Thousands of homes lost power during the storm which battered the region this week but Wellington Electricity says some repairs will continue until the middle of next week Natasha Eagle and her two children have been coping without electricity at their Island Bay home for four days She said communication had been muddled and sparse and it was difficult having no idea whether restoration was hours or days away That view was backed up by Brooklyn resident Sean Keaney He said he and his family of five had been without electricity since midnight Thursday He said they were the only house in the street affected and an electrician had confirmed the problem was at the pole Keaney said communication from Wellington Electricity had been appalling "However there is absolutely no information for us and others like us I've called multiple times to be told 'we have no ETA' we don't have any information on when someone will be there' and when I pushed and asked to talk to someone to escalate this was told they 'don't want to talk to you and you can make a complaint when it's all resolved' "This is appalling communication from Wellington Electricity - they will have a schedule of work and an idea of when they could be out to fix but refusing to share it as our family of five approach 60 hours without electricity not knowing how long it will be and unable to plan." venting frustration about the lack of communication and updates from Wellington Electricity Wellington Electricity said it was progressively restoring power to single-premise outages - with faults being prioritised by how long they had been out "After the strongest winds in a decade lashed the Wellington region on Thursday Wellington Electricity has restored power to the bulk of affected customers," it said in a statement to RNZ on Sunday afternoon adding that 8000 customers had been impacted "Crews have worked 14-hour days since Thursday managing safety with regular check-ins and roster rotations to manage fatigue." "Wellington Electricity anticipates restoring the bulk of its remaining customers without power by Monday evening however further repairs will be necessary including streetlight circuit restoration." Anyone without power who has not been contacted should call their electricity retailer directly so repair crews can be dispatched to restore supply "Wellington Electricity acknowledges the extended disruption these outages have caused and thanks customers for their continued patience while final restoration work is completed." rnz.co.nz Natasha Eagle's 10 and 12-year-old children after they got the go-ahead from builders to light the fire after several days in the cold in Island Bay Frustration is mounting among residents in Wellington who have been without power since early Thursday rnz.co.nz Search underway for Masterton man John Rafferty was last seen at Masterton Railway Station at about midday on May 4 New Zealand Victoria Uni law students to sit handwritten exams due to AI fears Professor Geoff McLay said he had become "increasingly worried that the embedding of artificial intelligence in many students' laptops" Man charged after gun allegedly fired in Masterton MSD office Police said it was believed to be an isolated incident with no wider risk to the public Crime and Justice Man's cigarette smuggling attempt stubbed out Customs said the body-packing of the more than 1600 cigarettes was "an attempt to defraud Customs revenue" Wellington Airport's giant eagles to depart terminal "They have been a huge success and travellers from around the world have loved admiring them." 'Politics has become an ugly place': Tory Whanau on mayoral role Whanau announced this week she will not stand again for the Wellington mayoralty Politics Film industry anxiously awaits details on Trump's 100% movie tariff 7:17pm Search underway for Masterton man, 74, missing since Sunday 7:07pm Crooks, culture first order of business for Mike Bush in Victoria 7:05pm Charges filed against Woolworths over pricing, misleading specials 6:45pm Police, experts warn 'emerging risk' of 3D-printed firearms rising 6:33pm Trade war: Sir John Key's 'optimism' on Trump's next tariff moves 7:28pm 1US woman who disappeared for more than six decades found safe Sole survivor of poisoned beef Wellington takes the stand Two men's shared name brings years of trouble and a hefty bill to one New Zealand's Cardinal John Dew prepares to go into conclave Photos: Lorde among stars at 2025 Met Gala A$AP Rocky and Rihanna also revealed they are expecting their third child. Two arrested over alleged plot targeting Lady Gaga concert in RioBrazilian police said they thwarted an alleged bomb attack planned for Lady Gaga's concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. Lady Gaga rocks Copacabana Beach with free concert for over 2 million fansSun, May 4 Lorde announces new album name, dateThu, May 1 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robberyMon, Apr 28 Chubby Checker, Outkast, Cyndi Lauper join Rock & Roll Hall of FameMon, Apr 28 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robberyMon A search and rescue operation is underway for a Masterton man in his 70s missing since Sunday John Rafferty was last seen at Masterton Railway Station about midday on May 4 The 74-year-old did not board a train and left on foot about 20 minutes later Matheson said it was possible Rafferty was staying with a friend but police and loved ones "want to know he’s safe" and John doesn’t have his cell phone or wallet," he said A search team and a helicopter has been out looking for the missing man "We are really keen to know that he’s safe." Police have released an image from CCTV showing Rafferty on a station platform on the day of his disappearance He was wearing a blue jacket with 'NASA' written on the back Anyone who saw him was asked to contact police on 111 or online at 105 if there was Information after the fact A law student at Victoria University of Wellington said students had been "left in the lurch" after an announcement on Monday that said next month's exams for two law subjects would have to be handwritten also said a timetable had still not been provided he said he had become "increasingly worried that the embedding of artificial intelligence (AI) in many students' laptops makes ensuring that students' work is their own very difficult" He had hoped the university would have a technical solution although he hoped one would be available at the end of the year "This means that we will not be able to allow students to use laptops for exams next month," McLay wrote "I want to make this announcement as soon as possible so students have time to prepare for handwritten examinations." McLay added that there would be an exception for students with a disability that required them to use a keyboard The situation affected the LAWS 312 Equity and LAWS 334 Ethics exams The student said the announcement was stressful during an already stressful time a representative of the Victoria University of Wellington Law Students' Society said the Council of Legal Education had to be certain that everyone who passed the exams in Equity and Ethics deserved a pass (and did not cheat) "Previously in person invigilation has been sufficient to manage these concerns due to the increasing ability and sophistication of AI the faculty were concerned about the reliability of the exams leading to their decision to make the Equity and Ethics exams handwritten." The representative said the law students' society had expressed that students' preference was for typed exams — "reflecting how our professional lives will look" once it became clear that the faculty felt they needed to proceed with handwritten exams we emphasised that students should be informed as early as possible accessibility options should be made clear and exam content and timing should reflect the fact that many students have not done handwritten exams since high school and are not used to writing for extended periods of time." The representative added it was separate from the delay to the exam timetable Victoria University Provost Professor Bryony James said students' handwriting their exams meant the university could be confident that the results truly reflected the students' own knowledge and effort — free of any suggestion of the influence of AI James said she would ensure that no student was disadvantaged and was committed to working with students — including those with disabilities — who might need further support to participate in exams and final assessments as a result "As part of this undertaking the Faculty of Law will review this Trimester's exam results to ensure this cohort's performance is in line with previous years and confirm that students are not significantly impacted by this decision." President of Victoria University's Students' Association Liban Ali told Morning Report he was aware that this could happen as early as last year "It has been on the card as of last year I feel like there was something that was going to happen." Ali said the announcement had come at the wrong time and that the Students' Association were very concerned for students He said the Students' Association had engaged the Law Society and the faculty to determine the best way to support students He added that he would make sure that any changes were communicated early in the future rnz.co.nz A 25-year-old man has appeared in court after he allegedly fired a gun at another person inside a Ministry of Social Development office in Masterton yesterday Police were called to the incident on Lincoln Rd at around 12.40pm on Monday Wairarapa Area Commander Inspector Nick Thom said there were no reports of injuries from the incident "Following police's initial enquiries one person was taken into custody a short time later nearby." Cordons were put in place around the area and some staff were armed as a precaution Thom said it was believed to be an isolated incident with no wider risk to the public "Police would like to commend Ministry of Social Development staff for their prompt actions in following their lockdown procedures as this enabled police to provide a swift response to resolve this incident quickly." A 25-year-old man appeared in Masterton District Court today charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and conducting a dangerous act with intent to cause grievous bodily harm Wellington's famous eagles will take flight from the airport this week after 12 years in the terminal They will be replaced by a new display that is currently being kept under wraps Wellington Airport chief executive Matt Clarke said that the departure of the birds (and their passenger Gandalf) will be emotional for staff "They have been a huge success and travellers from around the world have loved admiring them After 12 years it's the right time for them to fly the nest “We’re working with Wētā Workshop on some exciting plans for a unique locally themed replacement to take their place." The eagles were created by Wētā Workshop as a tie-in with the Hobbit movies and unveiled in December 2013 Each bird weighs 1.2 tonnes and has a 15-metre wingspan Wētā Workshop co-founder and chief creative officer Richard Taylor said it's a "bittersweet moment" saying goodbye to them "There are many more stories to be told and we're looking forward to working with Wellington Airport on bringing a new chapter to life."  