Monday’s rain has resulted in surface flooding across some streets in Whakatāne this afternoon Motorists are reporting that Pounama Place and Peace Street have flooded Apanui Primary School released a statement on Facebook around 2.45pm asking parents to use a different access into the school grounds “Please use the McAlister Street entrance A shopper to Big Save Furniture Whakatāne on The Strand reported some flooding and displaced ceiling panels in the store about 1pm “We got a little bit of flooding in the store but were able to clean it up quite quickly,” a staff member said Whakatāne District Council said the area had experienced significant rainfall over the past 24 hours “At approximately 1pm today water crossed over Peace Street between the northern and southern sections of Peace Stream Sponge Reserve,” Three Waters manager Jim Finlay said “This section of road is intended to operate similar to a ‘ford’. The new stormwater system is designed to direct water to the lowest point on the road away from properties “This allows water to ‘flood’ safely on the road without damaging infrastructure or private property.” this system may also cause temporary road closures to manage water flow “McAlister Street flood pumps were operating as per their wet setting and once the rain eased off the water dissipated “Council staff investigated reports of flooding at a retail business in Central Whakatāne; however was blocked at the rear of the building which caused rainwater to come in from the ceiling.” Motorists are advised to drive with caution while flooding recedes Whakatāne District Council have previously encouraged residents to log into the council’s Fix It Portal for non-urgent jobs on www.whakatane.govt.nz/fixit or to phone 07 306 0500 for anything urgent How do you feel about Tauranga’s rapid population growth Back to top A person has been charged over the death of a man in a hunting incident in Whakatane last week Police were notified of the death in Minginui at about 2am on Friday The man who died has been named as 72-year-old Stuart Maxwell Stobie A 46-year-old man is facing charges of manslaughter unlawful hunting and unlawful possession of a firearm He's due to appear in the Rotorua District Court on Tuesday A person has died after a hunting incident in Whakatāne Police said they were notified at about 2am on Friday of a sudden death in the Bay of Plenty Village.. The girl was also handcuffed after being misidentified by police officers New Zealand RSS Follow RNZ News is the latest victim of a string of recent dog attacks in Whakatāne The owner of a cat fatally mauled by roaming dogs this week has been horrified to learn that her pet is not the only victim of dogs in Whakatāne Whakatāne District Council dog control officers say they have impounded eight dogs over the past 10 days and are encouraging people to make formal complaints when they see roaming dogs rather than post about them on social media Trinaka Godsmark-Tawa’s cat Stormy was found dead on Monday morning The James St resident had been getting ready for work just after 5am when she heard loud and aggressive barking that lasted five minutes A neighbour told her he had just chased away three dogs outside his house Godsmark-Tawa went in search of Stormy and found him mauled to death about six houses away She posted about the attack on social media and soon learned that a nearby Riverside Drive resident had chased away three dogs that had been terrorising the resident’s cat The dogs - one described as a husky and another as light-coloured - had been seen coming from Awatapu lagoon Local Democracy Reporting has verified that at least four other cats have been attacked by dogs in Whakatāne this year. One incident in Whakatāne’s south three weeks ago was witnessed by the cat’s owner and her two preschool children. The woman, who did not want to be named for fear of repercussions, said her 2-year-old daughter had been feeding the cat when it was grabbed by two dogs. She describes one as a husky-type dog and the other as a tall, cream-coloured pitbull or staffie mix. “It could have been [my daughter] they attacked,” she said. It happened just before 7am while the cat waited for his food on the front doorstep. “I opened the front door to let my 2-year-old put the food down and, all of a sudden, the cat was swiped from her feet. “I quickly ushered [the girls] back inside and shut the door. They watched out of the window as I chased after the dogs. “So, they were watching as [the cat] was being ripped by two dogs, one on each side.” The 14-year-old cat survived, but is on antibiotics and still limping, the owner said. “He has some very big lacerations on his back.” The children were now frightened to go outside their front door. “They’ve only ever known this cat as their baby. Now I’ve had to carry them to and from the car. They won’t go out on the front porch any more.” She urged people to call dog control as soon as they saw any dogs roaming. A dog control officer told her there had been multiple reports of the same dog, she said. Local Democracy Reporting also heard from a Hinemoa St resident whose cat was attacked by dogs a few weeks ago. It also survived, but spent a week at the veterinary clinic. Two other cat owners have posted on social media that their cats were killed by dogs in January. Godsmark-Tawa would like to see more dog control officers patrolling the area as it’s not the first time it’s happened in the area. “It’s unfair that we have had to bury our cat because someone can’t keep their dogs in their own gate.” The council is currently advertising for a dog control officer on its careers website. Whakatāne-Ōhope ward councillor Nāndor Tanczos said roaming dogs were an ongoing problem, not only in town but in other parts of the district, and one that the council took seriously. “In the last Long-Term Plan, we voted for more staff for animal control. One of the difficulties is that staff can’t be everywhere all the time ... so it does rely a lot on people contacting the council when they see it happening. “Any help with identifying the dogs is encouraged, such as taking photographs or videos. “Often the animal is gone by the time staff get there. It’s not very easy to identify individual dogs. “The council staff are really good people, and I think they are genuinely trying to do their best with the challenges that they’ve got.” Tanczos said most dog owners were responsible, but a few needed to stop their dogs escaping. Other issues were whether dog control officers had the powers they needed under the council’s bylaws, and how many dog control staff were needed. “People want more dog control staff, but also people complain that there’s too many staff at council. We can do that, if that’s what the community wants, but people have to say how much extra they are prepared to pay in rates for that to happen.” Animal control team leader Verna Kinney said the council had received one formal complaint regarding a dog attack on a cat in the James St area. “As this matter is under active investigation, we are unable to comment further.” Since April 20, it had received 20 service requests about roaming dogs in the Whakatāne township, with several reports relating to the same incidents. She urged people to report sightings of roaming dogs as soon as possible but, for safety reasons, not to approach unattended dogs. - LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air. Ballance Agri-Nutrients worker says there a lot of anxiety over potential loss of jobs. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved Police said they were notified at about 2am on Friday of a sudden death in the Bay of Plenty Village of Minginui with the Coroner being advised and involved in the process." Air Chathams' Saab 340 plane may soon disappear from Whakatāne Airport Air Chathams needs support from Whakatāne District Council and the community if it is to continue providing flights to the Eastern Bay said the company was reluctantly considering withdrawing from the Whakatāne-to-Auckland route within the next six to 12 months the airline had lost more than $1 million on the route “We don’t want to just pull the plug on Whakatāne as Air New Zealand did in 2015 but we need more support if we are going to continue operating,” Emeny said Whakatāne had been the airline’s best-performing service who generally paid more for a ticket than leisure flyers the airline retired the ageing 18-seat Metroliners which were dedicated to the Whakatāne route which are shared with the Kāpiti Coast air service This meant it could not provide the flights needed to cater for the business market These included early-morning and late-afternoon return trips to Auckland for Whakatāne residents who needed to travel to Auckland for the business day and return the same day “We can’t make this route work if we don’t cater to business traffic,” Emeny said He said the airline had engaged with the council about the impending retirement of the Metroliner since late 2022 and tabled several options to ensure the Whakatāne service would not be affected “In the end we felt boxed into a corner and had to make quick decisions on whether we continue the route or not We decided to continue without council supporting an aircraft upgrade and implemented a schedule change that we knew would not fully meet the local market – especially the business travellers.” Emeny outlined the support he needed from the district council at a public-excluded briefing on March 26 The airline is asking the council to lead a local investment campaign to support the purchase of a Saab 340 for Whakatāne and help it access a low-interest loan through the Local Government Funding Agency “We don’t expect the council to pay for the aircraft “We strongly believe the area can support a larger Saab 340 aircraft but we need help for the first few years until the route has developed adequately.” Air Chathams was also asking that the council forgive a five-year loan of $350,000 it received in 2020 to support flights returning to Whakatāne after the first lockdown of the Covid-19 pandemic The money was a combined cash support package provided by three district councils all served by Air Chathams The council recently returned to charging previously waived fees for use of the airport and Air Chathams is seeking further assistance with this Emeny said even though Whakatāne was an important route for Air Chathams there were other regions in New Zealand keen to have the carrier provide services or expand its services “We’re not feeling the love [from Whakatāne District Council] at the moment.” the airline has been flying between Auckland and Whakatāne for 10 years since Air New Zealand withdrew from the route “We would much rather be having a big party to celebrate that awesome milestone we are staring down the barrel of withdrawing our airline from the Eastern Bay “[Air Chathams is] not all about making profits but at some point you need to ensure you are running a viable business with realistic growth prospects to justify the investment and hard work required to maintain it.” a formal report will go to the May 8 council meeting for consideration Because it was a commercially sensitive matter it had been discussed at a public-excluded council briefing Whakatāne District Mayor Victor Luca said councillors had not yet come to any decision on Emeny’s requests He would like to see more data about what proportion of the district used the airline “This is a question I have asked Duane many times I’ve asked him for data and he’s never supplied it but no comprehensive surveys have actually been done “He’s got a whole list of demands that Whakatāne ratepayers would have to pay for “We haven’t in all of this had much of a view of what the public think LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air He piko he tuna is about resilience and love the despite challenges of life says the decision not to upgrade the path is disappointing Cyclists between Whakatāne and Piripai will have to wait for a new shared use path along Keepa Road Whakatāne District Council has instructed staff not to budget any funding in its Annual Plan 2025-2026 to carry out work over and above what it does on its other paths The bumpy 2km path connecting walkers and cyclists from Whakatāne to beachside subdivision Coastlands has been the subject of multiple complaints to council over several years Piripai cyclist Harry Austin said the decision was disappointing “We should be trying to encourage people to get out of petrol and diesel driven cars and get on their bicycles He said crossing the bridge was another obstacle for some cyclists “Cycling across the Landing Road Bridge is quite hair-raising It’s pretty narrow to be used as a cycle track.” He believed the path would slowly get worse and said repairs in the past had been done poorly Elected members had asked staff to provide some costings for options to upgrade or repair the path which were presented to them at a recent briefing Staff recommended carrying out reactive maintenance and renewals only and to set no extra budget for replacement of the path until the council had a better understanding of the direction for the currently stalled Te Rāhui Herenga Waka Whakatāne Boat Harbour project on Keepa Road Transport manager Ann-Elise Reynolds said renewal of the path had been budgeted for in a previous long-term plan but when the boat harbour proposal came about It was included in a larger project to widen the road to support increased traffic to the boat harbour “Rather than upgrade the path in isolation from that project it was brought into the wider Keepa Road improvement project.” That project did not receive the funding that council had sought from New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi in its three-year funding round announced last year The boat harbour project is also on hold currently awaiting plans for a rescoped project able to be delivered within the original budget set in 2019 Reynold said once that was settled the council could reconsider what would happen with Keepa Road “One option could be to only do the path rather than the road.” Council staff provided elected members with a list of other options for the shared use path ranging from $185,000 to make minor repairs to $2 million for a new three-metre wide concrete path Mayor Victor Luca said he felt the estimated cost for minor repairs to be high “Let’s just do some reactive maintenance on it - not just say that we’re going to do it.” Reynolds said the council ran three-yearly surveys of all shared use paths and cycle paths throughout the district grading them from one to five which was used to prioritise maintenance along with other factors such as traffic levels “We will be looking at the Keepa Road shared use path under the same lens as all the other ones.” Deputy mayor Lesley Immink said she often spoke to groups of very enthusiastic cyclists who had been waiting many years for the new path “The lament is the quality of the fix ups,” she said She asked that any maintenance done on the path be monitored for quality “When they finally did throw some tarseal in some of those potholes I don’t even think they banged it down.” Elected members agreed rates increases the community was facing made it the wrong time to budget extra funding to the path “I know it’s not great and I’ve complained about it a lot myself “When times are tough - and I think the waters are looking pretty choppy going forward as well - we maybe need to put some things on hold.” Posted on 26-02-2025 16:37 | By Ian Stevenson a glimmer of hope that common sense may have appeared a little somewhere at long last on this type of silliness none pay a penny towards anything yet demand all Why don't cyclists do what other hobbiests and sportspeaple do Raise the funds to provide your own entertainment get off your saddles and fund your own enjoyment Posted on 26-02-2025 20:47 | By The Caveman Tens of thousands are being spent on "cycleways" that are maybe used by one or two people a day !! How many other words can describe the joy of seeing a council finally show some common sense when really only a small hand full of people actually use these services Yet spandex still use what's left of the road and expect traffic to go around One person has died in a two-vehicle crash in Whakatane today Police said they were called at about 4:55pm to an accident on Ohope Road in Maraetotara Hato Hone St John said one other person was taken to Whakatane hospital in a serious condition The Serious Crash Unit is examining the scene and traffic management remains in place whose wife Sheila died in a head-on crash near Hells Gate in 2019 when another driver crossed the centreline has mixed feelings about the speed limit change on SH30 State Highway 30 between Whakatāne and Rotorua will return to a 100km/h speed limit by July finalising a long and frustrating process for users of the road The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) last week released its final decisions