New Zealand Food Safety said routine tests on shellfish from Waimangu Point have shown levels of the toxins over the safe limit The warning extends from the mouth of the Waitakaruru River up to Pakatoa Island and across to the mid-point of the Firth "Affected shellfish include bivalve shellfish such as mussels as well as pūpū (cat's eyes) and Cook's turban," New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle said "It's also important to know that cooking the shellfish does not remove the toxin." crab and crayfish if the gut was removed before cooking "New Zealand Food Safety is monitoring shellfish in the region and will notify the public of any changes to the situation," Arbuckle said New Zealand Food Safety said there had been no reported associated illness Commercially harvested shellfish are still safe to eat Symptoms of poisoning appear between 10 minutes and three hours after ingestion and may include: rnz.co.nz People are being warned not to collect or consume shellfish gathered in the Western Firth of Thames region due to the presence of paralytic shellfish toxins rnz.co.nz 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 Homegrown music festival's new location revealed Southland farming company slapped with fine over effluent discharge Gladvale Farms Ltd committed the offending on two occasions in October 2019 at an Oreti Plains farm Environment 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 1Charges filed against Woolworths over pricing, misleading specials US woman who disappeared for more than six decades found safe Two men's shared name brings years of trouble and a hefty bill to one US prisons bureau has challenges — reopening Alcatraz is now another Auditor-General launches probe into school lunches Photos: Lorde among stars at 2025 Met Gala A$AP Rocky and Rihanna also revealed they are expecting their third child. Two arrested over alleged plot targeting Lady Gaga concert in RioBrazilian police said they thwarted an alleged bomb attack planned for Lady Gaga's concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. Lady Gaga rocks Copacabana Beach with free concert for over 2 million fansSun, May 4 Lorde announces new album name, dateThu, May 1 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robberyMon, Apr 28 Chubby Checker, Outkast, Cyndi Lauper join Rock & Roll Hall of FameMon, Apr 28 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robberyMon A 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 Hamilton has been announced as the new home for the Homegrown music festival In January the festival, which features New Zealand music, confirmed it would be leaving Wellington's waterfront after being there for 18 years From next year it will be held at Hamilton's Claudelands Oval Festival director Andrew Tuck said the move is "about creating something that celebrates our roots and gives back to the region that inspires us" Organisers said that Hamilton offers potential for the festival to expand and evolve as New Zealand's fastest-growing city "Its central location — just a short journey from the Bay of Plenty and the King Country — makes it accessible for a wide range of attendees eager to enjoy Aotearoa's finest musical acts." Tuck said accessibility for as many people as possible is key for the festival and "being close to such a large population makes this dream even more achievable" Hamilton City Council deputy chief executive Sean Murray said the festival returning to the Waikato is "a win for the whole upper North Island" Next year's event will be held on March 14 A large-scale Southland farming company has been fined $82,500 for discharging effluent in a manner which could have entered waterways The company was sentenced on Monday after being found guilty in February following an August 2024 judge-alone trial Legal action against the company began when Environment Southland alleged the Resource Management Act had been breached through effluent discharge on or into land which could have resulted in the contaminant entering water It was alleged the defendant irrigated at night without monitoring due to employees being off duty The judgement said although it was not necessary to prove the contaminant had entered or impacted the waterway there was sufficient evidence to show it had Steps taken to mitigate against the discharge were not sufficient including using a digger to move effluent further into a paddock Judge Steven told the court that 90 percent of the fine would go to the council Gladvale Farms Ltd operates five dairy farms in Southland with 3700 cows across 3300 acres Stuff has previously reported fines against the company of $27,000 in 2018/19 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 Eleven inmate deaths in less than two months A US$3 billion (NZ$5 billion) repair backlog a stunning directive from President Donald Trump for the crisis-plagued federal Bureau of Prisons to “REBUILD AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!” — the notorious penitentiary on an island in San Francisco Bay that last held inmates more than 60 years ago Even as the Bureau of Prisons struggles with short staffing chronic violence and crumbling infrastructure at its current facilities Trump is counting on the agency to fulfill his vision of rebooting the infamously inescapable prison known in movies and pop culture as The Rock Trump declared in a social media post that a “substantially enlarged and rebuilt” Alcatraz will house the nation’s “most ruthless and violent Offenders” Newly appointed Bureau of Prisons Director William K Marshall III said that the agency “will vigorously pursue all avenues to support and implement the President’s agenda” and that he has ordered “an immediate assessment to determine our needs and the next steps” We look forward to restoring this powerful symbol of law and justice,” Marshall said in a statement “We will be actively working with our law enforcement and other federal partners to reinstate this very important mission.” an 8.9-hectare spit of land with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline was once the crown jewel of the federal prison system and home to some of the nation’s most notorious criminals including gangsters Al Capone and George Machine Gun Kelly But skyrocketing repair and supply costs compelled the Justice Department to close the prison in 1963 and the Bureau of Prisons has long since replaced Alcatraz with modern penitentiaries including a maximum-security prison in Florence The former and perhaps future penitentiary is now a popular tourist attraction and a national historic landmark It’s controlled by the National Park Service as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area meaning the Bureau of Prisons could be in for an interagency tug of war if it tries to wrest away control of the island Trump’s Alcatraz directive is yet another challenge for the Bureau of Prisons as it struggles to fix lingering problems while responding to the president’s priorities on incarceration and immigrant detention includes taking in thousands of immigration detainees under an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security The problems at the Bureau of Prisons transcend administrations and facilities An ongoing Associated Press investigation has uncovered deep previously unreported flaws within the Bureau of Prisons over the last few years including widespread criminal activity by employees and severe understaffing that has hampered responses to emergencies then-President Joe Biden signed a law strengthening oversight of the agency It remains the Justice Department’s largest agency 155,000 inmates and an annual budget of about US$8 billion (NZ$13.4 billion) but the Trump administration’s cost-cutting measures have eliminated some pay bonuses that were credited with retaining and attracting new staff That has resulted in long overtime shifts for some workers and the continued use of a policy known as augmentation teachers and other workers are pressed into duty to guard inmates A Bureau of Prisons official told Congress at a hearing in February that more than 4000 beds within the system — the equivalent of at least two full prisons — are unusable because of dangerous conditions like leaking or failing roofs a 37-year-old Florida businessman who was found dead April 28 in a suspected suicide at a federal jail in Miami He was awaiting trial on charges that he kidnapped and killed his estranged wife in Spain inmate Ramadhan Jaabir Justice was killed in a fight at the federal penitentiary in Pollock where he was serving a nearly 11-year sentence for a conviction related to an armed robbery As Trump was ordering Alcatraz’s reopening correctional officers at the same Miami jail were fighting to curb the spread of tuberculosis and Covid-19 isolating inmates after they tested positive for the diseases immigration detainees at the facility ripped out a fire sprinkler and flooded a holding cell during a lengthy intake process the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin has sat idle for more than a year after the Bureau of Prisons cleared it of inmates in the wake of rampant sexual abuse by employees the agency made the closure permanent and idled six prison camps across the country to address “significant challenges crumbling infrastructure and limited budgetary resources” While Trump hails Alcatraz as a paragon of the federal prison system’s cherished past other facilities stand as reminders of its recent troubles They include the federal jail in Manhattan which remains idle after Jeffrey Epstein’s suicide there in 2019 exposed deep flaws in its operations where 23 inmates have been charged in recent months with crimes ranging from smuggling weapons in a Doritos bag to the stabbing last month of a man convicted in the killing of hip-hop legend Jam Master Jay The Auditor-General's office has announced plans for an inquiry into the school lunch programme that has drawn criticism since a revamp It will cover Ministry of Education planning procurement and contract implementation under David Seymour's alternative model Terms of reference for the inquiry set out its scope: The Auditor-General's office said it decided to investigate because of concerns raised about aspects of the revised lunch programme and what the Ministry communicated with previous providers," it said "Because of the importance of these services we have decided to carry out an inquiry." the Office noted the ministry had in October last year awarded a two-year contract to the School Lunch Collective under which lunches would be provided for $3 each The ministry was also reported to have paid a further $8.9m to the collective for Year 9 and older students which had been part of the School Lunch Collective A further $4m grant was provided to KidsCan for a food programme in Early Childhood Education services rnz.co.nz 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 Some analysts claim investment bank set supplier on course for collapse before selling it in 2017 The investment bank that sold Thames Water in 2017 after loading the company with debt has said that it is “very proud” of its record even as the water utility teeters on the verge of collapse accusing the bank of setting it on course for financial collapse Thames Water supplies water and sewerage services to 16 million customers in London and south-east England. However, it has reached the edge of collapse after debts rose to near £20bn, and it last month won court approval for £3bn in emergency funding. Read moreMacquarie’s critics argue that the investment bank set Thames Water on the course to ruin. Debt at the utility rose from £3.4bn when Macquarie bought in to £10.8bn when it sold its last stake in 2017. At the same time, Macquarie and other investors received dividends worth £2.8bn the group head of Macquarie Asset Management last month told investors on a call that Thames Water had improved under its ownership very proud of our ownership of Thames Water,” Way said but much better business after our stewardship and we can’t talk about what happened subsequently.” denied any link between Thames Water’s more recent financial struggles and the bank’s ownership according to a transcript hosted by the data company AlphaSense The Financial Times first reported on the comments “So imagine being blamed for a house that you own seven years ago when the roof leaked,” he said Free daily newsletterGet set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning Macquarie is now the biggest shareholder in Southern Water, another utility under financial pressure Way said Macquarie had not faced a backlash from the government over its record on Thames “What I would say is that Thames Water is a very good example of the ability to have the courage of your convictions and look beyond the media drama or noise,” Way said no regulator in the UK in the last 10 years has looked at Macquarie other than as a very positive owner of assets.” Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news and welcome to our rolling coverage of business the financial markets and the world economy as nervous investors have sought out safe-haven assets the precious metal has hit a fresh all-time high above $3,000 per ounce driven by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East trade war fears and the weakening US dollar Gold touched $3,017.64 per ounce, as news broke that Israeli military forces have launched widespread strikes on targets across Gaza early today leading to fears that the shaky ceasefire in the region is over This means gold has climbed by 15% since the start of this year it has now doubled over the last five years: A chart showing the gold price since 2020 Photograph: LSEGThe recent weakness of the US dollar has also pushed up the gold price The greenback is trading near a five-month low against a basket of other currencies as traders worry that Donald Trump’s enthusiasm for tariffs will trigger a full-blown trade war Investors continue to rotate away from the US dollar and find perceived safe havens amidst the heightened policy uncertainty These uncertainties have not only increased demand for gold but have also pushed significant capital inflows into the precious metals market, contributing to gold reaching record-high prices. 