Dementia is on the rise in New Zealand, but it is a condition many are afraid to talk about. In the third story of a Northern Advocate series, DENISE PIPER shines a light on how Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia types impact Northlanders, the early warning signs and what help is available.
Kerikeri woman turns heartfelt care for her parents into a mission to help others
Maria Nicol says being brought up Christian, she was taught to never lie
But the Kerikeri resident learnt a loving lie was better than an argument when helping care for her parents who both had dementia
While it is quite a strain for both parents to have the progressive brain disorder, Maria eventually worked through her anger and resentfulness to find her own purpose, starting dementia education business Dignified Minds
She has a Masters of Science in Advanced Dementia Studies from the United Kingdom s University of Bradford and is a qualified diversional therapist, but Maria says her late parents, Bill and Rosa Corbett, were her biggest teachers
It was during combative timesparticularly with her father who was often confused and angry - that she
learnt the secret of using “loving lies” to make things go smoother
For example, her father was often worried he had forgotten to take his daily heart medications
Maria said Bill would call up her sister Jeannette and argue because he was worried his medication had been missed, or call up the pharmacy and ask for another prescription
Nothing worked to help reassure Bill that he had taken his medicines when Maria and Jeannette got him to sign on a calendar he had taken his pills he would later argue it wasn’t his handwriting
After finding her sister stressed out, Maria devised a loving lie to tell Bill: he didn’t need to take the heart pills anymore because the doctor said he was in good health
The loving lie worked almost instantly, helping Bill become less worried within just a few days, Maria
says
It also didn’t stop him from taking his pills when he needed to - he simply took them then would forget five minutes later, she says
Maria says the six years she spent helping look after her parents with dementia in their own home was like looking after teenagers - they often didn’t want to shower and couldn t make meals for themselves
“It was quite stressful Over those almost six years I learnt a lot because my sister and I had no idea”
While Bill was sometimes angry,
anxious and confused - including having vision problems - Rosa was happy and joyful, she says
Both ended up having to go into care, when it became too hard to keep them in their own home
By this stage, they had very little awareness of where they were, with Rosa often standing in her own kitchen and saying “I want to go home”, Maria says
“They couldn’t be together [in the end] Dad lost the love of his life and he was devastated but Mum absolutely loved it - she thought she was on
holiday ”
Maria also ended up working in the same rest home, as a part-time diversional therapist
“At the rest home I thought I knew what I was doing and I fell flat on my face because I found out what worked for Mum and Dad didn’t work for anyone else I realised everyone with dementia is so different ”
Maria also worked for Alzheimers Northland as a support worker, and it was there she started doing
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Jonathan Larsen won the Kaipara District Council mayoralty after securing 3138 votes to councillor Snow Tane’s 3117
Kaipara Mayor Jonathan Larsen has avoided facing a recount of votes for the top job after a legal challenge by one of his councillors High Court Judge Kevin Kelly on Friday dismissed a judicial vote recount application from Snow Tane who missed out on his bid for the mayoralty by 21 votes
Susan Botting What this means is I can now push ahead with certainty that we can form a cohesive council.
Kaipara Mayor Jonathan Larsen
Larsen won the Kaipara District Council (KDC) mayoralty on October 11 after securing 3138 votes to Tane’s 3117
Larsen said the High Court decision created more certainty for the council
“What this means is I can now push ahead with certainty that we can form a cohesive council ” Larsen said Larsen said he wanted to congratulate Kaipara’s people for electing a great council
He looked forward to all the councillors working together for the good of ratepayers
Larsen said he had been in communication with Tane throughout the week and looked forward to sitting down for a coffee with the councillor
Tane had congratulated him on the mayoralty after the court decision
Larsen said he held no grudge against Tane for his mayoral recount bid as it was part of the normal process of democracy
Tane could not be reached for comment by publication time
He had previously said he looked forward to working as part of the
elected governance team, whatever the outcome of his recount bid
Larsen said he was now working on organising catch-ups with his new councillors as part of establishing the new council
Tane will be one of the nine politicians on the council after topping voting in the Wairoa General Ward
Losing out on his recount bid means the ward’s three-seat lineup will be filled by himself new councillor Joesephine Nathan and reelected now deputy mayor Gordon Lambeth
The full make-up of the council remains unknown as two other outstanding Kaipara judicial vote recount applications went to the District Court this week and are yet to be ruled on
The decisions must be made before the council can hold its swearingin ceremony
This formal ceremony is the point at which the new top table can officially take charge
Larsen said, subject to the outcome of those two applications, the swearing-in ceremony was set for November 12 at Matakohe
He said the two outstanding
applications were similar to Tane s and he expected a judge would rule correspondingly
Previous Otamatea General Ward councillor and election candidate Mark Vincent is seeking a judicial recount decision after missing out by two votes on being re-elected to one of the area s two seats Ash Nayyar has also lodged a judicial recount decision for the Wairoa General Ward after missing out on one of three seats by 187 votes
Two other candidates were ahead of him in the count that was topped by Lambeth Nayyar also missed out on the mayoralty KDC’s governance table is now filled by Mayor Larsen Deputy Mayor Lambeth and the councillors look set to be former mayor Craig Jepson Luke Canton, Nathan, Denise Rogers, Mike Schimanski, Tane and Rachael Williams
LDR is local body journalism co-founded by RNZ and NZ On Air
Brodie Stone
Whangarei Boys’ High School teacher and long-serving hockey leader Warren Litchfield has won a national award in recognition of his contributions to school sport.
Students from the school initiated the process to nominate Litchfield, who has served 14 years of voluntary service to the school’s hockey programme.
The School Sport NZ Service to School Sport Award was handed to
him by chief executive Michael Summerell at a recent Whangarei Boys’ High School co-curricular awards evening.
Summerell said during his presentation of the award that Litchfield had never done just the minimum, instead coaching, managing, mentoring and organising hockey at the school
“He’s been the foundation on which so many teams and players have been built.”
“What makes this nomination truly special is that the students themselves initiated it That speaks volumes: Warren’s presence, encouragement, and guidance have been inspirational.
“It is a rare and lovely thing when the beneficiaries of service step up to honour their benefactor.”
Litchfield said it was “incredibly kind and thoughtful” of the students
continued from A1
dementia education for the likes of carers.
Realising this was her niche, she started Dignified Minds in 2021, with the aim of showing people what it is like to walk in the shoes of a person living with dementia.
As the population ages and more people have dementia, Maria hopes everyone will learn more about the condition and how to make situations more comfortable for patients, even if it involves telling a “loving lie”.
What are the warning signs of dementia?
While memory lapses can get worse when people age, dementia is far more than forgetfulness, impacting a person’s ability to think and reason.
Normal ageing
Forgetting people’s names.
Taking a wrong turn or getting lost in an unfamiliar place.
Difficulty finding the right word sometimes.
Forgetting what day of the week it is.
Making a bad decision once in a while.
Difficulty balancing a budget.
Misplacing your wallet or keys from time to time.
Becoming sad or moody from time to time, or other personality changes.
Temporarily losing interest in housework, work activities or social obligations.
Losing ability to see things very far away or read small print.
Potential signs of dementia mate wareware
Memory lapses that affect day-to-day life, like forgetting recent conversations.
Difficulty performing regular tasks or getting lost on your own street.
Difficulty following or initiating conversations.
Confusion about the time of day, such as confusing what is appropriate for late at night.
Making bad decisions more frequently; paying less attention to physical appearance.
Completely forgetting what the numbers are and what needs to be done with them.
Repeatedly putting things in inappropriate places, like putting the remote in the fridge.
Rapid mood swings from calm, to tears to anger for no apparent reason.
Becoming dispassionate; no longer initiating activities that used to bring joy.
Challenges understanding visual or spatial information, such as problems placing items on a table.
■ TOMMORROW: Dementia trackers help families keep loved ones safe
Water Services Authority calls meeting with counc and Wai
Yolisa
After years of public frustration and unanswered questions over Kaeo’s drinking water, the national water regulator has stepped in, urging the Far North District Council and the supplier to work together on a longterm solution
The Water Services Authority Taumata Arowai is now convening discussions between the Far North District Council and Wai Care Environmental Consultants Whangaroa (Wai Care) to address long-standing issues with the Kaeo drinking water supply
The authority s head of operations, Steve Taylor, said there was a need to proactively explore a range of options to deliver safe drinking water for the community
In August, the authority asked the supplier, Wai Care to provide a funded plan to address long-time safety issues that have resulted in a boil water advisory being in place for more than 10 years
The authority said Wai Care s response did not address fundamental safety concerns
“We engaged with the supplier to come up with a plan to deliver safe drinking water to its customers, but ultimately the plan showed a need to take the next step and bring other parties around the table to find a reasonable solution for this community ”
Although the council was not the drinking water supplier for Kaeo the authority was calling for collaborative discussions as part of the coun-
cil’s duty to ensure communities within its region had access to safe drinking water when a supplier was facing a significant problem
“This is a rare step for the authority to call on a council s duties under the Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025 and follows extensive engagement with the private supplier
Boil water advisories are intended to be a temporary safety measure, not a long-term fix Both the authority and the community want to see a resolu-
tion that provides safe drinking water
“While this may not be a quick fix, we will continue working alongside Far North District Council and the supplier to secure a safe drinking water solution for Kaeo
FNDC head of infrastructure
Tanya Proctor said she welcomed the involvement of Taumata Arowai
While the council is not the drinking water supplier in this case, it does have a duty to ensure communities have access to safe drinking
water when a supplier faces a significant problem
“We are keen to explore options with Wai Care to help resolve longstanding water quality issues for affected Kaeo residents and businesses
At the same time, we need to be mindful of our budget constraints and ensure that the interests of Far North ratepayers are protected
The next steps will involve council staff meeting with Wai Care to thoroughly assess existing water
The Annual Emergency Services Family Fun Day is back at Kensington Park on the 2nd of November.