The eagles will be taken down and disassembled on Friday May 9 and placed into storage with long-term plans for them still yet to be decided "We’ll unveil what’s next later this year so keep watching the skies," Clarke said Tolkien fans will be relieved to know that Smaug the Magnificent will remain in the check-in area As a progressive mayor Tory Whanau has had to deal with the "old guard" resistant to change Her decision came shortly after former Labour leader Andrew Little confirmed he would be contesting with Whanau saying she didn't want a Greens versus Labour narrative to swamp the election she plans to run for the council's Māori Ward Whanau has previously said she would consider quitting the mayoralty after facing scrutiny for her political and personal challenges including the appointment of a Crown observer for the council She told Saturday Morning she has attracted extra attention because the "old guard" are resistant to issues such as climate change "Being the progressive change mayor - that does bring a lot of negativity." Being wahine Māori has also posed extra difficulties citing the treatment of other Māori politicians such as Tamatha Paul and the negativity had also moved onto the rainbow community "Politics at the moment has become quite an ugly place and I'm just an example of part of that." especially this week since her decision on the mayoralty politics could be "a lonely place" and "isolating" "It's absolutely crucial" to have discussions about the online criticism directed at women and gay politicians "When is it OK to threaten the life of a politician It is never OK," she said in response to a councillor's claim that she had asked for the abuse she received because of her behaviour She did not regret using social media in her bid to attract support from young people the political landscape had changed a great deal US President Donald Trump and some of the New Zealand coalition government members had helped to ramp up the criticism politicians received "The online trolling has accelerated significantly .. the political landscape has become a lot more toxic." the abuse would turn off women and rangatahi Māori from any thoughts of going into politics "And that becomes a danger to our democracy." She appealed to other politicians to make debate about policy rather than personal Whanau said she was surprised by former Labour Minister Andrew Little's announcement after he had ruled out the suggestion last year "I accepted it [Little's decision] I am really excited about running for the Māori ward." She said she was not disappointed some on the left had backed Little instead of her The most important thing was to keep the city "on track" with issues such as the cycleway network She said many of the things she had campaigned on such as more investment in water and more social housing had started during her mayoralty "The biggest thing I didn't achieve was light rail .. I at least was able to keep the Golden Mile." Questioned about her "flip-flop" over the sale of Wellington Airport shares There was a need to address the $2.3 billion underinvestment in insurance and she believed the share sale would be the best option The council had moved on and relationships had been rebuilt It had caused "great upset" that iwi did not have a voice over ther sale of the shares her relationship with iwi remained strong throughout the saga and having a voice at the table were the main priorities for mana whenua They had been supportive over her decision to stand for the Māori ward Whanau said the atmosphere was "light" during her meeting with Local Government Minister Simeon Brown during which the appointment of a Crown Observer was discussed "We've had independent advice that it didn't need to happen but I wanted to show Wellington that I was more than willing to work with the government to prove we could have a successful Long Term Plan .. it's back on track without the airport." The presence of the observer had helped with the management of councillors' behaviour She had a "polite" relationship with Brown and said things were warmer with the new minister Simon Watts Whanau said it had been an honour to perform her first karanga at two events during her term as mayor "One of the most special honouring moments of my life .. that has been an absolute privilege of this role." rnz.co.nz The next top cop of the troubled Victoria police force embraces his "outsider" status to curb its leadership malaise and has a stern warning for crooks Former New Zealand Police commissioner Mike Bush won the race to become Victoria's chief commissioner after months of top-level staffing woes The 40-year police veteran steps into the role on June 27 with a five-year contract The Kiwi conceded the job will be no picnic with Victoria's crime rate hitting an almost decade-high in 2024 everyone knows that," he told reporters today "These crime issues are actually global they are quite similar wherever you go but it's not good enough just to turn up after the act Rising youth crime and high-profile cases of alleged offenders committing crimes while on bail spurred the Victorian government to strengthen laws in March Bush said he was familiar with the crackdown but bail laws were just one part of the solution to tackling youth crime along with a "prevention mindset" He retired from the NZ police force in 2020 after joining in 1978 and spending his final six years in the top job Whakaari/White Island volcano eruption and Covid-19 pandemic were among the biggest crises Bush confronted during his tenure Bush also made headlines in 2022 after it emerged he had a past drink-driving conviction when unsuccessfully applying to become head of the UK's Metropolitan Police Former New Zealand police minister Stuart Nash describedr Bush as hard but fair He said Bush regularly met with police forces across the Tasman in his previous role and recalled travelling with him to every district across New Zealand once a year to chew the fat with communities and then we all had biscuits and a cup of tea," Nash told AAP "Mike is someone who had deep credibility in policing." The state government has not handed the reins of Victoria Police to an outsider since former NSW Police assistant commissioner Christine Nixon in 2001 The Kiwi was happy to wear the "outsider" tag and is already hatching plans to hit the ground running "I've got a lot to do to come up to speed," Bush said "Culture is a consequence of leadership." establishing relationships with community groups amid rising tensions and increasing police visibility on the beat were among his other top initial priorities Victoria Police was thrust into leadership turmoil in February with a no-confidence vote from officers costing chief commissioner Shane Patton his job Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent became acting chief and expressed an interest in making the move permanent before throwing in the towel in April Deputy Commissioner Robert Hill will serve in an acting capacity until Bush takes over Bush intends to speak with Patton before starting and said he wouldn't shy away from pushing back if he disagreed with the government Premier Jacinta Allan said a recruitment agency was hired and instructed to find a leader capable of addressing the "challenges" plaguing the force "Mike Bush is the best person for the job," she said whose union led the no-confidence vote against Patton following a bitter pay dispute admitted there was a disconnect between members and leaders The state police union secretary welcomed Mr Bush's appointment and pledge to listen to the mounting workforce concerns "We have a police force that is currently under-resourced that needs fresh officers," he said The Commerce Commission has filed criminal charges against Woolworths NZ for alleged inaccurate pricing and misleading specials that may have breached the Fair Trading Act The commission filed the charges against Woolworths in the Auckland District Court It indicated in December last year that it would be filing separate criminal charges against Woolworths and two Pak'nSave supermarkets the commission said there were ongoing issues with pricing in the supermarket sector and the operators may have breached the Fair Trading Act deputy chair Anne Callinan said operators should know what the expectations were "Supermarkets have long been on notice about the importance of accurate and clear pricing and specials and we're not satisfied with the continuing issues we're seeing across the industry "Pricing accuracy is a consumer right and an expectation of a competitive market well-resourced businesses that should invest the time and effort to get pricing and promotions right." She said the charges were filed to remind all supermarkets that they are expected to fix the pricing accuracy issues and implement better processes In a statement when the charges were announced Woolworths managing director Spencer Sonn said it was important customers could trust prices advertised at their supermarkets Woolworths said it has cooperated with the Commerce Commission's pricing investigation for some time rnz.co.nz Former prime minister Sir John Key says he remains optimistic about Donald Trump's domestic economic policy despite opposing the tariff strategy that has sent global markets into turmoil in recent months who served as prime minister for eight years was the keynote speaker at an Auckland business summit earlier today Sir John told 1News he believed Trump would ultimately take a more moderate approach to tariffs than initially proposed "I'm not a fan of tariff policies I don't think they really work," he said as I think the stock market is telling you at the moment that actually there will be a more sensible landing place for the tariffs that he's wanting to impose." Sir John said he "wasn't entirely surprised" at Trump's call to go ahead with the policy "They're just a negotiating point I think he simply put on widespread and high rates of tariffs on every country to give himself a leverage point and a negotiating point "What I think he actually grossly underestimated was the stock market reaction You can actually make the case that his own strategy hasn't worked The reason the markets have recovered is because he's taken those tariffs off the most part 'I'm going to negotiate case by case'." Sir John suggested Trump's economic policies could still generally be positive for the US but the tariffs could be trickier for the global economy Asked whether he stood by his October comments that Trump would be good for the economy he said: "Do I think he's going to reduce regulatory burden in the United States It depends on where things shake down in terms of tariffs." Sir John acknowledged that for certain industries Trump's policies could be "a really negative thing" particularly if the president's proposed 100% tariff on the film industry were to be implemented "I can't see how it would be cost-competitive to make a movie in New Zealand with a 100% tariff on it," he said noting that films such as The Hobbit would not have been made in New Zealand without government subsidies who now served as a director of US tech company Palo Alto Networks said he had "always been opposed" to Trump's tariff policies but believes they won't be the "dominant part of his economic solutions" "I don't think it's perfect from New Zealand's point of view but I don't think we should panic either and America will still be a very big market for us to sell things to," he said "There are growing markets around the world It's not a great thing from New Zealand's point of view We've got a very sound economy with lots of options in front of us." Sir John suggested a belief that the Republican Trump was was better "on balance" for the US economy than Democratic opponent Kamala Harris he expressed concerns about Trump's tariff approach: "China doesn't pay those tariffs middle-income consumers or consumers in America do because when a tariff goes on a good that you bring into a country He added: "I don't agree with the massive tariffs and I don't think you'll follow through with all of that and I certainly don't agree with this view on trade." Audrey Backeberg disappeared from a small city in south-central Wisconsin after reportedly hitchhiking with her family’s babysitter and catching a bus to Indianapolis Nobody ever knew where she went or what happened to her All that changed last week when she was found alive and safe in another state thanks to the fresh eyes from a deputy who took over the case in February Detective Isaac Hanson discovered an out-of-state arrest record that matched Backeberg which triggered a series of investigative moves that led to finding her alive and safe in another state Turns out Backeberg chose to leave the town of Reedsburg on her own accord – likely due to an abusive husband safe and secure; And just kind of lived under the radar for that long,” he said Hanson was assigned the case in late February and he and other officials met with Backeberg’s family to see if they had a connection with that region They also started digging through Backeberg's sister's Ancestry.com account obituaries and marriage licenses from that region they found an address where a woman was living that Hanson said shared a lot of similarities with Backeberg including date of birth and social security number Hanson was able to get a deputy from that jurisdiction to go to the address "I was expecting the deputy to call me back and say ‘Oh nobody answered the door.’ And I thought it was the deputy calling me I could sense that she obviously had her reasons for leaving.” Most of the information he learned during that call he declined to share saying that it was still important to Backeberg that she not be found “I think it overwhelmed her of course with the emotions that she had having a deputy show up at her house and then kind of call her out and talk with her about what happened and kind of relive 62 years in 45 minutes,” he said Hanson described discovering her safe after more than six decades practically unheard of And while he doesn't know what will happen next in terms of her family reconnecting he said he was happy that she can reach out if she wants to so she has my contact number if she ever wants to reach out or needs anything any phone numbers of family members back here," he said "Ultimately she kind of holds the cards for that.” Shane William Pritchard has been charged with crimes he didn’t commit and chased for debts he doesn’t owe That’s because the Dunedin man is not the only Shane William Pritchard in town While the duo’s shared name and age has sometimes been a handy loophole for one Shane for the other it has caused problems for 36 years It’s been years of fearing every knock on the door Years of wondering if he’ll be hand-cuffed and taken to jail to be honest,” says Shane William Pritchard a scout and a member of the Air Training Corp remembers getting quite a shock when her friend called one evening She'd been acting as a referee for a gun licence for Shane whose friend informed her that the police had a long list of offences against Shane’s name Not long after that the police turned up to where Shane was working at the local tannery to arrest him “You're scrambling in your head to think of ways that you can prove it's not you.” Another Shane William Pritchard had been born in Otago They were separated by just two weeks and about 50 miles – one growing up in Mosgiel the other in Milton – but also by the lives they’d been leading To watch the full video story go to TVNZ+ Shane from Milton had huge problems focusing at school He was raised in foster care and then boys’ homes I just wanted to look cool and get in trouble,” he tells Fair Go Milton Shane was used to run-ins with police he got pulled over in his car and asked about his driving licence one’s got a licence and the other hasn’t.’ And I’m like ‘obviously it must be the one with a licence’.” he went to his bank to draw out an ACC payment and was asked which bank account was his He says that at that point he was trying to figure out what was going on “I thought it was just an error.” But he took advantage of the situation and withdrew a large sum of cash Mosgiel Shane became aware of the withdrawal when a scheduled car payment was declined and when Milton Shane turned up at the bank to withdraw more money Identity fraud was considered but Milton Shane was legitimately expecting an ACC payment so the withdrawal appeared to be a genuine mistake and the police couldn’t take any action 'Anything I could get away with Mosgiel Shane thought the bank incident would have alerted police to the problem But his nemesis had cottoned on to the advantages of having a second identity to use Milton Shane acquired a suite of furniture on hire-purchase Milton-Shane clocked up more driving offences Mosgiel Shane thought about changing his name but realised he’d have to provide his previous name in the process the courts and debt collectors such as Baycorp should be able to distinguish between himself and Milton Shane The police first addressed the issue in the 1990s after Mosgiel Shane went to the media He was given a letter to carry with him should he be apprehended He and his parents felt his situation wasn’t being taken seriously Mosgiel Shane went to the media a second time in the mid-2000s the police gave their word that a record in their system would stop the misidentification from happening again This does appear to have worked as far as police action goes But while Mosgiel Shane was given the same reassurance by the Ministry of Justice he continued to receive demands from the courts for unpaid fines He’d also get stopped and questioned whenever he left the country for work trips or holidays It took a huge toll on Mosgiel Shane’s mental health not realising the constant stress it placed on his life John Pritchard says that at times his son felt his life wasn’t worth living worrying about what he was going to do to himself and that really ate me up.” he and his son were in tears as Shane admitted he was at breaking point He described going for days at a time unable to eat or sleep wondering what might happen next "Am I going to be in a position where they've got me in handcuffs or I've got debt collectors coming to the door?" ...You're spiralling into this black hole." He started taking anti-anxiety medication which helped And events regarding Milton Shane seemed to settle Milton Shane was charged for fishing without a licence in Twizel and failing to comply with fisheries officers But a court registrar incorrectly entered the birth date of Mosgiel Shane in the system both Shanes were being chased to pay the $1530 fine It was Mosgiel Shane who spotted the error and rang the court He also sent a statement from his manager saying he’d not been fishing in Twizel that day The reply he got was to say he’d been given the wrong form and that they wouldn’t accept his proof They just wanted to know how I was going to pay the fine.” The first Milton Shane knew about this was when Fair Go told him Mosgiel Shane had been chased for the fine He was told to pay up or face the consequences feeling he shouldn’t have to pay good money to correct someone else’s mistake But it cost Mosgiel Shane over $5000 in legal fees and took months of back and forth between him “Why should anybody have to pay their own money to right somebody else's wrongs and prove who they are I’m sick and tired of proving who I am all the time.” He wanted the Ministry of Justice to take responsibility and reimburse him for his legal costs saying court staff such as the registrar in this case have immunity if they make mistakes such as the one made here and if I make a mistake and it's affecting my client that it's going to cost them money to rectify a mistake that I've made.” he deserves a million apologies from those guys,” she says Milton Shane told Fair Go he still gets in trouble but wants the other Shane to know he doesn’t use his birth date anymore And he had a message for him: “We’ve got to get it sorted for you so you can have a good life with you and your family because I’m trying to get my life together with my son and my grandson” He offers to meet to see if they can sort it out together but I’m not interested in meeting him,.” says Mosgiel Shane He says he doesn’t hold any grudges and accepts Milton Shane’s apology And he believes the only way for that to happen is for the courts and the Ministry of Justice to give him a guarantee that mix-ups won’t occur in the future Fair Go asked the Ministry of Justice to appear in person to apologise and provide reassurance to Shane of its plans to guard against these mistakes The Ministry declined our request to be on camera saying any comment on an individual case would compromise the independence of the courts as the Ministry operates separately But it did send a written apology directly to Mosgiel Shane It also admitted mistakes can occur in clerical records but said instructions were clear and the importance of getting things right had been emphasised to staff Mosgiel Shane isn’t totally convinced that’s the end of it “All I want is for the Ministry of Justice and the courts to do their job I'd like to live without this hanging over me all the time his criminal check has come back showing a clean slate Cardinal John Dew is about to go into conclave to vote for a new pope is among the 133 cardinals gathered in the Vatican to elect a successor to Pope Francis Dew and his fellow Cardinals will be locked away from the world as they participate in daily votes in the Sistine Chapel until white smoke billows from the rooftop signalling a new pope is selected Read more about how the conclave works here He follows in the footsteps of Cardinal Reginald Delargey and Cardinal Thomas Williams - Kiwis who had previously entered conclave in 1978 and 2005 Dew said cardinals had been meeting daily to share their perspectives on the needs of the church and what qualities a new pope would need to possess to address said needs “Listening to what everyone is saying and the kind of person they're looking for to hear the passion that people have for spreading the work of the Gospel,” Dew said “I think one of the things that a new pope will need to do is to continue to try and give hope to the world “But as well as being the leader of the Church he needs to be a world leader who's prepared to speak out and in this world of disinformation and misinformation and sometimes lies Dew said other cardinals who had previously participated in conclavce described the centuries-old tradition as "divinely inspired" “A couple of the cardinals actually said you can go into the conclave and even have some ideas but it's only after a vote or two that things start to clarify,” he recalled but it became very clear that he was the one They described that as the work of Holy Spirit “And the fact that you're in a place where you have no contact with anybody else – no cell phones no iPads – the whole thing becomes a bit like a retreat and a real time of prayer.” Dew said finding a successor among a sea of so many contenders also had him feeling some "apprehension" the fact that this only happens once every few years and it has incredible consequences for the Church and for the world Lady Gaga gave a free concert Saturday night in front of 2 million fans who poured onto Copacabana Beach for the biggest show of her career (...) Thank you for making history with me,” Lady Gaga told a screaming crowd kicked off the show at around 22.10pm local time with her 2011 song Bloody Mary Cries of joy rose from the tightly-packed fans who sang and danced shoulder-to-shoulder on the vast stretch of sand Concert organisers said 2.1 million people attended the show switching between an array of dresses including one with the colours of the Brazilian flag Some fans – many