9.30am: ONS releases changes to the UK inflation basket 10am GMT: ZEW eurozone economic confidence survey 12.30pm GMT: US housing starts/building permits data for February 1.15pm GMT: US industrial production for February Thames Water said it has received six takeover offers from potential suitors to buy the company, and that talks are ongoing The company hopes to agree a deal by the end of June Its appeal to lift customers bills by more than regulators allowed has been paused while talks continue but the CMA will consider appeals by five other water companies The dollar has recovered ground this afternoon, after slipping to a four-month low which saw the pound trade at $1.30 for the first time since November. Updated at 16.29 CET18 Mar 202516.10 CETBack on bosses’ earnings… the CEO of Centrica’s pay packet has almost halved. Chris O’Shea received £4.322m last year, the company’s annual report shows, down from £8.231m in 2023. The decline was due to a lower bonus – O’Shea’s variable remuneration declined to £3.376m, down from £7.328m last year. Two years ago, O’Shea admitted that a £4.5m pay packet was “impossible to justify”. The legislation now goes to the Bundesrat upper house, which represents Germany’s 16 states, and is set to vote on Friday. Robin Winkler, chief German economist at Deutsche Bank Research, says: “After much nail-biting over the last fortnight, Germany’s outgoing parliament today decided to reform the constitutional debt brake. In our view, this is a historic fiscal regime shift, arguably the largest since German reunification. Yet, as with reunification, a fiscal expansion does not guarantee success: the next government will need to deliver structural reforms to turn this fiscal package into sustainable growth.” Jim Mullen, the chief executive of Reach, the owner of more than 100 news brands including the Manchester Evening News, the Birmingham Mail and the Liverpool Echo, received total remuneration of £1.25m last year. His pay packet was sweetened by a maximum bonus of £662,000 after the company boosted operating profit by 6% to £102m last year. According to Reach’s annual financial report Mullen was paid 35 times that of an employee in the 25th percentile, the lower end of the company’s pay structure. Darren Fisher, Reach’s finance chief, received £857,000 including a £378,000 bonus. Following deep cuts affecting more than 800 staff Reach struck a deal to boost employee pay by 5% last year, and a £600 bonus payment this month as part of the company’s profit share scheme. Management is currently in negotiations with the National Union of Journalists over a proposed 2% increase this year, while any increase in the base salary of Mullen and Fisher will be decided on 1 April. The NUJ said that in light of the publication of top executive pay Reach should reconsider its pay offer. “It is good news that the business has turned around its key digital revenues and has improved its operating profits out of which these bonuses will be paid,” said Reach’s NUJ chapel. “But this was done on the back of heroic efforts by employees to dramatically increase the number of stories going online and by those in print outperforming the market with threadbare resources thanks to significant redundancies.” Updated at 15.35 CET18 Mar 202515.16 CETFund managers make record shift out of US stocksDonald Trump appears to have triggered a stampede out of the US stock market Bank of America’s March Global Fund Manager Survey has found there was a record rotation out of US stocks by fund managers this month as investor sentiment was hit by fears of a trade war and possible US recession BofA reports there has been a “bull crash” in fund manager sentiment this month with March seeing the second biggest drop in global growth expectations ever the biggest drop in US equity allocation ever and the biggest jump in cash allocation since Marcn 2020 Photograph: BofAThis is reflected in market prices this year – the S&P 500 share index is down 4.5% during 2025, while Europe’s Stoxx 600 has jumped 9%. 18 Mar 202514.47 CETGold hits new high: $3,038Back in the financial markets, the US dollar has shaken off its earlier losses – pulling the pound down to $1.296. Gold, though, is undaunted, and has now touched a new all-time high of $3,038 per ounce, up 1% today, thanks to a cocktail of Middle East tensions, US trade war fears, and the ongoing scamper into safe-haven assets. Updated at 14.48 CET18 Mar 202514.32 CETCMA to consider water company demands for even higher billsThe news that Thames Water has received six takeover proposals since last summer comes as regulator Ofwat asks the competition watchdog to consider requests from several other water companies to lift their bills even higher than has been allowed. Ofwat is referring redetermination requests from Anglian Water, Northumbrian Water, South East Water, Southern Water and Wessex Water to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The five companies are all challenging Ofwat’s ruling last year about how they can raise their bills between 2025 and 2030, arguing that the increase – 36% on average across the industry – wasn’t enough to invest in pipes, drains, reservoirs and treatment works. The increase in investment means that customers’ bills will increase from 1 April; many customers are already expressing concerns about the level of increase. While the companies have not yet set out the details of their reasons for appealing, their initial statements highlight the need for additional funding beyond the substantial increase already allowed. This would mean a further increase in bills for customers. Interestingly, the regulator has also agreed a request from Thames Water to defer its referal to the CMA for up to 18 weeks. That delay, Thames says, will give it time to potentially “unlock a market-led solution for the recapitalisation of the Company” (presumably through one of the six offers on the table). which has been on the verge of collapse for months says it has received proposals from six parties in response to a fundraising process launched in 2024 and that it “has since been conducting a detailed assessment of each proposal” Thames says that many of the proposals included its bond holders taking a hit: The proposals involve a range of potential valuations Of the five proposals that provided financial metrics all except one (from a Class B Creditor and with significant conditions attached) indicated a material impairment of the Class A debt The sixth proposal was for minority equity relevant creditors would receive – in exchange for debt impairment – certain rights to share in future growth in the value of the Company and/or will have the ability to co-invest in the business Thames adds that most of the proposals are conditional on the company achieving various “regulatory support and accommodations” – a nod to its financial and operational problems, from a £19bn debt pile to crumbling infrastructure. Discussions with relevant parties are ongoing, although there is no certainty that a binding equity proposal will be forthcoming or that any such proposals will be capable of being implemented. As a result, certain senior creditors continue to progress in parallel alternative transaction structures to seek to recapitalise the business. But in December, the company received a £5bn bid from infrastructure investor Covalis Capital. Read moreNews of the six takeover approaches comes a day after the UK court of appeal has upheld an emergency debt package worth up to £3bn. That debt should keep Thames operating for a few months while efforts to recapitalise it are progressing. The Guardian reported last week that Thames Water is asking to be spared billions of pounds of costs and fines over the next five years and heap more on to bills so it can attract new investors. The company is hoping to persuade the regulator Ofwat to grant it significant leniency on penalties and extra costs, to help woo bidders. Mayor Oliver Coppard has followed his fellow metro mayors in the north in deciding to pursue bus franchising to improve local services. Today’s decision came after a public consultation in which the authority said nearly 90% of 7,800 respondents backed local authority control of buses. South Yorkshire will, like Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and Liverpool, now take control of the bus network - including depots and vehicle fleets, and setting routes, timetables, ticketing and fares. Buses are expected to operate under the new system from September 2027. Coppard said the move was “turning back the tide on the failed experiment of the privatisation of our bus network that was started in the 1980s, putting the public back into public transport.” “Over the last forty years we’ve seen public transport taken apart; fares go up, routes and passenger numbers go down, and our city centres, our high streets and our economy flatline. “I want us to build a bigger and better economy in South Yorkshire and we need a public transport system that allows people to get to where they want to go, when they want to go there. “The destination is a fully integrated transport system across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield, one that works in the interests of our communities and our economy, putting people back in control of essential services.” It is expected to have new branding, covering buses and trams and other public transport, much like Manchester’s Bee Network. Google parent Alphabet has agreed to buy cyber security start-up Wiz for at least $32bn which offers a service that scans the data on cloud storage providers such as Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure for security risks was founded by alumni of Israel’s elite cyber intelligence unit in 2020 It rejected a $23bn offer from Google last year and recently opened its European headquarters in London which will rank as the biggest deal of the year so far It will probably still face scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission under President Donald Trump whose new chair Andrew Ferguson has maintained guidelines giving the agency the ability to block large deals used by his predecessor Lina Khan There will be an additional retention bonus offered to employees as part of the deal Police say body is yet to be formally identified but girl’s family have been informed A body has been found in the River Thames in the search for 11-year-old Kaliyah Coa who entered the river in North Woolwich on 31 March According to the Metropolitan police, officers were alerted to a body in Maritime Quay in east London at about 9am on Sunday While the body is yet to be formally identified the girl’s family have been informed of the development and are being supported by specialist officers The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this time Kaliyah is said to have been playing on a school inset day when she entered the water near Barge House Causeway Barge House Causeway is a concrete slope that goes directly into the Thames and is used to transport boats Local residents noted that the slope appeared to be covered in moss and was slippery while other children who were playing said a girl had disappeared in the water and they could not find her had taken a life ring to the water but could not see Kaliyah She said a boy at the scene told her: “The little boy turned around and said: ‘I tried to hold her hand but it slipped.’” Emergency services launched a “large-scale response” on 31 March but it was later scaled down The Met released Kaliyah’s name and photograph at the start of this month New Zealand Food Safety said routine tests on shellfish from Waimangu Point have shown levels of the toxins over the safe limit "Affected shellfish include bivalve shellfish such as mussels as well as pūpū (cat's eyes) and Cook's turban," New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle said "It's also important to know that cooking the shellfish does not remove the toxin." "New Zealand Food Safety is monitoring shellfish in the region and will notify the public of any changes to the situation," Arbuckle said Symptoms of posioning appear between 10 minutes and three hours after ingestion and may include: Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday New Zealand Food Safety is recalling a range of frozen anchovies after detecting marine biotoxin in the product New Zealand RSS Follow RNZ News New Zealand Food Safety is advising the public not to collect or consume shellfish gathered in the Western Firth of Thames region due to the presence of paralytic shellfish toxins “Routine tests on shellfish from Waimangu Point have shown levels of paralytic shellfish toxins over the safe limit,” said NZFS deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle “Please do not gather and eat shellfish from this area because anyone doing so could get sick.” Arbuckle said affected shellfish include bivalve shellfish such as mussels as well as pūpū (cat’s eyes) and Cook’s turban “It’s also important to know that cooking the shellfish does not remove the toxin.” Symptoms of paralytic shellfish poisoning usually appear within 10 minutes to three hours of eating and may include numbness and a tingling (prickly feeling) around the mouth and feet; difficulty swallowing or breathing; dizziness and headache; nausea and vomiting; diarrhoea; and paralysis and respiratory failure and crab and crayfish may still be eaten if the gut has been completely removed prior to cooking its contents could contaminate the meat during the cooking process “Finfish are not affected by this public health warning but we advise gutting the fish and discarding the liver before cooking.” NZFS has had no notifications of associated illness “If anyone becomes ill after eating shellfish from an area where a public health warning has been issued phone Healthline for advice on 0800 61 11 16 or seek medical attention immediately,” Arbuckle said “You are also advised to contact your nearest public health unit and keep any leftover shellfish in case it can be tested “NZFS is monitoring shellfish in the region and will notify the public of any changes to the situation.” Commercially harvested shellfish – sold in shops and supermarkets or exported – is subject to strict water and flesh monitoring programmes by NZFS to ensure they are safe to eat Shellfish biotoxin alert webpage Subscribe to shellfish biotoxins to receive email alerts Podcast about shellfish contamination Collecting Shellfish and Keeping Them Safe Causes and symptoms of toxic shellfish poisoning About toxic algal blooms Food Safety for Seafood Gatherers booklet How do you feel about Tauranga’s rapid population growth Back to top and the line for movie tickets is out the door and the Left Bank Theatre in Thames is doing a roaring trade The next showing of Dog Man is at 1pm; all the tickets are sold out and proprietor David Mullholland is behind the counter looking frazzled but cheerful “There’s a lot more behind-the-scenes work than I anticipated,” David tells me “But it’s panning out better than I’d hoped I never anticipated it would be so popular.” This is my first visit to the tiny boutique theatre since it opened its doors in August 2024; back then David was nervous about whether Thames could support a cinema “I’m still learning what Thames likes and dislikes in terms of movies,” he says now noting the forecasted demand for morning screenings never seemed to eventuate “I’ve changed tack significantly this year though I thought I’d curate an interesting mix of older and newer stuff… But nearly every movie I’m showing now is brand new.” The change in strategy has seen audience numbers skyrocket Since August he’s had more than 500 showings and more than 7000 people have passed through the doors – most of them since he made the switch to new releases “I got a significantly lower average number of attendees last year before I understood the importance of getting new movies,” he says and it piques their interest and makes them want to come.” I herd my entourage of children down the hot-pink hallway to find our seats: a comfortable armchair and a two-seater sofa in the second-to-last row but when sessions are full David does his best to ensure larger groups can be seated together he tells me – popular movies sell out fast and email or phone bookings can only be processed when he’s on the premises it feels pretty similar to a typical movie experience – we’ve even got some popcorn to munch on though it’s served in a metal bowl rather than a takeaway box The 3.3-metre wide screen