From 10am to 1pm, Northlanders are invited to meet up with everyday first responders and community support groups and find out just why they do what they do
Blue Light Coordinator Marnie Reid has been involved in the event since its inception in 2013 and is proud of the way the group of volunteer organisers have grown the day
“There is an immense amount of work by a small core of people who work year around to bring the day to life and it is satisfying to see thousands of locals enjoying the day every year,” says Reid “This about showing Northlanders
the care and support that is throughout the year”
Northern Rescue Helicopter spokesman Steve Macmillan says there are plenty of fun activities on the day, from Fire and Emergency NZ challenges to Northland Land Search and Rescue displays, Police and Hato Hone St John displays, Te Kamo Scout and Cadet Forces action
“When we set out to create the Emergency Services Family Fun Day all those years ago it was about bringing community together, breaking down barriers and showing people how many support mechanisms are out there for us all to access,” says Macmillan
“We are incredibly thankful for the efforts and generosity of everyone who contributes to make it a success year after year It is a massive effort by a bunch of true Northland community champions ”
A Northern Rescue Helicopter is likely to be on display, the team from Active Attitude will have some fun challenges, a PAK’nSAVE sausage sizzle will be cranking thanks to the chefs from Northern Street Rods
Other key contributors on the day include Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora, Manawa Ora Te Tai Tokerau, Cancer Society Northland, Northland Road
Council, Northland Regional Council, , Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management, Manawa Ora, Bike Northland, New Zealand Red Cross, Plunket, NRC Maritime, NZME’s Charmaine Soljak, Mr Whippy, Mr Bigs Coffee and Northland Waste
For more information check out https://www facebook com/caringfornorthland
infrastructure and options for possible solutions
She said FNDC s partners in establishing a Northland-wide, council-controlled organisation (CCO) to deliver drinking water and wastewater services Whangarei and Kaipara district councils had been informed about the direction from Taumata Arowai
Wai Care s Bryce Aldridge said he “supports the media statement made by Taumata Arowai”
Denise Piper
ANorthland sailing programme for youth with intellectual disabilities was so successful it has paved the way for more students to follow in their wake
Bay of Islands traditional sailing ship R Tucker Thompson has been running week-long youth development programmes for more than 20 years, including catering for young people with physical disabilities
But students with intellectual disabilities have often been unable to attend, due to the extra support required
Youth manager Kelly Hamilton said she has worked in other organisations which had inclusive programmes and was inspired by the benefits of outdoor education experiences for all people
“I recognised that we didn’t have an opportunity on the ‘Tucker for people who needed [courses] to be adapted
“It was about seeing a need and knowing how impactful it would be ”
The R Tucker Thompson team worked with Blomfield Special School in Whangarei to develop its programme for young people with intellectual or learning disabilities, called All Hands on Deck
The sailing earlier this month was shorter than normal and had more supervision from both teachers and
on the bowsprit on the front of the ship, she said
Both were massive challenges for the young people and all had a sense of accomplishment when completed, Hamilton said
students including using a rope swing, steering the ship and going snorkelling
The group were particularly encouraging and supportive of each other, she said
staff But Hamilton said the nine Blomfield students still did all of the activities in the standard youth development programme, just with more one-on-one support and clearer instructions
Highlights included each student climbing the rigging and walking out
One said: I m not scared anymore’ Overcoming the fears and seeing the smiles was a highlight
Hamilton said there were lots of laughs on the trip and plenty of fun with new experiences for the
Everyone s accomplishment was a great celebration That just fills your cup right up as a crew member
Hamilton said R Tucker Thompson chief executive Catherine Langford said the ship
wants to run a similar voyage again next year, perhaps even two if funding is available
The All Hands on Deck voyage was funded with the help of an $11,000 grant from Sport Northland’s Tu Manawa fund, $4000 from Whangarei Lions Club, $4000 from Lions Clubs New Zealand s Heads Up 4 Kids, other charity support and fundraisers by the Blomfield students
Study warns illicit tobacco trad booming, costing Crown million
Melissa Nightingale If they want the
Asmall-time illicit tobacco seller says illegal cigarettes are flooding the market because “they’re so easy to get
The Canterbury man buys packs from the corner dairy for about $20 less than he would pay for legal packs and sells them on to a small circle for a $5 profit
He is just one small drop in the bucket when it comes to New Zealand’s illicit tobacco industry A new study claims more than a quarter of all tobacco consumed last year was illicit, cheating the Government out of $600 million in tax revenue
The annual study, commissioned by Imperial Tobacco New Zealand and British American Tobacco New Zealand found that 27 2% of all tobacco consumed in 2024 was from illicit products, including smuggled contraband
The study also showed a sharp rise in the consumption of contraband tobacco compared with last year, climbing nearly 42% from 205 4 tonnes to 291 5
Most of the illicit tobacco in the market is smuggled in as cigarettes, while smaller percentages are looseleafed, illegally homegrown or are counterfeits designed to look like legitimate brands
An Imperial Brands spokesman said the report highlighted how the illicit tobacco trade was “increasingly sophisticated and risked becoming “deeply entrenched across the country”
The New Zealand Customs Service said the figure in the report seemed “too high”, but did not have a “robust estimate” for how big the market truly was
The illicit tobacco seller in Canterbury who spoke to the Herald said he smokes about a pack a day himself and that buying contraband cigarettes was “a lot cheaper” and easier
I know quite a few people that are in the same boat People aren’t wanting to pay nearly $40 a pack, he said He said the cigarettes could be found at “most little dodgy dairies”
where he lived but that he had also found them in Auckland and Wellington
“We’re in a cost-of-living crisis everyone’s broke, they’re always going to be more keen to get it for a cheaper price,” he said
The man didn t feel there was much that could be done to stem the flow of contraband into the country
“If they want the illegal cigarettes to slow down they need to bring the tax down, but that’s not viable, that won’t happen ”
There would be plenty of people like him who found someone to buy them off, he said
“I don’t think it’s worth police resources to crack down on it that much I think cigarettes are a pretty small fish to fry
Excise tax on tobacco has increased to $1812 61 per kilo compared with $393 03 in 2009 Depending on the brand, the tax makes up around 80% of the cost of a pack of smokes
Imperial Brands head of corporate and legal affairs for Australasia
James Bigwood said the recent report “highlights a clear and concerning trend”
The local illicit tobacco market was growing rapidly and becoming increasingly sophisticated, Bigwood said
“Without decisive action now, the trade in illicit tobacco risks becoming deeply entrenched across the country
International experience showed that a multi-agency approach worked
best, Bigwood said “Australia for example recently announced a National Disruption Group and have appointed an Illicit Tobacco and E-Cigarette Commissioner to co-ordinate a whole-ofGovernment response State governments have introduced tougher penalties and implemented dedicated enforcement frameworks Acting early will help prevent the problem from escalating further ”
Bigwood said the trend that illicit tobacco consumption was rising each year was undeniable
While commissioned by tobacco companies the research was carried out by an independent consultancy using established methods and used “robust methodologies”, he said
It was “one of the few studies that captures all four categories of illicit tobacco counterfeit, contraband, homegrown and unbranded products”
The study uses data from a biannual Kantar survey of smokers over 18 and an empty pack survey carried out twice a year in the country s six largest cities The figures gathered from these surveys are cross-referenced with other data
sources, including legal domestic tobacco sales international traveller volumes and Customs interceptions
Latest estimates indicate illicit tobacco makes up nearly 40% of Australia s market and New Zealand tends to follow Australia’s trends with a one-year lag, the report said, warning his country risked seeing similar numbers
Australia s experience is a warning Despite ongoing efforts to address the problem, the illicit tobacco market remains deeply entrenched and linked to organised crime, Bigwood said
“New Zealand still has an opportunity to act decisively and prevent the same outcome ”
A Customs spokeswoman said estimating the size of the illicit tobacco market was “inherently challenging” due to the covert nature of the activity and the limitations of available data
By their nature, illegal markets are deliberately organised to be hidden ” said Debbie Kay
“While Customs do not have a robust estimate of the size of the illicit market, 27 2% feels too high to us ” Kay said noting in 2022 Customs’
working estimate was that illicit tobacco had a market share of 6-7%, equating to about $175m in taxes not being paid to the Crown
“Given the trend of increasing seizures it appears likely that the illicit market will have grown materially since then ”
A variety of studies come up with a wide range of estimates and many methodologies could have large margins of error Customs also noted that there were illicit tobacco markets in every country, including ones with low excise rates
The illicit market was a “persistent and evolving threat and continued investment in border enforcement, intelligence-gathering and interagency collaboration was essential to combat the risks posed by the trade Kay said
Evading taxes on tobacco was cheating the Government out of money that could fund health education and infrastructure, and was also generating “significant profit” for organised criminal groups
In the 2022 Budget, Customs was allocated an additional $10 4m in funding over four years to help tackle tobacco smugglers
“This is resulting in seizures and prosecutions, Kay said
In August, a man was arrested for allegedly importing nearly one million uncustomed cigarettes into New Zealand and avoiding a tax bill of $1 4m
Customs officers intercepted two shipments from China at NZ Post s Auckland Processing Centre They discovered the consignments, which were declared as clothes, had instead been filled with packets of the Chinese cigarette brand Double Happiness
The first shipment contained 340,000 cigarettes, while the second had 587,000, bringing the number of cigarettes seized to 927 000
‘He was more worried about his ute than if we were alive’
Traumatised victims recall the day their lives changed forever
Lane Nichols
Aman who ran down two women walking their dogs then drove off without stopping to check if they were even alive can now be identified as an Auckland company director
His traumatised victims have waived suppression so they can tell their stories about that day’s harrowing events and the suffering his actions inflicted upon them and their families
North Shore tradie Solomon
Barnes operates franchisee firm Laser Plumbing Whenuapai and is the face of the company
Last month he lost bids for permanent name suppression and to escape conviction after pleading guilty to careless driving causing injury and failing to stop
He argued that having his name published in connection with the offending would cause the Laser Group parent company to cancel his franchise contract because of reputational damage
A judge rejected Barnes’ plea, ruling his offending was serious and that it was for the company to decide whether his actions warranted termination, not the court
Barnes had just left home and was driving along the semi-rural Attwood Rd Paremoremo about 7 10am on Sunday, June 8
He was on a Zoom call and trying to call his mother in the moments leading up to the crash
Wandering north along the road edge in single file were best friends
Sue Fletcher and Denise Prouse, with their dogs Macky and Luna It was a weekend ritual they had enjoyed for 20 years
But in an instant the winter morning serenity was shattered by the thump of bodies on metal and their lives forever changed
Distracted Barnes did not notice the two women and their pets He ploughed into them in his white Ford Ranger ute, sending them flying into the roadside ditch
The impact nearly killed Prouse She suffered multiple fractures spent 12 days in hospital and is still recovering from severe physical injuries
And while the collision ripped a large chunk of the front bumper from Barnes’ vehicle and neighbours described the sound as like a plane crash he drove off without stopping
When he handed himself in 24 hours later he told police he thought he’d hit a recycling bin
Prouse is undergoing rehabilitation and only just considering a limited return to work
She is still triggered by white utes or sudden noises behind her
The 64-year-old can t comprehend how someone could mow two people down and not stop to check on their condition or provide medical assistance
“It’s just total disbelief that someone could have done so much damage and just drive off
“Those moments when we were on our own after it happened, just the deathly silence, there was no noise That’s when I knew for sure he had left the scene It was quite haunting
We just didn t think anyone would hear our cries for help ” Fletcher recalls lying dazed and injured on the verge and watching the vehicle disappear into the distance
While her injuries would eventually heal her beloved pet Macky
suffered severe damage He underwent emergency veterinary treatment but had to be put down days later
She recalls seeing her friend
Prouse lying badly hurt nearby as they both called out for help
Fletcher is incredulous that someone could run down two people, flee the scene and then fail to take ac-
ence to feel that he wanted to hide what he’d done from the community
“He seemed more interested in protecting his name and his business interests than owning his accountability for his behaviour
“It’s important to me that the community have transparency around the incident and the impact that it’s had on our lives ”
Those moments when we were on our own after it happened, just the deathly silence, there was no noise. That’s when I knew for sure he had left the scene.
countability
She came face to face with Barnes at a restorative justice meeting but felt he wasn t honest about the accident sticking to his recycling bin story, which a judge found wasn t believable
His failed bid for a discharge and permanent name suppression was galling and personally insulting, Fletcher said
“It was so minimising to our experi-
Denise Prouse
As Barnes drove away Prouse tried not to move and called out for Luna
“She was pale and saying her goodbyes,” Fletcher recalls “She thought she was going to die
Prouse s son Mitch arrived at the scene He held his mother s hand and tried to reassure her as they waited for the ambulance
Macky, a border collie, lay bleeding and broken unable to move metres
from Fletcher
“He looked terrible It was clear that he was terribly injured ” Luna ran away after the crash but was found uninjured later that night
Both women gave powerful victim impact statements during last month s sentencing hearing Prouse limping to the front of the courtroom on crutches and moonboots
Listening to judgment being passed on Barnes was validating Fletcher said She was grateful to be believed
It was important for both women that Barnes be identified in terms of justice being served
“He wanted to be protected and he wanted the crime to be hidden
Prouse knows she came close to losing her life that day
“I’m really lucky to be alive and I remind myself of that every day
There s a lot to be thankful for ”
She recalled wanting to close her eyes and go to sleep as she lay broken on the side of the road but Mitch tried to keep her alert
“I thought ‘I wonder if I am dying’ I needed to make that moment matter because I didn’t know what was going to follow ”
She said the accident was totally preventable After striking both women, all Barnes had to do was turn around, front up for his mistake and offer them assistance
But his farcical excuses and attempts to avoid publicity meant he hadn’t “owned” his actions that day
Prouse also met Barnes ahead of sentencing She found the meeting confronting, but “I felt I needed to have a voice”
It emerged that after hitting the women, Barnes had pulled over further up the road to inspect the damage to his car
His bid for secrecy and to avoid a conviction was insulting and hurtful, Prouse said
“It just never made sense that he was more worried about his ute than turning the vehicle around to check if we were alive ”
Barnes paid several thousand dollars to each woman in reparation
His insurer covered their significant medical and vet bills
Prouse felt his sentence of community work and disqualification from driving was “light” But she was grateful to see him finally held to account
Both women thanked the community for their unwavering support after the accident
Waiving suppression meant they could finally tell their story and get closure
“I don’t want to be the victim, I just want to move on ” Prouse said
“It s been a long wait It s never felt like a win I don t feel like we ve won anything It s just justice ”
In a statement provided through his lawyer, Barnes apologised for his actions and the harm he had caused the victims, their families and wider community
“I take full responsibility for what occurred and accept the court s judgment and consequences,” the statement said
“I am committed to making amends, including fulfilling the court s sentence, providing reparation, and taking meaningful steps to build and regain trust in my community ”
Laser Group general manager Kyle Weir said the company recognised the seriousness of this incident and its thoughts were with the victims and their families
The company held its people to a high standard and was disappointed the incident had occurred
“Mr Barnes has taken full responsibility for his actions in this personal matter, and has accepted the fair consequences laid out through the courts ”
The company s response would be guided by its values, Weir said “As is standard practice any discussions related to corrective measures will be addressed through an internal Laser Group process and in line with the Laser Member Agreement ”
Rocket Lab’s soaring success has seen founder and chief executive Sir Peter Beck’s personal wealth estimated this month at a whopping $6 2 billion
Since launching 19 years ago, the company has grown to be in competition with private space companies owned by two of the world’s richest men: Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk
His relationships with Bezos and Musk involve mutual respect, he said Forbes lists Musk’s personal worth at $850b and Bezos’ at $407b
“Some of our competitors have essentially infinite capital to burn,” Beck told the HeraldonSunday in an exclusive interview from his base in America, ahead of the release of his new book this week, TheLaunch ofRocketLab
I get on with those guys just fine Beck said
The 49-year-old made Forbes’ real-time billionaires list earlier this month but said Rocket Lab s greatest financial success wasn’t making him a billionaire
His proudest moment came when Rocket Lab was listed on the Nasdaq in mid-2021 and many of his staff received lifechanging windfalls for their work
The thing that s more fulfilling is all the millionaires you ve made along the way, he said
“When we went public there were 150 Rocket Lab staff [who] became instant millionaires and many more since If we do well, they do well
“An extra billion here and there makes no difference to me I’ve had a lot of people put their kids through school or pay off their mortgage that s life-changing Beck’s mission for the company is clear: I m trying to build the biggest space company in the world, that s the plan
Hcouple are deeply protective of their family, never authorising publication of the children’s photos, names or ages.