of them young – arrived on the beach at the crack of dawn to secure a good spot “Today is the best day of my life,” said Manoela Dobes a 27-year-old designer who was wearing a dress plastered with a photograph from when she met Lady Gaga in the United States in 2019 Madonna also turned Copacabana Beach into a massive dance floor last year The large-scale performances are part of an effort led by City Hall to boost economic activity after Carnival and New Years’ Eve festivities and the upcoming month-long Saint John’s Day celebrations in June “It brings activity to the city during what was previously considered the low season – filling hotels and increasing spending in bars generating jobs and income for the population,” said Osmar Lima the city’s secretary of economic development in a statement released by Rio City Hall’s tourism department last month Rio’s City Hall said in a recent report that around 1.6 million people were expected to attend Lady Gaga's concert and that the show should inject at least 600 million reais (NZ$178.3 million) into Rio’s economy Similar concerts are scheduled to take place every year in May at least until 2028 Lady Gaga arrived in Rio in the early hours of Tuesday The city has been alive with Gaga-mania since as it geared up to welcome the pop star for her first show in the country since 2012 Rio’s metro employees danced to Lady Gaga’s 2008 hit song LoveGame and gave instructions for today in a video A free exhibition celebrating her career sold out While the vast majority of attendees were from Rio the event also attracted Brazilians from across the country and international visitors More than 500,000 tourists poured into the city in the days leading up to the show according to data from the local bus station and Tom Jobim airport Rio’s City Hall said in a statement yesterday made a cross-continent trip from Colombia to Brazil to attend the show “I’ve been a 100% fan of Lady Gaga my whole life,” said Serrano who was wearing a T-shirt featuring Lady Gaga’s outlandish costumes over the years the mega-star represents “total freedom of expression – being who one wants without shame” Rio officials have a history of organising huge concerts on Copacabana Beach Madonna’s show drew an estimated 1.6 million fans last year while 4 million people flooded onto the beach for a 1994 New Year’s Eve show by Rod Stewart in 1994 that was the biggest free rock concert in history sixteen sound towers were spread along the beach Rio state’s security plan included the presence of 3300 military and 1500 police officers Among those present were Lady Gaga admirers who remember their disappointment in 2017 when the artist cancelled a performance scheduled in Rio at the last minute due to health issues “She's the best artist in the world,” the 25-year-old said I love you” in Portuguese rose from the crowd behind him whose real name is Ella Yelich O'Connor which also displayed what appears to be the album cover art — an X-ray of a pelvis "100% written in blood," the website read The new album's announcement came a week after she released her latest single What Was That The song's music video was filmed at a mysterious pop-up event in New York City's Washington Square Park that was initially shut down by police. The event ended up going ahead after all, and fans who stayed got to hear the new song for the first time. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lorde (@lorde) It was the first sign of a follow-up to Lorde's previous album Her other albums were 2013's Pure Heroine and 2017's Melodrama she collaborated with British singer Charli XCX on a remix of Girl so confusing — on a re-release of the Grammy award-winning Brat Kim Kardashian thought she was going to be raped and killed when criminals broke into her bedroom in central Paris tied her up and stole more than US$6 million in jewellery 10 people will go on trial in Paris over the robbery abduction and kidnapping of the media personality and the concierge of the residence where she was staying during Paris Fashion Week the night of October 2 Kardashian’s lawyers said she will testify in person at the trial starting Monday and scheduled to run through May 23 "Ms Kardashian is reserving her testimony for the court and jury and does not wish to elaborate further at this time," they said "She has great respect and admiration for the French justice system and has been treated with great respect by the French authorities "She wishes the trial to proceed in an orderly fashion in accordance with French law and with respect for all parties to the case." In interviews and on her family’s reality TV show Kardashian has described being terrified as robbers pointed a gun at her In a 2020 appearance on David Letterman’s Netflix show she tearfully recalled thinking: "This is the time I’m going to get raped Twelve people were originally expected in the defendants’ box and another is seriously ill and can't be tried five of the 10 defendants were present at the scene of the robbery The French press has dubbed them The Granddad Robbers because the main defendants are elderly and have careers as bank robbers with long criminal records Kardashian told investigators she was taken to a bathroom next to her bedroom and placed in the bathtub Her attackers fled on bicycles or on foot and she managed to free herself by removing the tape from her hands and mouth She had also removed the tape from her feet and rushed to her stylist’s room She called her sister Kourtney to tell her about the theft Kardashian told investigators that she had not been injured adding that she wanted to leave France as soon as possible to be reunited with her children According to her testimony and that of the concierge at least one of the suspects had a handgun The gangsters stole many pieces of jewellery estimated to be worth more than US$6 million (NZ$10 million) Only one piece of jewellery — a diamond cross on platinum that was lost during the suspects' escape — has been recovered Two of the accused have partially confessed to the crime is one of two suspected robbers who allegedly entered the apartment his genetic profile was found on the tape used to gag Kardashian who was waiting for him in a parked car at a nearby train station The second robber said he tied up the concierge with cables but did not go up to Kardashian’s apartment said he acted as a lookout in the ground-floor reception area He said he was unarmed and did not personally threaten Kardashian but admitted he shared responsibility for the crime Abbas was arrested in January 2017 and spent 21 months in prison before being released under judicial supervision he co-authored a French-language book titled I Sequestered Kim Kardashian is the second alleged robber suspected of entering the flat although he was filmed by CCTV cameras and numerous telephone contacts with the other co-defendants show his involvement The other defendants are suspected of providing information about Kardashian’s presence in the apartment Others are accused of playing a role in the resale of the jewellery in Antwerp Joe Cocker and Bad Company will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — in a class that also includes pop star Cyndi Lauper the rock duo the White Stripes and grunge masters Soundgarden the first female rap act to achieve gold and platinum status and the late singer-songwriter Warren Zevon will get the Musical Influence Award pianist Nicky Hopkins and bassist Carol Kaye will each get the Musical Excellence Award who sang at Woodstock and was best known for his cover of The Beatles’ With a Little Help From My Friends a member of Elvis Costello & The Attractions who argued that Cocker is "about as rock and roll as it gets" Soundgarden — with the late Chris Cornell as singer — get into the Hall on their third nomination They follow two other grunge acts in the Hall — Nirvana and Pearl Jam Bad Company get in having become radio fixtures with such arena-rock staples as Feel Like Makin’ Love Can’t Get Enough and Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy The Ahmet Ertegun Award — given to nonperforming industry professionals who had a major influence on music — will go to Lenny Waronker Some nominees that didn't get in this year included Mariah Carey and subsequent Let’s Twist Again are considered among the most popular songs in the history of rock 'n' roll The 83-year-old has expressed frustration that he hadn't been granted entry before including telling the AP in 2014: "I don’t want to get in there when I’m 85 years old so you better do it quick while I’m still smiling." Lauper rose to fame in the 1980s with hits such as Time After Time and Girls Just Want To Have Fun and went on to win a Tony Award for Kinky Boots have six Grammys and a reputation for pushing the boundaries of hip-hop The White Stripes — made up of Jack White and Meg White — were indie darlings in the early 2000s with such songs as Seven Nation Army Artists must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years before they’re eligible for induction The induction ceremony will take place in Los Angeles this fall Nominees were voted on by more than 1200 artists historians and music industry professionals The selection criteria include "an artist’s impact on other musicians the scope and longevity of their career and body of work as well as their innovation and excellence in style and technique" Dave Matthews Band and singer-guitarist Peter Frampton were inducted When it came to upgrading the village of Island Bay the Wellington City Council Urban Design team saw it as an opportunity to weave the stories of the environment and people of the area into the streetscape design the upgrade occurred over four years with 10 months of construction and strengthening the suburb's special identity The community let the Council know they wanted to see connective welcoming and green spaces that celebrated Island Bay’s unique character.  Island Bay was named for Motu Tapu-te-Ranga and pre-colonisation had been home to Māori pā kainga and grounds situated around the bay with a fishing community emerging from Shetland Islander and Italian fishermen and their families who came to live in the area.  and Island Bay became a popular seaside holiday resort – where people could enjoy a day at the beach and take tea at the Kai Toa or Blue Platter Tearooms Punters could also go to the horse races at the local racecourse!  The 1905 electric tramline connected Island Bay with the city and people built houses in droves transforming Island Bay into a growing seaside suburb Island Bay’s distinct history is woven through the suburb where you’ll find descendants of the Shetland and Italian fishing families alongside a rich Catholic community and those who connect to the extended whānau of Tapu Te Ranga Marae Read on to learn about how the history made it’s way into the design Murals were created to bring vibrancy to the area These works were completed by artists Gina Kiel on the public toilet block and Greta Menzies in the pedestrian laneway between Island Bay School and the parade.   Greta Menzies worked with children at Island Bay and St Francis de Sales Schools to create a colourful fun mural that children could see on their daily walks to school.  Gina Kiel brought her distinct style to create a curvilinear design that evokes the coastal shifting environment on an overlooked building The Council planted coastal vegetation endemic to the coastal valley area in the garden beds ensuring these natives will thrive in the seaside environment.  