on the limit having done a further round of consultation this year on 49 sections of the state highway network East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick has welcomed the speed reversals which she says restore a “sensible” speed limit to large tracts of state highway in the Eastern Bay “The result [of the consultation] was emphatic – nearly 90% support for returning the route from SH30 Lake Rotomā to Te Teko and then on to Awakeri and Whakatāne to 100km/h “There will be reduced speed limits in the townships of Te Teko and Awakeri as is appropriate,” she said There was only 11% support for retaining the current lower speed limit between Lake Rotomā and Te Teko 10% support for retaining the 80km/h limit between Te Teko and Awakeri and 12% support for retaining it between Awakeri and Whakatāne “There have been more consultation periods than I care to remember and all have said the same thing – this road needs to be at 100km/h where appropriate,“ Kirkpatrick said NZTA announced the reversal of speed limit reductions on 38 other sections of the state highway network including the section between Gateway Drive and the Landing Rd bridge This will revert from 60km/h to 80km/h by July 1 In the latest round of consultation, the Whakatāne District Council asked for this section to remain at 60km/h and for the stretch between Shaw Rd and the Tauranga turn-off to stay at 80km/h Since news of the impending speed reversal between Whakatāne and Rotorua broke on Wednesday “common sense prevails” and “great news” have flooded social media in Eastern Bay some people said they would have liked to see the limit stay at 80km/h on the outskirts of Whakatāne One woman noted that pulling out from Thornton Rd towards Whakatāne in mid-to-heavy traffic was going to be a “nightmare” again The Rotorua areas reverting to 100km/h following low support in consultation for current limits included Te Ngae Junction to Lake Rotoiti and Lake Rotoehu to Lake Rotomā Rhys Bugden, who lost his wife Sheila in a 2019 head-on crash on SH30 near Hell’s Gate in Rotorua when another driver crossed the centreline but thought some parts could stay at 100km/h,” he said “Maybe just drive safely and think about those that don’t have their loved ones any more “It happens so quickly and then it’s all over.” James Morley noted the biggest issue with the speed reduction was that rather than decreasing speeds in the areas they needed to be reduced “No one has an issue if the areas which should be reduced once you get past Te Teko towards Whakatāne Will Jago said he had always been against the 80km/h reduction which seemed senseless when country roads branching off the highway remained at 100km/h  But he said statistics showed accident rates had dropped “Something like 25 fewer fatalities across those areas the road toll has gradually been dropping compared to population growth anyway but even if 20 lives are saved that’s 20 families who haven’t had their lives and worlds torn apart.” Barbara Aim said it was about time the higher speed limit was restored But people needed to learn to drive defensively considerately and using their common sense not the road” sentiment was echoed by many blame should be laid where it belonged – with the driver we might have health or mechanical breakdown but 99% of accidents are driver error and a high percentage of those is simple distraction,” he said “Now all they need to do is teach people how to drive,” said another man “It’s not the speed limit; it’s how people drive that’s the problem.” many drivers wondered if they could be reimbursed for the speeding fines they had received since the speed limit was reduced The Whakatāne District Council has gone with the draft budget rate increase of 11.7% “Balance” and “compromise” were words often repeated as Whakatāne District Council adopted its draft annual plan budget for 2025/26 Despite varying opinions around the table on Thursday about whether the average rate rise should be higher or lower than the 11.7% proposed by the draft budget, the majority of elected members agreed to compromise by accepting the figure Councillors landed on a figure 1% lower than the 12.7% increase proposed for year two of the long-term plan Senior strategic policy analyst Harvey Keravel reiterated what the council was told in December that savings equivalent to a 2.2% rates increase had been identified “Savings came from four areas - decreased inflation and interest rates removal of FTE (full-time equivalent employees) some deferred transport work and other line-by-line savings.” Though members disagreed about allocation of these savings the majority had previously provided guidance to staff to split the savings with 1% being allocated to reduce the proposed rates increase to 11.7% The rest of the savings would help reduce the council’s current $14 million operating deficit Iles wished to use more of the savings to reduce rates further He responded to finance general manager Bevan Gray’s comparison to a household paying off their mortgage faster to reduce future interest costs a lot of households aren’t in that position the economic climate has got worse for a lot of those families,” Iles said but it’s at the expense of some of these households which are really going to struggle to find this additional rate increase “We have to try and consider the whole of the district’s circumstances whether they be old-age pensioners on fixed incomes or young families struggling to get food on the table.” Pullar said the council should be sticking to the 12.% rates rise agreed to in the long-term plan “What we’ve got to remember is that whenever we put stuff off to save a per cent He said finding savings of 1% now belied the council’s credibility we’re going to set a rate and people are going to say “We hear about people who can’t buy milk and can’t do this and can’t do that I wonder how many people we’re talking about Are we going to cane 38,000 of them because we’re trying to look after 1000 of them?” Councillor Gavin Dennis said he would have preferred to take rates rises down to 10.7% but understood the necessity for compromise “I believe that there are a lot more than 2000 people struggling at the moment I have seen the huge effort that staff have gone to not only to reduce the timeline of the debt because that will free up more money in the future “I also applaud them for finding the savings that they did I have to agree there is a balance to what Councillor Pullar said that we can’t kick it too far down the track.” The remaining councillors also agreed to compromise despite some wishing for lower rates rises and others wanting to reduce debt further although he was not happy with the rates increase said the council had landed where most elected members were in favour There are trade-offs and compromises that need to be made “We’d all like to have no debt and we’d all like to have no reduction in services as well but those things are all in tension and you just can’t have everything.” - LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air Paying for clean-up means less money for the community One of the organisers of a hīkoi held on Saturday to protest the closure of the obstetrics unit and "mismanagement" at Whakatāne hospital says they are "keen to unite" with other regions experiencing problems with health providers Those taking part in the hīkoi called for action to be taken saying Whakatāne hospital was understaffed and badly managed Hīkoi spokesperson and Whakatāne district councillor Nándor Tánczos said between 700 to 1000 people took part in the hīkoi "and that was just the tip of the iceberg as many others wanted to come" and keen to unite with other regions who are affected by this issue," Tánczos said The protest was "ignited" by the recent closure of obstetrics and gynaecology services which locals fear could lead to the deaths of pregnant women and babies Tánczos said the area was "well served by a network of highly competent midwives" but people were understandably anxious with the nearest hospital more than an hour away poor management and dysfunctional systems caused by the centralisation of decision-making" "We asked people to wear orange if they or their whānau had been affected by [any of these factors] There was a lot of orange in the crowd," Tánczos said Tánczos told RNZ's Saturday Morning that while there was a global shortage of obstetricians and "it could be hard to recruit to Whakatāne even though we are an amazing place to live" - the recruitment process was "deeply dysfunctional" "When there are people to take up these roles they're having to wait months to have their contract signed some of them have given up and gone elsewhere," he said The recent departure of several key national health figures was "deeply disruptive" and highlighted an ongoing process of change "There's just not enough time being given to the changes put in place by the previous government The systems have not had enough time to roll out." "I think the resignations show there is something deeply dysfunctional going on within the health service and it makes us really concerned about the changes that the current government is pushing through." Speakers at the rally included local National MP Dana Kirkpatrick Green Party health spokesperson Hūhana Lyndon Labour mental health spokesperson Ingrid Leary Ngāti Awa Social and Health Services chief executive Enid Ratahi-Pryor and MERAS midwives union co-leader Caroline Conroy Health NZ deputy chief executive for the Midland region Cath Cronin said today's hīkoi showed "how crucial the service is and how strongly local people feel about it Te Whatu Ora was working on reinstating full maternity services and practical supports had been set up while this happened They include making support and advice from a midwife available 24/7 on 0800 429 328 food and accommodation for those who need to go to Tauranga to give birth and having a dedicated ambulance on standby 24/7 for emergency transfers when needed "We're also working with the Independent Māori Partnership Board community providers and iwi to create strong relationships and have local input We're making real progress recruiting new senior doctors and have some international interest in the positions as well." Health NZ will appoint a general manager of Whakatāne Hospital to provide local leadership and decision making "We have also just appointed a taskforce director who will work with hospital and specialty services and community partners and oversee our progress in restoring sustainable secondary obstetric and maternity services across the district "We want to reassure the community that if people require hospital level care Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday The Detail: Despite a model based on choice New Zealanders' options for birth are limited based on post code The sector is now in a perilous position after the resignation of Director-General of Health Diana Sarfati An Ōpōtiki woman who had an emergency caesarean section at Whakatāne Hospital says she fears for others Mayor Victor Luca says the downgrade of specialist services at Whakatāne Hospital's gynaecology and obstetrics department is only the tip of the iceberg Major surgical cases have been delayed in some places because of a strike by lab workers at public hospitals in Wellington Whakatāne Hospital's Maternity Unit will be downgraded to a primary birthing centre from mid-January with women needing specialist care being transported to Tauranga Politics RSS Sheer determination was all that carried Jack Karetai-Barrett into Papamoa at around 8pm on Tuesday night After walking 40 kilometres over 12 hours on raw carrying a 17-kilogram pack on the second day of his walk to Tauranga he still had to be persuaded to stop short of his intended destination of Arataki Community Centre where a group of supporters had been gathered to greet him The 15-year-old had walked from Whakatāne over two days to promote voting yes to Māori wards The Local Government (Māori Wards) Amendment Act 2024 requires 42 councils wanting to keep or form Māori wards to hold a binding poll at this year's local body elections was feeling extremely proud on Wednesday morning there's plenty of adults that wouldn't have done it." She said Jack had been reluctant to stop walking despite the fatigue and pain he was experiencing Karetai said Jack was worried that he had let people down by not getting to Arakaki in time He's just got such a strong sense of honour and duty "I look at this boy and I see the man that he's going to become strong heart for things that really matter." Jack told Local Democracy Reporting there was plenty of support along the way with hundreds of people honking their horns in support Higgins contractors volunteered to open the gates to go through a closed area of the shared use path along the Tauranga Eastern Link motorway between Paengaroa and the Kaituna River where construction was taking place "They contacted me and said they'd heard that Jack was coming so they were going to organise for the gates to be opened," Karetai said "So they opened the gates and walked him through so that he didn't have to take a massive detour." She was grateful for all the support he received "Whether it was from people stopping to check on him walked up to meet him and he stayed with her family that night Jack is determined to continue with his return walk over the next couple of weeks he needs to give his feet time to heal first and due to heavy rain forecast over the next few days he has been advised that poor visibility would make it unsafe to walk on the road He was sounding cheerful on Wednesday morning when Local Democracy Reporting checked in with him He admitted that walking on the roadside was "10 times harder than walking in the bush," which is where he normally tramps and his boots had been unsuitable forcing him to switch to sneakers after the first day A 15-year-old boy from Whakatāne's walk for wards aims to keep Māori voices in local government Business owners on Thornton Road in Whakatāne say poor communication over road closures this summer crippled their businesses for at least a month Thornton Bar and Eatery owner Brenda Collins said her revenue dropped by between 50 and 75 percent when Whakatāne District Council closed Thornton Road for renewals and she had asked for compensation for costs to her business "The impact the closure had on my business was immediate and in that moment plans to hire a second chef and extend my business hours going into my busiest time of the year were quashed." she often closed her restaurant halfway through the day as it was empty Blueberry Corner berry farm manager Verna Falwasser said farms such as Blueberry Corner and R&Bs which sell real fruit soft serve ice creams and other treats as well as berries were open only six-to-seven months of the year She said Blueberry Corner employed over 50 local people over summer She had put 15 new shop staff through a three-hour induction and barista training the week before opening She said although her employers were not seeking compensation from the council she wanted the council to be more aware of the impact their actions had on businesses that were reliant on passing traffic Both women accept the road maintenance needs to be done but say that better communication with them beforehand could have minimised damage to their businesses In spite of both businesses having mailboxes they say they did not receive the council notice that was delivered to residents affected by the works I don't sit on Facebook and read the notifications from council "We opened [for the summer] on a Wednesday 'don't forget the road's closing on Monday' She said signs diverting all traffic between Whakatāne and Tauranga via Edgecumbe placed at the State Highway 30 intersection of Thornton Road and north of the Matatā township had not only affected Thornton Road businesses "I called into the shops at Matatā and they were affected People coming from Tauranga were told the road through Matatā was closed except to residents Another detour for light traffic had been available via Griegs Road which would have taken traffic past their businesses Collins said she had met with council staff in December who told her they were satisfied they had carried out a comprehensive publicity campaign prior to the works newspaper advertising and social media posts The business owner said on a previous occasion she had been paid $4500 compensation by the council for loss to her business because of poor communication but had been refused when she asked this time She said in that case council had accepted there had been inadequate notice of work that had a direct impact on her business Both women addressed the council's infrastructure and planning committee recently about the impact of the lack of communication on their businesses and Ms Collins again informed them she wished to be compensated Council chief executive Steven Perdia said councils did not pay compensation when works occur around