitoring and failover
• Fan-less, silent operation ideal for noise-sensitive environments

This switch is purpose-built for city surveillance projects, warehouse automation and distributed building-management systems. The combination of fibre uplinks and smart management means integrators can run long-distance links back to a central site while retaining remote visibility and control over each edge switch, reducing truck rolls and speeding up fault resolution.

The DIS-210G-12UP takes the smart-managed foundation of the DIS-210G-12 and adds High-Power PoE capability, making it the go-to switch for deployments where both data and power must be delivered over a single cable to remote devices.

DIS-210G-12UP Key Features

• 8 x Gigabit ports: 6 x PoE+ (30W) and 2 x PoE++ (up to 60W per port)
• 4 x Gigabit SFP fibre uplinks for long-distance backhaul
• Total PoE budget supports multiple high-draw devices simultaneously
• IP40 housing, 6kV surge protection and –40°C to +75°C rating
• ERPS ring support for uninterrupted surveillance and automation
• Ideal for PTZ cameras, access control, IP intercoms and IoT gateways

With two PoE++ ports capable of delivering 60W each, the DIS-210G-12UP can power the latest generation of pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras, high-gain wireless access points and door-entry systems without requiring separate power injectors or 240V outlets at every device location. For smart-building and safe-city projects, this slashes installation costs, reduces cable clutter and simplifies maintenance.

The DIS-100E-05 is a 5-port unmanaged industrial switch that proves hardened networking doesn't have to break the budget. With five Fast Ethernet ports, a fan-less metal casing and DIN-rail mounting, it delivers plug-and-play connectivity for small sensor clusters, remote monitoring nodes and legacy equipment retrofits.

DIS-100E-05 Key Features

• 5 x 10/100BASE-T Fast Ethernet ports
• Unmanaged plug-and-play operation – zero configuration
• Fan-less, silent design with Energy-Efficient Ethernet (EEE)
• 6kV surge protection on all ports
• 12–55V DC dual-input terminal block for redundant power
• Metal housing, DIN-rail mount, –40°C to +75°C rated
• RRP under $150 makes hardened networking accessible to any budget

For agricultural sensor networks, remote telemetry cabinets and small-scale automation projects, the DIS-100E-05 removes the traditional cost barrier to industrial-grade reliability. Its EEE support reduces power draw during low-activity periods, while the dual DC input allows a redundant power supply to be connected for extra peace of mind.

D-Link's expanded Industrial Switch Range is more than a product refresh, it is a toolkit that directly addresses the operational and financial pressures facing local industries today.

With 6kV surge protection, wide thermal ratings and ERPS ring failover, these switches keep production lines, surveillance feeds and control systems online through electrical storms, summer heatwaves and freezing winter nights. Less downtime means higher output, safer worksites and lower emergency-repair costs.

Fan-less designs eliminate a common point of mechanical failure, reducing maintenance schedules and extending service life. PoE++ models cut installation costs by delivering power and data over one cable, while smart-management features allow remote diagnostics that stop minor issues becoming major outages.

Whether a site needs five ports today or plans to scale to hundreds of cameras and sensors tomorrow, the range offers a growth path. The DIS-310G-24X's 10G uplinks and Layer 3 intelligence provide headroom for years of expansion, while the consistent management interface across models simplifies staff training and inventory planning.

Industrial-grade EMC endurance and safety certifications help organisations meet workplace health and safety obligations, particularly in mining, energy and heavy manufacturing where equipment reliability is regulated. Using purpose-built industrial switches demonstrates due diligence in risk management.

All models are available now in Australia and New Zealand via D-Link Australia, D-Link New Zealand and authorised D-Link business resellers, including major IT distributors and systems-integration partners at the following RRPs:-

DIS-310G-24X – AUD$2799.95, NZ$3499.99
DIS-210G-12 – AUD$899.95, NZ$1099.99
DIS-210G-12UP – AUD$1799.95, NZ$2199.99
DIS-100E-05 – AUD$149.95, NZ$179.99

About D-Link

D-Link, a global leader in the networking industry, began expanding worldwide in 1986 and was officially established as D-Link Corporation in 1987. With 90 operational and sales locations across 43 countries, D-Link provides innovative and reliable networking equipment, AI-powered cloud management services, and complete infrastructure solutions for individuals, homes, businesses, and industries.

Copyright © 2026 D-Link Australia. All Rights Reserved.

Source: Gen Digital Inc.

