Mākereti "Maggie" Papakura was an internationally renowned Whakarewarewa guide Her family and iwi say they are grateful for the tribute to her memory and it is testament to her determination to ensure Māori stories would not be forgotten Born in 1873 at Matatā, Papakura is believed to be the first indigenous woman to study at the university Oxford’s School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography said in a statement She made her name as the pre-eminent guide at Whakarewarewa in the early 1900s and was known as Guide Maggie The school said she enrolled in 1922 to read anthropology at the Pitt Rivers Museum where much of the teaching was conducted at the time In her groundbreaking research for her studies at Oxford she explored the customs of her people of Te Arawa from a female perspective earned her the respect of many Oxford academics at the time and went on to be celebrated by members of Māori communities and researchers worldwide just weeks before she was due to present her thesis Rhodes Scholar and fellow Oxford anthropologist TK Penniman It became the first ethnographic study published by a Māori author and was recognised as such by the New Zealand Royal Society The School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography applied to the University of Oxford’s Education Committee to request that Papakura be posthumously awarded the degree of Master of Philosophy in Anthropology The application was supported by St Anne’s College and the Pitt Rivers Museum to which Papakura and her family donated numerous artefacts and papers both during her lifetime and after her death The Education Committee’s decision to grant the request was been warmly welcomed both in Oxford and in Aotearoa New Zealand The degree would be awarded at a ceremony presided over by the university’s vice-chancellor later this year in Oxford’s Sheldonian theatre Members of Papakura’s family and representatives of the Māori community were expected to attend Head of the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography said they were delighted that the “extraordinary achievements of Mākereti the first indigenous woman to study at Oxford” had been recognised by the University of Oxford with the award of a posthumous MPhil degree not only to many in Aotearoa New Zealand but to students and scholars around the world.” June Northcroft Grant on behalf of Papakura’s family and tribe (Tūhourangi – Ngāti Wāhiao) said: “We are grateful to Oxford University for this tribute to Mākereti’s memory and to all those who have supported her story in the years since her passing It is a testament to the lasting power of education and the determination of one woman to ensure that Māori stories would not be forgotten “We have always known the sacrifices she made to pursue education and the strength it took for her to continue often in the face of considerable challenges “We are especially humbled that her customary tribal practices and the scholarship she possessed have been acknowledged with such careful and respectful consideration by the university’s Education Committee he mana tangata (Where there is creative excellence said it was hugely significant for Tūhourangi and Aotearoa to see Mākereti’s work “finally recognised in this way” Mākereti’s mahi here at home and around the world has long been an inspiration to our people Mākereti was always conscious of her whakapapa and responsibilities to Tūhourangi immortalising our culture and traditions – from a wāhine perspective – through her research." The recognition was a credit to Mākereti’s whānau and others who advocated on her behalf over the past 95 years “Mākereti continues to remind us of the strength and determination of our people and the contributions we make in the world He piko he tuna is about resilience and love the despite challenges of life will receive a posthumous degree from the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography at the University of Oxford more than 100 years after she began her studies Mākereti is believed to be the first indigenous woman to matriculate to the University She enrolled in 1922 to read Anthropology at the Pitt Rivers Museum In her research she explored the customs of her people of Te Arawa from a female perspective The degree will be awarded at a ceremony presided over by the University's Vice-Chancellor later this year in Oxford's Sheldonian theatre Members of Mākereti's family and representatives of the Māori community are expected to attend speaking on behalf of Mākereti's whānau and iwi Tūhourangi - Ngāti Wāhiao said her whānau are humbled by the recognition and the knowledge that her work in academia will be appropriately honoured "It was such a remarkable story in anthropology because at the time anthropologists were normally white men studying about other cultures which was just the norm and so for a woman to actually document her own living story was quite unusual So I don't think she got much support when she was doing her study I think it might have been dismissed as women's work." Head of the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography said Mākereti is an inspiring figure not only to many in Aotearoa New Zealand but to students and scholars around the world "We are delighted that the extraordinary achievements of Mākereti the first indigenous woman to study at Oxford have been recognised by the University of Oxford with the award of a posthumous MPhil degree." Mākereti's thesis was posthumously published by her good friend It became the first ethnographic study published by a Māori author and is recognised as such by the New Zealand Royal Society Grant said Penniman sent the papers back to her whānau at Whakarewarewa with Mākareti's son Te Aonui and were given to the elders of the village to 'ratify' her work "But what bothers me most is that I looked up [Penniman's] biography and he didn't pass away until 1977 so I could have rung him in the 1960s and 70s and had huge conversation about Mākareti and he would have told me things that he knew that I would not know otherwise," she said She is now telling the younger generation that if the want to learn about their family they need to talk to their elders now "I gathered my mokos around me last week and I said 'I'm gonna talk to you about Mākareti your great nanny and what she did and how powerful her story is,' and I honestly could see two or three of them just glazing over like 'whatever' because they're 8 10 and 12 and they're not probably interested now So it's important that the stories are carried on and it's important that they were written too." Grant said Mākereti was schooled in her ancestry by her great-grandparents by people who were born in the first half of the 19th century and so had lived ancient Māori practices But she also had knowledge of the Pākehā world and even spoke Latin "She broke conventions because nobody went to Oxford in 1923 suffrage had only just sort of been around for about 10 years or 15 years.. Before Mākereti moved to the United Kingdom in 1911 she worked as a guide in the village of Whakarewarewa even showing the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall The whānau still have Mākereti's diary from 1907 and Grant said she loves 'diving into it' and it takes her back to the time Mākereti was writing "But we don't have her diaries from England so we don't really know much about her life there but we know a lot about her life in the village because it's in the book called the Old-Time Māori everything about Māori life she documented." Grant said the people of Tūhourangi - Ngāti Wāhiao in Whakarewarewa village are still carrying Mākereti Papakura's story on Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday Te Ao Māori RSS Follow RNZ News has been billed as a “beauty and beast” opportunity for buyers Photo / Supplied- The Moekialo family is selling their unfinished renovation after suffering financial heartache - They lost $180,000 and are unable to complete the renovation on their Papakura bungalow A South Auckland family is selling their unfinished renovation project after a disaster cut short their attempt to turn a 1930s bungalow into a dream home The Moeakiola family told OneRoof they had been forced to sell after building work on the site abruptly halted due to a financial wrangle with their project manager They were devastated by the turn of events We don’t want other families to go through what we went through and losing that much money,” Jeoff Sale Moeakiola Most of the work on the property has been completed to a high standard The owners were unable to complete the outdoor living space is being marketed by Ray White agents Bob Lemalu and Malo Tuiloma as “Beauty and the Beast” after the family ran out of funds to complete the final part of the renovation had been buying and renovating houses for many years and had picked up the bungalow on Dominion Road in 2005 as a rental but he had drawn up plans to renovate the property “The house was vacant for a year before we decided to carry out the renovation Dad would have managed it all,” Sale Moeakiola - Max Key’s epic villa renovation: ‘My mum and I designed the whole thing’ - Kim Dotcom denies buying $3.3m Dunedin mansion, but says he’s there till June - Auckland auction frenzy: Developer pays $2.4m for premium site after sellers quit NZ The project manager asked the family to pay upfront $180,000 of the estimated $280,000 build cost He gave us a three-month building project plan The agents who recommended him said he did great work,” Sale Moeakiola said I went to check the project and then got a phone call that he had passed away “The builder had only stripped out one wall in three weeks but what I can do is offer you a job now and I can pay you’.” Sale Moeakiola said he sought legal advice about getting the deposit back but they said [the project manager’s firm] had gone into liquidation It’s not like he put the money into a bank account The listing agent expects buyers to make their own plans for the incomplete home The Moeakiolas estimate they spent $200,000 on the rebuild on top of the $180,000 deposit they lost Sale Moeakiola took on the job of project manager and with the tradies tried to complete the renovation and they are unable to finish the job of turning the former sleepout into an outdoor living space Sale Moeakiola said they are resigned to never seeing their $180,000 deposit back but are hoping to get a good price on the nearly completed house so that they can update his mother’s home in Clendon We want a good price so that Mum can retire and have fun with her last years of life We’d always intended to do it up and sell it and have some surplus but now the surplus is gone in this guy’s pocket.” who is bringing the house to auction on May 22 said that it was hard to put a price on the property “People might like to restore or remove the whole thing The CV of $1.175m was set four years ago - now it’s irrelevant,” he said His advertising emphasised the upside: “This property presents you with a magical opportunity to be able to live happily ever after Create your own fairy-tale ending by transforming this home back into a right royal Prince Charming.” - 62 Dominion Road, Papakura, Auckland, goes to auction on May 22 She died in 1930, just weeks before her thesis was due, and her whānau have been fighting for recognition of her achievements for decades. A small group of her female descendants from Tūhourangi and Ngāti Wāhiao gathered today at Whakarewarewa Thermal Village in Rotorua to celebrate and talk about their "Kui Maggie". For Bella Mike, hearing the news made for a "wonderful day". "She is Māori, she's a woman, she is a great leader for us and this generation, and generations to come, so I'm really proud to have her as my kui." June Northcroft Grant said the family have been waiting a long time. "This conversation started probably about 30 years ago. We never expected that they might do something about it — we hoped that they would.” Papakura enrolled at Oxford in 1922 where she studied anthropology. Her thesis explored the customs and practices of Te Arawa from a female perspective and was published posthumously eight years after her death in a book title The Old Time Māori. The scholar lived during a time where Māori culture and language were in decline due to the impact of colonisation and the suppression of te reo Māori. "She thought that she was writing about the last words of her people," said Northcroft Grant, "because the language was going to be redundant, and there was no use to continue. "That was her reality, so she documented it." Her thesis was the first ethnographic account of Māori life by a Māori scholar. For descendant Kirikowhai Mikaere, Papakura was an example of a great leader and "incredible trailblazer". "One hundred years ago, she went to the other side of the world, having this internal self-confidence about the depth of our knowledge system. In sharing that, and having our own mana over the sharing of our mātauranga, she influenced this kind of global sector of anthropology.” What set her work apart from those of her contemporaries wasthat she was a female studying in a male-dominant field, said Mikaere. "It was mainly English men travelling around the world and then writing up through their lens 'these are the cultures', and here was our kuia who went all the way over there and said 'kāo, kei ahau taku waha (no, I have my mouth), I can speak for us, and actually, I will write about my culture'." She said academics in the past focused on the men in those cultures, but her kui wrote about women and children. "That again was a really big point of difference," said Mikaere, "and I think we've got letters to show that a lot of the sirs and, I guess, wardens of the houses at Oxford recognised the scientific value of what she was bringing to this, one of the oldest academic institutions in the world." Northcroft Grant said her “nanny” documented her life with beauty and grace writing in English, Māori, and Latin. It was a shame she passed before attaining her degree, she said. "It was a sad end to her life that she died so suddenly, and that her work was, more or less, it was published and it was put into museums and universities, but it was never a volume of work that was celebrated in any other form." Lani Kereopa said sharing kōrero about "Maggie" as a whānau gave them an opportunity to reflect and appreciate their ancestor’s legacy. "Every few years you might pick [her book] up again and there's something new you learn that you think, ‘I don't remember reading that’, but those gifts just keep on giving. "The kōrero, the history, I guess as you learn more things, start to connect more over the years, so the rich taonga that she left, we're just so grateful for." Papakura will receive a Master’s in Philosophy of Anthropology from the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography at Oxford. Members of her whānau and representatives of her iwi are expected to attend a ceremony later this year. kāo, kei ahau taku waha – no, I have my mouth taonga – (often prized) possessions, effects or objects; treasure. Mākereti Papakura died 90 years ago after being the first indigenous woman to study at the university. (Source: 1News) Mākereti Papakura, the first indigenous woman to study at the University of Oxford, will receive a posthumous degree from the institution nearly a hundred years after attending. Descendants of Mākereti Papakura (Source: Te Karere) June Northcroft Grant in front of a portrait of her "nanny" Mākereti Papakura (Source: 1News) Iwi misses out on bid to buy back ancestral mountain The campaign to bring the Kahurānaki back into Māori ownership included a 10-day hīkoi from Māhia to Kahurānaki Te Ao Māori Iwi boss to head new board for Taranaki Maunga 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 Puanga to take starring role at this year's Matariki celebrations The theme for this year's Matariki holiday is 'Matariki mā Puanga' highlighting the communities who observe the star Puanga in their astronomical traditions Cancer survivor’s decade-long path to wellness: ‘Rongoā Māori saved me’ Northland educator Tanya Filia was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumour that led to a terminal prognosis over 10 years ago Iwi boss accuses MPs of 'scaremongering' with Waitākere Ranges claims Shane Jones and David Seymour need to "learn to read" the chief executive of a West Auckland iwi says after they criticised a proposal by Auckland Council to work more closely with the iwi as "co-governance" Finalists selected for Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Awards The late Māori king helped establish the competition four years ago to inspire emerging Māori artists to remember their ancestors Film industry anxiously awaits details on Trump's 100% movie tariff 7:17pm Search underway for Masterton man, 74, missing since Sunday 7:07pm Crooks, culture first order of business for Mike Bush in Victoria 7:05pm Charges filed against Woolworths over pricing, misleading specials 6:45pm Police, experts warn 'emerging risk' of 3D-printed firearms rising 6:33pm Trade war: Sir John Key's 'optimism' on Trump's next tariff moves 7:28pm 1US woman who disappeared for more than six decades found safe Sole survivor of poisoned beef Wellington takes the stand Two men's shared name brings years of trouble and a hefty bill to one Govt halts all current pay equity claims, makes it harder to lodge new ones NRL: Sharks centre Iro wants to be known by new name Photos: Lorde among stars at 2025 Met Gala A$AP Rocky and Rihanna also revealed they are expecting their third child. 