Rocks were put around the plantings to evoke the nearby coastal and cliff environments The chosen plants were New Zealand sedge and silver tussock grasses with the ‘Red Rocks’ coprosma creating an aesthetic like the coastal dunescape on the South Coast The existing bus shelter was the perfect blank canvas to share glimpses into the character of Island Bay as a fishing village Community members chose archival images to print as vinyl overlays onto the shelter and the Council team worked with local families to carefully select and lay out images of family members The Council also ensured wayfinding signage was in te reo Māori and English and included natural and cultural sites of interest as well as key community facilities to make it easier to navigate the area The Council took the opportunity to design a bespoke aluminium rubbish bin cover for Island Bay depicting boats and sea – and inspired by the much-loved Rita Angus painting Boats As a lot of the pavement was re-done on both sides of the street the team incorporated colourful play stencils depicting local marine life outside the library and childcare centre and original tramline rails that used to run down The Parade to indicate the early suburb’s transport history.  The Council also wanted to include the words of people who knew and loved Island Bay and were lucky to receive permissions to include excerpts of poetic and literary works alongside a whakatauākī to engrave into the pavement Here are some of the words that can be seen across The Parade To find out more about the Island Bay Village upgrade, visit our website Gina Kiel is t the artist behind the colourful mural on the wharepaku toilet block on Medway Street Artist Greta Menzies has designed a 99-metre long mural inspired by senior students from Island Bay Primary and St Francis de Sales Creative plans proposed to rejuvenate the heart of Island Bay Service desk locations All roads on Wellington's south coast are reopening to traffic following storm clean-up and between Island Bay and Owhiro Bay had been closed for much of the day The stretch between Lyall Bay and Island Bay is open Hutt City Council says it remains in an active emergency response and its contractors have been out across Lower Hutt overnight clearing debris It has since been cleared and one lane of the road has been reopened for "necessary travel" Port Road remains closed and Marine Drive is open for necessary travel only All lanes on Wainuiomata Hill Rd are now open The Petone Esplanade around the Cuba St area is experiencing significant surface flooding and people are told to avoid the area Roads into Eastbourne closed early Friday morning Contractors at a road block on Old Tai Tapu Road told RNZ the flooding is lifting the asphalt off the road flights in and out of Wellington appear to have resumed this morning Services arriving from Timaru and Hamilton have been cancelled Nelson and Christchurch - are still scheduled Wellington Airport says two flights have had to be diverted Friday morning after trying and failing to land safely On Thursday, 200 flights were cancelled Cook Strait ferry sailings have been cancelled until Saturday morning RNZ is New Zealand's statutory civil defence lifeline radio broadcaster providing vital information and updates as they come to hand Share your stories and pictures with us at: iwitness@rnz.co.nz Weather warnings lifted around the country Slips have caused widespread road closures and evacuations across the region Selwyn Huts residents have been asked to evacuate as rivers rise and rain lashes already sodden ground New Zealand RSS Follow RNZ News Tory Whanau launches Golden Mile project yesterday Become a Wellington.Scoop Supporter » My Vaccine Pass requirements have not been set for this event North Shore CityAsking Price $1,449,000427190m²5,767m²Stunning Views this price offers exceptional value for such a breathtaking home on a generous 5,767m2 of freehold land Boasting Riparian rights that extend right to the water's edge this property guarantees forever unobstructed coastal views you can carve a path through the lush native bush all the way down to the water and take a swim right from your own property and prepare to be amazed by the expansive views enhanced by conservatory-style double-glazed windows that flood the open-plan living space with natural light and a smart ventilation system ensure a comfortable The sleek modern kitchen features large pantry space The brand-new flooring throughout the entire level offers easy upkeep and a neutral backdrop for your furnishings If you can tear yourself away from the views in the living area step out onto the deck from the master bedroom and enjoy the scenery once more tiled bathroom includes a supersized shower and doubles as an ensuite to the master Two additional bright and sunny bedrooms are located on this level carpeted room that can be customized to fit your needs Currently used as a 4th bedroom and living area this space could easily become a home office along with sea views and a step outside to the spa pool area - the perfect place to unwind after a busy day paved area plus a standalone double garage We are excited about this lovely home and know you will be too functionality with just a little bit of potential yet realized Call us now for more information or come along to the open homes Link to Harcourts property files : https://www.harcourtsfiles.co.nz/listings/WGYX based on a borrower’s individual credit assessment.Canstar's Most Awarded Personal LoanGet a renovation loan up to $70K and bring your vision to life we can approve your home improvement loan quickly and get your renovation started March 20, 2025JPEG The new sea ice, likely a type known as “grease ice,“ appears gray. Most of it has formed on the water near the fronts of Pine Island and Thwaites glaciers—two glaciers infamous for their outsized contributions to sea level rise is already floating and does not contribute to rising sea levels While scientists are unsure why the area’s sea ice had staying power this year the flow of warm water into the bay from under the glaciers’ ice tongues affects the amount of melting to varying degrees from year to year residual ice from the past winter can simply jam the bay preventing winds and currents from moving ice away several areas of open water appear almost black including the area immediately in front of Pine Island Glacier These areas are likely ice-free due to a combination of relatively warm water that can well up below a glacier’s ice tongue and offshore winds capable of clearing out any ice that manages to grow there In the days after this image was acquired, sea ice grew even more widespread and it will continue to thicken and expand through the dark Sea ice plays an important role around the margins of Antarctica from providing habitat for animals to damping waves that can chip away at the floating fronts of adjacent glaciers and ice shelves NASA Earth Observatory image by Michala Garrison, using MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview Story by Kathryn Hansen with image interpretation by Christopher Shuman/UMBC (retired) View this area in EO Explorer A major embayment in West Antarctica saw new sea ice growth in autumn 2025 amid older sea ice that had survived the austral summer melt season A spectacular view of sea ice was captured during an Operation IceBridge flight in 2014; the mission surveyed ice at both poles again in 2015 Island Bay’s bike lanes were some of the first in Pōneke and the data they’ve provided us about safety has helped us update and improve our designs as we roll out the network across the city One data source used to monitor the ongoing safety of city roads is Waka Kotahi NZTA’s Crash Analytics System (CAS) which allows precise data about our bike lanes To find out more, visit the Bike Network website Wellington City Council is paving the way with a new approach to roading materials that have less of a bad rep .. Once burbling streams lie buried beneath the pavement on Thorndon Quay We’re bringing them back to the light with beautiful etchings Council introduces licence plate recognition technology to fleet to improve fair access to parking in the city as Wellingtonians have been treated to a large pod of dolphins and multiple orca sightings in the past two days The pod of dolphins was seen whipping up a storm around many of Wellington's bays yesterday One poster in Whale and Dolphin Watch yesterday described "A sea full of dolphins sussing the East-West ferry out." Orca sightings were also reported in the group across Wellington "Unreal encounter with a pod of orca in Island Bay today," one poster said "I've never seen them this close to the shore before." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday A pod of almost 500 dolphins has been spotted by an eagle-eyed pilot near Kaikōura put the worldwide population at just 54 individuals aged over a year old More than 150 suspected false killer whales have become stranded on a beach in Tasmania's far north-west The Bottlenose dolphin was trapped in the shallows of an estuary in Otago At least 15 Hector's dolphins have been killed from fishing activity since Christopher Luxon became Prime Minister almost a year ago Churches big and small throughout Aotearoa New Zealand are vital spaces of culture and community but there are increasing challenges with heritage restoration and their relevance  in today’s world Around the country there are parishes operating from halls and community centres while precious traditional places of worship are boarded up A recent renovation in Pōneke Wellington offers inspiration On Friday a small Anglican church in the suburb of Island Bay won the Small Project category at the New Zealand Architecture Awards St Hilda’s Church now features a bold and beautifully folded patterned screen on its front that replaces the original 1910 brick façade When faced with earthquake-strengthening the façade the judges noted “the congregation and [architects] First Light Studio undertook the brave move to demolish it and extend and open the church to the street with a glazed The judges said this decision shows what can be done with “big imagination and a collaborative spirit” The renovation came after a one-year ultimatum from Wellington City Council in 2017 to address the church building’s earthquake-prone status providing more space for the baptismal font and additional seating The new façade also brings more light into the interior The existing weatherboard sides of the church were extended towards the footpath creating walls to support full-height glazing In front of this glazing stands what is described by the architects as “a golden tessellating veil adorned with a pattern that represents the history and essence of the place and the church.” Replacing the traditional stained glass it brings pattern through light into the interior “We were really represented by a brick wall previously,” quips Priest in Charge that sucks… it was hiding us and speaking the wrong message This is congruent and aligns with who we are and our public face “The stones on the front of churches often say ‘to the glory of God’ and I don’t feel that glory when I see these buildings… this feels like it is giving glory to God and is enabling goodness to happen in the community.”  