New Zealand spent $6.7 million over the last six years on the project which aimed to connect at least 4000 households to electricity.RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
The New Zealand government says it hopes an electrification aid project that was halted in Papua New Guinea can still be completed if security improves.
Work on the Enga Electrification Project in PNG’s Enga province has stopped due to ongoing violence around the project area in Tsak Valley.
New Zealand spent NZ$6.7 million over the last six years on the project which aimed to connect at least 4000 households to electricity.
It was part of combined efforts with the US, Australia and Japan to help 70 percent of PNG homes get connected by 2030, as agreed to in 208 when PNG hosted the APEC Leaders Summit.
However, contractors had to be withdrawn from the area after a surge in tribal fighting in August last year, according to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
“Ending New Zealand’s involvement is a disappointing outcome, particularly given New Zealand’s longstanding and extensive efforts to deliver energy infrastructure in Enga Province,” the spokesperson said.
“New Zealand is working on a transition plan with partners in Papua New Guinea. It is hoped this will allow for the successful completion of the project if security improves.”
The ministry said 13.5 kilometres of distribution lines in the North of the project area were largely installed but were yet to be commissioned or connected to houses.
It said 12km of distribution lines in the south of the project area remain at various stages of construction.
PNG Power office, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea.RNZ / Johnny Blades
Meanwhile, PNG’s Foreign Minster Justin Tkatchenko told local media that New Zealand would hand over equipment from the project to PNG Power Limited, a state-owned entity.
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15,000 jobs added in quarter, but workforce and job hunters grow
Underutilisation rate steady at five year high of 13 pct
Youth unemployment rises, more woman in the labour force
Annual wage growth slows to near five year low of 2 percent
Data worse than expected, backs the RBNZ holding cash rate steady in two weeks
Unemployment rose to its highest level in more than a decade, with more people chasing work than jobs created, while wage growth slowed further.
Stats NZ numbers showed the unemployment rate rising to 5.4 percent in the three months ended December, from 5.3 percent in the previous quarter. It was the highest level since March 2015.
“Over the quarter, we saw higher levels of engagement in the labour market as both employment and unemployment increased,” macroeconomic spokesperson Jason Attewell said.
A total of 165,000 people were unemployed, a rise of 4000 on the previous quarter and 10,000 on a year ago.
The data was worse than forecast by economists and the Reserve Bank.
Unemployment has been steadily rising as businesses either sacked staff or stopped hiring because of the weak economy, while the workforce has increased despite a slowdown in migration.
The level of underutilisation, including the unemployed and under-employed, used as a measure of slack in the jobs market, held at 13 percent, the highest rate since late 2020.
The number employed increased by about 15,000 in the quarter, the strongest quarterly growth in two years, however, the economy still had more than 30,000 fewer jobs than two years ago.
The level of unemployment of people between 15 and 24 years was 16.5 percent, with the total not in education or training falling to 13.7 percent.
Stats NZ said there was a noticeable increase in the number of women in the labour force, with another 20,000 joining in the quarter, many going into part time employment.
The regions with the highest unemployment were Auckland, Wellington and Waikato with rates close to 6 percent, with all South Island regions below 5 percent.
The broad measure of wages showed overall growth slowing to a four year low of 2 percent from 2.1 percent, compared with a 3.1 percent rise in consumer prices.
The data was above Reserve Bank forecasts and backs the central bank holding the official cash rate at 2.25 percent later this month.
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Fish oil, also known as omega-3, is one of the most popular dietary supplements. It’s often promoted to protect the heart, boost mood, reduce inflammation and support overall health.
But how much of this is backed by science, and when might fish oil supplements actually be worth taking?
A long history
People have been taking oils from fish for centuries.
All of these foods are high in omega 3 fatty acids.
123RF
Modern interest surged in the 1970s when scientists studying Inuit diets discovered omega-3 fatty acids and their heart-protective effects.
By the 1980s, fish oil capsules were being marketed as an easy way to get these healthy fats.
What’s in fish oil?
Fish oil comes from oily fish such as salmon, sardines, tuna, herring and mackerel. It’s rich in a special type of fat called omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), mainly EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).
These omega-3s play an important role in how our cells function. Every cell in the body is surrounded by a thin, flexible layer called a cell membrane. This membrane works like a protective skin: it keeps the cell’s contents safe, controls what moves in and out, and helps cells communicate with one another.
