Maternity Care Boost: Associate Health Minister Julie Anne Genter announced a $242m package to expand primary maternity services, including higher midwife pay for rural and high-needs pregnancies, antenatal home visits, and extra support for miscarriage and baby loss. Workers’ Leave Fight: Labour and the Greens say the Employment Leave Bill would worsen conditions for many workers by tying leave to standard hours and keeping sick leave pro-rating, despite committee support. Solo Honeymoon Story: A Canadian woman whose fiancé died before their wedding chose to continue her honeymoon alone, sharing the grief-and-healing journey in an excerpt that’s resonating with travellers. Travel Tech at the Border: Australia begins rolling out a digital travel declaration to replace paper arrival cards, with QR-code submissions and a rollout expected over the next 12–18 months. NZ Tourism & Economy: New Zealand aims to grow bilateral trade with Indonesia to NZ$6b by 2029, with tourism included in the services mix. Hamilton Rail History: Calls grow to reopen Hamilton’s long-closed underground passenger station, a buried relic under Centre Place. Outdoors for Youth: Acorn Foundation’s Outward Bound scholarships backed 14 rangatahi for a three-week Tangaroa Watch course in the Marlborough Sounds. Rugby Travel Angle: All Blacks’ Eden Park win over Ireland sets up a major Nations Championship run, with South Africa and New Zealand both unbeaten heading into the next phase.