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Lady Gaga rocks Copacabana Beach with free concert for over 2 million fansSun, May 4 Lorde announces new album name, dateThu, May 1 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robberyMon, Apr 28 Chubby Checker, Outkast, Cyndi Lauper join Rock & Roll Hall of FameMon, Apr 28 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robberyMon the first indigenous woman to study at the University of Oxford will receive a posthumous degree from the institution nearly a hundred years after attending and her whānau have been fighting for recognition of her achievements for decades A small group of her female descendants from Tūhourangi and Ngāti Wāhiao gathered today at Whakarewarewa Thermal Village in Rotorua to celebrate and talk about their "Kui Maggie" hearing the news made for a "wonderful day" she is a great leader for us and this generation so I'm really proud to have her as my kui." June Northcroft Grant said the family have been waiting a long time "This conversation started probably about 30 years ago We never expected that they might do something about it — we hoped that they would.” Papakura enrolled at Oxford in 1922 where she studied anthropology Her thesis explored the customs and practices of Te Arawa from a female perspective and was published posthumously eight years after her death in a book title The Old Time Māori The scholar lived during a time where Māori culture and language were in decline due to the impact of colonisation and the suppression of te reo Māori "She thought that she was writing about the last words of her people," said Northcroft Grant "because the language was going to be redundant Her thesis was the first ethnographic account of Māori life by a Māori scholar Papakura was an example of a great leader and "incredible trailblazer" having this internal self-confidence about the depth of our knowledge system and having our own mana over the sharing of our mātauranga she influenced this kind of global sector of anthropology.” What set her work apart from those of her contemporaries wasthat she was a female studying in a male-dominant field "It was mainly English men travelling around the world and then writing up through their lens 'these are the cultures' and here was our kuia who went all the way over there and said 'kāo She said academics in the past focused on the men in those cultures but her kui wrote about women and children "That again was a really big point of difference," said Mikaere "and I think we've got letters to show that a lot of the sirs and wardens of the houses at Oxford recognised the scientific value of what she was bringing to this one of the oldest academic institutions in the world." Northcroft Grant said her “nanny” documented her life with beauty and grace writing in English It was a shame she passed before attaining her degree "It was a sad end to her life that she died so suddenly it was published and it was put into museums and universities but it was never a volume of work that was celebrated in any other form." Lani Kereopa said sharing kōrero about "Maggie" as a whānau gave them an opportunity to reflect and appreciate their ancestor’s legacy "Every few years you might pick [her book] up again and there's something new you learn that you think Papakura will receive a Master’s in Philosophy of Anthropology from the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography at Oxford Members of her whānau and representatives of her iwi are expected to attend a ceremony later this year Hawke's Bay iwi Ngāti Kahungunu has been unsuccessful in its bid to buy back the mountain Kahurānaki but the iwi says its connection to the land will always remain Kahurānaki Station - a 1156 hectare sheep and beef farm south of Havelock North which includes the peak of the mountain - came up for sale earlier this year and the iwi launched a fundraising campaign to buy it The campaign to bring the Kahurānaki back into Māori ownership was called He Maunga Ka Taea and included a 10-day hīkoi from Māhia to Kahurānaki It raised more than $95,000 on crowd funding platform koha.kiwi Hastings-based post-settlement governance entity Tamatea Pōkai Whenua Trust submitted a tender on behalf of the iwi Chairman Pōhatu Paku said the trust was the only local entity to tender for the Station and they were saddened and disappointed by the outcome The trust had approached the tender on the basis it was presented Paku acknowledged the young and emerging iwi members who had generated the groundswell of support for the tender and for the longer term status of the mountain ki tēnā o tātau e titikaha nei ki tēnei kaupapa I just want to acknowledge and mihi to everybody that has connected with this kaupapa Paku said the trust would be engaging with the station's new owners at an appropriate time to convey the iwi's history and also set out their aspirations "The continuation of the protection of our wāhi tapu (sacred sites) is significantly important to us Continued access to the mountain would also be a high priority "The previous owners were quite open for Kura for people running kaupapa and also those that wished to ascend the maunga they allowed that they identified that it was culturally significant to us all." Paku said Tamatea Pōkai Whenua will need to foster the groundswell of support and leadership that the He Maunga Ka Taea campaign had generated "The whakapapa connections and taonga that is Kahurānaki maunga remain our greatest advantage is that we live in perpetuity and our maunga and our tīpuna live with us and they continue to be ours "And like all of our tūtohu whenua (landmarks) our maunga carries our traditions and our identity and our histories and we remain uncompromising to act in the best interests of our tūtohu whenua both for this generation and for future generations." Paku said the trust may look at legal personhood as another avenue to protect the mountain but ultimately he said the maunga remains an ancestor and retains its own mana which no one can ever own rnz.co.nz 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 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 The theme for this year's Matariki holiday is 'Matariki mā Puanga' highlighting the communities who observe the star Puanga in their astronomical traditions the brightest star in the Orion constellation In the late autumn and early winter night sky Matariki is seen below Puanga and to the left of Tautoru (the three stars of Orion's Belt) Puanga becomes especially prominent in the evening sky towards the end of autumn and in the predawn sky during the first month of the Māori new year Puanga will feature at this year's nationally broadcast hautapu ceremony hosted by Ngāti Rangi at the base of Ruapehu Ngāti Rangi spokesperson and leading Puanga expert Che Wilson said it was an honour for the iwi to host the ceremony and to be a part of the work that has been done over the past few years by Professor Rangi Mātāmua and all the host iwi - from Te Āti Awa and Ngāti Toa to Te Arawa and last year Ngāi Tahu Traditional stories related to Puanga are shared across many iwi across Aotearoa but are prominent on the western side of Te Ika a Maui The North Island's main divide of the Tararua Ruahine and Kaimanawa ranges separates the island's weather systems so Puanga gives iwi on the western side a better read on how to prepare for the year ahead "The reason we look to Puanga isn't because we can't see Matariki there are parts of the region where you can't but actually the reason we look to Puanga is because Puanga gives us a better read for the weather on the west coast," he said Wilson said traditionally iwi on the west coast would start to observe changes in the weather during autumn while the months around Matariki were a time to wānanga "The thing is that Puanga and Matariki aren't that different We do have a separate ceremony done the month before called Te Maru o te Tau where we send all of our mate with the setting sun to the pō and that's when we call out our names." Matariki and Puanga have always gone together in karakia They also look to other celestial bodies such as the Southern Cross "In our karakia we acknowledge Matariki during the mate because they become part of te huihui o Matariki So that's our reference to Matariki but the remainder of the ceremony is actually focussed in on looking at Puanga." Wilson said it was a beautiful thing that New Zealand is starting to recognise both Matariki and Puanga "It's a chance for everybody to go out and send intention to whoever you may call your atua and to make that connection to nature Wilson said this year's hautapu ceremony will differ slightly from those broadcast in previous years After the opening of the ceremony the next step is te tākiritanga o ngā mate invoking those people who have died in the last year "We don't call out our mate but we then invoke them to transition to become stars." But Wilson said instead of offering food to the stars they are offered to four atua or deities "So we give to atua rather than stars though those atua are also shown in the sky at that time." The last part of the ceremony is the whakapūmautanga where a pou or post is placed into the ground Wilson said those reciting the karakia bind the pou with intention as they "commit ourselves to our tūpuna rnz.co.nz Tanya Filia (Ngāpuhi, Ngāi Tahu) was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumour more than 10 years ago. When she was told it was terminal she turned to rongoā Māori – traditional Māori healing – a decision that she says saved her life. She shared her story with Leigh-Marama McLachlan on Marae rongoā Māori has had a life changing impact on her and her whānau she was diagnosed with a brain tumour after she experienced the inability to recall some words and suffered from massive headaches ended up in Whangārei Hospital where I had a scan and they found that I had a grade four glioblastoma brain tumour ‘what am I supposed to do with that?’ It’s devastating She underwent an intense treatment plan that included surgery to remove most of the mass followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy – a hard and fast approach she felt pressured to endure “No conversation at all about anything else We’re talking 42 treatments of radiation directly to my brain,” she said Initially she went into remission but in 2015 she was told the cancer was back and it had spread She refused to undergo further chemo and radiation therapy – “the mask on to my face where they pin you down to give you radiation I said 'I’m not doing that again'” – opting instead for rongoā Māori natural therapies and intravenous Vitamin C Rongoā Māori is a wide-ranging holistic approach When asked to describe what happens during a mirimiri session Tanya explains how it begins with karakia to cleanse and prepare her “for walking in that space” “I go to a place where I walk and speak and talk to my tupuna,” she said and absolutely it is beautiful for my tinana.” Rongoā Māori is undergoing a resurgence. In 2023, the failed Therapeutics Products Bill drew criticism from practitioners and whānau for its impact on rongoā Māori ACC has recognised the traditional Māori healing practice and offer rongoā as a recovery option Thousands of people have claimed for rongoā services since Speaking as part of a discussion panel following Tanya’s story said they work closely with the rongoā community and have an advisory panel to ensure controls “What we’ve found is as we’ve worked with the community through their leadership it’s kept us safe and ensures the integrity of rongoā is maintained.” ACC has partnered with more than 160 rongoā practitioners where the registration process includes an endorsement from mana whenua a police check and requirement for all practitioners to be subject to the Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994 Paea said it was about ensuring that clients are treated fairly and that there’s a good quality care of service When asked if rongoā Māori is valued in general leading practitioner Donna Kerridge (Ngāti Tahinga Ngāti Mahuta) said it is by those who use it but “maybe not” by others who don’t understand “I think it’s hard to value something that you don’t understand She said a lot more can be done to help improve collaboration “between those of us who will work towards the same goal” of serving people to the best of their abilities Tanya has been met with scepticism throughout her journey with people questioning rongoā Māori but is adamant that it is the patient’s choice wants and desires of the patient that’s been diagnosed When asked if she thinks she’s encouraging people to opt out of western treatments in favour of Māori healing approaches she strongly denies wanting to discourage anyone off radiotherapy or chemotherapy but only hopes to share her experience I don’t carry the responsibility of others All I do is share my journey so people can get a different perspective.” Tanya wants to see terminally ill patients given more treatment options and be allocated funds so they can access whatever healing method they believe in Going through the ordeal of a brain scan for official confirmation took courage on Tanya’s part What if I go and have a scan and they said it’s all over [that] it’s so widespread there’s nothing we can do about it She becomes emotional recalling what her daughter said to persuade her to go through with it Her bravery was rewarded with her doctor reporting back that there was no indication of cancer “[Rongoā Māori is] a choice that we made and it’s worked out for us I’ve been blessed enough to get longevity also there’s no other way to think about that.” Watch this episode of Marae on TVNZ+ for more on this story rongoā Māori – traditional Māori healing practice that takes a holistic approach to wellbeing NZ First and ACT MPs Shane Jones and David Seymour need to "learn to read" Edward Ashby said the central government MPs were up to "mischief" spreading "misinformation" and "scaremongering" Jones and Seymour are concerned about the potential for iwi Te Kawerau ā Maki to be part of a committee overseeing the Waitākere Ranges but Auckland councillor Richard Hill said the proposal simply progresses something that was agreed to 17 years ago the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Act recognised the area as nationally significant and specified it needed to be protected It also said it would progress a Deed of Acknowledgement that the Auckland Council the Crown and the nominated iwi would enter into Now the council is moving forward to create that deed with consultation on the proposal closing yesterday Auckland councillor Richard Hills explained the deed would "in practice" acknowledge the relationship and interest a range of parties have in the Waitākere Ranges enable more recreation and protection of the ranges into the future" "This was asked for unanimously by the local boards and also unanimously by the Auckland Council." Part of the proposal is to establish a joint committee under the Local Government Act with equal representation from Auckland Council the Crown and tangata whenua - in this case Te Kawerau ā Maki NZ First MP Shane Jones has condemned the idea saying his party will never agree to an iwi having "50% sovereignty over the Waitakere forest" no more co-governance of these public service-orientated outcomes." He said the moment you have a "50/50 committee set up as part of the Supercity" it will "morph in no time whatsoever into shared sovereignty over the Waitākere" That is an asset that primarily must serve all the interests and all the needs of Auckland." Coalition partner and Epsom electorate MP David Seymour agreed saying the Waitākere Ranges is a "very special area to many Aucklanders" "The idea it should be governed half by people whose ancestors arrived 800 years ago and half by people whose ancestors arrived more recently He was also concerned about decisions being made to close tracks saying those needed to be made "according to the best science" "And the people with the best science are the people who have the skills experience and qualifications to make the decision is not actually a scientific qualification." Chief executive of Te Kawerau ā Maki Edward Ashby suggested the MPs "learn to read" because "that's not what the information out there says" Ashby pointed out it had taken 17 years to act on what the legislation had promised "which is a deed to be progressed" "acknowledges our association" and "identifies opportunities for us to contribute to the management of the public land" "And so one of the ways we wanted to do that was basically set up a forum or a table for us and the Crown and Council to talk." He said that it would be a "non-statutory" body and would be used to coordinate a plan for the area Ashby maintained the proposal was not co-governance and said the MPs were up to "mischief" It's obviously on trend for some members of this Government He said he thought Te Kawerau ā Maki were being used as a "political football' and the idea that the proposal was co-governance was "misinformation" there would be land in a different structure there'd be decision making over money and things like that "Power isn't being taken away from anyone." He explained the council would still make final decisions over land it manages He said the idea that there'll be "Kawerau police" telling people what they can and can't do on the property was an "absolute fairytale" saying "there's no change of ownership or change of decision making," and that it was simply about "doing what we're already doing in disparate ways" mana whenua