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21 May 2025

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NPH - 2025 Half Year Results
Napier Port (NZX.NPH), the freight gateway for the central and lower North Island, today announced strong earnings growth for the six months ended 31 March 2025. The result was underpinned by a solid uplift in container cargo volumes

Meth and mental illness: What Tauranga social workers see on the frontline
'We’re trying ... but at times it feels like we are chasing our tails.'

Napier port profits show recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle
The port of Napier has had a strong profit rebound.

Tauranga councillor optimistic Otumoetai Pool could be saved
Tauranga City Council will review options for the Otumoetai Pool in June.

MSI’s Claw A8 is the first gaming handheld with AMD’s Ryzen Z2 Extreme
The MSI Claw series of Steam Deck-style handheld gaming PCs is the only one from a major manufacturer that goes with Intel chips instead of the much more popular (at least in this segment) AMD APUs. Well, it looks like MSI decided to go with the flow. There’s a new version of the Claw 8, and it’s using an AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme. That’s the same chip that’s allegedly inside that new Asus ROG Ally 2, a more powerful version than the first generation, and not to be confused with the disappointing Ryzen Z2 Go. This new AMD flavor is christened the Claw A8 BZ2EM, which is only slightly less terrible than the top-end Claw 8 AI+ with Intel chips. The new model is notably more angular, with a two-tone paint job that doesn’t stretch onto the main panel and what looks like larger speaker grilles built into the grips. This new AMD-powered Claw comes with an 8-inch, 1200P LCD screen with 120Hz refresh, “up to 24GB” of DDR5x-8000 RAM, one M.2 slot for storage (no capacity given currently), and double USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports. You also get a MicroSD card reader for expansion, a beefy 80-watt hour battery, and a weight of 765 grams 1.6 pounds), which is still slightly lighter than the Intel version. Speaking of which, there’s a refreshed model of the Claw 8 AI+ as well. It’s using the same hardware as the existing model, topping out at an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, 32GB of RAM, and 2TB of storage. This “Polar Tempest Edition” gets a “glittering UV coating,” according to the press release. Strangely, the press release states that both devices will be available in “a range of color options,” but it does not provide specific prices or release dates. The Claw A AI+ has been very difficult to find in the US since launch but is currently listed at $1000 on Best Buy and B&H Photo, with neither actually shipping the hardware. Other announcements from MSI at Computex showcase new OLED monitors, with the MAG 272QP QD-OLED X50 being the most intriguing. If that alphabet soup doesn’t perk up your ears, try this: 500Hz eSports OLED monitor for $850. It has all the other usual gaming bells and whistles, like QHD (2560×1440) resolution at 27 inches, .03ms response time, variable refresh rate support for consoles, and some fancy stuff like support for resizing and custom aspect ratios. It’s using a Samsung panel, probably the same one as this monitor, for quite a bit less. MSI But that price at that refresh rate is really something. As my editor, Brad Chacos, said, you’d expect to pay somewhere in that ballpark for a conventional LCD panel at 500Hz. Upgrading to an OLED, while also offering fantastic speeds for gaming, is really something. Connection options aren’t fully spelled out in the PR material, but it has a USB-C port, hopefully with enough wattage output for a gaming laptop. The MPG 271QR QD-OLED X50 (oh my god MSI, you are just begging for returns here) has that same 500Hz 27-inch panel, but builds in some more advanced features. The headliner is the new AI Care Sensor and its accompanying panel protection features. It only needs a mandatory OLED care refresh cycle once every 24 hours instead of 16, thanks to a local “AI” chip presence detection and automatic dimming. Surprisingly, all these extra features only raise the price a little, up to $899 USD. The cheaper MAG monitor is scheduled to go on sale starting July 5th, and the more advanced MPG on July 17th. Precise location availability was not shared. Editor’s note: This article first published on May 19, but was updated to include our hands-on video.

Union calls for tougher laws after stevedore falls from cargo ship at Port Nelson
The Government says changing laws governing visiting ships is 'complex' and 'difficult'.

Tami Neilson to perform at Tauranga Arts Festival 2025
Her new album, Neon Cowgirl, is set for release in July.

Tauranga rally urges city council to cut rates amid proposed 12% hike
About 250 people attended a rally in Tauranga on Sunday.

Amazon’s Fire TV Stick is only $20 right now! Grab one while you can
Right now, for just $20, you can turn any dumb TV into a streaming-capable TV. Grab the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD on sale and use it to stream directly on your TV—or take it with you to hotels, Airbnbs, cruise ships, or your relatives’ houses. It’s perfectly portable for vacations, and this is a great time to get one now that it’s 43% off. All you have to do is plug this into any TV’s HDMI port and you’re good to go. You’ll stay logged into your Amazon account on the device itself, and you can move it from TV to TV and pick up right where you left off. It’ll also keep your installed apps, settings, etc. You just have to make sure it’s connected to the local Wi-Fi network when you move it. The Fire TV Stick HD comes with an Alexa Voice Remote, so you can use voice commands to change the channel, swap what you’re watching, control the volume, etc. Of course, you can also use the voice remote for other Alexa features, like asking it for the weather, managing your routines, and controlling other Alexa-compatible smart home devices. Note that this is the basic HD version of the Fire TV Stick. If you want to stream in 4K quality and/or want a device that’s faster and feels more responsive, you’ll want either the Fire TV Stick 4K or Fire TV Stick 4K Max instead. Incidentally, both of those are also on sale! But if you just want the cheapest option, it doesn’t get cheaper than the Fire TV Stick HD for just $20 right now. This “limited-time deal” won’t last! Get the Fire TV Stick HD for $20 (was $35)Buy now at Amazon Get the Fire TV Stick 4K for $30 (was $50)Buy now at Amazon Get the Fire TV Stick 4K Max for $40 (was $60)Buy now at Amazon