New Cyber Safety intelligence hub gives Kiwis a live, daily view of the scams and cyber threats shaping online life in NZ and around the world

Auckland, August 4, 2026 – Gen (NASDAQ: GEN), a global leader dedicated to powering Digital Freedom through its family of trusted consumer brands, including Norton, Avast, LifeLock and MoneyLion, today launched the Fearless Planet Index (FPI), a continuously updated Cyber Safety intelligence hub that provides real-time insights into scams, cyber threats and identity risks, helping people understand where threats are emerging and how to protect themselves.

Visit the Fearless Planet Index at https://fpi.gendigital.com/

A Regional Weather Map for Digital Risk

People check the weather before deciding what to wear or whether it's safe to travel. Until now, there hasn't been an equivalent way to understand the digital risks forming around us. Powered by telemetry from the Gen Threat Labs, the Fearless Planet Index transforms billions of real-world security signals into an interactive view of today's digital threat landscape. Like weather radar tracking storms as they develop and move, the FPI helps Kiwis see where digital risks are emerging in New Zealand, which scams are most active and how those patterns evolve over time.

With the FPI, people can:

• Select a country to explore its most prominent scams, malware threats and identity alerts
• See whether each threat or alert has increased, decreased, remained stable or appeared as new since the previous day
• Open detailed profiles explaining each threat or alert and, where applicable, providing practical guidance to help people protect themselves

One of the most active threats in New Zealand is fake shopping scams.

Storms Brewing: Online Shopping Scams in New Zealand

In New Zealand, online shopping scams rank among the most prevalent consumer scams tracked by the FPI in July, as cybercriminals increasingly impersonate trusted retailers through fake websites, sponsored social media ads, search results and promotional emails offering products at unusually low prices.

The FPI identify the scams and threats people should look out for and gives practical advice on how to protect yourself. For example, for those Kiwis who are getting ready to shop online for winter clearance sale, tips include:

• Shop with retailers you know or research unfamiliar websites by checking independent reviews before making a purchase.
• Look closely at the website. Check the URL for misspellings, and make sure the site includes legitimate contact information, shipping details, and a clear return or refund policy.
• Pay with a credit card or another payment method that offers buyer protection. Avoid paying by bank transfer, cryptocurrency, gift cards or other irreversible payment methods.

Fearless Planet Index Reveals Phishing as the Primary Scam Threat Worldwide

The FPI tracks the most prominent threats across 245 countries and territories. Early insights show phishing as the most prevalent scam category globally. Specific threats, including online shopping, dating, tech support and financial scams, vary considerably between countries. This country-level variation allows people to look beyond the global picture and understand which threats are currently most prominent where they live.

At launch, the FPI shows:

• 120M+ phishing attacks detected in the latest 30-day snapshot
• 80%+ of categorised threats were scams or malicious advertising rather than traditional malware
• Online shopping scams rank among the most prevalent named scams across New Zealand, Australia and other parts of the world, reflecting how cybercriminals increasingly target everyday online purchases
• While phishing is the leading scam globally, the mix of threats varies by country and region, giving people a localised view of the digital risks they are most likely to encounter
• North America recorded the highest average digital risk (29.6%), followed closely by Europe (28.5%), Asia-Pacific (27.4%), Middle East & Africa (25.6%), and Latin America (22.0%)

About Gen

Gen (NASDAQ: GEN) is a global company dedicated to powering Digital Freedom through its trusted consumer brands including Norton, Avast, LifeLock, MoneyLion and more. The Gen family of consumer brands is rooted in providing financial empowerment and cyber safety for the first digital generations. Today, Gen empowers people to live their digital lives safely, privately and confidently for generations to come. Gen brings award-winning products and services in cybersecurity, online privacy, identity protection and financial wellness to nearly 500 million users in more than 150 countries. Learn more at https://www.gendigital.com/.

About the Gen Threat Labs

Gen Threat Labs is the Cyber Safety research team within Gen, focused on uncovering and analysing the latest digital threats and scams worldwide. Rooted in data, research, and technical expertise, the team identifies patterns and risks that shape the evolving cyber landscape. Their insights power the security technologies that protect people across Gen's portfolio of trusted brands, including Norton, Avast, LifeLock, and others.

Source: Hot Spring Spas New Zealand

Customer research from Hot Spring Spas, just voted New Zealand’s most trusted spa pool and sauna brand by Readers Digest, shows wellness has overtaken entertainment as the reason Kiwis buy a spa, and the power bill is the number one thing that makes them hesitate.

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, [August 2026] – New Zealanders are buying spa pools to escape three things: pain, stress and their phones. New customer research from Hot Spring Spas shows 65 percent of buyers purchase primarily to relieve aches and tension, buyers describe the spa as a device-free retreat where the family can connect, and their biggest hesitation is not the price tag but the power bill. Most (63 percent) buyers have never owned a spa before. The research landed in the same winter New Zealanders voted Hot Spring the country’s most trusted spa pool and sauna brand in the 2026 Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands Awards.