feels much bigger in the darkness Surround sound and a digital projector do a superb job of providing the big-screen sensory experience one expects from a movie My companions are riveted to the screen for the next hour and a half and the unconventional seating even allows for easy cuddles during the scary bits it’s time for a quick visit to the bathrooms before we brave the rain lashing the street outside The cubicles are tidy and well-equipped – easily accessible for families or those with mobility issues We wave goodbye to David as we leave – it didn’t take long for the foyer to empty and now he’s getting ready for the next screening He’s working on hiring staff to help with the load “Things should settle down soon… I’m now able to employ a couple of people part time which makes it more sustainable on the human front too,” he says “I’m very much more confident that the cinema is sustainable and here to stay.” While it’s no luxury big-box theatre experience and decidedly Thames – a great way to spend a couple of hours Police cordoned off a street in Thames this week after a man who was found with moderate injuries later died in hospital Police have arrested and charged a 28-year-old with murder after a man died in Thames this week Police were called to an address on Rolleston St about 3.40pm on Monday where a man was found with moderate injuries The man was taken to Thames Hospital where his condition continued to decline and he died police said a 28-year-old man is due to appear in the Kaitāia District Court on Thursday They’ve also released the name of the person who died He was 60-year-old Maxwell Connor of Thames a section of Rolleston St was cordoned off by police with a gazebo erected outside a property A nearby resident said his neighbour told him he heard foul language on Monday afternoon and threats The resident said the house police were investigating had been renovated “a couple of months ago” it’s just the odd house which gets rough people,” he said The daughter of a woman living near the property being investigated said her mum heard “loud yelling” from about 4pm on Monday The woman didn’t hear anything specific about the yelling but she told her daughter it was a shared driveway with new tenants there’s a couple of state houses down there that are all as bad as each other and then officers went around the street to let residents know they would be staying overnight her mum said detectives were seen “looking over fences and making sure nothing was chucked in people’s front or backyards” Police are continuing to appeal to anyone with information to come forward “In particular we would like to hear from anyone who witnessed an altercation in Rolleston St at around 3.40pm on Monday afternoon,” Detective Senior Sergeant Kristine Clarke said in a statement “If you have any information, please contact police via 105 either online or over the phone referencing file number: 250113/5723″ The only high-reach ladder truck in Auckland broke down last night Exclusive: Treasury threat an example of ‘scare tactics’ to help force through private sector deal Whitehall officials have been at loggerheads over the fate of Thames Water since the Treasury told the environment department that it would have to meet the cost of a multibillion pound temporary nationalisation Britain’s biggest water company recently came within days of running out of money Thames is in a desperate race to find a buyer willing to inject cash with the US private equity firm KKR in pole position the heavily indebted utility could collapse into state hands via the special administration regime (SAR) Existing budgets at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which insiders describe as already stretched, would have to be used to meet the burden of keeping Thames Water afloat if bids to save the company fail That pressure to find a private sector solution rather than a state rescue is helping to force through KKR’s bid uncontested with potential long-term challenges and associated costs not being given serious consideration sources close the bid and Whitehall insiders said Some estimates have suggested temporary nationalisation could cost as much as £4bn over 18 months a figure used by senior Treasury officials in discussions with counterparts at Defra With Defra’s annual budget for last year totalling £4.6bn Departments have spent months waiting to hear what the chancellor’s spending review will mean for their budgets. This is to be revealed by Rachel Reeves on 11 June. She unveiled big cuts to overall Whitehall spending at her spring statement The Thames issue is causing what one source termed a “binary choice” for regulators and central government: higher customer bills but a recapitalised utility versus what another called “potentially catastrophic cuts” to Defra’s budget This need not be the case if the Treasury were to take a different approach One suggested threats to Defra’s budget were an example of “scare tactics” to shut down discussion about other options for Thames which serves almost 16 million customers in London and the Thames valley The debt levels are so great that some bidders for Thames suggested it would be better if it were to enter temporary nationalisation in order to force creditors to accept steeper losses and make the company more viable in the long term A consultancy, Teneo, provided estimates of what a temporary nationalisation could cost the government as part of a recent court case It claimed it could be as high as £3.4bn to £4.1bn over an 18-month period worked on the temporary nationalisation of the energy company Bulb Teneo suggested that if Thames were nationalised customers would be more likely to refuse to pay their bills the government would demand an interest rate of nearly 10% on any loans to the company and staff wages would have to go up by about 20% to stop them leaving some economists and industry experts question whether there would be any long-term cost to the government at all in a temporary nationalisation the government would become first in the pecking order to recoup its money and could reclaim all the funds spent on financing it when the company was eventually sold with other lenders forced to suffer steep losses on their loans Even if a private market solution were to be favoured they were highly critical of the lack of transparency over the KKR bid This disquiet was echoed by several sources at regulators A spokesperson for Defra said: “The company [Thames Water] remains stable and the government is closely monitoring the situation It would be inappropriate to comment further on the financial matters of a private company.” Police have launched a homicide investigation following the death of a man in Thames Hospital overnight Detective Senior Sergeant Kristine Clarke said officers were called to reports of an altercation at a house on Rolleston Street in Thames at 3.40pm on Monday They found a man with moderate injuries who was taken to hospital but Clarke said his condition continued to decline and he died overnight She said officers were now making enquiries to locate a person of interest Those involved were believed to be known to each other and police did not believe there was any ongoing risk to the wider community "Enquiries into the full circumstances of what occurred remain ongoing and a scene examination is underway at the address," she said "Police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward we would like to hear from anyone who witnessed an altercation in Rolleston St around 3.40pm on Monday afternoon." The owner of a nearby plumbing business told RNZ a number of police had blocked Rolleston St between Grey and Fenton Streets and put up a tent and a trailer and they had set up opposite Thames South School A resident who posted photos of the blocked street on Facebook said there was a large police presence and another said the street was blocked off by 11am today In the thread a man posted: "Rest in peace my bro Thames-Coromandel mayor Len Salt said the community was reeling after two deaths in the district in as many days The homicide inquiry was preceded by the death of a 13-year-old boy who fell from a cliff at the northern end of Hāhei Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula Salt said he did not know those involved in the altercation in Thames on Monday but saw the police activity "We've got communities that are hurting at the moment from the events but we're a pretty resilient bunch." The population of the tourism hotspot swelled in summer but usually the holiday period was largely problem-free A police spokesperson said the inquiry was in early stages and they could not say what the man's injuries were or whether police were looking for a weapon and asked the public to contact them via 105 either online or over the phone referencing file number: 250113/5723 Thames residents have described hearing foul language and threats in the vicinity of an address at the centre of a homicide investigation Police launched the investigation after the death of a man in Thames yesterday A nearby resident said his neighbour told him he heard foul language yesterday afternoon and threats The resident who has lived in the area for four years said he heard about the police investigation first thing this morning The daughter of a woman living nearby to the property being investigated said her mum heard “loud yelling” from about 4pm yesterday and then officers went around the street to let residents know they’d be staying overnight her mum said detectives were seen “looking over fences and making sure nothing was chucked in people’s front or backyards.” Police were called to an altercation at a residential address on Rolleston St about 3.40pm on Monday where a man was found with moderate injuries The man was taken to Thames Hospital where his condition continued to decline and he died overnight Detective Senior Sergeant Kristine Clarke said police were seeking a person of interest and those involved were believed to be known to each other “Police do not believe there is any ongoing risk to the wider community “Inquiries into the full circumstances of what occurred remain ongoing and a scene examination is under way at the address,” Clarke said “Police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward in particular we would like to hear from anyone who witnessed an altercation in Rolleston St around 3.40pm on Monday afternoon please contact police via 105 either online or over the phone referencing file number: 250113/5723.” A section of Rolleston St in Thames was currently cordoned off by police with a gazebo erected outside a property A photo posted to social media shows a police vehicle blocking the street A police spokesman said there was a police presence in the area Police staff can also be seen in the photo outside the property 'The team have nailed it – it’s a strategy that everyone can understand.' A 60-year-old man who died in Thames this week has been remembered by a well-known musician who says he is devastated by the news and knows very little about the man’s demise Police arrested and charged a 28-year-old with murder after they were called to Rolleston St about 3.40pm on Monday where Maxwell Connor was found with moderate injuries Connor was taken to Thames Hospital where his condition deteriorated and he died A 28-year-old man appeared in Kaitāia District Court today charged with murder. The accused was granted interim name suppression and remanded in custody The accused will next appear in the High Court at Hamilton on February 4 Singer/guitarist Mark Taipari said he was related to Connor through iwi “I can tell you I’m pretty devastated by the news and know very little of his demise “What I can tell you about Max is that he was always a very quiet he loved a laugh but was generally very quiet A Givealittle has been set up to help with Connor’s funeral costs A nearby resident said his neighbour told him he heard foul language on Monday afternoon and threats A homicide investigation has been launched after the death of a man in Thames Police cordoned off a street in Thames this week after a man was found with moderate injuries and later died in hospital The 28-year-old man charged with murdering 60-year-old Maxwell Connor in Thames earlier this week has appeared in court The accused was granted interim name suppression at the hearing in the Kaitāia District Court today and was remanded into custody He was arrested on Wednesday in the Far North following an alleged incident on Rolleston Street Connor was taken to hospital following an alleged altercation but died overnight He was reportedly a well-known member of the Coromandel community who had an unforgettable laugh recognisable from a distance A fundraising page set up to assist with funeral costs described Connor as a welcoming guy who loved to play pool at his local pub A nearby resident said the house police were investigating had been renovated “a couple of months ago” The daughter of a woman living near the property said her mum heard “loud yelling” on Monday afternoon Detective Senior Sergeant Kristine Clarke said police still wanted to hear from anyone who saw the alleged altercation Anyone with information can phone police on 105 and reference the file number: 250113/5723 Clarke said their thoughts were with the whānau of Connor at this time Shannon Pitman is a Whangārei based reporter for Open Justice covering courts in the Te Tai Tokerau region She is of Ngāpuhi/ Ngāti Pūkenga descent and has worked in digital media for the past five years No one knew he'd fallen after a guard rail gave way while he was loading containers A sell-out night of boxing is set to return to the Thames-Coromandel next month with two pro fights and amateurs stepping into the ring to “realise a dream”.Hosted by Never Surrender Boxing Club Chaos on the Coromandel will again be held inside the Thames Civic Centre on April 12 and spokesperson Andrew Connaughton said it was a great feeling to stand inside the hall and “see people from around our community come together and enjoy an evening of entertainment” “It is also amazing to see competitors realise a dream and meet the ultimate challenge,” he told The Profile.“To see the elation the camaraderie between fighters win or lose… It’s a bizarre situation when you have two opponents enter the ring for the ultimate test It is incredible to be part of people’s journey and to see the positive effect these bouts have on people and their lives.”Chaos On The Coromandel has been running for several years though it has not been held consecutively.Andrew said this year after securing main sponsorship from JDN Construction as well as support from Destination Hauraki Coromandel and the Regional Event Fund they will be able to put on two pro fights.“Topping the bill we have our very own – Hauraki’s Champion – Francis ‘The Punisher’ Waitai defending his NZ Super Middleweight title against Adrian ‘The Terrah’ Taihai.“This will be Francis’ first defence of his NZ Super Middleweight title,” Andrew said “and will propel him to compete for the IBO Asia Pacific title in Hamilton as he restarts his journey back up the world rankings.”There will also be a women’s super lightweight pro fight between Sheilla Yama and Tricia MacKenzie as well as amateur and corporate bouts for a total of 20-25 fights on the night.