Omega-3s don’t build the membrane itself, but they slot into it, becoming part of its structure. This helps the membrane stay fluid and flexible, allowing it to work more efficiently, especially in tissue that relies on fast, precise signalling, such as in the brain and eyes.
After fish are caught, their tissues are cooked and pressed to release oil. This crude oil is purified and refined to remove impurities including heavy metals such as copper, iron and mercury.
During processing, the oil may be concentrated to boost its EPA and DHA content.
The purified oil is then encapsulated in soft gels or bottled as liquid oil.
Some supplements are further treated to reduce odour or the familiar “fishy” aftertaste.
Fish oil comes from oily fish, such as salmon.
123rf
Fish oil and heart health
Omega-3 fatty acids are best known for their role in heart health, particularly for lowering triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood that, when elevated, can increase the risk of heart disease.
A 2023 paper pooled 90 clinical trials with more than 72,000 participants and found a near linear relationship between dose and effect. That doesn’t mean “more is always better”, but higher doses tended to produce bigger improvements in heart-related risk factors.
It found you need more than 2 grams per day of EPA and DHA combined to meaningfully lower triglycerides (by 15 to 30 percent). This is most relevant for people with existing heart disease, high triglycerides, or obesity.
But it’s important to read the label. A “1000 mg” fish oil capsule usually refers to the total oil weight of the oil, not the active omega-3 content. Most standard capsules contain only about 300 mg of combined EPA and DHA the rest is other fats.
At lower doses, changes in blood fats were modest. The same analysis suggested low-dose fish oil may even nudge LDL or “bad” cholesterol up slightly, while having only a small effect on triglycerides.
A 2018 trial tested a high-strength purified EPA product (4 grams per day) in people already taking statins to lower their cholesterol. Over five years, it prevented one major heart event (heart attack, stroke or urgent procedure) for every 21 people treated. However this was a prescription-only pharmaceutical-grade EPA, not a standard fish-oil capsule.
In Australia, fish oils are sold in pharmacies, health food stores and supermarkets. Some concentrated products are available as “practitioner-only” supplements via health professionals.
The same purified EPA used in the 2018 trial is now available in Australia as Vazkepa, a prescription-only medicine. It was added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) in October 2024, making it more accessible for high-risk patients.
For otherwise healthy people, the evidence that standard fish oil supplements prevent heart attacks or strokes is much less convincing.
In people with inflammatory arthritis (such as rheumatoid arthritis), omega-3s can reduce joint tenderness and morning stiffness.
These benefits, however, require higher consistent doses, usually around 2.7g of EPA and DHA per day. This is the equivalent of around nine standard 1,000mg fish oil capsules (containing 300 mg of EPA and DHA) daily for at least eight to 12 weeks.
Fish oil has mild anti-inflammatory effects.
123RF
Can fish oil improve mood?
Some studies suggest omega-3s, particularly those higher in EPA, can modestly reduce symptoms of clinical depression when taken alongside antidepressants.
A 2019 review of 26 trials (involving more than 2000 people) found a small overall benefit, mainly for EPA-rich formulations at doses up to about 1 gram per day. DHA-only products didn’t show clear effects.
That doesn’t mean fish oil is a mood booster for everyone. For people without diagnosed depression, omega-3 supplements haven’t been shown to reliably lift mood or prevent depression.
Common side effects include a fishy aftertaste, mild nausea and diarrhoea. Taking capsules with food or choosing odourless or “de-fishified” products can help.
Prescription strength products such as Vazkepa (high-dose EPA) are also well tolerated, but they can slightly increase the risk of irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation) and bleeding.
Up to 3 grams per day of combined EPA and DHA from supplements is generally considered safe for most adults.
Higher doses for specific medical conditions should be taken under medical supervision.
So, should you take it?
The Heart Foundation recommends Australians eat two to three serves of oily fish a week. This would provide 250–500 mg of EPA and DHA per day.
If you don’t eat fish, a fish oil supplement (or algal oil if you’re vegetarian or vegan) can help you meet your omega-3 needs.
If you have heart disease (with high triglycerides) or inflammatory arthritis, fish oil may offer extra benefits. But dose and product type matter, so speak with a health professional.