The project has already won a Wellington Architecture Award and was recognised at the 2023 NZ Timber Design Awards for its blend of heritage construction with modern timber innovation The project has allowed the Anglican Diocese of Wellington to re-imagine what a church might look like and reconsider how it is supporting their mission with the community Culture 101's Mark Amery is joined by Reverend Mark Henderwood and First Light project architect Bronwyn Phillips See terms of use for easy access to all your favourite programmes If you’ve ever contemplated getting back on a bike or giving it a go February is the month when the Aotearoa Bike Challenge happens all around the motu Here’s our pick of places to explore in Wellington this summer and some climate-friendly ways to get there Sea and retaining walls at Hataitai beach are being upgraded over the next eight months with works starting between the changing and boat sheds If you’re keen to get started on your biking journey in Wellington but not sure where to start check out the different ways to access pedals in Pōne.. A fast-growing seaweed described as the world's worst marine pest has spread to three new locations around the Bay of Islands Exotic caulerpa - which has smothered other forms of marine life when it has become established in other parts of the world - was first found at Aotea Great Barrier Island in 2021 The seaweed pest has since been found at several other sites around the Hauraki Gulf but until now had not spread beyond the original location in the Bay of Islands Northland Regional Council chairman Geoff Crawford said exotic caulerpa had recently been confirmed at Paradise Bay on the western side of Urupukapuka Island; at Army/Waiwhapuku Bay off Moturua Island; and at the southern end of Motukiekie Island He said the pest was discovered by a boatie who pulled it up on an anchor at Paradise Bay earlier this month the council had sent divers around the island and worked with Biosecurity New Zealand to determine the extent of the seaweed's spread Previous dives found the area to be free of caulerpa as recently as April last year The unwelcome news came as Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard announced a further $6.2 million to help the council continue developing a large-scale mechanical suction technique which aimed to remove the pest plant from the seabed The money would come out of last year's $10m allocation for battling the seaweed pest Crawford said it was not yet clear how exotic caulerpa had spread beyond Omakiwi Cove but likely explanations included hitching a ride with an unsuspecting boatie or natural dispersal from another site "While this latest development is very concerning our focus is on ensuring we continue to develop the tools that can fight exotic caulerpa Without these we haven't any effective response." He said ongoing government investment in new technology was critical and gave the council a chance to remove exotic caulerpa at scale and prevent further spread The funding would allow the council to continue working with Ōpua-based marine contractor Johnson Bros and mana whenua partners Ngāti Kuta and Patukeha hapū to remove exotic caulerpa in Omakiwi Cove Crawford said Johnson Bros founder Andrew Johnson had developed a world-first which essentially vacuumed the seaweed from the sea floor using a barge-mounted digger with a custom-built dredge head The latest funding would allow the development of a new tool called a "submersible dredge planer" (SDP) which would operate remotely on the seafloor and aimed to remove exotic caulerpa in a single pass The new system would include a remotely operated SDP Crawford said the advantage over the current barge system was that it would be able to move more quickly and accurately across the sea floor under its own power It was also less likely to be affected by poor weather The concept was still in the development phase but the new tool was expected to be tested at Omakiwi from September Crawford said the council appreciated the efforts of Ngāti Kuta and Patukeha hapū who had worked closely with authorities since kaitiaki Rana Rewha first discovered the invasive pest in the Bay of Islands It was too soon to say how the find at Urupukapuka Island a popular boating destination about 7km from Paihia The council was liaising with Biosecurity New Zealand on the appropriate measures boaties and fishers were urged to be extra cautious Exotic caulerpa could get snagged on anchors and dive and fishing gear Simple steps to avoid that included checking the vessel's anchor and anchor chain bagged or contained securely so it could not get back into the water then taken ashore for disposal in a rubbish bin If it could not be securely contained it should be returned to the water where it came from Crawford said suspected sightings of exotic caulerpa should be reported to Biosecurity New Zealand then calling 0800 809 966 or completing an online form at report.mpi.govt.nz Go to www.biosecurity.govt.nz/caulerpa for more information Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard said funding for caulerpa control in the Bay of Islands was based on earlier project success Mediterranean fanworm and the clubbed tunicate were the most common marine pests in Hawke's Bay Mediterranean fanworm and clubbed tunicate often hitch a ride on boat hulls and anchors It comes after surveillance by a hapū revealed more than two dozen boats were illegally anchored in the Bay of Islands caulerpa ban area between August and October Northlanders are being warned the region faces some tough choices as biosecurity officials grapple with an ever-growing number of invasive pests The government is throwing more than $6 million at developing world-first industrial-scale technology to fight caulerpa as the invasive seaweed is confirmed at major tourist hot spot Bay of Islands motu for the first time Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard said big strides were being taken with the $6.2 million development of the new technology at Omākiwi Cove and $3.8 million for other technology at two other New Zealand locations to control the invasive exotic seaweed Hoggard said funding was based on earlier project success Northland Regional Council (NRC) confirmed this week that caulerpa had been found at six new locations in the eastern Bay of Islands Ipipiri island group It has been found at Urupukapuka Island's major boating anchorages Paradise Bay and Otiao Bay (Entico Bay) and Moturua Island's Army Bay as well at two locations around adjacent Motukiekie Island NRC chairperson Geoff Crawford said the new finds were disappointing but there had always been the potential for them to happen Caulerpa eradication was still possible - with the help of technology being developed in the Bay of Islands' Omākiwi Cove Five of the new sites are outside the Bay of Islands 1000ha caulerpa anchoring ban area in June 2021 They are the first confirmed caulerpa spread since New Zealand's only mainland caulerpa infestation was confirmed at Omākiwi Cove, Te Rāwhiti in May 2023 about three kilometres away A new infestation has also been identified on the northern edge of the anchoring ban area Omākiwi Cove has been the site of groundbreaking eradication trials since May 2023 Crawford said the new government funding was essential in the race to develop robust tools to fight caulerpa even as the invasive pest seaweed had spread to the Ipipiri Islands He said it was important to stay focused in the face of this spread "Without technology like the underwater tractor unit we wouldn't have anything to fight invasive caulerpa," Crawford said He said there had always been the chance that caulerpa would spread outside the anchoring ban area The government money will go towards upscaling successful Omākiwi Cove caulerpa removal trials to an industrial scale "At present we're capable of harvesting 30 tonnes of caulerpa a day," he said "We're hoping to be able to expand that to 600 tonnes a day That quantity's about the same in volume as a typical three-bedroom house." One of the biggest challenges would be working through how to deal with the increased quantity of caulerpa brought up onto the vessel in the new regime NRC would continue linking with Ōpua-based marine contractor Johnson Bros which had been working with the council and local mana whenua partners Ngāti Kuta and Patukeha hapū to remove exotic caulerpa in Omākiwi Cove The new tool called a 'submersible dredge planer' would operate remotely on the seafloor and aimed to remove exotic caulerpa in a single pass It would be part of a new larger system including the remotely operated planer dredge spoil processing plant and disposal system Crawford said the new technology was for getting rid of caulerpa on soft sandy seafloor Other work to control it on surrounding rocky areas along shorelines also needed developing NRC will also be supporting two other $3.2 million government-funded projects - developing ultra-violet light irradiation tool to kill the pest seaweed and a chlorine treatment chamber that will hover over the seabed Exotic caulerpa has been found in nine different locations in the upper North Island since first being discovered on Aotea Great Barrier Island in July 2021 LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air Minister Andrew Hoggard launched the Protect our Paradise campaign in Picton on Monday Local Democracy Reporting RSS Ewes and their newborn lambs enjoy some time on the beach at Cable Bay Where else can you watch newborn lambs basking on a beach while oystercatchers comb the sand nearby — all seemingly unfazed by the presence of visitors Urupukapuka Island is a pest-free wildlife sanctuary and recreational reserve Its Māori name means the island of many pukas — a large-leaved native tree once prevalent throughout the Bay of Islands (Ipipiri) Partly grazed by sheep but also an ongoing restoration project the island has no human population but is home to an abundance of birds and creatures long gone or scarcely seen on the mainland The Advocate visited in early spring on a calm sunny day lambs were about and the bays were turquoise The picture-perfect paradise is only a 40-minute ferry ride (on Fullers or Explore) from the tourist towns of Russell and Paihia for a reasonable fare Urupukapuka is nothing short of idyllic at any time of the year — an affordable day out for nature lovers In summer, ferries call in more frequently and the island teems with holidaymakers all getting their share of this pristine coastal setting Reviews by 173 Tripadvisor contributors rate a visit to Urupukapuka as a 4.5 out of 5 experience With its many well-preserved Māori sites that pre-date European settlement Urupukapuka is regarded as one of New Zealand’s most significant archaeological islands Because of its rich history and the ties many tribes have with it Urupukapuka is also a place of high cultural significance to Māori it’s the largest island of the 144 in Northland’s Bay of Islands It’s also the most topographically diverse its landscape ranging from flat areas behind the major bays (Entico Urupukapuka) to moderately steep slopes and coastal cliffs on the island’s eastern side Serviced by Fullers and Explorer ferries it is also a popular stopover point for tour vessels to the Hole in the Rock The voyage of about 7.5km to Urupukapuka from Russell or Paihia is a memorable scenic trip visitors are free to move about the boats at their leisure and there’s seating at almost every vantage point We could even sprawl out on the fenced deck of the bow there are plenty of comfortable cabin seats — all with panoramic window views The boats slow down through Te Pēwhairangi (Bay of Islands) Marine Mammal Sanctuary where skippers share a yarn or two about nearby islands and the marine environment Have your camera ready as there’s a high likelihood of seeing marine mammals, including bottlenose dolphins As we made our way from our ferry to shore via Otehei’s long pier No wonder the island is popular for scuba diving As we boarded the boat again at the end of the day, we got an awesome close-up view of a large school of snapper wrangling over titbits in the water About a third of Urupukapuka Island is grazing land, predominantly covered with kikuyu grass Archaeological sites are visible in that open landscape and it’s a harmonious contrast to the rest of the island’s cover — large