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University Research – Testing if the Covid vaccine helps fight cancer – UoA

Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2026

The Covid-19 vaccine could transform cancer treatment and significantly increase patient survival rates, says University of Auckland Professor John Fraser.

US scientists published a groundbreaking paper last year, showing patients with lung cancer or melanoma were almost twice as likely to survive for three years when they had the Covid mRNA vaccine within 100 days of taking cancer drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Now Fraser is testing whether that study is borne out in a New Zealand context.

He has just launched research looking at outcomes for melanoma patients who received immune checkpoint inhibitors and had the Covid vaccine between August 2021 and March 2022. During this period of the pandemic, 95 percent of New Zealanders received the Covid mRNA vaccine.

“There was such intense controversy around the Covid vaccine, despite it being highly effective, so it would be wonderful if something good could come out of that difficult period,” says Fraser.

Public funding has been available since 2016 for immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) drugs for patients with metastatic and advanced melanoma in New Zealand.

Anonymised data about melanoma patients who received ICI but did not get the Covid vaccine will be compared with data for patients who received both. Results from the study are expected by the end of July next year.

ICI drugs work by activating the body’s immune system to fight cancer, while mRNA in vaccines guides cells to make proteins that trigger an immune response against disease.

Fraser, who specialises in immunology, says the mRNA molecules in the Covid vaccine are believed to sensitise the patient’s immune system, so it can better recognise tumours.

“I’m excited because the Covid vaccine wasn't meant for treating cancer, it was meant for providing protection against the Covid virus.

“I’m interested in whether you can improve cancer survival even more by designing a different type of mRNA vaccine.

“Increasing the effectiveness might be as simple as administering the vaccine closer to the tumour, rather than in the arm muscle,” he says.

As soon as funding can be found, Fraser and his team plan to launch a clinical trial for people with lung cancer, testing a combination of the Covid mRNA vaccine and ICI drugs.

Māori have a 30 percent higher death rate from lung cancer than other New Zealanders, so they will have an important role in the trial, he says.

Currently, ICI only helps about 30 percent of patients with lung cancer or melanoma to survive for three years or more with no progression of their cancer.

If the clinical trial proves the vaccine improves survival rates for lung cancer patients, it could then be used to help people with other types of cancer, says Fraser.

“There’s new evidence emerging that mRNA helps the immune system fight many types of cancer, including cancers that wouldn’t usually be susceptible to immune checkpoint inhibitors.”

Fraser played a key role in establishing the New Zealand RNA Development Platform, because of the promise that harnessing RNA – or messenger ribonucleic acid – holds for developing new treatments for a range of health problems.

He is currently science advisor for the platform and is developing an mRNA vaccine against staphylococcus.

His interest in cancer immunotherapy stretches back to his postdoctoral research on T-cells in the 1980s at Harvard University. There he met Jim Allison, who was working in the same field and went on to win a Nobel Prize for discovering a new way to treat cancer – immune checkpoint inhibitors.

In 2015, Li Liangren Family Trust donated $10 million for cancer research at the University, and this fund provided $60,000 for Fraser’s study.

The research team includes Dr Laird Cameron, Dr Daisy Mak and Dr Gareth Rivalland from the University’s Department of Cancer Sciences, and University General Practice and Primary Healthcare researchers Dr Janine Paynter and Dr David Broderick.

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Consumer NZ – Shopping for kitchen appliances? Choose wisely

Source: Consumer NZ

26 August 2026

New survey results from Consumer NZ show owner satisfaction varies dramatically between brands for food processors, mixers, cooktops and rangehoods.

Consumer NZ’s 2026 Product Ownership Survey draws on the experiences of 8,933 survey respondents across 13 product categories. In each category, brands receive a satisfaction score based on owners’ overall satisfaction with the product and a reliability score based on faults experienced by owners.

The survey results show that the difference between the best- and worst-rated brands within the same category can be dramatic.

“It’s easy to assume one appliance brand is much like another,” says Joe Slater, head of product and strategy at Consumer NZ. “Our data shows that’s not the case. Within the same product category, some brands leave owners satisfied while others leave them wishing they’d chosen differently.”

The satisfaction gap was especially wide with kitchen appliances. Food processors showed the greatest variation, with 45 percentage points between the brands with the most and least satisfied owners. Food mixers, cooktops and rangehoods also showed sharp variation between brands.