“Being able to host an event in Thames is special for our club Firstly it gives our boxers and competitors the opportunity to compete on home turf,” Andrew said.“Many of our amateurs are youngsters so to be at home means their family and school friends get to see them compete and the boxers get to show their skills and hard work.”Andrew also said hosting in Thames provided the organisers to source the lighting crew he said Chaos on the Coromandel had the ability to bring people together.“I have nothing but admiration and a deep respect for anyone that faces the challenge of entering the ring I beam with pride at every single one of our club competitors “I seriously doubt it is an old fart like me that inspires these people the sense that we all have each other’s back the sense that they are not alone in this journey.We really do have a great bunch of members with a very strong bond.”DETAILS: Chaos On The Coromandel will be held at the Thames War Memorial Civic Centre Thousands of Kiwis come from around the country to Pauanui with vehicles and boats creating additional business for Thompson Automotive during peak season Thames-Coromandel Deputy Mayor Terry Walker has attributed holiday hotspot troubles to “rich little s***s” Walker said Pāuanui was of particular concern over the holiday period with a series of incidents occurring which had locals calling for night patrols with Waikato East area commander Inspector Mike Henwood disappointed regarding the cavalier attitude some parents and caregivers seemed to take when it came to supplying alcohol to their underage children “It is not uncommon for police to arrest a youth or locate a heavily intoxicated young person or sometimes even had no idea where their child was,” Henwood said While police only provided a written statement on behaviour in nearby Whangamatā Walker said Pāuanui appeared to be specifically targeted by vandals at the same time every year causing concern among the settlement’s residents the rich little s***s go around wrecking the place; there seems to be a regular pattern of vandalism in Pāuanui.” Police said they could not find any reports in relation to incidents reported by Pāuanui residents Walker said public toilets had been destroyed in the town by vandals during the 2023/24 holiday period and he was not surprised to hear about reported incidents in recent days The latest incident was reported on Sunday when a youth was allegedly targeted by a group of youths with a BB gun It was followed by reports a youth was wandering around the settlement knocking on windows late on Sunday evening The Pāuanui Beach Aerodrome had been targeted multiple times in recent days with damage in various locations along the facility’s boundary railings Pāuanui builder Ron Smit said he had fixed a number of sections of railing only to return a couple of days later to find other sections had been targeted “There is a significant amount of damage; it is becoming quite expensive.” Smit said he had lived in the area for five years and problems over the holiday period were getting “worse” There are a whole heap of road signs that have been cut off with a hacksaw – it’s mindless “I think the parents and the kids are responsible The parents just let them go loose and the kids go on a rampage “The locals are wanting a night patrol organised It’s just entitled little s***s who come around and wreck everything.” A community library box in the town was also targeted multiple times The owner said it was just one or two rare occurrences of “kids being naughty” at first but someone then ripped up nearly all the books and scattered the pages down their street They had since decided to close the facility at nights but “visitors” who were “wrecking the infrastructure” and it concerns the locals every year [when it comes to] how to address it.” Walker said there had been talk of upgrading CCTV facilities in the town Walker said a “safe zone” was set up at Whangamatā Area School on December 31 by partnering agencies to attend to intoxicated persons “It is a really good option; it went really well.” Henwood said the town was busy with more than 2000 teenagers congregating in one group leading up to midnight on December 31 The number of arrests made and liquor-ban fines issued was down slightly on previous years but historical numbers from midday on December 31 In Whangamatā over the 2022-23 New Year period there were 79 breaches of the liquor ban Custodial records for the recent 2023-24 New Year showed police locked up 27 people in Whangamatā Police said Whangamatā crowds were generally well-behaved on December 31 this year with arrests made for fighting and disorderly behaviour extra police staff were deployed to the Coromandel area utilising staff from the wider Waikato district and support from the Counties Manukau Public Safety Unit A Thames-Coromandel District Council report showed for the whole 12 days of the peak summer season (December 25 as well as 251 infringements and 152 warnings issued with regard to liquor-ban breaches a daily “partners briefing” was held at the Whangamatā police station during which Fire and Emergency New Zealand the medical centre and council staff met with police to discuss day/night activities and strategies the biggest learning he’s taken from his first term is the importance of finding the balance.It’s a lesson he’ll be holding onto as he vies for a second stint in the district’s top job.Mayor Salt announced his intention to restand last week and told The Profile the decision was only made after being given the nod by his partner Svargo.“The job comes with a very high level of personal commitment and I couldn’t do it without her support,” he said.“So it was really about are we both able and ready and keen to do this And that was the essence of the discussions and Svargo was 100 per cent behind me all the way I would have been making a different decision.”Mayor Salt said the district faced some “significant challenges” over the last three years including the major weather events of 2022 and 2023 which cut off communities and contributed to economic decline.He also said the diversity of the district also presented a challenge in achieving fairness and equity for all.There were personal trials too.“The main challenge is finding a balance between the inevitable criticism that you get,” he said “because not everyone’s going to like the decisions that you have to make as a mayor and as part of a council.“I guess where that becomes a real personal challenge is when that criticism becomes a personal attack but it’s balanced out by the fact that when I go out into my communities I get such incredible levels of support and affirmation from people.”Mayor Salt said he had become “better at finding the balance” and learning to switch off for an hour or so.“When I first started I’d be waking up at three in the morning and going through things in my mind and rehashing stuff that had happened during the day,” he said “But you need to develop the ability to step away from that and come back in the morning or the next day with a fresh look at things has a spinal condition and can sometimes be seen using a walking aid on his jaunts around the district – but he said his ailment gives him common ground with some constituents.“For the first 10 or 15 minutes when I get together with people of my age “And then we get on to talking about roads and rubbish and parks and libraries and rates But it gives us some common ground.”Election day for this year’s local body elections is on October 11 2025.Thames ward councillor Peter Revell has already announced his intention to stand for Mayor Candidate nominations officially open on July 4 A 28-year-old man has been charged with the murder following the death of 60-year-old Maxwell Connor in Thames earlier this week Detective Senior Sergeant Kristine Clarke said the man was arrested in relation to an incident at a house on Rolleston St on Monday afternoon which police believe led to Connor's death The man will appear in the Kaitaia District Court on Thursday facing a murder charge Police said their thoughts were with Connor's family and they still wanted to hear from anyone with information on what happened Clarke said anyone who saw an "altercation" in Rolleston St about 3.40pm on Monday should call police on 105 and reference file number 250113/5723 Peter Revell says he plans to run for the Thames-Coromandel mayoralty next year First-term Thames-Coromandel district councillor Peter Revell has put his hand up for the mayoralty at next year’s local government elections Revell was first elected to public office in 2019 when he became a Thames Community Board member He said the decision to run for the mayoralty followed “much reflection and discussion with family and friends” “After three years on the community board and now two years as a councillor and skills that our district needs for this role.” “Ratepayers can count on me to continue doing the job I was elected to do “Our council is facing a number of crucial decisions over the coming months These decisions demand appropriate discernment and consideration to ensure the right commonsense decisions are made at the council table I will not be distracted from doing that.” Revell said he was making the announcement now because transparency was key to his approach I believe that it is appropriate for people to know my stance on such a significant matter.” The pair have been instrumental in running Kauaeranga Music which hosts regular musical events at the Kauearanga Hall He started his professional career as a secondary school maths teacher which “morphed” into a career in information technology (IT) where he held several senior roles with corporates including Telecom He holds a master’s degree in mathematics and stepped out of corporate life in 2019 At the 2022 elections, he received 2138 votes in the Thames Ward and was elected a district councillor coming in behind Martin Rodley with 2272 votes and Robyn Sinclair with 2680 votes to make up three roles in the ward Thames needs a swimming pool.That much was clear from the well-attended public forum and the elected members at Thames Community Board’s meeting last week.But the deeper issue aqua walking and learn-to-swim for older children There would also be an indoor splash pad.The average annual cost per ratepayer over 30 years would be around $682 – if funded entirely by the Thames Ward.But community board members at the March 19 meeting questioned whether the wider district could Members of the public did say that the Centennial Pool was well-used by people all over: at the Thames Valley Primary Schools interschool swimming sports on March 21 there were more than 43 schools represented from across the Hauraki and Thames-Coromandel.“The affordability is a huge worry and I think we need to do all that we can to talk to our council colleagues and try to explain that yeah there are projects that local communities are responsible for are way beyond the ability of any community to afford,” Cr Martin Rodley said “If we are restricted to local funding for this pool then further down the track that restricts Whangamata to local funding for a pool because they won’t be able to afford it either and Whitianga and Matarangi and all our other smaller communities.“It troubles me greatly the ‘local versus the district’ funding,” he said “because you just end up with places that can afford having facilities and others not.”Board chair Adrian Catran said he was “hoping and praying” that financial support would come their way from neighbouring district councils.“I don’t know of any other community board in New Zealand that is wrestling with a $26.2 million problem,” he said “It’s way beyond our scope to be dealing with it and that’s the reason why… we will be escalating that up toward the district councils.”Deputy chair Rob Johnston shared the same sentiments and said the pool decision would be a “really difficult” one when it came to securing funds.He thanked the members of the public who confided in the community board that they were “really stressing out about this from an affordability point of view”.“There’s public sentiment that everybody wants a pool – even the people who can’t afford it.I’ve spoken to people who say ‘I really want a pool but… I can’t afford another X number on my rates.”According to council the Richmond Street court site on land leased from Thames High School was the strongest local site for a new pool though in its 2024 community aquatic survey an all-indoor facility was the community’s third most preferred option.A sub-regional facility at Kōpū South had been evaluated in the business case as not viable for Thames ratepayers without additional financial support halfway between Paeroa and Kopu on State Highway 26 marks a significant change in bridge design A stretch of road connecting Thames and Paeroa will be closed for up to a month from mid-February as construction of the first state highway bridge built from timber in 50 years gets under way NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) acting regional manager of infrastructure Bruce Waugh said Onetai Bridge about halfway between Paeroa and Kopu on State Highway 26 is to be replaced “As SH26 is the only through route between Paeroa and Thames on the eastern side of the Waihou River the detour route will be via State Highway 2 Hauraki Rd and State Highway 25 for northbound traffic and the reverse for southbound traffic “We’ll be able to provide more information and timings in the new year once we finalise our construction programme; we recognise the impact this closure will have on road users particularly those from local communities and are ensuring they are given early advice of these works.” Given the narrow width of the existing bridge and its approaches so the highway would need to be closed at the worksite for up to four weeks while the old bridge was demolished The replacement project was announced in early 2023 The existing bridge was designed and constructed in 1976 and has reached the end of its economic life Its replacement would be three metres wider and with additional safety features including a new type of side barrier “Although bridges in New Zealand are generally built with concrete this bridge will be built with a timber deck and bridge beams,” Waugh said “Timber deck bridges are built successfully overseas and we are now piloting this approach in New Zealand.” The off-site prefabrication of key bridge components allowed for rapid on-site construction It would be the first state highway bridge built from timber in 50 years representing a move towards using climate-friendly materials NZTA regional manager maintenance and operations Rob Campbell said timber elements of the new design made the project more than just a run-of-the-mill replacement Road bridges in New Zealand were generally built with concrete or steel and Onetai would be the first to mark a return to more sustainable design so while it might seem like a minor project it marks a groundbreaking shift in design for bridge replacements on state highways.” It came down to layering – using an engineered timber product called glulam made from layers (laminates) of wood glued together Campbell said glulam had double the strength per kilogram compared with steel and was specially designed to be hard-wearing and durable “The new Onetai Bridge is designed to last at least 100 years linking the greater Waikato region with the Coromandel Peninsula and providing a