households and businesses [Works] occur every day of every year with every council and they are always affecting people but at the end of the day the outcome of that work is that we maintain a fit-for-purpose district." Hamilton's Rocket Coffee Roasters has been ranked 62nd on the list and Catering owner Kiri Erb said it was an honour to be one of two catering companies dishing out kai at the upcoming event Local Democracy Reporting RSS Midwives in the eastern Bay of Plenty fear pregnant women and their babies will be at serious risk of harm with the collapse of obstetric services at Whakatāne Hospital All four specialists have resigned and although Health New Zealand is working to recruit more in the meantime high-risk cases will be transferred to Tauranga Hospital from mid-January About 650 babies are born in Whakatāne Hospital's district each year About half of those - nearly one in 10 - are emergency operations said and her colleagues were extremely worried for the whānau in their care It's not my fault there's no doctor available." Te Whatu Ora said Whakatāne would shift to a primary birthing service on a temporary basis from mid-January midwives said the district was already without obstetric cover at times There has been been no obstetrician at the hospital since 8am Wednesday with the next one due on shift at 8am on Saturday said communication from hospital managers has been "very poor" and midwives did not feel adequately prepared "You could have a normal pregnancy and birth and then have a post-partum haemorrhage - there was one of those the other day "You could be labouring normally and then suddenly the baby is in distress and you need a caesarean," she said "Getting to Tauranga Hospital by ambulance "We've already had problems with ambulances not being available Midwives calculated about 300 women a year may need to be transferred Local staff have been told it could be a year or 18 months before Whakatāne Hospital again has an obstetrics services said Te Whatu Ora acknowledged it was "a difficult and unsettling time" for the community they could be assured that clinical safety came first "We have these escalation procedures and policies around the country in our other primary units and at our rural units We have those in place and we'll be implementing them Health NZ started recruiting internationally for obstetricians two weeks ago She was not able to comment on why four specialists had resigned at the same time nor what had been done to try to retain them but my understanding is that people have been working as hard as they can to both attract internationally and nationally and work across districts and work across regions to see where we could get cover from some of our other centres." who was born in Whakatāne Hospital himself said it was not acceptable that mothers and babies were being put at risk "It's very sad that people have to take risks to have their children now we won't be well placed to deal with them here - they'll have to be transferred to Tauranga but unwinding these things once they've happened is not easy." Health NZ had assured the College of Midwives that there would be supports for whānau who had to travel - and for midwives who would lose out financially with their clients transferred "We don't want to lose any midwives from the region because their work becomes financially unsustainable and there's a real effort to ensure the midwifery workforce is retained regardless of what's happening with the [obstetric] service at Whakatāne." After Wellington hospital maternity wards tried to pull toast from the menu mothers stood united in their love for post-birth toast Desperately worried doctors fear people are dying as a direct result of critical workforce shortages A Health and Disability Commission investigation found the baby should have been delivered hours earlier by caesarean section General Practice New Zealand says frontline medical staff find the current situation "very distressing" The heavily pregnant woman aged in her 20s and her stillborn child died in 2022 prompting then-PM Jacinda Ardern to call it a "devastating story" Today’s rain has caused surface flooding on some Whakatāne streets Apanui Primary School released a statement on Facebook at about 2.45pm asking parents to use a different access into the school grounds A shopper at Big Save Furniture Whakatāne on the Strand reported some flooding and displaced ceiling panels in the store at about 1pm “We got a little bit of flooding in the store but were able to clean it up quite quickly,” a staff member said Motorists are advised to drive with caution Whakatāne District Council have previously encouraged residents to log into the council’s Fix It Portal for non-urgent jobs on www.whakatane.govt.nz/fixit Diane discusses the latest events in Whakatāne including updates on the upcoming local elections a 15-year-old has been raising awareness on Māori wards and Air Chathams needs council support to continue it's only air service directly to Auckland Diane McCarthy is an Eastern Bay of Plenty Local Democracy Reporter with the Whakatāne Beacon See terms of use for easy access to all your favourite programmes Between 700 to 1000 people turned out to The Strand in support of the Hīkoi for Health in protest of the downgrade of Whakatāne Hospital’s Obstetrics and Gynaecology department Saturday’s Hīkoi for Health attracted an “amazing” turnout, with up to 1000 people marching to protest the downgrading of obstetrics and gynaecology services at Whakatāne Hospital Chants of “Don’t ghost our coast” and “Safe birthing is our right” rang out as placard-carrying protesters of all ages walked from Mitchell Park to Wharaurangi on The Strand Hīkoi for Health Coalition member and Whakatāne councillor Nandor Tanczos estimated between 700 and 1000 people took part In welcoming the crowds at Mitchell Park before the hīkoi and we stand with our hospital support staff who everyone at our hospitals need to do their jobs properly.” East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick congratulated the organisation team behind the hīkoi “As a mother I know the anxiety that comes when you are pregnant and know you are facing that birth – this situation has escalated that anxiety throughout our community “It’s a travesty that in a centralised health system we have ended up with more managers than ever but they couldn’t manage this issue in a timely and efficient way to ensure our māmā and pēpē were prioritised.” She asked people to share their stories with her and their solutions to these problems so she could take them to Parliament She said she and the Hīkoi for Health Coalition would be pushing for regular public updates on recruitment and the local health services she would call for another public meeting with community support in a few months' time Members of the crowd called for “more funding” throughout the march and speeches Speakers at Wharaurangi included Labour Party mental health spokeswoman and Taieri MP Ingrid Leary Association of Salaried Medical Specialist union organiser Sarah Dalton local midwife Brogen McBeth on behalf of local maternity caregivers and independent midwives Green Party MP and health spokeswoman Huhana Lyndon the chief executive of Te Tohu o Te Ora Ngāti Awa McBeth assured mothers local midwives would support them through any potential changes and staffing issues “We are here for you down in the East Coast Raise your voices to fight for this service but know that we have you in the background,” she said “The community turned out in force to express their concern and anger I think we sent a powerful message to Te Whatu Ora and the Government.” He said the Hīkoi for Health Coalition would be sending a list of six demands to Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora and the Minister of Health this week “It’s important for a community like ours to stand up and have a voice for these kinds of things.” Hīkoi for Health Coalition member Vanessa Marjoribanks said she felt proud of the community’s response “Te Whatu Ora have underestimated our anger Our community will not let go of our right to a fully functional hospital We know that our medical professionals are some of the best in the world our MP was saying this was simply a recruitment issue “Now we know that was a smokescreen for dysfunctional management “The East Coast community will continue to demand accountability and the return of our adequately resourced hospital service.” Health NZ Bay of Plenty said it was making progress to restore secondary maternity services at Whakatāne Hospital’s Ko Matariki maternity unit That included “good interest” from new senior doctors and talking to ones who previously worked in Whakatāne about “where we can make beneficial changes” The post said a general manager of Whakatāne Hospital appointment would soon be announced to strengthen local leadership and a director had been appointed to a taskforce to oversee restoring the services A phone line to a midwife was available 24/7 (0800 429 328) as well as free food transport and accommodation for patients and whānau who had to travel to Tauranga to give birth in addition to a dedicated ambulance for transfers and we are committed to a return to a secondary birthing service in Whakatāne as soon as possible.” Health NZ deputy chief executive for the Midland region Cath Cronin said the protest showed “how crucial the service is “We want to reassure the community that if people require hospital-level care new hangers and improvements to Whakatāne’s unique terminal are included in a new airport master plan The plan was adopted at a recent meeting of Whakatāne District Council’s infrastructure and planning committee after two years of planning and consultation with airport users and mana whenua Ngāti Awa and Taiwhakaea hapū The airport is built on land confiscated by the Crown in 1866 and the iwi’s Treaty settlement stipulates it must be returned to Ngāti Awa if it is no longer reserved for airport use The Roger Walker-designed terminal is a Category 1 listed building on the New Zealand Heritage List any work carried out will require approval from Heritage New Zealand and the council plans to engage with them Phase one includes carrying out required minor maintenance including correcting weather tightness issues and painting and increasing the waiting space and seating capacity A second phase will see an extension to the terminal and a third phase for when the current terminal reaches capacity is to research options to build a new terminal building An area of the carpark west of the existing terminal has been allocated for this while it’s been suggested the original terminal could be used for office space or hospitality flight school campus and other aeronautical and non-aeronautical opportunities are also being explored with the goal of improving the airport’s financial performance Hangar space has long been in demand by private aircraft owners both within and outside the district The plan states the intention to build these in collaboration with partners and lease them to users A feasibility study will look at different hangar designs rental revenue and projected returns on investment A Solar Feasibility Scoping Report was commissioned by the council in 2022 from Energy Management Solutions and made public in May last year It included a solar array at the airport at a cost of $14.7 million A full business study into the viability of a solar farm is suggested in the plan The plan states that Whakatāne Airport is well situated for flight training Leading aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Boeing have both estimated the international aviation industry would require around 600,000 new pilots over the next 15 years It identifies the opportunity to potentially turn this into an economic advantage for the district Other viable options for activities at the airport include aircraft engineering and painting opportunities parachute operations and passenger transport By Ruth Hill at RNZ A young Ōpōtiki couple feel “lucky” an obstetrician was on duty at Whakatāne Hospital when they needed an emergency caesarean to save their baby’s life But they fear other whānau may not be so fortunate, now that there is no specialist obstetric service in the district, which has about 650 babies born every year Stefanie Kaiser and Hori Barsdell were last month planning to have a home birth — but 36 weeks into the pregnancy their midwife discovered the baby was lying in the transverse position And that’s when everything changed,” Barsdell said The midwife phoned Whakatāne Hospital, but there was no obstetrician on duty, so she called a specialist at Tauranga Hospital “And she pretty much just said on the phone The doctor explained there was a risk if Stefi went into labour the cord could “prolapse” or come out first The couple frantically began making arrangements to go to Tauranga the next day including finding care for their 2-year-old son But early in the morning Kaiser got a call from an unknown midwife at Tauranga Hospital it’s not that dramatic after all?’,” the young mum remembers they can’t do anything before 37 weeks anyway the baby turned and they looked back on track for a home birth Kaiser began bleeding and the worried midwife moved them to a medical centre With the baby’s heart rate dropping and labour not progressing it was time to go the 44km to Whakatāne Hospital the ambulance was going so fast the trees were just flying past and went straight into the emergency department,” Kaiser said Their son was immediately delivered by caesarean section by the sole obstetrician on duty The father asked him what would have happened if they had been forced to travel to Tauranga “He said ‘I don’t even want to think about it’ If the baby had not “decided” to come two weeks early there would have been no obstetrician left at Whakatāne Hospital With the resignations of the four obstetricians on staff Whakatāne Hospital has been reduced to a primary birthing unit since January 15 All complex cases — an estimated 20% of births in the district — are now transferred to Tauranga Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora said it was trying to recruit more doctors Bay of Plenty chief medical officer Dr Kate Grimwade said in Kaiser’s case the initial advice to travel to Tauranga was based on a discussion between an obstetrician and the midwife “Another senior obstetrician also reviewed this plan and felt the risk of pre-term labour was low which is why remaining in Whakatāne was deemed clinically appropriate “We recognise that the change of plan may have caused confusion however the intent was to avoid an unnecessary trip to Tauranga for this whānau which was acknowledged and our team continued to provide clinical advice to support them as required.” If Kaiser had needed an emergency caesarean after January 14 there would have been “contingencies in place” “A dedicated ambulance is in place for emergency transfers to Tauranga Hospital 24/7 and air transfers are also available when circumstances require the outcomes for this whānau were positive and we are reaching out to them directly to understand what they feel could have improved their overall experience.” Baby Momo Āio — his name means “a type of peace” — is living up to his name and the whole family is doing well Her partner said his heart went out to those in more isolated settlements “We’re just over a couple of hours from Tauranga A crash has blocked State Highway 2 near Matatā Police said a ute rolled between the two turnoffs into McPherson Street before 6.20pm Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday About 200 people have gathered in Whakatāne to mark the fifth anniversary of the Whakaari White Island eruption who had just boarded the boat back to Whakatāne with her father when the eruption happened She told First Up fear set in along with the realisation others were still on the island as the ash cloud rolled towards the sea The boat sped round the ash cloud and headed to the bay where they had docked For years she had little recollection of the couple of hours they spent treating and triaging people "It's only been in last couple of years meeting with the survivors and the people that we treated have I been able to piece together most of the things that have happened - because they remembered me doing things or me saying things or me sitting with them." She is still triggered by the smell of ash and sulphur and was initially reluctant to explore the outdoors again - but that had changed "There's no way of knowing what's going to happen and I'm going to live my life in fear of something big happening." Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell and Police Commissioner Richard Chambers attended the ceremony Prayers were led in several different faiths before reflections and the the dropping of pōhutukawa flowers into the ocean will meet at Te Mānuka Tūtahi Marae for a pōwhiri who have travelled from Australia and Britain At 2.11pm - the time Whakaari began to erupt five years ago - there will be a minute's silence followed by speeches after which the families will be given an opportunity to speak a design for a new memorial at the heads will be unveiled by Harawira's brother said the anniversary day of 9 December has forever changed for his family and those of others killed Mark Inman said efforts to support first responders and a recent fundraising concert for a Whakaari memorial "An amazing concert in honour of all those both lost and those that were involved around the rescue and recovery and the support I drive a few things around raising funds for our first responders and the like that's I guess the positive way I try to channel my energies around grief." The tragedy had pulled the community closer together He said a permanent memorial was important for people to be able to sit and reflect or groups to gather The survivors and their families will get the first private viewing of the design for a memorial proposed to honour the dead Whakatāne Hospital changed to a primary birthing service in January The change, which took effect on January 15, meant low-risk births could still take place at Whakatāne Hospital with the assistance of midwives. Any patient requiring intervention – such as an emergency caesarean – would have to go to Tauranga Hospital A dedicated ambulance was available for such transfers RNZ reported in February four obstetricians had resigned before the change A midwife spoke out in January because she feared a pregnant woman or baby would die due to the “downgrading” of maternity services About 650 babies are born at Whakatāne Hospital each year It is the only hospital in the eastern Bay of Plenty which has a population of about 55,000 and is slightly over 50% Māori Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora deputy chief executive Te Manawa Taki Cath Cronin assured the communities Whakatāne Hospital served “that we have no intention of closing any clinical services there” Cronin said Health NZ had been recruiting nationally and internationally and had had expressions of interest from overseas specialists who were in the recruitment process reference checking and “other processes” to move to New Zealand Cronin said secondary obstetric and gynaecology services would recommence at Whakatāne Hospital when Health NZ had recruited senior doctors It was considering applications from five specialist doctors “This is hoped to be achieved within 12 months but will depend on the timing required for doctors to relocate to New Zealand and fill all the requirements to work here.” Cronin said international doctors who accepted roles in New Zealand required Medical Council registration and had to meet visa requirements They would also need to meet specialist training and supervision set by the relevant college Cronin said Health NZ had been meeting with local leaders the Iwi Māori Partnership Board and service providers and would work with them to form an Eastern Bay Leadership Group “to redesign sustainable clinical services” across the district Cronin said a dedicated ambulance and air transport were available for people who needed to travel to Tauranga There was also support for families with food “in a simple way with no strings attached” Cronin said an 0800 number was available 24 hours a day seven days a week for anyone with concerns or questions who wanted to speak with a midwife – 0800 429 328 48 women from the Eastern Bay have given birth at Tauranga Hospital Megan Wilson is a health and general news reporter for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post Whakatane Hospital's Maternity Unit services were downgraded in January this year due to a lack of specialist doctors prompting a public outcry Progress is well under way to restore full obstetrics and gynaecology (O&G) services at Whakatāne Hospital with the first international doctor set to begin work this month Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora expects the department to be fully operational again by early 2026 The sole remaining obstetrician and a locum were not retained due to safety concerns Te Whatu Ora has moved quickly to rebuild the service “We’re making significant progress,” acting group director of operations for Health New Zealand Bay of Plenty “The first international doctor will begin this month “They will begin with a period of supervision at Tauranga Hospital This initial supervision allows new doctors to familiarise themselves with New Zealand’s healthcare system and have their skills assessed while ensuring patient safety doctors will gradually spend more time working in Whakatāne A second senior international doctor has accepted a role and is expected to start later this year “Overseas doctors need time to relocate their lives 35 women have been transferred by ambulance from Whakatāne to Tauranga to give birth A total of 88 Eastern Bay women have delivered at Tauranga Hospital “Whānau continue to receive support for food Health NZ will be holding meetings next month with stakeholders and users of the maternity service in Whakatāne but further public consultation sessions are planned and will be announced soon “This will give us the opportunity to hear local people’s ideas for how we can build a sustainable and safe service for our communities.” The return to full secondary-level obstetrics and gynaecology services is targeted for early 2026 While some abortion services remain available at Whakatāne Hospital women requiring later-stage terminations using medication must currently travel to Tauranga Hospital Early medical terminations – those performed in the first weeks of pregnancy using medication only – continue to be provided at Whakatāne Hospital Verrall had stated that abortion care at Whakatāne had been “quietly shelved” with patients being told to travel more than an hour to Tauranga for treatment McGrath said the need for some patients to travel was not a new development “Terminations requiring surgery have always been provided in the neighbouring Lakes District and that arrangement remains unchanged,” she said Verrall also raised concerns about the lack of support for women needing to travel for abortion care “Assistance is offered to other people needing to travel for pregnancy care on the Whakatāne Hospital website – but not for those accessing abortion care." Police are appealing for information following a fatal crash in Whakatāne Police were called to Ōhope Rd about 4:55pm on Sunday after a crash between a car and a motorbike Eastern Bay of Plenty road policing Sergeant Shane Tailby said “It appears the motorbike has been travelling at speed around the corner where they have slid out onto their side into the opposite lane “A vehicle travelling in the opposite direction has then struck the motorbike with the impact resulting in the car flipping onto its roof.” The motorcyclist was found in a critical condition and CPR was administered “The driver was taken to Whakatane Hospital with minor injuries Tailby said police wanted to hear from anyone who witnessed the crash or has information “You can report information to us via 105 either online or over the phone “Please reference file number: 250323/2112.” Whakatāne District Youth Council members were heartbroken to discover that their murals had been targeted by a tagger but are determined not to let the culprit defeat them Just days after Whakatāne High School Mural Club working in collaboration with the youth council and Keep Whakatāne Beautiful Committee finished its latest mural and painting of the tunnel at River Edge Park Miniature Railway they discovered it had been covered in graffiti titled Te Mahi Tahi a ngā Taiohi - A Youth Collaboration- Balloon Dog for the Community had been treated with Graffiti Shield so was able to be cleaned But just last weekend they discovered the same tagger had struck again going over the same tags with permanent marker Because of the roughness of the surface of the concrete tunnel Youth councillor and mural club member Nate Parsons said it was annoying because they had wanted to enter the work in the Rangatahi Emerging Artists Competition being organised by Ngāti Awa Social and Health Services and Community Action on Youth and Drugs Te Mahi Tahi a ngā Taiohi and the one we did in Kopeopeo but there's no point in entering this and having people come to have a look at it and see it covered in graffiti." He said it took about 12 students three full days of work to complete the mural so it had been disheartening to see it tagged That had been after weeks of work planning and designing the painting They would be seeking advice on the best way to remove or cover the marker Because their paint had been covered by Graffiti Shield paint he was not sure whether they would be able to paint over it without the paint washing off we will just keep covering it up every time they do it so they don't get the satisfaction of having their tag on there." The mural club had not yet finished with the railway site They still have plans to paint the concrete retaining walls leading into the tunnel Nate had also created QR codes for the murals taking people to a Google site that had information about the murals Cleaning up graffiti at a recently-opened south Auckland playground has cost more than $20,000 in just over a year Once an underused display and a target for graffiti the canvas now hosts one of the town's art projects There were several incidents of vandalism at the $10.8 million Hayman Park I Manukau Iho Noa playground and a further 15 in the local area have also been damaged It is "disgusting" that a new playground in south Auckland was tagged with an offensive drawing and racial slurs soon after it opened Three brigades respond to the devastating house fire in Kopeopeo When Whakatāne man Aze Cooper heard the word “fire” on Thursday night throwing water on the flames and rescuing his neighbours from their burning house Cooper said he was in the shower at about 9.20pm when his partner began panicking and rushed in to tell him the neighbouring unit was on fire he ran out with a bucket of water to throw on the flames “I ran straight out of the shower and tried to extinguish the fire but as I went to throw the bucket of water He said he did not realise his son was behind him and both of them were forced back by the blast Cooper took his son to safety at the end of the driveway The fire started in a unit between two houses; all are situated on the same lot Cooper realised his neighbours had not evacuated “It was getting worse by the second,” he said His wife knocked on the door but got no answer and another was gaming with his door shut and headphones on including the bedrooms I got them out of.” Cooper said he was acting on instinct when he ran into the burning house It wasn’t something that I planned on doing; it was something that just happened.” All three units were extensively damaged by the fire Ōhope and Kawerau fire brigades responded at about 9.50pm to the blaze Cooper said they arrived minutes after he entered the house A Fire and Emergency NZ spokesperson said the fire was under control by 11pm with the last truck leaving the scene at 12.30am Whakatāne Hospital's Maternity Unit services were downgraded in January this year due to a lack of specialist doctors Whakatāne District Council voted on Thursday to investigate a proposal by Mayor Victor Luca to establish a health advisory group within the council Most councillors considered it a positive move to advocate for better health services Luca presented councillors with a proposal to set up a group similar to Kāpiti Coast District Council’s Kāpiti Health Advisory Group established in 2017 He said his proposal was in response to the current health system crisis and was announced at a Community Health Forum he hosted last month He visualised a group that came “under the council umbrella” but was not necessarily populated by councillors or council staff “It could be part of the input the community has into the health system such as what we lost when the district health boards were wiped out.” Luca said he had spoken to Kāpiti Mayor Janet Holborow who said their health forum cost next to nothing and practically ran itself Councillors expressed both support and reservations about the idea but voted unanimously to have staff investigate the matter Tanczos was among the councillors who were concerned about what input the group would have with Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora “It becomes another impotent talkfest if Te Whatu Ora doesn’t recognise it and provide a place for it to dock into the health services We need the ability to put some hard questions to Te Whatu Ora Deputy Mayor Lesley Immink echoed Tanczos’ concerns “We don’t want to create another talkfest with very little outcome We’re also not in charge of running the hospital or fixing the New Zealand healthcare system so I’ve got a little bit of concern that it might take us down a path wasting time for staff.” She was also concerned about it taking elected members away from their core duties “Kāpiti does have a dedicated councillor that has been driving the advisory group.” Luca said he had put the idea to Te Whatu Ora’s regional deputy chief executive Cath Cronin recently asking whether she would be open to the idea of one or two people from within the system making up part of the group “She said ‘I would need to see what it looked like before I commit to anything’ “Having the council’s stamp on it would give it some mana and legitimacy,” he said Councillor Toni Boynton wanted to ensure that other health agencies such as the Eastern Bay Primary Health Alliance Te Puna Ora o Mātaatua and Te Tohu o te Ora o Ngāti Awa were engaged with as part of the investigation “Though they are not directly the hospital itself .. They have a very in-tune sense of what is actually happening on the ground.” Councillor Gavin Dennis suggested the Ōpōtiki and Kawerau district councils also be invited to join we have the responsibility to be the watchdog for the community in regard to what the public health systems are doing,” he said Councillor Andrew Iles said the issues were not limited to the Eastern Bay and suggested it might be something that could better be fostered at Local Government New Zealand level Councillor Julie Jukes agreed to the idea but said the council needed to be open-minded about the fact there might be a better more appropriate organisation or advocacy group to do it Tanczos asked that either the new interim general manager of the hospital or Cronin be invited to update the council on the current hospital situation at a public council meeting as he felt the public meeting at the Little Theatre recently had been poorly attended “[It] was at short notice and it was at a bad time of the day and it wasn’t livestreamed People can ask questions at a public meeting like that “If councillors had a chance to interrogate we might get some answers to some questions that still remain unanswered in the public realm.” The council also agreed to Luca writing a letter to the Minister of Health and Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora expressing its concern regarding the health system crisis the loss of secondary obstetrics and gynaecology services in Whakatāne and the effect that ongoing funding cuts will have A Bay of Plenty midwife fears a pregnant woman or baby will die due to Whakatāne Hospital “downgrading” to a primary birthing service. NZME reported last month Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora made the change because of a shortage of specialists It meant low-risk births could still take place at Whakatāne Hospital with the assistance of midwives. Any patient requiring intervention – such as an emergency caesarean – would have to go to Tauranga Hospital A dedicated ambulance was available for these transfers Health NZ has acknowledged the “deep concern” from the community about the change and committed to returning secondary birthing services to the hospital “as soon as it is safe to do so” It will hold a community hui in Whakatāne on Thursday to discuss the changes It is the only hospital in eastern Bay of Plenty which has a population of about 55,000 and is just over 50% Māori The midwife – who spoke on the condition of anonymity – said in her view the hospital was now “the equivalent of a birthing centre” Pregnant women with risk factors including but not limited to a high Body Mass Index pre-existing medical conditions that could impact a pregnancy and any current or previous pregnancy complications would be recommended to birth at Tauranga Hospital Low-risk women who experienced a complication requiring intervention would also have to go to Tauranga she estimated more than half would have existing risk factors The remainder still had the potential to develop complications such as a baby going into fetal distress during labour “While we’re on that ambulance transferring to Tauranga there is absolutely nothing that we can do .. we can’t do an emergency caesarean