Kmart’s Anko had the lowest score for food processors and mixers, with Beko and Midea the lowest for cooktops and Robinhood and Midea for Rangehoods.

Buyers shouldn’t avoid these brands altogether, though. In some cases, brands that scored low in one product category performed well in another.

Owner feedback crucial for spotting unreliable products

Reliability scores indicate how well products are likely to perform over the long term, not just when they’re brand new. Combined with Consumer’s rigorous lab test results, they help buyers avoid expensive mistakes.

“Consumers can easily compare features, design and price on the shop floor, but reliability only becomes clear over time,” Slater says.

“And it’s on the shop floor, and retailer websites, where many people turn for product advice. Meaning many shoppers are getting product information from the same businesses trying to sell them the product.”

Consumer says a bit of homework before you buy can save years of frustration.

“When the difference between brands is wide, choosing well really matters.”

Consumer NZ urges buyers to check its independent reviews before buying, especially for higher-cost, longer-lived appliances, where a poor choice can be expensive and frustrating.

Note to editors: The 2026 Product Ownership Survey surveyed 8,933 adults aged 18 and over between April and June 2026, including a nationally representative sample and Consumer NZ supporters. The survey covered 13 product categories and 55 brands. Satisfaction reflects the percentage of owners rating their product 8–10 out of 10.

About Consumer

Consumer NZ is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to championing and empowering consumers in Aotearoa. Consumer NZ has a reputation for being fair, impartial and providing comprehensive consumer information and advice.

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Energy Sector – More gas for 30-year-old Troll A – Equinor

Source: Equinor

25 August 2026 08:00 (CEST)

The Troll A platform in the North Sea is being supplied with additional gas. On 22 August production started from the Troll Phase 3 stage 2 subsea project.

This helps maintain jobs, value creation and high gas deliveries to Europe from Troll A and the Kollsnes processing plant, which marks its 30th anniversary this year.

The project accelerates production of 55 billion standard cubic metres of gas from the Troll West reservoir. This corresponds to nearly two years of France’s gas demand.

Lill Harriet Brusdal, vice president for Troll and Kvitebjørn

“Troll is the backbone of Norwegian gas exports to Europe. This project accelerates production from the reservoir, helping maintain today’s high level of gas exports from Troll and Kollsnes for as long as possible. With both Troll A and the Kollsnes gas plant powered by electricity from shore, the gas is produced with very low emissions,” says Lill Harriet Brusdal, vice president for Troll and Kvitebjørn.

The Troll partnership consists of Petoro, Equinor, Shell, TotalEnergies and ConocoPhillips.

Troll Phase 3 stage 2 builds on the subsea facilities from the Troll Phase 3 project, which came on stream in 2021, reusing design and standardised solutions. This reduces execution time and costs and points the way for future subsea developments. Troll Phase 3 stage 2 comes on stream just over two years after the partnership’s investment decision.

“We start production with excellent HSE results, ahead of schedule and several hundred million Norwegian kroner below the cost estimate. The main reasons are efficient marine operations and a highly efficient drilling campaign, which was completed 25 per cent faster than planned,” says Trond Bokn, senior vice president for project development in Equinor.

Trond Bokn, senior vice president for project development in Equinor
Photo: Arne Reidar Mortensen / ©Equinor

The Troll phase 3 step 2-project was originally scheduled to start up towards the end of the year, and the cost estimate was NOK 12.3 billion.

The eight-well drilling campaign was completed in five and a half months by the Deepsea Aberdeen rig from Odfjell, with services from SLB and Baker Hughes. Templates and manifolds were built by Aker Solutions in Egersund for main supplier OneSubsea and installed on the field by Ocean Installer.

The umbilical, supplied by OneSubsea in Moss, and the MEG line have been extended from the existing facilities. A 28-kilometre, 36-inch pipeline was installed by the world’s largest pipelay vessel, Pioneering Spirit, and the line pipe was stored on Stord. Randaberg Industries delivered spools and pipeline end terminations, and Aker Solutions has carried out modifications on Troll A.

