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
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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
View image in fullscreen 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:
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New Zealand Food Safety is recalling a range of frozen anchovies after detecting marine biotoxin in the product
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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’
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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."
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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
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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
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