“We try to keep the kids out of the limelight,” he told the Heraldon Sunday “They are their own people.”
He jokes that his workloa-
is day begins at about 4.30am when he heads to his company’s American HQ at Long Beach, California. He says work is on his mind until his bedtime around 10-11pm
Beck leaves Rocket Lab HQ as close to 5pm as he can each day, he said, so he can have dinner with his wife, Kerryn, and their two children.
Beck met Kerryn also a designer years ago when they both worked at Fisher & Paykel. The
The Launch of Rocket Lab published by HarperCollins is released on October 28, with a RRP of $75.
d means he “probably won’t be winning any awards” when it comes to being father of the year.
“We’ll always sit around the dinner table,” he said.
“And then we’ll all disappear off, I’ll go back to work, my wife will go and do her thing, and the kids will go and do their thing. There’s no sort of lounging around in front of a television; everybody’s got missions and plans.”
Rocket Lab is valued at around $43b and last year had sales of almost $760 million.
The value of company shares on the Nasdaq this week fluctuated between US$67.65-US$64.70 ($116.05 -$112.67).
From its beginnings in June 2006, Rocket Lab has undertaken 75 orbital launches including deploying more than 230 satellites and is now a launch provider partner for Nasa.
While still launching from its initial pad at Mahia on the northeastern Hawke’s Bay coastline the company now has a second site in Virginia, and is considering a third base in Scotland.
The company’s growth now sees it competing with Musk’s SpaceX and Bezos’ Blue Origin in the private space race.
“It’s incredibly competitive, not just in the United States, but globally,” Beck told the Heraldon Sunday
The billionaire doesn’t drink coffee, rarely wears a suit and avoids formal meetings whenever possible.
It’s a rule of Rocket Lab meetings that if an attendee isn’t adding value they should leave.
“I much prefer to just arrive at people’s desks and have impromptu discussions than call formal meetings,” he said.
Apart from family dinner, Beck’s favourite way to unwind is to indulge his love of fast things: cars, choppers, planes and jets. He owns a DeLorean sports car, a helicopter and a plane an Aero L-39 Albatros ex-Ukrainian military fighter trainer
jet with a top speed around 980km/ h.
“The only way I can really unwind is to put myself in a position where I can’t think about anything other than what’s at hand,” he said.
“Nobody’s going to be roaring around a race car track thinking about the separation systems of a rocket.
“It’s a real escape to just walk out to a helicopter, go into a little bubble, and then for the time you’re there, you’re just 100% focused on that.”
Free time gives Beck an escape from being consumed by all things Rocket Lab; like the pending launch of two spacecraft built for Nasa that are set to head to Mars next month.
Beck says when they reach Mars’ orbit, 20% of all craft there “will have Rocket Lab logos”.
The company is also hoping to achieve a late-2025 debut launch of its bigger Neutron rocket, capable of carrying a 13,000kg payload to low Earth
orbit, or up to 1500kg for missions to the Moon or Mars.
Previous launches have used the Neutron rocket, which has a payload of about 300kg to the low Earth orbit.
Almost every part of a Neutron craft is made in New Zealand. Its increased size means the rocket will be “human flight capable”, and Beck said Rocket Lab “certainly” hadn’t ruled out taking human cargo into space one day.
“As more destinations arrive, then it will become obvious that there is a business case for that in the future,” he said.
Given the hyper-competitive nature of the private space race, Beck has previously avoided revealing too much about the inner workings and hardware of Rocket Lab.
But in The LaunchofRocketLab, he and members of his team have revealed previously-held secrets about some of its hardware, and a vast collection of images.
“We put a lot of pictures of hardware in there, almost uncomfortably so, because generally [we] don’t show that level of detail,” Beck told the Heraldon Sunday “But our hardware is just so goddamn beautiful that people need to see it.”
In the opening paragraph of his introductory chapter, Beck recalls a high school career counsellor telling his parents: “Your son needs to have more realistic expectations”.
The rest his history. Three decades on, he is a multibillionaire. He hopes his story will inspire young Kiwis and other New Zealand entrepreneurs to chase their dreams.
“I do a lot with New Zealand entrepreneurs. And the number one thing I‘m always preaching is you’ve got to think bigger.
“In New Zealand the technology is always good. The efficiency of execution is always great
“But often the thing that’s missing is, ‘I’m just gonna take on the world and be the best in the world’.”
It was like the good old days, wasn’t it?
A sunny Saturday afternoon, with the country s two best provincial teams and a bumper crowd in the stands
What a great advertisement for rugby the NPC final was, even if the old enemy Canterbury prevailed 36-28 over Otago
The afternoon was a reminder of what we once had and unfortunately gave up on in the pursuit for richer fields
But the NPC, from its iterations involving promotion-regulation, to the current format alongside the Heartland Championship, still pulls at the heartstrings
The love for provincial rugby continues to have a loyal following.
While Super Rugby has the bigger broadcasting dollars, it has never found a way to capture the passion fans have for their province Perhaps it’s because it always has been harder to emotionally support a generic franchise, particularly after the Super teams dropped their geographic names
People in Hawke s Bay will have a stronger connection to the Magpies than the Hurricanes, the same could be said for a Taranaki fan over any sense of pride in the Chiefs
But despite being less of a money spinner Saturday’s crowd in Christchurch to watch two old rivals play once again and the NPC s television audience, shows that we still love our local competition
Sky TV’s figures for this year’s competition showed an increase of 9% on 2024 viewing totals, and Sky s digital audience was also up 7%
Then, every year, a town will also catch Shield fever The history and uniqueness of the Log o Wood in New Zealand’s sporting culture continues to excite rugby communities, particularly outside Auckland and Wellington
As Herald sportswriter Phil Gifford highlighted in his column yesterday, Super Rugby arrived with such a rush and a shiny
US$555 million TV deal that the impact on provincial rugby was an afterthought
Now, in just a few short months, we will start the 30th season of Super Rugby and the professional game on these shores
The irony is that today the Super competition has become irrelevant to many fans, is regularly devoid of All Blacks is totally absent of South African teams and is increasingly financially precarious
Many New Zealand rugby fans and some inside the halls of rugby HQ signed the death certificate for provincial rugby many years ago
Yet, the love for provincial rugby, from Whangarei to Invercargill, continues to have a loyal following Perhaps because it’s ours
Phil Gifford
If ever a competition has proved it s not yet ready for extinction it surely must be the Bunnings
NPC
The final in Christchurch on Saturday won by Canterbury 36-28 over Otago, was a magnificent, bluesky advertisement for rugby
Who was not catered for?
On a sunny Saturday afternoon, with a fierce but balmy nor wester blowing down the ground, two very good teams played their hearts out
With the stands packed for 80 minutes, it felt as if the game had been transported back in time to the days when provincial rugby ruled
It came after a week when the portents for the NPC’s future hadn’t looked great
Compared with the Dame Noeline Taurua netball fiasco, the decision to deny Canterbury players Sam Darry and George Bell the chance to play in the final was almost a minor issue
But that didn t make the decision to insist that they miss the final and go to Chicago with the All Blacks the right one
Listen to Liam
In the week leading into the final, veteran Otago hooker Liam Coltman explained why he believes the NPC is the most important competition in New Zealand.
Demonstrating the sheer passion on NPC rugby, Canterbury’s Ngane Punivai and Torian Barnes celebrate winning the final against Otago on Saturday.
the fearless, reliable inspiration he has been to the team all season.
Sightings of All Blacks in club rugby these days are as rare as moments of modesty in the White House’s Oval Office.
“It’s the mixing pot for guys coming out of club rugby and the guys who don’t kick on from Super Rugby to the All Blacks.”
In Saturday’s match, there were numerous examples of the sort of mix Coltman was talking about.
In the Canterbury midfield, Braydon Ennor and Dallas McLeod, both recent All Blacks, were vital to their team’s victory. At fullback for Otago, the uncapped Sam Gilbert was
But the NPC gives up-and-coming players like Otago halfback Dylan Pledger and Canterbury first fiveeighths Andrew Newstubb the chance to compete with, and learn from, players who have made the very top rank.
Sons of guns
The numerous kids in the crowd during the final hopefully left the ground with warm memories that will encourage them in later years to go to live games. At the other end of the age spectrum there were two players
who might have stirred nostalgia among veteran fans.
At centre for Otago was Josh Timu, the son of 1990s All Black John Timu. The father of Canterbury’s dynamic loose forward Dominic Gardiner, is a Canterbury legend, Angus.
The unsung hero who started it
Weirdly, the NPC has a long history of what almost amounts to disrespect
It took (I am not making this up) 104 years for the New Zealand Rugby Union to organise the first National Provincial Championship, in 1976. Almost every other team sport in the country, from hockey to netball, ran an annual provincial championship.
It took a likeable, self-effacing Pakuranga accountant, Barry Smith,
the vice-chairman of the Auckland Rugby Union, four years of behindthe-scenes lobbying to persuade officials in the rest of the country that the NPC wasn’t some devious Auckland plot to dominate the sport
The first NPC was a round robin without knockout finals. It was another 16 years before a finals format was introduced.
Smith’s efforts always seemed largely unrecognised. He was on the cover of the 1977 Rugby Almanack with the first winning captain, Bay of Plenty’s Tuck Waaka. And that was about it.
Does the NPC rate, today?
The problem for the competition is that it’s not as big a money spinner as (obviously) the Rugby Championship, or (to a lesser degree) Super Rugby.
But it would be a mistake to believe that the NPC doesn’t draw a decent television audience. Sky TV’s figures for this year’s competition actually showed an increase of 9% on 2024 viewing totals, and Sky’s digital audience was up 7% Super Rugby arrived here in such a rush to make sure we got our share of the US$555 million TV deal signed by South Africa, New Zealand and Australia with Rupert Murdoch’s broadcasting company, the effect on the NPC wasn’t a big consideration. So, it’s remarkable in many ways that provincial rugby still has the following it does.
It would be extremely sad to see it allowed to wither, or even die.
At a time when rugby, like all organised sports, has never faced greater competition for the attention of young men and women, games that are basically played by the people next door should be a part of NZ Rugby’s plans for the future.