tracts of native scrubland spectacular pōhutukawa trees that skirt the coastline and a wetland created as a wildlife habitat in the 1980s Urupukapuka has significant and ongoing restoration potential There are breeding areas for brown teals/pāteke and NZ dotterels The conservation initiative Project Island Song has successfully released rare bird species — robins/toutouwai, North Island saddlebacks/tīeke and whiteheads/pōpokotea. Giant weta have also been reintroduced Take a day trip as we did or pack your camping gear and stay a night or more at one of the island’s three affordable DoC-managed campgrounds at stunning Urupukapuka Bay the largest of those venues — Urupukapuka Bay — hosts up to 240 people across 60 non-powered tent sites It’s classic no-frills styled Kiwi camping with only cold showers and non-flushable (composting) toilets but popular nonetheless Campsites are heavily booked every summer — especially over Christmas and New Year The Northland Regional Council’s rubbish barge which has become a summer fixture in the Bay of Islands calls in every second day from around Boxing Day to mid-January to remove refuse on a pay-as-you-use basis Rules apply to taking alcohol and dangerous goods (camping fuel etc) on board ferries so check with the operator first littering and foul language are not allowed on the island Just one cat or dog could cause considerable damage to island wildlife there’s limited mobile coverage if needed or if you simply can’t resist immediately skiting about the scenery to your social media mates A conservation centre in Otehei Bay operates from December 26 to February 6 each year including about Project Island Song and the marine mammal reserve’s bottlenose dolphins The centre also has a pop-up library and is the base for children’s activity days Visitors to the island are well-served by a network of walking tracks the climb is worth it for the breathtaking maritime views including the new Providore’s Gallery showcasing Northland artists Part of the gallery will also operate over the summer as a small general store The landscape at Otehei is flat and there’s white sandy beach on both sides of the pier Bring a picnic or check out the licensed beachside cafe for a meal Sink into one of the cafe’s many outdoor bean bags or stake a claim to one of the countless shaded spots on the grass Strolling around Otehei’s park-like setting you’ll still see all manner of birdlife — saddlebacks Resident species aren’t shy of awestruck visitors and happily go about their business regardless of the people nearby If you want to explore the island from the sea paddleboards and snorkels are available for hire during summer Beaches are sheltered and safe for swimming According to a useful potted history on DoC’s website before European settlement the Bay of Islands was a heavily populated place with a complex political To date a total of 66 archaeological sites have been identified on Urupukapuka and there are many more on adjacent islets Urupukapuka has at least eight pā sites on headlands and numerous surface features such as garden sites and storage pits They can be seen from one of the island’s walks which have information panels explaining each feature The diversity of Urupukapuka’s archaeological sites and the well-preserved state of them make the island one of New Zealand’s most significant archaeological islands European settlers began clearing land around the island to graze livestock The island was farmed in the early 1900s by the Baker family Businessman and farmer Charles Baker was also keen on fishing and in 1926-27 invited the famous American novelist and game-fishing enthusiast Zane Grey to visit Grey used Otehei Bay as a base for game fishing and pioneered the maritime recreation activities now central to the Bay of Islands at his namesake Urupukapuka resort Its success established the Bay of Islands as New Zealand’s swordfishing capital Eventually sold by its Māori shareholders in the 20th century Urupukapuka was acquired by the Crown in 1970 and gazetted as a Recreation Reserve in 1979 The current landscape of Otehei Bay still houses some of original buildings which have been left as examples of the vernacular style of European structures once common but now rarely seen in coastal northland settings All the island’s archaeological sites are protected under the Historic Places Act 1993 Visitors are encouraged to help identify people in the photographs. North Shore CityAsking price $899,000314Love me and create something special!Nestled in the heart of Island Bay this charming 3-bedroom home is ready for someone to transform it into a true gem Just a short stroll to the iconic wharf and playground you'll enjoy all the conveniences of this prime location The local dairy is right at the top of the road and with frequent public transport running along Rangatira Rd north-facing yard perfect for outdoor living this property has ample storage space underneath this home can be the dream retreat you've been looking for and the location – all it needs is you to bring it to life See this listing on Barfoot & Thompson Wellington city has over 100-kilometres of coastline to explore making Wellingtonians spoilt for choice when it comes to picking a good beach spot We've put together a list of awesome beaches to spend time at across Pōneke Get the details and their unique special features below Located in the Miramar Peninsula, this beautiful beach is perfect for a relaxing afternoon with its large grassed area and pōhutukawa trees. It's a great place to soak up the sun and watch ships entering and leaving the harbour.   A half hour stroll away from Scorching Bay is Worser Bay which boasts large sand dunes planted with marram and pingao and a grassed area with picnic tables.   toilets and changing facilities at Te Kopahou Visitor Centre.  Another south coast stunner is Princess Bay This sheltered sandy beach is a great spot to have a swim or see some sea life This beach lies near the end of the Taputeranga Marine Reserve Walk around the rockpools on the Te Raekaihau Point side of the beach and you are sure to spot some interesting sea creatures.  Features: Large changing rooms and toilets This central city spot is a must for every city-dwelling Wellingtonian. With Oriental Bay Beach and Freyberg Beach the parade hosts a bunch of attractions including the Carter Fountain You’ll often find people having evening swims or picnics wheelchair access to both beaches and wave platforms Features: Beachfront parking along Lyall Bay Parade dog-friendly exercise area at the eastern end (by the airport) and changing room facilities at the Lyall Bay Surf Club.  Known for its sandy beach, this spot is a popular destination for those wanting a dip in the ocean Get more information about our beaches and coast on our website there are more opportunities to make the most of daylight hours after work or dinner Looking for some quintessentially Wellington stocking stuffer ideas gas and water sprays from a 82-year-old well near Garden Island Bay in the Bird's Foot Delta in southern Plaquemines Parish on Thursday Coast Guard has enacted a safety zone in the area and almost three miles of boom has been placed to contain the released material owned and operated by Spectrum OpCo only since last year was shut in by a previous owners in but was not permanently plugged Some of the nearly three miles containment boom corral spilled oily water in coastal marshes in the Bird's Foot Delta of the Mississippi River as skimmers and other vessels work to clean up the product Thursday Absorbent bales can be seen around marsh islands and shores gas and water is spewing from an 82-year-old oil well near Garden Island Bay in southern Plaquemines Parish and two guide boats use boom to collect oil on the water surface Thursday near a small marsh island in the Bird's Foot Delta of the Mississippi River in southern Plaquemines Parish Absorbent bales can be seen around the marsh island gas and water is spewing from an 82-year-old oil well near Garden Island Bay lays out the scene of an uncontrolled release from an 82-year-old well near Garden Island Bay in southern Plaquemines Parish gas and water sprays from in the Bird's Foot Delta of the Mississippi River in southern Plaquemines Parish on Thursday Coast Guard has enacted a safety zone in the area and almost three miles of boom was placed by Thursday to contain the released material An 82-year-old oil well drilled before the Allies turned the tide of World War II was spewing an undefined amount of oil gas and water skyward and into the coastal marshes of southern Plaquemines Parish for more than a week First reported by the operator as a "blowout" on the afternoon of April 26 near Garden Island Bay, the incident that the U.S. Coast Guard described for days as an "uncontrolled discharge" was coming from an oil well that had been put in inactive status nearly a decade ago by a previous owner Well 59 was never permanently plugged by that or successive owners Owned by Spectrum OpCo LLC since last summer the well began sending oily product skyward late last month after years of sitting dormant The Coast Guard says the cause remains under investigation Coast Guard officials have been unable so far to say how large the oily slick is from the well but say crews had collected more than 60,700 gallons of oily product through Friday The well's location in the marsh and shallow water of the Mississippi River Bird's Foot Delta has complicated the response Contractor Wild Well Control must carve a channel through shallows that parish emergency officials say are about 3 feet deep in spots to bring in a large barge that holds a crane and heavy equipment to cap the well "This has presented some challenges that have required dredging and jetting operations to create enough depth to safely operate required source control operations and storage equipment has mobilized intervention equipment," Coast Guard officials said Friday afternoon Wild Well Control is planning to use a large crane and a heavy piece of equipment known as a capping stack to place it on top of the uncontrolled well and cut off the flow a University of New Hampshire professor emeritus of civil and environmental engineering said similar technology was developed to shut the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill 15 years ago though that happened in far tougher conditions 5,000 feet underwater Capping stacks have gained wider use and refinement since the Deepwater Horizon spill Their use in shallow conditions like this one isn't uncommon but the crane has to be brought in close to the well you need a fairly hefty piece of equipment and it's not like that equipment can be carried in by people and so you have to have a crane to lift it into place," Kinner said Coast Guard officials said that ensuring Wild Well Control's plan to use the capping stack succeeds will be the most critical element of the response in the coming days "Dredging/jetting operations are a critical part of source control operations; however Cutting and capping planning is being refined so that it can be done correctly at the first attempt," officials said The Coast Guard announced Sunday night that its well intervention team regained control of the well As the response continues and a growing numbers of oil skimmers and workers — close to 200 — are being directed to the spill Coast Guard has also moved to take full control of managing the response by supplanting Spectrum OpCo The Coast Guard federalized the response late last week and hired its own primary response contractor Coast Guard officials said they also began accessing federal emergency dollars from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund "This decision ensured