In this way, the project has generated significant ripple effects in Norway. In operations it helps maintain secure gas deliveries to Europe, jobs and revenues for society. More than 90 per cent of the profits from the Troll field go to the state through taxes and direct ownership in the field via Petoro.

Facts

• Partnership: Petoro AS 55.93%, Equinor Energy AS (operator) 30.55%, A/S Norske Shell 8.19%, TotalEnergies EP Norge AS 3.69% and ConocoPhillips Skandinavia AS 1.64%.

• Troll is the cornerstone of Norwegian gas production and contains around 40% of the gas reserves on the Norwegian continental shelf.

• Gas from Troll alone meets around 10% of Europe’s demand, and the annual energy production from Troll corresponds to three times Norway’s annual hydropower production.

• This year, Troll marks 30 years as Norway’s largest gas-producing field. Its enormous resource base has made it necessary to plan development and production in three phases:

• Phase 1 is the gas in Troll East, which resulted in Troll A, the Kollsnes gas plant and associated infrastructure.

• Phase 2 is the oil in Troll West, which resulted in the Troll B and C platforms and corresponding infrastructure. The oil is sent to the oil terminal at Mongstad.

• Phase 3 produces the gas cap above the oil column in Troll West, while oil production continues. The gas flows to Troll A and onward through existing infrastructure.

The Troll Phase 3 development is being carried out in several steps to ensure timely production of the gas resources in Troll West. Earlier this year, the partners also decided to proceed with the next phase of the development through the TWIN project (Troll West Increased gas recovery North).

Related links

• Find out more about the Troll area: https://www.equinor.com/energy/troll

• EQUINOR@ONS 2026: https://www.equinor.com/about-us/ons

• Downloadable Troll A photo: https://equinor.fotoware.cloud/fotoweb/archives/5020-Press/?q=82FA09CDF8B24B3C%20874696EE03911E0E

Official release: https://www.equinor.com/news/20260825-more-gas-for-30-year-old-troll-a

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Government’s proposed rates caps not the answer – PSA

Source: Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi

The PSA is calling the government’s proposed legislation to cap rates at four per cent economic incompetence.

“The combination of no new taxes and rates caps would be extremely challenging for councils,” Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi national secretary, Duane Leo, says.

“A Standard & Poors Agency report from earlier this year said that rates caps are highly likely to affect services, for example, reducing library and pool hours, as well as impacting on how much councils can invest in core infrastructure.

“One major concern we have is that ultimately rates caps would result in credit downgrades, negatively impacting on councils’ ability to borrow and driving up interest costs.

“As a result, we’ll not only see reduced public services but limited investment in critical maintenance. We’re already seeing in real time the consequences of not investing in water and roads – Wellingtonians can tell you all about it with the critical failure at Moa Point.

“Rather than treat councils as a liability, the government – and any future government – needs to demonstrate how they plan to financially enable councils to deliver the services they’re mandated to.”

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.

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Oxfam – Rohingya Crisis Enters Tenth Year as Funding Cuts Put Lifesaving Services at Risk: Oxfam

Source: Oxfam Aotearoa

As the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh enters its tenth year, Oxfam is warning that shrinking humanitarian resources risk undoing years of progress and placing already stretched essential services in Cox’s Bazar under even greater pressure.

Mallika, 36, has lived with her family in Camp 19 in Cox’s Bazar since arriving in Bangladesh in 2017. She said, “When we first came, there was hardly any support, and we suffered a lot. Later, NGOs helped with different lifesaving support and services. But now support is decreasing. I used to buy better food for my children. Now I borrow money for basic needs. It is very difficult to survive.”

Since the mass displacement of 2017, Bangladesh, host communities and international partners have sustained one of the world’s largest humanitarian responses, providing food, safe water and sanitation, shelter, healthcare, protection, education and disaster preparedness to Rohingya refugees. What began as an emergency response, however, has become a prolonged crisis.

Nearly 1.2 million Rohingya refugees are living in Bangladesh, including some 150,000 who have fled renewed violence in Myanmar since early 2024. The recalibrated 2026 Joint Response Plan (JRP) asks for $710.5 million – 26 percent below last year's – covering little more than the minimum needed to sustain lifesaving assistance.

Anil Pant, Country Director of Oxfam in Bangladesh, said:

“The greatest danger is becoming accustomed to this crisis. Funding pressure now threatens systems built over nearly a decade. We must protect lifesaving services, strengthen resilience and local capacity, support host communities, and renew collective action towards sustainable solutions.”

