A search is underway to find a missing hiker in Milford Sound The man was due back from his hike in the Mitre Peak area on Sunday night but failed to return home Police said search and rescue teams and a helicopter crew headed out on Monday morning to look for the man There were no further details available at this stage New Zealand RSS Follow RNZ News Search and Rescue teams are entering Milford Sound this morning after a hiker failed to return home yesterday evening. Police were advised late Sunday that a man who had gone out hiking in Milford Sound in the Mitre Peak area had failed to return home. Search and Rescue teams will be heading out this morning to search for the man which will include the use of a helicopter, a police spokesperson said. There are no further details available at this stage. The boy described the man's car as having offensive words and gestures on its panels. Police were told late yesterday that the man not returned home after he had gone out hiking in the Mitre Peak area of Milford Sound. A helicopter will also be used in the search today, a police spokesperson said. A helicopter will also be used in the search today, a police spokesperson said. (Source: Getty) Search and rescue teams are heading to Milford Sound this morning to look for a hiker who failed to return. Southland farming company slapped with fine over effluent discharge Gladvale Farms Ltd committed the offending on two occasions in October 2019 at an Oreti Plains farm Environment Police believe wave of Invercargill robberies two burglaries and one attempted burglary took place in Invercargill between 2.30am and 4.20am and are believed to be connected Crime and Justice Sheep killed more euthanised after stock truck rolls in Southland Police were called to the single-vehicle crash on Tokanui Gorge Rd Highway near Fortrose at around 7.45am on Monday New Zealand Person killed in accident at Te Anau transfer station Southland District Council group manager Fran Mikulicic said the whole of council was shocked and saddened by the tragedy Selwyn lifts state of emergency as severe weather recovery continues Flooding from heavy rain has led to a state of emergency being declared in Christchurch (including Banks Peninsula) Claim landowner helped Beckenridge escape alive recanted in new twist Oliver Watson had initially told police his cousin had admitted he and others had helped provide shelter to the Beckenridges but rescinded his statements in the Coroner's Court today Iwi boss to head new board for Taranaki Maunga 42 mins ago Kiwi motorcyclist killed in 11-bike British Supersport crash 58 mins ago National introduces members' bill to ban social media for under 16s 9:51am Three in hospital after Christchurch house fire 9:29am US states push for speed-limiting devices on the cars of dangerous drivers 9:20am Ten dead after tourist boats capsize in sudden storm in China 37 mins ago 1Two men's shared name brings years of trouble and a hefty bill to one Person dies following morning crash on Auckland motorway The 'Trump slump' boosts the left in Canada and Oz – but what about NZ? Erica Stanford sent pre-Budget documents to her personal email 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 fansCries of joy rose from the tightly-packed fans who sang and danced shoulder-to-shoulder on the vast stretch of sand. 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 Lorde releases new single after weeks of cryptic teasesThu, Apr 24 Chubby Checker, Outkast, Cyndi Lauper join Rock & Roll Hall of FameMon Search and rescue teams are heading to Milford Sound this morning to look for a hiker who failed to return Police were told late yesterday that the man not returned home after he had gone out hiking in the Mitre Peak area of Milford Sound A helicopter will also be used in the search today A large-scale Southland farming company has been fined $82,500 for discharging effluent in a manner which could have entered waterways The company was sentenced on Monday after being found guilty in February following an August 2024 judge-alone trial Legal action against the company began when Environment Southland alleged the Resource Management Act had been breached through effluent discharge on or into land which could have resulted in the contaminant entering water It was alleged the defendant irrigated at night without monitoring due to employees being off duty The judgement said although it was not necessary to prove the contaminant had entered or impacted the waterway there was sufficient evidence to show it had Steps taken to mitigate against the discharge were not sufficient including using a digger to move effluent further into a paddock Judge Steven told the court that 90 percent of the fine would go to the council Gladvale Farms Ltd operates five dairy farms in Southland with 3700 cows across 3300 acres Stuff has previously reported fines against the company of $27,000 in 2018/19 Police have appealed to the public after two aggravated robberies and a series of burglaries in Invercargill overnight Detective Inspector Stu Harvey said officers were called to a premises on Dee St at around 2.30am on Monday to reports of two people entering a store demanding cash A worker was assaulted but not seriously injured Harvey said an attempted burglary and two burglaries were reported at three further premises on Windsor St Police then received a report that two people had entered a Tay St premises and demanded cash and items Harvey said information suggested the incidents were linked "Two vehicles were seen in the vicinity of some of the incidents "The other vehicle is described as a dark-coloured car," said Harvey "We would like to speak to anyone who saw vehicles fitting these descriptions between 1am and 5am." Anyone with relevant information about these vehicles or those involved should contact police on 105 Sheep have been killed and others have had to be euthanised after a stock truck rolled in Southland this morning The road was completely blocked and expected to be closed for sometime while the scene was cleared however the road is completely blocked," a police spokesperson said Southland District Council confirmed some animals were killed in the crash while others had to be euthanised due to injuries Fire and Emergency responded with crews from Waimahaka It's the second incident of sheep being killed after a stock truck rolled in Southland in a little over a week A small number of lambs had to be euthanised after a stock truck rolled near Balclutha on April 27 A man who claimed his cousin told him he helped John Beckenridge and his stepson disappear has retracted his allegation in an astonishing twist in the Coroner's Court Oliver Watson's allegation first emerged in 2023 when he was interviewed by police and signed a formal statement claiming his cousin admitted in a phone call that he helped the missing man The claim was among testimony heard in a Christchurch court this morning A coroner is trying to determine whether the case is a murder or a staged disappearance Police have long argued that John Beckenridge killed himself and his stepson after picking the 11-year-old up from school in Invercargill in breach of a court order Beckenridge’s car went over a clifftop located in Southland's Catlins region Paul Watson owned the land at the clifftop scene Investigators claimed he drove the pair over the edge intentionally in a murder-suicide But that version of events has never been accepted by Lu No bodies were found when the car was recovered Beckenridge is a helicopter pilot with four known aliases Police investigated a new lead in the Beckenridge case in 2023 when Oliver Watson contacted them to describe a phone call A report by police detailing those inquiries was read in court this morning “Oliver confirmed that [Paul Watson] disclosed that he and others had assisted the Beckenridges and they were alive,” the police report read Oliver Watson went on to retract that allegation when he was called to give evidence this morning He was asked to read the original police statement he signed in 2023 they're alright'," Oliver Watson said Under questioning from police lawyer Deirdre Elsmore Watson was asked if he now retracted the allegation he had made against his cousin Oliver Watson claimed a mistake had occurred when the police officer came to take his statement saying "the whole thing turned into a social event" and "police writing is hard to read at the best of times" he later confirmed he had been sent a typed copy Asked whether it was a "complete turnaround" Police lawyer Deirdre Elsmore suggested that Paul Watson's comment – "they are alright" - may have been a comforting comment meaning that whether they are dead or alive "That did occur to me," Oliver Watson replied He was then asked about a dispute over the ownership of the family farm and shown emails where he made aggressive comments to PaulWatson "Would it be true that you believed at the time that Paul Watson gained ownership of it that he had somehow manipulated an advantage?" Elsmore asked "Absolutely," Oliver Watson replied He accepted that he contacted Paul Watson again in 2021 to ask him to consider involving him in a business involving the land but was challenged on this by the police lawyer he was asked if he believed that Paul Watson helped with the disposal of the vehicle "I didn't realise how frail Paul was these days Paul Watson is due to give evidence later today but was able to ask Oliver Watson questions as an interested party to the proceeding He stood up and addressed his cousin and simply said "as a Christian Oliver Watson immediately broke down in tears The lead is a new one that emerged after a previous coronial hearing in 2023 The claims have been investigated by police who filed an updated report in November 2024 police said they believed Beckenridge hated his ex-partner and this may have led him to kill himself and Mike He sent a final text to the mother shortly before the car was found in the water reading: "You have destroyed my life and Mike’s Me and Mike are leaving now on the Midnight Express 3 mins to departure Bye my love and thanks for everything JB and MB (sic)." But the schoolboy had been rallying against a court order to live with his mother and the court was shown several emails he had sent his stepfather in the lead up to the disappearance in fact she is not my mum she f****d up my life so bad I hate her I hope she die painfully (sic)," one read along with Beckenridge’s skills as a helicopter pilot has led Mike's family to believe that Beckenridge staged the disappearance A trail-blazing tribal leader today starts a new job bringing together eight iwi to look after Taranaki Maunga Iwi now have equal say with the Crown in running the former Egmont National Park The Minister of Conservation will need iwi agreement to approve management plans for what is now called Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki Wharehoka Wano will lead Te Tōpuni Ngārahu – a new body of representatives from the region’s eight iwi – to govern the park alongside the conservation minister The arrangement is laid out in Te Ture Whakatupua mō te Kāhui Maunga, the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Act passed unanimously by Parliament in January Another group called Te Tōpuni Kōkōrangi – half appointed by iwi and half by the Crown – will develop management plans for Te Tōpuni Ngārahu and the minister to consider Wano has for nine years been the first chief executive of Te Kāhui o Taranaki the agency set up when Taranaki iwi settled its historical Treaty claims Wano has helped shape Taranaki iwi’s future and he’s also a trustee for the neighbouring iwi’s post-settlement agency Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa. He’s one of the dozen counsellors on the Kīngitanga’s Tekau-mā-rua the advisory body for Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po – as he was for her father the late Kīngi Tūheitia At Wano’s farewell from Te Kāhui o Taranaki veteran campaigner Peter Moeahu said Wano was “an ambassador a diplomat extraordinaire,” and reckoned he would need those skills “You might have thought handling one iwi was bad enough referring to South Taranaki’s Te Pakakohi and Tangahoe which are not recognised as iwi by the Crown Te Kāhui o Taranaki chair Jacqui King said Wano had dealt with arms of the Crown on many fronts really challenging because often you get so impassioned by the unjust behaviours and practices “You have to carry that in such a way that you can't be asked to leave - and Whare is an absolute expert at ensuring he says what needs to be said without being offensive.” Te Kāhui’s operations manager Mark Wipatene said he’d known many aggressive cut-throat chief executives – “silverback gorillas who have massive egos” “They wouldn’t last a day in this space because you can’t operate that way.” “Whare has the ability to navigate through that world and bring his kaimahi with him because he has no ego Liana Poutu helped negotiate the maunga settlement and said Wano’s calming influence wasn’t limited to dealings with government “And when we want to take on some whawhai (fight) Whare’s like ‘are you sure that's how you want to do it?’” Wano’s niece and former colleague Puna Wano-Bryant said he would bring impeccable communication to the Maunga job “He has the ability to open new ways for people to heal and reconcile their own relationships with each other.” Wano-Bryant said she often spotted surfboards in her uncle’s car and he would explain he was off to a “board hui” Fellow surfer and new Taranaki Regional Council chair Craig Williamson has known Wano for almost 20 years and praised his work for the betterment of Taranaki communities We’ve had three board meetings this week.” In 2016 the Crown accepted that Taranaki Maunga and the adjacent ranges would become a legal person and own itself as Te Kāhui Tupua the Crown agreed to share management of the national park Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki with iwi There's now a search on for four people to represent the iwi of Taranaki on Te Tōpuni Kōkōrangi serving as the face and voice of Te Kāhui Tupua When Parliament passed the redress law in January it officially recognised the peaks as tupuna maunga – ancestral mountains LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ on Air Kiwi motorcyclist Shane Richardson is one of two riders who died in an 11-bike crash at a British Supersport Championship event was fatally injured alongside Englishman Owen Jenner on the first corner of the race at Oulton Park A statement from British Superbikes said the race was immediately stopped and trackside medical services deployed "Due to the extreme severity of the incident and ongoing medical intervention the remainder of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship event was cancelled," a spokesperson said "This catastrophic accident has tragically resulted in two riders being fatally injured and another sustaining significant injuries." Richardson was initially treated trackside and then taken to the circuit's medical centre before he was taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital with "severe chest injuries" Jenner was also initially treated trackside and then taken to the circuit medical centre where he died from a "catastrophic head injury" British rider Tom Tunstall suffered back and abdominal injuries and a further five riders including New Zealander Morgan McLaren-Wood were transferred to the circuit medical centre with minor injuries which did not require transfer to hospital