MKevin Page
ost of us I m sure will have been involved in some form of public argument at some time in our lives
It may have been a tif we have had some vociferous (or otherwise) input into ourselves or it may have been a row we witnessed from afar or, as happened to Mrs P and me this week, one that was a little too close for comfort
More on that one later First a bit of history
In bashing out my ramblings this week I was reminded of my first really big argument disputes between my brother and me over whose turn it was to ride in the front after school aside when I was but a cadet reporter more years ago than I care to remember
Long story short I said something rather unpleasant in response to a comment/directive from a senior journalist but he did not appreciate the straight-shooting manner in which I delivered it
Consequently, after a few moments of consideration he decided to, er, shall we say remonstrate with me
Now at the precise moment he decided he was going to do that I had scarpered to the smoko room at this particular newspaper office
More importantly, thank goodness, a rather long and wide table was between me and the entry door
So when he came roaring in, guns blazing, intent I was certain on
Public arguments can fizzle out as quickly as they flare up,
basically stuck a yard or two from this slanging match which shows no sign of fizzling out any time soon
We only need to get past the complainant and we’re at the exit but the woman is showing no sign of backing down
She’s been shopping there for years, she yells, and will continue to do so The manager can’t tell her what to do Apparently
The angry customer fires a parting shot This is disgraceful, she yells
“I’m never setting foot in here again ” With that she turns and marches out Presumably never to be seen again
As we shuffle past the front counter and the outside world the manager offers an apology for the uproar
physical retribution he had to come round the table to get to me
Naturally because I’ve watched a lot of those silly Benny Hill-type TV chase scenes (remember those? Youngies look up YouTube) I took off in the other direction
I vividly recall becoming totally cheesed off after a couple of laps of him shouting at me etc so I screeched to a halt and turned to face my protagonist
It would be fair to say my 16-yearold fists were clenched and I was shaking
Thankfully, common sense prevailed adrenalin levels subsided as quickly as they had ramped up and after a level-headed chat with an intermediary all was well in the world again
I should add the other bloke remains to this day the best reporter I ever worked with
He went on to much, much bigger things than laps of a smoko room table and I am privileged to be able to list him as a mentor
Anyway
The point of all that was really just to show how quickly things got out of hand and equally quickly how they moved on
As I said earlier Mrs P and I were witness to the same thing this week while we were out scouring a few retail establishments where we are parked up at the moment
It was one of those old corner stores with stuff everywhere I’m sure you know what I mean
We are the only ones in the shop, besides the manager, and are working our way through the aisles which are cleverly set up like those rows to the check-in at the airport
You enter at one point but can only exit 10 miles away after you’ve
walked up and back for two hours
Anyway, we are doing just that when a rather officious looking lady comes in and, somehow manages to get through the barriers and is now standing at the front counter ahead of us where she’s having a go at the manager
It seems she s not happy with the layout of the shop In her view it’s dangerous and the manager needs to do something about it
Her voice is rising with each sentence slash accusation
In response, the manager, who we soon learn is also the owner, lifts her voice an octave or two in defence as she tells the woman the shop has been operating thus for many years with all the appropriate council permits etc and suggests the woman doesn’t have to shop there if she doesn t want to
At this point Mrs P and I are
Then, just as we reach the exit, the angry customer returns like nothing had happened a bare five minutes earlier
“I forgot to ask if you have any new jigsaw puzzles in?,” she calls across to the manager, politeness slathered all over the query
Mrs P and I didn t wait to hear the reply, although it would have been interesting to have been a fly on the wall at any future conversation, particularly if she’d bought a 1000-piece jigsaw, eventually got to the end and found there was a bit missing
I bet that would have been more entertaining than watching two blokes chase each other round a smoko room table
Kevin Page is a teller of tall tales with a firm belief that laughter helps avoid frown lines. Page has been a journalist for many years and has been writing a column since 2017.
1 What is happening if you have a feeling of “shoeburyness”?
2 Which brand is known for its green and red stripe design?
3 Canterbury's famous nor’wester is an example of what kind of wind?
4 What salad staple was once known as a wolfpeach?
5 What was the first video uploaded to YouTube?
6 Which Caribbean island is known as ‘The Spice Isle' due to its production of nutmeg and mace?
7 Elton John co-wrote the songs for which animated Disney film?
8 What year did the All Blacks play their first test match?
9 Albany is the capital of which US state?
10 Which British monarch initiated the modern system of knighthood?
This newspaper is subject to the NZ Media Council. First email a complaint to editor@ northernadvocate.co.nz. If not satisfied, go to mediacouncil.org.nz.
USS Gravely arrives in Trinidad and Tobago for joint training exercises
Venezuela has blasted the arrival in nearby Trinidad and Tobago of a US warship as a dangerous “provocation,” amid mounting fears of potential attacks against the Venezuelan mainland
The USS Gravely a guided missile destroyer, docked yesterday in the Trinidadian capital Port of Spain for a four-day visit, which will include
joint training with local defence forces
The ship’s arrival comes amid a mounting military campaign by US President Donald Trump against alleged drug-traffickers in Latin America, which has largely targeted Venezuelans and thus far been limited to deadly strikes in international waters
Trump has increasingly threatened in recent days to take the campaign on land, while Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro claims Washington is plotting his ouster Trinidad and Tobago which is just 11km from the Venezuelan coast at its closest point has sided with Washington against its neighbour Venezuela angrily denounced “the military provocation of Trinidad and
Tobago, in co-ordination with the CIA, aimed at provoking a war in the Caribbean”
Caracas added that it had arrested a group of mercenaries with links
The owner of Nigeria’s Dangote oil refinery wants it to become the biggest in the world in three years’ time, with an expansion doubling its capacity.
“We are more than doubling the barrels [per day] to 1.4 million from 650,000,” said Aliko Dangote, a Nigerian businessman who is Africa’s richest person. “This will make it the largest refinery” globally, surpassing India’s Jamnagar Refinery, he told a news conference in Lagos.
The oil refinery is already the largest in Africa. The privately run Dangote refinery, which started operations last year, is a game changer for Nigeria, which previously had to import almost all its petrol despite being a major oil producer.
After years of neglect and mismanagement of public refineries, Dangote, has shaken up the corruption-marred players in Nigeria and driven down prices of petrol for consumers.
“This expansion reflects our confidence in Nigeria’s future, our belief in Africa’s potential and our commitment to building energy independence for our continent,” and reduce import dependence, Dangote said,
This expansion reflects our confidence in Nigeria’s future.
Aliko Dangote, Dangote oil refinery owner
adding there was “quite a lot of demand” from west Africa and east Africa.
Dangote also exports aviation fuel, mainly to the United States, Europe and Brazil. The Dangote refinery plans to list on the Nigerian Stock Exchange next year “That is a step towards broader ownership and market transparency,” said Dangote. A second privately owned refinery, BUA, is under construction by another Nigerian billionaire, Abdulsamad Rabiu.
Nigeria pumps an average of 1.5 million barrels of oil a day, according to the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, but it is still short of its two-million, barrels-per-day target. AFP
Some of the alleged leaders of a criminal group accused of siphoning off millions of euros in Greek EU farm subsidies have been taken into pretrial custody, state media reported yesterday.
They are accused of having run a longstanding fraud to get more than they were entitled from the EU farming scheme by boosting the number of animals they owned.
Police arrested 37 suspects last week and eight of the alleged ringleaders were ordered held in pretrial detention at hearings over the weekend, state TV channel ERT and the ANA news agency reported.
The case has put pressure on Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, given that most of the allegedly fraudulent subsidies went to Crete his family’s powerbase. “We will not back down, whatever the political cost,” Mitsotakis said yesterday of the
inquiry, vowing that the guilty would be punished. He has pointed out that the fraud, which Greek authorities estimate amounts to at least €23 million, began in 2016 three years before he came to power
The charges the suspects face include being part of a criminal organisation, fraud, obtaining false certification and money laundering from criminal activity. If convicted, they could face jail terms of up to 20 years.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) described it as a “largescale agricultural funding fraud”, adding that most of the suspects appeared to have no link to farming.
To conceal the illicit origin of the proceeds, the suspects are believed to have issued fictitious invoices, routed the funds through multiple bank accounts, and mixed them with legitimate income,” the EPPO said. AFP
to the CIA, days after Trump said he had authorised covert CIA operations against Venezuela Maduro s Government claimed the alleged mercenaries were mounting a false flag attack aimed at provoking a full-blown war, without giving details
Venezuela regularly claims to have arrested US-backed mercenaries working to destabilise Maduro’s administration
The USS Gravely is one of several warships Washington deployed to the Caribbean in August as part of an anti-drugs campaign that Venezuela sees as a front for trying to topple
Maduro whose re-election Washington rejects as fraudulent
Tensions escalated sharply at the weekend, when the Pentagon also ordered the deployment of the world s biggest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, to the region US forces have blown up at least 10 boats they claimed were smuggling narcotics, killing at least 43 people, since September
The standoff has pulled in Colombia’s Gustavo Petro, a sharp critic of the American strikes who was sanctioned by Washington on Friday for allegedly allowing drug production to flourish
Caracas has accused Trinidad and Tobago, a twin-island nation of 1 4 million people whose Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is fiercely
Spanish police yesterday said they seized 6.5 tonnes of cocaine and arrested nine people after a US tipoff led them to raid a ship off the Canary Islands a few days ago.
Police said the narcotics were hidden in the hold of the boat, which was flying a Tanzanian flag and had departed from Panama en route to
critical of Maduro, of serving as “a US aircraft carrier”.
In Port of Spain, some people welcomed the Government’s show of support for Trump’s campaign but
Vigo, in north-west Spain.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the US federal agency responsible for combating drug trafficking, provided key “information” that enabled the operation to succeed, the press release stated.
Spain is one of the main gateways
others worried about getting caught up in a regional conflict.
“If anything should happen with Venezuela and America, we as people who live on the outskirts of
for cocaine into Europe, due to its links with Latin America, where the drug is produced, and its location in the southwest of the continent.
Spanish police made their biggest cocaine seizure last October when they discovered some 13 tonnes hidden in a shipment of bananas to the port of Algeciras. AFP
it could end up getting a lash any time,” 64-year-old Daniel Holder, a Rastafarian who wore a white turban, told AFP. “I am against my country being part of this,” he added.
Victor Rojas, a 38-year-old carpenter who has been living in Trinidad and Tobago for the past eight years, said he was worried for his family back home.
“Venezuela is not in a position to weather an attack right now,” he said, referring to the country’s economic collapse under Maduro.
Trinidad and Tobago, which acts as a hub in the Caribbean drug trade, has itself been caught up in the US campaign of strikes on suspected drug boats. Two Trinidadian men were killed in a strike on a vessel that set out from Venezuela in midOctober, according to their families.
The mother of one of the victims insisted he was a fisherman, not a drug trafficker. Local authorities have not yet confirmed their deaths. AFP
Protesters flooded Spain’s southern city of Seville yesterday as public outrage grows over failings that led to hundreds of women not receiving the results of breast cancer screenings.
The southern Andalusia region's Government said the scandal affected at least 2300 women who had mammograms in public hospitals in recent years. All of the tests revealed issues or were inconclusive and would have required follow-ups, so the failure to inform patients meant potential cancer cases went undetected.
The regional authorities have so far not offered clear explanations for the failing but said they planned to boost staffing in mammography units a move many patients and activists have deemed insufficient.
Protests led by women erupted in several Andalusian cities earlier this month, which local media said drew thousands of people. Regions are responsible for public healthcare in Spain’s decentralised political system.
Heeding a call from Amama a Seville-based association of women who have breast cancer protesters gathered yesterday in front of the San Telmo Palace, the regional seat of government. “No forgetting, no forgiveness, Bonilla resign!” the crowd chanted, calling on Andalusia’s leader Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla to step down. He has faced criticism for his handling of the crisis, which led to the resignation of his health minister earlier this month.
The chants of “our lives cannot wait!” and “screening errors are an attack” echoed throughout the Spanish city, according to an AFP reporter at the scene.
Bonilla, whose term ends next year, apologised to the patients earlier this month. The Spanish health ministry also announced a more in-depth study of cancer screening programmes in the country, starting with those in Andalusia.
AFP
Protesters in Seville hold up banners showing mammograms during the demonstration over breast cancer screening failures.
German authorities yesterday ordered the culling of about 130,000 ducks and chickens on farms near Berlin as the country battles a surge in bird-flu cases. The disease has been detected in a duck farm with around 80,000 birds and a broiler chicken farm with around 50,000, the Maerkisch-Oderland district in Brandenburg said. “The veterinary office has decided, in consultation with the relevant authorities, to remove the affected animals for animal welfare and health reasons,” it said. Germany’s national animal disease research centre, the Friedrich Loeffler Institute, has warned of a “high” risk from the outbreak. Because wild birds are affected, including, for the first time, cranes the FLI warned that “further, possibly widespread transmission” was to be expected.
India and China resumed direct flights yesterday after a five-year suspension, a move important for trade and a symbolic step as Asia’s giants cautiously rebuild relations. IndiGo flight 6E1703 from Kolkata touched down in the Chinese city of Guangzhou, officially resuming nonstop air links that had been suspended since 2020 due to the Covid pandemic and geopolitical tensions. The neighbours and the world’s two most populous nations engaged in a Himalayan border clash in 2020. India’s Government said the resumption of flights would aid the “gradual normalisation of bilateral exchanges”.
French authorities have detained two of the suspected robbers believed to have stolen precious crown jewels from the Louvre in a museum heist that stunned the world, officials say. Thieves robbed the famous museum in Paris in broad daylight on October 19, making off with jewellery worth an estimated US$102 million. The two suspects were known to the police for committing thefts, a source close to the case said, adding that they were in their 30s and from Seine-SaintDenis, a region just outside Paris. After media reports of the detentions, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau yesterday said authorities had “carried out arrests on Saturday evening”, and confirmed that “one of the men arrested was about to leave the country” from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport. The second man was detained not long afterwards in the Paris region, media reports said. Beccuau deplored the public revelation of the arrests, warning they “can only hinder the efforts of the 100 investigators mobilised” in the hunt for the jewels and the perpetrators.
UK police arrested an Ethiopian asylum seeker and convicted sex offender after he was accidentally released from prison in an embarrassing blunder by officials. London’s Metropolitan Police yesterday said officers arrested Hadush Kebatu in the north of the capital nearly 48 hours after he was mistakenly freed. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Kebatu would now be deported. “ We must make sure this doesn’t happen again,” he said on X. Kebatu, 38, had served the first month of a one-year sentence for sexually assaulting a teenage girl and a woman, and was reportedly due to be deported when the Prison Service error occurred.