continuity of operations and allowed for the continued rapid mobilization of resources necessary to secure the source and mitigate environmental threats," they said which is the owner/operator and remains the responsible party had originally been a part of the unified command for the response with the Coast Guard and state but no longer was once the Coast Guard took full control on Thursday It's not clear what role the company has at this point Company officials have not responded to requests for comment The spill trust fund is financed primarily with a 9-cents-per-barrel tax on domestic and imported crude oil Environmental Protection Agency records say that agency can tap the fund when the responsible party isn't known or refuses to pay When asked about Spectrum's finances and the use of the trust fund Coast Guard officials said their decision was "in response to the ongoing oil discharge and associated environmental risks." They referred questions about Spectrum to the Houston, Texas, company, which has a website with one page only and no contact information on it The webpage has a handful of seasoned oil and gas executives listed as the leadership with links to their LinkedIn pages an LSU professor who specializes in energy law said the Coast Guard "can take over the response if the responsible party is not responding or the Coast Guard thinks it is better prepared to respond." He added if the Coast Guard uses trust fund dollars the federal government can seek to recoup them later from the responsible party As daily aerial photos showing some marshes surrounding the well becoming stained with darkening shades of brown and black despite containment boom and absorbent bales the oily release and necessity for the Coast Guard to step in has already led to criticisms from environmental groups and one of Louisiana's Democratic congressmen They say the incident is an example of at least two things: Louisiana's insufficient measures to shut thousands of aged wells permanently and the shortsightedness of Trump administration cuts to federal government agencies that protect the public and environment said the Trump administration's DOGE cuts have laid off or forced into early retirement more than 1,000 workers with the U.S National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration including some from the unit in its Emergency Response Division that handles oil and other spills "As oil shoots 30 to 40 feet into the air from a well that should have been permanently sealed years ago, we are left scrambling to contain a disaster with fewer people, fewer resources, and fewer answers. This week marks 15 years since the Deepwater Horizon tragedy Republican congressmen and Trump officials have largely celebrated the cuts by DOGE for rooting out a few hundred billion dollars in waste and fraud Critics have questioned the size of the savings estimates Well 59 was first drilled in the final months of 1942 to nearly 6,900 feet deep in the search for oil It has had multiple owners through the decades and was significantly reworked in 1989 and 1994 it continued to change hands before an affiliate of Spectrum Energy with common ownerships bought it and 291 other wells last year for about $3.9 million Coast Guard officials said the shut-in well was being kept closed with valves the well passed a state safety inspection in June 2023 who works for the Center for Biological Diversity alleged oil companies often use the promise of future production to shut-in wells and avoid more costly plugging and abandonment unplugged wells like this one are clearly a recipe for disaster" and suggested the problem was a reason to halt expansion of offshore drilling "For the sake of Louisiana's communities and sensitive coastal environment government officials should stop letting oil companies skip out on their well-plugging responsibilities," he added in a statement spokesman for the state Department of Energy and Natural Resources said the department has taken a variety of steps over the past decade including increasing financial security requirements and well inspections to incentivize owners to do something with their wells "Either get them in production or plug them and clean them up like you should," he said especially the smaller operators who are like The wells then become "orphans" that are the state’s responsibility Courreges argued the department is riding a fine line between pushing operators and unintentionally driving up the number of orphan wells which the Louisiana Legislative Auditor recently found would cost about $543 million to plug permanently Auditors have also recently found the state wasn't requiring enough security to cover plugging costs and has underfunded its plugging program Auditors have also separately questioned the spending by and oversight of a third-party agency that offers smaller drillers financial security for plugging Department officials have said they are trying to address the auditors' findings and have pushed new laws to tighten the rules David J. Mitchell can be reached at dmitchell@theadvocate.com Email notifications are only sent once a day News Tips:nolanewstips@theadvocate.com Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: A budding photographer and stargazer gave up on sleep in favour of a stunning Aurora Australis the Southern Lights put on a show across the south coast of Wellington Chris Harrington-Lines parked up in Island Bay and was surprised at just how good it was "I got an alert from the Glendale app which is a really good app for anyone who's keen on aurora-hunting I got there at about 9pm and it said there was an orange alert "So it was at 9pm and I got to Island Bay probably around 10pm and then at about 10.45pm it really kicked off." and knew he was going to get something right away the fourth time or fifth time I've captured auroras on camera but [these are] definitely my favourite photos." Harrington-Lines, relatively new to space photography, said he missed out on the May aurora because of cloud cover There were reports this one could be seen as far north as Hamilton There was probably at about 12 o'clock a little bit of low cloud on the horizon kind of going across but that looked really cool in the photos… this was definitely the biggest I've seen." Usually, particles from solar flares bounce off the Earth's magnetic field they can penetrate the ionosphere and interact with gases around the magnetic poles - causing the ribbons of colour Spaceweather.com said Sunday's geomagnetic storm was level G3 (out of a maximum G5) He was not keen to out again Monday night to get some more snaps after being out until 3am "I don't know if I'm up for another late night." While stargazers around the world were trying to catch a glimpse of the widespread auroras in May satellites were bearing the brunt of the worst geomagnetic storm in 20 years A solar storm has been creating vivid colourful skies around the world Dramatic footage shows hammer-wielding thieves breaking into a Wellington dairy - the city’s second smash-and-grab burglary in less than a week Masked crowbar-wielding thieves broke into the CityStop convenience store on The Terrace just after 5.30am on Sunday “Sad feeling but what can I do?,” CityStop owner Shailesh Patel said Island Bay dairy and vape shop Sai Food Store was broken into by three young people using a hammer whose parents have owned the shop for 20 years was in bed watching TV in the family’s home attached to the business I originally thought it was an earthquake so I didn’t think much into it then I heard it again and I thought ‘oh f*** we’re getting ram-raided’.” The offenders smashed the glass shop-front before kicking down a metal barrier and raiding the store CCTV footage shows one person climbing across a barrier to enter the connected vape store which the family had recently set up to comply with new regulations Another person went to the till to get cash and the third filmed the break-in on a phone before going to their car to get a bucket to carry the stolen items as they watched the thieves raid their business from the next room via CCTV cameras I was on a call with 111 and was shaking.” Patel said she decided to confront the thieves as they were raiding the store “I opened the window and started yelling at the people that are robbing us there’s one guy in the car and he’s just looking at me” She managed to get a good look at the trio before they fled and said they looked “really young” She said the family were “still a bit shaken up” but had already made repairs to the shopfront and had the business back up and running Ethan Manera is a multimedia journalist based in Wellington. He joined NZME in 2023 and is interested in politics, local issues and the public service. Ethan is always on the lookout for a story and can be emailed at ethan.manera@nzme.co.nz or messaged on X (formerly Twitter) @ethanjmanera The only high-reach ladder truck in Auckland broke down last night You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image Project Jonah said another stranding had taken place in Christchurch involving a juvenile beaked whale that came ashore in New Brighton Project Jonah was called to reports of 20 to 30 pilot whales coming on shore about 7pm Saturday Local medics and the senior Project Jonah team stayed with the whales until last light It was the third stranding in the area in the past two months Eight of 10 whales that stranded on 7 January were successfully reloaded Department of Conservation Golden Bay operations manager Ross Trotter told RNZ last week it was unclear why whale strandings happen There's been a lot of theories and scientific research into it but we don't know why they [the whales] strand in the first place or why they repeat strand." The shape of the bay was a possible factor Project Jonah said they were quickly at the scene and got it refloated "Alongside locals and Department of Conservation (DOC) rangers the area is being closely monitored for any further signs of the whale." this beach-side suburb has it all – a gorgeous sandy beach looking out at Taputeranga Island We’ve put together five things you can do to explore the area Known for its sandy beach, this spot is a popular destination for those wanting a dip in the ocean Luckily Island Bay has some great eateries on the parade that you can get stuck into the local favourite Patrisha's Original Pie Shop the Blue Belle Cafe or the new kid on the block There’s also delicious fish and chips shops closer to the beach and the Grocer's Shed across from Shorland Park if you feel like an icecream!  Just a stones throw away from the beach is Shorland Park which is jam-packed with great features including a playground for all ages electric BBQs and the War Memorial Band Rotunda There’s plenty to do for you and the whānau!   Shorland Park is also the start / finish points for the City to Sea Walkway will lead you back to the city centre (5-hour walk) On the corner of The Parade and Mersey Street is Empire Cinema & Eatery which has been a part of the community since the 1920s It now has three boutique cinemas and a café alongside family and art-house titles.  It’s the perfect place to unwind!  Plans are in place to rejuvenate Island Bay Village with more space for outdoor seats and tables garden areas and prioritised pedestrian access With bike lanes connecting from the beach down to the shops it’s the perfect spot to explore on two wheels There’s heaps of bike parking available in the shopping area so make sure to stop off and explore the local boutiques and cafes!   Just a stone’s throw away from our city centre is the quaint Tinakori village From the infamous Nada Bakery to skate parks – there’s awesome things to do and see in the northern suburb of Tawa