Three more riders were also involved but were uninjured who was a previous New Zealand rider of the year Cemetery Circuit in Wanganui posted to its social media in tribute to Richardson a fantastic and talented racer and a genuine human" "Devastated to hear we have lost another of our racing family Our thoughts are with Hannah and the family along with our condolences to Owen’s family too." Richardson's sponsor Whites Powersports said the team was "extremely saddened" by the news of his death "Shane will be remembered by many as a great racer Our thoughts go out to Shane’s young family and friends during this tough time The New Zealand Superbike Championship said its "deepest sympathies" went out to Richardson's family and friends We want to protect our kids from the harms of social media. That’s why today National has introduced a members bill to ban social media for kids under 16 years old. pic.twitter.com/TiQJs87DhQ A teenager who admitted being "addicted to speed" behind the wheel had totalled two other cars in the year before he slammed into a minivan at 180km/h in a Seattle suburb killing the driver and three of the five children she was transporting for a homeschool co-op After sentencing Chase Daniel Jones last month to more than 17 years in prison the judge tacked on a novel condition should he drive again: His vehicle must be equipped with a device that prevents accelerating far beyond the speed limit Virginia this year became the first state to agree to give its judges such a tool to deal with the most dangerous drivers on the road already is using it and similar measures await governors' signatures in Washington state and Georgia New York and California also could soon tap the GPS-based technology to help combat a recent national spike in traffic deaths "It's a horror no one should have to experience," said Amy Cohen who founded the victims' advocacy group Families for Safe Streets after her 12-year-old son was killed by a speeding driver in front of their New York home more than a decade ago the minivan driver who was killed when Jones ran a red light was building a backyard greenhouse with her husband to help educate several kids who shuttle between homes during the school day Also killed in the March 2024 crash near Hudson's home in Renton were Boyd "Buster" Brown and Eloise Wilcoxson Hudson's two children were sitting on the passenger side and survived "You always hear of these horrific accidents Smith knew Washington state Representative Mari Leavitt who reached out to offer condolences and tell him she was sponsoring legislation to mandate intelligent speed assistance devices as a condition for habitual speeders to get back their suspended licenses Leavitt predicts it will have an even more powerful impact than revoking driving privileges citing studies showing around three-quarters of people who lose their licenses get behind a wheel anyway the state saw a 200% increase in drivers cited for going at least 80km/h over the speed limit according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission "I guess I don't understand why someone is compelled to want to drive that fast," Leavitt said "But if they choose to drive that fast with the speed limiter It's going to stop them in their tracks." which Washington legislators passed last month and Democratic Governor Bob Ferguson is expected to soon sign using the first letters of the names of the four victims: Buster didn't receive a speeding ticket in his two previous crashes he likely wouldn't have been required to use the speed-limiter ahead of the fatal one And because it could be 2029 before the law takes effect the judge's requirement at sentencing only applies to his time on probation after being released from prison Competing tech companies that joined forces to lobby for ignition interlock requirements for drunken drivers have been working in unison again the last few years to pitch intelligent speed assistance chief government affairs officer at one manufacturer said fleet vehicles including school buses in the nation's capital have been trying it out for years But it took a lot of refinement before the GPS technology could instantly recognize speed limit changes and compel vehicles with the devices installed to adjust accordingly "We've got a lot more satellites in the sky now," said Ken Denton a retired police officer who is the chief compliance officer at Cincinnati-based LifeSafer the devices would prevent cars from exceeding speed limits or whatever threshold regulators set An override button allows speeding in emergencies but states can decide whether to activate it and authorities would be alerted any time the button is pushed which beeps to alert drivers when they are going too fast is required for new cars in the European Union California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a similar proposal last year explaining vehicle safety requirements are set by the federal government and he was concerned a patchwork of state laws could stir confusion Before Delegate Patrick Hope agreed to sponsor the proposal in the Virginia Legislature he tried out the device in Nannini's car which was calibrated to not go more than 14km/h over the speed limit "That was my first question: Is it safe?" Hope said Hope is now pondering whether to install it on the cars of his three children the price could be hefty: US$4 (NZ$6.70) per day and a US$100 (NZz$167.50) installation fee The fee would be less for low-income offenders which provides support services to the loved ones of crash victims knows firsthand the kind of impact slowing down speeders can make A year after her son was struck and killed in front of their New York apartment the road's speed limit had been lowered "When you are going a few miles slower it's much less likely to be deadly." Four boats capsized in a sudden storm at a tourist spot in southwestern China More than 80 people fell into a river when strong winds hit the scenic area in Guizhou province late Sunday afternoon The boats capsized after a sudden rain and hail storm on the upper reaches of the Wu River a man could be seen performing CPR on another person while one of the vessels drifted upside down Initial reports said two tourist boats had capsized but state media said on Monday that four boats were involved and the seven crew members were able to save themselves Guizhou's mountains and rivers are a major tourism draw and many Chinese were travelling during a five-day national holiday that ended Monday Chinese President Xi Jinping called for all-out efforts to find the missing and care for the injured the official Xinhua News Agency said on Sunday Xi underscored the importance of strengthening safety at tourist attractions large public venues and residential communities as well as for the rush of people returning at the end of major holidays CCTV said the capsized boats had a maximum capacity of about 40 people each and were not overloaded An eyewitness told state-owned Beijing News the waters were deep but that some people had managed to swim to safety the storm had come suddenly and a thick mist obscured the surface of the river 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 A person has died following a crash on Auckland's south-western motorway this morning The single vehicle crash was reported to police shortly before 5am the sole occupant of this vehicle died at the scene," a police spokesperson said "Earlier closures of northbound lanes have now lifted and police advise motorists to continue to expect delays as earlier backlogs clear "We appreciate motorists' understanding this morning while emergency services carried out their work." Police said the serious crash unit examined the scene this morning and an investigation was underway into this morning's crash on behalf of the Coroner This is in addition to an earlier crash on Auckland's northern motorway near the Auckland Harbour Bridge Emergency services responded to a two-truck collision on the northern motorway near the Auckland Harbour Bridge shortly after 5am New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said all lanes south on State Highway 1 were open again following this earlier crash with five lanes available on the Harbour Bridge "Allow extra time for delays on the Northern Motorway to slowly ease this morning three lanes going south were now open again between Onewa Rd and the Harbour Bridge," NZTA said Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's landslide win at the weekend following Canadian Prime Minister's Mark Carney's victory less than a week before should indicate to our politicians that the New Zealand "Trump trend" of 2024 may have peaked Trying to capitalise on the electoral success of US President Donald Trump now that his policies are having real-world effects is proving to be a big mistake for conservative leaders Australian voters have delivered a landslide win for the incumbent Labor Party returning Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for a second term with a clear majority of seats When he said in his victory speech that Australians had “voted for Australian values” an unspoken message was that they’d firmly rejected Trumpian values opposition and Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton had such a bad election he lost his own seat While not the only reason for his electoral demise Dutton’s adoption of themes associated with Trump backfired Opinion polls were projecting Dutton’s Coalition to win and exceeded expectations in the election itself the Liberals were “reduced to a right-wing populist party that is all but exiled from the biggest cities” Commentators identified a number of reasons including his “culture wars” and being depicted by Labor as “Trump-lite” Following a Trumpian pathway turned out to be a strategic blunder And Dutton’s downfall mirrors Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre’s defeat in Canada’s election on April 28 Canada’s incumbent centre-left Liberals were heading for defeat to the Conservatives But there were two gamechangers: the Liberals switched leaders from Justin Trudeau to Mark Carney and Trump caused a national uproar with his aggressive tariffs and his call for Canada to become the 51st US state Pre-election opinion polls then did a dramatic flip in favour of the Liberals who went on to win their fourth election in a row Poilievre’s campaign had adopted elements of the Trump style such as attacking “wokeness” and using derogatory nicknames for opponents His strategy failed as soon as Trump rolled out “America First” policies contrary to Canadians’ economic interests and national pride The takeaway for serious right-wing leaders in liberal democracies is clear: let Trump do Trump; his brand is toxic Trump’s actions are harming America’s allies affirmative action and climate change have seen voters outside the US react with self-protective patriotism A perceived association with Trump’s brand has now upended the electoral fortunes of (so far) two centre-right parties that had been in line to win and had been banking on the 2024 MAGA success somehow rubbing off on them what has been dubbed the “Trump slump” isn’t a universal trend the centre-left Social Democratic-led government was ousted in February in spite of Trump ally Elon Musk’s unhelpful support for the far-right anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party the populist Reform UK party has risen above 25% while Labour has fallen from 34% in last year’s election to the low 20s in recent polls But other governing centre-left parties are seeing an upside of the Trump effect In early January it looked like the incumbent Labour Party would be trounced by the Conservatives and the right-wing Progress Party Opinion polls dramatically flipped in early February boosting Labour from below 20% back into the lead Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre will get another term in office Denmark’s governing Social Democrats have enjoyed a small polling boost since Trump declared he’d like to take Greenland off their hands The common denominator underlying these shifts to the left seems to be the Trump effect Voters in countries normally closely allied with the US are turning away from Trump-adjacent politicians people are rallying patriotically around centre-left Trump is harming leaders who could have been his allies the man himself seemed proud of the impact he had in Canada polls in mid-2024 showed support for Trump was growing – heading well above 20% Australia’s election suggests that trend may now be past its peak with debate over ACT’s contentious Treaty Principles Bill behind it and despite NZ First leader Winston Peters’ overt culture-war rhetoric (which may appeal to his 6% support base) the right-wing coalition government’s polling shows it could be on track for a second term – for the time being While the Trump effect may have benefited centre-left parties in Australia and Canada polling for New Zealand’s Labour opposition is softer than at the start of the year While “America First” policies continue to damage the global economy centre-right leaders who learn the lesson will quietly distance themselves from the Trump brand while maintaining cordial relations with the White House could do worse than follow Anthony Albanese’s example of not getting distracted by “Trump-lite” and instead promoting his own country’s values of fairness and mutual respect.","type":"text"},{"_id":"GUGWB5HTRVGGNP5PFWDLBH7SXM","content":"Grant Duncan is a teaching fellow in Politics and International Relations This story is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence ","type":"text"},{"_id":"BMPLRKQ2NRDPZOPKHPADSUD4UE","content":" 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 Lorde has dropped her new single What Was That after weeks of cryptic posts and teases that set fans buzzing It's the lead single from her upcoming fourth album and her first original solo release since 2021's Solar Power which is three minutes and 28 seconds in length Some fans had been lucky enough to hear the track in full earlier this week. On Wednesday, Lorde posted a picture of Washington Square Park yesterday with the caption "tonight 7pm". Fans flooded the park an hour before she was supposed to appear, with photos shared of eager fans scaling trees to catch a glimpse of the singer. Shortly before she was to perform, the Royals singer took to social media to tell fans police had shut the event down. "Omg @thepark the cops are shutting us down," the message read. "I am truly amazed by how many of you showed !!! "But they’re telling me you gotta disperse ... I’m so sorry." However, the pop-up event ended up going ahead after all, with fans who stayed getting their first full airing of Lorde's new single. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lorde (@lorde) Lorde, real name Ella Yelich O'Connor, announced the single last week sharing a headshot-style photo of her wearing a red shirt with a dripping wet face Earlier this month, she dropped a 15-second snippet of the unreleased song Lorde was seen wearing a white shirt and jeans while walking through New York City I gave you everything/Now we wake from a dream What was that?” she sings over a synth beat It was the first sign of a follow up to Lorde's previous album You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image The New Zealand Herald has reported a hiker failed to return home yesterday evening and search efforts are beginning this morning A man was reported missing to police late yesterday having gone hiking in the Mitre Peak area of Milford Sound Charter Hall Retail REIT ( (AU:CQR) ) has issued an announcement Charter Hall Retail REIT has announced that Milford Asset Management Limited has ceased to be a substantial holder in the company This change in substantial holding could impact the company’s voting securities and potentially influence its market dynamics as Milford Asset Management Limited was a significant shareholder See more data about CQR stock on TipRanks’ Stock Analysis page Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue Charter Hall Retail REIT ( (AU:CQR) ) has issued an announcement Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue PopAccessibility: Limited mobility parking Milford Beach is a North Shore icon and we return with a stellar line-up of music while Captain Festus McBoyle gets the kids (and adults!) giggling Add in modern kapa-haka dancers and te reo Māori and you have something unique to the Aotearoa music scene Tali is an award-winning musician whose love of electronic music has seen her work across genres With her positive lyrics and soulful voice anyone who has seen Tali live can testify to her energetic performance Big Tasty will captivate the crowd with their classic funk & soul and authentic Aotearoa sounds the madcap troupe of Captain Festus McBoyle’s Travellin’ Variety Show is regularly compared to the likes of Monty Python and Spike Milligan This clever Vaudeville ensemble is family entertainment at its best Got a question? Check our FAQs or follow us on Facebook for the latest updates Presented by Auckland Council. Supported by iHeartRadio and The New Zealand Herald © Auckland Council 2025 All rights reserved For more information on what data is contained in the cookies please click the 'Find out more on the Auckland Council website' button Sign up for our e-newsletter and be the first to know about exciting events and news known colloquially as ‘Little Tahiti,’ extends inland from the Tutoko and Cleddau Rivers Department of Conservation Operations Manager says the clean-up is a legacy from an infrastructure project which took place 70 years before DOC was created Gravel was removed from Little Tahiti to construct Milford Road and afterwards the site was used as a landfill Environment Southland and Ministry for the Environment have been collaborating on this site since investigations uncovered contaminants like asbestos at levels posing a potential risk to human health and the environment,” says John The 8200 m2 landfill also contains waste material and rubbish Little Tahiti is closed to the public and is not a visitor destination Material is buried and contact is limited to those assessing the site John says high-priority remedial work is needed to address the contamination and erosion risk “We are seeing more frequent high intensity rainfall events in Milford which did significant damage across DOC’s network of tracks in the region An earlier weather event in 2019 caused a landfill to breach in South Westland spilling buried waste into the Fox River and sending it 21 kilometres downstream through Westland Tai Poutini National Park into the Tasman Sea – resulting in the need for a massive clean-up “What happened at Fox River highlights the pressing need to address Little Tahiti as soon as possible to avoid a similar environmental incident,” says John Funding to clean up Little Tahiti is split with DOC funding 50% while the rest was sourced from the Ministry for the Environment’s Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund before it closed The Little Tahiti Landfill has been awarded $2,024,700 for remediation works from the Ministry MfE Waste Investments Manager Lara Cowen says the Ministry is pleased to be able to support the remediation of Little Tahiti and enable DOC to proactively address a site at risk of exposure in such a special place for New Zealanders The Ministry continues to fund projects like Little Tahiti through the newly opened Contaminated Sites and Vulnerable Landfills Fund The remedial work at Little Tahiti will likely affect State Highway 94 with some traffic delays and increased truck movements on the road to Milford Sound while underway It’s expected to take two and a half months “Public safety is paramount while work is being carried out,” says John Lucas “There will be notifications as early as possible on the visitor information networks for Milford Sound and SH94 Milford Road updates.” Email: media@doc.govt.nz DOC is responsible for potentially contaminated sites on public conservation land Milford Asset Management’s KiwiSaver funds enjoyed a better performance than all other KiwiSaver funds in the March quarter but returns were generally poor the latest Melville Jessup Weaver survey shows ANZ enjoyed a rare quarter with its growth and balanced KiwiSaver funds second-best performers for the quarter after spending long periods languishing at or near the bottom of the performance tables Milford’s $6.53 billion growth fund was the best performer in that category but still produced a negative 0.2% return for the quarter while the median return for all 15 growth funds was negative 2.8% Milford’s growth fund was sixth best performer over one year but best over three investors with higher policy weights to growth assets will have had a disappointing quarter,” said MJW’s William Nelson “Most of the funds in this group still have a respectable allocation to global bonds (median 9.3%) which helped to dull the pain of their share portfolios,” Nelson said “Many of the more conservative KiwiSaver funds managed to avoid losses this quarter entirely,” he said which have between 50% and 65% in growth assets those with between 15% and 29% in growth assets moderate and conservative funds were the best performers in their categories with a positive 0.3% return positive 0.6% and positive 1.3% respectively for the quarter ANZ’s almost $5 billion growth fund was the second best performer with a negative 2.2% return though it was still second-last performer over the year ended March with a 2.8% return compared with the median 5.9% ANZ’s $3.59 billion balanced fund also ranked second in the quarter with a negative 1% return but was 15th out of the 16 balanced funds for the year and the worst performer over three Generate’s $674 million moderate fund was the worst performer in that category for the quarter with a negative 2.1% return but it was eighth over the year with a 5.4% return The worst performing growth fund in the quarter was Generate’s $1.8 billion fund with a negative 4.3% return but it was ninth over the year Booster’s $383 million balanced fund was the worst performer in that category in the quarter with a negative 2.4% return and it ranked 12th over the year Booster’s $51 million conservative fund was the worst performer out of 18 funds with a negative 0.3% return and it was second last in the year with a 4.6% return ANZ’s $1.49 billion conservative fund was the fifth best performer in the quarter but the worst for the year with a 4% return Sign In to add your comment MORE NEWS BITES» MORE NEWS» Full Rates Table | Compare Rates MORE QUIZZES » This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article The 2019 volcanic explosion on Whakaari/White Island which killed 22 people touring the crater and severely injured 25 But an even more devastating catastrophe could happen at one of New Zealand’s most iconic tourism destinations And it is unclear how this disaster can be prevented The outcome of the Whakaari tragedy was that tourism on the island ceased immediately The risk of tourism-related deaths there was considered too high to be acceptable to New Zealand society This is also clear from the inquiry and prosecutions that followed the tragedy and the civil lawsuits initiated on behalf of those killed or injured We estimate the risk to life on Whakaari in 2019 was more than 100 times greater than the international risk acceptability criteria used to calculate tolerable risk levels from natural hazards Our research also estimates the statistical risk of tourism-related fatalities at Milford Sound to be about 50 times higher than at Whakaari This is because an earthquake-generated landslide can fall into the sound and turn it into a violent long-lasting maelstrom of waves up to 17 metres high This would devastate the shoreline and any vessels present Our hazard estimate is based on the 16 landslide deposits of more than a million cubic metres that lie on the bed of Milford Sound All of these must have fallen since the sound became ice-free about 17,000 years ago The number of visitors (more than a million per year) and employees exposed to this hazard means that such an event could kill about 750 people every 1000 years (based on visitor numbers at 2019 levels) The consequences of this catastrophe would be much more severe and far-reaching than the Whakaari tragedy because of the large number of likely fatalities New Zealand has no specific regulations governing the degree of risk to which tourists may legitimately be exposed But there is widespread international agreement that the maximum level of societally acceptable risk to life from natural hazards at a site is about one death per 10,000 years The occurrence of an earthquake-triggered landslide tsunami at Milford Sound cannot be predicted in advance The only warning would be the earthquake itself about seven minutes before the tsunami waves arrived Because the wave run-up on to the shore would be about 100 metres high The only way to mitigate this catastrophe is to reduce the number of people exposed to the risk to about 1000 per year which in effect means closing Milford Sound to mass tourism be an extremely contentious measure because of the international status of Milford Sound as part of a Unesco world heritage area under New Zealand Government auspices and because the catastrophe might not occur for many centuries Stopping tourism has been the chosen solution at Whakaari But the much smaller scale of the tourist operations there and the correspondingly lower national impact of closure contrast starkly with the Milford situation The alternative strategy at Milford would be for New Zealand society to collectively decide to accept the risk that there would be the corresponding impacts on tourism and New Zealand’s reputation if we know a landslide-triggered tsunami at Milford Sound has the potential to kill hundreds of people and cause severe damage the risk to life ought to be grossly unacceptable and only manageable by abandoning mass tourism at the site Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday. Milford Sound Tourism chief executive Haylee Preston told 1News that visitors had returned in droves to the idyllic fiord in the South Island's Fiordland National Park, which he said was "back up to 96% [of adult cruise passengers] pre-Covid". "There'll probably be [between] 3500 and 4000 visitors in there today," she said. While high visitor numbers were great for business, they were also highlighting some "severe infrastructure challenges" for what's been described as the "Eighth Wonder of the World". The latest figures from Milford Sound Tourism showed adult cruise passenger numbers were growing year-by-year from 2014 to 2019. It said numbers had grown from around 462,000 to nearly 750,000 annual visits a year by 2020. That dropped off significantly during Covid to around 250,000 in 2020 — around 131,000 in 2021 — and 240,000 in 2022. Now, Milford Sound Tourism reported numbers had rebounded back to more than 700,000 last year. Future development plans have stalled as operators wait on a decision from the Government on sign-off on a multi-million dollar project — known as the Milford Opportunities Project (MOP) — tasked with future-proofing the tourist destination. The project outline was publicly released back in 2021. Asked about what has happened since that report, Destination Milford Sound's Mark Quickfall told 1News: "Not a lot." "In 2021, the MOP project got underway, [nearly] $20m later and still no result," he said. It was developed by stakeholders for Milford Sound and funded through a mixture of funding grants, the majority through central government. DOC told 1News, "over the last 7 years, just under $17.5M has been invested in the Milford Opportunities Project to investigate and recommend options on how best to achieve  a world-class visitor system that upholds the area’s incredible natural and cultural values". The vision included possibly charging access fees to international tourists to manage and help with upgrades and maintenance in the fjord. It also looked at hydrogen tour buses to combat emissions and significant changes to parking and buildings. 1News contacted the MOP board, but received no reply and has since been told it has been disestablished. Guided walks owner of Trips and Tramps Steve Norris said "there was lots of good consulting and re-imagining, but that's as far as it's gone". "We haven't actually seen anything, any changes," he said. Glenorchy Air managing director James Stokes knows this all too well. "Those [cruise passenger] numbers are starting to creep up, and we do need to take some action to improve the infrastructure for the visitor experience," he said. Operators wanted to invest in the new infrastructure and hoped it would happen in the lull of Covid-19 while not as many people were there. But they have been waiting for an outcome. Preston said: "We can't invest when we don't have any certainty around the future plans because we don't understand what those plans are. "We need to reinvest into such things as parking, wastewater plants, and the visitor terminal in there needs to be redeveloped also." While a survey shows visitor satisfaction in Milford Sound is high, there was still concern that it could be impacted if nothing is done soon. "At the end of the day, the people that go there, they're still having a fantastic experience, and that will continue to happen because it's a world-class destination," Norris said. "But it's just like the infrastructure starts getting pretty creaky, it just needs action, something to happen." Ultimately, the final decision on this place remained in the hands of Cabinet. As the government wants to invest heavily in tourism, as part of its economic growth strategy, operators say they need the certainty to invest and achieve that goal. Conservation Minister Tama Potaka said it is still being worked on. "We need to get into a space where actually we're all comfortable to make a decision. We need to take that back to Cabinet that will be taken in due course. "But let me get around the table over a green smoothie with [new Tourism] Minister Louise Upston first so we can carry it forward." Quickfall said, "We can understand it to a degree, there is a process, but there's also some urgency". On top of all this, another issue raised about long-term certainty in the area, and the sector as a whole, is DOC concession passes that allow commercial activity in national parks. James Stokes told 1News, "The tourism operators need to get some security of tenure... So that we can invest in improving the infrastructure, improving our experiences. "If we don't know that we're going to be still operating in two or three years because our concessions haven't been renewed, we can't invest." A spokesperson for the DOC said, "Rolling on concessions have not expired – they allow concessionaires to continue operating while their new applications are processed." "Currently, the Department of Conservation administers approximately 150 rolling on concessions in national parks across Aotearoa. "There is a programme of work underway right now to reduce the concession application backlog to give concessionaires the certainty they need to invest in their operations on public conservation land. "Given the complexity of applications, which often need the input of technical specialists, this work will take time – but is a priority for the Department and we are already seeing a reduction in this backlog," DOC said. Tourism operators want more certainty on the future of Milford Sound-Piopiotahi after years of waiting for a decision on a multi-million dollar infrastructure plan.  (Source: 1News) Tourism operators want more certainty on the future of Milford Sound-Piopiotahi after years of waiting for a decision on a multi-million dollar infrastructure plan. Infrastructure plans have stalled as operators wait on a decision from the Government on signing off the multi-million dollar project tasked with future-proofing the tourist destination. (Source: 1News) Tourism operators call on Govt to extend concession fee waiverWith no international tourists due any time soon operators say the levy would only make it more expensive for Kiwis to enjoy their own country International visitor levy increasing to $100 The Government announced it would be lifting the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) from $35 to $100 Search for hiker missing in Milford Sound Police were told late yesterday that a man who had gone hiking in the Mitre Peak area of Milford Sound had failed to return home New recycling scheme turns car bumpers into fence posts The idea is to repurpose broken car parts destined for landfill Minister 'cautiously optimistic' broken Whaakari tech can be fixed soon Scientists have previously been denied entry by the island’s owners New Zealand's Cardinal John Dew prepares to go into conclave 39 mins ago 44 mins ago 10:33am 1 min ago Tourism operators want more certainty on the future of Milford Sound-Piopiotahi after years of waiting for a decision on a multi-million dollar infrastructure plan Milford Sound Tourism chief executive Haylee Preston told 1News that visitors had returned in droves to the idyllic fiord in the South Island's Fiordland National Park which he said was "back up to 96% [of adult cruise passengers] pre-Covid" "There'll probably be [between] 3500 and 4000 visitors in there today," she said While high visitor numbers were great for business they were also highlighting some "severe infrastructure challenges" for what's been described as the "Eighth Wonder of the World" The latest figures from Milford Sound Tourism showed adult cruise passenger numbers were growing year-by-year from 2014 to 2019 It said numbers had grown from around 462,000 to nearly 750,000 annual visits a year by 2020 That dropped off significantly during Covid to around 250,000 in 2020 — around 131,000 in 2021 — and 240,000 in 2022 Milford Sound Tourism reported numbers had rebounded back to more than 700,000 last year Future development plans have stalled as operators wait on a decision from the Government on sign-off on a multi-million dollar project — known as the Milford Opportunities Project (MOP) — tasked with future-proofing the tourist destination The project outline was publicly released back in 2021 Asked about what has happened since that report Destination Milford Sound's Mark Quickfall told 1News: "Not a lot." [nearly] $20m later and still no result," he said It was developed by stakeholders for Milford Sound and funded through a mixture of funding grants just under $17.5M has been invested in the Milford Opportunities Project to investigate and recommend options on how best to achieve  a world-class visitor system that upholds the area’s incredible natural and cultural values" The vision included possibly charging access fees to international tourists to manage and help with upgrades and maintenance in the fjord It also looked at hydrogen tour buses to combat emissions and significant changes to parking and buildings but received no reply and has since been told it has been disestablished Guided walks owner of Trips and Tramps Steve Norris said "there was lots of good consulting and re-imagining but that's as far as it's gone" "We haven't actually seen anything Glenorchy Air managing director James Stokes knows this all too well "Those [cruise passenger] numbers are starting to creep up and we do need to take some action to improve the infrastructure for the visitor experience," he said Operators wanted to invest in the new infrastructure and hoped it would happen in the lull of Covid-19 while not as many people were there Preston said: "We can't invest when we don't have any certainty around the future plans because we don't understand what those plans are "We need to reinvest into such things as parking and the visitor terminal in there needs to be redeveloped also." While a survey shows visitor satisfaction in Milford Sound is high there was still concern that it could be impacted if nothing is done soon they're still having a fantastic experience and that will continue to happen because it's a world-class destination," Norris said "But it's just like the infrastructure starts getting pretty creaky the final decision on this place remained in the hands of Cabinet As the government wants to invest heavily in tourism operators say they need the certainty to invest and achieve that goal Conservation Minister Tama Potaka said it is still being worked on "We need to get into a space where actually we're all comfortable to make a decision We need to take that back to Cabinet that will be taken in due course another issue raised about long-term certainty in the area is DOC concession passes that allow commercial activity in national parks "The tourism operators need to get some security of tenure.. So that we can invest in improving the infrastructure "If we don't know that we're going to be still operating in two or three years because our concessions haven't been renewed "Rolling on concessions have not expired – they allow concessionaires to continue operating while their new applications are processed." the Department of Conservation administers approximately 150 rolling on concessions in national parks across Aotearoa "There is a programme of work underway right now to reduce the concession application backlog to give concessionaires the certainty they need to invest in their operations on public conservation land "Given the complexity of applications which often need the input of technical specialists this work will take time – but is a priority for the Department and we are already seeing a reduction in this backlog," DOC said Most visitors to New Zealand will soon have to pay an increased levy to enter the country the Government announced it would raise the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) from $35 to $100 is a fee that most visitors entering New Zealand must pay It ensures tourists contribute to the cost of maintaining the conservation estate “The Government is serious about enabling the tourism sector to grow as part of our overall goal of doubling exports in 10 years International tourism plays a hugely important role in the New Zealand economy with international visitors spending over $11 billion in the year ending March 2024,” tourism and hospitality minister Matt Doocey said “But international tourism also comes with costs to local communities including additional pressure on regional infrastructure and higher upkeep and maintenance costs across our conservation estate.” He said a public consultation carried out by the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) found that 93% of submitters supported raising the levy The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) recommended an increase to $70 that would balance increasing revenue to cover the cost of tourism and ensuring the levy is not a "deterrent" for visitors It also said the implementation of the $100 levy could reduce visitor demand by up to 2.4% Doocey said "the main rationale being an increase would be reasonable to help cover the costs of tourism" “The new IVL remains competitive with countries like Australia and the UK and we are confident New Zealand will continue to be seen as an attractive visitor destination by many around the world “A $100 IVL would generally make up less than 3% of the total spending for an international visitor while in New Zealand meaning it is unlikely to have a significant impact on visitor numbers.” Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka said taxpayers already contribute close to $884 million on tourism and conservation per year On the increased levy he said: “This money funds Tourism New Zealand protects biodiversity within the Department of Conservation estate and provides quality experiences at the likes of Milford Sound Aoraki/Mt Cook and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.” Visitors exempt from the levy including NZ and Australian citizens and permanent residents diplomats and people from many Pacific Island nations the New Zealand Airports Association said the increase "cemented New Zealand as one of the most expensive countries in the world for a holiday today" and proposals for new charges on regional airports have landed as a triple-whammy for our sector which is trying to work hard for New Zealand’s economic recovery,” NZ Airports chief executive Billie Moore said “But this is not just about us - this is simply bad policy." Moore said it would end up becoming a "money-go-round," with levies suppressing demand and forcing the Government to spend more through tourism marketing “We are struggling to see how this makes sense from a government that wants to be pro-business and pro-growth," she said the National Party recognised it for what it was - a tax on tourists who already more than pay their own way through billions in GST that goes straight to the Crown “Ministers and agencies must look beyond their agency bottom lines and realise that this is not the way a country makes money and grows its economy “We urge the government to go back to its roots and get agencies working on policies that will grow tourism rather than stagnate it.” The Board of Airline Representatives echoed this saying it was "extremely concerned" about the increase “Lifting the levy from $35 to $100 per person demonstrates the Minister of Tourism does not appreciate the impact of softening demand for destination New Zealand,” said executive director Cath O’Brien "IVL consultation material gave no justification for the increased costs to be charged it is not clear what the increased IVL will be spent on beyond the need to top up funding for Tourism New Zealand following further cuts in the recent budget Consultation material provided no evidence for what funds should be spent on "New Zealand is a nation famous for its manaakitanga – but our warm welcome has turned into an unjustified demand for payment at the gate "Airlines know that sharp cost increases to visas and to the IVL means those who might have visited New Zealand will travel somewhere else." A new recycling scheme turning bits of old bangers destined for landfill into fence posts is underway Eurotech Auto Repair Centre director Marino Milich said there's been a history of being able to recycle products "but plastics we've been found wanting" "This is great for the automotive trade and for generations to come," said Milich Among the biggest plastic components are car bumpers The plastics they're made of are designed to absorb force but therefore don't break down easily Milich sends around 10 of them to landfill every week but a new collection service from the country's motor industry body aims to end that Larry Fallowfield from the Motor Trade Association said they've started the service in the greater south and east Auckland areas and will be rolling it out to the greater Auckland over the next few months "With the intention that by the start of 2026 there will be no more bumpers going to landfill," Fallowfield said The process begins in south and east Auckland where broken car parts are placed in specifically-designed cages They are then brought to a plastic manufacturer in Waiuku to be made into fences Alloy Logistics Solutions' Grant Rollo said they received 24 bumpers in the first rollout "Wwe can fit about 50 to 60 bumpers per cage," he said Future Post founder Jerome Wenzlick said the plastic is fed into a "big shredding machine" which chips them into 10ml pieces "Then we melt it together and turn it into a post." The Motor Trade Association is currently in talks with other companies around the country that can also repurpose plastic parts repairers are shouldering the costs of the delivery service but Fallowfield hopes insurers will help foot the bill "Most insurance companies will pay an environmental fee What we're trying to do is get insurance companies to pay a repurposing fee." Fallowfield said there's widespread interest from repairers with around 40 companies expected to sign up by the end of the month the Emergency Management Minister's "cautiously optimistic" scientists will get back on Whakaari / White Island soon to fix broken technology They have previously been denied entry by the island's owners to repair the gear after the 2019 eruption killed 22 people The monitoring equipment was drastically damaged and eventually stopped working Te Herenga Waka Victoria University researcher Dr Finn Illsley-Kemp told 1News: "We're relying on seismometers that are on the mainland and they're just too far away to record the signals." when the island has erupted in bad weather or darkness "Eruptions have occurred and we didn't notice until we saw damage on solar panels," Illsley-Kemp said it's very strange to not be able to know anything about it." Normally our most active volcano has instruments showing shaking for experts watching 24/7 to help keep people in nearby boats planes and the mainland safe from hazards like ashfall University of Auckland geology professor Phil Shane said with the current blackspots "It doesn't really seem rational or logical to restrict access by scientists to volcanoes when it's part of our role." One of the complications was court action involving the Buttle family who were initially convicted of health and safety breaches which was then quashed Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell has been upping the urgency to now reinstate the technology "It's something that is complicated and I didn't anticipate that it would be," he told 1News "I'm cautiously optimistic that we're going to get equipment on there." The Buttles told 1News they met with government representatives in March from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Department of Internal Affairs the family wants to negotiate a formal licence instead of the verbal licence that existed previously They are waiting for further communication from the government on the proposed formal licence." They also said: "The Buttle family has always supported the activities of GNS [Science] in their monitoring and research on Whakaari." GNS Science would do the hands-on work to install the new gear 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 has been anointed as the new chief executive of Milford Asset Management Current CEO Mark Ryland is stepping down after 11 years with the business Milford chairman Anthony Quirk says Turnbull has "strong leadership skills broad financial services background coupled with a deep knowledge in client centric delivery and digital innovation will add value to our business