together to "improve the future of the Waitākere Ranges and ensure the investment is going in the right places" He said this is "nothing like" the co-governance the government approved a couple of months ago for Taranaki Seymour acknowledged it was ultimately a decision for the local council and said that is why ACT plans to stand candidates in the local body elections for the first time "The legislation in question is actually a local bill which is quite difficult for Parliament to change without the local council asking for it to happen we're standing local candidates so precisely that can happen." Jones said he would be taking the issue to caucus and he will be taking it up with the Minister of Conservation but he declined because it is a local government issue By Lillian Hanly of rnz.co.nz Over 40 artworks have been selected as finalists for the prestigious Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Awards Rangatahi artists under 35 around New Zealand depict one of their tupuna using any medium they wish This year will be the first time the competition goes ahead since Kiingi Tuheitia’s death last August Finalist Zoe Marler chose her great-great-great-grandfather Atama Papārangi "I knew immediately who I wanted to paint," she told 1News Marler spent over 100 hours on the oil painting Replicating his moko was the biggest challenge – the original photograph is so old Papārangi’s moko wasn’t visible when it was taken it had to be scratched onto the surface afterwards Marler was able to fill in the blanks using historic paintings of her ancestor by famous artist Charles Goldie “I worked with all these paintings in combination to work out what his moko would have looked like,” she explained used an old television to depict his ancestor Hori Kerei Taiaroa “I found out he was a politician for a couple of decades I didn’t know I could be related by someone so noble.” He filmed his father in his ancestor’s place wearing clothing Taiaroa would have worn in his time “I shot him at a low angle ‘cause I just see HK as this kind of regal chief He looks like he just has his s*** together.” A search and rescue operation is underway for a Masterton man in his 70s missing since Sunday John Rafferty was last seen at Masterton Railway Station about midday on May 4 The 74-year-old did not board a train and left on foot about 20 minutes later Matheson said it was possible Rafferty was staying with a friend but police and loved ones "want to know he’s safe" and John doesn’t have his cell phone or wallet," he said A search team and a helicopter has been out looking for the missing man "We are really keen to know that he’s safe." Police have released an image from CCTV showing Rafferty on a station platform on the day of his disappearance He was wearing a blue jacket with 'NASA' written on the back Anyone who saw him was asked to contact police on 111 or online at 105 if there was Information after the fact The next top cop of the troubled Victoria police force embraces his "outsider" status to curb its leadership malaise and has a stern warning for crooks Former New Zealand Police commissioner Mike Bush won the race to become Victoria's chief commissioner after months of top-level staffing woes The 40-year police veteran steps into the role on June 27 with a five-year contract The Kiwi conceded the job will be no picnic with Victoria's crime rate hitting an almost decade-high in 2024 everyone knows that," he told reporters today "These crime issues are actually global they are quite similar wherever you go but it's not good enough just to turn up after the act Rising youth crime and high-profile cases of alleged offenders committing crimes while on bail spurred the Victorian government to strengthen laws in March Bush said he was familiar with the crackdown but bail laws were just one part of the solution to tackling youth crime along with a "prevention mindset" He retired from the NZ police force in 2020 after joining in 1978 and spending his final six years in the top job Whakaari/White Island volcano eruption and Covid-19 pandemic were among the biggest crises Bush confronted during his tenure Bush also made headlines in 2022 after it emerged he had a past drink-driving conviction when unsuccessfully applying to become head of the UK's Metropolitan Police Former New Zealand police minister Stuart Nash describedr Bush as hard but fair He said Bush regularly met with police forces across the Tasman in his previous role and recalled travelling with him to every district across New Zealand once a year to chew the fat with communities and then we all had biscuits and a cup of tea," Nash told AAP "Mike is someone who had deep credibility in policing." The state government has not handed the reins of Victoria Police to an outsider since former NSW Police assistant commissioner Christine Nixon in 2001 The Kiwi was happy to wear the "outsider" tag and is already hatching plans to hit the ground running "I've got a lot to do to come up to speed," Bush said "Culture is a consequence of leadership." establishing relationships with community groups amid rising tensions and increasing police visibility on the beat were among his other top initial priorities Victoria Police was thrust into leadership turmoil in February with a no-confidence vote from officers costing chief commissioner Shane Patton his job Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent became acting chief and expressed an interest in making the move permanent before throwing in the towel in April Deputy Commissioner Robert Hill will serve in an acting capacity until Bush takes over Bush intends to speak with Patton before starting and said he wouldn't shy away from pushing back if he disagreed with the government Premier Jacinta Allan said a recruitment agency was hired and instructed to find a leader capable of addressing the "challenges" plaguing the force "Mike Bush is the best person for the job," she said whose union led the no-confidence vote against Patton following a bitter pay dispute admitted there was a disconnect between members and leaders The state police union secretary welcomed Mr Bush's appointment and pledge to listen to the mounting workforce concerns "We have a police force that is currently under-resourced that needs fresh officers," he said The Commerce Commission has filed criminal charges against Woolworths NZ for alleged inaccurate pricing and misleading specials that may have breached the Fair Trading Act The commission filed the charges against Woolworths in the Auckland District Court It indicated in December last year that it would be filing separate criminal charges against Woolworths and two Pak'nSave supermarkets the commission said there were ongoing issues with pricing in the supermarket sector and the operators may have breached the Fair Trading Act deputy chair Anne Callinan said operators should know what the expectations were "Supermarkets have long been on notice about the importance of accurate and clear pricing and specials and we're not satisfied with the continuing issues we're seeing across the industry "Pricing accuracy is a consumer right and an expectation of a competitive market well-resourced businesses that should invest the time and effort to get pricing and promotions right." She said the charges were filed to remind all supermarkets that they are expected to fix the pricing accuracy issues and implement better processes In a statement when the charges were announced Woolworths managing director Spencer Sonn said it was important customers could trust prices advertised at their supermarkets Woolworths said it has cooperated with the Commerce Commission's pricing investigation for some time rnz.co.nz Former prime minister Sir John Key says he remains optimistic about Donald Trump's domestic economic policy despite opposing the tariff strategy that has sent global markets into turmoil in recent months who served as prime minister for eight years was the keynote speaker at an Auckland business summit earlier today Sir John told 1News he believed Trump would ultimately take a more moderate approach to tariffs than initially proposed "I'm not a fan of tariff policies I don't think they really work," he said as I think the stock market is telling you at the moment that actually there will be a more sensible landing place for the tariffs that he's wanting to impose." Sir John said he "wasn't entirely surprised" at Trump's call to go ahead with the policy "They're just a negotiating point I think he simply put on widespread and high rates of tariffs on every country to give himself a leverage point and a negotiating point "What I think he actually grossly underestimated was the stock market reaction You can actually make the case that his own strategy hasn't worked The reason the markets have recovered is because he's taken those tariffs off the most part 'I'm going to negotiate case by case'." Sir John suggested Trump's economic policies could still generally be positive for the US but the tariffs could be trickier for the global economy Asked whether he stood by his October comments that Trump would be good for the economy he said: "Do I think he's going to reduce regulatory burden in the United States It depends on where things shake down in terms of tariffs." Sir John acknowledged that for certain industries Trump's policies could be "a really negative thing" particularly if the president's proposed 100% tariff on the film industry were to be implemented "I can't see how it would be cost-competitive to make a movie in New Zealand with a 100% tariff on it," he said noting that films such as The Hobbit would not have been made in New Zealand without government subsidies who now served as a director of US tech company Palo Alto Networks said he had "always been opposed" to Trump's tariff policies but believes they won't be the "dominant part of his economic solutions" "I don't think it's perfect from New Zealand's point of view but I don't think we should panic either and America will still be a very big market for us to sell things to," he said "There are growing markets around the world It's not a great thing from New Zealand's point of view We've got a very sound economy with lots of options in front of us." Sir John suggested a belief that the Republican Trump was was better "on balance" for the US economy than Democratic opponent Kamala Harris he expressed concerns about Trump's tariff approach: "China doesn't pay those tariffs middle-income consumers or consumers in America do because when a tariff goes on a good that you bring into a country He added: "I don't agree with the massive tariffs and I don't think you'll follow through with all of that and I certainly don't agree with this view on trade." Audrey Backeberg disappeared from a small city in south-central Wisconsin after reportedly hitchhiking with her family’s babysitter and catching a bus to Indianapolis Nobody ever knew where she went or what happened to her All that changed last week when she was found alive and safe in another state thanks to the fresh eyes from a deputy who took over the case in February Detective Isaac Hanson discovered an out-of-state arrest record that matched Backeberg which triggered a series of investigative moves that led to finding her alive and safe in another state Turns out Backeberg chose to leave the town of Reedsburg on her own accord – likely due to an abusive husband safe and secure; And just kind of lived under the radar for that long,” he said Hanson was assigned the case in late February and he and other officials met with Backeberg’s family to see if they had a connection with that region They also started digging through Backeberg's sister's Ancestry.com account obituaries and marriage licenses from that region they found an address where a woman was living that Hanson said shared a lot of similarities with Backeberg including date of birth and social security number Hanson was able to get a deputy from that jurisdiction to go to the address "I was expecting the deputy to call me back and say ‘Oh nobody answered the door.’ And I thought it was the deputy calling me I could sense that she obviously had her reasons for leaving.” Most of the information he learned during that call he declined to share saying that it was still important to Backeberg that she not be found “I think it overwhelmed her of course with the emotions that she had having a deputy show up at her house and then kind of call her out and talk with her about what happened and kind of relive 62 years in 45 minutes,” he said Hanson described discovering her safe after more than six decades practically unheard of And while he doesn't know what will happen next in terms of her family reconnecting he said he was happy that she can reach out if she wants to so she has my contact number if she ever wants to reach out or needs anything any phone numbers of family members back here," he said "Ultimately she kind of holds the cards for that.” Shane William Pritchard has been charged with crimes he didn’t commit and chased for debts he doesn’t owe That’s because the Dunedin man is not the only Shane William Pritchard in town While the duo’s shared name and age has sometimes been a handy loophole for one Shane for the other it has caused problems for 36 years It’s been years of fearing every knock on the door Years of wondering if he’ll be hand-cuffed and taken to jail to be honest,” says Shane William Pritchard a scout and a member of the Air Training Corp remembers getting quite a shock when her friend called one evening She'd been acting as a referee for a gun licence for Shane whose friend informed her that the police had a long list of offences against Shane’s name Not long after that the police turned up to where Shane was working at the local tannery to arrest him “You're scrambling in your head to think of ways that you can prove it's not you.” Another Shane William Pritchard had been born in Otago They were separated by just two weeks and about 50 miles – one growing up in Mosgiel the other in Milton – but also by the lives they’d been leading To watch the full video story go to TVNZ+ Shane from Milton had huge problems focusing at school He was raised in foster care and then boys’ homes I just wanted to look cool and get in trouble,” he tells Fair Go Milton Shane was used to run-ins with police he got pulled over in his car and asked about his driving licence one’s got a licence and the other hasn’t.’ And I’m like ‘obviously it must be the one with a licence’.” he went to his bank to draw out an ACC payment and was asked which bank account was his He says that at that point he was trying to figure out what was going on “I thought it was just an error.” But he took advantage of the situation and withdrew a large sum of cash Mosgiel Shane became aware of the withdrawal when a scheduled car payment was declined and when Milton Shane turned up at the bank to withdraw more money Identity fraud was considered but Milton Shane was legitimately expecting an ACC payment so the withdrawal appeared to be a genuine mistake and the police couldn’t take any action 'Anything I could get away with Mosgiel Shane thought the bank incident would have alerted police to the problem But his nemesis had cottoned on to the advantages of having a second identity to use Milton Shane acquired a suite of furniture on hire-purchase Milton-Shane clocked up more driving offences Mosgiel Shane thought about changing his name but realised he’d have to provide his previous name in the process the courts and debt collectors such as Baycorp should be able to distinguish between himself and Milton Shane The police first addressed the issue in the 1990s after Mosgiel Shane went to the media He was given a letter to carry with him should he be apprehended He and his parents felt his situation wasn’t being taken seriously Mosgiel Shane went to the media a second time in the mid-2000s the police gave their word that a record in their system would stop the misidentification from happening again This does appear to have worked as far as police action goes But while Mosgiel Shane was given the same reassurance by the Ministry of Justice he continued to receive demands from the courts for unpaid fines He’d also get stopped and questioned whenever he left the country for work trips or holidays It took a huge toll on Mosgiel Shane’s mental health not realising the constant stress it placed on his life John Pritchard says that at times his son felt his life wasn’t worth living worrying about what he was going to do to himself and that really ate me up.” he and his son were in tears as Shane admitted he was at breaking point He described going for days at a time unable to eat or sleep wondering what might happen next "Am I going to be in a position where they've got me in handcuffs or I've got debt collectors coming to the door?" ...You're spiralling into this black hole." He started taking anti-anxiety medication which helped And events regarding Milton Shane seemed to settle Milton Shane was charged for fishing without a licence in Twizel and failing to comply with fisheries officers But a court registrar incorrectly entered the birth date of Mosgiel Shane in the system both Shanes were being chased to pay the $1530 fine It was Mosgiel Shane who spotted the error and rang the court He also sent a statement from his manager saying he’d not been fishing in Twizel that day The reply he got was to say he’d been given the wrong form and that they wouldn’t accept his proof They just wanted to know how I was going to pay the fine.” The first Milton Shane knew about this was