Horror, budgeting and tracking meteor showers: Kiwi app makers score global wins in Apple competitions
Christchurch-based Black Salt Games' Dredge, billed as a 'Sinister fishing adventure', was one of 12 winners in the Apple, which honour stand-out apps and games made by independent developers.
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Techday NZ
4 hours ago
- Techday NZ
Visa appoints Meble Tin to lead Oceania marketing from Sydney
Visa has appointed Meble Tin as Head of Marketing for Oceania, overseeing Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Tin, who will be based in Sydney, officially joins Visa on 2 September 2025, following roles at Apple and Airbnb where she built experience in brand development and customer engagement across both global and regional markets. Appointment details In her new position, Tin will lead the marketing agenda across Oceania, covering brand, client and consumer engagement. She is expected to play a significant part in aligning Visa's expanding capabilities with its regional marketing strategies and helping to scale marketing services for partners in banking, fintech, and merchant sectors. Tin most recently served at Airbnb, where she led marketing for Asia Pacific. Prior to that, she held senior global marketing roles at Apple, including leading global marketing for the 'Today at Apple' programme, a retail experience initiative delivered across over 500 stores worldwide, recognised with Grand Prix and Titanium awards at Cannes Lions. Industry background Her background includes experience in adapting strategies for local markets while keeping a focus on broader, global brand goals. At Airbnb, Tin helped tailor marketing approaches to meet the diverse needs of audiences across Asia Pacific, combining local relevance with the wider ambitions of the brand. Alan Machet, Visa Group Country Manager for Oceania, commented on the appointment: "This is a pivotal appointment for us. Meble brings a unique blend of global brand-building expertise and regional market insight - and will help sharpen the way we show up as a business, a brand and a marketing partner to our clients." At Visa, Tin is expected to guide marketing efforts at a time of ongoing change for the payments industry, particularly as digital commerce continues to shift how brands reach and connect with people. Marketing services focus Tin's role will support Visa's investment in marketing services for clients. These services are designed to help organisations drive growth by tapping into Visa's data resources, creative capabilities and marketing platforms. The company is focusing on strengthening partnerships with banks, fintech companies, and merchants throughout the region. Danielle Jin, Regional Head of Marketing for Asia Pacific, spoke about the skills Tin brings to the organisation: "Meble has an instinct for turning complex technology into compelling customer narratives. That's a powerful asset not just for Visa's brand, but for the value we deliver to our clients across the region." Meble Tin, discussing her new role and what drew her to Visa, said: "Visa is a brand that touches every part of daily life - and that's what excites me. As digital commerce continues to evolve, we have an opportunity to help businesses grow by combining innovation with insight, and creativity with local connection." Tin's appointment comes at a time when Visa is focusing on building its regional presence in Oceania and developing capabilities to support local and international partners amid a changing payments landscape. She will begin her new role leading Visa's marketing direction from September, guiding strategy across Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.
NZ Herald
10 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Should we regulate YouTube's algorithm to protect children?
Despite its objections, YouTube has now been included in Australia's sweeping social media ban for under-16s after Australia's eSafety Commissioner recommended it be added as it was 'the most frequently cited platform' where children aged 10 to 15 years saw 'harmful content'. But can we regulate an algorithm? Victoria University of Wellington Associate Professor Dr Peter Thompson told The Front Page he thinks there is a 'legitimate concern' with kids encountering this tech. 'There have been a number of studies that have shown the tendency of algorithms, and particularly YouTube ones, to take people further and further down what we might call an 'extremeist pathway'. 'The key thing is that the algorithm is proprietary, it's owned by YouTube, and it's there to keep our eyeballs on the screen because that's how they make their money. They want us online because that's how we get exposed to advertising and marketing opportunities,' he said. When it comes to regulating online behemoths like YouTube, Thompson said he doesn't think we've tried hard enough. 'But, if we take the Christchurch Call, for example, they've put in some incredibly sophisticated software for picking up on problematic content. It can't stop someone from posting terrible material like the terrorist video in the first place, but it picks it up quickly now. 'So, there are things we can do, and I think there are other options out there. We could look at a closer identification of who's using these accounts, and age verification. 'I think labelling is an underrated exercise in media regulation because we know from studies by the BSA and the Classification Office that people really do use those labels. So if something is labelled R18... you have built in systems where someone can only access adult content if they have an account that signals they're an adult. 'That will cut out a very, very large range of potentially harmful exposures. It's not perfect. If you're a terrorist and you're trying to livestream your act of terrorism, you're very unlikely to give advance notice that you've got an R18 video coming up.... But, would we all rest a little more peacefully knowing that our children are more likely to be playing in a safe sandbox with those protections?' Listen to the full episode to hear more about: Regulating kids' access to YouTube. Free speech vs. harm reduction. What other countries are doing to curb harmful content. What New Zealand should do next. The Front Page is a daily news podcast from the New Zealand Herald, available to listen to every weekday from 5am. The podcast is presented by Chelsea Daniels, an Auckland-based journalist with a background in world news and crime/justice reporting who joined NZME in 2016. You can follow the podcast at iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Otago Daily Times
11 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Call to diversify into digital assets
New Zealand remains behind its international counterparts when it comes to financial advisers offering exposure to digital assets, Swyftx chief executive Jason Titman says. Mr Titman, who is also executive chairman of the crypto exchange which serves more than 1.5 million users, said diversification into digital assets, even at a small allocation, could dramatically shift long-term outcomes for many Kiwis. He is the keynote speaker at CryptoWinter25 — the inaugural summit for New Zealand's emerging crypto and digital asset leadership — in Queenstown this week. Mr Titman said a lack of diversification and a narrow focus on traditional asset classes were contributing to delayed retirement horizons for many Kiwis, despite a record $112 billion now held in KiwiSaver funds. Analysis by Swyftx showed if a typical KiwiSaver member had invested $36,500 in Bitcoin over the past decade, equivalent to $10 a day, they would now hold a portfolio worth about $2.8 million. The average balanced KiwiSaver fund had returned about 6% to 7% annually over the same period. An equivalent $36,500 investment into a typical KiwiSaver fund would have grown to around $65,000 to $70,000 today. Mr Titman, who is also a chartered accountant, said New Zealand remained behind its international counterparts. Global regulators and pension funds in countries such as Canada, Germany and Singapore had begun integrating crypto and other digital assets into broader retirement strategies. Only two KiwiSaver providers offered any exposure to digital assets, which were now a mainstream component of diversified investment portfolios internationally, and he believed financial advisers needed to broaden their education on emerging asset classes. High-net-worth families had been early adopters of digital assets, recognising their growing potential as a legitimate diversification tool within a long-term investment strategy. "It's a clear example of the opportunity cost facing retirement savers when portfolios remain too narrow," he said. The issue was not about taking excessive risk but modernising portfolio design. "We're not talking about putting someone's retirement on the line ... We're talking about disciplined allocation, say 3% to 5%, to a high-growth, emerging asset class that has already demonstrated long-term return potential. It's about optimising performance, not taking unnecessary risk," he said. An increased allocation into digital assets could also support local market development, create jobs and broaden the tax base from investment gains and industry growth, he said. — Allied Media