Funding gaps remain substantial. In 2025, the first year of the 2025-26 Joint Response Plan, donors met just 46 percent of the $934.5 million appeal. The shortfall is now compounding. The cuts have already gutted vital services in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), food, health and protection sectors.

Oxfam’s new report, Holding the Line: WASH Systems, Risk and Resilience in the Rohingya Response, shows what is at stake:

Across Cox’s Bazar, emergency WASH interventions have evolved into a vast humanitarian public-health system, including 298 water networks, 320 production boreholes, 768 reservoir tanks, more than 7,000 tapstands, nearly 49,500 latrines, and 167 faecal sludge treatment plants. Yet the publication cautions that scale can hide fragility: ageing assets, dry-season water stress, monsoon exposure, uneven operational control and funding compression are increasing risk.

For women and girls, that strain is a question of safety and dignity as much as sanitation. Asmat Ara, 24, who lives with six family members in a Rohingya camp in Teknaf, said hygiene supplies have dwindled and safe facilities are scarce, making daily life harder.

“If it gets very late, I feel afraid to go outside,” she said. “Sometimes boys gather outside and make comments. I never go alone at night; I take my mother with me.”

She also described the growing pressure on menstrual hygiene support: “The pads should be provided again, and the material could also be improved. We also need more soap.”

Holding the public-health line, the report argues, now depends on steady financing for critical work, such as maintaining and repairing assets, controlling water quality, treating sewage, clearing waste and drains, keeping access safe, and acting fast when disease emerges.

Since 2017, Oxfam has worked alongside Rohingya and host communities, local partners, government institutions, UN agencies and donors across WASH, protection, livelihoods, food security, gender and community engagement. This work, which ranges from surface-water treatment and faecal sludge management to solar lighting, solid-waste systems, food production for dietary diversification, and skills development, shows that humanitarian assistance can protect lives while strengthening resilience and community capacities.

Oxfam is calling on the international community to provide predictable financing, protect essential services, strengthen locally led responses and build host-community resilience. A decade of international solidarity has saved lives and built critical systems. The tenth year must not become one of retreat but of renewed commitment, shared responsibility and credible action towards a sustainable future.

Notes

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Health A huge decision is being made for young people’s mental health, but their voices are missing

Source: Te Hiringa Mahara – Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission

The debate over restricting under-16 year olds from social media is moving quickly, but the voices of those most affected must be a part of whatever comes next.

Following the Government’s announcement of a proposed under-16 social media ban, Te Hiringa Mahara is urging decision-makers to ask a critical question: if we are taking social media away, what are we giving young people instead?

“Young people have told us they want online spaces to be safer, but they’ve also said there is more to be lost if a blanket ban is imposed,” says Te Hiringa Mahara Director of Wellbeing System Leadership & Insights, Dr Ella Cullen.

“Two things can be true. Social media can expose young people to harm, and it can also be where they find connection, identity, peer support and belonging. We need to make sure we are not making things worse for those with a disability or in rural areas or our rainbow rangatahi, who do rely on online spaces for connection and belonging. Young people deserve safer online spaces, but they also deserve to be part of the solution.

“If we are to meaningfully address the drivers of psychological distress for young people, which is rising across the motu, then we need to bring young people into the conversation, not just make decisions about them.

Over the past three years, Te Hiringa Mahara – Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission has worked with rangatahi and young people to understand the drivers of mental health and wellbeing, including their online experiences. Their feedback points to a need for safer digital environments that do not remove that connection and support so many rangatahi rely on for their wellbeing.

“We can, and should, look overseas and learn from other jurisdictions. In Australia early evidence shows that the social media ban is not as effective as expected. But we also have a wealth of knowledge on our own shores, in the form of those young people who will live with the consequences of these decisions.

“Safe online spaces can support wellbeing, reduce loneliness, and help young people stay connected to friends, peer communities, and support when they need it. At the same time, harms such as cyberbullying and exposure to self-harm, eating disorder, and other harmful content can contribute to distress.

“It is good to see stronger regulation of social media platforms, including risk assessment and reporting, penalties for tech companies who fail to comply with safety measures, inclusion of AI into a regulatory framework and establishing an independent online safety regulator.