For most people, though, two or three serves of oily fish each week remain the simplest, safest and most nutritious way to get omega-3s.
Mary Bushell is a Clinical Associate Professor in Pharmacy, University of Canberra.
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Associate Health Minister David Seymour and Health Minister Simeon Brown welcome Pharmac’s proposal to widen access to brentuximab for people with systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL).
“World Cancer Day is an opportunity to recognise those impacted by cancer. I would like to acknowledge the hardships faced by thousands of Kiwis affected by cancer each year,” Mr Seymour says.
“Improving access to cancer medication in New Zealand is important to cancer patients, and their families. That’s why it has been a focus of this Government.
“Under today’s proposal, brentuximab could be used as a first treatment option for people newly diagnosed with sALCL. Previously patients had to wait until other options had been tried, and proven ineffective. This proposal is expected to improve both survival rate, and quality of life.
“Pharmac will now consult clinicians, the public, and Blood Cancer NZ to understand the practical impacts of funding this medicine. The proposal has had support from the blood cancer community.
“We have allocated Pharmac its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, and a $604 million uplift. Since then, Pharmac has made decisions to fund 43 new cancer treatments. In the first year of funding, Pharmac anticipates about 2,500 Kiwis will access the treatments they need that weren’t previously available to them. This makes a real difference in the lives of Kiwis.
“We aren’t stopping there. I will continue to work towards securing more money for Pharmac to get on with what they do best – funding the medicines Kiwis need to live longer and more fulfilling lives.”
Mr Brown says the Government is committed to improving treatment and care for New Zealanders with blood cancer.
“Last year, I announced a significant expansion of stem cell transplant services for patients with blood cancers and related conditions, helping more people access critical, life-saving treatment sooner. Too many Kiwis currently face distressing delays for these procedures, which is why boosting transplant capacity and reducing wait times is essential.
“The expansion will enable between 27 and 38 per cent more patients to receive allogeneic transplants when they need them, improving outcomes and giving people a better chance at recovery.
“This is about keeping people with cancer at the centre. Alongside investment in new medicines through Pharmac, our Faster Cancer Treatment target, and other initiatives to strengthen cancer services, we are focused on improving access, reducing delays, and ensuring people get the treatment they need, when they need it.”
Pharmac’s proposal, if feedback is positive, will be effective from 1 April 2026.
People in New Zealand living with a rare type of blood cancer, systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL), could benefit from wider access to brentuximab vedotin under a proposal from Pharmac.
Pharmac is consulting on a change that would allow brentuximab vedotin to be used as a first-line treatment option for people newly diagnosed with sALCL. If approved, the treatment would be funded from 1 April 2026.
“This would mean people could receive brentuximab vedotin as a first treatment option, instead of waiting until other options have been tried,” says Pharmac’s Manager of Pharmaceutical Funding, Claire Pouwels. “Around 12 people are expected to benefit in the first year, with around 60 people benefitting over the next 5 years.”
Brentuximab vedotin is currently funded only for people whose lymphoma has returned or has not responded to earlier treatment. Using brentuximab vedotin earlier is expected to support better outcomes for people with sALCL, who often face poor survival rates and significant health needs.
“Systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma is a rare cancer that is often diagnosed in people under 55,” says Pouwels. “Making this treatment available earlier has the potential to improve both survival and quality of life.”
Pharmac is seeking feedback from people with sALCL, their whānau, health professionals, advocacy groups, and anyone else who would like to comment. Consultation is open until 5 pm, 19 February 2026. Feedback can be submitted via the online form linked in the consultation.
Pharmac is proposing to widen access to brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) so that it can be publicly funded as a first‑line treatment for people with previously untreated systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL).
Currently, brentuximab vedotin is only funded after first‑line treatment has not worked. The proposal would allow eligible patients to receive it upfront, in combination with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone (replacing vincristine).
The change would take effect 1 April 2026 (if approved).
Brentuximab vedotin is a targeted cancer medicine used to treat systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL). It works by recognising and attaching to a protein called CD30, which is present on the surface of sALCL cancer cells.
Once the medicine binds to these CD30‑positive cells, it is absorbed into them and releases a chemotherapy agent that kills the cancer cell from the inside. This approach allows the treatment to specifically attack cancerous cells while limiting exposure to healthy cells.