in the back of an ambulance so we’re basically crossing our fingers and toes that that baby has enough reserves to make it there.” Babies who survived may still face long-term effects of the delay We’re a low socio-economic area with a high-risk demographic – we have rural māmā we have a high rate of Māori that we already know have .. The midwife said it could take up to two hours to get from Whakatāne to Tauranga if traffic was bad She said mothers not having their first baby could deliver in less than an hour In her view: “This is going to kill someone.” the midwife remembered ringing an on-call obstetrician for an emergency caesarean at the hospital to save a baby in fetal distress “I can absolutely hand on heart say there is no f***ing way that baby was going to make it to Tauranga The difference between this woman having a live baby and a dead baby was luck that there was a doctor on the day that she delivered The midwife said there had not been enough obstetricians to cover a full on-call roster since August following resignations the unit would temporarily downgrade to primary care one or two days per fortnight when there was no obstetrician “[But] it got to a point where there were more days in a week without cover than there was with cover.” Local midwives met with a New Zealand College of Midwives representative to discuss their concerns as communication from Health NZ management was “horrendous” and they did not know how staffing issues would be addressed At a December 12 meeting with management they learned Health NZ was “downgrading” Whakātane Hospital to “a primary unit” She said the biggest issue was retaining specialists She believed there were obstetricians prepared to work in Whakatāne but not until systematic issues were addressed Health NZ management needed to “take a long hard look in the mirror and actually ask themselves why these doctors are leaving” The midwife said she loved working in her community and would stay until secondary services resumed but would look at relocating if services were “permanently downgraded” “I’m not staying here to watch my mums and babies die.” Health NZ Te Manawa Taki deputy chief executive Cath Cronin said the safety of pregnant people and their babies was its top priority “We acknowledge the deep concern from the community about the decision to move to a primary birthing model at Whakatāne Hospital while specialist doctors are recruited “We are committed to returning secondary birthing services to Whakatāne Hospital as soon as it is safe to do so.” Cronin said Health NZ would continue engaging with its Iwi Māori Partnership Boards partners to listen to their views on how services were redesigned to support sustainable clinical services Asked about obstetrician resignations in the past six months and whether Whakatāne had any left Cronin said three obstetricians had resigned and it was recruiting locally and internationally to help return to full-service provision She said Health NZ contracted Hato Hone St John for patient transfers in the eastern Bay A “dedicated” ambulance provided 24/7 coverage for all obstetric and emergency gynaecological transfers to Tauranga Hospital two patients had been transferred by the dedicated service since it started on January 13 A Hato Hone St John spokesman said during emergency transfers from Whakatāne to Tauranga the patient remained under the care of a hospital clinician “For urgent hospital transfers or where there is an immediate threat to life the hospital may decide to call for an emergency ambulance or an air ambulance to transport the patient [instead].” What: To discuss maternity service changes at Whakatāne Hospital Megan Wilson is a health and general news reporter for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post Stuart Stobie died on a hunting trip in Minginui in the Bay of Plenty on Friday One person has been arrested after the death of a man following a hunting incident in Minginui, Whakatāne last week Police were notified at about 2am on Friday March 21 of a sudden death following a hunting incident “Police can confirm the man who died was 72-year-old Stuart Maxwell Stobie “Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time A 46-year-old man is due to appear in the Rotorua District Court today Stobie’s death has been referred to the coroner Whakatane District Council has made a submission asking New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi to retain the 60kmh speed limit at the hub but increase it in other sections of State Highway 30 Whakatāne District Council will ask NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi to revert sections of State Highway 30 back to 100km/h The change is likely to go ahead unless there is clear public support for the present 80km/h limit The council will also ask that the section between Whakatāne Bridge and Gateway Drive remain at 60km/h At a meeting of the council’s infrastructure and planning committee on Thursday councillors were asked whether they wanted to make a submission to the agency’s public consultation Councillor Julie Jukes moved that the council submit it would like to see speed limits revert to 100km/h in some areas Cr Gavin Dennis argued against raising the speed limit because it “went against the whole concept of trying to reduce death and serious injury” “I believe we should retain the current speed limits These current speed limits were put in by the previous Government after a lot of research of facts and figures from Waka Kotahi This current reversion doesn’t come up with any facts or figures that provide a reason they should go back who is Matatā Volunteer Fire Brigade’s chief fire officer said he believed there had been far fewer crashes since the change to 80km/h Jukes said she agreed with some of what Dennis said but it was about saving more than just one minute “It’s now 15-20 minutes extra to get to Rotorua.” As an example of the loss of productivity this caused for businesses she mentioned a business with four employees travelling back and forth between Whakatāne and Rotorua that had lost 10 hours of productivity a week While Dennis and Cr Ngapera Rangiaho voted against submitting for raising the speed limits the remaining councillors supported the motion The Government announced in January it would be reversing blanket speed limit reductions brought in since 2020 the only section of road on which the speed limit will be automatically reversed under the new rules is from the Whakatāne Bridge to the Gateway Drive roundabout Whakatāne councillors voted to include in their submission that they wished to retain the 60km/h speed limit between the Whakatāne Bridge and Gateway Drive Only Cr Wilson James said he would prefer to keep that section of the highway at 80km/h Several other sections of State Highway 30 between Whakatāne and Tikitere are part of the present consultation and will revert to 100km/h if there is no public support to retain the 80km/h speed limit These include 8.25km between Shaw Rd and Awakeri and 4.51km between Lake Rotomā and Lake Rotoehu Sections not included in the consultation that will retain their present speed limit are Te Teko east the Rotomā hills from the western Kawerau turn-off to west of Oxford Rd Hinehopu to Hauparu and Hauparu to Tikitere Also included in the council’s submission was that the 80km/h area between The Hub and Shaw Rd be extended to just west of Thornton Rd This was raised as the district council plans to change Thornton Rd between the intersection with SH30 and the Blueberry Corner curves to 80km/h Lesley Immink also requested that the council’s continued support for a roundabout at the intersection of Mill Rd be included in the submission Jukes asked the council to provide feedback to Waka Kotahi about the difficulty of making a submission on the department’s website Police are investigating a fire in which a person had to be rescued from the property Police said they were called to a property on Arawa Street shortly after 4pm on Monday Five fire trucks and about 20 firefighters were at the scene putting out the blaze at its peak Fire and Emergency said the fire was extinguished before 5pm A person who was pulled from the house remained in hospital in a critical condition on Tuesday Police said they were working with Fire and Emergency to establish the circumstances of the fire A person was rescued from a house fire in Whakatāne this afternoon One person is in critical condition following a house fire in Whakatāne Fire and Emergency New Zealand Northern Communications Centre shift manager Joshua Pennefather said a call was received about the fire in Arawa Rd about 4.02pm “The property was well-involved when we arrived,” Pennefather said of the 120sq m single-storey house “We sent five trucks and a couple of support vehicles.” Two fire trucks and crews attended from Whakatāne They are being treated by ambulance,” Pennefather said a police spokesperson confirmed they were called to the fire and were investigating “An occupant was pulled from the house and transported to hospital in critical condition “Police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand are working to establish the circumstances of the fire.” Diane discusses how Te Tohu o Te Ora o Ngāti Awa will cut the ribbon on 15 new homes the council is looking into forming a new health advocacy group and another double figure rate rise is on the cards for Whakatāne Eastern Bay of Plenty Local Democracy Reporter Diane McCarthy is with the Whakatāne Beacon Whakatāne Hospital would not be able to provide obstetric care from mid-January Some expectant parents in the Bay of Plenty will have to travel further afield for care because of a shortage of specialists Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora said on Wednesday that Whakatāne Hospital would be changing to a primary birthing service in mid-January That means low-risk pregnancies will still take place at the hospital with the assistance of midwives Anyone requiring intervention – such as an emergency C-section – will have to travel to Tauranga Hospital Hospital staff were told of the decision in a meeting last week Some staff and health workers in the community said they were “devastated” Around 650 babies are born at the hospital each year and its catchment covers most of the eastern Bay of Plenty and some of New Zealand’s most deprived areas Bay of Plenty group director of operations Pauline McGrath said the change was the result of shortages in the hospital’s obstetrics and gynaecology services “This temporary change is required to ensure the safe care for whānau engaging with our maternity services while we recruit additional specialist staff,” she said “Clinical safety for pregnant people and babies is our key priority during this time.” McGrath said Health NZ was committed to resuming secondary maternity services at the hospital as soon as possible “We recognise the significant impact this will have on whānau in the Eastern Bay of Plenty obstetricians and midwives both in a hospital and community setting We also recognise this will result in increased workload for the maternity services at Tauranga Hospital “This decision has been carefully considered and necessary to maintain safe and quality maternity care “We will be utilising district and regional clinical capacity and are working closely with Hato Hone St John to ensure that hospital transfers are prioritised for hapū whānau as and when required.” Some healthcare workers in the region raised concerns that the hospital did not appear to be advertising for specialists But McGrath said Health NZ was recruiting locally and internationally and was “pursuing a number of options to help return to full-service provision” She said outpatient antenatal care would continue at Whakatāne Hospital with the support of Tauranga-based specialists up to four obstetricians were employed at the hospital it is understood that all of the specialists had left or were in the process of leaving Some had been recruited from overseas and were now returning home A workforce plan published by Health NZ last week said that there were around 60 obstetric vacancies around the country – around 15% of the total workforce Health NZ is in the process of a “reset” which involves large-scale job cuts of non-frontline workers. Health Commissioner Professor Lester Levy was brought in by the Government in July in a bid to get the organisation to spend within its budget Isaac Davison is an Auckland-based reporter who covers health issues He joined the Herald in 2008 and has previously covered the environment has terminal cancer but says being part of a trial for drugs that are soon to be funded by Pharmac has extended his life A Whakatāne man with terminal cancer says he has outlived his life expectancy after joining a trial for cancer drugs that will be funded in New Zealand from next month Rhys Drayson was diagnosed with liver cancer in March 2022. He said he was told in November 2023 he had six to 12 months to live Drayson started taking cancer drugs atezolizumab with bevacizumab in December 2023 after being accepted for a clinical trial “I have lived a full and very positive life and have suffered very few side effects” Pharmac confirmed on February 12 it would start funding atezolizumab and bevacizumab for liver cancer that could not be removed by surgery from March 1 The agency also confirmed funding for new medicines for advanced ovarian cancer and neuroendocrine cancers “These medicines will give people more treatment options and help them to live well for longer,” Pharmac equity and engagement director Dr Nicola Ngawati said About 180 people were expected to benefit from the medicines in the next year In 2023, the National Party campaigned on funding 13 cancer treatments available in Australia but not New Zealand paid for by bringing back the $5 prescription fee This included atezolizumab with bevacizumab for liver cancer Last May the Government said funding would not be available for at least another year. Pharmac said it has now funded or proposed to fund 10 of the original 13 specific medicines and a minister said treatments for all cancer types on the list have been funded Drayson told the Bay of Plenty Times in November his health was “wonderful” and he had a “great” quality of life self-funding the drugs would have cost him more than $100,000 a year They are making such a huge difference to me and there are such limited options for people with HCC [hepatocellular carcinoma] – why should Kiwis miss out on what patients in other countries get as standard treatment?” Drayson said following this month’s “long-awaited” announcement he had “mixed feelings” my thoughts go out to the lives that have been lost due to the delay with the publicly funded access to this treatment.” For those now able to access the treatment he said all he could say was that it had extended his life beyond the up to 12 months he was given Drayson encouraged the Government to fund the remaining drugs National originally campaigned on Gut Cancer Foundation chief executive Liam Willis said the funding marked a “significant step forward” for liver cancer patients and their families Willis said atezolizumab and bevacizumab had been “the global standard of care” for advanced HCC for several years “New Zealand patients have had to self-fund these life-saving therapies or miss out altogether we must also acknowledge that every delay in funding costs lives.” The foundation had been working with clinical colleagues and patients to advocate for access to the treatment and it was grateful to Pharmac for listening and acting Pharmac’s director of pharmaceuticals Geraldine MacGibbon said it was pleased atezolizumab with bevacizumab had been funded for New Zealanders with liver cancer that could not be removed by surgery “Having these medicines available will make a significant difference to people’s lives.” MacGibbon said Pharmac valued engagement with consumer groups such as the Gut Cancer Foundation throughout the funding process Pharmac understood having these medicines available as soon as possible was important “One of the hardest parts of Pharmac’s work is deciding which medicines to fund from our fixed budget when we know there are more medicines that would benefit New Zealanders “When the budget increase was announced in June 2024 we let people know that we’d be looking to stretch the additional budget as much as we could.” Pharmac had funded or proposed to fund 57 medicines for various types of cancer and other health conditions This included 10 of the 13 types of cancer in the original list of cancer medicines identified in 2023 Consultations would be released in the next few months Associate Minister for Health David Seymour said the Government had allocated Pharmac its largest-ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years so it could negotiate the best deals for medicines for New Zealanders “Pharmac continues to show what it is capable of when given the support it needs Pharmac has funded treatments