“But regulation must be matched with accessible digital literacy and critical thinking education across Aotearoa, alongside resources for parents, whānau, and guardians to support safer online experiences and stronger conversations about online harm.

“We cannot expect any single measure, such as a social media ban, to address rising psychological distress among young people without also tackling the wider drivers of poor mental health. Young people want action on harm, but they also want connection, peer-support and belonging to be protected. That starts by listening to them,” says Dr Cullen.

Read our submission to the Education and Workforce Select Committee: Inquiry into the harm young New Zealanders encounter online, and the roles that Government, business, and society should play in addressing those harms (July 2025)

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Federated Farmers – More firepower for fight against wild goats and deer

Source: Federated Farmers

A $9.7 million funding boost from the International Visitor Levy will put feral goats and wild deer directly in the crosshairs, Federated Farmers say.

“This is an incredibly positive announcement and exactly the kind of work the International Visitor Levy (IVL) should be funding,” pest management spokesperson Richard Dawkins says.

“New Zealand has a serious pest problem, with wild animals like deer and feral goats costing farmers almost half a billion dollars each year.

“There’s also a significant environmental cost as these pests are doing huge damage not only on farms but throughout our conservation estate.

“Unfortunately, this issue is only getting worse. Pests are totally out of control and they’re breeding fast. We need to get on top of them before it’s too late.”

In 2019, the Government introduced an IVL to fund conservation and infrastructure used for tourism.

The levy raises around $240 million each year, but Dawkins says most Kiwis would be shocked to learn what that money is actually spent on.

“Less than half of that is spent on its intended purpose: $55 million on conservation projects and $35 million on infrastructure projects.

“The remaining funds effectively go back into the general government coffers, diverted and swapped out to cover baseline funding for DOC and MBIE.”

In their list of election priorities, Federated Farmers challenged the Government to commit to investing 100% of IVL funds into its intended purpose.

https://fedfarm.org.nz/Web/Web/Resources/Election-priorities-2026.aspx?hkey=6bdc8adb-5786-477e-9792-d59bacb3b501

Earlier this week the organisation released the results of its 2026 National Pests Survey, showing New Zealand’s pest problem has reached crisis point.

https://fedfarm.org.nz/Web/Web/Resources/National-Pests-Survey.aspx?hkey=4fe0cac6-4ae6-49a9-a072-cee49cb83e51

“Our survey clearly shows that farmers are spending more money and effort controlling pests – but they’re still going backwards,” Dawkins says.

The survey estimates pests are costing farmers around $466 million a year through direct control costs and lost production.

Two-thirds of farmers now report pest numbers have increased over the past five years, up from around half in 2024.

Farmers are now spending an average $6.18 per hectare each year on pest control, up around 13% in two years.

The survey also shows farmers are eight times more likely to identify forestry or Crown land than another farm as the neighbouring land use making pest control difficult.

Dawkins says that’s precisely why this funding announcement targeting wild goat and deer populations in conservation areas is so significant.

“Farmers are doing their bit on their own land, but we aren’t going to see real progress unless we can get on top of the pest populations in the DOC estate.

“Recreational hunters are a tool, but they alone are not the solution. We’re not going to shoot our way out of this problem one weekend at a time.

“What New Zealand actually needs is for the Government to be taking a much more strategic and coordinated approach to pest management.

“This funding announcement is a great start and will make a meaningful difference, but the time for sitting around and talking deer strategy has passed.

“Now is the time for action with a nationally coordinated pest management strategy that recognises the significant environmental and economic cost of these pests.”

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Tech – Epson to showcase practical print solutions for school leaders at Victorian Principals Association Conference 2026

Source: Epson Australia

SYDNEY, 25 August 2026 – Epson will exhibit at the Victorian Principals Association Conference 2026 on stand 78 at the Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention & Exhibition Centre, giving school leaders the opportunity to explore print technology designed to support the operational, communication and planning needs of modern schools.

Held from Wednesday 26 to Friday 28 August 2026, the conference brings together more than 400 delegates, including principals, assistant principals and curriculum leaders, under the theme Leading with Connection and Purpose.

Epson’s presence at the event is designed to deliver practical value for attendees by demonstrating solutions that can improve efficiency, reduce administrative friction and support the everyday communication demands of education environments.

