Landholders and politicians in Australia's Queensland state are pushing for tougher legal protections as the rapidly growing renewable energy sector increasingly affects rural land use.

New Zealand KiwiSaver manager Simplicity is investing NZ$50 million in Icehouse Ventures' Growth Fund III, which backs late-stage local companies including agtech firm Halter and supplement maker Calocurb.

New Zealand-founded accounting software company Xero has apologised over how it handled a 2017 whistleblower complaint of sexual misconduct against its founder, Rod Drury. An independent review led by senior lawyer Maria Dew spent recent months examining the company's response to the complaint.

Australia will allow young Papua New Guinean university students to join its armed forces under a new recruitment trial tied to a recent defence treaty between the two countries. The scheme aims to help the Australian Defence Force fill recruitment shortfalls while deepening security ties with its Pacific neighbour.

The growing global use of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs is pushing consumers toward more nutrition-conscious choices, creating new export opportunities for New Zealand's premium food producers.

National Australia Bank plans to cut up to 2,500 jobs, about 6% of its workforce, by mid-2027 as part of a major overhaul of its operating model.

Workers at New Zealand's state-owned Kiwibank have gone on strike over the bank's latest pay offer. The workers' union says the 2.25 percent offer does not add up and that the bank can easily afford to improve it.

New Zealand's free trade agreement with India has officially taken effect, Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay said. The deal makes 57 percent of New Zealand's exports to India tariff-free, including sheep meat, wool, coal and forestry products.

New Zealand's economic recovery is progressing slowly, with employment and retail spending both still contracting, according to Bank of New Zealand senior economist commentary. The bank linked the weak results to ongoing pressure on household incomes across the country.

Independent Australian MP Helen Haines was critically injured in a violent attack near her electorate office in Wangaratta, Victoria. Police took a man into custody, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said counter-terrorism officers are assisting with the investigation.

New Zealand's economic research institute NZIER has warned that raising KiwiSaver contribution rates could leave some savers financially worse off in the near term. The institute's paper points to a trade-off between improving long-term retirement preparedness and preserving people's financial resilience today.

Oyster growers along South Australia's coast report recovery from last year's harmful algal bloom, though the pace varies widely between regions. Farmers describe reduced stock levels and a rise in barnacle growth as lingering challenges heading into the busy summer season.

New Zealand's Council of Trade Unions has welcomed a Green Party proposal to scrap the country's lower training minimum wage ahead of the 2026 election.

Australian Greens senator Jordon Steele-John has denied allegations of inappropriate conduct raised in a letter sent to the party's leadership.

Victoria's premier and opposition leader have unveiled competing pledges ahead of next month's state election. The premier proposed a $30 cap on toll road charges, while the opposition set out its own policy on household gas installation rules. The campaign is increasingly centred on transport and energy costs.

Two people have been taken into custody after occupying an offshore gas platform operated by Woodside Energy roughly 200 kilometres off Western Australia's coast. The demonstrators were protesting the company's gas operations. Australian Border Force personnel took part in removing them from the facility.