both in New Zealand and Australia.” Quirk said the extended notice period provided by Ryland enabled a thorough process to be completed to appoint and transition a new CEO who will step down as CEO on Blair’s commencement date." Turnbull says Milford’s performance track record as well as its emphasis on client alignment has been strongly consistent. "I look forward to contributing to Milford’s continued growth and development in New Zealand and Australia.” Sign In to add your comment Pics from Partners Life Keep Challenging Thursday, May 15th 2025Harbour Responsible Investment ForumAuckland Thursday, May 22nd 2025Evidential Conference 2025Auckland Thursday, July 24th 2025DigiMarCon Pacific 2025 - Digital Marketing, Media and Advertising ConferenceAuckland Sunday, November 2nd 2025A Healthier Approach Launch EventsWaikato In this episode of Invest in Yourself with Bree Tomasel the ZM host teams up with Milford Senior KiwiSaver Adviser Liam Robertson to explore how investing beyond KiwiSaver can help you nail your life goals They break down why having additional investments provides more flexibility and liquidity – and explain what that actually means – as well as what to consider when setting up a second fund alongside your KiwiSaver account Disclaimer: This video is in paid partnership with Milford and is intended to provide general information only It does not take into account your investment needs or personal circumstances It is not intended to be viewed as investment or financial advice Cruiseboat titans fighting over rights at Milford Sound Piopiotahi have complained to the Commerce Commission Jucy co-founder and owner of cruise operator Pure Milford Chris Alpe has joined forces with rival Cruise Milford part-owned by fellow rich-lister Stephen Lockwood to complain about a company owned by two other competitor cruise operators runs the port and is 98% owned by Real Group and rich-lister David Skeggs’ Skeggs Group who operate eight of the port’s boats under brands Real NZ and Southern Discoveries the Otago Daily Times reported that other heavyweight Milford tourism operators had complained about Milford Sound Tourism not revealing dividends it pays Real Group and Skeggs The company raises millions from a levy it charges to all passengers boarding all cruise boats plus charging rents for use of the port by cruise operators Cruise Milford and two other cruise operators that use the port were "treated as second-class citizens by a landlord that is our competitors" Pure Milford and Cruise Milford used high-flying barrister Mai Chen to complain to the commission that Milford Sound Tourism had under-invested in decaying infrastructure and kept the lion’s share of port space for their shareholders’ businesses The ODT has previously reported complaints by other tourism operators that Milford Sound Tourism is not public-owned and does not say how much profit has gone to its shareholders following an assessment of the issues raised it had decided to defer decision making to Conservation Minister Tama Potaka who is currently reviewing Milford Sound Tourism’s rights to run the port A commission spokesperson said "any competition concerns arising from the matter are most appropriately addressed through the minister of conservation’s ongoing consideration of Milford Sound Tourism’s concession and intend to engage with that process" which changed its name in 2016 from Milford Sound Development Authority was consented by the Department of Conservation to run the port in Milford Sound’s Freshwater Basin in Fiordland National Park from 1990 to 2020 and then offered a consent until 2028 saying it had expected a second 30-year term Mr Potaka said he was waiting for information from Doc and it was a "complex matter requiring appropriate consideration" Milford Sound Tourism raised the cruise passenger levy from $10 in 2023 to $15 meaning the amount raised for Milford Sound Tourism has gone up from $6 to $11 The hike means levies of $8.8 million could go to the company this year if 800,000 tourists board cruiseboats but some cruise operators have refused to pay increases Mr Alpe said he did not care that Milford Sound Tourism was privately owned or profitable "as long as profits are derived after investment in infrastructure and subject to operators being given equal rights" very little access to infrastructure and a very small retail shop compared with the size of our operation Everything favours the two main shareholders but what I do object to is being treated as second-class citizens by a landlord that is our competitors One source described Milford Sound Tourism’s actions as seeking competitors’ deaths by "a thousand cuts" Mr Alpe suggested the company could be sold to a third party or the port could be run collectively as a "sub-structure .. that leases infrastructure off the shareholders" Five of the six directors of Milford Sound Tourism have Real or Skeggs connections including Real NZ’s chief executive Dave Beeche Southern Discoveries’ chief executive Kerry Walker and Skeggs Group owner David Skeggs Southland District Council’s chief executive Cameron McIntosh holds the board’s sixth seat because the council has a token 2% of the company’s shares The issue of concession length is a Milford hot topic is chairman of Destination Milford Sound (DMS) a trade body representing all Milford tourism operators many clamouring for Doc to renew their concessions Mr Quickfall says concession decisions would lead towards infrastructure upgrades He welcomed recently-closed Doc consultations about improving conservation land management as an opportunity to achieve a "sound policy environment collaborative governance and local industry involvement to deliver quality safe and sustainable visitor experiences in Milford Sound Piopiotahi" Milford’s problems were complex and the "transition of the Milford Sound Development Authority to be a company using levies to pay dividends has added to this complexity" A non-profit authority collecting levies to develop and maintain infrastructure "remains a promising option that could lead to significant improvements" Responding to the commission decision to engage with Mr Potaka Milford Sound Tourism’s chairman Roger Wilson said the company was "supportive of this continued dialogue and look forward to collaborating closely to ensure all aspects of our concession are thoroughly addressed and understood" He said Real and Skeggs had long-term rights to occupy space and rents charged to other cruise companies were reasonable the passenger levy had remained $10 between 2018 and 2023 and half its increase was due to inflation He expected refusal to pay levy increases to "resolve itself" now Mr Wilson previously said the company had a right to dividends was undertaking maintenance and covering rising operating costs including its staff and could not invest in major infrastructure upgrades due to concession uncertainty A longer concession would unlock $50m expenditure on upgrades to the terminal The company had spent $12m on the port in 1992 $8m extending it in 2012 and a further $12m on "asset improvements" It was helped initially by a $2.25m government grant loan guarantees and tax exemptions while operating under its previous name Smaller boat operators have never used the port former co-owner of Breaksea Girl which has sailed Fiordland for decades said he had to moor in the fiord because there was no chance of space Clients had to go to a ramp at Deepwater and be ferried to Breaksea Girl on a small boat The boat is iconic to Fiordland and you have to get your feet wet to access it." mary.williams@odt.co.nz The road between Milford Sound and Homer Tunnel will retain its current speed limit The NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi confirmed yesterday that the section of road will retain its 80kmh speed limit the Minister of Transport confirmed 38 sections of state highway were subject to speed limit auto-reversal under the Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024 with a further 49 sections open to community consultation to confirm whether there was public support to retain current lower speed limits The NZTA carried out six weeks of public consultation on these 49 sections of state highway and its board considered the consultation results earlier this month 43 locations will return to their previous higher speed limits with six remaining at their current lower speed limits with the Milford Sound road being one of those It was not a close contest with 84% of people who submitted wanting to keep the speed at 80kmh and not increase it to 100kmh Road users voted 234 to 35 to keep the 80kmh limit the government brought back higher speeds for 38 roads and began six weeks of consultation on another 49 roads attracting more than 21,500 submissions from throughout the country Consultation was only allowed for two of the five categories of state highway - "rural connectors" and "inter-regional connectors" Where the lower speeds were supported by more than half of submitters on a given stretch of State Highway The Agency confirmed six of the 49 sections consulted on would retain their lower speed limits The other 43 would be added to the wider list of speed limit reversals with local communities to be notified about the upcoming changes The higher limits for those roads are expected to be in place by July The Transport Agency (NZTA) was also continuing consultation on 16 of the 38 roads the government reversed the speed limits for without consultation "where local communities have given strong feedback that they want to keep lower speeds" "This involves undertaking a full speed review before being able to confirm final speed limit outcomes," the agency said The consultation for those 16 roads began on April 2 and ends May 14 "If the new speed reviews determine a lower speed should be confirmed instead of the higher one set through the reversal process this change will take place immediately after 1 July 2025." Another change by the government for variable speed limits around schools is also set to take effect by July hapū and marae on other safety interventions including variable speed limits after the feedback on the speed limit changes which included concerns voiced by schools and marae The country’s best tourism operator has launched a new premium cruise The new way to experience the majesty of Milford Sound is a luxury cruise with renowned tourism operator RealNZ The award-winning company’s new 2.5-hour exploration of Piopiotahi Milford Sound as well as the extra time it takes to explore Milford Sound’s entire 16km length right out into the Tasman Sea The first difference is obvious when you see your vessel at the Milford terminal The MV Sinbad is intimately small and carries a maximum of 45 guests guaranteeing all who board an up-close-and-personal experience ahead; and the complimentary glass of champagne you receive upon arrival is reassuring evidence this will be a superior service The RealNZ crew certainly knows how to make guests feel special The recent 2024 New Zealand Tourism Awards saw RealNZ receive the Air New Zealand Supreme Tourism Award as well as two further awards for its excellence in the experiences it provides and its care for the environment “Our purpose at RealNZ is to help the world fall in love with conservation. Experiences like the Milford Premium Cruise are a fantastic way to immerse our guests in Fiordland’s natural wonders in a deeper way so they leave with an ignited passion to protect places like it,” says RealNZ CEO what do RealNZ’s guests experience onboard the MV Sinbad The inside is actually all about the outside The vessel’s windows continue overhead at the rear of the boat all the better to appreciate the spectacular scenery — although the range of delicious canapés brought to your table for lunch is a real distraction Locally supplied and made with premium produce Royalburn lamb kebabs and Balfour oyster mushroom arancini as attention-grabbing in their own way as what lies outside The open bridge upstairs has big windows too but it’s the outer observation deck that delivers the best experience There’s a serious school of thought that in fact it’s at its best when it rains as it often does – it’s the wettest place in Aotearoa with an annual rainfall total approaching seven metres the multitude of sudden waterfalls that cascade from way overhead foaming or pouring down the steep rocky walls of the fiord are simply staggering to see allows for a more relaxed appreciation of the untamed nature all around dark water reflects the towering peaks each side where green bush clings to the cliffs and nestles in the valleys Permanent waterfalls drift down from far above they are even more impressive; and it’s good fun when you don your raincoat as the boat gets up close and personal with Stirling Falls The small size of the boat allows for closer inspection of the fur seals that enjoy lounging on the rocks lining the fiord either exchanging considering stares with those on board or ignoring them completely as they doze or groom themselves It’s not unusual either to come across dolphins and especially so close from the smaller boat The Milford Sound Premium Cruise stops in at Harrison Cove where the RealNZ crew cuts the engines while guests nibble from cheeseboards and peer through binoculars to see wildlife Harrison Cove is a special spot to see tawaki (Fiordland Crested Penguins) either powering through the water or looking ungainly onshore Adding to the pleasure of experiencing all this untouched nature is the commentary supplied by the skipper and onboard nature guide who never take the surroundings for granted and delight in the unexpected natural and human history have added interest when you’re right in the middle of it all and the lively and engaging commentary answers every question It’s also very satisfying to know that RealNZ has a well-established programme of environmental protection and predator control that continues to preserve the glories of nature that everyone on board is marvelling at The Premium Cruise is a win-win all around and delivers an unforgettable experience about four hours from Queenstown or two from Te Anau or use RealNZ’s coach service to relax and enjoy the sights and commentary en route Cost: The Milford Sound Premium Cruise costs $239 for adults and $99 each for children aged 5-15 Bring: Wet weather and warm gear just in case More information: realnz.com Eos The Landslide Blog is written by Dave Petley who is widely recognized as a world leader in the study and management of landslides On 9 December 2019, a small phreatic eruption occurred on Whakaari/White Island in Aotearoa/New Zealand at a time when there were 47 people 22 people were killed and many others were seriously injured The tragedy has led to considerable focus on risk-to-life in Aotearoa/New Zealand with respect to tourist activities – this is a country with abundant natural hazards It is generally agreed that the risk-to-life at Whakaari/White Island was unacceptable The analysis is fascinating and unsettling Piopiotahi/Milford Sound is a major tourist attraction in southern New Zealand Consisting of a spectacular fjord landscape it is located in an area with high seismic hazard There is a distinct possibility that a major earthquake would trigger collapses of the fjord walls which in turn would have the potential to generate highly destructive local tsunami this would be an exceptionally dangerous situation for anyone located in the area Davies and Dykstra (2025) note that Piopiotahi/Milford Sound