For visitors to the conference, Epson’s participation is especially relevant because school leaders are increasingly looking for technologies that do more than simply print. They need solutions that help staff work more productively, support clearer communication with students, families and communities and make better use of budgets and resources.

The VPA Conference is built around professional learning, meaningful conversation and leadership inspiration and Epson’s stand will give delegates a hands-on opportunity to see how print technology can support those goals in tangible ways. With the program structured to maximise sponsor engagement and personal contact, Epson will be well positioned to have direct conversations with decision-makers about the document workflows and visual communication needs shaping today’s school environments.

WorkForce Enterprise AM-C4000

Among the products on display will be the WorkForce Enterprise AM-C4000, a business colour A3 multi-function device designed for environments where operational efficiency matters. For school leaders, that makes it highly relevant. Schools produce a wide range of everyday documents, from leadership and administrative materials through to classroom resources, parent communications and internal reports and the AM-C4000 is designed to help manage those demands efficiently.

The AM-C4000 is particularly suited to education settings, with its focus on helping organisations save energy, cut waste and reduce costs. For conference attendees responsible for balancing performance, sustainability and value, the AM-C4000 represents a practical example of how the right print infrastructure can contribute to smoother day-to-day school operations.

SureColor T3160M

Epson will also showcase the SureColor T3160M, a 24-inch multifunction large-format printer that will be of strong interest to schools needing economical, high-quality output for visual and oversized materials.

The printer is designed to produce large-format colour and black-and-white output quickly, including maps, plans, drawings, schematics, presentations, POS posters and displays. That makes it particularly relevant for school environments where visual communication plays a growing role in teaching, campus planning, events, student showcases and community engagement.

With fast A1 output, a compact footprint, flexible media handling, an easy-to-use touchscreen and software for straightforward office and specialist application printing, the T3160M demonstrates how Epson is helping education organisations bring more display and planning capability in-house.

Together, the AM-C4000 and T3160M highlight Epson’s value to VPA attendees as a provider of practical, high-quality print solutions that align with the needs of contemporary school leadership.

Epson at VPA Conference 2026

Stand

78

Location

Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention & Exhibition Centre

Dates

Wednesday 26 – Friday 28 August 2026

Show times

Wednesday: Conference opens 3:30pm – 5:00pm
Thursday: 8:15am – 3:30pm
Friday: 8:15am – 1:30pm

About Epson, Epson Australia and Epson New Zealand

Epson is a technology innovation and engineering company whose philosophy of efficient, compact and precise innovation enriches lives and helps create a better world. The company uses technology and engineering ability to implement real-world solutions in precision innovation, industrial & robotics, office & home printing and visual & lifestyle.

Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the worldwide Epson Group generates annual sales of more than JPY 1.4 trillion.

https://corporate.epson/en/

Epson Australia offers an extensive array of award-winning image capture and image output products for the commercial, industrial, consumer, business, photography and graphic arts markets and is also a leading supplier of value-added point-of-sale (POS) solutions for the retail market. Epson is the market leader in Australia and worldwide in sales of projectors for the home, office and education. Established in 1983, Epson Australia is headquartered in North Sydney and is a subsidiary of the Epson Group headquartered in Japan.

https://www.epson.com.au

Epson New Zealand offers an extensive array of award-winning image capture and image output products for the commercial, industrial, consumer, business, photography and graphic arts markets and is also a leading supplier of value-added point-of-sale (POS) solutions for the retail market. Epson is a market leader in New Zealand, Australia and worldwide in sales of projectors for the home, office and education. Epson New Zealand is headquartered in Auckland and is a branch of Epson Australia Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of the Epson Group headquartered in Japan.

https://www.epson.co.nz

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Pacific fuel crisis poised to become a water, food and health crisis – ChildFund NZ