small but vital part of our state highway network “The replacement will add to the resilience and safety of this route as the new design will be stronger and wider than the old bridge.” Glulam is being used increasingly around the world for bridges “The first and most obvious benefit is that glulam’s main component is grown right here in Aotearoa and therefore does not need to be mined or go through the high-energy manufacturing processes needed to make steel and concrete,” Campbell said “New Zealand glulam is made from responsibly sourced radiata pine and actually has a negative carbon footprint during the production phase This is because the trees have absorbed carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during the 30 to 40 years they take to reach maturity and new growth starts that process all over again.” The bridge would have concrete foundations and new scour protection both upstream and downstream which happens when water flows change or rivers flood NZTA undertook a business case in 2020 for the replacement of the two-lane bridge Construction funding was approved under the 2021–24 National Land Transport Programme key stakeholders including the Hauraki District Council and affected landowners to gain information for the initial concept design Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Complete digital access to quality analysis and expert insights complemented with our award-winning Weekend Print edition Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times An artist's impression of a rainbow pedestrian crossing in Grahamstown A 1000-strong petition calling for a rainbow pedestrian crossing on the main street of Thames has been tabled but one submitter has questioned its legal status Ruth Efford spoke to the Thames-Coromandel Community Board last Wednesday when it received a petition titled ‘Let’s give Grahamstown a rainbow crossing’ Linda Davidson spoke in support of the petition saying a petition to paint the Grahamstown pedestrian crossing in the town’s historic precinct then passing the matter on to council staff for further consideration adding she was sad and disappointed about the proposal What was proposed was not a legal description of a pedestrian crossing “To paint on the white lines would be graffiti the lines have to be in the description of the Land Transport Act.” Thames-Coromandel District Council roading infrastructure manager Ed Varley “A rainbow crossing is not a recognised road marking according to national standards and is therefore not legally recognised as a pedestrian crossing,” Varley said A spokesperson for NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) said the responsibility for installing rainbow crossings and other roadway art rested with the relevant road controlling authority Thames Coromandel District Council for local roads The spokesperson said the Land Transport traffic control devices rules, updated in 2023 art could be installed if it did not resemble and was not similar to a marking described in the rule and if it did not mislead road users about the meaning of any traffic control device Efford asked the meeting what the true meaning of a rainbow was “The people behind this are not respecting others in the community; have it somewhere else Efford said she was not making accusations saying it was up to those councils in terms of the crossings “I’m just asking our council to have it somewhere else.” Davidson said the rainbow community was not new it is the only place to put the crossing.” Davidson said it was difficult for young people in small towns and visibility would show they were not alone “This would be about diversity; we might have slightly different lenses Community board member Holly MacKenzie said having a rainbow pedestrian crossing could encourage graffiti if people didn’t want it Davidson said there was a need for CCTV in the area and that it would potentially be a hate crime if anyone was to deface a rainbow pedestrian crossing markets and a range of members of the public had been canvassed about the proposal Davidson asked when a decision would be likely Thames Community Board chairman Adrian Catran said it was not his decision; it was a deputation “My assumption is that it will go to the roading manager; I’m not going down that path if it is legal or not Thames-Coromandel is still the oldest area in New Zealand with more than one-third of people aged over 65 and more than three quarters of householders own their own home The details have been revealed with the release of Census 2023 data The average age of residents in the district climbed from 53.6 in 2018 to 55.2 in 2023 Those 34% aged over 65 had also climbed from 31% of the resident population in 2018 New Zealand’s population had an average median age rising from 37.4 years in 2018 to 38.1 years in 2023 Selwyn Foundation chief executive Denise Cosgrove said Thames-Coromandel District was at the forefront of the demographic shift with 34% of the district’s population aged 65 and over significantly higher than the national average of 16.5% “Our communities are ageing for the first time in history with more people living longer and contributing to society; by 2028 1 million New Zealanders will be aged 65 to 100 plus increasing to 1.5 million by 2050,” Cosgrove said Auckland and Gisborne regions had the youngest median age with 35.9 years and 36.7 years respectively in 2023 and West Coast and Tasman regions had the oldest median age with 48.1 years and 46.8 years respectively More than 76% of households in Thames-Coromandel were owned by the occupants Auckland had the lowest rate of home ownership of all the regions which was largely unchanged from the 2018 rate of 59.4% Home ownership rates increased in all other regions with the highest rate recorded by the Tasman region The areas with the highest home ownership rates were districts close to Christchurch and Wellington Waimakariri district had the highest home ownership rate at 82.2% Fast-growing Selwyn district followed closely at 80.5% Two-thirds of homes in New Zealand (1,175,217 or 66%) were owned by the occupants or held in a family trust While the population identifying with European ethnicities remained the largest at nearly 3.4 million (3,383,742 people and Middle Eastern/Latin American/African (MELAA) ethnicities increased their share of the total population The 2023 Census showed that people living in New Zealand identified with a wide range of ethnicities and spoke over 150 languages while most of the population were born here New Zealand was also home to people born in a diverse range of countries Just under 30% of New Zealanders were born overseas and the census recorded well over 200 different birthplaces The recently opened Thames Information Centre Thames has celebrated a milestone with the official opening of a new information centre but its operator is cautious of a challenging market The facility is now open to the public at the Thames War Memorial Civic Centre It is operating under the umbrella of the neighbouring Thames Business Association after securing Thames-Coromandel District Council funding of $56,000 for the 2024-25 year funded by the Thames Community Board to the tune of $50,000 Business association chief executive Sue Lewis-O’Halloran has been a driving force behind re-establishing a face-to-face information service after the i-site closed in 2021 the town’s tourist information services have been accessible via an unmanned booth at Goldfields Mall Lewis-O’Halloran said the challenge now is for the new operation to make money The budget to run the facility in the first year was $175,000 and much of that had to be sourced via various platforms “We are applying for grants; we are hoping to generate enough from bookings and merchandise sales.” The information centre is on Mary St right next to the Intercity bus stop Lewis-O’Halloran said she had hired two co-managers who were supported by a team of eight volunteers although it would ideally be staffed by up to 15 volunteers as the opening hours extended with the approach of summer It was her ambition to gain i-site status for the centre as that would come with “more privileges but more responsibility” At present the information centre is open five days a week the centre would open seven days a week between 9am and 4pm Thames-Coromandel Mayor Len Salt led the ribbon-cutting ceremony last week joined by key contributors from the community at the centre last month “I know this has been a journey of co-operation I look around the room now and see so many people who have contributed on multiple levels to make this happen,” he said at the ceremony He said the information centre represented a new chapter for Thames shifting the town’s identity from a gateway to the Coromandel to a unique destination in its own right “With a rich heritage and cultural significance and the centre highlights the town’s local history Whangamatā Information Centre has faced financial challenges in recent months with community board discussions about additional funding Board member and Deputy Mayor Terry Walker said he would continue lobbying the council for further funding for the information centre In July the Whangamatā Community Board voted to approve an expression of interest from Whangamatā Information Centre Incorporated Society to operate the centre on Port Rd Information centres are run on a combination of council funding (through meeting the service level agreement criteria) and in some cases retail sales with providers paying to be promoted at the facilities Thames’ new information centre is set to have a whole new vibe with a focus on selling Thames and the wider district as an interesting place to explore The info centre will reopen with a “soft opening” on October 25 ahead of its official opening on November 12 it will share space with the Thames Business Association (TBA) in the former i-site location at the Civic Centre on Mary St The opening will mark the first time Thames has had face-to-face information services since the original i-site was closed in 2021 due to dropping visitor numbers and revenue after the pandemic For the past three years Thames’ tourist information service has been an unmanned pamphlet stand in nearby Goldfields Mall The centre will initially be open from Tuesday through Saturdays opening hours will be extended to seven days a week TBA chief executive Sue Lewis O’Halloran said the association had big plans for the service Our job is to promote Thames and the district There’s tons to do in Thames that people don’t even know about,” she said “It’s a brand new experience for the TBA – we are learning as we go.” The Thames Coromandel District Council has committed more than $170,000 to run the information centre for the next three years An additional sum of up to $50,000 from the Thames Urban General Purpose Reserve fund was contributed by the Thames Community Board for the refurbishment Sue said the TBA aimed to develop the centre into a self-funding endeavour merchandise and advertising opportunities alongside its core information service “It’s been a major capital investment… and it’s a different set of expectations that you create when you have a staffed facility So we’re going to have to be quite strong in our revenue development.” A big goal for the service is to re-qualify as an i-site and Sue said the TBA was also looking into becoming an InterCity Bus agency including the bus tickets… sales of merchandise And we’re only selling New Zealand [made] merchandise.” The info centre also plans to offer mobile device charging and luggage storage Thames Community Board deputy chair Rob Johnston said the board was excited for the reopening “It’s a really important thing for the town which was just a sort of push-button sort of thing to actually get some real people on the counter so that people can come in and speak face-to-face,” he said The newly-refurbished space has a vintage feel and is outfitted with Thames’ new brand and tagline “We really wanted to change the perception of Thames from being a ‘whatever town’ into just this vibrant really interesting town,” Brand Matter owner Brent Courtney said is ‘come to Thames and explore interesting’.” The TBA hoped locals would get on board with the endeavour Two staff and eight volunteers have already been found and Sue said she wanted another 15 people to fill up the roster The TBA was also working with tourism students from Thames High School and they can learn skills that they can then take to paying jobs,” she said because the last i-site failed because they weren’t able to maintain opening days and hours as long as they’d hoped We certainly do so far have a very fine calibre of volunteers who are super keen and really want to get involved It’s a selling point when you volunteer,” Brent said “It’s very important for the people that are here to tell that story.” DETAILS: Visit www.explorethames.nz or email manager@thamesbusiness.co.nz to volunteer My Vaccine Pass requirements have not been set for this event Dave Flynn’s Celtic Guitar Journey II: The Return of the Guitar MaestroDave Flynn is a masterful guitarist MagazineAward-winning Irish-Kiwi guitarist/composer Dave Flynn returns to New Zealand with an exciting expansion of his acclaimed show Celtic Guitar Journey For his extensive Summer/Autumn 2025 tour of Aotearoa Flynn will blend familiar Celtic sounds with fresh flavours from his global travels.From Ireland to Andalucía and BeyondA new dimension to Flynn’s Celtic guitar style is the exhilarating Recent studies in Andalucía with a flamenco guitar master have inspired Flynn to bring Celtic Guitar Journey into new avenues Connections between Irish and Spanish music come alive in the Rumba Reel whilst Galician and Irish jigs dance in unison New arrangements of music from Brittany (France) and Cape Breton (Canada) further his explorations of global Celtic culture.Kiwi ConnectionsPraised by the New York Times for the power and grittiness of his music Flynn’s latest compositions reflect the landscapes and cultures he’s encountered during his decade-long travels around New Zealand These Irish-Kiwi pieces combine the beauty of Celtic music with the unique spirit of Aotearoa offering a distinctive musical journey that blends his Irish heritage with his adopted second home.What to ExpectWhether you’re new to Flynn’s music or a regular at his annual NZ shows the 2025 tour promises a vibrant mix of new compositions and familiar favourites including:• The Irish haka ‘O’Neill’s March’ enlivened with a hint of Flamenco.• Intricate soulful arrangements of O'Carolan’s baroque harp music.