When used as a first‑line treatment, brentuximab vedotin is given alongside cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone, taking the place of vincristine in the traditional CHOP chemotherapy regimen. This means it becomes part of a combination therapy designed to treat the disease at an early stage, with the aim of improving patient outcomes by introducing a more targeted option upfront.
Ka Lāhui Hawai’i, a Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) group travelled to Waitangi to stand in solidarity with Māori in a call to protect and honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi.Supplied / Ka Lāhui Hawai’i
Ka Lāhui Hawai’i, a Kanaka Maoli (native Hawaiian) group are standing in solidarity with Māori in what they describe as a “defence of Te Tiriti o Waitangi”.
The 17-member Indigenous Hawaiian delegation were welcomed to Te Tii Marae on Tuesday, marking the beginning of their engagement alongside Māori communities and leaders.
The rōpū say they are present to “stand alongside Māori leadership, strengthen international solidarity, and affirm the deep genealogical and oceanic ties shared by Indigenous peoples of Moana Nui a Kanaloa”.
Healani Sonoda-Pale, spokesperson for Ka Lāhui Hawaiʻi, said the world should know what is happening in Aotearoa.
“As Kanaka Maoli, we know what it means to have our lands, waters, and political future decided without us,” Sonoda-Pale said.
“We came to Waitangi so the world can see that Māori are not standing alone, and that Indigenous peoples across the Pacific are watching, standing together, and demanding that Te Tiriti o Waitangi be fully honoured.”
Sonoda-Pale said their struggles are connected.
“And our collective liberation as Indigenous peoples of Oceania are bound to one another.”
The delegation, which was formed in 1987 as a self-determination and self-governance initiative, have also issued a formal Statement of Solidarity calling on the international community to pay close attention to developments in Aotearoa.
“Since coming to power in 2023, the coalition government has passed, or sought to pass, a suite of laws that directly attack Māori rights to their land, language, culture and healthcare, as well as Te Tiriti o Waitangi itself,” their statement said.
“Te Tiriti o Waitangi affirms the independence and rights of Māori to their lands, waters, and all that is held sacred, yet the history of Aotearoa since 1840 has been marked by repeated failures by the Crown to honor these founding promises.”
The rōpū acknowleged Te Tiriti o Waitangi as Aotearoa, New Zealand’s founding document.
“For Māori, however, Te Tiriti is not the source of their rights, but a reaffirmation of rights that exist because they are tangata whenua, the people of the land,” they said.
“Their relationship to their whenua stretches back through the last millennium, during which time tikanga Māori operated, and continues to operate, as the first law of the land.”
The rōpū say Crown laws “do not and can not diminish rangatiratanga derived through whakapapa Māori, tikanga Māori, and their connections to their lands and waterways”.
Ka Lāhui Hawai’i said as a people “facing similar harms” to their own lands and waters they reject any attempt to “weaken Māori rangatiratanga under the guise of ‘good governance’ or ‘equality'”.
“We stand with our Māori ʻohana and call for the full and faithful honouring of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.”
Members of the delegation will be speaking at the Political Forum tent at Waitangi on Thursday.
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He was already serving a sentence of preventive detention with a minimum non-parole period of 22 years, having being convicted of sexual attacks on 25 women.
Appearing via video link at the High Court in Auckland on Wednesday, Rewa pled guilty to one charge of sexual violation by rape that dating back to 18 June 1988.
His lawyer Mark Jepson said his client was not seeking name continued name suppression.
Rewa is due to be sentenced on 17 April, 2026.
Detective Inspector Scott Beard earlier confirmed to RNZ police had charged a man over a historical stranger sexual assault in Auckland during the late 1980s.
“An investigation was carried out at the time when the alleged rape occurred in Onehunga on 18 June 1988.
“Enquiries available to detectives at the time were unable to identify the perpetrator.”
In May last year the complainant contacted police to review her case.
“This was assigned to an investigator in the Auckland City Adult Sexual Assault Team.
“Police have since charged a 72-year-old man with rape.”
Beard was unable to go into the specifics of the 2025 enquiries given court proceedings were under way.
“However, it is pleasing that we can bring this matter to the courts on behalf of the complainant, given there is no statute of limitations on this sort of offending.”
Failed appeal
Rewa fought for a retrial of his conviction with the Court of Appeal, which was dismissed in January 2023.