Key takeaways

• 65 percent of buyers purchase a spa primarily to relieve aches and tension, the strongest motivation by a wide margin (Hot Spring customer survey, May 2026, 199 respondents)
• The school phone ban has a backyard sequel: buyers describe the spa as a device-free retreat where the family connects, as 49 percent of New Zealand teenagers say social media disrupts their sleep, homework and family time (Horizon Research for Smartphone Free Childhood NZ, 540 teens, October 2025)
• Buyers fear the running cost more than the price: Running cost is the most-named purchase hesitation across 198 open-text answers, ahead of the upfront price (Electricity Authority, Electricity Authority takes closer look at price increases)
• Build quality & durability is what tips the decision for most spa pool buyers but the in-person experience at the showroom has the 3rd largest impact on purchasing decisions
• Recommendations from friends and family accounts for a small percentage of buying decisions
• 63 percent of buyers are first-time spa owners; family households are the largest buyer group at 39 percent

Wellness has overtaken entertainment

In a post-purchase survey of 199 New Zealand spa pool buyers completed in May 2026, almost two thirds said they bought their spa to ease aches and reduce stress. Social and lifestyle motivations trailed well behind. The category stereotype of the spa as backyard entertainment no longer matches who is buying: 63 percent are first-time owners, arriving with no history in the category and a clear idea of what they want from it.

A more anxious country wants somewhere to switch off

Asked to describe what they wanted from a spa in their own words, buyers kept returning to the same themes: relaxation, an outdoor sanctuary, wellness and recovery, family connection and private indulgence. The backdrop is a country under measurable strain. In the latest New Zealand government Health Survey, one in seven adults (14.3 percent, around 619,000 people) reported high or very high psychological distress in the previous four weeks, a level that has risen significantly over the past five years (7.4% in 2019/2020).

“Somewhere we can connect and communicate as a family and enjoy the experience of calmness.” – Brian, Auckland, survey respondent

An investment in the home, used all year round

The other recurring driver is the home itself. Family households are the largest buyer group at 39 percent, motivated by family togetherness and a more enjoyable lifestyle at home, and buyers repeatedly describe the spa as the anchor of an outdoor space the whole household uses, in winter as much as summer. In their open-text answers, buyers frame the purchase less as an appliance and more as an upgrade to the place where they spend most of their time: a private retreat, an outdoor sanctuary and a reason to be in their own backyard every day of the year.

“A quiet relaxing space for the family to enjoy together.” – Jason, Auckland, survey respondent

A space where the phones do not follow

Woven through the family connection theme is a quieter one: unplugging. New Zealand households are having the same argument as the rest of the country. In a survey of 540 New Zealand teenagers aged 13 to 17 conducted in October 2025, 49 percent said social media disrupts their daily activities, including homework, family time and sleep, and 32 percent said they spend five or more hours a day on it. More than one in five (22 percent) met the criteria for problematic social media use, rising to one in four among girls.

The concern is now national policy, and escalating. Phones have been required to be away for the day in New Zealand schools since Term 2, 2024, and the Government is currently drafting legislation to restrict social media to those aged 16 and over, which the Prime Minister has said will be introduced before the general election.

In a household where screens reach every room, the spa is the exception. The survey suggests a key driver is buyers wanting to spend more time together without digital devices and to create a retreat where they can connect. It is where the strands of the research come together: a private retreat (26 percent) and a more enjoyable lifestyle at home (47 percent) both feature among what buyers say they want, alongside family connection, and a spa answers all three in the one household space a phone cannot follow.

“A place to relax, unplug from the internet and enjoy our rural outlook all year round.” – Rob, Whangārei, survey respondent

The power bill is the biggest fear

Asked what made them hesitate before buying, respondents named running cost more than any other concern, ahead of the purchase price itself. The anxiety is well founded this winter: most New Zealand households have faced an average 8 percent power price increase for the second consecutive year, and the Electricity Authority is examining the rises.

“How efficient the spa was and the impact on our power bill.” – Colin, Auckland, on his biggest hesitation before buying

What a spa costs to run depends on its insulation, the local climate, the electricity tariff, the water temperature and how often it is used. That variability is part of the anxiety: buyers want a straight number before they commit.

A word from Hot Spring Spas New Zealand

“Running cost is now the first question in almost every showroom conversation, before jets, before seating, before anything. Our own research confirms it: it is the most-named hesitation before buying a spa pool, ahead of the upfront price. People are buying pain relief, a better sleep and family connection, and they want to know what a spa will cost to run before they commit. The industry owes buyers straight answers on that, which is why we point people to an energy cost calculator so they can estimate running costs for their own climate and power prices before they spend a dollar. I think that kind of straight talk is a big part of why New Zealanders named us their most trusted brand, unprompted, in the first year the category existed.”