The 93-year-old mother of King Vajiralongkorn widow of King Bhumibol
Adulyadej died on Friday
Thousands of grieving Thai royalists lined the streets of Bangkok at the weekend, saluting a procession bringing Queen Sirikit’s body to lie in state for a year at the Thai capital s Grand Palace
Members of the royal family are venerated in Thailand, treated by many as semi-divine figures and lavished with glowing media coverage and gold-adorned portraits hanging in public spaces and private homes nationwide
Queen Sirikit, the mother of the current King Vajiralongkorn and widow of the kingdom s longestreigning monarch, died on Friday at the age of 93
Sirikit’s body was carried in a slowmoving ambulance from Chulalongkorn Hospital on Sunday, flanked by motorbike outriders on a 10km procession to the Grand Palace
Crowds of nurses clasped their hands and bowed as the convoy passed while other spectators clutched portraits of the Queen or wept as ranks of saluting police officers fell to one knee
“I want to send her off for the last time, on her last journey, as one of her children as a Thai who loves and respects her, 56-year-old Boontham Kornwaen told AFP outside the hospital
Queen Sirikit s body will lie in state at the seat of the Thai royalty for one year before cremation
Black-and-white tributes to the royal matriarch were beamed on to towering billboards on TVs in supermarkets and hotel lobbies and as pop-up notices on Thai banking apps
Television newscasters wore black and media websites turned monochrome while citizens have been asked to dress in muted colours and curtail celebratory public events for 90 days
Tanaburdee Srimuang kept a vigil outside the Grand Palace since confirmation of Sirikit’s death broke in the early hours of Saturday
“I am not tired,” the 24-year-old told AFP “I am happy to be here for her for the last time ”
About half of the people in a supermarket and on a shopping street in central Bangkok were wearing the traditional Thai mourning colours of black or white, an AFP journalist saw K-pop supergroup Blackpink went ahead with sold-out weekend shows at Bangkok’s 50,000-seat Rajamangala National Stadium but
attendees were asked “to wear black attire as a mark of mourning”
‘MotheroftheNation’
Throughout her 66-year marriage to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Sirikit carved a reputation as a glamorous fashionista and the nation’s caring mother figure
Some Western media compared Sirikit to former US first lady Jackie Kennedy
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul delayed his departure to Malaysia on Saturday for a summit of Asean leaders to sign a peace deal with Cambodia witnessed by US President Donald Trump
But he still jetted out for a quick turnaround endorsement of the pact made after cross-border clashes in July killed more than 40 people and forced around 300,000 to flee their homes
“I send my condolences to the Great People of Thailand, Trump posted on social media, en route to Malaysia where the pact was signed
on Sunday
The lengthy reign of Sirikit s husband, from 1946 until 2016, was bookended by World War II and Trump’s first election win
Though King Vajiralongkorn inherited the throne about nine years ago, many still revere King Bhumibol as the nation s most steadfast figurehead and Queen Sirikit as his constant companion
She retired from the public eye in recent years her privacy sealed by strict lese majeste laws that limit what can be reported about the royal family
Sirikit had “suffered several illnesses” while hospitalised since 2019, including a blood infection this month, the palace said in a statement
But in her glamorous heyday in the 1960s, she mingled with US Presidents and superstars such as Elvis Presley
At home, she was referred to as the Mother of the Nation and her birthday was designated the country’s Mother s Day AFP
Vote outcome will shape the co-op’s future and deliver a major cash boost to suppliers whiteswrites
Fonterra’s farmer shareholders will discover the fate of their investment in the coop s Consumer and related businesses when voting closes on Thursday
Indications are that they will give a green light to the $4 2 billion sale to France s Lactalis which, if it goes ahead will be one of the biggest single transactions the market has seen in recent years and one of the most consequential Fonterra is targeting a tax-free capital return to farmers of $2 per share from the transaction, or about $400 000 in total for an average farmer
The sale, which includes a longterm agreement for Fonterra to sell milk and ingredients to Lactalis, is
Jamie Gray
expected to go through in the first half of next year
At stake is Fonterra’s global Consumer business (excluding Greater China) and Consumer brands; the integrated Foodservice and Ingredients businesses in Oceania and Sri Lanka; and the Middle East and Africa Foodservice business
The deal involves the sale of some of Fonterra’s most recognised brands including Anchor and Mainland
Fonterra says the capital tied up in its consumer business while profitable is better directed to its Ingredients and Foodservice businesses, which offer better returns on the capital employed
While $3 2b will be returned to farmers, Fonterra aims to retain
about $1b to invest over the next three to four years in projects to generate further value through its remaining Ingredients and Foodservice businesses
ASB chief Economist Nick Tuffley says Fonterra s capital return would
Fonterra Co-operative which oversees shareholders’ interests said the co-op’s meetings and webinars on the sale had been wellattended
Voting started on October 7
The resolution requires a simple
Is Fonterra’s ‘long-term agreement’ for three, four or 10 years? Whatever the number, the clock will stop and New Zealand’s milk will become just another in a long line of milk jugs.
Winston Peters
represent a “meaningful financial uplift” for dairy farmers
“The average return would be around $392,000 if the sale goes ahead, and we estimate around 60% of shareholding farms could receive at least $200,000,” he said in a report
John Stevenson, chairman of the
majority of over 50% and a result should be known on Thursday If the vote it fails, the transaction will not proceed; a capital return will not be made; and Fonterra will continue to own the consumer and associated businesses
Garry Reymer, a Fonterra
shareholder-supplier who farms near Cambridge, told the Herald he had already voted
“I’m definitely for it,” Reymer said
“I’m a supporter 100% I ve been to a couple of meetings and there have been very few dissenting voices ”
He pointed out the assets in question only take 7% of Fonterra s milk supply not much in the grand scheme of things
The deal has attracted some political pushback, and some unfavourable letters to the Herald
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters questioned how long Fonterra would remain a supplier of milk to Lactalis after the sale
“Is Fonterra’s long-term agreement’ for three, four or 10 years?
Whatever the number the clock will stop and New Zealand’s milk will become just another in a long line of milk jugs,” Peters said
Under the terms of the deal, Lactalis has agreed to take Foterra s
Nadine Higgins
The cost of living isn’t the only thing stretching New Zealanders’ wallets dying has also got much more expensive.
“For a full funeral where you may have the service first followed by a cremation or burial, the average cost here in New Zealand is between $16,000 and $18,000,” Brent Ruru, director of Everything Funeral, told Nadine Higgins on The Prosperity Project podcast.
Ruru says the costs stack up fast “Funeral directors charge a professional services fee and then on top of that would come the casket selection, venue, catering, photo montage, service sheets, newspaper notices, floral arrangements, engaging a celebrant right through to perhaps a cost associated to live streaming the funeral.”
Everything Funeral is an independent service Ruru founded to help families navigate more affordable funeral options.
While Ruru stops short of calling it profiteering, he does suggest some in the industry will “clip the ticket”.
The restrictions caused by the Covid pandemic, however, served to change the landscape.
“More people are now doing direct cremations first and then having some form of celebration or ceremony afterwards that drives the cost down significantly”.
add underwater drones
Keall
Fast-growing Mount Maunganui drone maker Syos already had land, sea and air covered with its line-up of uncrewed vehicles
Now it can add underwater, too, thanks to its purchase of Bay Dynamics a Tauranga maker of uncrewed submersibles, for an undisclosed sum
Bay Dynamics’ founder, sole director and shareholder Matt Mooney is now Syos’ head of subsea vehicle design
Syos founder, chief executive and majority shareholder Sam Vye told the Herald the motivation for the buyout was twofold: To gain the niche engineering skills of Mooney and his half-dozen staff and the intellectual property for the various craft they’ve designed
Subsea capability was the only element missing in Syos’ offering for civil and defence customers
Further acquisitions were possible
“We want to be a global leader,” Vye said Mooney s firm, founded in 2017, won a contract to clear a Tauranga Council output pipe that stretched 1km out to sea
It constructed a purpose-built, remote-controlled submersible for the job, capable of lifting up to 50kg and equipped with a swappable payload bay for either stereo cameras and lights or sonar for mapping
Underwater housing was bought offshore but other components were machined or 3D printed in Tauranga, Mooney said in a council video about the project
Earlier this year, Bay Dynamics said it had been selected by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, from an international pool of tenderers, to build a customised drone system for the Fiji Police Force to fight marinebased crime”
Bay Dynamics adapted a submersible from US firm Blue Robotics for the contract
And in April, Meridian Energy said it was using “BlueROV-C” underwater robots from Bay Dynamics for hydro dam and lake inspections
The submersibles are again a mix of products bought offshore with local parts and customisation
“We recently developed an oil and gas support unit designed especially for the high-flow waters of the offshore Taranaki region Another design has been used for the inshore energy civil sector for dams and long-
range penstocks [a type of sluice for controlling water flow] ” Mooney said
“We have another design with a defence multi-role capability which is lined up for Antarctica under ice applications These were designed and built by Bay Dynamics to bring experience and ruggedness to markets that were demanding it but not getting it elsewhere
Syos founded in 2021, first drew mainstream attention in April this year when Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s United Kingdom visit was used to announce Syos £30 million ($66m) drone deal with the UK Ministry of Defence, which is in turn aiding Ukraine in its fight against Russia with strong hints that more contracts will follow
Syos opened a European engineering and production facility at Fareham in the UK in 2024
The Fareham site employs 50 engineers and can produce 40 stateof-the-art uncrewed subsea vehicles (USVs) a month the firm says
Bay Dynamics operations will relocate to Syos’ Mt Maunganui site
which currently employs about 70 people and underwater uncrewed vehicle (UUV) production will be expanded into the UK for the European market
During a recent behind-the-scenes tour of Syos Mt Maunganui facility (see video top of article), Vye said his firm s points of difference in a crowded field were its fast development and build times, plus its AIaided software that lets one operator control many drones at once in a coordinated swarm across land, sea and the sky
His firm’s software dubbed the Augmented Intelligence Mission System or “Aims”, is brand-agnostic, Vye said That meant it could be immediately used to control Bay Dynamic’s craft (or other drones using standard systems)
Moreexpansionahead
Syos planned to triple its Mt Maunganui staff over the next year, Vye said Vye said the potential applications for Syos air, land, sea and now underwater vehicles are endless, ranging from disaster response to offshore
inspections to delivering supplies to ships
“We want to remove a pilot or operator from any operation that is dull, dirty or dangerous to reduce risk and reduce cost whether that’s in national security or in civil applications ”
Vye told the Herald that he started Syos with seed capital from high-net worth individuals, including Sam Morgan and Kent Baigent, after been spurned by local venture capital funds The business could fund itself organically and had no plans for a raise
Government’sheadturned
The NZ Defence Force looked offshore for its first drones, including Australian-made Bluebottle craft for the navy’s first uncrewed small vessels
But earlier this month, Defence Minister Judith Collins with Vye on hand launched a new Defence Industry Strategy
Associate Minister of Defence
Chris Penk said the plan would encourage the NZDF and local
innovators to team up in showcasing New Zealand made equipment and services to partners
A new four-year Defence Capability plan, announced by Collins on October 3, includes a new Technology Accelerator programme with an “indicative investment of $100m to $300m
The fund will see “Defence work with the advanced technology sector on military use technology for the NZDF and with export potential , Collins said
Vye was expecting the first Technology Accelerator funding to be allocated from July next year
Syos and other potential participants are waiting for NZDF to release its first request-for-proposals for the programme but he was confident at least one of his firm s R&D projects would fit the bill
The fast-moving nature of the drone market meant most defence forces framed an RFP in terms of a problem that they need to solve, rather than requesting an unmanned craft built to specific tech specs, Vye said
continued from A15 milk for an initial term of 10 years, after which it automatically renews until terminated, with a 36-month notice period.
Reymer said in the unlikely event of Lactalis ceasing to take Fonterra’s milk, it would allow the co-op to divert milk to the higher-yielding Ingredients and Foodservice businesses.
“The message is that Lactalis is going to want our milk, long-term. They want the brands but they still want our milk because it has a good story.
“They want it for the low carbon footprint which they’ll use in, in their own marketing, so I’m not worried,” Reymer said.
In a letter titled And another one bites the dust, Tim Hazledine, emeritus professor of economics at the
University of Auckland said the selloff of New Zealand’s corporate assets continued with Fonterra’s disposal to a French family of most of its consumer products business.
“Corporations and thus countries don’t get richer by selling productive assets, and New Zealand hasn’t,” he said.