when Fair Go told him Mosgiel Shane had been chased for the fine He was told to pay up or face the consequences feeling he shouldn’t have to pay good money to correct someone else’s mistake But it cost Mosgiel Shane over $5000 in legal fees and took months of back and forth between him “Why should anybody have to pay their own money to right somebody else's wrongs and prove who they are I’m sick and tired of proving who I am all the time.” He wanted the Ministry of Justice to take responsibility and reimburse him for his legal costs saying court staff such as the registrar in this case have immunity if they make mistakes such as the one made here and if I make a mistake and it's affecting my client that it's going to cost them money to rectify a mistake that I've made.” he deserves a million apologies from those guys,” she says Milton Shane told Fair Go he still gets in trouble but wants the other Shane to know he doesn’t use his birth date anymore And he had a message for him: “We’ve got to get it sorted for you so you can have a good life with you and your family because I’m trying to get my life together with my son and my grandson” He offers to meet to see if they can sort it out together but I’m not interested in meeting him,.” says Mosgiel Shane He says he doesn’t hold any grudges and accepts Milton Shane’s apology And he believes the only way for that to happen is for the courts and the Ministry of Justice to give him a guarantee that mix-ups won’t occur in the future Fair Go asked the Ministry of Justice to appear in person to apologise and provide reassurance to Shane of its plans to guard against these mistakes The Ministry declined our request to be on camera saying any comment on an individual case would compromise the independence of the courts as the Ministry operates separately But it did send a written apology directly to Mosgiel Shane It also admitted mistakes can occur in clerical records but said instructions were clear and the importance of getting things right had been emphasised to staff Mosgiel Shane isn’t totally convinced that’s the end of it “All I want is for the Ministry of Justice and the courts to do their job I'd like to live without this hanging over me all the time his criminal check has come back showing a clean slate The government is making it harder to make a claim for pay equity that will cut costs There have been massive pay equity claims in recent years for nurses and resthome workers Workplace Minister Brooke van Velden announced the moves to raise the threshold for proving work has been historically undervalued to support a claim on Tuesday saying changes back in 2020 had created problems "Claims have been able to progress without strong evidence of undervaluation and there have been very broad claims where it is difficult to tell whether differences in pay are due to sex-based discrimination or other factors." Claims were concentrated in the public sector with costs to the Crown of all settlements so far totalling $1.78 billion a year "The changes I am proposing will significantly reduce costs to the Crown," she said "The changes will discontinue current pay equity claims." Van Velden told Midday Report she believes in pay equity but the current thresholds were "a bit too loose" Asked how she ensure women were not hurt by this the minister said "I'm a woman and I support women who work" "I also support removing gender based discriminations from our workforces but what I don't support are muddied laws and unclear laws," she said "So these changes are better for all women who are working where we can genuinely say hand on heart that what they are finding with their claims is genuine gender based discrimination." Van Velden told reporters at Parliament any current claims would be stopped and need to restart under the new threshold to show "genuine" gender discrimination and make sure the comparators were right She gave a figure of 33 current claims that would be stopped as the legislation was put through under urgency "You have librarians who've been comparing themselves to transport engineers We have admin and clerical staff at Health New Zealand comparing themselves to mechanical engineers." Social workers had compared themselves to air traffic controllers "We don't believe we have that setting right." Any comparison would now be between female employees and male employees at the same employer "But you cannot go fishing for discrimination across the New Zealand workforce." All current settled claims would continue but the government was drawing "a line in the sand" "We're not stopping claims." The nurse's union has this year had at least 10 pay equity claims in play The PSA union has said pay equity claims and settlements had resulted in significant improvements in pay and working conditions for many workers The union said the changes would make it "impossible for people in female-dominated professions to be paid fairly" "Women across the country will pay the price for this," PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said "The government's changes today are a dark day for New Zealand women as the government says it will repeal the pay equity law and extinguish 33 existing claims in a constitutional overreach "The PSA is exploring all possible avenues to oppose these unconstitutional amendments and stop this attack on women We will not be deterred in our fight to achieve pay equity for all." "This is a blatant and shameful attack on women," New Zealand Nurses organisation chief executive Paul Goulter said "Women in workforces predominantly performed by female employees have been underpaid and undervalued for generations That is what pay equity claims seek to rectify," he said "This move by the government will widen the pay gap between men and women." The union had at least 10 pay current pay claims across Aged Care These cover many nurses and support workers The E tū union also called the changes an attack on women and a green light to pay them less for work of equal value The government was pulling the rug out from under a 13-year-long fight in aged care "These changes are not about evidence — they are about saving money by keeping women underpaid," national secretary Rachel Mackintosh said in a statement A number of unions have called a snap rally at Parliament at 1pm today in light of the announcement the Council of Trade Unions and representatives of other unions say they will be "protesting the government's attack on women and the destruction of progress on pay equity..." rnz.co.nz The Cronulla player formerly known as Kayal Iro has explained his decision to change his first name midway through the NRL season Iro made a tryscoring return from a hamstring injury in the Sharks' Magic Round win over Parramatta last Friday sporting a new name on Cronulla's team list The 25-year-old has now requested he be referred to as 'KL Iro' The centre is named after his father Kevin Leslie Iro who enjoyed a decorated career in England and represented New Zealand with distinction The left centre's official documents will still read "Kayal" but the Sharks flyer said he made the switch to 'KL' to avoid any doubt as to how his name should be pronounced "Mum didn't want it to be a two-letter name when I was a kid," Iro said "She's the one that changed it to 'Kayal' I think it was just foreign back then to have a two-letter name "But my dad always wanted it to be 'KL' and I like it that way too because it's easier to pronounce and there's no confusion I was too scared to step on anyone's toes "I guess I've built a bit of a relationship with these fellas now so I asked the question and got it done pretty quick." which was often mispronounced by commentators when his father and uncle Tony were playing "Even my dad and uncle when they were playing the Pommies would pronounce it 'aye-ro' rather than 'ear-ro'," Iro added he loved it but it's pretty cool to hear a commentator saying our family name." Iro was born in England while his father was playing for Leeds but spent most of his childhood growing up in the Cook Islands While he hinted he would be open to facing the Kangaroos in the end-of-season Ashes series "I wouldn't say no but my first thing is getting the Cook Islands qualified for the World Cup next year," he said Iro and the sixth-placed Sharks (5-4) will face one of the most daunting challenges of their season to date when they travel to take on Manly (4-4) at Brookvale Oval on Sunday "They've got a strong right edge and also [Tom] Trbojevic at the back," Iro said "[Trboejvic] is a strike weapon in attack and things happen around him we've got to be aware of him." 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 Whānau across Aotearoa are beginning their Smokefree journey this May as part of the That’s Us campaign The campaign encourages whānau to give up smoking for the month of May with the support of their local Stop Smoking Service and has gone on to be celebrated by members of Māori communities and researchers worldwide Twenty one regional representatives ranging from Years 11 to 13 (ages around 15-18) will come together for the Speech Awards semi-finals The biggest change the government can make to improve health care is immediately invest in general practice to retain the GPs we have now and to make it more attractive for GPs to come to New Zealand HELP Auckland will mark Rape Awareness Week with a special charity performance of the acclaimed play Prima Facie starring Cassandra Woodhouse and directed by Michael Hurst followed by an expert panel discussion on sexual violence “It’s clear that the pandemic is still top of mind for many people in Aotearoa New Zealand particularly those areas like Auckland and Northland that were affected by longer lockdowns during the COVID-19 response,” says Grant Illingworth KC Ngāti Wāhiao) a posthumous degree almost a century after she started her education “We knew that it was going to happen because we had been actively pursuing our grandmothers our kuia’s studies over the years,” June Northcroft Grant but we didn’t take it for granted that Oxford University would give her her degree “There is something about the quote about the greatness of who she was and here we are 100 years later still telling her story.” Mākereti is believed to be the first indigenous woman to enrol at the University of Oxford She grew up in Whakarewarewa Village in Rotorua trained as a guide under Guide Sophia Herangi before heading to England “We are delighted that the extraordinary achievements of Mākereti have been recognised by the University of Oxford with the award of a posthumous MPhil degree,” Professor Clare Harris not only to many in Aotearoa New Zealand but to students and scholars around the world,” she said posthumously published her work in a book titled The Old-Time Māori Mākereti’s mahi here at home and around the world has long been an inspiration to our people,” Kirikowhai Mikaere immortalising our culture and traditions – from a wāhine perspective – through her research,” she said “Even nearly 100 years on from her sudden passing Mākereti continues to remind us of the strength and determination of our people The degree will be awarded at a ceremony presided over by the University’s Vice-Chancellor later this year in Oxford’s Sheldonian theatre Members of Mākereti’s whānau and representatives of her iwi and the Māori community are expected to attend Papakura residents will no longer need to use prepaid bin tags from Thursday 1 May 2025 as council rubbish collections will be funded by residential property rates Papakura is moving from pay-as-you-throw collections to rates-funded as part of a regionwide move towards a standardised waste service for Auckland Auckland Council General Manager Waste Solutions Justine Haves says that standardising waste services across Auckland will give everyone access to the same service at the same cost “We want to protect Auckland’s natural environment by reducing reliance on landfills while keeping costs for Aucklanders as low as possible A universal rates-funded rubbish collection helps us to deliver a more consistent and cost-effective service and makes it easier to engage with Aucklanders on how we can all reduce waste,” she says Aucklanders can choose the size that best meets their individual household’s needs The targeted rates charge for a property’s rubbish collection will depend on the size of the bin “The other benefit of the food scraps service is that instead of this waste going to landfills and contributing to climate change Auckland’s separated food scraps are now being used to produce renewable energy and fertiliser for agriculture.” For households that require a larger bin even after they are using all three waste bins correctly, there is an option for the ratepayer to request a bigger rubbish bin from Auckland Council for a slightly higher cost to that household’s rates Large households can also request delivery of a second food scraps bin at no charge Bin tags will be accepted on council bins in Papakura until Wednesday 30 April 2025 Papakura residents can get a refund from local libraries for unused bin tags for a limited time - from Thursday 1 May 2025 to Monday 30 June 2025 Manukau already has rates-funded rubbish services and Manukau residents should continue to wheel out their bins by 7am on their usual collection day Residents on a main arterial route may need to place it out the night before or by 5:30am on collection day Anyone living in a rural zone who would like to continue using bags should email ratesfunded@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz Rural residents will still have options on the number of waste bags they would like to use and this is reflected in the targeted waste rate for each household For more information, including how to request a refund for unused bin tags, please visit aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/ratesfunded © 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 One person is in serious condition following a motor vehicle accident in the South Auckland suburb of Papakura. A police spokesperson said emergency services responded to a crash involving a car and a pedestrian at the intersection of Cosgrave and Clevedon Rds, at about 2.15pm. A Hato Hone spokesperson said an ambulance, rapid response unit, and operations manager attended. Crews took one patient in a serious condition to Auckland City Hospital. A witness told the Herald the injured person was a man in his late teens or early 20s. She said members of the public laid him on the ground with his head on a pillow. “They told him to stay still and that help was coming. “They had everything under control, sorting traffic and keeping him safe.” Police said inquiries into the crash are underway. The only high-reach ladder truck in Auckland broke down last night. PapakuraPrice By negotiation311100m²VENDORS CHRISTCHURCH BOUND - YOUR VILLA DREAMWith gleaming wooden floors it sits proudly in a sought-after location and move-in ready - GRAB IT BEFORE IT'S GONE • Spacious open-plan living and dining area with a cozy wood-burning fireplace - ideal for entertaining or relaxing • Three light-filled double bedrooms that offer both space and serenity • A modern bathroom featuring a timeless freestanding bathtub private front yard - safe and secure for children and pets • Zoned for quality schools: Papakura Normal School this property offers a fantastic opportunity in a rapidly growing area Reach out now to book your private viewing before it's too late 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 Prepaid rubbish bin tags will be scrapped in parts of south Auckland from 1 May as the city moves towards a standardised waste service Papakura residents will no longer need to purchase and use prepaid bin tags from 1 May - the last area in Auckland to stop using the tags The region joins other parts of Auckland who have already moved away from bin tags as Auckland Council rubbish collections will be funded by residential property rates Council Waste Solutions general manager Justine Haves said standardising waste services across Auckland will give everyone access to the same service at the same cost "That includes recycling and food scraps," she said "[It] gives us the best chance to minimise waste and reduce emissions as we work towards Auckland's goal of zero waste by 2040." Auckland Council previously planned to roll out bin tags across the region however it has since found the pay as you throw (PAYT) system the most expensive option for kerbside rubbish collection the council proposed moving the entire region to a rates-funded collection service West Auckland stopped using bin tags last year while the North Shore dropped them in March bin tags will be accepted on council bins in Papakura until 30 April Papakura residents can get a refund from local libraries for unused bin tags for a limited time - from 1 May to 30 June "We want to protect Auckland's natural environment by reducing reliance on landfills Aucklanders who do not use the pay-as-you-throw collections have three choices for bin sizes according to the size that best meets their individual household's needs Haves said the targeted rates charged for a property's rubbish collection will depend on the size of the bin "If households use their food scrap bins and recycling bins regularly most will find that a smaller rubbish bin than they have now will work for them." ratepayers can request a bigger rubbish bin from council - for a slightly higher cost to that property's rates Large households can also request a second food scraps bin For Manukau - it will be business as usual as the area