• The infectious energy of Celtic jigs and reels spanning centuries of tradition.An Immersive JourneyFlynn’s performances are more than just concerts—they’re immersive journeys through heritage and history With his virtuoso guitar playing and engaging storytelling he brings new life to the rich tapestry and heritage of Celtic music.Connecting continents and generations - don’t miss the chance to experience Dave Flynn’s latest Celtic Guitar Journey around New Zealand/Aotearoa Routine tests on shellfish from Waimangu Point have shown unsafe levels of toxins Police believe the body on the beach is Jarrod Kingi Coromandel and Bay of Plenty are in the firing line Black smoke from the fire was visible from Cooks Beach Emergency services respond to vessel fire off Coromandel coast; one person rescued then a few showers developing in the morning A period of rain with heavy falls in the afternoon Heavy traffic expected on SH2 between Paeroa and Waihī during holidays The ministry has confirmed the leak came from water reservoirs stored on the court's roof SkyCity says worsening market conditions will affect its June year 2025 result Ballance Agri-Nutrients worker says there a lot of anxiety over potential loss of jobs His book Jones on Property is still the go-to guide for investors But passionate Reefton advocates won’t sell former bank to just anyone Forecasters warn of 120km/h gusts that may close the Auckland Harbour Bridge Tam is moving at 35km/h south towards New Zealand 28th NZ (Māori) Battalion History Trust will be reviewed maintains and kits out six rescue helicopters OceanaGold had sought to rezone 47 properties in residential areas Motorists have been warned to expect delays until congestion has cleared Kopu Marine Servicing and Business Precinct was opened by Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters in June The main wharf will remain closed to the public after the Thames-Coromandel District Council undertook a feasibility study following pleas from locals for it to open A new $15 million commercial wharf and floating pontoon in Thames will stay closed to the public despite outcries from residents over why the gates to it remain locked Thames-Coromandel District Council (TCDC) has opted to maintain access restrictions after it agreed to undertake a feasibility study on providing pedestrian access to the Kopu Marine Servicing and Business Precinct The gates have been shut and locked since its official opening in June district councillors voted unanimously to keep the facility closed Council staff with input from the Kopu project manager from engineering consultancy Urban Solutions had considered the feasibility of providing pedestrian access to the wharf and recommended a course of action based on safety considerations The report identified two access options: maintaining restrictions or allowing unrestricted access to the wharf and pontoon After an assessment of safety and compliance staff recommended maintaining restricted access measures The feasibility report presented at the meeting said that approach was “essential to uphold public health and safety obligations and effectively manage activities that could contribute to public nuisances” the external funding and business case for the project were specifically based on supporting commercial activity usage a separate recreational boat ramp and pontoon were established to clearly delineate and manage commercial and recreational activities.” The meeting heard there had been little commercial use of the wharf since its opening District councillor Peter Revel, who raised concerns at a council meeting in August, prompting an investigation after residents had been telling him they wanted pedestrian access said he understood points made in the report but it would not alter the fact a lot of people wanted to go on to the wharf District councillor John Grant said Whangamatā and Whitianga had faced similar arguments over wharf access and while looking at the original business case for the Kopu facility he had noted a significant difference in what was forecast and the results to date “We are not hitting our budget plans for the case put forward we are being inconsistent in the way we treat these facilities “We have poured millions of dollars into it [Kopu] is it time we look at some public use rather than sitting there waiting for things to happen Is it time to review the original business case and use the facility for the benefit of the community “It is not being used in the way it was envisaged.” Thames Community Board chairman Adrian Catran said the board agreed the facility was underutilised My hope is that by Christmas it will be used.” He said the council needed to install clear signage explaining why the facility was closed to the public The meeting heard there had been several boats docked at the facility The council-owned facility opened on June 21 and includes three new maritime facilities: a commercial wharf operations include in-water vessel servicing crane lifting activities (typically utilising Hiab cranes mounted on service vehicles) Those activities were generally classified as hazardous and subject to strict regulatory oversight The report said it was uncommon for such operations to be permitted in areas accessible to the public Both the operators of commercial vessels being serviced and the service vehicle operators were responsible for managing the hazards associated with their operations including those affecting contracted personnel the council authorised those activities and could potentially bear liability in the event of a serious incident occurring on the wharf During the development of the business case and subsequent design development phases of the project consultation and engagement was undertaken that identified the need and desire to have the commercial and recreational activities separated for safety and to control nuisance The funding grant provided by central government agencies and the resource consent of the marine structures and carparks was based on clear separation of the activities with priority for funding based on supporting commercial activities “Granting public access to the wharf is not a straightforward matter of opening the gate Uncontrolled access would expose the public to significant safety risks including hazards that could result in serious harm or even drowning The primary danger is the risk of falling into the Waihou River which is characterised by turbid water and strong tidal currents individuals may be unable to reach the shoreline unaided without life vests or a safety boat soft marine mud and dense mangroves along the coastline presents additional challenges allowing uncontrolled access would expose the council to a potential breach of its obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act which placed a duty on the council to ensure the health and safety of all people accessing the site Failure to manage the risks appropriately could result in significant legal financial and reputational consequences for the council Public access to the water for recreational activities such as boating and fishing was accommodated through a separate In cases where public access to the commercial wharf was required such as for charter boat operations or private boat needing in-water servicing operators could apply for a permit to use the facilities If uncontrolled access was provided to the wharf the council would likely need to consider appointment of a permanent warden under the supervision of a harbourmaster to be present to co-ordinate operations and activities Modification to the wharf would also be required alarms and potentially a safety boat and suitably qualified skipper The gate would also likely need to be locked after-hours on a daily basis The wharf was officially opened by Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Resources Minister Shane Jones The project was 10 years in the making after a survey of Kopu business operators in 2013 identified infrastructure and service needs for the business park upgrade and gateway concept The 80m-long structure was designed to enable in-water marine servicing and vessel loading the largest portion being $8.2m Regional Economic Development and Investment Unit funding Another $4.05m came from the Three Waters Reform Better Off funding from the Department of Internal Affairs A further $565,000 was granted from the Waikato Regional Council’s Regional Fund while the Thames Community Board contributed $1.4m TCDC contributed $530,000 and Thames-Coromandel District Community Board ratepayers contributed $565,000 Another $270,000 came from the Provincial Growth Fund 2024 - Kopu Marine Servicing and Business Precinct opened 2020 - $8.2m approved by the Government for the development of a marine and business precinct in Kopu 2018 - A feasibility study for Kopu was completed and an application to the central government Provincial Growth Fund for a business case to progress the project was approved 2015 - Kopu Doing Business Better programme was launched A working group was established with representation from TCDC staff a draft Kopu development concept plan was produced The draft Kopu development concept plan was submitted to the council’s Proposed District Plan BECA produced a draft Kopu development concept plan - Stage 1 report was presented to Kopu businesses on in March 2014 for their comment and submission to the Proposed District Plan Thames Community Board submitted to the Proposed District Plan in favour of the concept plan This concept plan was intended to be a development framework that would form an additional layer of detail to the Kopu to Thames Structure Plan 2013 - A survey of Kopu business operators was conducted that helped identify infrastructure and service needs and ideas for the Kopu business park upgrade and gateway concept The survey resulted in the Kopu Concept Plan Analysis Summary By Natalie Akoorie of RNZ The owners of a woolshed converted into a house without building consent have been given a temporary reprieve from its demolition The requests by Thames Coromandel District Council to rectify the unconsented work date back to 2016 when a complaint was made about the Puriri property occupants Steve Hart and Martina Petru did not own the 5.2ha but were living on it with their three daughters Hart’s unconsented building work included a wastewater disposal system a separate two-storey structure on wheels that also has a fireplace and sanitary facilities and another structure that Hart claimed was the children’s treehouse The council issued 11 notices to fix over a seven-year period to no avail In May 2022 it wrote to the owner and Hart as the occupier and person who carried out the work When the pair did not comply the council applied for a court order in November that year authorising it to carry out the building work - effectively partial demolition The day before the matter was due to be heard Hart took over ownership of the property and he and his company Puriri were joined to the proceedings According to the decision of Judge Peter Spiller last month Hart told the court he was exempt from the council’s policies and immune from any civil or criminal liability He claimed the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 required the council to obtain his written consent before commencing any action against him and said the council had engaged in criminal activity and breached his rights under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 because the council had no standing to pursue a claim the court had no jurisdiction to adjudicate it who calls himself an ecology architect and unsuccessfully ran for Thames Coromandel mayor in 2022 also said he was qualified and competent to carry out the building work Judge Spiller said Hart’s stance was akin to the “sovereign citizen” position which was that someone can’t be subject to the jurisdiction of the state without his or her consent regulatory or other obligations recognised by law But the judge said the Court of Appeal and the High Court both held that such submissions could not succeed He said Hart’s claims the council had engaged in criminal activity and breached his rights were not backed by credible evidence and his claim the proceeding was not governed by general law of contract was not valid “The present proceedings are governed by the Building Act 2004,” the judge wrote The act enabled the council to apply for an order authorising the necessary work “This court finds that there is no basis to any of Mr Hart’s assertions that this court has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the application brought by the council.” The order was granted with demolition day set for November 18, however Hart and Petru made public pleas for supporters to turn out on the day to form a human chain Petru said the couple just wanted to live off the grid with their children She said if they lost the dwellings they would be forced to live in a tent or caravan and could lose their livelihood because they supplied salads to people in Thames from the garden But a spokesperson for the council said a fire in the unconsented chimney was just one of the safety risks posed by the unconsented work which had not been completed to Building Code requirements “We have issued multiple notices to fix in an attempt to direct and encourage the property owners to remedy the non-compliant building work themselves “The property owners did not comply with the direction notices and council reluctantly sought orders from the court to carry out work to remove the safety issues on the property.” the spokesperson said a productive dialogue had begun “Council staff attended a meeting at the property (Friday) morning that was cordial and positive and there is hope that agreement on the compliance issues can be reached “Council has reserved any final decisions until we hear back from the property owners early next week.” He said the council’s preference had always been that the property owners rectified the issues themselves without further action being needed by council staff Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday. The only high-reach ladder truck in Auckland broke down last night. The crash was reported just after 10.10am and occurred on State Highway 25 at Orongo. "One person sadly died at the scene, two other people were seriously injured," police said. The road has been closed while the serious crash unit conducts a scene examination. "Inquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing." Hato Hone St John said the two seriously injured people were taken to Waikato Hospital by helicopter. One other person suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene. Both Westpac 1 and Westpac 2 helicopters were sent to Thames following the crash. (Source: Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopters ) One person has died while two others were seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash near Thames this morning. Sheep killed more euthanised after stock truck rolls in Southland Police were called to the single-vehicle crash on Tokanui Gorge Rd Highway near Fortrose at around 7.45am on Monday Four injured State Highway 2 at the intersection of Wi Duncan Rd is currently blocked Warning of poisonous shellfish in Western Firth of Thames Selwyn lifts state of emergency as severe weather recovery continues Flooding from heavy rain has led to a state of emergency being declared in Christchurch (including Banks Peninsula) 1US woman who disappeared for more than six decades found safe Photos: Lorde among stars at 2025 Met Gala Sole survivor of poisoned beef Wellington takes the stand 'We made it more dangerous': Separators for cyclists to be removed Govt halts all current pay equity claims, makes it harder to lodge new ones Kiwi motorcyclist killed in 11-bike British Supersport crash One person has died while two others were seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash near Thames this morning The crash was reported just after 10.10am and occurred on State Highway 25 at Orongo two other people were seriously injured," police said The road has been closed while the serious crash unit conducts a scene examination Hato Hone St John said the two