for all the cancer types in the pre-election list as well as a number of other treatments for blood cancers and other tumours.” Police are appealing for information after a fatal crash involving a pedestrian near Whakatāne A crash involving a car and a pedestrian was reported at the intersection of State Highway 30 and Thornton Rd around 4pm yesterday Police said today the pedestrian was taken to Waikato Hospital by helicopter in a critical condition and died this morning A scene examination was conducted and inquiries into the crash were ongoing “Police would like to hear from anyone who witnessed or has dashcam footage of the crash or any information that may assist in our investigation “You can report information to us over the phone on 105 please reference event number: P061383479.” Fire and Emergency (FENZ) was called to the fire at a property on Arawa Street shortly after 4pm Five fire trucks and about 20 firefighters were tackling the blaze at its peak FENZ said a person was rescued from the house and was being treated by ambulance staff St John ambulance said one ambulance and one helicopter is in attendance but could not confirm the patient's status FENZ said the fire was extinguished before 5pm fire crews have also put out a blaze at a car wreckers yard in Hamilton Emergency services were called to Ellis Street in Frankton just after 5pm Three firetrucks and about a dozen firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze just before 8pm A FENZ spokesperson said a fire investigator will return to the car yard tomorrow morning to investigate the cause of the fire Residents living in and around the Whakatāne suburb of Awatapu are fed up with being plagued by motorbikes day and night but police say it is nearly impossible to catch the culprits who did not wish to be named for fear of reprisals said the problem of motorbikes on Awatapu Reserve the surrounding walking and cycling paths and stopbanks had become so bad recently he felt as if he was living in the middle of a motocross track “It has been a problem on and off for years but over the past five or six months it has been every day and every night - and pretty much every day and every night either I or someone else is ringing the police Whakatāne Police acting road policing manager Kevin Gread said police were aware of the residents’ concerns but often the motorcyclists disappeared once a patrol unit attended motorcycles are a problem for police at the moment.” Gread said police urged all motorcyclists to obey the road rules “If any member of the public has information of any offending they can contact police who will attend if able If they have any CCTV or photos of any offending The resident said the bikers often rode in groups of four or five and could be intimidating at times “I’ve personally watched a couple of ladies trying to walk through the park who got harassed motorcyclists riding alongside them and around them Other people feel too intimidated by the bikers to use the park.” The laws the resident had seen broken included speeding small children riding pillion with no helmets or foot pegs and sustained loss of traction “Having a telephone conversation or watching television is almost impossible because of the noise they make.” The motorbikes often had no registration or warrants of fitness and often rode after dark with no lights He would like to see police crackdown on such behaviour everyone from little tots riding unsupervised to senior citizens.” was aware of the growing issue of unauthorised motorbike riding Open spaces operations manager Ian Molony said the council shared the community’s concerns and was working closely with police to address them We urge residents to report incidents promptly especially when safety is at risk or vandalism is occurring “Whakatāne police will take action when provided with clear details The resident said it was often his efforts to gather this information that tipped the riders off they ask you to describe the riders and their bikes what are the riders wearing and how many are there’ “We are told from time to time that a patrol car is on the way but before you get to the end of the conversation with the police “They’ve figured out we’re [reporting] them Sometimes I’ll go outside and pretend to be having a phone conversation Awatapu Otamakaokao Kaitiaki Trust chairman Quinton Kingi believed a positive solution was to provide a motocross track on nearby reserve land “Rather than try to punish our whānau in Awatapu we’re looking at trying to create opportunities We’re trying to look for a positive solution It’s also a safety concern as well because we don’t want our kids hooning around on the road “It’s an accident waiting to happen really.” fellow Awatapu resident Darren Ohlson and Whakatāne district councillor Nandor Tanczos went public with the idea in 2023 They suggested using land on the river side of the stopbank surrounding the southern end of Whakatāne to create a proper motocross track for the local youth which could be supervised to ensure bikes were being ridden safely Kingi said while there had been “a little roadblock” to his plan in that they had not been able to secure the permission of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council He said he had spoken to an environmentalist who told him there would be no environmental issues with creating a motocross track He had also been in communication with a motocross club willing to help out with the construction of the track and running it if they were able to get permission He proposed to create the track as far away from residents as possible to avoid being a noise nuisance Residents also expressed fears that the proposed motocross track would only serve to attract more motorbike riders to the area There would also be the issue of motorbikes using parks and paths to get to the track Three prominent reserves in and around Whakatāne will be temporarily closed to all public access during July for animal control operations to protect and enhance the mauri of the ngahere/forest and Mokorua Bush Scenic Reserve are scheduled for short staggered closures between Monday 22 July and Thursday 25 July while contractors conduct wild pig and deer control The work is being undertaken as part of the Whakatāne and Ōhope Sites Environmental Programme a collaborative initiative focused on restoring and improving the biodiversity across the Whakatāne and Ōhope hillscapes are working together toward the shared vision of a healthy taiao for future generations Management of introduced species is core to achieving the vision of the partnership and the wider Aotearoa New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy Managing numbers will help protect native species and increase forests’ health and resilience in dealing with climate change DOC Senior Community Ranger Jesse Burt says deer and pigs can pose a significant threat to New Zealand’s native forest ecosystems “They prevent the regeneration of plant species they eat which can ultimately change the entire structure and composition of native ecosystems.” "These reserves are popular and close to urban areas meaning recreational hunting is not allowed for safety reasons The planned operation will help to address an overabundance of pigs and deer in a safe manner,” says Jesse The reserves will be closed on a staggered schedule to minimise disruption Kōhī Point Reserve will be closed on Monday 22 July Mokorua Bush Scenic Reserve on Tuesday 23 July and Ōhope Scenic Reserve will be closed from Wednesday 24 July to Thursday 25 July Warning signs will be placed at track entrances and main entrance points will be staffed to ensure public safety and prevent unauthorised access during the operation The Whakatāne and Ōhope Sites Environmental Programme Working Group coordinating the operation would like to thank community and visitors for their understanding and cooperation during this essential work For further information please contact Bay of Plenty Regional Council on 0800 884 880 or info@boprc.govt.nz Email: media@doc.govt.nz A resident of a property adjacent to Warren Cole Walkway is fed up with having to decorate her fence with Whakatāne District Council-provided doggy poo bags Julie Meekel would like the council to move the dispenser to a position where it would be less tempting for children walking and biking to school to grab them creating one long streamer from the dispenser to the Landing Road Bridge Meekel’s fence is often strewn with what looks like green streamers “This is not an early St Patrick’s Day display,” she told the Whakatane Beacon “A child riding his bike thought it was hilarious to grab the bags and keep riding along the Warren Cole Walkway The plastic bags come from the dispenser located at the Powhare St entrance to the walkway but Meekel believed this to be the one that was targeted as it is right beside where children walk to school She said it was a regular occurrence along the walkway She believed the council checked the bag dispensers every day “One of our neighbours picked them all up this morning and put them on our deck,” she said Meekel has become known to dog walkers as she ties them to her fence rail where they can be grabbed while walking past She didn’t always get the opportunity to help rescue the bags as people sometimes picked them up and threw them in the rubbish “Dog owners get fed up because it is about the only thing we get from our dog registration “Also if there are no plastic bags and the dog does what dogs do well when running outside “All [the council] would have to do is put the dispenser down a bit on the grass where you walk off Powhare Street,” Meekel said It would mean the dog walkers would have to take about four steps extra Whakatāne district councillor Nandor Tanczos has denounced new Māori wards legislation and asked the council to seek legal advice about the consequences of not holding a poll at next year's election The unanimous vote to retain Māori wards was a foregone conclusion at a Whakatāne District Council meeting on Thursday with the council having previously indicated its intentions Deputy Mayor Lesley Immink said the council's three Māori ward councillors had "huge value around the table with the decision making" "They bring networks that connect us to the wider Māori community Whakatāne is one of 45 councils required by new legislation to either hold a binding poll at the 2025 local government election or remove Māori seats from next year's election altogether The councils are legally required to decide by 6 September If more than 50 percent of voters are against Māori wards in next year's poll Tanczos raised the fact that Palmerston North City Council was looking into the implications of refusing to hold the poll He asked that Whakatāne council do the same "It seems to me that there will be a number of councils that might want to protest this legislation and that would be one way of doing it," he said We already made our choice to establish Māori wards in 2021 and the government is requiring us to take action "The three Māori ward councillors sitting around this table their contributions have been substantial and valuable to this council "Anyone who has had doubts about whether Māori wards are a good thing those doubts must have been completely dealt with "This legislation isn't just taking us back to the status quo we had before it's adding another level of requirement onto us The council agreed to seek legal advice over the issue Councillor Toni Boynton questioned whether the timeframe to decide had affected the council's ability to consult with local iwi She noted that Ngāti Whātua had brought a judicial review against [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/525308/kaipara-ratepayers-face-25k-bill-after-maori-ward-canned the Kaipara District Council] for not consulting with Māori on its decision to disestablish Māori wards Staff confirmed that if the council had wanted to go through a consultation process before making a decision they would not have been able to meet the legislative timeline Boynton acknowledged the courage of the council in recent years to support the establishment of Māori wards which had been the culmination of a 20-year dream for some a decision was made to establish a Māori ward and that was quite a close decision." That decision had been overturned by a referendum demanded by a petition before the Labour government changed the law to remove the ability for the public to petition for a referendum Boynton said through the efforts of many in the community including some non-Māori who rallied in support that referendum had been one of the closest in the country with the unanimous decision of establishing Māori ward seats Immink said 53 percent of the district was Māori "There's a sense of loss from some people that Pākehā are losing power if we've got more Māori sitting around the table But it's actually about representation that better reflects our community." Immink hoped a poll might have an outcome in favour of Māori wards there was a 35 percent differential between those that supported and those that didn't In 2019 that had shortened up to 10 percent "I really like to think that if we go to poll that it will be overwhelmingly in support for Māori wards to continue." Local Government Minister Simeon Brown told LDR this week that the government's changes were about restoring democracy "All three parties were clear before the election that reversing the previous Labour government's changes to local electoral law would be a priority." A review of the political structure is underway by Kaipara District Council despite a legal challenge over the Māori Ward abolition It's disappointing to be put in the position of having to vote on the ward's future Many councillors said their decision to retain was made to represent the 54 percent Māori population in Gisborne who have historically been under-represented at the council table The topic of Māori wards is back in the news cycle after a bill introduced by the government passed it third reading in Parliament Two-thirds of Māori births in the Bay of Plenty are “high risk”, prompting concern from local iwi about Whakatāne Hospital changing to a primary birthing service NZME reported in December Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora made the change because of a shortage of specialists It meant low-risk births could still take place at Whakatāne Hospital with the assistance of midwives. A patient requiring intervention – such as an emergency caesarean – would have to go to Tauranga Hospital A midwife spoke out last month because she feared a pregnant woman or baby would die due to the “downgrading” of maternity services Health New Zealand says the safety of women/pregnant people and their babies remains its top priority as it recruits more senior medical officers to be based at Whakatāne Hospital A Te Moana a Toi Iwi Māori Partnership Board (IMPB) press release said it understood two-thirds of Māori births in the region were “high risk” due to conditions such as hypertension heart damage from rheumatic fever and predisposition to haemorrhage because of multiple previous births The change in maternity services at Whakatāne Hospital presented logistical challenges for whānau – those in remote coastal areas such as Te Whānau-ā-Apanui now faced a 400km round trip to access healthcare 1264 Māori babies were born in the Bay of Plenty accounting for 39.7% of births in the region only 64.5% of Māori mothers were enrolled with a lead maternity carer in their first trimester – the rest missed out on this “crucial intervention” It said many whānau Māori in the Bay lived in high-deprivation conditions delayed seeking medical care due to cost and were three times more likely than non-Māori to lack access to a car “Critical decisions need to be made quickly but we believe that by working supportively together we can find practical solutions that improve healthcare for whānau Māori and the community at large,” Te Moana a Toi IMPB general manager Vincent Copeland said The Te Moana a Toi IMPB press release said it urged all expectant māmā to register with a lead maternity carer to plan their care and avoid unnecessary risks Copeland and Te Moana a Toi IMPB co-chairman Hone Te Rire met with Te Whatu Ora senior officials and Te Manawa Taki deputy chief executive Cath Cronin on February 3 following public meetings on January 30 and 31 in Whakātane The hui discussed “urgent challenges” in hauora service delivery that were adversely affecting Māori in the eastern Bay The IMPB – which represents 16 iwi from the rohe – emphasised the need for immediate practical solutions alongside a long-term governance framework to ensure sustainable improvements Te Whatu Ora committed to working with iwi the IMPB and local providers to resolve the challenges Cronin said the help from the IMPB was “greatly valued and appreciated” as Health NZ worked towards re-establishing secondary birthing services at Whakatāne Hospital “It was agreed that