was visited “…by road by about 870,000 people plus about 60,000 by air and about 300,000 (passengers and crew) in cruise ships While most visitors spend only part of a day at Milford and about 200 people work there and remain overnight; cruise ships are present for about 9 h on average Most of the day visitors take a small-boat cruise on the fiord and those who do not almost always remain within about 10 m of sea level.” The paper seeks to calculate the individual risk-to-life (i.e would be killed if you were to visit) and the societal risk-to-life (i.e what is the aggregate risk for all visitors over time) for both Whakaari/White Island and Piopiotahi/Milford Sound involving a cascade of models (the likelihood of an earthquake The authors have developed a rigorous methodology to allow these analyses the individual risk-to-life was marginally acceptable given that visiting was a voluntary activity (assuming that the visitors were made aware that the site had a significant level of risk – many of the survivors contend that this level of information was not provided) the societal risk-to-life was most definitely not acceptable and the individual level of risk carried by the guides (who visited the site on multiple occasions) was also unacceptable Tourist visits to Whakaari/White Island ae no longer permitted So what about Piopiotahi/Milford Sound? The individual risk-to-life is most definitely in the acceptable range, and is considerably lower than at Whakaari/White Island. However, the number of visitors is vastly greater. Davies and Dykstra (2025) have calculated that an “average” event at Piopiotahi/Milford Sound would see 1,006 people exposed to the hazard The resultant societal risk is considerably higher than for Piopiotahi/Milford Sound (0.75 fatalities per year) than it is for Whakaari/White Island (0.3 fatalities per year) Davies and Dykstra (2025) examine whether the risk could be managed by and the proximity of the fault to the site means that alert systems based on the detection of seismic waves would provide little warning The conclusion is that the only feasible way to manage the risk-to-life is to reduce vulnerability – i.e Thus, Aotearoa/New Zealand is left with a substantial dilemma. Davies and Dykstra (2025) report that visitors to Piopiotahi/Milford Sound spend about NZ$200 million per year the financial impact of cutting visitor numbers is potentially severe and in simple economic terms cannot be justified should an event occur that led to 750 fatalities there is little doubt that there would be a view in the aftermath that the risk was unacceptable The decision as to whether this level of risk should be tolerated is one for society taking a decision to change the status quo would be highly contested and it is extremely difficult to explain concepts of societal risk to a wide audience This situation is not unique to Aotearoa/New Zealand of course but most other areas with high levels of societal risk associated with tourism have not had a Whakaari/White Island type event to bring the issue into focus A Milford man was shot and killed May 1 after police say he charged officers with a knife near Cool Springs after Delaware State Police received several 9-1-1 calls about a red Ford F-150 driving slowly and swerving into the opposite lanes along Route 9 and Harbeson Road Troopers located the truck on Coolspring Road near Fisher Road and tried to pull the vehicle over The truck eventually stopped in a driveway in the 28000 block of West Springside Drive in the community of Cool Spring Farms Police said Painter got out of the truck holding a knife and ran into a nearby home that he does not live in and ignored officers’ commands to drop the knife When Painter continued to advance toward troopers two of them discharged their divisionally issued handguns Troopers immediately rendered first aid until emergency medical services arrived and Painter was pronounced dead at the scene Following Delaware State Police standard operating procedures the involved troopers have been placed on administrative leave pending a use-of-force investigation in conjunction with the Delaware Department of Justice The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit asks anyone with information regarding this case to contact Det. B. McDerby at 302-741-2821, or call Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 the Wild West settlement in Fiordland National Park Perched precariously on the shore of world-famous Piopiotahi Milford Sound in Ngāi Tahu ancestral territory it is barely functioning on the fringes of civilisation Most of its visitor and staff infrastructure was built years ago without culturally appropriate co-ordination and its future is far from certain Many of the tourism companies that operate out of here are pointing a finger of blame at the Department of Conservation (Doc) saying it has delivered decades of inept leadership A 10-year plan for the park ran out in 2017 and an $18million planning exercise called the Milford Opportunities Project (MOP) delivered under-wraps ministerial recommendations last year followed by silence Grumpy operators describe the MOP as a waste of money as an opportunity to place cultural context and criteria centre stage and "provide economic pathways for Ngāi Tahu whanau" Many fixed-term Doc permissions to run tourism businesses here There is a Treaty of Waitangi right for iwi to contest and pursue business opportunities fairly no public funding and the public toilets are a disgrace There is no community board to ensure people work together and as Piopiotahi’s longtime kayak guide and self-appointed mayor Rosco Gaudin points out He calls for Doc and regional authorities to be stripped of responsibilities and leadership changed The whole shebang needs to be cleaned out and restarted." about 800,000 people — three times the number 30 years ago — will photograph the fiord’s waterfalls from cruise boats They will likely spend about $200m and give glowing reviews the expiring fixed-term permissions in Milford called "concessions" and granted to companies running tours and occupying buildings have been replaced with tenuous rolling or short-term agreements and some operators are struggling to see the sense in investing or do not have permissions to do so whose two main shareholders are the biggest cruise-boat operators struck a deal with Doc in 1990 to build and run the cruise-boat terminal and neighbouring carparks MSTL was also required to take on the Knobs Flat campsite and loos halfway down the Milford road The deal was funded by loans achieved thanks to a government guarantee a government grant and a decision to raise ongoing tourist levies MSTL chairman Roger Wilson says the company thought it had permission to run things for 60 years until 2050 but has now been asked to accept that in 2028 its agreement will end and Ngāi Tahu will be given a chance to compete fairly for the same work Under section 4 of the Conservation Act 1987 there is a requirement for Doc to give practical effect to the principles of te Tiriti o Waitangi when making concession decisions on conservation land Ngāi Tahu Holdings Corporation chief executive Todd Moyle says the corporation "recognises the economic potential of Piopiotahi and remains open to exploring future investment opportunities" Mr Wilson blames Doc for MSTL’s predicament that means the company cannot carry out urgently needed reinvestment including a $500,000 refurbishment of the cruise-boat terminal’s tired toilets A revamp of the whole terminal would cost millions He has made a plea to Conservation Minister Tama Potaka to let MSTL keep running things until 2050 "The ability of Doc to plan and run Milford is very low I have said that to ministers and will say it to anyone It lacked the governance to come up with a realistic plan." form an interesting side story highlighting lack of public authority in Milford The story goes that former Queenstown mayor and businessman Sir John Davies who owns Trojan Holdings which has business interests in Milford was the man who galvanised its set-up in the late 1980s He hosted a meeting in a Frankton hotel room attended by two other people running the only two cruise boat operations in Milford at the time One was the boss of the government’s Tourist Hotel Corporation (THC) which ran the state-owned Red Boats cruises part of the Hutchins family that developed Fiordland Travel in the 1950s later becoming Real Group which runs RealNZ cruises the Milford Sound Development Authority (MSDA) was set up It was a name suggestive of an organisation with public ownership and its intent manage and advertise the public facilities and amenities at Milford Sound so as to attract and service trade THC and Fiordland Travel were given 49% each and the Southland District Council took 2% it could appear that this meant 51% state ownership THC had been sold off to a hotel chain as part of a government asset firesale The Red Boats formerly owned by THC then changed hands several times MSDA documents from later in the 1990s list Tourism Milford Ltd A company by that name is owned now by Sir John’s Trojan Holdings the cruise company was eventually picked up by the Skeggs Group in 2015 Skeggs is owned by the rich-list Skeggs family empire built up by former Dunedin mayor Sir Cliff Skeggs for the MSDA to reregister as a company and change its name to the more appropriately corporate-sounding MSTL but it has always been run by two big cruise boat operators and only ever been 2% public owned benefited from a cruise-boat terminal with plenty of loos the MSDA had built by 1992 and that leads straight to their shareholders’ boats It is now ageing and has out-of-order stickers on some of the toilet cubicles reflective of the huge cultural status of Ngāi Tahu or Piopiotahi’s world heritage status a private power company called Milford Sound Infrastructure and others have formed a lobby group called Destination Milford Sound (DMS) It is clamouring for permission to make decisions plus public investment DMS briefing notes complain about being called "extractors" but are frank that investment has "stalled and the place is starting to go back rapidly" critical infrastructure is at risk of failure" DMS chair Mark Quickfall is director of Totally Tourism which owns a handful of helicopter companies and a cruise company "Everyone is crying out saying we can do better at Milford but how can we do better if we can’t invest?" he said There is the ultimate concern that banks may pull the pin there is no doubt that post-Covid Piopiotahi has lucrative prospects due to rising visitor numbers and there are big players hanging on and investing Aviation operators say they have upgraded planes and helicopters and been aghast at an idea tabled by the MOP to stop planes using the busy runway says planes are important for emergency mass evacuations but aviation operators were asked by the MOP where else they could fly off to "They [the MOP] haven’t taken anyone along with them Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters was in Ngai Tahu ownership for a few years but then sold to Luke McEwan who says Milford suffers from "no certainty Another Milford accommodation provider is Sir John Davies’ company Trojan Holdings which runs Ultimate Hikes the guided walk on the Milford Track with private lodges Clients pay rates of around $3000 and upwards compared with under $300 to stay in the Doc huts Trojan director Paul Anderson says the company reapplied for its concession to run the guided walk in 2019 and has "been in discussion with Doc since" It wants to undertake a multimillion upgrade of its Mitre Peak Lodge in Milford "It [the lodge] is one of many examples in Milford of a private company wanting to invest but if we can’t get security of tenure from Doc the business case is just not there .. To achieve that is going to need the Crown to make decisions on tenures and provide investment for the public infrastructure Then the whole region and nation can have economic benefits." RealNZ declined to comment about MSTL or its cruise business but Southern Discoveries chief executive Kerry Walker did give a statement stressing the need for tenure and saying there needed to be a "balanced plan that protects Piopiotahi’s environment and culture while supporting both visitors and operators through fair Southland District Council chief executive Cameron McIntosh says he has no idea how the council ended up with a 2% holding in MSTL The council only had normal territorial authority to do things such as check Milford’s buildings complied with the Building Act He described stalled processes at Milford as a "general frustration" "It would be helpful for everyone to get a stronger view about the future so decisions about investment in infrastructure can be made and we also recognise it is very very important to mana whenua and no-one is losing sight of that." The two-vehicle crash on the Milford Road (State Highway 94) was reported about 3.45pm yesterday police said in a statement The road was closed between Chains On Bay and The Chasm Hato Hone St John confirmed six people were injured A graveside service will be held at the Blue Springs Cemetery on May 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM. There will be no viewing or visitation. We encourage all who knew Milford to leave memories and upload photos to the memorial page at www.ghchapel.com, to share in the celebration of his life. These services have been entrusted to Laughlin-Hoevet Funeral Home in Wymore. North Shore CityBy negotiation311Classic 1940s Charm – With Modern Comfort!Step into timeless elegance with this beautifully restored 1940s home blending classic character with modern comfort it features three generous bedrooms and a stylish new bathroom The cozy lounge and open-plan dining area create inviting living spaces while seamless indoor-outdoor flow leads to a sun-drenched deck overlooking a lush fully fenced yard—perfect for kids and pets and top schools (Takapuna Normal Intermediate this home offers convenience and lifestyle Contact us today for more details or a private viewing See this listing on Barfoot & Thompson 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 An underwater observatory in Milford Sound has partially sunk after being damaged in a storm Southern Discoveries CEO Kerry Walker said the tourist attraction in Harrison Cove - where visitors descend 10 metres to view coral fish and anemones - was damaged last Sunday The observatory consists of five interconnected pontoon networks and initial assessments showed the main reception area pontoon was partially submerged while the docking and generator pontoons were on a visible lean The underwater chamber and kayaking pontoon were unaffected Walker said it had been closed for maintenance and no staff contractors or guests were onsite at the time of the event Southern Discoveries was working with the Department of Conservation and engineers to contain any debris She said the initial priority was to minimise the spread of debris and any potential environmental issues "Early indicators are that there has been minimal impact on the Sound or its wildlife There has been negligible fuel leakage - less than 10ml - which dissipated within 30 minutes or was captured in debris socks around the site." Environment Southland acting general manager regulatory services Bruce Halligan said staff from its compliance and marine teams were onsite at Milford Sound on Friday to inspect the site and liaise with Southern Discoveries on their recovery plan It was monitoring