“Instead of exulting over the start of ‘one of the most exciting phases in Fonterra’s history’ (August 23), the chairman, Peter McBride, and his executive team should be hanging their heads in shame at having been unable to develop the value of the company’s retail businesses to the point of them being beyond the reach of a foreign takeover operator.”
Reymer said the deal would offer a capital injection for some but for others, it will make up for lost capital if they happened to buy in at higher prices than prevail today.
“A lot of farmers would have bought shares north of $5, so for some it will just be matter of getting capital back,” he said.
The council’s Stevenson said there had been good engagement from farmers.
Fonterra was formed in 2001 after farmers voted in favour of merging the New Zealand Dairy Board, New Zealand Dairy Group and Kiwi Cooperative Dairies.
Since then, the co-op’s performance has been mixed, and punctuated by ill-advised investments such as a stake in China’s Beingmate for $755m, which was later sold at a big loss.
However, a slimmed-down Fonterra after a number of big asset sales has performed better in recent years.
Stevenson said the sale of Consumer to Lactalis was a significant
decision for farmers “because the future does look quite different post the divestment”.
“We’ve gone pretty deep into this, as we should as a representative body. If you put the capital return to one side, we’re going to continue to supply milk for hopefully generations to come, so we need to have the confidence that our co-op will deliver into the future,” he said.
The council engaged Northington Partners to provide an independent assessment of what Fonterra put to farmers.
“Northington came back and indicated that Fonterra looked like a better business, post this divestment, and that they would have the capital to be able to make their short to medium-term investment plans.
Fonterra has said it intends to return to 2025 earnings (net profit $1.079b) by 2028, despite the absence
of a contribution from Consumer.
“The commitment that Fonterra has made to return to this past year’s earnings by 2028 gave the council a lot of confidence that the future of Fonterra, with it focusing on Ingredients and Foodservice, does look like a more repeatable business for Fonterra as a farmer-owned co-op.”
Stevenson said Fonterra farmers were “a broad church”.
“We’ve got a number of farmers that have a real emotional connection to the brands, and you can understand that
“We also have a lot of farmers who have looked at the rationale and the financial data and have a lot of confidence in the direction going forward,” Stevenson said.
“Fonterra farmers also have a strong history of making the right decision when it comes to long-term structural decisions within the co-op.”
the Customs team foils a cunning concealment
8.30 Elsbeth M 0 Elsbeth visits the historic and elite funeral home owned by Arthur Greene jr when his conspiracy-minded nephew goes missing
9.20 Coronation Street PG 10 20 Deal or No Deal Australia 3 10.45 Shortland Street PG 3 Cleo digs into the past
11.15 Mt Hutt Rescue PG 3 Patroller Skye attempts to rescue a concussed skier, Dr Kate struggles to reset a dislocated shoulder, and road patroller Mikey’s PR skills are tested by a demanding Aussie
12.10 Worst House on the Street 3
1am Te Karere 3
1 25 Quiz
2am Infomercials
5 30 Te Karere 3
Megalopolis 16VLSC 2024 Sci-fi The city of New Rome faces the duel between a brilliant artist who favours a utopian future, and a greedy mayor
3.25 5lbs of Pressure 16VLC 2024 Thriller Fresh out of prison for a killing, a man is seeking redemption Meanwhile, the victim’s brother
6am Les Mills Born to Move 3 0
6.25 Children’s Programmes Kiri and Lou; Toi Time; Night Eyes; Lego Ninjago – Dragons Rising; Brain Busters; Lu and the Bally Bunch; Takaro Tribe
9am Infomercials
9.30 Les Mills Adult Classes 3
10.05 TheDrewBarrymoreShow PG 0
11am Home and Away PG 3 0
11 30 Shortland Street PG 3 0
Noon Tipping Point Australia 3 0
1pm Come Dine with Me 0
1.30 Brooklyn Nine-Nine PG 3 0
When cocaine and weapons are stolen from the evidence lockup the squad must investigate the Nine-Nine itself
2pm The Rookie MV 3 0 Ahead of Bailey’s return home, John looks for clues to locate Jason Wyler; Tim and Lucy swap rookies; a friendly face resurfaces at the station; Wesley feels unsettled over Angela
3pm Seinfeld PG 3 0
3 30 Neighbours 0
4pm Tipping Point Australia 0
5pm The Big Bang Theory PG 3 0
6pm The Simpsons PG 3 0
6.30 Home and Away PG 0
Mackenzie avoids opening up; Tane comforts Jo; Bree is the bearer of bad news
7pm Shortland Street PG 0 Cleo digs into the past
7 30 MKR PG 0
9pm Kitchen Nightmares 16L 0
Gordon helps Iberville Cuisine and Oyster Bar, in New Orleans French Quarter as they prepare for the Super Bowl that is being hosted in the city
10pm Gordon, Gino and Fred: Viva Espana 16L 3 0
11pm CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
MVC 3 0
11.50 Killer Siblings MV 3
12.45 Wentworth ML 3 0
1.35 Emmerdale PG 3
1.55 Infomercials
2.55 Britannia 16VLC 0
4 35 Neighbours 3 0 5am Infomercials
Point Break MVL 2015 Crime 9.30 Training Day 18VL 2001 Action Thriller 11.30 The Meg MLC 2018 Action 1.25 The Wolf of Wall Street 18LS 2013 Drama True story of Jordan Belfort a young stockbroker whose hunger for wealth saw him succumb to greed and corruption 4.20
6am Beachfront Bargain Hunt: Renovation 3 0
6 55 Homestead Rescue PG 0
8.55 Infomercials
10.40 Gossip Girl M
11 35 Pretty Little Liars M
12.30 The Good Doctor M 3 0
1.30 Flip or Flop 3 0
2pm Below Deck Mediterranean M
0 Captain Sandy and three crew are back, but when two deckies are sidelined by illness the crew struggles to get the boat ready in time for charter
3pm Chopped 3 0
4pm Beachfront Bargain Hunt 3 0
4 30 Island Life 0
5pm House Hunters International 0 After dating for only six months a Denver couple move to the Netherlands
5.30 House Hunters International 0 An Alaskan family moves for a better work-life balance and to give their son the opportunity to play baseball year-round in Melbourne, Australia
6pm Three News 0
7pm Bondi Rescue PG 3 0
7.30 David Lomas Investigates PG 3 0 A woman was abandoned at a Mumbai orphanage 47 years ago and is hoping to find her birth mother, who would be taking a risk in agreeing to meet her
8.35 Tangata Pai M Willa faces insecurities; Adrian tries to evacuate the land; Miki is stopped in his tracks; Hinewai runs toward danger; Ahorangi sides with whanau
9.35 Tangata Pai M The community gathers to honour the dead and the survivors struggle to move on, knowing that the truth about who was responsible may never be known
10 35 BelowDeckMediterranean M 3
11.35 Paper Dolls 16 Nepotism-baby Charlie Levett crumbles under the pressure of the Monster film clip, coming dangerously close to revisiting old, unhealthy habits
12 35 Infomercials
8am The Drawing Show 3 0
8.10 My Favourite Dead Person 3 0
8 30 Kiri and Lou 3 0
8 35 Extreme Cake Sports 3 0
9am Crowd Goes Wild PG 3
9 30 Rugby Nation 3
10am Infomercials
Noon Crowd Goes Wild PG 3
12.30 A New Life in the Sun PGL 3 0
1.30 Mend it for Money PG 3 0
2 30 The 100K Drop 3 0
3 30 Cricket: ICC Women’s ODI World Cup (HLS) 0 England v White Ferns
4.30 Football: A-League Men (HLS)
5.30 Suddenly Susan PGC 0 After a city supervisor dies Susan considers taking his place in the campaign – her opponent is a professional wrestler
6pm The New Adventures of Old Christine PGC 0 Christine takes drastic measures to save Barb from being deported to the Bahamas
6.30 The 100K Drop 3 0
7.30 The Motorway PG 0 The patrollers clash with a flock of sheep, a damaged pallet is a safety threat, and a desperate driver tries to get home on an empty petrol tank
8.30 The Ridge 16 0 Mia’s discovery of the skinny-dipping video leads to a violent confrontation between Ewan and Teddy; Mia starts making enemies as she lines up suspects in Cassy’s death
9.30 Forensics: Catching the Killer 16VC 3 0 Eileen Jawczak was walking home when she was dragged into an alleyway and strangled to death – her murder may be linked to the Rochdale Ripper 10 30 Island Medics MVC 3 0 11 30 Billions 16VLSC 0 Prince tries to leverage a past employees work for his own gain; Chuck rallies the troops at his old stomping ground; a betrayal from within Prince Cap shakes Wendy’s confidence 12 30 Infomercials
tradition that becomes a lethal game of survival Samara Weaving, Andie MacDowell
1010 Heretic 16VC 2024 Horror Two young Mormon missionaries knock on the door of a diabolical man and become ensnared in his deadly game of cat-andmouse 12am Bloodline
1. Get the better of the bit that’s one’s greatest achievement (11)
8. A bit of give-and-take shows how far up the globe one is (8)
9 Depravity may hold one in its grip (4)
10. It is what one believes may be Nicene (5)
13. It took a time to say yes, right? (4)
16. Starts emulating pigs in clover - it’s a great story (4)
17. Peaceful entry in a tropical monsoon (4)
18. Powder made its comeback in cosmetic lately (4)
20. Dodge Dave devised with energy (5)
24. Pleasant place to be, on the Riviera (4)
25. Scottish lawyer may recommend it (8) 26. A dispute with convert has sorry outcome right away (11)
2. Stake put up with the post, betting ahead (4) 3. He teaches one to get in a rut when upset (5) 4. Part lost from game bird may be high (5) 5. Being on diplomatic mission, he will envy nothing within it (5) 6. Secret sect laden in error (11) 7. Play politics with boundaries, making merry in garden maybe (11)
The pick of the type, where typist is concerned (5)
Play the doctor,
ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 19): The fix you're looking for isn't new It's not even new to you, really. You've solved this problem before (or one just like it) and the answer is tucked away in memory. Close your eyes and the solution will be right there waiting for you.
TAURUS (Apr 20-May 20): You make people feel special. Today your interest spreads warmth and sets the tone for lasting goodwill. You'll have fun getting to know people better
GEMINI (May 21-Jun 21): Even the most routine task takes on an air of significance because you care to understand the process, get to know the people and even learn a bit of the history that brought you all to this moment.
CANCER (Jun 22-Jul 22): You'll be shown the positive aspect of limits More tasks, more people, more items don't necessarily make things better The real win today is in editing
LEO (Jul 23-Aug 22): Today you'll be struck by the richness of your inner life. Reflection and imagination may be a solo mission, but you won't feel lonely because self-sufficiency can feel surprisingly social.
VIRGO (Aug 23-Sep 22): Someone enjoys pushing your buttons. They know what bothers you and on some level it feels good to be known But if you want it to stop, your best reaction is not to react.
LIBRA (Sep 23-Oct 23): People change when they feel included. Your inviting gesture flips the mood Maybe you'll ask the thoughtful question, save a seat or share a joke. Belonging is a cheap gift to give and a priceless one to receive.
SCORPIO (Oct 24-Nov 21): You're drawn to love like some people are drawn to the ocean: Ceaseless movement and unfathomable danger magnetise with mesmerising power You must have the beauty, despite the risk, or perhaps because of it.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22-Dec 21): As animals at both ends of the food chain know, hiding isn't weakness, it's a survival strategy. Today you may hide for fun, to protect your energy or to observe the unvarnished truth.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19): Conditions will never be perfect. Start where you are. The rough draft, the first call, the messy attempt – they might feel awkward but they separate the dilettantes from those who eventually become masters
AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18): Many around you today will care about surface qualities You're looking for what's sustainable, not just what dazzles in the moment. This quest for value will pay you back sooner than you think.
PISCES (Feb 19-Mar 20): Titles don't guarantee influence. Someone can be "the boss" but not command respect. Today, you'll see something that isn't being handled. Step up and take charge and you'll become the one people trust.