together we will find practical solutions to benefit women/pregnant people and their whānau.” Cronin said community input gathered at meetings in the eastern Bay would help guide its decision-making as it recruited additional senior medical officers for Whakatāne Hospital Interim arrangements remained in place as primary birthing services continued at Whakatāne Hospital and “more complex” services at Tauranga Hospital while recruitment continued Cronin said a dedicated 24/7 ambulance was available for transfers accommodation and food needs of women/pregnant people and their whānau who needed to travel to Tauranga Cronin encouraged pregnant people who were not enrolled with a midwife or lead maternity carer to do so by using the Find Your Midwife website or calling the Ko Matariki Maternity Unit on 0800 429 328 Police are appealing for information following a fatal crash in Whakatāne on Sunday Police responded to the scene of a car and motorcycle collision on Ōhope Rd around 4.55pm "It appears the motorbike has been travelling at speed around the corner where they have slid out onto their side into the opposite lane," Eastern Bay of Plenty Road Policing Sergeant Shane Tailby said "A vehicle travelling in the opposite direction has then struck the motorbike with the impact resulting in the car flipping onto its roof." Sergeant Tailby said the motorcycle rider was located in a critical condition and CPR was commenced The driver was taken to Whakatāne Hospital with minor injuries The investigation into the cause of the crash remains ongoing and Police are asking anyone that witnessed the crash or has information that may assist in their investigation to contact Police "You can report information to us via 105 either online or over the phone. Please reference file number: 250323/2112." A motorcyclist rides on reserve land around Awatapu Lagoon but police say it is near impossible to catch the culprits who does not wish to be named for fear of reprisals says the problem of motorbikes on Awatapu Reserve the surrounding walking and cycling paths and stopbanks has become so bad recently he feels as if he is living in the middle of a motocross track "It has been a problem on and off for years Whakatāne Police acting road policing manager Kevin Gread said police were aware of the residents' concerns motorcycles are a problem for police at the moment." "I’ve personally watched a couple of ladies trying to walk through the park who got harassed Other people feel too intimidated by the bikers to use the park." The laws the resident has seen broken include speeding "Having a telephone conversation or watching television is almost impossible because of the noise they make." The motorbike often had no registration or warrant of fitness and often rode after dark with no lights everyone from little tots riding unsupervised to senior citizens." is also aware of the growing issue of unauthorised motorbike riding Open spaces operations manager Ian Molony said the council shared the community's concerns and was working closely with police to address them "Whakatāne Police will take action when provided with clear details what are the riders wearing and how many are there' "We are told from time to time that a patrol car is on the way "They’ve figured out we’re [reporting] them If any member of the public has information of any offending Awatapu Otamakaokao Kaitiaki Trust chairman Quinton Kingi believes a positive solution to the issues described is to provide a motocross track on nearby reserve land. "Rather than try and punish our whānau in Awatapu, we’re looking at trying to create opportunities. We’re trying to look for a positive solution. It’s also a safety concern as well because we don’t want our kids hooning around on the road. "It’s an accident waiting to happen really." Kingi, fellow Awatapu resident Darren Ohlson and Whakatāne district councillor Nandor Tanczos went public with the idea in 2023. They suggested using land on the river side of the stopbank surrounding the southern end of Whakatāne to create a proper motocross track for the local youth, which could be supervised to ensure bikes were being ridden safely. Kingi said while there had been "a little roadblock" to his plan, in that they had not been able to secure the permission of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, he still had hope it would happen someday. He said he had spoken to an environmentalist who told him there would be no environmental issues with creating a motocross track. He had also been in communication with a local motocross club who were willing to help out with the construction of the track and running it if they were able to get permission. He proposed to create the track as far away from residents as possible to avoid being a noise nuisance. A resident, who did not want to be named, described the plan as unworkable. Residents also expressed fears that the proposed motocross track would only serve to attract more motorbike riders to the area. There would also be the issue of motorbikes using parks and paths to get to the track. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air. How this city is bucking the national trend for new home builds More than 500 homes were built in the city last year about half of them social housing or affordable rentals New Zealand Minister 'cautiously optimistic' broken Whaakari tech can be fixed soon Scientists have previously been denied entry by the island’s owners Environment Lake Tarawera locals push for lower sewerage costs Residents' group has three non-negotiable funding conditions Owners on edge after spate of cat maulings in Whakatāne Whakatāne-Ōhope ward councillor Nāndor Tanczos said roaming dogs were an ongoing problem not only in town but in other parts of the district Tauranga Marine Precinct sale finalised after court dismisses injunction The settlement comes two weeks after a High Court judge dismissed the interim injunction that had halted the sale Business Severe weather to lash both islands 'unusually strong' winds for Wgtn A low pressure system deepening and moving across the country today and tomorrow has sparked a huge amount of weather warnings and watches NRL: Sharks centre Iro wants to be known by new name 16 mins ago Juliana Herrera's family tell inquest: 'Stop repeating avoidable mistakes' 20 mins ago Arrest after person assaulted, robbed at Palmerston North Hospital 22 mins ago Iwi misses out on bid to buy back ancestral mountain 31 mins ago Trade war: Sir John Key's 'optimism' on Trump's next tariff moves 59 mins ago More than 25kg cocaine seizure leads to four arrests across NZ 13 mins ago 1Sole survivor of poisoned beef Wellington takes the stand 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 Homicide investigation after man dies in Auckland's Manurewa Govt halts all current pay equity claims, makes it harder to lodge new ones Photos: Lorde among stars at 2025 Met Gala A$AP Rocky and Rihanna also revealed they are expecting their third child. 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Lady Gaga rocks Copacabana Beach with free concert for over 2 million fansSun, May 4 Lorde announces new album name, dateThu, May 1 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robberyMon, Apr 28 Chubby Checker, Outkast, Cyndi Lauper join Rock & Roll Hall of FameMon, Apr 28 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robberyMon Rotorua has hit its highest number of new build homes in 14 years It comes as a new assessment finds the city has more than enough future housing capacity Rotorua Lakes Council destination development group manager Jean-Paul Gaston told an April meeting many of the 522 houses were built in the central and western areas Net new homes reached 483 after accounting for homes removed to make way for developments It was the third year in a row that new home numbers peaked since 2011 and another 600 homes were in the pipeline for the next couple of years Data provided to Local Democracy Reporting showed 304 of the new houses were built in Rotorua's western and central areas: The council had a goal of building 3000 new homes in those areas by 2032 Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell said improving housing options for the city remained a top priority for the council as it would have "huge benefits for our community" "These housing developments are not just public homes including affordable rentals and retirement options for our older residents "I know the economy has been uncertain but despite slower markets elsewhere we've got a strong number of building consents coming through in Rotorua." Tapsell said the council would continue to work to unlock land and opportunities for new homes Local Democracy Reporting wrote that $259 million worth of new residential and commercial buildings were consented in Rotorua in the year to September — more than double the $112.2m of consents issued in 2023 new dwelling consents nationwide in 2024 were down 9.8% on 2023 Gaston wrote in the meeting’s agenda the city avoided the national decline in building numbers because of multi-year investment by Kāinga Ora and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development support for Māori affordable rental development and significant staged developments such as Freedom Village The recent fast-track consenting of a new Summerset lifestyle village in Fairy Springs provided additional future certainty of 260 housing units within the short/medium-term Other projects included the first 16 homes in the Ōwhata Kōhanga Rākau iwi-led housing development on the east side of Rotorua which opened in November and will eventually have 93 homes including 38 affordable rentals and kaumātua housing A council spokesperson said it knew of 262 among last year's 522 new builds that were social housing or affordable rentals Among these were 17 two-bedroom and three three-bedroom homes on Lake Rd A Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga — Ministry of Housing and Urban Development spokesman said 101 homes were built as part of MHUD housing programmes including 80 iwi-led Māori affordable rentals Kāinga Ora added 104 new social housing places to its stock in Rotorua The spokesman said Rotorua's housing shortage resulted from a rapid increase in the resident population from 2013 and too few houses being built to meet the demand The rental market tightened and rents rose relative to incomes leading to more households on the Housing Register and large numbers in temporary or emergency accommodation This peaked at 699 households in December 2021 The ministry partnered with others including iwi and the council to make a plan for Rotorua including short-term and more permanent housing solutions The number of households in temporary and emergency housing had dropped to 96 as of March "This is a result of the Government's significant investment in Rotorua." The city remained a priority for the Ministry with a "strong pipeline" of additional housing places to be delivered — 170 state homes by mid-2025 and another 72 by July 2026 The Government was criticised for using Rotorua's motels as a "dumping ground" for the country's homeless during peak pandemic years but consistently denied actively bringing in out-of-towners The last Housing and Business Development Capacity Assessment in 2021 projected the city was heading for a 10,000-home shortage in the long-term An updated assessment from 2024 presented to a council meeting on Wednesday found an overall surplus of 300 — 1600 dwellings short-term This turnaround was broadly credited to work identifying and preparing new greenfield (undeveloped) land for housing "This puts the district in a good position to respond to what the community needs as it grows and to make adjustments if needed," Gaston said in a statement the Emergency Management Minister's "cautiously optimistic" scientists will get back on Whakaari / White Island soon to fix broken technology They have previously been denied entry by the island's owners to repair the gear after the 2019 eruption killed 22 people The monitoring equipment was drastically damaged and eventually stopped working Te Herenga Waka Victoria University researcher Dr Finn Illsley-Kemp told 1News: "We're relying on seismometers that are on the mainland and they're just too far away to record the signals." when the island has erupted in bad weather or darkness "Eruptions have occurred and we didn't notice until we saw damage on solar panels," Illsley-Kemp said it's very strange to not be able to know anything about it." Normally our most active volcano has instruments showing shaking for experts watching 24/7 to help keep people in nearby boats planes and the mainland safe from hazards like ashfall University of Auckland geology professor Phil Shane said with the current blackspots "It doesn't really seem rational or logical to restrict access by scientists to volcanoes when it's part of our role." One of the complications was court action involving the Buttle family who were initially convicted of health and safety breaches which was then quashed Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell has been upping the urgency to now reinstate the technology "It's something that is complicated and I didn't anticipate that it would be," he told 1News "I'm cautiously optimistic that we're going to get equipment on there." The Buttles told 1News they met with government representatives in March from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Department of Internal Affairs the family wants to negotiate a formal licence instead of the verbal licence that existed previously They are waiting for further communication from the government on the proposed formal licence." They also said: "The Buttle family has always supported the activities of GNS [Science] in their monitoring and research on Whakaari." GNS Science would do the hands-on work to install the new gear A Lake Tarawera residents’ group says lowering sewerage scheme costs for homeowners at the lake is non-negotiable and unaffordability is "not a trivial matter" A member suggested homeowners not sign off on allowing connection works on their properties until they have funding certainty Rotorua Lakes Council is considering three funding options for the Tarawera Sewerage Scheme in its Annual Plan consultation The scheme connects lake properties to Rotorua’s reticulated sewerage replacing septic tanks blamed for declining lake water quality The most recent cost estimate is $32.2 million The council has said protests and court action added expense Tarawera ratepayers would need to fund $20.9m The council would borrow the money and households would pay it back over time Under the first funding option — the status quo — the lump-sum cost was $50,315 each it would be $3899 a year — including covering the cost of the council holding the debt one for the main pipeline and the other for connecting to the scheme with the latter only charged to households that connect About 446 existing properties and 104 more to be built in the future could be connected The figures reflected a $5286 discount if households agreed by June 1 to having installation work on their properties 65 properties have given approval for this Households that missed the deadline would need to pay for the connection themselves Any who refused to connect may have few options with the council previously saying septic tanks alone would be non-compliant and upgrades to be compliant were unlikely to get consent with reticulation available nearby The two other funding options reduced Tarawera households’ costs by increasing rates paid by all other Rotorua ratepayers Option two added $2.80 a year to all ratepayers’ bills for 25 years raising $1m and reducing Tarawera households’ contribution to $47,737 Option three raised $4m by increasing rates $11.20 per year the Lake Tarawera Sewerage Working Group recommended attendees support option three Group member Duncan Evans told the meeting option three did not "go far enough" He said the group had told council staff many could not afford the scheme and proposed three non-negotiable conditions These were to set the maximum cost for Tarawera ratepayers at $36,600; exclude all cost escalations from their bills; and ask Bay of Plenty Regional Council to increase its funding to $1.485m to match Rotorua Lakes Council’s contribution He advised attendees not to sign off on installation plans until they had certainty and a capped charge was agreed Evans suggested that if the group’s maximum was agreed then homeowners would agree to sign plans within two weeks of that decision In a statement to Local Democracy Reporting group chairman Sir Henry van der Heyden said the council must negotiate with the Tarawera community before the rates are struck Many community members simply cannot afford to pay for the options council is proposing." Submissions on the Annual Plan are open until May 5 The council’s infrastructure and assets group manager encouraged people to make submissions for elected members