already has rates-funded rubbish services Haves said Manukau residents should continue to wheel out their bins by 7am on their usual collection day Residents on a main arterial route may need to place it out the night before or by 5.30am on collection day they can email ratesfunded@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz Franklin will change from council bags to bins in July 2025 which currently has no council rubbish collections - LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air Auckland council is looking at scrapping a rubbish bin tag scheme that was supposed to reduce weekly waste It has been more than 10 years since Auckland became a super city But there is one smelly issue that still divides the city - rubbish collection Residents in several pockets of the city have to buy… Video The council says bins are confiscated from residents who repeatedly put rubbish in their recycling bin old shoes and electronics keep turning up in the recycling - and it's not on The city's kerbside recycling is set for changes as new national standards come into play Local Democracy Reporting RSS One person is dead after a vehicle left the road and crashed into a creek in South Auckland last night A second person was rescued from the vehicle by first responders The crash occurred on Papakura-Clevedon Rd, with emergency services alerted at 6.45pm, police said. “Sadly, one person died at the scene. The Serious Crash Unit has examined the scene, and enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.” Firefighters extracted the survivor from the vehicle, Fire and Emergency northern shift manager Carren Larking said. Crewed trucks from the Manurewa and Papakura fire brigades attended, along with a crew from Clevedon Volunteer Fire Brigade. AND READY - OWNER WANTS OUT!Modern renovation JUST A HOT PROPERTY WAITING FOR THE RIGHT BUYER NOW CALL SIM ON 021 673 625 OR OWEN ON 021 279 4696 PapakuraPrice by negotiation22290m²103m²Unbeatable Value - Affordable HousingThis contemporary two-bedroom home offers a thoughtfully designed layout making it an excellent choice for first-home buyers looking for a low-maintenance property in a rapidly growing community The ground floor showcases an open-plan living and dining area that seamlessly extends to a private deck through large sliding doors-ideal for entertaining or unwinding outdoors A separate laundry area further enhances convenience two well-positioned bedrooms are set apart for privacy fully tiled bathroom and a separate toilet nestled in between for practicality the property includes two dedicated parking spaces this home offers modern convenience with exciting future potential enjoy peace of mind with a 10-Year Master Build Guarantee This home is part of an exclusive development with seven new properties *4-bedroom homes with 163m2 floor area + +2.5 bathrooms +single internal garage + extra parking space (x2) *3-bedroom homes with 129m2 floor area+ 2.5bathrooms + 3 parking spaces (X3) * 2-bedroom homes with 92m2 floor area + 3 parking spaces (x2) and built to impress - secure this stunning home today *Contact Grace now for more details or to arrange a viewing Get a renovation loan up to $70K and bring your vision to life Police are investigating an aggravated robbery at a Papakura dairy this afternoon A violent aggravated robbery at a Papakura dairy this afternoon is being investigated by police a group of offenders entered the Grove Rd store and assaulted the shopkeeper Police said the group jumped over the counter stole a range of products and fled in a stolen vehicle Police inquiries are in the early stages this afternoon.” “Just seen a bunch of boys with balaclavas run out with trays of Smokes Another person posted on a Papakura community Facebook group saying “Thank you to the members of our community who stopped to help the dear people at the superette who were robbed and assaulted less than an hour ago” “One Whaea tried to block the assailants car in but they still managed to escape Kalofae to these hardworking shop owners who are just trying to make an honest living .. Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday. PapakuraPrice by negotiation422163m²206m²Modern Living on a Prime Corner SiteContemporary Comfort in a Thriving Community This stunning four-bedroom home is perfectly positioned on a desirable corner site offering a 163m² (more or less) floor plan that blends modern style with everyday convenience Designed for families who value both space and functionality this home is an excellent choice in a fast-growing neighborhood A separate lounge at the rear provides a peaceful escape complete with air conditioning and sliding doors that open to a sunlit deck and backyard-ideal for relaxing or entertaining * Master suite with ensuite - perfect for extended family or guests * Internal-access garage with laundry nook three well-sized bedrooms provide plenty of room for the family all serviced by a modern bathroom featuring a shower box and LED mirror-designed for both style and ease you can invest with confidence in a home built to last * Don't miss out-secure your place in this sought-after location today Get a renovation loan up to $70K and bring your vision to life. With no need for quotes from tradies, we can approve your home improvement loan quickly and get your renovation started. PapakuraPrice by negotiation323129m²137m²Brand-New Step into a contemporary lifestyle with this beautifully designed three-bedroom Whether you're a family looking for space or an investor seeking a high-growth opportunity Spacious open-plan living & dining with seamless indoor-outdoor flow Private deck & sun-filled backyard - perfect for entertaining Convenient guest toilet & separate laundry -Master suite with ensuite for your own retreat -Two additional well-sized bedrooms sharing a designer bathroom floor-to-ceiling tiles & underfloor heating SIAVANI and Kings  Genres: SoulAccessibility: Limited mobility parking Pacific Music Awards presents PMA Music in Parks with Auckland Council continuing their 20th year celebrations and featuring current PMA finalists and previous winners Got a question? Check our FAQs or follow us on Facebook for the latest updates Supported by Flava and The New Zealand Herald The web app you have attempted to reach has blocked your access Hui have already been held across the area discussing the changes people can already see around them and ways to prepare for what everyone agrees is more change to come Papakura Local Board chair Brent Catchpole says people on the ground often feel overlooked in what can be high-level discussions around major issues “But the people who live in the communities that are being affected have a lot to contribute and hold enormous amounts of experience Participants in earlier hui will come together on February 22 for a workshop at the Papakura Local Board’s Coles Crescent offices from 10am to 1pm to share their ideas with each other with Auckland Council funding available to pursue the best ideas Facilitator Carol McKenzie-Rex says the funding will allow groups to work on some of the ideas the community would most like to see progressed at the same time as a climate readiness awareness campaign continues in Papakura Members of the disability community met at Papakura Marae to discuss their needs in an emergency “The best thing about the project so far is that we aren’t talking about getting a load of ‘eco-warriors’ together rather ordinary people who can see what is happening in their own back yards Catchpole says Papakura’s geography makes it sensitive to climate and weather patterns and we’ll also create a better life today just by talking to and helping our neighbours There’s more about a project that has already brought Auckland Council, Ngāti Tamaoho, the Papakura Resilience Network, the Sikh and other local communities together here, and you can register to attend the February workshop here Sign up for your Local Board E-news and get the latest news and events direct to your inbox each month. Or follow us on Facebook Papakura residents are making great use of Auckland Council facilities Figures in a performance report for the first quarter of the 2024/25 financial year show community facilities continue to be well supported something that delights Papakura Local Board chair Brent Catchplole He says it was also good to see the Kai-paawhara neighbourhood park completed  “We remain committed to supporting Māori-led aspirations and acknowledge Papakura Marae Māori Wardens for their mahi at Turangawaewae for Kīngi Tūheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero VII’s tangi “The wardens continue to provide a presence at events highlighting the value of unity and people working together in their communities.” He says Whiri Aroha weekly Monday classes produced 50 anahera pēpē korowai / angel baby cloaks for Middlemore Hospital’s bereavement unit for babies of all nationalities “That work helps keep the tradition of korowai weaving alive we acknowledge the commitment of the tutors to that work and to those passing on their harakekeke / flax weaving skills at Raranga Wednesday classes.” Fire and Emergency say there is "more steam than smoke" coming from the site of a fire at a metal recycling plant in the Auckland suburb of Papakura on Thursday morning It is understood to be at the Global Metal Solutions site on Hunua Road, which had previously caught fire in January and March 2021 Manurewa-Papakura Ward councillor Angela Dalton said this was "not [Global Metal Solutions's] first rodeo" "Papakura residents - quite rightly - will be wanting some answers to the question as to how this continues to happen." Global Metal Solutions managing director Craig Tuhoro said the cause was still being determined He said the business had experienced a "flame-up incident" while cleaning the yard Tuhoro said Global Metal Solutions would resume operations soon "continuing our commitment to responsible metal recycling and waste separation constantly improving our processes to enhance safety Fire and Emergency assistant commander Chris Delfos told Morning Report there has been a "worldwide trend" of fires in recycling places "I don't want to jump to any conclusions yet but often it's caused by lithium-ion batteries that are thrown away with recycled material." Delfos said Fire and Emergency would be working with Global Metal Solutions to see what it could do to prevent future fires Assistant Commander Katie Pocock said there were seven fire appliances including three aerials still in action Pocock said the firefighters have been working diligently on the deep-seated burning in piles of metal waste up to 10 metres high overnight She added the piles were being pulled apart by heavy machinery black smoke billowed from the fire when it broke out at about 4.30pm on Wednesday with an emergency mobile alert later issued Pocock said there was now "more steam than smoke" coming from the site due to the amount of water firefighters were using She confirmed the warning for people to stay inside and avoid exposure to smoke was no longer in force Hunua Road remains partially closed on Thursday morning Fire and Emergency says the fire burning at a scrap metal yard in South Auckland has been brought under control but is not yet out Seven fire vehicles attended the scene after a two-storey car crushing machine caught fire in the second blaze on the property this year The fire at Papakura scrap metal yard Global Metal Solutions could be burning well into the night New Zealand RSS Unfortunately you are viewing this website on an outdated browser which does not support the necessary features for us to provide an adequate experience Please switch to a modern browser such as latest version of Google Chrome Accommodation for frontline soldiers for Ngāti Tūmatauenga has received a significant upgrade at Papakura Military Camp with the recent opening of the first of its ‘living concept’ soldier flats Barrack accommodation has been the norm across camps and bases since the post-Second World War period however these fully furnished flats are an entirely new concept Papakura’s Camp Commander says the flats provide far more than just living condition upgrades “These flats not only provide a solution for what has been a challenging period for our soldiers with regards to accommodation but they also represent a significant generational change in how we house our people We’re really keen to see how they go so that we may be able to provide more of them in a timely and cost-effective manner,” said the Camp Commander.  “Not only will they improve the day-to-day conditions our soldiers live in and in the best physical and mental state to get after our military outputs where some of our soldiers are constantly on high readiness alert having these new purpose-built facilities will be a game-changer in allowing them to perform at their peak in order to protect and serve New Zealand’s interests.” The new accommodation consists of five four-bedroom fully furnished flats that include a kitchen with an en-suite and private balcony for each room along with a utility building with larger commercial washing machines the New Zealand Army have received a significant upgrade at Papakura Military Camp with the recent opening of the first of its ‘living concept’ soldiers flats The new ‘living concept’ soldiers flats at Papakura Military Camp are blessed at a recent opening with Associate Minister of Defence Chris Penk The flats were built as aging barrack infrastructure on camp had been in use for more than 40 years resulting in major maintenance and upgrade works being required which prompted the closure of five barracks in 2024.  Although more accommodation on camp is needed the flats are a step in the right direction in solving infrastructure needs at the Army camp with the building project taking only seven months to complete “We came up with this concept and the flats were built off-site in a factory and transported to camp on the back of a truck The manufacturer was already building a similar smaller model for farm workers so this approach ended up costing considerably less than what a traditional building would cost with added liveability for our people,” says Defence Estate and Infrastructure project lead Mark Bolton The flats were opened last week by Associate Minister of Defence Chris Penk and have been welcomed by personnel at the camp.  “A lot of our soldiers need to deploy at short notice so living on camp is essential for our operational capability To be able to make living areas more homely is a big part of keeping our soldiers healthy and supporting their overall wellbeing,” says Mark Bolton A new plan is set to empower the Papakura community to better prepare for and respond to emergencies The Papakura Local Board Emergency Readiness and Response Plan created with Auckland Emergency Management (AEM) offers practical guidance to help residents and businesses stay safe before The plan responds to lessons learned from the devastating Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 which highlighted the importance of local preparedness and community support during emergency events Papakura Local Board chair Brent Catchpole says everyone in the area experienced the flooding and storms of a recent of years Our plan identifies the area’s major hazards and provides tips on reducing risk Developed through consultation with community and faith-based groups the plan is designed to reflect the unique needs of the area Printed copies will be available in libraries and community centres while a digital version will soon be accessible on the council website Match highlights are available for the grand final of the women’s Ford Fustal SuperLeague The Aucklanders beat the Waikato Rapids in the grand final at Takanini’s Bruce Pulman Arena on Saturday April 26 Main photo: Papakura City/NRF are national futsal champions. