Energy Policy: New Zealand has issued its first offshore petroleum exploration permit since reversing the ban, granting a 12-year permit to Australian firm EnZed Energy for the Kaheru prospect in the offshore Taranaki Basin, as the government argues it’s needed to manage future gas supply and dry-year power generation. Workplace Reform: The Employment Leave Bill has passed into law, replacing the Holidays Act with an hours-based system for annual and sick leave, plus a 12.5% leave compensation payment for additional/casual hours and earlier access to multiple leave types from day one. Housing & Rates: After June CPI showed annual inflation at 4.1%, mortgage experts say home-loan rates are likely to rise, though banks may not pass on every OCR move; expectations point to rates back into the “fives” next year. Business & Markets: The NZX 50 pushed above 14,000 for the first time before easing, led by Fisher & Paykel Healthcare and supported by Ebos and Auckland Airport, while Serko said Middle East conflict impacts were minimal. Defence Procurement: Defence Minister Chris Penk says New Zealand is moving to market to buy “one-way strike drones” and also wants long-range maritime surveillance drones, with interest in working with homegrown suppliers. Immigration Scrutiny: Immigration NZ refused more than 20,000 visa applications for Canada’s FIFA World Cup, including 3,135 from Ghanaian fans, approving only 470. Tech & Cybersecurity: Microsoft is racing to patch vulnerabilities found by Anthropic’s AI model Mythos, which has been uncovering software bugs faster than fixes can keep up. Recordkeeping & Trust: The Chief Archivist warns poor government record-keeping is still undermining identity, healthcare access and justice, with Archives NZ finding many agencies fall short of standards.