the site closely given the ecological and cultural sensitivities of the area Halligan said it had been told the main building was sitting on a rock supported by some of the floating pontoons and that additional chains had been attached between the land and the damaged part of the building He understood some debris had been lost into the water and divers would be inspecting the area as soon as conditions allowed A salvage company had been engaged to remove the damaged parts of the building and recover objects from the sea floor next week A South Island tourism operator is set to secure a Queenstown cruise boat enterprise from a competitor that received nearly $7 million dollars of government support during the pandemic A Queenstown tourism operator has been fined and ordered to pay a former employee who was seriously injured on one of its boats $35,000 The government is almost tripling the fee charges to most international visitors The Milford Opportunities Project says it will hit a major milestone this week when it reports back to ministers on the feasibility of their masterplan Almost 70 people were onboard when the Fiordland Navigator ran aground in Doubtful Sound North Shore CityAsking price $1,280,000311Bungalow LoveIntroducing a captivating character bungalow that will capture your heart from the moment you lay eyes on it This charming property exudes instant appeal boasting a relaxed ambiance that is truly unique The beautiful polished wooden floors add a touch of elegance while its north-facing orientation ensures warmth and sunlight throughout the day this concrete stucco home with a concrete tile roof is in excellent condition standing the test of time with plenty of life left the property features fully-fenced private gardens at the front and back a private deck for seamless indoor-outdoor living and a safe environment for children and pets Located in highly sought-after school zones including Milford School this home offers convenience and quality education for families and Lake Pupuke provides endless lifestyle opportunities just minutes away The accommodation comprises open plan living three bedrooms (two large doubles and a spacious single) a large conservatory ideal for a playroom or workroom and a single garage with additional parking outside on Livingstone Street Move-in ready with the option to customize and make it your own this property is a dream home in Milford waiting for you Don't miss the chance to experience this exceptional residence - mark your calendar for the Open Home or call now to schedule a viewing See this listing on Barfoot & Thompson Upper Cleddau Flats landfill, known colloquially as Little Tahiti, extends inland from the Tutoko and Cleddau rivers, which both feed into Milford Sound. Department of Conservation Te Anau operations manager John Lucas said investigations had uncovered contaminants such as asbestos at levels which posed a "potential risk to human health and the environment". The 8200 square metre landfill also contains waste material, rubbish, heavy metals, building materials, hydrocarbons like petroleum and general municipal waste. Located 100m off State Highway 94, gravel was removed from the area to construct Milford Rd and the cavity was used as a landfill until the mid-1980s. Lucas said "high-priority" remedial work was needed to address the risks. "We are seeing more frequent high intensity rainfall events in Milford, like the 2020 floods, which did significant damage across DOC’s network of tracks in the region, including the Milford Track." An earlier weather event in 2019 breached a landfill in south Westland which spilled buried waste into the Fox River, sending it 21km down through Westland Tai Poutini National Park into the Tasman Sea – resulting in a massive clean-up. "What happened at Fox River highlights the pressing need to address Little Tahiti as soon as possible to avoid a similar environmental incident," Lucas said. Remedial work would likely affect traffic on State Highway 94 with some traffic delays and increased truck movements. It was expected to take two-and-a-half months. The cost of the clean-up would be split evenly between the Department of Conservation and the Ministry for the Environment's former Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund, which granted just over $2m to the project before it was closed. Upper Cleddau Flats landfill, known colloquially as Little Tahiti, extends inland from the Tutoko and Cleddau Rivers, which both feed into Milford Sound. Work to clean up an historical landfill near Milford Sound — posing a "potential risk" to human health and the environment if it were to breach during more frequent weather events — is due to begin in April, the Department of Conservation says. 40 mins ago 45 mins ago 2 mins ago Work to clean up an historical landfill near Milford Sound — posing a "potential risk" to human health and the environment if it were to breach during more frequent weather events — is due to begin in April extends inland from the Tutoko and Cleddau rivers Department of Conservation Te Anau operations manager John Lucas said investigations had uncovered contaminants such as asbestos at levels which posed a "potential risk to human health and the environment" The 8200 square metre landfill also contains waste material hydrocarbons like petroleum and general municipal waste gravel was removed from the area to construct Milford Rd and the cavity was used as a landfill until the mid-1980s Lucas said "high-priority" remedial work was needed to address the risks "We are seeing more frequent high intensity rainfall events in Milford which did significant damage across DOC’s network of tracks in the region An earlier weather event in 2019 breached a landfill in south Westland which spilled buried waste into the Fox River sending it 21km down through Westland Tai Poutini National Park into the Tasman Sea – resulting in a massive clean-up "What happened at Fox River highlights the pressing need to address Little Tahiti as soon as possible to avoid a similar environmental incident," Lucas said Remedial work would likely affect traffic on State Highway 94 with some traffic delays and increased truck movements It was expected to take two-and-a-half months The cost of the clean-up would be split evenly between the Department of Conservation and the Ministry for the Environment's former Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund which granted just over $2m to the project before it was closed MILFORD — The spotlight will be on Kensington Metropark next year with the return of the PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships The event will draw 300 elite players from around the globe as well as thousands of spectators over the course of five days in 2026 and is expected to bring an economic impact to the area of $5 million “We are so excited to welcome the 2026 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships to Kensington Metropark,” Amy McMillan “We take pride in knowing how great the disc golf courses at our parks are "It is awesome that professional players from around the world are going to get to experience that firsthand We can’t wait to show players everything Southeast Michigan and the metro Detroit area has to offer.”Kensington home of Toboggan and Black Locust South 18-hole disc golf courses was chosen in a bid process for the biggest tournament in the sport Several factors were taken into consideration for the park’s selection including infrastructure and capacity to hold such a large event director of marketing for the Professional Disc Golf Association is the ability of the course to challenge the best disc golf players in the world the best players are showing up and they are all hungry for that win,” Voss said It has a history of hosting pro tour events that are already somewhat calibrated to that level of play.” The Toboggan course at Kensington was originally designed by Discraft owner Jim Kenner for the 2000 World Championships it has been the official course for the U.S Amateur Disc Golf Championship and for the past seven years has hosted the Great Lakes Open on the Disc Golf Pro Tour “has a mix of large elevation changes and tight fairways that will test every shot in your bag Bring a spotter because it has long holes and punishing rough.” When the world championships return to Kensington for the first time in a quarter century disc golfers will also play the park’s Black Locust South course which is getting some upgrades to make it worthy of a world championship course including five new holes and “tweaking of others,” said Ledgestone CEO Nate Heinold.Ledgestone will oversee the 2026 world championship event at Kensington working with partners that besides park officials include the Detroit Sports Commission and the Livingston County Convention and Visitors Bureau Three rounds of the tournament will be held on the Toboggan course which is more open and gives players an opportunity to throw hard in challenging distances while two rounds will be on the Black Locust south course which is more wooded with narrower fairways the two ensure that the winner of the tournament is the most well-rounded player To earn one of the roughly 300 invitations to play in the 2026 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships requires accruing points from performing well this season and earning a top tier player rating The best players get first dibs on registration The PDGA was founded in 1976 and now has more than 300,000 members more than a quarter of a million that have joined in the past 15 years The sport has hundreds of thousands more active casual players that enjoy more than 13,000 courses worldwide “Disc golf is different in Southeast Michigan,” Heinold said. “We expect a disc golf record crowd in 2026 and cannot wait to show off Kensington Metropark to the disc golf world.”Tickets will for the PDGA World Professional Disc Golf Championships will go on sale in early 2026, with event dates available later this winter. For more information, visit www.pdga.com Contact reporter Susan Bromley at sbromley@hometownlife.com Five kea have been hit and killed by vehicles at popular waypoints on the Milford Road since April alone DOC Senior Ranger Biodiversity Lydia McLean says these road deaths are gutting for everyone and can be avoided if people follow simple rules “Kea are incredibly charismatic and naturally inquisitive parrots which is why people love seeing them on their journeys so much deliberately enticing them closer by offering them food or other lures is having devastating consequences.” “Not only is human food bad for them but feeding disrupts their natural foraging and draws them towards the road where they are at risk of being run over The kea that were run over include a juvenile male at Monkey Creek on 3 April; an adult male at the Homer Tunnel on 17 April which was witnessed by a DOC staff member; a third juvenile at Monkey Creek on 29 April; and two juveniles hit together on 14 June at Monkey Creek Necropsy confirmed blunt force trauma as the cause of death and all birds were in otherwise good health and condition Lydia says while it’s difficult to stop kea from interacting with vehicles on their own terms due to their inquisitive nature there are a few simple steps motorists can take to reduce the risk of hitting them Take care as you pull away from stopping areas; they don’t move out of the way as fast as you would think and never drive away if a kea is on your vehicle.” “Remind others that feeding kea is harmful both for their health and because it encourages more scavenging behaviour and leads to more kea on the road and in harm’s way.” DOC and the Kea Conservation Trust are encouraging the public to be kea advocates and report inappropriate interactions and sightings of people feeding kea so we can better understand how to target messaging “We do what we can to prevent feedings including having signage at known hot spots that has clear images so it can reach non-English speaking visitors but it still doesn’t seem to be getting through If you see something report it to DOC.” Another way people can help is by logging sightings of kea on the sightings database.  Then we can use citizen science to know what the birds are up to around the Milford Road The boy described the man's car as having offensive words and gestures on its panels He appeared to tease his older brother as they watched the VE Day commemorations It's unclear how long the Hamilton District Court building will be shut for The changes are set to give the Government major cost reductions ahead of the Budget A company ignored requests to remove a pontoon and rubber fenders Traffic will be detoured between 11am and 1pm in the Kamai Range The court has previously ruled it did not have jurisdiction to make a decision died after an 11-bike crash at Oulton Park Prince George's appearance at a Buckingham Palace event was not expected It’s shifted from low-traffic Earl St in the CBD to a high-profile position which also offers off-street parking Milford Galleries director Stephen Higginson who also owns the firm’s sister gallery in Dunedin says everything about the new location is better "What we’re able to do in Queenstown for the first time is show the breadth and extent of our business and to do so in a manner that’s coherent we’re able to display major sculpture for the first time because we just haven’t had that capacity given the low ceiling in the previous location." Higginson says the new floor area’s almost 50% bigger but it’s effectively better than that because the upstairs space in Earl St was rarely visited — "it was really dysfunctional" now has three spaces that are pliable and separate from each other Each space could show a separate artist’s work or all three — "that sort of thing we’ve never had before" Higginson believes the new space reflects the resort’s place now in New Zealand’s cultural and social fabric and to celebrate this week’s opening he’s staging what he claims is "the most important exhibition ever mounted in Queenstown" and every work on the walls is by a legend or a great of NZ art "One of the problems I perceive of Queenstown is most of what’s available are pictures "They get presented as if they’re art and people get tricked into thinking they’re art when they’re of course not." The official opening of the newly located gallery is on Saturday from 2 till 6pm The call comes amidst a clamour that the so-called gateway to tourism’s jewel in the crown - Milford Sound - has ageing buildings and lacks public oversight despite being on Department of Conservation (Doc) land in Fiordland National Park a private company called Milford Sound Tourism Ltd (MSTL) - nearly all owned by Skeggs Group and Real Group with 49% of shares each - stepped into a governance void to build and run much of Milford’s infrastructure The remaining 2% of MSTL’s shares are owned by Southland District Council The company collects a $15 levy from tourists on Skeggs and Real cruise boats - branded Southern Discoveries and Real NZ respectively - and also from tourists on cruiseboats run by four companies without MSTL shares The levy is expected to be about $12 million this year from about 800,000 passengers MSTL does not publish accounts outlining how the remaining $11 per person is spent or any details of dividends paid to shareholders who runs a Milford Track guided walk that ends with a cruise said he regretted MSTL had not been more open and called for transparency "We have never been told what has happened .. we have never