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek This story was first published on April 29 Auckland FC’s Guillermo May is the special guest on episode 17 of New Zealand’s weekly.. Auckland United have started the defence of their OFC Women’s Champions League title with a.. Dub Zone is back for another week of analysis Papua New Guinea have claimed the final place at August’s OFC U-16 Men’s Championship after.. A widely-admired former club and regional football administrator Here’s NZ Football’s 12-minute highlights reel from last.. The New Zealand men’s U-20 team will play a two-match series against Chile in June.. Football Ferns midfielder Katie Kitching has been named Player of the Year for her English.. May 3-9: OFC U-16 Men’s Championship – qualifying, Tonga (click here for details) May 5-18 (NZT): Auckland United at OFC Women’s Champions League, Tahiti (click here for details) May 16-18: Grand final, women’s A-League (click here for details) Monday May 19 (2.30am NZT): New Zealand U-16 men v Switzerland, FIFA Youth Series, Zurich (click here for details) Tuesday May 20 (2.30am NZT): New Zealand U-16 men v Guatemala, FIFA Youth Series, Zurich (click here for details) May 26-June 3: FIFA international window (women) May 30-June 1: Grand final, men’s A-League (click here for details) May 31-June 1: Second rounds of Chatham Cup June 2-10: FIFA international window (men) Thursday June 5 (7.30am NZT): Chile U-20 v New Zealand U-20, men’s international, Complejo Deportivo Quilín, Santiago (click here for details) Sunday June 8 (7.30am NZT): Chile U-20 v New Zealand U-20, men’s international, Complejo Deportivo Quilín, Santiago (click here for details) Sunday June 8 (11am NZT): All Whites v Côte d’Ivoire, BMO Field, Toronto, Canada (click here for details) Wednesday June 11 (9am NZT): All Whites v Ukraine, BMO Field, Toronto, Canada (click here for details) June 15-July 13: FIFA Club World Cup, United States (click here for details) Monday June 16 (6am NZT): Auckland City v Bayern Munich, FIFA Club World Cup, TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio (click here for details) Saturday June 20 (6am NZT): Auckland City v Benfica, FIFA Club World Cup, Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, Florida (click here for details) Wednesday June 24 (7am NZT): Auckland City v Boca Juniors, FIFA Club World Cup, Geodis Park, Nashville, Tennessee (click here for details) June 23-July 1: FIFA international window (women) July 5-6: Quarter-finals of Kate Sheppard Cup August 1-14: OFC U-16 Women’s Championship, Samoa (click here for details) August 15-30: OFC U-16 Men’s Championship, Solomon Islands (click here for details) August 16-17: Semi-finals of Kate Sheppard Cup September 2-9: FIFA international window (men) September 17-24: University of Auckland at FISU Men’s Football World Cup September 20-24: OFC Futsal Men’s Cup September 21-October 4: OFC U-19 Women’s Championship September 27-October 19: FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup September 27-28: Season starts for men’s and women’s National Leagues October 7-15: FIFA international window (men) Wednesday October 15 (k/o TBC): Norway v All Whites, international friendly, Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo, Norway (click here for details) October 17-November 8: FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, Morocco (click here for details) October 20-28: FIFA international window (women) November 4-28 (NZT): FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup, Qatar (click here for details) November 10-18: FIFA international window (men) November 17-22: OFC Futsal Men’s Champions League November 21-December 7: FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup, Philippines (click here for details) 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup Oceania qualifiers December 13-14: Grand finals of men’s and women’s National Leagues June 12-July 20 (NZT): FIFA Men’s World Cup © 2025 Friends of Football Site designed by Hurricane Press Ltd using - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP Mākereti Papakura has received a posthumous degree from the University of Oxford becoming the first Indigenous woman to earn this honour she made significant contributions to ethnography This recognition underscores her role in preserving Māori culture and history encourages today’s youth to engage with their elders to document family stories ensuring Mākereti’s legacy inspires future generations Enter your email address to receive regular updates from Waatea News Produced by iDigital Papakura City/NRF have won the national women’s futsal title The victory completed the 2025 women’s Ford Futsal SuperLeagues in which the men’s title was won by Palmerston North Marist a fortnight before the Rapids and Papakura City/NRF won closely-fought semi-finals to set up the grand final Rapids beat title favourites Capital Futsal 1-0 with a late goal from Futsal Fern Jamie Evans while Papakura City/NRF needed extra time to get past Canterbury United Pride 3-2 READ MORE: Closely-fought semi-finals set up big finish for women’s national futsal title >>>> Waikato Rapid’s Jamie Evans won the SuperLeague’s MVP award while Britney-Lee Nicholson (Canterbury United Pride) took out the Golden Boot Papakura City/NRF goalkeeper Ashley Vincent was awarded the Golden Glove This story was first published on April 26 Conservation Volunteers NZ staff and supporters gathered at Nicky and Mark Auld’s Brookby property recently to celebrate what’s been achieved under a plan to revitalise the Papakura Stream and Conservation Volunteers NZ’s Mitch Baber says since the first 1000 trees and flax bushes went in The project receives funding from the Franklin CVNZ and industry to protect a stream that flows through all three areas and on into the Manukau The project fences waterways and adds plants to filter run-off that enters the stream Barber says CVNZ co-ordinates corporate and volunteer support but work couldn’t take place without funding or the owners who make their land available The Aulds are long-time environmental champions “We’ve got a lot of our neighbours into it too because they can see seen what’s been achieved,” Nicky says The success of the scheme on Nicky Auld's Brookby property has seen neighbours join the project She and Mark say the benefits in the return of birdlife have been enormous and birds are moving into more areas,” Nicky says Mark says the stream’s water is already clearer and he’s spotted fish “We’ve come a long way since strangers knocked on our doors talking about the plan It’s getting easier as we’ve come to work alongside the Conservation NZ team.”  Franklin Local Board chair Angela Fulljames says without the Auld’s vision the project would have been impossible and at a time when many people still argue farmers only care about profit Nicky and Mark and their neighbours deserve our thanks.”  Thousands of plants and trees have been added to the stream's banks Papakura board chair Brent Catchpole says his board has supported the project for several years and will be just as keen to see major improvements in urban catchment areas “It’s easy to find neglected stretches of the stream but we’re particularly encouraged by the attitude of younger people to the environment It gives us great hope that things can improve.”   Manurewa chair Matt Winiata says CVNZ does great work with its partners “They say the greatest gift you can give anyone is your time and they have harnessed people and made a real difference “The steam is our border with Papakura but it’s something that unites us We are also aware how important it is culturally “Everyone we speak to who has been involved comes away a champion for the project there’s something rewarding about leaving the city behind getting into open spaces and knowing you are making a difference.”  Papakura Stream flows more than 60 kilometres from its Brookby headwaters to the Manukau via the Pahurehure inlet its catchment covering more than 4000 hectares The project still needs partners to provide funds and in-kind support, while landowners along the stream have an open invitation to participate. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Conservation Volunteers NZ here Check out CVNZ’s video about the project here Sign up for your Local Board E-news and get the latest news and events direct to your inbox each month In the fifth National Government, Judith was Minister of Justice. Judith championed reform of New Zealand’s justice system. She prioritised putting victims at the heart of the Justice system by introducing and passing legislation to strengthen the rights of victims and expanding opportunities for them to be involved in the justice process. She also introduced non-contact orders to prohibit offenders from having any contact with the victim. Judith introduced and passed law marking the most significant reforms of New Zealand’s Family Court system in thirty years, putting children and vulnerable people at the Family Court’s heart. She strengthened the Crimes Act to make it an offence to stay silent when it is known that a child or adult is at risk and committed to expanding the safe@home violence prevention programme to protect those at risk of repeat victimisation. She championed new search and surveillance laws boosting the tools available to law enforcement agencies to fight crime, passed law to make it harder for those accused of serious offences to get bail and led change to New Zealand’s drinking culture through new laws reforming the sale and supply of alcohol. Judith made combatting cyber-bullying a priority, increasing maximum penalties for the sexual abuse of children online, introduced Public Protection Orders to protect the public from serious sexual or violent offenders and launched New Zealand’s first Adult Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court. As Minister for the Accident Compensation Corporation, Judith led a major culture change to ensure the corporation rebuilt New Zealanders’ trust and confidence in the scheme. She introduced free after-hours ACC visits for Under-6s and the Safety Star Rating System to make good safety records of businesses more visible. As Minister of Police, Judith put 600 extra police on the frontline around the country, introduced and passed legislation to crush the cars of repeat illegal street racers, funded and supported the introduction of Tasers for police with better access to firearms for frontline officers. When Minister of Corrections, Judith announced and implemented a full smoking ban in all prisons, brought private management back into the prison system and doubled the number of drug and alcohol treatment places. She increased the number of prisoners receiving work skills training by 1000, boosted literacy and numeracy education in prisons and increased double bunking by 900 beds. In Opposition, Judith campaigned successfully to force an inquiry into the effect of Agent Orange on Vietnam War veterans and was awarded the Ex-Vietnam Services Association Pin and Badge for her work. Prior to her election to Parliament, Judith was a lawyer and company director. She was Chair of the Casino Control Authority and served as President of the Auckland District Law Society and Vice-President of the New Zealand Law Society. Judith is a Vice-Patron of the Ex-Vietnam Services Association Children’s and Grandchildren’s Trust, supporting children of Vietnam veterans. She is also a member of the Fulbright New Zealand Alumni Association, and an honorary life member of the Long Range Desert Group and the New Zealand Sappers’ Association. She holds a Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws with Honours and a Master of Taxation Studies from the University of Auckland. In 2020, Judith was awarded a Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety from Massey University. In 2013, Judith was selected to attend and completed the Leadership Decision Making (LDM) executive program at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government in the United States. Judith is married and lives with her family in Auckland. By clicking subscribe you agree to receive emails from Papakura and the National Party. The Defence Force’s ageing maritime helicopters will be replaced to increase the defensive and offensive capability and surveillance range of New Zealand’s frigates, Defence Minister Judith... Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Simon Mount KC as a High Court Judge.  Justice Mount graduated from the University of Auckland with a... Multi-billion dollar Defence plan unveiled  The Coalition Government today released a multi-billion dollar plan for a modern, combat-capable New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) that pulls its... The Government is overhauling the Public Service Act 2020 as part of its ongoing push to get back to basics and deliver value for money to... PapakuraBy negotiation532461m²Luxury Living – Spacious 5-Bed Home on 461m2 landLand 461sqm approximately Welcome to this stunning modern residence in the heart of Papakura 3-bathroom home is perfect for families seeking room to grow flowing effortlessly to a covered outdoor entertaining space—ideal for hosting or relaxing in the afternoon sun • Versatile Downstairs Bedroom – A spacious bedroom with a separate bathroom offers convenience for guests the luxurious master bedroom features a private ensuite and walk-in wardrobe while three additional double bedrooms share a well-appointed family bathroom • Modern Comforts – Enjoy year-round comfort with air conditioning this is a sanctuary designed for making memories Don’t miss this rare opportunity to own a home that blends space and convenience in one of Papakura’s most sought-after locations Contact us today to arrange a viewing—your dream home awaits See this listing on Barfoot & Thompson Papakura Rotary had to ask if it was okay to move the town’s annual Christmas parade to Bruce Pulman Park on 8 December Papakura Local Board had already committed $35,000 for the parade in the town and told Father Christmas it would be fine to change venue especially given it would allow an even bigger celebration to take place Rotary Club members told the board the new venue would lower administation costs and by moving to Bruce Pulman those costs could go back into providing more entertainment Club member Lloyd Williams says Papakura locals turn out in big numbers for the parade and the club was keen new generations could also have that experience We will have loads of entertainment and family fun to keep everyone smiling Papakura Local Board chair Brent Catchpole says the change of venue guarantees a long-standing part of Christmas in Papakura will continue “Bruce Pulman is a wonderful facility that will easily accommodate the community’s needs and we’re confident Rotary will deliver an event everyone can enjoy.”  Anyone interested in entering a float into the parade or having a display has until 17 November to complete an application, which can be obtained by emailing suesmyname61@gmail.com. Sign up for your Local Board E-news and get the latest news and events direct to your inbox each month. Or follow us on Facebook. For more information on what data is contained in the cookies, please click the 'Find out more on the Auckland Council website' button. To accept cookies from this site, please click the 'I Agree' button. Sign up for our e-newsletter and be the first to know about exciting events and news. PapakuraDeadline sale closes 14 May 2025 16:00313708m²PRIME LOCATION - With Opportunities !Deadline sale: Closes on Wednesday 14 May 2025 at 4:00PM (unless sold prior) Here presents a fantastic opportunity to secure a beautiful home Nestled on its own 708 m2 site the Mixed Housing Suburban Zoning offers a number of opportunities for future development (subject to council approval) perfect family living or as an excellent long-term investment Situated in a sort out prime location of Opaheke schools this Fabulous Brick & weatherboard 3 bedroom house with spacious living area is set on 708 sqm (more or less) large freehold flat section in a friendly neighbourhood The beautifully modernised kitchen has ample/cupboard bench space designed to entertain/engage with family and friends - the chef will enjoy the clever work space Well-presented 3-bedroom brick & weatherboard house Kitchen combines with dining and separate living area with fireplace Separate Office & Utility Room which can be used as sleep out Freehold land area of 708 m2 in Residential-Mixed Housing Suburban Zone There is plenty of space for a boat or a camper This property offers an incredibly convenient location It's also close to the Papakura Shopping Centre with Auckland Airport only 20 minutes away Property zoned for Opaheke School & Rosehill College Homes of this calibre demand attention - whether you seek a property for your family investment or to future proof your investment with development potential Don't delay and call today for more information or to arrange a private viewing See this listing on Barfoot & Thompson The fire at the metal recycling plant in the Auckland suburb of Papakura has been extinguished It started on Wednesday afternoon black smoke billowing from the fire causing an emergency mobile alert to be issued Fire and Emergency said one fire crew was continuing to monitor the site It was understood to be at the Global Metal Solutions site on Hunua Road, which had previously caught fire in January and March 2021 Manurewa-Papakura Ward councillor Angela Dalton said this was "not [Global Metal Solutions'] first rodeo" Fire and Emergency assistant commander Chris Delfos told Morning Report there had been a "worldwide trend" of fires in recycling places It did not respond to whether any further action would be taken against the metal recycling plant Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday The fire was reported at 4.30pm at a metal recycling plant on Hunua Road in Papakura but is likely to take several hours to fully extinguish The blaze is understood to be at Global Metal Solutions Assistant Commander Chris Delfos said an excavator at the site is being used to turn over the pile of material that had been burning as firefighters continue working to fully extinguish the fire He said this was likely to take several hours Delfos said the amount of smoke generated by the fire has reduced significantly but people who live in areas where the smoke is still present are advised to remain inside with their doors and windows shut to avoid exposure The fire service says smoke from the blaze at the metal recycling plan is also being noticed over a wide area of Auckland black smoke billowed from the fire when it broke out just after half-past four this afternoon Delfos said the wind had shifted slightly and was spreading the smoke to the north-east Several people have called to say they smell smoke - from as far away as St Heliers - but it's not visible that far from the fire but otherwise be aware that the smoky smell is likely to be from the Papakura fire Keep doors and windows closed to avoid exposure to the smoke," Delfos said Fresh firefighters were rotated in at 11pm and another crew change is planned for overnight A FENZ spokesperson said an emergency mobile alert was issued at 5.55pm because of the widespread smoke People in areas where there is smoke are