seriously injured people were taken to Waikato Hospital by helicopter One other person suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene Sheep have been killed and others have had to be euthanised after a stock truck rolled in Southland this morning The road was completely blocked and expected to be closed for sometime while the scene was cleared however the road is completely blocked," a police spokesperson said Southland District Council confirmed some animals were killed in the crash while others had to be euthanised due to injuries Fire and Emergency responded with crews from Waimahaka It's the second incident of sheep being killed after a stock truck rolled in Southland in a little over a week A small number of lambs had to be euthanised after a stock truck rolled near Balclutha on April 27 Four people have been injured following a two-vehicle crash south of Dannevirke this evening Police said they were called to State Highway 2 at the intersection of Wi Duncan Rd around 7.10pm One person sustained serious injuries following the crash Motorists have been asked to take alternate routes The concrete separators along a Richmond road will be removed after they attracted the ire of residents and raised safety concerns Tasman District Council sought to accommodate some of the feedback it had received on its contentious Streets for People cycleway projects Councillor Glen Daikee proposed to have the Salisbury Rd separators removed and described situations where cyclists had collided with the separators and fallen into the carriageway We have inadvertently made it more dangerous," he said The separators were installed to create a physical barrier between cyclists and motor traffic to increase the perceived safety of cycling to appeal to "interested but concerned cyclists" Some schools in the project area have suggested that more students are cycling to school since the cycleways were installed with reports of their cycle racks being "full to overflowing" Feedback from council surveys also show that respondents feel that Salisbury Road is now safer than it was without the separated cycleways many respondents specifically voiced dislike of the separators with some saying they were distracting and were obstructions on the road Drivers had repeatedly hit the concrete separators with some crumbling or becoming detached from the road and creating obstacles for cyclists in the cycleway Councillor Mark Greening was concerned that removing the separators might be premature he didn't vote against Daikee's proposal "I'm a little bit more concerned about the safety of the cyclists than necessarily a car hitting these concrete things because they didn't see them I think the real problem is probably the visibility of them." the separators were pale grey with white ends and a red reflector on top Greening suggested painting them yellow or replacing them with yellow rubber separators like those currently installed on Salisbury Rd outside of the schools Rubber separators currently on Salisbury Rd would remain in place as would the concrete separators along other roads across the district targeted by the Streets for People programme The other change coming to Salisbury Rd would be the reinstallation of two car parks outside of the Florence Medical Centre Some Richmond residents had been vocal in their opposition to the removal of car parks for cycleways but the Salisbury Rd survey highlighted the medical centre as a specific area of concern would also come to an end with the 50km/h speed re-enacted The lower speed limit was not being complied with by most drivers — likely because of a lack of traffic calming measures Car parking along the affected section of Hill St would remain with no separated cycleways slated to be installed The changes made would continue to be monitored and further changes could occur in the future pending further community feedback and usage data Tasman's Streets for People programme was 90% funded by Waka Kotahi and prioritised trialling low-cost adaptable infrastructure which can be easily and cheaply modified as needed The modifications agreed to by the council would be made before funding for the programme ran out on June 30 Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air 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 Kiwi motorcyclist Shane Richardson is one of two riders who died in an 11-bike crash at a British Supersport Championship event was fatally injured alongside Englishman Owen Jenner on the first corner of the race at Oulton Park A statement from British Superbikes said the race was immediately stopped and trackside medical services deployed "Due to the extreme severity of the incident and ongoing medical intervention the remainder of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship event was cancelled," a spokesperson said "This catastrophic accident has tragically resulted in two riders being fatally injured and another sustaining significant injuries." Richardson was initially treated trackside and then taken to the circuit's medical centre before he was taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital with "severe chest injuries" Jenner was also initially treated trackside and then taken to the circuit medical centre where he died from a "catastrophic head injury" British rider Tom Tunstall suffered back and abdominal injuries and a further five riders including New Zealander Morgan McLaren-Wood were transferred to the circuit medical centre with minor injuries which did not require transfer to hospital Three more riders were also involved but were uninjured who was a previous New Zealand rider of the year Cemetery Circuit in Whanganui posted to its social media in tribute to Richardson a fantastic and talented racer and a genuine human" "Devastated to hear we have lost another of our racing family Our thoughts are with Hannah and the family along with our condolences to Owen’s family too." Richardson's sponsor Whites Powersports said the team was "extremely saddened" by the news of his death "Shane will be remembered by many as a great racer Our thoughts go out to Shane’s young family and friends during this tough time The New Zealand Superbike Championship said its "deepest sympathies" went out to Richardson's family and friends Never mind our sporting victories in sailing two types of cricket and more in the weekend the Swamp Foxes are the toast of their towns It was a remarkable and unexpected moment during question time in Parliament this week The prime minister was talking about rebuilding the economy when he suddenly turned to the speaker and said: "It would be remiss of me not to mention the Swamp Foxes' win in the Meads Cup on the weekend." But some are claiming that the Swamp Foxes' 37-29 win against Mid-Canterbury in Te Aroha on Saturday tops the success list it is definitely number one by far," a delighted fan told The Detail in the main street of Paeroa home to the Swamp Foxes' union headquarters "It was amazing to see the women's cricket team ended a near 30-year drought on Saturday by winning the Heartland Championship's Meads Cup on home soil The last time they achieved this feat was in 1995 the prime minister sent the team a video of encouragement and support He has something of a connection with the team One of his long-time employees is a big supporter and the Thames Valley Rugby Union van also accidentally backed into his Crown limo outside Auckland Airport last year the Thames Valley Swamp Foxes are going to get the job done," he said in his social media post "The conditions are perfect; it's going to be awesome in Te Aroha today I know you are going to get the job done..." holding off a fierce last-minute attack by Mid-Canterbury and having a player sent off in the 77th minute which had endured a tough couple of years following Covid and Cyclone Gabrielle "It was incredible to see the faces of the supporters there were tears," Thames Valley assistant coach and former player Leon Holden says "It was so neat to see all the different towns come and support the team so hopefully this has given people a bit of a boost." An elderly fan who attended the game said it did it gives everybody something to look up to" His daughter Rhonda was on hand to present it on Saturday admitted the Swamp Foxes were worthy winners And great for Thames Valley to achieve that they have been fighting hard for a few years - it takes a lot of effort from a lot of people to achieve that." But it was not always easy for the players our young men with a family nowadays have big ties that they struggle with to take time out for rugby they have got to provide for their families Sometimes our amateur players have to work Saturday mornings so they have to figure how to get round the obstacles The province gets in and helps out as much as they can New Zealand gives money to the provinces to do that It's hard in smaller unions to get sponsorship all the time and keep providing for our team More money would help but I don't think it's the total answer." He fired a friendly warning shot at Thames Valley Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on X the football field and the netball court - the wins kept coming As Team New Zealand lifted the Auld Mug to celebrate their America's Cup crowds of onlookers have celebrated alongside them The Black Caps have broken a 36-year drought by beating India by eight wickets in the first cricket test in Bengaluru "This means everything to us," Suzie Bates says after New Zealand produced a near flawless display in the T20 World Cup final The Silver Ferns unleashed a dominant attacking display to topple world champions Australia 64-50 in the first Constellation Cup test The Detail RSS but there are still people coming through the doors and into the main auditorium of the Thames War Memorial Civic Centre.We’re all here to see The Petersens.The room goes dim until only the stage is lit.Two Petersens step out into the middle Matt on the guitar and Julianne on the mandolin.Matt leads in with some bluegrass picking and Julianne jumps in on the second count with muted strums for percussion before stepping up to the microphone.“I have seen the daylight fading but tomorrow I’ll be going over on the morning side,” Julianne sings.It’s Morningside no movement – nothing but full attention from the audience smooth voice holds the room’s gaze – every note clear and pure yet filled with emotion.Before the second verse arrives three more Petersens and friend Emmett appear with their instruments in tow – Katie on the Violin and Mum Karen on the double bass.Katie brings in the violin alongside Emmett on the dobro for a short stint before the whole band plays together in unison for the second verse where Katie and Matt accompany Julianne with vocal harmonies yet so fluid it seems as though it unfurls in real-time That’s how natural this music thing appears to be with the Petersens.Smiles form on each band member’s face as the youngest swings into action with a mandolin solo after verse two.Whoever had the idea to start the set with a catchy tune that also showcases a bit of everyone’s strengths knew what they were doing and all eyes are glued to what’s happening on the stage.There’s foot taps and no evidence of a cell phone in the air – just full attention for the artists and their art.By the time verse three hits anyone who was unsure about the evening is now staying put It’s one thing to play music and it’s another to play with feel – The Petersens can do both.Small gestures and looks across the stage at one another indicate the band is not only tuned to the music but to each other.Following verse three Ellen bounces into a banjo solo and swaps a smile with her siblings as if pouring out music is both a delight and necessity.There’s a whistle followed by claps from an impressed crowd and a shift in the song as the band reaches the bridge.The musicians pour their souls into every note Emmett unleashes his solo – plucking the dobro strings with his right hand and sliding across the frets with his left but it doesn’t end here.Katie leans in straight after with a solo on the fiddle and certainly doesn’t leave anyone out.Everyone plays a significant part in the song the pulse that keeps the train moving.The band moves and feels the music in their own ways Some do both.But there are no show ponies here.The music drops out for another verse except for Matt’s guitar and Julianne’s vocal.It takes understanding the people you make music with to truly know how to lean forward or back into it It’s also a fine art to know where and how to add a little more or a little less – and The Petersens know how to add just the right amount.After all it’s only a few minutes into a two hour show they can’t give away all their secrets just yet.But something quite clear is the way each member plays with a quiet grace allowing every instrument to compliment the others.Matt’s guitar comes to a halt and three voices sing acapella for the final verse.“I have seen the daylight fading but tomorrow I’ll be going over on the morning side over on the morning side.” The final notes ring out in the auditorium followed by cheers and claps.The evening follows on with a blend of original and cover songs for a cathartic night of listening.We all came for the music but who knew the banter and humour between siblings during song intervals would have the room in soft chuckles every time.We get to know the artists as they introduce one another and tell stories.If it’s a delicate balance to weave in and out of heartfelt harmonies and waves of laughter then The Petersens are tightrope professionals.All in all Dave Wilton’s interest in history started when he was around five years old.But now the 72-year-old historian was getting ready to release his new 210-page book based on the Thames Goldfield Archaeology of ‘The Thames’ Goldfield – Volume 1 which is published by Te Whare Pātaka The Treasury is set to be released and celebrated on November 24 at Carson’s Bookshop from 1pm.The Thames author and historian told The Profile he enjoyed putting the book together It’s based on many decades of “exploring the hills” around Thames as a kid getting involved in archaeology and getting the chance to write them up and record them as archaeological sites “So it’s a kind of a selection of the best 30 or so sites that I’ve recorded over the years or over most of my life really.”But Dave couldn’t pick just one particular part of the book that really stood out to him.“There’s a number of them,” he said.A few highlights of the book the Pārāwai Mission Station and Hall’s Arboretum – but people would need to get a copy of the book to find out more.The Treasury Publications team member Beth McKay said Archaeology of ‘The Thames’ Goldfield – Volume 1 would be the first academic book they had published It’s a little bit different and a little bit exciting.”Beth said they were very grateful to Dave for his generosity as the author was also donating all profits to The Treasury “He’s been so supportive of the Treasury for a long time.”With potential for a further two volumes of the book to be published Dave said the books were already written and “ready to go”.