Pacific Island
SPTO’s regional commitment to phase out single-use plastics reframes sustainability as a competitive strategy for Pacific tourism, protecting natural assets, reducing costs and strengthening the region’s global market position.
Pacific Island
The AIB Oceania–ANZIBA 2025 conference reframed research and pedagogy as core economic capabilities for Pacific development, emphasizing policy–research alignment, applied business education and industry partnerships to strengthen competitiveness across vulnerable island economies.
Pacific Island
ILO’s latest brief positions strong, inclusive wage systems as core to Pacific resilience, urging countries like PNG and Timor-Leste to adopt rule-based minimum wages and income floors. New tenders signal a shift from analysis to institutional implementation.
New Zealand
New Zealand’s 4.50% 2030 bond tender showed solid demand despite global yield volatility, reflecting confidence in disinflation progress and fiscal consolidation. Pricing held firm, signalling no stress in sovereign funding conditions.
New Zealand
New Zealand scrapped its plan to tax charities’ business income after strong sector backlash. The reversal preserves cross-subsidised service models but leaves the government searching for alternative fiscal measures amid consolidation pressures.
Australia
ASC and Austal formed a strategic partnership to scale additive manufacturing for naval sustainment, aiming to boost sovereign capability, reduce supply-chain reliance and accelerate innovation across Australia’s defence-industrial base.
New Zealand
ANZ New Zealand posted a NZ$2.5bn profit, sparking backlash amid high living costs and mortgage strain. Strong margins and low impairments underscore sector resilience but raise political pressure over competition, fairness and regulatory direction.
Australia
Australian shares fell as US yields climbed, Chinese data hit commodities and Australia’s unemployment dropped to 4.3%, pushing out RBA rate-cut expectations. Banks, tech and consumer names retreated as the ASX repriced for higher rates for longer.
New Zealand
NZ’s morning market wrap highlights cautious sentiment as global yield pressure meets solid domestic earnings. Export sectors stay resilient while rate-sensitive industries lag, keeping investors focused on inflation, fiscal updates and RBNZ signals.
Australia
Australia’s unemployment unexpectedly fell to 4.3%, tightening labour conditions and reducing the likelihood of early RBA rate cuts. Services hiring remains strong, wages stay firm and bond markets reprice for a longer high-rate environment.
Pacific Island
Landowners on Kolombangara Island now own 20% of a forestry company operating on their land — shifting them from royalty recipients to shareholders with governance power.
Papua New Guinea
PNG will stop exporting unprocessed logs by 2025, shifting to domestic processing to create local employment and keep more economic value inside the country.