ALCHEMY ANGELS APPARITION ASTRAL ASTROLOGY BLACK MAGIC CENTAUR DEVIL DIVINATION DJINN GOBLIN GHOULS GHOSTS GRIFFIN HEALING HEX LEY LINE MEDIUM MERMAID OCCULT OUIJA PHOENIX PROPHECY PSYCHIC SIXTH SENSE SIREN SORCERY SPELL SPHINX SPIRIT TAROT TELEKINESIS
TELEPATHIC UNICORN VAMPIRE VOODOO WITCH WIZARD
ZODIAC ZOMBIE
Find the threeletter sequence which will complete all these words
Fit the words into the grid to create a finished crossword
3 LETTERS ACT AFT APT ASK CAW COT DON ERA ERR EWE EYE FAX FED FEE FUR GAS GYM LAX LIP MOO NOT NOW OBI ODD OIL OLD PEA RAY RED RUE RUM SEW SIR SOT TIT TOO TOY TWO WHY YES
4 LETTERS AIDE BASS BOND CEDE COIN CUTS CYST DENY DULY ENDS EPEE ERGO EVIL FIRE ICON INKY JAIL LIMP LINT LIRE LOAM LOAN MEND NEAT NEST OOPS OPEN ORAL OVER PERU PIER PLEA POSH RAMP SLOT
SOLO TAGS TOOL TRIO UNDO VIAL WEPT WILY WOLF YELP ZINC
5 LETTERS BUILT COMBO FLUNG HORNY JANET LIVEN OBEYS PUREE RIFTS STREW TREND
YELPS
6 LETTERS AMAZON BERETS CANINE DAMSEL DOLLOP FESTER GOLFER TANDEM
7 LETTERS CONDEMN REALIST REUNITE TENFOLD
9 LETTERS HAIRPIECE OBSCURELY
A broad low, with embedded fronts, is moving across Aotearoa New Zealand from the Tasman Sea today, followed by a cold southwesterly flow The strong cold southwesterly flow over the country eases tomorrow, and turns westerly
Today: Rain, heavy at times with possible thunderstorms and localised downpours, easing in the morning. Strong northwesterlies, gale in exposed places, gusting 100 km/h, turning southwesterly in afternoon. Tomorrow: Fine, but becoming cloudy from afternoon. Westerlies. Thursday: Occasional rain Easterlies developing Friday: Partly cloudy, with isolated showers. Southerlies. Saturday: Fine, but chance shower Southeasterly, turns northeasterly
Hamilton rain 18 8
Tauranga rain 20 10
Rotorua rain 17 6
Taupo rain 16 6
Napier few showers 22 8 New Plymouth rain 17 9 Palmerston Nth few showers 17 7
Today: NW 30kt gusting 40kt. Changing SW 35kt gusting 50kt midday N swell 1.5m. Poor visibility in showers
Tomorrow: SW 20kt, easing to W 10kt in the morning. N swell 1m dying out. Partly cloudy
Thursday: E 10kt. N swell 1m. Occasional rain. Friday: SE 15kt. NE swell 1m. A few showers
Today: NW 30kt gusting 40kt, changing SW 40kt gusting 50kt early afternoon. Sea very rough N swell 1.5m. Poor visibility in showers. Tomorrow: SW 25kt, easing to W 20kt in the morning, then to 10kt in the afternoon. Partly cloudy
Thursday: E 10kt. Occasional rain.
Friday: SW 20kt. A few showers
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Mangawhai Marsden Point Tutukaka Russell Whangaroa Houhora Pouto Point Cape Maria V. D’n Opononi Te Kopuru
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For Sale
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4kg in ex condition, $350ono Phone Tom at Maungawai 027 605 8723. Wanted to Buy or Exchange
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CAMPERVAN 1998 Ford Transit diesel, automatic, 2 berth, shower/ toilet New WOF. $30,000 Ph 0272655910.
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New Zealand driver Liam Lawson was forced to retire early in a dramatic Formula One Mexican Grand Prix in which he came close to hitting two people running on the track
After starting 15th on the grid Lawson was involved in a first-lap collision with Williams rival Carlos Sainz, which forced him into the pits
A damaged front wing was was replaced by the Racing Bulls crew but Lawson’s return to the track was short-lived and he retired in the sixth lap
Footage emerged later of Lawson narrowly missing two marshals who were on the track, as he accelerated out of the pit lane
Two men were on the track clearing debris unaware the New Zealander had dropped behind the field
Lawson was clearly rattled, judging by an exchange with a Racing Bulls engineer on their team radio immediately after the incident
“Oh my god, are you kidding me,”
Lawson said
“Did you see that? I could have f ing killed him, mate ”
The engineer praised Lawson for avoiding the pair
Lawson retired a handful of laps later, to register his fifth non-finish of his season
Lando Norris avoided the early mayhem to win from pole position and take the championship lead from McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, by a single point
Piastri who started the race in seventh place and 14 points clear of the Briton, finished fifth
Charles Leclerc was runner-up for Ferrari 30 3 seconds behind Norris while Red Bull’s reigning champion Max Verstappen took his sixth successive podium in third place, after a nailbiting finish just 0 7s behind the Monegasque
Oliver Bearman was fourth for Haas, in a career best result for the young Briton, a late virtual safety car ending Piastri s hopes of getting past
Norris said he plans to continue his policy of being relaxed and focused on just himself after taking the lead in the drivers championship
It was Norris’ first win in Mexico and the 10th of his career lifting him to 357 points in the title race ahead of Piastri on 356 and on top for the first time in six months since the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in April
With four events remaining, Norris has seized the momentum and is also 36 points ahead of in-form Verstappen
It s one weekend at a time for me, said Norris, whose competitive mentality and composure have been questioned this season
Bridget Tunnicliffe of RNZ
NetballNZboss JennieWylliesaysthe nationalbody’sintention wasalwaysto reinstateDameNoeline TauruaasSilver Fernscoach.
Attheweekend, NetballNZconfirmed thatDameNoeline wouldreturnascoach, endingatwo-month sagathatcouldleave scarson thesportforyears tocome.
Lastmonth, shockwavesweresent throughthesport whenTauruawasstood downfromthe TainiJamisonseriesagainst SouthAfrica.
Sheandher coachingstaffwere suspended,after areviewflagged “significantissues” intheteam environment,sparkedbyplayer complaintsearlier intheyear
Weeksof discussionsoverproposed changestothe SilverFernsprogramme failedtofind aresolutionandYvette McCausland-Duriewas broughtinas interimcoach.
Lastmonth, Tauruawasreportedly offeredseveral pathwaystoreinstatement duringlengthy mediationtalksthat followedtheSouth Africanseries,butthe twopartiesremaineddeadlocked
OnSaturday,Netball NZsaidtheyhad reachedanagreement forDameNoelineto resumeher role,withchangesin theSilver Fernsprogrammeandenvironment
“Thiswasnever aboutNoelineleaving theenvironment,”Wyllie said.“Thiswas
alwaysaboutNoeline comingbackin.
“Itwasalways aboutensuringwehad anenvironment whereeveryonecan performattheir best,physicallyand mentally,andwe believethatwehave takenreallyconfident stepstowardsthat foroursport.”
Whatfinally brokethestandoff?
“Whatwasreally importantwastoreach commonground andacommon understandingofwhere wewanttotake thisgoingforward,” Wylliesaid.“These thingsarealwaystricky.
“You’redealingwith peopleinhigh performanceenvironmentsat thetopend oftheir game bothcoaches andathletes andit’s importanttotakethe timetobe abletowork throughthesethings.”
NetballNZ saidithadfull confidencein DameNoeline’songoing leadershipofthe SilverFerns,noting therewasnothing foundduringthe processthatcalledher integrityintoquestion.
Wylliewouldn’tdirectlyaddress whetherTaurua’sreturn wouldleadto playersmakingthemselvesunavailable
“We’vetakenthe positionwhereit’s importanttounderstand theneedsof everyoneinthis environment,andtomake surethatwe havemechanismstoallow themto feelthattheycan addressconcerns andplaywith freedom,andthateveryone inthatenvironment candothat confidently.”
WhenTauruawas suspended,aswere specialistcoachBriony Akleandassistant
I m happy and I m focused on myself
I’m just keeping my head down and I keep to myself
“It s working for me at the minute so I’m happy but what a race I could just keep my eyes forward and focus on what I was doing ”
Staying calm amid a carnival atmosphere at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, he added: “It was pretty straightforward, which is just what I wanted
“A good start a good launch and a good first lap and then I could go from there
“I just stay relaxed and it helps It helped me get a good start and it s the best thing
“For me, this is awesome and I love it,
my first win in Mexico and what a beautiful one to win here in this stadium ” extravagant “I think I’ve had to drive very differently in the last couple of weeks It has been a bit to get my head around I’ve been driving the same all year but the last couple of weeks the car and tyres required a different way of driving
“I ve not really gone to that I tried a few things today It is nothing to do with the car Given how the pace had differentiated in the last couple of races Lando has found it easier to dial into that and I haven t It s about adding tools to the toolbox rather than reinventing myself ”
coachDebFuller. Decisionsaround thewholecoaching teamwould bemadeoverthe nextfew months,Wylliesaid.
“Withthebenefit ofhavingNoeline onshore,asopposed toonthenorthern tour,we’ll beabletolook atwhatneeds tohappento enhancethosewellbeing frameworks,and lookingtowardsthe futureand planningforCommonwealth Games,soall ofthoseconsiderationswill takeplace atthattime.”
Wyllieconfirmed Tauruawouldcoach theSilverFerns attheCommonwealth Gamesin Julynextyear.
WhenTauruawas re-appointedinApril lastyear, hercontracttookher throughto theconclusion oftheGames.
Despitebeingreturned asSilverFerns headcoach,the interimcoachingteamwill continueuntil theendofthe northerntour. Itwaslikely thatTaurua’sfirsthands-on gameback inchargewouldbe thefirsttest oftheCommonwealth Games. RNZ
The Warriors NRLW side have made a statement signing by adding Black Ferns star Stacey Waaka to their squad on a two-year deal
Waaka played for the Brisbane Broncos during the 2024 NRLW season, when she scored six tries in six games before a broken leg ended her season
The 29-year-old skipped the 2025 campaign to play in her third Rugby World Cup, having been part of the winning sides of 2017 and 2021
She is also a double gold medal winner with the Black Ferns Sevens at the Olympics
Her signing extends a recruiting spree over the past three weeks which has seen the Warriors secure Waaka’s former Broncos teammates Gayle Broughton, Mele Hufanga and Annetta Nuuausala all of whom were part of their NRLW Premiership-winning side earlier this month
Waaka said her desire was to always return to rugby league after her stint back with the Black Ferns and the opportunity to represent the Warriors was too good to pass up
“I m so grateful the Warriors have put their faith and trust in me to add what I can to the legacy this team has created,” she said
“It was inspiring watching their season this year as they stamped their mark back on the NRLW so I’m looking forward to joining an awesome bunch and just having loads of fun with everyone, including some former sevens players who I have previously played with too ”
Warriors NRLW coach Ron Griffiths was excited to lure Waaka to the Warriors
“We are thrilled to have Stacey join us at the Warriors,” Griffith said “Her strength of character will be a wonderful fit for our flourishing culture
“Stacey is an experienced, worldclass athlete and, during her time in rugby league, it was evident for all to see how easily she adapted to the game
“Furthermore we believe her inclusion will elevate our roster, bringing a strong professional approach ”
When the NRLW launched in 2018, the Warriors were one of the four foundation clubs, taking part in the competition s first three seasons before the impact of the Covid pandemic forced them to withdraw
Toa Samoa have booked their spot in the Pacific Championship final, overcoming Tonga and the weather for a 34-6 victory at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium
Second-rower Jeremiah Nanai scored a try double, but play was delayed by a spectacular lightning storm during the second half on Sunday evening as organisers discussed the possibility of abandoning the game
Already playing without powerhouse forward Jason Tamalolo, Tonga suffered another early blow, when front-rower Stefano Utoikamanu suffered concussion that will rule him out of next weekend s encounter against the Kiwis
Centre Izack Tago scored first for Samoa, when he dived over in the corner after some last-tackle sleight of hand
Nanai chased a kick towards the posts and rolled over in a tackle to extend the margin as the Samoans led 12-0 at halftime
Tonga had their chances, but could not make anything of them in their first appearance of the tournament
Instead, Nanai struck again after the restart, again on the last tackle, as he kicked between defenders and chased the ball down for his second try
Five-eighth Isaiah Iongi had a chance to get Tonga on the scoreboard when he kicked ahead and chased, but he was unable to gather the bounce behind the tryline with no-one around him
Midway through the second half, players were ushered off the field and spectators urged to shelter, as a lightning storm struck the venue They returned about 90 minutes later, after the weather cleared With their first possession after the resumption Samoa put the contest beyond reach, when a touch pass from five-eighth Blaize Talagi put winger Murray Taulagi into the corner
Front-rower Payne Haas barged over while NZ Warriors utility Chanel Harris-Tavita provided the cherry on the cake for Samoa
But after five years in the wilderness, they returned to compete in the 2025 campaign, when they finished eighth out of 12 teams NZ Herald
Winger Tolutau Koula finally put Tonga on the board with a try and they must now regroup to face New Zealand at Eden Park on Sunday, requiring a 17-point win to set up a Samoan rematch in the final
Arsenal stretched their Premier League lead to four points as Eberechi Eze’s goal beat his former club Crystal Palace 1-0, while Manchester City lost 1-0 at Aston Villa yeserday.