“We were just going to try and launch Volume 1 just to see what interest there is.”People who are planning to go to the book launch could expect to hear a bit from the author who will share about the book and a little bit about archaeology Dave said Beth from The Treasury was scheduled to speak and Carson’s Bookshop would also share a bit of information followed by an afternoon tea.But the number one thing the author hoped people would take away from the book was enjoyment and also “appreciation of the rich history of the area”.While Dave said the book was focussed on archaeology which is a study of places and things that humans leave behind: “it’s primarily about people”.DETAILS: Dave’s book launch at Carsons’ Bookshop Archaeology of ‘The Thames’ Goldfield – Volume 1 will be available to purchase at the launch and afterwards at Carson’s or online at www.thetreasury.org.nz Three teenagers are set to face charges after an increase in dishonesty offending in the Coromandel area this summer Three teenagers are set to face charges after an increase in dishonesty offending in the Coromandel area this summer New Zealand Police Eastern Waikato area commander Inspector Mike Henwood said two of the teenagers were arrested last night “About 7pm last night, Thames Police responded to reports of people breaking into cars,” Henwood said “With the assistance of a police dog unit from Hamilton police tracked and arrested two offenders nearby.” Henwood said inquiries revealed the alleged offenders were also believed to have been involved in several incidents since January 8 “This includes the attempted unlawful taking of vehicles are due are due to appear before the Hamilton Youth Court today is due to appear in the Waihi District Youth Court later this week “Eastern Waikato Police have identified an increase in dishonesty offending within the wider area over the past few weeks,” Henwood said “[This] is in line with what we typically see across summer months and have we have altered patrol patterns accordingly.” Henwood said the arrests were a good step towards curbing the recent offending but police needed the public’s help to continue to effectively respond to unlawful activity please contact Police on 111 if it’s happening now or via 105 either online or over the phone if it’s after the fact,” Henwood said Firefighter crews from Thames, Tapu, Pururi and Ngatea were dispatched to Kuranui St this afternoon after a garage fire spread to a house on the same street The fire prompted a message from a nearby school’s principal for parents and caregivers to avoid the area while students were safe in class According to a Fire and Emergency spokesperson multiple reports of the fire were made at 1.23pm Attending firefighters then called a second alarm because they could see a “hefty amount of smoke” as they were approaching The spokesperson said the fire has been extinguished “Two crews remain on the scene with a fire investigator.” Moanataiari School principal David Brock issued a statement on the school’s Facebook page saying everyone in the school was safe “There has been a house fire adjacent to the school,” Brock’s statement said “Students are safe in class avoiding the fumes Brock issued a second announcement on the school’s Facebook page with pick-up instructions you may wish to start picking up students now A Police spokesperson said they were notified of a garage fire that had spread to a house on Kuranui St at about 1.25pm today “There is no mention of any injuries,” the spokesperson said A Hato Hone St John said they had been were notified of the Thames incident but their assistance was not required Maryana Garcia is a Hamilton-based reporter covering breaking news in Waikato She previously wrote for the Rotorua Daily Post and Bay of Plenty Times The Thames Small Gauge Railway Society was established in 1993 and features a 1km loop track that runs along the Brown St foreshore A long-standing attraction in Thames is under threat as the proposal to build a seawall to protect the town from flooding and rising sea level moves forward Thousands of volunteer hours and more than $100,000 was poured into the attraction when it was granted a lease to use the land by the Thames-Coromandel District Council in 1995 It is situated at Victoria Park and operated by a group of about 30 volunteers It sits near the starting point of a proposed seawall as authorities weigh up the options for protecting the town from long-term climate impact Shoreline protection has been tagged as a high priority for the town after a management project showed $1 billion in assets in the township are at risk over the long term from hazards associated with sea-level rise A public meeting held in June presented various concept designs for protection against a half metre of sea-level rise The council’s project governance team then confirmed a stopbank would be constructed where space allows along the Thames foreshore and would generally follow the existing footpath with an expected height increase of about 1.4 metres The society has since confirmed it will have to dismantle the site as the seawall is built Secretary Russell Skeet said that could cost $170,00-$340,000 and if the council could financially assist them Skeet said it would cost about $170,000 just to deconstruct the track and associated buildings and facilities then move them to a storage facility in nearby Kopu It would cost an estimated $340,000 to deconstruct then reassemble and reconfigure the track associated buildings and facilities on the site The Hauraki-Coromandel Post put questions to the council after Skeet confirmed the society had recently met with the council’s project team to discuss the options The council was asked to confirm it had been in discussions with the society but the council did not address the matter directly Seawall project lead Amon Martin did confirm the area of foreshore designated for protection would run from Hape Stream near the Toyota factory to the Victoria Park/Croquet Club the area occupied by the Thames Small Gauge Railway Society “There’s a strong case for central government input given the assets that will benefit from protection including our state highway; once the design work is finalised that will allow us to pursue specific and targeted discussions with various agencies on funding options,” Martin said options for funding the construction of protection will go to community consultation before any decisions are made.” Martin confirmed funding sources would likely include a mix of central agency contributions and targeted rates “Over the next month we’ll be updating councillors on project progress The meeting will provide an update on our work to understand fluvial hazards and risks to Thames and how these may impact the project “The project team also expects to have more information to share at the meeting on the expected costs associated with construction Skeet said the society did not see the matter as contentious as it was understood the council had been proactive in its approach to them “We were pleased the council came and spoke to us I thought they did a reasonable job at presenting it.” Skeet said the proposed seawall would have a profound effect on the railway covering up a significant part of the track “If it turned out that we would have to pay for it then the answer would be no if the council would pay for most of it then it would happen.” In August Audit New Zealand sounded a warning to Thames-Coromandel District Council over plans to spend $92 million on shoreline protection The warning was issued in an audit of the council’s 2024-34 long term plan consultation document with Audit saying it considered the council’s funding assumption for coastal hazards as “unreasonable” Audit said the council had assumed 60% of shoreline protection costs ($55.8m) would be funded by the Government and considered the assumption unreasonable because the Government had not yet agreed to provide funding Sonic Delusion is bringing the groove to the North Island this summer with a string of energetic live shows that promise to be full of funk Known for their unique blend of indie pop that’s “too funky for folk and too folky for funk,” Sonic Delusion’s high-energy performances have been captivating audiences around the world is teaming up with French-born Sev Thiebaut on Latin-flavored keys and bass to create an irresistibly boogielicious live experience.Sonic Delusion has performed over 1500 shows across Switzerland delivering feel-good music that’s bound to make you smile In the words of music critic Graham Reid: “Sonic Delusion is funny fresh and funky…a welcome breath of entertainment and smiles.” Their loop pedal-driven sound bursts with upbeat layered with Sev’s vibrant bass grooves and Latin keys toe-tapping drum rhythms.NZ Musician Magazine's Amy Maynard describes Sonic Delusion's music as full of catchy melodic hooks that make you want to get up and dance and this summer tour promises plenty of that feel-good vibe Whether you’re in the mood to kick back and soak in the sunshine or get up and dance this is a tour you won’t want to miss.The trio will be performing on the 4th of January at the Monkey House Theatre in Whitianga the 5th of January at the Kauaeranga Valley Community Hall in Thames the 6th at the Secret Garden in Waihi Beach and wrapping things up with a bang at the “Sounds in the Sands” event on the 11th of January in Ōpunake.Prepare yourself for an unforgettable summer of feel-good music and dance-worthy beats with Sonic Delusion Kaliyah had been attending a birthday party on a school inset day but ‘never returned home’ News | London Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice The family of an 11-year-old girl have said she “went to a birthday party and never returned home” after her body was confirmed to have been found in the River Thames A body was identified as schoolgirl Kaliyah Coa following formal identification on Tuesday She had been playing with another young girl and boy on a school inset day when she slipped into the Thames before a life ring could be thrown to her on March 31 The 11-year-old entered the river near Barge House Causeway, close to London City Airport her body was recovered in Maritime Quay on Sunday her family said: “Our hearts are broken and our lives will never be the same Kaliyah went to a birthday party and never returned home to her family “The family would like to thank all those who were involved in the search and recovery of Kaliyah “We sincerely hope that everyone will respect our wishes to be given the space and time to grieve as a family.” An inquest into Kaliyah’s death is due to open on May 2 added: “This tragic accident took away a little girl who was loved by many “Our specialist officers will continue to support Kaliyah’s family as they process this heartbreaking news "I echo her family’s request for privacy while they navigate the difficult road ahead and urge the public to refrain from wholly inaccurate speculation both on and offline “I would like to extend my thanks to our search and recovery teams I know the local community has been deeply impacted by this incident and also thank them for their support." Family ‘heartbroken’ after body found in River Thames confirmed to be schoolgirl Quilts created during Covid pandemic to be celebrated in new exhibition Living on the water in London: the best houseboats for sale on the River Thames now How Guerrilla.Co is tackling road-runoff pollution in the UK Following confirmation that Kaliyah’s body had been found the Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz added: “This evening police formally identified the body recovered from the River Thames just over two weeks ago as that of 11-year old Kaliyah Coa “Every day since that fateful day in March when Kaliyah was lost will have been unimaginable for her mother and family I pray for their comfort during this time of anguish and pain “My thoughts also are with her friends and fellow pupils from the local school that Kaliyah attended The whole school community – both children and staff - will once again be desperately upset by this news because Kaliyah was a popular pupil who shone bright “As we feel deep sadness that her life was tragically taken too soon we will also reflect on Kaliyah’s preciousness On behalf of everyone in our community and at Newham Council my deepest condolences to her family at this saddest of times “Our local police and members of all the emergency services worked tirelessly in their search for Kaliyah and I am so grateful for their dedication and diligence.” Residents pointed out that it appeared to be covered in moss and is slippery told reporters Kaliyah was “paddling” in the water and “must have slipped” Ms Benadjaoud said a male neighbour told her he had called police She said: “But he said at the time he could see her [the girl’s] hands going down by the time I got down there with the ring I couldn’t find her.” said: “I heard upstairs a guy was screaming ‘wait there Police previously warned Londoners to “never underestimate the risks” of open water swimming as temperatures rose died after getting into difficulties at Beckenham Place Park VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin New visa crackdown as Home Office plans to restrict applications from nationalities most likely to overstay New visa crackdown as Home Office plans to restrict applications BBC admits to ‘lapse’ in standards after Today coverage of Harry interview James O'Brien is Leading Britain's Conversation A schoolgirl who tragically died after entering the River Thames is likely to have died “swiftly” from the “effect of cold water” was reported missing on March 31 after playing near Barge House Causeway in Woolwich on a school inset day A major search was launched before the Metropolitan Police confirming on April 13 they had found a body in Maritime Quay on the Isle of Dogs The force said on Wednesday it was Kaliyah's body an inquest was opened at London Coroner’s Court Read more: Body pulled from Thames identified as 11-year-old Kaliyah Coa who 'went to birthday party and never returned home' Read more: Pictured: Missing 11-year-old 'swept away' while paddling in the River Thames Senior coroner Graeme Irvine told the hearing the reason she may have gone into the water was to try and find a lost shoe.“ It would appear that she entered the water in an attempt to recover a lost shoe but that is something which will be covered later at an inquest,” Mr Irvine said He told the court the provisional cause of death was immersion pending further tests.Preliminary post-mortem investigations conducted by Professor Alan Bates suggested that Kaliyah had not died from drowning Mr Irvine said of the preliminary findings: “The effect of being in cold water would have caused unconsciousness and death relatively swiftly “I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the parents I cannot imagine the grief they must be going through.” The devastated family issued a heartbreaking statement following her death They said “their hearts are broken” and their lives will “never be the same” again Kaliyah went to a birthday party and never returned home to her family,” they added Our specialist officers will continue to support Kaliyah’s family as they process this heart-breaking news "I echo her family’s request for privacy while they navigate the difficult road ahead I know the local community has been deeply impacted by this incident and also thank them for their support "The Met was alerted to a body in the River Thames in Maritime Quay The formal identification was conducted on Tuesday See more Latest News See more World News See more More Topics