Source: ChildFund New Zealand

“Unfortunately, we were right. Five months ago, ChildFund New Zealand warned that Pacific families would be hit hardest by the global fuel crisis. The headlines moved on. The crisis didn’t,” says ChildFund New Zealand CEO Josie Pagani.
The United Nations warns that fuel shocks reach Pacific countries later and stay longer. This is expected to keep food, transport and energy costs high for longer than other countries.
The immediate price shock is now a prolonged threat to essential services that children rely on.
“The crisis is not just fuel costs today. It is the long-term impact on these isolated communities when critical supplies are delayed and transport becomes unaffordable.” says Josie Pagani.
“El Niño brings an increased risk of cyclones, and will compound the pressure on water, food production and essential services. Pacific families are being forced to manage several interconnected crises at once-and each one makes the others harder to deal with.”
Kiribati, where ChildFund is the biggest international NGO, is particularly exposed. Remote, reliant on imported fuel, and served by irregular shipping with limited storage.
“When supply is disrupted, it doesn't take long before families can't access safe water, food, or transport to healthcare facilities. On the outer islands, there is no backup. In the previous La Nina national emergency 4 years ago, nearly 80% of the country’s population was affected by drought.” 
Childfund New Zealand, in partnership with Plan International and with funding from the Australian government, is about to start a project to support 4,000 people across up to 800 Kiribati households to prepare for a potential fuel crisis.
The work will be delivered by ChildFund Kiribati, in South Tarawa and the outer islands of Abaiang, Makin, North and South Tabiteuea, and Nonouti.
ChildFund Kiribati will work closely with the Kiribati government to support those most impacted by the crisis.
The focus is practical; more water capture and storage. Portable desalination units. Local technicians trained to maintain water systems, so a broken part doesn't stop the water flow. Continued food production using raised beds and container gardens suited to Kiribati's waterlogged, saline conditions. Direct support for the most vulnerable – young mothers, people with disabilities, and those in remote communities.
“A fuel crisis quickly becomes a food, water and health crisis” Josie Pagani says. “Being prepared means having critical parts already on the island before something breaks. It means local technicians who can fix it. It means food grown locally so a shipping delay doesn't empty the shelves.”
“The Pacific did not cause this crisis, but families in the Pacific are carrying some of its heaviest consequences. New Zealand must continue to work alongside Pacific governments and communities. Not only to manage the present emergency, but to reduce their exposure to the next one.”
“We cannot stop a war taking place thousands of kilometres away in the Middle East, but we can reduce its power to stop a child in Kiribati getting safe water, nutritious food or being able to get transport to healthcare.”
Notes on ChildFund’s new project in Kiribati:
  • The response is expected to run for four months and support approximately 4,000 people across up to 800 households.
  • The response will also provide Prepaid vouchers' for vulnerable households
  • Final sites and technical interventions will be confirmed through rapid assessments with the Kiribati Ministry of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy, Agriculture and Livestock Department Island councils, Water User Groups and participating communities.
  • ChildFund Kiribati will lead local delivery and coordination with government agencies, councils and community organisations.
  • Reuters reported on 18 August 2026 that oil markets increasingly viewed disruption to Middle East energy supplies as prolonged rather than temporary.  https://www.reuters.com/commentary/reuters-open-interest/oil-market-starts-pricing-prolonged-hormuz-crisis-2026-08-18/
  • UNDP Pacific reported on 28 July 2026 that fuel and food price shocks reach Pacific economies later and remain elevated after the initial shock has eased elsewhere. https://www.undp.org/pacific/blog/spikes-and-lags-draw-out-energy-shocks-pacific
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Pacific – Virtual Report Launch – ‘Undermining Sovereignty: De-risking the Pacific from Investor-State Disputes in Deep-Sea Mining’

Source: Pacific Network on Globalisation

The Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) is pleased to invite you to the virtual launch of our new report, Undermining Sovereignty: De-risking the Pacific from Investor-State Disputes in Deep-Sea Mining, today, 25 August 2026, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

The report examines how growing interest in deep-sea mining is increasing the exposure of Pacific governments to Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS), and highlights the risks facing Pacific countries, including Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Nauru and the Cook Islands, and explores how ISDS mechanisms may be used by private companies to challenge government decisions relating to environmental protection and climate action.

The launch will feature the report’s author, Dr Jane Kelsey, PANG Deputy Coordinator Mr Adam Wolfenden, and representatives from impacted communities.

Your participation and coverage of this important regional issue would be greatly valued as we strengthen Pacific dialogue and solidarity around the growing risks posed by deep-sea mining and the protection of Pacific sovereignty.

Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qhWU2GI8RCWyaIDameuoWg