advised to stay inside with their doors and windows shut to avoid exposure to the smoke FENZ assistant commander Chris Delfos said the initial crews who responded are being relieved by fresh firefighters "We are asking people to avoid the area so we can do our work safely," a spokesperson says The smoke can be seen 20km away in East Tamaki There is thick smoke and a strong smell through the suburb of Red Hill No one is believed to be in danger and the cause of the fire is currently unclear Local resident Sapna lives on Redcrest Ave and said there was a strong smell of chemicals that became worse in the evening she returned at about 6.30pm and said the chemical smell was stronger then Manurewa-Papakura ward councillor Angela Dalton said it was important local people follow the advice to stay inside particularly those living south of the fire close all their windows and just stay out of the smoke Dalton said people should not venture outside to catch a glimpse of the fire A FENZ spokesperson said they can't say how widespread the emergency text was sent but it was targeted at people south of Hunua Road A worker at a fish and chip shop a couple of kilometres away from the fire in Papakura said they are still pretty busy with customers he could see a cloud of smoke the height of a tall building "It was just a big cloud of black smoke you couldn't see the hills behind it Ezra said traffic is still at a standstill but the cloud is now grey which runs through the middle of the suburb of Red Hill which is adjacent to the fire and residents have all pretty quickly hurried inside as the smoke grew thicker and the smell become quite strong An old RSA site that has sat empty and disused for two years will be home to the new Papakura District Court The project was included in government's fast-track resource consents list of developments the 40 Elliot Street site's future was unknown Ministry of Justice acting deputy secretary corporate services Eve Padgett said they were progressing plans to construct a new purpose-built courthouse "The new Papakura courthouse will replace the current courthouse at 250-260 Great South Road The ministry bought the vacant site for $11 million in 2023 and it was intended to replace the old Papakura court but sat unused The 7925sqm​ plot of land used to house the Papakura Returned and Services Association​ (RSA) until the organisation had to close the clubrooms in 2022 the ministry had hoped to use it temporarily to host Papakura court staff and operations however after a subsequent investigation into the state of the building it was revealed that it was not fit for purpose was one of 12 courts found to be in critical condition by Chief Justice Dame Helen Winkelmann in a brief to the Attorney General last year "The current Papakura District Court suffers from significant weather-tightness issues has security-related deficiencies and is in urgent need of replacement," Padgett said "The building has been covered in scaffolding and plastic building wrap since late 2021 to prevent water damage until a replacement can be built." a Notice of Requirement will be required to designate the site to "judicial tribunal and related purposes including collection of fines and reparation Padgett said the ministry had issued a request for proposals on the Government Electronic Tender Service website "As the ministry is currently going through a tender process to select a main contractor we are unable to release cost details at this time." Manurewa-Papakura councillor Daniel Newman was concerned about the new build He said the ministry needed to demonstrate the new development would contain both clients and supporters within the footprint of the proposed facility "The current courthouse is laughably small and people appearing for scheduled hearings are left to spill out onto the side of the road," Newman said "It is not acceptable and it can be confronting to nearby retailers and shoppers alike." He said the new district court should be more contained and secure in Elliot St and Ray Small Dr in particular will be anxious to ensure a site that is secure and which does not interfere with the quiet enjoyment of their homes." * LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air A lawyer with decades of experience blames the current backlog in court cases partly on increasing numbers of people representing themselves Explainer - You've just been summoned for jury service The judges are being remembered as "faithful" servants of "a society and country they loved" Courts aim to adopt digital systems en masse for the first time to handle their huge amounts of records and files The government's bill ending taxpayer funding of reports into offenders' backgrounds at sentencing has been passed through all stages under urgency A new leadership role on Auckland Council’s Youth Advisory Panel seems a natural fit for young Papakura trailblazer Kritika Selach She started her local governance journey on the Papakura Youth Council at just 14-years-old working alongside the Papakura Local Board She advocates for young people and works on ideas to help grow awareness among her peers of how local government works Kritika then ran for a seat on the Papakura Local Board in the 2022 elections but since then she’s advised the council on how to improve outcomes for youth on numerous projects as a member of the Youth Advisory Panel says Kritika’s appointment as the panel’s new co-chair reflects her dedication to stand up and make a difference her new co-chair role will require more time and focus but she has already embraced the challenge “I’ve been lucky to serve on the Local Elections Working Group recently helping to shape ideas that will encourage young people to vote in the 2025 elections This has really allowed me to contribute from my own personal experience as a young person and on behalf of youth,” she says New Youth Advisory Panel co-chair Kritika Selach She says that complex local government processes can sometimes be daunting – but there are many ways to learn without getting overwhelmed “I’m keen to see what more we can do to get young people involved in decisions as that will help to build a brighter city in the future,” Kritika says “Young people bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas that can really help make a difference Kritika is completing a Bachelor of Global Studies at university She is also an AA Auckland District Councillor Member of the Asia New Zealand Foundation Network Board Member of the Papakura Youth Council Trust a Member of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs and Planet Youth Papakura Governance Group Member I wear many different hats in different spaces,” she says Former Youth Advisory Panel co-chair Vira Paky has stepped down to focus on a fulltime youth advocacy role at Save the Children NZ Sign up to Auckland Conversations to hear about the next TED-talk style event on elections  Attend an upcoming webinar on Wednesday 11 December, at 5pm to find out more about standing as a candidate. 07 May 2025 09:0010551,062m²#THEDAY- AUCTION WEDNESDAY 7TH MAY REGISTER NOW!*** 5 Homes on 1 Title generating $148k p.a low-maintenance investment with immediate returns and future potential This rare multi-dwelling property in Papakura delivers 5 x 2-bedroom homes on a generous freehold section- perfect for the savvy investor wanting strong yield and long-term growth Set on 1,062m² (more or less) of road frontage land with full services the site offers a blend of newer and established homes all currently tenanted and generating excellent income • 2 modern duplex units (3 years old) with internal garages + 3 single-level homes with carports • Freehold 1,062m² site with road frontage and services in place • Motivated vendors ready to meet the market-ideal for high-yield-focused investors • This is a rare opportunity to secure a well-performing multi-income property in a high-demand location #THEDAY 7th May 2025 from 9:00 am at Ray White Manukau (unless sold prior) Disclaimer - This property is being sold by auction and therefore a price guide can not be provided The website may have filtered the property into a price bracket for website functionality purposes All prospective purchasers shall complete their own due diligence and satisfy themselves with respect to information supplied during the marketing of this property including but not limited to: the floor and land sizes Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland’s newest Aotearoa New Zealand residents have received their citizenships at a Papakura Marae ceremony Whānau and friends arrived at the marae as Croatian “What better place could there be to become a Kiwi – tangata tiriti – than on the marae,” Papakura Local Board Chair Brett Catchpole says “Papakura Marae has long sought to host one of our citizenship ceremonies and it’s a pleasure to be here to witness that finally happen.” Ngāti Tamaoho kaumatua Ted Ngataki welcomes guests to the wharenui were welcomed on to the marae by Ngāti Tamaoho kaumatua Ted Ngataki Auckland Council’s Māori Outcomes senior advisor Richard Nahi Marae CEO Tony Kake enjoyed seeing such diversity on show “For many of our guests it’s their first experience on a marae and we want them as new Kiwi citizens to understand that they are welcome here and accepted as part of the community.” with guests invited into the wharenui / meeting house others watching via livestream on television outside before moving to the larger wharekai / dining room for the certificate ceremony Board Deputy chair and ceremony MC Jan Robinson says it was a moving experience “With great kapa haka from Taniwha Ventures it was wonderful to see so many dressed in national costume I just thought it was delightful to see our rich cultural melting pot expanding and coming together on the marae.” Taniwha Ventures kapa haka groups perform waiata as part of the powhiri for arriving guests Former Papakura Mayor John Robertson (2004-2007) returned to the area recently leading a delegation of Waitomo councillors and the district’s chief librarian to check out facilities in the town Papakura Local Board chair Brent Catchpole says it was a case of back to the future when the group visited Sir Edmund Hillary Library because Robertson played a role in redeveloping the floor now occupied by the library and museum Until the then Papakura District Council sold its stake in the building and used the proceeds to redevelop and bring the facilities together “The library is about so much more than books and the role it plays in our community because of that is invaluable.” Robertson and his colleagues also toured Papakura Museum Papakura Marae – where staff work with the board in a several areas Central Park and Te Paataka Korero o Takaanini “What has been achieved in Papakura is a model we can draw on “It shows you don’t have to be thinking you need to build a museum you can create something that might meet many of the community’s needs in a more affordable way.” Waitomo Council is committed to working to promote the social environmental and economic wellbeing of its community “We say ‘te hanga tahi o tātou Takiwa - shaping our district together,” says Robertson – who also served as Papakura MP from 1990 to 1996 “Members are working hard to enable a thriving economy to create greater benefits everyone can enjoy.” Papakura Museum staff gifted Robertson a 1993 photo showing the then MP with Papakura Mayor David Hawkins on the site where the town’s original McDonald’s was to be built Fire crews have contained the large fire at a scrap metal yard in the South Auckland suburb of Papakura; however it is expect to take longer to fully extinguish the blaze Photos and videos of the scene earlier today showed large plumes of black smoke covering the sky across the industrial area Crews were seen arriving at Global Scrapmetal Solutions on Hūnua Rd to tackle the blaze A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesperson said they responded to a large structure fire on Hūnua Rd in Papakura as well as a command unit and support vehicles.” Assistant Commander Chris Delfos said the initial crews who responded are being relieved by fresh firefighters At 5.50pm Fire and Emergency issued a “stay inside” notice to people in the area “A fire at an industrial property in Hunua Rd “Everyone to the south of Hunua Rd must stay inside with doors and windows shut to avoid being exposed to the smoke.” A staff member at a nearby business first noticed the fire about an hour ago and said it was getting larger They described black smoke pouring out of a building One local said the fire smellt like chemicals when it first broke out I came to my parents around the corner to get away from the smoke.” Another local said “it smelled like burning plastic” “So strong I thought something was melting as I was cooking An increased police presence will be monitoring the South Auckland suburb of Papakura this afternoon following social media reports of a planned “big fight” between two schools An anonymous post to social media yesterday said there were plans for a mass brawl between Papakura High School and Manurewa High School after school on Wednesday. “I just wanted to warn everyone ... Apparently some of the kids were outside Papakura High at lunchtime today, but they got told it was meant to be tomorrow so they said they will be there tomorrow,” the post on Tuesday read. “Please report to [the] school and police to keep the kids safe,” one commenter wrote. “Let the police know! These days they take weapons to a fight some kid may lose their life,” another said. A police spokesperson confirmed it was aware of posts on social media discussing the topic. “Police will have some staff in the area to monitor. Police have been aware of discussion about such an event but there has been no firm information,” police said. Papakura High School principal Simon Craggs told the Herald the school was aware of a post circulating on social media and had implemented a number of steps as a result. “[We have] advised Manurewa High School of the post. They will be sending staff after school to Papakura,” Craggs said. He said the school had notified police of the post and suggested possible locations for officers to patrol. “[We have] notified our pastoral teams. We will have a strong staff presence to ensure everyone’s safety.” Craggs said the school received notifications of this nature “from time to time”. “In almost all incidents, staff presence and liaison with police can manage the situation and ensure that nothing happens. Our students generally comply with and respect staff instructions outside of school.” Manurewa High School has been approached for comment. PapakuraAsking price $709,000214Urgent Deceased Estate Sale – Must Be Sold!Perfectly positioned in a prime Papakura location this beautifully renovated 3 years ago home blends style Previously sold and now offered as a deceased estate this property presents a rare opportunity to secure a move-in-ready gem Featuring two spacious double bedrooms and seamless open-plan living and kitchen areas flow together effortlessly creating an inviting space for daily living or entertaining The fully modernized kitchen is a chef’s dream while the refurbished bathroom exudes luxury with elegant floor-to-ceiling tiles A cleverly converted internal garage adds versatility as a multipurpose room—ideal as a third bedroom Practicality shines with a separate internal laundry offering extra storage fully fenced wraparound yard provide a private retreat Ample off-street parking for up to five vehicles ensures convenience Tastefully updated and brimming with appeal Contact our team today for more details or attend the advertised open homes—act fast See this listing on Barfoot & Thompson Fifteen fire trucks were at the scene on Hunua Rd, where the blaze was "expected to take several hours to fully extinguish", Fire and Emergency New Zealand said in an update at 7.25pm. Fire services were first alerted to the fire at 4.32pm. "We are asking people to avoid the area so we can do our work safely," a spokesperson earlier told 1News. Counties Manukau Assistant Commander Chris Delfos said members of the public were warned of the smoke plume, "just to stay out of it and close their windows and doors". "We need to dampen the fire down, then kick it apart so we can get to the seat of the fire." Delfos said it was a hot time of the year and the fire was some distance from Hunua Road so fatigue was an issue for crews as they supplied firefighting assets to the scene. "We're using multiple aerial appliances and we’re establishing long feeder lines to supply those aerial appliances," he said. A mobile emergency alert was issued to mobile phones, advising nearby residents to "stay inside, close all windows, doors, stay out of smoke and wait for further instructions". Police have also been called to assist at the scene. A spokesperson from nearby business Bloxham Automotive told 1News the blaze broke out next door to a timber plant. "The fire keeps getting bigger and bigger and smoke is getting worse," they said. Thick plumes of smoke billowing from the fire could be seen across the south and east of Auckland, and from the Northwestern Motorway at Rosebank. The eyewitness said the fire was being fuelled by tyres and scrap metal. Delfos said a fire investigator was at the scene but needed to wait before they could get close enough to begin investigations. "We’ll be here for a few hours yet." Hunua Road was closed to traffic while the blaze was being brought under control, he added. A large scrap metal fire in Auckland's Papakura (Source: 1News) A fire