known where the levy was going." Another tourism boss - Go2NewZealand owner Martin Sliva - said MSTL should be publicly owned or have all stakeholders involved "All monies should go to Milford and conservation and none into pockets of shareholders." MSTL is lobbying the government to allow it to continue to run things long-term saying Doc unfairly only offered to extend its main permissions until 2028 It is refusing to invest in major infrastructure unless the wrangle is sorted out but says it is still undertaking essential maintenance work MSTL was originally set up in 1990 as Milford Sound Development Authority (MSDA) with the purpose of developing "public facilities and amenities" and built infrastructure but re-registered in 2016 as MSTL following a review of tax-exempt companies by IRD The review required MSDA to make a choice to become a charity and not make profits or remain a company which paid taxes and could pay shareholder dividends The Otago Daily Times asked all three shareholders to provide dividend information MSTL declined to explain any dividends paid to Real Group and Skeggs Group but SDC said it received $261,298 in seven payments between 2016 and 2024 If dividends were paid out to Real Group and Skeggs Group and all dividends were proportionate to shareholding percentages Real Group and Skeggs Group could have shared nearly $13m in dividends from 2016 onwards MSTL said dividends were in part paid out and part credited to shareholder loan accounts Sir John said that in the late 1980s when he was mayor of Queenstown he helped MSDA get started and had been "happy" about the initial setup raising government-guaranteed loans and using a $2.25m government grant MSDA had invested $12m constructing infrastructure including a breakwater carparking and Milford’s cruise-boat terminal which opened in 1992 and provides access to the main shareholders’ boats the Commerce Commission ruled the agreement between Doc and MSDA was anti-competitive was a way for competitors to work together to exclude and restrict rivals," commissioner Alan Bollard said Other cruise-boat companies started operating and levy income increased MSTL invested a further $8m to enlarge the terminal and harbour there were rising operating costs the company had to meet "We operate similar to a local council and the cost of providing and maintaining essential infrastructure like wastewater as well as the operating costs of the staff needed to support these services for a growing number of visitors Its six directors draw a total $165,000 in salaries Operating infrastructure in an area subject to extreme weather and far from the nearest town meant "significantly higher" costs MSTL’s insurance premiums have more than doubled to more than $500,000 per annum This website may not work correctly because your browser is out of date. Please update your browser Click here for Back Issues of YBQ Magazine  Over 80 A Class catamarans from across the globe will converge on Auckland late next year for the A Class world championships set to take place at the Milford Cruising Club from November 8-16 Preparations begin with the New Zealand national A Class and Tornado championships at the club from February 20-23 2025 with a pre-worlds regatta planned for November 8 and 9 The world championships feature two divisions: a foiling open and non-foiling classic offering equal racing opportunities for modern and traditional designs with its extensive facilities and prime location by the Hauraki Gulf will host the event in partnership with the New Zealand Multihull Yacht Club "The host clubs are a mix of 100 years of history of boating through the Milford Cruising Club who have hosted several sailing events including world championships and the NZMYC who host annual events like the Harbour Classic and the Coastal Classic," said Milford Cruising Club Commodore Andrew Robertson "Milford Cruising Club offers an ideal venue with a large open reserve to host the 80-plus boats Milford Beach is long and allows several boats to launch at the same time into the Hauraki Gulf so getting to and from the race area will be efficient It is also within close proximity to the Milford business and retail centre which has a large number of fantastic bars Organisers are seeking volunteers and sponsors to support the event. Those interested can contact the Milford Cruising Club via email at manager@milfordcruising.co.nz or visit their website For more information, click here.  Four sets of concrete stairs along Milford Beach have been replaced Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has commented on the replacement of four sets of stairs at Milford Beach at a cost of $263,000 saying this type of council spending cannot be repeated cheaper’ message I have been trying to get the council to adhere to since I’ve been mayor,” he told the Herald Auckland Council officers have defended the cost of the stairs saying replacing the old stairs included all engineering design and quality assurance through construction But this has done nothing to convince Brown I have instructed the CEO that we must work out how much we’re prepared to spend on solving a problem before doing design work.” we can ensure value for ratepayers’ money,” said Brown whose five election planks included reining in top-heavy and overpaid managers at the council and working to prevent council-controlled organisations from wasting money A concrete path along Milford Beach is dotted with four sets of concrete stairs that connect the walkway to the sand – each has eight steps Through an Official Information Act request the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance found the council spent $263,000 replacing the stairs as part of its coastal asset renewals programme Alliance spokesperson Sam Warren said that broke down to just over $8000 per step “Anyone would agree that these steps needed a bit of work crumbling away and clearly needed to be replaced Clearly Auckland Council needs to reconsider some of its processes “I think ratepayers would agree $8000 per step is just too much it’s a real gold plate standard at this rate.” The council’s coastal management practice lead Natasha Carpenter said safety for beach users was a primary consideration for the council given it was a popular walkway “Four sets of concrete steps had reached the end of their design life eroded substantially and become unsafe for beach users getting up and down to the beach,” she said factoring in the dynamic coastal rock and sand environment while meeting legal Health and Safety standards.” Carpenter said the new steps had a minimum 35-year design life long-term solution designed to withstand the effects of nature in this high-energy coastal location The final project has significantly improved safe access to the beach The walkway is part of the Milford to Takapuna path, which hit headlines in 2023 when the owners of a property edging onto the path blocked access First published on The Milford Road is expected to remain closed on Monday due to a high risk of avalanche State Highway 94 is shut between Hollyford Road Junction and Donne River the Milford Road Alliance advised this morning Assessment and avalanche mitigation works will be carried out when conditions allow to reduce hazard Volatile weather over the next few days could bring further disruptions increased avalanche hazard and road closures A road snowfall warning is in place for SH94 from 4am until 9pm on Tuesday MetService said snow showers are expected to affect the road on Tuesday where 2cm to 4cm may accumulate above 800 metres with lesser amounts down to 600m Road snowfall warnings have also been issued for the Crown Range Road linking Queenstown and Wanaka and the Lindis Pass (SH8) on Tuesday a strong wind watch is in place for Fiordland and inland parts of Southland and Otago from 10pm today until 6am tomorrow Northwest winds may approach severe gale in exposed places with a few showers turning to rain this afternoon - This story was originally published by the Otago Daily Times squally wind gusts and frequent lightning forecast until 5pm Two climbers are in good spirits after being plucked from "some of the steepest and most rugged terrain in the country" on Aoraki during a short weather window It'll be a fairly unsettled looking Friday for most around the country Police are responding to a serious crash on State Highway 94 between Te Anau and Milford A serious crash in which a van rolled on State Highway 94 between Milford and Te Anau has left one person in a critical condition and another seriously injured Emergency services were responding to the crash near Deer Flat Hato Hone St John sent two helicopters to the scene one in a critical condition and the other seriously injured Several other people have been taken to a nearby medical centre with minor to moderate injuries The road is blocked in both directions and police expect it will remain so for some time Significant traffic is already backing up on both sides of the crash scene Police are advising motorists to delay any travel between Milford and Te Anau (This story has been updated to provide additional information.) MILFORD — Authorities have arrested a Brazilian national in Milford who is wanted for murder in his home country According to a press release from Milford Police Fernando Viera Martins is accused of stabbing a victim in Brazil more than 30 times Police say he then fled to the United States to avoid arrest Martins was taken into custody on May 1 by Milford Police, along with federal Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI “Thanks to the collaborative work between our department and HSI, another dangerous individual has been apprehended and will now face justice,” Milford Police Chief Robert Tusino said in a statement “The arrest underscores the harsh reality of the current state of our community This is the second-known killer hiding amongst the people of Milford to be captured in the last 45 days.” 'Enhanced targeted enforcement': ICE announces hundreds of immigrant arrests, many with criminal records The other person to whom Tusino is referring is Marcio De Souza e Silva who was arrested March 18 in Milford by local and federal authorities He was wanted on suspicion of murder in Brazil as well as charges in connection to firearms trafficking Immigration and Customs Enforcement media relations did not return a call or email requesting additional information as of Friday morning but posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) that they would issue a press release later in the day ICE also announced that it and the federal Drug Enforcement Agency arrested a convicted murderer from Brazil on March 20 in Marlborough was convicted in Brazil of murder and illegal possession of a firearm Brazilian authorities issued a warrant in 2023 for Souza-Santos’ arrest for failing to serve a sentence Souza-Santos came to the United States in July 2022 and was issued a summons to appear in front of an immigration judge but failed to appear in October 2023 and a warrant was issued for his arrest Milford Police said Martins is being held on immigration charges by federal officials This story will be updated as more information becomes available Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime A significant weather event has left the Underwater Observatory building in Milford Sound “partially submerged” and “visibly leaning”. The Harrison Cove structure owned by Southern Discoveries is supported by a rock it is sitting on and its floating pontoons. Southern Discoveries CEO Kerry Walker said the region was hit with a vicious storm with multiple strong fronts this past weekend. “These conditions caused damage to the Underwater Observatory in Harrison Cove, resulting in the partial submersion of the main building.” The dramatic photo Southern Discoveries shared with the Herald only starts to show the extent of the damage. “The Observatory structure consists of five interconnected pontoon networks. Initial assessments show that the underwater chamber and kayaking pontoon are unaffected, while the main reception area pontoon has partially submerged. “The main docking pontoon and generator pontoon are visibly leaning.” The observatory was closed for scheduled maintenance at the time of the storm. Walker confirmed no staff, contractors, or guests were onsite at the time of the event. “Southern Discoveries is proactively working with DoC as well as engineers to evaluate the situation and determine an appropriate recovery plan.” This process will include a detailed assessment of the structure above and below the waterline by divers. The team will work to contain any debris, secure the site, assess the next steps and establish a recovery plan. “The initial priority has been to minimise the spread of debris and any potential environmental issues. Early indicators are that there has been minimal impact on the Sound or its wildlife. “There has been negligible fuel leakage [less than 10ml] which dissipated within 30 minutes or was captured in debris socks around the site.” Work has already been carried out to secure the site including on the link arms holding the pontoons in place. Environment Southland acting general manager for regulatory services Bruce Halligan said they are “very aware of the ecological and cultural sensitivities of this unique area and will be monitoring this very closely”. “Today [Friday] staff from our compliance and marine teams are onsite at Milford Sound to inspect the site and liaise with the building owner, Southern Discoveries, on their recovery plan.” Reports will be received on this later today. “Southern Discoveries has advised there has been some debris lost into the water and divers will be inspecting the area as soon as conditions permit. A salvage company has been engaged to remove the damaged parts of the building and recover anything they can from the sea floor next week.” Milford Sound recorded high winds of 96km/h winds on Sunday and 115km/h on Monday, according to MetService data. The region received 88.5mm of rainfall on Sunday and 55.5mm on Monday. North Shore CityBy negotiation644An Enviable Lifestyle!Every once in a while a true family sanctuary in the heart of Milford the clever use of space will accommodate everyone The main house is set on 2 levels and is an entertainers delight with a seamless indoor/outdoor flow to a covered alfresco area complete with built in furniture spa complex and the added bonus of a delightful “Man Shed” The property is suited to both formal and casual hosting On the lower level is a spacious open plan dining The 3 spacious bedrooms are all located on the upper level along with a master ensuite and a family bathroom Consisting of 2 bedrooms (the master is extra-large) a bathroom and spacious living with indoor/outdoor flow to its own private entertainment area is set above the garage and consists of open plan bedroom living area along with a separate bathroom Garaging is a spacious double plus there is onsite parking for extra vehicles In zone for top-rated schools including Milford Primary TNIS and Westlake Boys’ & Girls’ High Schools this home ensures your children have access to some of Auckland’s best education An enviable lifestyle waits for those that want proximity to Milford Beach Join us at our open homes or call now for a private viewing and take the first step toward making this exceptional property your family’s forever home See this listing on Barfoot & Thompson we can approve your home improvement loan quickly and get your renovation started.