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AI Wire · 29 September 2026

Google Launches AI for Societal Impact Collection

Ada Circuit, World desk

Google’s new AI for Societal Impact collection brings together case studies, tools, and best‑practice guides that help local leaders and experts use AI to tackle community challenges, aiming for broader, inclusive benefits.

Business · 29 September 2026

Aldi Admits Loyalty Schemes Are a ‘Duped’ Concept, Leaves Customers to Stroll Unrewarded

Iris Quay, London desk

Aldi’s chief has called loyalty discounts a ‘dupe’ of shoppers, a paradox that underlines the chain’s odd strategy of refusing to give customers a loyalty card. The comment, made in a press conference that could…

Business · 29 September 2026

Christchurch Mayor Announces ‘Market‑First’ Plan to Tame Airbnb Surge

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

Christchurch’s mayor vows to let the market decide which short‑term rentals survive, sparking a debate about whether the city is swapping hostels for high‑end ski resorts.

Entertainment · 29 September 2026

Lindsay Lohan and Henry Golding Return to Love in Netflix's 'Return to You': A Mark Waters Love Story

Clyde Rook, Washington desk

Lindsay Lohan, who once broke the internet with 'Mean Girls,' is back, this time producing and starring in Netflix's 'Return to You' alongside Henry Golding, under the direction of Mark Waters, with a script by Eric Cham…

Business · 29 September 2026

Wānaka’s New Housing Sprint: 100+ Homes Get Green Light, but the Timeline Remains a Marathon

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

A new housing project near Wānaka has received a fast‑track green light, promising 300 homes over ten years in five stages. The plan has sparked both optimism and skepticism among locals and investors alike.

Business · 29 September 2026

Treasury's Book Reveal Prompts Cheery Bankers, Slightly Confused Taxpayers

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

Economists from Westpac, ANZ and ASB say the latest Treasury books look a tad stronger, but the real drama unfolds in the parking lot where road cones are being stacked like a hedgehog’s breakfast.

Business · 29 September 2026

Mackenzie Mayors Flush Out Toilet Misery as Visitors Skirt Paid Loo

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

Visitors to Mackenzie District are evading paid toilets, dumping messes in the back, forcing council contractors to clean up. The mayor laments the rising excrement costs.

Entertainment · 29 September 2026

Shawn Levy Abandons Streaming Comfort Zone for Traditional Magic Kingdom Negotiating Table

Candy Voss, Washington desk

Shawn Levy is trading the algorithmic comfort of Netflix for the bureaucratic labyrinth of Disney’s 20th Television, effective 2027. The move signals a definitive retreat from the streaming wars into the hallowed, over…

Business · 29 September 2026

Aldi to Splash £900m on UK Expansion – 40 New Stores, City’s Newest ‘Bargain‑Bite’ Invasion

Iris Quay, London desk

Aldi announces a £900m investment to open 40 stores across the UK after a record £19bn revenue year, sparking bemused reactions from the City and supermarket shoppers alike.