Aaron Sampson, General Manager, Hot Spring Spas New Zealand

About Hot Spring Spas New Zealand

Hot Spring Spas is New Zealand’s most trusted spa pool and sauna brand (awarded by Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands in May 2026), selling spa pools, swim spas, cold plunge, modular pools and saunas. Hot Spring spa pools are manufactured by Watkins Wellness, the world’s largest spa manufacturer, which has sold more than 2.4 million spas since 1980. Known for industry-leading energy efficiency, durable build quality and a 20-year spare-parts commitment, Hot Spring spas are supported across New Zealand by a network of independently owned, authorised local dealers who provide expert advice, installation, servicing and ongoing care for the life of the spa. For more information, visit https://hotspring.co.nz

Notes

• Hot Spring customer survey: post-purchase survey of 199 verified New Zealand customers, May 2026, combining multi-select questions with open-text responses coded by theme. Full data tables, including motivations, hesitations and buyer demographics, are available on request.
• The Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands Awards are conducted annually by Catalyst Research on behalf of Reader’s Digest. The 2026 New Zealand study surveyed 1,788 adults in a nationally representative sample, with quotas across age, gender and region and data weighted to reflect the country.
• Running costs: spa running costs vary with climate, electricity tariff, water temperature and usage. Hot Spring’s published running cost information, including an energy cost calculator that estimates monthly costs by spa size, local climate and local power rates, is at https://hotspring.co.nz/energy-efficient-spa-pools-energy-costs/

Selected survey data

Hot Spring customer survey, May 2026, 199 verified New Zealand customers. The survey was multi-select.

Household type – Share

Household type	Share
Family	39%
Single or couple	33%
Retired	13%
Empty nest	7%
Lifestyle or rural	4%
Holiday home	3%
Airbnb or short-term rental	1%

Purchase type – Share

Purchase type	Share
First-time spa buyer	63%
Switched from another brand	16%
Replacing a previous Hot Spring	12%
Owns more than one Hot Spring	6%
Additional unit	4%

What buyers want – Share

What buyers want	Share
Relieve aches, pain or muscle tension	65%
Reduce stress and relax	54%
Create a more enjoyable lifestyle at home	47%
Improve sleep and overall wellbeing	36%
Support recovery after exercise	34%
Improve outdoor living space	29%
Create a private retreat at home	26%

What tips the decision – Share

What tips the decision	Share
Build quality & durability	30%
Energy efficiency & running costs	29%
Reputation & trust	27%
Showroom / in-person experience	27%
Water care system	20%
Dealer support & aftercare	17%
Product design	15%
Recommendation	11%
Massage performance	7%

Sources

• Hot Spring Spas customer survey, May 2026: post-purchase survey of 199 verified New Zealand customers.
• Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands Awards 2026, independently conducted by Catalyst Research: https://www.trustedbrands.co.nz/
• Ministry of Health, Annual Update of Key Results 2024/25: New Zealand Health Survey (psychological distress figures): https://www.health.govt.nz/publications/annual-update-of-key-results-202425-new-zealand-health-survey
• Horizon Research, teen survey commissioned by Smartphone Free Childhood NZ: 540 New Zealanders aged 13-17, fieldwork 21-28 October 2025, maximum margin of error ±4.2%: https://research.horizonpoll.co.nz/page/727/teen-survey
• Public Health Communication Centre briefing, Problematic social media use common among NZ teens as government examines age limits, led by Dr Samantha Marsh, University of Auckland, 20 November 2025: https://www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/problematic-social-media-use-common-among-nz-teens-government-examines-age-limits
• Social Media (Age-Restricted Users) Bill and subsequent government drafting: https://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/member/2025/0216/latest/whole.html
• Ministry of Education, Using phones at school (phones away for the day policy): https://www.education.govt.nz/parents-and-caregivers/schools-year-0-13/digital-technology/using-phones-school
• RNZ, Most households see an average 8 percent increase in power prices this winter, 29 June 2026: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/640243/most-households-see-an-average-8-percent-increase-in-power-prices-this-winter
• Electricity Authority, Electricity Authority takes closer look at price increases: https://www.ea.govt.nz/news/press-release/electricity-authority-takes-closer-look-at-price-increases/
• Hot Spring Spas, running cost information and energy cost calculator: https://hotspring.co.nz/energy-efficient-spa-pools-energy-costs/