at a scrap metal yard in Auckland's Papakura has now been contained. A large scrap metal fire in Auckland's Papakura. (Source: 1News) Thick plumes of smoke can be seen billowing from the fire in Papakura. (Source: 1News) Smoke billows from a large scrap metal fire in the Auckland suburb of Papakura. (Source: Supplied) Bystanders prevent attempted abduction of Auckland primary student Police said they were investigating the incident which occurred outside Rowandale School in the suburb of Manurewa at around 3pm on Monday Crime and Justice Homicide investigation after man dies in Auckland's Manurewa Emergency services were called to the property on Mahia Rd just before 10am to a report of a man "seriously injured" Blaze at McDonald's in east Auckland treated as suspected arson Counties Manukau CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Michele Gillespie said a scene guard has been in place at the restaurant overnight Person dies following morning crash on Auckland motorway A person has died following a crash on Auckland's south-western motorway this morning New Zealand 'Wake up call': Businesses warned over lithium battery fires Authorities urge the public to avoid putting lithium batteries in the rubbish or recycling but have also told merchants to "take responsibility for disposal" Explosions heard in 'suspicious' blaze at east Auckland McDonald's Pakuranga Rd was closed in both directions and buildings were being evacuated around the immediate area as a precaution A fire at a scrap metal yard in Auckland's Papakura has now been contained Fifteen fire trucks were at the scene on Hunua Rd where the blaze was "expected to take several hours to fully extinguish" Fire and Emergency New Zealand said in an update at 7.25pm Fire services were first alerted to the fire at 4.32pm "We are asking people to avoid the area so we can do our work safely," a spokesperson earlier told 1News Counties Manukau Assistant Commander Chris Delfos said members of the public were warned of the smoke plume "just to stay out of it and close their windows and doors" then kick it apart so we can get to the seat of the fire." Delfos said it was a hot time of the year and the fire was some distance from Hunua Road so fatigue was an issue for crews as they supplied firefighting assets to the scene "We're using multiple aerial appliances and we’re establishing long feeder lines to supply those aerial appliances," he said A mobile emergency alert was issued to mobile phones advising nearby residents to "stay inside stay out of smoke and wait for further instructions" Police have also been called to assist at the scene A spokesperson from nearby business Bloxham Automotive told 1News the blaze broke out next door to a timber plant "The fire keeps getting bigger and bigger and smoke is getting worse," they said Thick plumes of smoke billowing from the fire could be seen across the south and east of Auckland and from the Northwestern Motorway at Rosebank The eyewitness said the fire was being fuelled by tyres and scrap metal Delfos said a fire investigator was at the scene but needed to wait before they could get close enough to begin investigations "We’ll be here for a few hours yet." Hunua Road was closed to traffic while the blaze was being brought under control A stranger allegedly tried to force an 8-year-old boy into a car outside an Auckland primary school yesterday before bystanders intervened and the man drove off Police confirmed they were investigating an incident from around 3pm on Monday outside Rowandale School in the suburb of Manurewa "Police are still working to understand exactly what was occurring at the time and our enquiries are ongoing," a spokesperson said "We have spoken with the boy and will continue to work through a careful process Rowandale School principal Karl Vasau said in a statement to social media that other parents had intervened "The student then made his way home and told his parents who then came into school to let us know and then they rung the police." Vasau told 1News the pupil was "doing fine" following the incident and was surrounded by a "supportive "Our student is safe now and his family are thankful that nothing further happened to their boy but are wanting us all to be aware and stay safe It's about working with that child to make them feel safe again but also looking forward to returning back to school with a little bit of normality." Police had reacted "pretty quickly" to the reports "They've been in this morning to touch base and connect the community police constables are going to come back to tomorrow to address the whole school in relation to what had happened and around keeping themselves safe before and after school." Increased police patrols would remain in the area after school from Wednesday Anyone with relevant information should contact police on 105 Police say a fire at a McDonald's restaurant in Pakuranga is being investigated as a suspected arson Emergency services attended the fire on Pakuranga Rd just before 3pm yesterday Large plumes of smoke could be seen and explosions heard at the fast food restaurant which has "sustained significant fire damage as a result" "At this point in time we are treating this fire as a suspected arson "A scene examination is being conducted this morning and police will work alongside a fire investigator," she said Gillespie said part of these inquiries would be working to understand how the fire began She said police would like to hear from anyone who saw suspicious activity prior to the fire Anyone with information was urged to contact police online or anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 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 A string of fires linked to highly combustible lithium-ion batteries has been deemed a "wake-up call" for waste businesses by Auckland officials with the public facing exposure to toxic smoke from repeat blazes Auckland Council is urging "industry vigilance" around the problem after a scrap metal company was fined $30,000 over a 2023 fire that released toxic smoke near Ōtāhuhu A fire at a recycling plant near Glenfield last month was also initially linked to lithium batteries although investigators were continuing to probe the blaze Auckland Council compliance field operations manager David Pawson emphasised "the importance of remaining vigilant despite the novelty of the issue" Authorities urged the public to avoid putting lithium batteries in the rubbish or recycling The batteries were inside most portable electronic devices Pawson said in a statement: "We recognise this is a new issue and we’re all finding our way with lithium-ion batteries and those handling them "But businesses still need to take responsibility for their disposal — this is their business Emergency alerts were issued to tens of thousands on Auckland's North Shore last month after the largest fire "for a few years" broke out at an Abilities Group recycling plant Residents were urged to close windows to avoid fumes and some beaches were closed due to chemicals released into waterways Takapuna fire station officer Steven Callagher said there were reports that flames broke out in the area of the facility where batteries were recycled and an official cause had not been determined Other recent battery-linked fires have broken out in rubbish trucks in Auckland caused by the ignition of a lithium-ion battery within a large scrap metal stockpile highlighted a "growing national and international issue surrounding battery disposal and fire risk," according to Auckland Council recognised the unique challenges posed by lithium-ion batteries He noted: "There has been considerable difficulty in finding a technical solution to the problems with batteries catching on fire "This is not only a national problem but an international one; these orders form a workaround solution until more technical solutions The judge described the situation as “a new and emerging issue" While acknowledging Sims Metal’s cooperation and the absence of intentional wrongdoing reduced from an initial starting point of $50,000 The enforcement orders issued require Sims Metal to implement several improvements at the James Fletcher Drive site in Favona "The orders are registered with the Environment Court and will remain in place unless superseded by conditions with a new resource consent," the council said Pawson said the council viewed the 2023 case as an "important precedent in balancing empathy for emerging challenges with the necessity of regulatory compliance "It also highlights the importance of proactive risk management and industry-wide collaboration to adapt to evolving environmental risks." A Sims Metal spokesperson said: "Following the May 2023 fire at our Favona facility we have implemented more stringent control measures to support the ongoing management of potentially concealed materials like lithium-ion batteries "We are grateful to the communities and businesses in and around Ōtāhuhu We want to reiterate our appreciation to FENZ and all those who acted diligently to extinguish the May 2023 fire safely and continue to refine and improve our processes." A large fire which caused "significant damage" to a McDonald's restaurant in east Auckland this afternoon is now being treated as suspicious Emergency services were notified of the fire at around 3pm on Monday Fire and Emergency NZ said the building was "totally involved" in flames by the time crews arrived and Papatoetoe were in attendance at the blaze "Everyone was out at the time and there are no reports of injuries." FENZ said the fire was being treated as suspicious "A fire investigator is attending to determine cause and origin." Pakuranga Rd was closed for nearly two hours in both directions with road users advised to avoid the area "Investigations into the cause of the fire at the McDonalds are underway," police said told 1News he heard a couple of explosions coming from the restaurant as the blaze began He said he heard "one or two" explosions The restaurant was adjacent to a Z petrol station and 250 metres along the same road from Pakuranga College A staff member at the service station said they had closed their fuel pumps and there was "huge fire and huge smoke" coming from the fire The Howick Pakuranga Netball Centre Courts were also closed this evening due to the blaze Auckland Transport said several bus routes Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown thanked emergency services who had been responding to the incident "Please follow the advice of emergency services A McDonald's spokesperson said the McDonald's restaurant in Pakuranga had "suffered significant damage" in the fire "Procedures were followed to raise the alarm and safely evacuate staff and customers McDonald’s is assisting emergency services as they begin the investigation into the cause of the fire." Armed police swarmed New World Papakura and surrounding areas today with witnesses reporting seeing a man armed with a firearm inside the supermarket A supermarket has been evacuated and a man arrested after a firearms incident in South Auckland this afternoon Armed police swarmed to New World Papakura and surrounding areas with witnesses reporting seeing the man armed with a firearm inside the supermarket A police spokesperson said a man threatened staff with a firearm at a commercial premises on Wood St about 3pm before a person matching the description was sighted back at the same premises just after 5pm.” Police said the suspect was located shortly after 5.30pm and taken into custody “Armed police staff currently have a presence in Wood St and the surrounding areas The supermarket did not answer the phone when the Herald called at 6pm A Foodstuffs spokeswoman told the Herald the man had been at a nearby business when he ran into the supermarket pursued by police The supermarket was evacuated for about 20 minutes She said no supermarket staff were threatened and nobody was injured in the incident A shopper inside the supermarket - who had his baby strapped into a front pack on him at the time - told the Herald he was “pretty taken aback” by the situation “A lady on the intercom said that they were evacuating everyone immediately and then the woman repeated herself with more urgency in her voice,” he said He said the woman became more insistent over the intercom as people began to exit the building he said police armed with rifles began filing in As he was putting his baby into his car seat when he saw police bring a man out of the supermarket in handcuffs Supermarket customers took to social media this evening saying everyone inside the supermarket was evacuated as police carrying rifles responded One commenter said police had earlier blocked the entrance to the supermarket and the Eagle helicopter was hovering around the area The only high-reach ladder truck in Auckland broke down last night Scam alerts: we’ve seen an increase in scam texts and emails claiming to be from us, asking for payments.Check our example scams or report a scam to us NZTA App: our mobile app provides a simple and secure way to access your driver licence and vehicle information.Learn more and download the NZTA app The new third northbound lane was opened on Monday 12 August and the new third southbound lane was scheduled to open on Monday next week however a great effort from the team over the past few weeks meant all lanes were able to open early this morning The speed limit throughout the project length has returned to 100 km/h with all lanes now running on their final alignment Final asphalt surfacing will be undertaken later during October/November when the weather is warmer to ensure a good quality finish For more information on the project and to sign up to updates please visit the Papakura to Bombay project page: Papakura ki Pukekura – Papakura to Bombay project page NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi works to create transport solutions for all New Zealanders – from helping new drivers earn their licences to leading safety campaigns to investing in public transport A South Auckland community is on tenterhooks after needles were reportedly found in food products at a local supermarket yesterday Needles were discovered in two different food products from Woolworths in Papakura yesterday and the affected products have been removed from shelves but New Zealand Food Safety is refusing to name the actual products Locals outside the Woolworths supermarket in Papakura on Thursday have been on edge it's going to be really dangerous for them." Most said they did not check their groceries for hazards after taking them home from the store unless there had been damage to the product's packaging Woolworths New Zealand told RNZ they were treating the discovery extremely seriously and working closely with Food Safety and the police New Zealand Food Safety has given no details as to what the food products are Deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle said the full facts had not yet been established "There are two products subject to complaints We are not naming the products as enquires are ongoing and affected product has already been removed from shelves that any other products have been implicated." Shoppers spoken to by RNZ thought Food Safety should name the products "We can't tell if it's like fruits or whatever," said one man Papakura Local Board chairperson Brent Catchpole went shopping at the same supermarket yesterday afternoon "Whether the needles are in loaves of bread but I will certainly be very careful when I open that packet of bread." Catchpole encouraged residents to be vigilant "Just be aware that there could be some contamination of some sort with a needle "Don't just hand something over to a child to eat without checking it first." New Zealand Food Safety said they were reviewing CCTV footage from the store and food safety officers were onsite to support the investigation Needles were found in two food products at an Auckland Woolworths Top Stories RSS Papakura is cracking on with preparing for disaster A delegation from the Community Resilience Network has told Papakura Local Board meeting that its plan is centred on responding at a street and neighbourhood level While they were a long way from having a plan for all Papakura a successful pilot used at Ashdown Place had been rolled out into Hunua Road Board chair Brent Catchpole says the group is doing great work and its success at Ashdown Place – based on bringing neighbours together what skills they could use in an emergency and being able to respond locally ­– had given it the confidence to expand “The fact is that in an emergency you are far more likely to help those you know and who are close at hand,” Catchpole says The Community Resilience Network recently held its first ‘Street Meet’ on Hunua Road residents and businesses meeting in the Papakura Marae car park to connect share food and access safety and disaster prevention information Marae head and team member Tony Kake says emergency services staff turned out in numbers Resilience team member Andrea Beard says being ready for a disaster shouldn’t be a chore “In our busy lives we’re used to living online when real life bonds are invaluable Children from Edmund Hillary Primary School with residents acknowledging his work at the marae though he was quick to acknowledge that while the marae was happy to be involved “We’ll be there for our community but to really work The Street Activation pilot is funded by Auckland Council, Papakura Local Board, Neighbour’s Aotearoa, and Neighbourhood Support Papakura District. 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