Rewa’s lawyers had argued his trial lawyer, Paul Chambers, was “incompetent”.
They also argued a witness, whose name and other details have been suppressed by the court, and who was in a sexual relationship with Susan Burdett, had motive to kill her.
After failing to have his conviction overturned Rewa later applied to appeal in the Supreme Court, calling his trial a miscarriage of justice.
A decision from the Supreme Court said his appeal was filed nine months late, but due to the extensive material to consider, this was allowed.
However, his appeal has been dismissed as the Supreme Court said there was no risk of a miscarriage of justice.
Teina Pora was wrongly imprisoned for 20 years for the rape and murder of Burdett.
Pora was convicted in 1994, found guilty again at a retrial in 2000, but eventually the convictions were quashed by the Privy Council in 2004.
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The SFO announced on Wednesday they had filed charges in the Auckland District Court against Alexander Breingan (file image).RNZ / Liu Chen
The Serious Fraud Office has filed more than 30 charges against a television producer in relation to more than $4.3 million in government-funded rebates and $10m in lending.
The SFO announced on Wednesday they had filed charges in the Auckland District Court against Alexander Breingan.
It is alleged he made false representations and used forged documents to obtain more than $4.3m in government-funded rebates and $10.2m in lending.
“The alleged offending relates to the financing of 13 television programmes that were produced, or proposed to be produced, by Mr Breingan through his Stripe Studios companies.
“This matter was referred to the SFO by the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) who raised concerns in relation to applications made on behalf of entities associated to Stripe Media for the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate.”
Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz
The SFO said Breingan is residing overseas and was yet to appear in court.
New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) chief executive Annie Murray released a statement following the SFO’s announcement.
Murray said the NZFC welcomed and supported the developments.
“As NZFC publicly confirmed in November 2023, material provided by an applicant for the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate for New Zealand Productions (NZSPR – NZ) was investigated by NZFC and concerns were identified.
“Those concerns led NZFC to review previous applications from the same media group in which other concerns about the reliability of documents provided to NZFC in support of NZSPR – NZ applications were identified. These matters were immediately referred to the SFO.”
Murray said the commission co-operated fully with the SFO’s investigation.
“NZFC has long-established systems for the assessment of rebate and funding applications, including staged certifications, independent verification requirements, and audit mechanisms.
“These robust processes exist to protect public funds, ensure fairness for applicants, and maintain the integrity of New Zealand’s screen incentives.”
She said the “vast majority” of rebate applications proceeded without issue.
“This isolated matter does not reflect the broader performance of the rebate system.”
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Public health services throughout the country managed 48 cases and more than 7500 contacts, Health NZ said.Supplied/ US CDC
The measles outbreak, which started in September, is officially over, with 42 days since the last confirmed connected case – but risk from the virus remains.
Health NZ’s National Public Health Service, with the support of PHF Science and the Measles Reference Lab at Canterbury Health Laboratories, have traced cases in the outbreak as far back as 1 September 2025, with four separate clusters until 21 December.
Spokesperson Dr Emma Sherwood said over the last four months, public health services throughout the country had managed 48 cases and more than 7500 contacts, which was “a significant achievement”.
“It’s important to acknowledge the coordinated work of the public health service and contact tracing systems, alongside strong community cooperation with isolation requirements, undoubtedly prevented a much larger outbreak similar to 2019.
“It is also heartening that, thanks to a massive immunisation push during this outbreak response, nearly 107,000 doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine have been delivered to people across the country over the last four months.”
However, New Zealand remained at continued risk for further outbreaks, with a travel-associated case confirmed in Tauranga last week, and the NPHS continued to closely monitor for and respond to further cases.
“Although the latest Tauranga case and the recent outbreak are not connected, they highlight New Zealand’s ongoing vulnerability to measles infection – particularly as links to overseas travel are a common thread,” Sherwood said.
“It’s highly likely that we will continue to have future measles cases and outbreaks. Many popular travel destinations are experiencing outbreaks, and there is a risk of travellers bringing measles back to New Zealand, where we know we have low immunisation rates in some communities.
“That’s why we continue to urge anyone not already immunised with two doses of the MMR vaccine after 12 months’ old to get vaccinated to protect themselves and loved ones against future outbreaks.”
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