Bournemouth are now the Gunners’ closest challengers in second after they beat Nottingham Forest 2-0, while Tottenham climbed to third after a 3-0 win at Everton.
FOOTBALL We didn’t score a second goal and when you don’t do that you are in danger, but we restricted them to very little.
After Liverpool’s latest defeat to Brentford on Sunday, Arsenal enjoyed the perfect weekend as both their title rivals fell further behind as they go from strength to strength.
Eze left the Eagles to join Arsenal in a £60 million ($138 million) deal in August and his first Premier League goal was decisive as Mikel Arteta’s men were again able to lean on their set-piece prowess and a solid defence.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta
The England international blasted in on the volley after Palace failed to clear Declan Rice’s free-kick six minutes before halftime.
Arsenal again failed to hit top gear going forward, but didn’t need to, as they kept a 10th clean sheet in 13 games in all competitions this season. “The technique from Eze is
unbelievable. We needed something special,” said Arteta.
“We didn’t score a second goal and when you don’t do that you are in danger, but we restricted them to very little.”
The only concern for Arteta was the sight of Rice and William Saliba having to be replaced in the second half due to injury.
Arsenal now lead fifth-placed City by six points and have a seven-point cushion over Liverpool in seventh.
Haaland streak ends City appeared to be emerging as Arsenal’s biggest obstacle in the title race after a nine-game unbeaten run
But Pep Guardiola s men lost at Villa Park for the third consecutive season as Erling Haaland s 12-game scoring streak came to an end
Matty Cash s stunning strike from outside the box on 19 minutes secured a fourth consecutive league
win for Villa as Unai Emery’s men climb to seventh
Haaland had a late goal ruled out for offside, but City s lack of goal threat other than the Norwegian finally cost the visitors
No City player other than Haaland has scored in the Premier League for a month
“We were not aggressive enough ” said a disappointed Guardiola
Spurs captain Micky van de Ven scored twice as Tottenham inflicted Everton s first defeat at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium
Pape Mate Sarr added a third late on to continue Tottenham’s strong start under Thomas Frank Bournemouth climbed up to second as Nottingham Forest s struggles continued despite a change in management
Sean Dyche got his reign off to a winning start against Porto in the Europa League on Friday but Forest
remain in the bottom three at risk of relegation after they were convincingly beaten on the south coast
Marcus Tavernier opened the scoring for the Cherries directly from a corner as the swirling wind caught out Matz Sels
Eli Junior Kroupi then blasted in his fourth goal in six Premier League games to double Bournemouth’s lead Wolves remain bottom of the table after Burnley edged a 3-2 thriller in stoppage time at Molineux, thanks to Lyle Foster
Zian Flemming s double put the visitors 2-0 up inside 30 minutes but Wolves hit back before halftime through Jorgen Strand Larsen and Marshall Munetsi
Foster s late strike propelled the Clarets five points clear of the relegation zone and left Wolves now six points adrift of safety AFP
Captain Harry Brook s brilliant century wasn’t enough to rescue England as hosts New Zealand eased to a four-wicket win in the first one-day international on Sunday
Brook struck 11 sixes on his way to 135 in England’s modest score of 223 before New Zealand reached 224-6 in response with more than 13 overs remaining
Daryl Mitchell hit the winning runs to be unbeaten on 78 at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui and put the Black Caps ahead 1-0 in the threematch series
Victory was set up by a lethal early spell from New Zealand seamer Zak Foulkes (4-41), who scythed through the top order reducing England to 10-4 and then 56-6
Brook led the recovery with a scintillating career-best ODI score
He raised his ton with three successive sixes off Jacob Duffy before he was last man out in a rearguard 101-ball knock
The 26-year-old surpassed his previous best score of 110 not out, against Australia in Chester-le-Street last year
“I felt like I was in good touch
Obviously we didn t get off to a great start and I tried to take it upon myself to have a counterpunch ” Brook said
“I tried to get us to a decent total that we could defend I thought we started really nicely with the ball but we just struggled to take wickets throughout the middle ”
All-rounder Jamie Overton was the only other England batsman to reach double figures, posting a career-best 46 in a seventh-wicket stand of 87 with Brook
Earlier, veteran seamer Matt
Henry (2-53) clean-bowled Jamie Smith with the first ball of the innings after England were sent in Foulkes followed up with the prized wickets of Ben Duckett and Joe Root in his first over as England lost six wickets in seam-friendly conditions inside the first hour
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner praised his new-ball pair particularly Foulkes who was playing only his second ODI
“They were outstanding We know Matt Henry can do that but I think Zak was outstanding the way he swung it,” Santner said
“We knew we had to keep taking wickets
“Brooky’s a little bit earlier would have been nice, he was outstanding today ”
New Zealand s innings also began
poorly, with seamer Brydon Carse (3-45) removing Will Young and Kane Williamson in his first over to leave them teetering at 24-3
It was a first golden duck in 166 ODIs for New Zealand batting great Williamson, who was playing his first international match in nearly eight months
Mitchell combined with Tom Latham (24) and Michael Bracewell (51) in solid middle-order stands Mitchell’s 91-ball knock should have ended on 33 when he lobbed a simple chance but was dropped
The remaining matches are in Hamilton tomorrow and Wellington on Saturday Both start at 2pm England won the three-match T20 series 1-0 after two games were washed out by wet New Zealand weather AFP
The White Ferns signed off a dismal Cricket World Cup campaign with another loss yesterday.
New Zealand failed to progress to the semifinals and lost their last round robin game against England by eight wickets.
The White Ferns will head home from the 50-over tournament in India and Sri Lanka having won once, lost four times and having had two games washed out.
Captain Sophie Devine won the toss in her last ODI and decided to bat.
Opener Georgia Plimmer topscored for New Zealand with 43 off
57 balls. Number three batter Amelia Kerr had the next highest score of 35.
Devine was out caught behind for 23 off the bowling of England’s captain Nat Sciver-Brunt.
New Zealand were all out for 168 in the 39th over.
Linsey Smith was the best of the seven bowlers called on by Sciver-
Brunt, taking three wickets for 30 in 9.2 overs.
In reply, England made light work of locking up their fifth win of the tournament.
England lost their first wicket in the 15th over when Lea Tahuhu had Tammy Beaumont out LBW for 40 with the score at 75/1.
Wicketkeeper-batter Amy Jones brought up her half-century off 71 balls and finished unbeaten on 86.
Jones and Heather Knight (33) combined to get England close to home but Devine’s last wicket in ODI cricket was Knight, out LBW with 11 runs required for victory.
England clinched the win, fittingly off Jones’ bat, in the 30th over. RNZ
win comes at a painful cost
FOOTBALL I think best-case scenario [for recovery] is six weeks
Tim Payne is set to miss both All Whites matches next month after suffering a suspected broken collarbone in the Wellington Phoenix’s win over the Brisbane Roar on Sunday. Payne left the field in the 17th minute when he fell awkwardly on his left shoulder attempting to tackle a defender. He was pictured with his arm in a sling as he walked down the tunnel
“He’s probably broken his collarbone,” said Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano. “I think best-case scenario [for recovery] is six weeks.”
The injury looks certain to rule Payne the first-choice right back for the Phoenix and All Whites out of next month’s internationals against Colombia and Ecuador in what will be key fixtures ahead of next year’s World Cup.
Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano weighs up the loss of Tim Payne
New signing Carlo Armiento scored a stunning 96th-minute winner as the Phoenix completed a come-from-behind 2-1 win over the Roar. A goal from Brisbane’s Justin Vidic put the Roar in front approaching halftime in the 42nd minute. Despite dominating possession and shots on target, the Phoenix still trailed heading into the final 15 minutes. Then a Kazuki Nagasawa goal levelled the match before Armiento sealed the win for Wellington.
Armiento received the ball on the edge of the box and drove it low past the keeper with a powerful left-foot strike for his second goal of the season.
It helped the Phoenix claim their first victory of the campaign, following a season-opening 2-2 draw against the Perth Glory.
The impact of Corban Piper off the bench was a positive for Italiano, with the defender assisting both goals.
“We had backs to the wall and Corban came on, brought great energy and nice belief,” Italiano said. “Really happy for Carlo. It’s very hard for him to get into the game, but I felt every time we went down his side, it was really dangerous.”
The win will give the Phoenix confidence, considering they won just once in Wellington last season. Auckland FC started their home campaign with a 1-0 victory over Western Sydney a day earlier.
The relief that they had finally won was evident in Silver Ferns interim coach Yvette McCausland-Durie s voice as she sat down to face the media just a day after finding out her time in the top job would come to an end late next month when Dame Noeline Taurua returns
But another weight might have also been lifted off her shoulders
A 61-52 win in game three of the Constellation Cup against Australia in Hamilton on Sunday came just days after they had lost to their transtasman rivals by 17 goals twice
And it was just hours after the Silver Ferns playing group had found out that Taurua would be reinstated
Netball New Zealand’s (NNZ) announcement was a move that McCausland-Durie said provided them all with clarity
Captain Karin Burger said NNZ had only provided the players with
limited information due to the timing of the announcement on the eve of the game
Not wanting to confuse us and clog our brains even more it’s selective about when we should be asking those questions and when we should be getting that information ” Burger said
“Because we had the game today that was clearly not the right time for us to ask those questions and get down to what the detail was ”
Burger said the situation was “complex and the delivery of the information about the changes to the high performance environment and what had played out with Taurua and NNZ would be all about timing
She said that after the final game of the Constellation Cup might be the time “to ask questions, to make sure we fully understand what has happened in the background, if that is what you want to know”
The turnaround against Australia on their home court keeps the series alive with the final game in Christchurch tomorrow night That was where Burger said her mind was
But she did believe the playing group was very open to the possibility of Taurua joining the team in some capacity on next month s Northern Tour
“We have to think of the here and
Because we had the game today, that was clearly not the right time for us to ask those questions and get down to what the detail was.
Karin Burger
now and performing here and now and once this series is done I’m sure we ll get into the nitty gritty of that
With the victory behind them, the Silver Ferns wanted more of that winning feeling
“It’s a much better feeling but it can be better still we can still always improve ” McCausland-Durie said of the win that extended New Zealand’s home streak over Australia to nine matches
“It’s a little bit of relief but I’m also thinking what s next because the next opportunity is ahead of us ”
McCausland-Durie had challenged players to step up or be prepared to be benched
She said was open to “looking at other options” if her first choices had
Bryony Botha and Campbell Stewart have lifted New Zealand’s final medal tally to five at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships, in Chile.
Gold evaded the New Zealand team in Santiago, but their riders were competitive across most events and the overall tally was the second-best the country had ever produced at the worlds.
Stewart took silver in the men’s elimination race, where the lastplaced rider is eliminated every second lap.
Stewart managed to avoid the tail end in a packed first half of the race before moving forward as the field reduced, setting up a final sprint against multiple world champion Elia Viviani.
not worked in Hamilton
People have taken responsibility, we played a lot of combos this week with a lot of variation and it was about saying we ve got strength, we’ve got options if we need to go to them ”
McCausland-Durie did find winning combinations and she also got all 12 players on court She might only have limited time left with the Silver Ferns but it seems McCausland-Durie wants to leave the entire squad feeling confident
“When we bring change, we want difference we don t want sameness ”
Burger believes the Silver Ferns cost themselves the first two games of the Constellation Cup
“We probably went away a little bit from what we know we’re good at and not playing true to ourselves and the Kiwi style ” Burger said Freedom and energy were words Burger used to describe how she thought things had changed to get the win But she should not play down her own MVP contribution
“You can t tell others how to feel or what to do, so you ve got to lead by example I just wanted to play the game I know I m really good at
“I feed off the energy of those around me and try and give it back and that really showed in our defensive end especially ” RNZ
The Italian, the Rio Olympic gold medallist, was looking for a golden end in his final ride before retirement and edged the New Zealander in the race for the line.
Stewart, who secured a seventh world championships medal, reflected on an exciting race.
“It was dicey out there at times but after the omnium yesterday, I learned a few things,” Stewart said.
“I managed to ride the bubbles and push at the right times. In the end I probably gave Viviani the perfect retirement gift it was close and I gave it my all but couldn’t quite get there.”
Botha claimed bronze after leading into the final lap of the women’s 25km points race, where Mexican winner Yareli Acevedo Mendoza completed a remarkable solo effort to lap the field.
The 20 bonus points was enough for Mendoza to emerge as the winner, while Great Britain’s Anna Morris dug deep to win the double-point last sprint to edge Botha for second.
Botha was emotional after winning a sixth world championships medal.
“I went in with full intent and tried to go with every move, which seemed to work well,” she said. “I was seeing a bit red over the last 20 laps and tried to survive.
“I actually came off the track thinking I was fourth or fifth but my coach told me I was third. I started crying I couldn’t believe it.”