to consider "We continue to have discussions with Tarawera property owners and have continued to explore additional funding options to reduce the cost to ratepayers as much as possible." The council hosted a webinar on the scheme options last week Council chief executive Andrew Moraes answered questions including what happened when someone could not afford the 25-year rate "The council has a range of policies that address hardship for people who struggle to make rates payments." He encouraged people to reach out before making "significant life decisions" about their property Moraes said the council intended to seek more funding from the regional council and suggested people write to it for the same The owner of a cat fatally mauled by roaming dogs this week has been horrified to learn that her pet Stormy is not the only victim of this group of dogs in Whakatāne Whakatāne District Council dog control officers say they have impounded eight dogs over the past 10 days and are encouraging people to make formal complaints when they see roaming dogs Trinaka Godsmark-Tawa's cat Stormy was found dead on Monday morning The James Street resident had been getting ready for work just after 5am when they heard loud and aggressive barking that lasted five minutes A neighbour told them he had just chased three dogs away outside his house and one of them had a cat in its mouth she went in search of Stormy and found him mauled to death about six houses away She posted about the attack on social media and soon learned that just minutes before Stormy was killed a nearby Riverside Drive resident had chased three dogs from their property where they had been terrorising their cat Local Democracy Reporting [The Beacon] has verified that at least four other cats have been attacked by dogs in Whakatāne this year One incident in Whakatāne south three weeks ago was witnessed by the cat’s owner and her two preschool children who did not want to be named for fear of repercussions said her two-year-old daughter had been feeding the cat when it was grabbed by two dogs She describes one as a liver-and-white husky-type dog and the other as a tall “It could have been [my daughter] they attacked,” she said It happened just before 7am while the cat waited for his food on the front doorstep “I opened the front door to let my two-year-old put the food down and all of a sudden “I quickly ushered [the girls] back inside and shut the door They watched out of the window as I chased after the dogs they were watching as [the cat] was being ripped by two dogs "He has some very big lacerations on his back." The children remain frightened to go outside their front door “They’ve only ever known this cat as their baby Now I’ve had to carry them to and from the car They won’t go out on the front porch anymore.” She urges people to call dog control as soon as they see these dogs roaming A dog control officer told her there have been multiple reports of the same dog Local Democracy Reporting [The Beacon] also heard from a Hinemoa Street resident whose cat was attacked by dogs a few weeks ago Two other cat owners have posted on social media that their cats were killed by dogs in January Godsmark-Tawa would like to see more dog control officers patrolling the area as it’s not the first time it’s happened in the area The council is currently advertising for a dog control officer on its careers website we voted for more staff for animal control One of the difficulties is that staff can’t be everywhere all the time .. so it does rely a lot on people contacting the council when they see it happening Any help with identifying the dogs is encouraged “Often the animal is gone by the time staff get there It’s not very easy to identify individual dogs and I think they are genuinely trying to do their best with the challenges that they’ve got,” he said He said most dog owners were responsible but a few owners needed to stop their dogs escaping He said other issues were whether dog control officers had the powers they needed under the council’s bylaws and how many dog control staff were needed but also people complain that there’s too many staff at council but people have to say how much extra they are prepared to pay in rates for that to happen." Council animal control team leader Verna Kinney said the council had received one formal complaint regarding a dog attack on a cat in the James Street area “As this matter is under active investigation it has received 20 service requests about roaming dogs in the Whakatāne township with several reports relating to the same incidents She urges people to report sightings of roaming dogs as soon as possible but Further severe weather is forecast to impact both islands tomorrow unusually strong winds for the capital and more disruption to transport A low-pressure system is deepening and moving across the country over the next 48 hours sparking a large number of weather warnings MetService has issued orange heavy rain warnings for Bay of Plenty east of Ōpōtiki Canterbury between Amberley and Timaru including Christchurch and Banks Peninsula An orange strong wind warning is in place from tomorrow for both sides of Cook Strait coastal areas of Wairarapa and coastal Marlborough south of Blenheim Gusts of up to 130km/h could hit the capital and further disruption was expected to Cook Strait ferry services NZTA has warned motorists of possible lane closures on the Auckland Harbour Bridge tomorrow SH1 would be blocked in Northland at the Mangamuka Gorge overnight into Thursday morning Damaging wind is a real concern for parts of the lower North Island, including Wellington, later today & Thursday.Gusts may reach 120+ km/h.Likely impacts include:🌬️ Damage to trees🌬️ Risk of power cuts🌬️ Difficult travelStay on top of weather warnings from @MetService. pic.twitter.com/E4OPApFHoQ Orange heavy snow warnings were in force overnight for the Canterbury High Country with 12 to 20cm of snow expected to fall above 800 metres including heavy rain watches for the eastern Bay of Plenty Strong wind watches were also forecast for Auckland MetService's Heather Keats said the storm was "very widespread" "It's covering almost the entire country," she said "Most of us will get at least a little taste of this system." There was a "large amount of impactful rain" forecast for the east coast of the South Island including a high chance of a red warning for Canterbury north and about Amberley which was "not to be ignored" but she said it was at "unusual levels even for them" with southerly gusts approaching 130km/h alongside high sustained wind speeds possible "When the wind is combined with the swell there will be elevated impacts from this weather coastal inundation and erosion just to name a couple," Keats said It’s about to get properly windy for parts of the country over the next day and a half💨In the capital, this looks like more than just a typical Windy Welly day - unusually strong southerlies could bring gusts of 130 km/h, making trees and structures more vulnerable to damage pic.twitter.com/KotAHrhoFa She said it had been a "really wet and warm April" "We did have a relatively quiet start to 2025 so it does feel like all the rough weather is now pushing over us but we are well into autumn now and we can expect the weather to become unstable at times." Forecast swells of up to seven metres have forced a large number of cancellations on both the Interislander and Bluebridge over the coming days SH1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has been closed since yesterday due to a slip NZTA said the road would remain closed overnight "Contractors will be on-site with specialist machinery tomorrow morning to remove loose material above the slip site in a safe and controlled manner," a spokesperson said the agency said contractors were monitoring the movement of the hillside following recent heavy rain and another slip was expected "The geology and varying terrain through the Mangamuka Gorge mean it will always be susceptible to some movement during severe weather like what we’ve seen over the past two to three weeks." NZTA has warned drivers to prepare for the possibility of short-notice lane closures or reduced speeds on the Auckland Harbour Bridge "Wind gusts of 75-89 km/h are forecast for the bridge between 4am and 9am tomorrow potentially triggering a red alert," a spokesperson said "Wind gusts of 75-85km/h are forecast for between midday and 7pm The bridge will remain in a four-by-four configuration during peak traffic tomorrow speed limits may be reduced and some lanes on the bridge may close we close all lanes because it’s unsafe for any vehicle to be on the bridge and the bridge structure is vulnerable to vehicle impacts." Drivers of high-sided vehicles and motorcyclists were urged to travel around the harbour using the Western Ring Route via State Highway 18 Bay of Plenty east of Ōpōtiki – 29 hours from 10am Wednesday to 3pm Thursday Canterbury about and north of Amberley – 35 hours from 10am Wednesday to 9pm Thursday including Christchurch and Banks Peninsula – 32 hours from 10am Wednesday to 6pm Thursday Kaikōura coast and ranges – 44 hours from 10am Wednesday to 6am Friday Wellington – 21 hours from 3am Thursday to midnight Coastal areas of Wairarapa – 15 hours from 9am Thursday to midnight including the Kaikōura Coast – 21 hours from 1am Thursday to 10pm Canterbury High Country south of the Rangitata River – 12 hours from 9pm Wednesday to 9am Thursday Bay of Plenty about and west of Ōpōtiki – 11 hours from 10am to 9pm Wednesday Wairarapa – 8 hours from 1pm to 9pm Wednesday Wellington – 45 hours from 6pm Wednesday to 3pm Friday and Waikato north of Hamilton – 5 hours from 7am Thursday to noon and Hawke's Bay south of Hastings – 12 hours from 1pm Thursday to 1am Friday Horowhenua and Kapiti Coast – 13 hours from 9am Thursday to 10pm Marlborough Sounds – 18 hours from 6pm Wednesday to noon Thursday also the Nelson Lakes – 27 hours from noon Wednesday to 3pm Thursday The Cronulla player formerly known as Kayal Iro has explained his decision to change his first name midway through the NRL season Iro made a tryscoring return from a hamstring injury in the Sharks' Magic Round win over Parramatta last Friday sporting a new name on Cronulla's team list The 25-year-old has now requested he be referred to as 'KL Iro' The centre is named after his father Kevin Leslie Iro who enjoyed a decorated career in England and represented New Zealand with distinction The left centre's official documents will still read "Kayal" but the Sharks flyer said he made the switch to 'KL' to avoid any doubt as to how his name should be pronounced "Mum didn't want it to be a two-letter name when I was a kid," Iro said "She's the one that changed it to 'Kayal' I think it was just foreign back then to have a two-letter name "But my dad always wanted it to be 'KL' and I like it that way too because it's easier to pronounce and there's no confusion I was too scared to step on anyone's toes "I guess I've built a bit of a relationship with these fellas now so I asked the question and got it done pretty quick." which was often mispronounced by commentators when his father and uncle Tony were playing "Even my dad and uncle when they were playing the Pommies would pronounce it 'aye-ro' rather than 'ear-ro'," Iro added he loved it but it's pretty cool to hear a commentator saying our family name." Iro was born in England while his father was playing for Leeds but spent most of his childhood growing up in the Cook Islands While he hinted he would be open to facing the Kangaroos in the end-of-season Ashes series "I wouldn't say no but my first thing is getting the Cook Islands qualified for the World Cup next year," he said Iro and the sixth-placed Sharks (5-4) will face one of the most daunting challenges of their season to date when they travel to take on Manly (4-4) at Brookvale Oval on Sunday "They've got a strong right edge and also [Tom] Trbojevic at the back," Iro said "[Trboejvic] is a strike weapon in attack and things happen around him we've got to be aware of him." The sister of Juliana Bonilla Herrera wants her memory to be "honoured through firm actions and just decisions that prevent similar tragedies" Saray Bonilla has taken part in the Coroner's inquest into the 37-year-old's death remotely from California It came to a close in Christchurch this afternoon was murdered in January 2022 by her neighbour Joseph Brider who had been paroled from prison just 72 days earlier He'd been serving time for serious sexual offences including rape Coroner Alexandra Cunninghame has heard evidence from various Corrections Department workers about their interactions with Brider prior to the murder the rehabilitation agency supporting Brider in his reintegration into the community Juliana's sister has had the opportunity to question those who appeared in court and a victim support worker shared a statement from her 1News was not allowed to film Saray Bonilla but she watched online as her words were read and to every person whose safety depends on a just and responsible system and to never again allow preventable failures to cost innocent lives may this be the moment we stop repeating avoidable mistakes and start building a system that truly protects" she said Coroner Cunninghame also addressed Herrera's family "What happened to Juliana was horrific being attacked by a stranger in our own home must be every woman's worst nightmare.. she made the most of what New Zealand has to offer And I'm profoundly sorry that her last moments were so horrifying could have responded if they were aware of concerns is a relevant issue for the inquiry But it's important that this question is not framed in a way which suggests that Juliana should be criticised for not having done more The burden should never be on women to keep themselves safe from men" she said She explained there would now be a period of time before her findings were finalised and made public A person is in custody after an alleged theft which left a person injured on the grounds of Palmerston North Hospital Police said officers were called to a Ruahine St carpark about 1.30pm on Tuesday Police said the alleged offender left the scene and was found a short time later "Police would like to thank the members of the public who witnessed the incident and intervened to assist the victim," a police spokesperson said A nurse leaving her shift last month was held up at gunpoint outside the grounds of the hospital That same night a staff member was knocked unconscious Staff have been calling for security improvements Health NZ MidCentral operations group director Sarah Fenwick previously told RNZ it was committed to making staff feel safer She said these included a security escort to vehicles increasing security services on hospital grounds and "opening up" access to the staff carpark for people working afternoon and night shifts "Lighting has been audited in all outside carparking areas to ensure it is well maintained," she said "Interim access to well-lit parking onsite with dedicated security for staff working afternoon and night shifts while a more permanent solution for out-of-hours carparking is developed." rnz.co.nz Hawke's Bay iwi Ngāti Kahungunu has been unsuccessful in its bid to buy back the mountain Kahurānaki but the iwi says its connection to the land will always remain Kahurānaki Station - a 1156 hectare sheep and beef farm south of Havelock North which includes the peak of the mountain - came up for sale earlier this year and the iwi launched a fundraising campaign to buy it The campaign to bring the Kahurānaki back into Māori ownership was called He Maunga Ka Taea and included a 10-day hīkoi from Māhia to Kahurānaki It raised more than $95,000 on crowd funding platform koha.kiwi Hastings-based post-settlement governance entity Tamatea Pōkai Whenua Trust submitted a tender on behalf of the iwi Chairman Pōhatu Paku said the trust was the only local entity to tender for the Station and they were saddened and disappointed by the outcome The trust had approached the tender on the basis it was presented Paku acknowledged the young and emerging iwi members who had generated the groundswell of support for the tender and for the longer term status of the mountain ki tēnā o tātau e titikaha nei ki tēnei kaupapa I just want to acknowledge and mihi to everybody that has connected with this kaupapa Paku said the trust would be engaging with the station's new owners at an appropriate time to convey the iwi's history and also set out their aspirations "The continuation of the protection of our wāhi tapu (sacred sites) is significantly important to us Continued access to the mountain would also be a high priority "The previous owners were quite open for Kura for people running kaupapa and also those that wished to ascend the maunga they allowed that they identified that it was culturally significant to us all." Paku said Tamatea Pōkai Whenua will need to foster the groundswell of support and leadership that the He Maunga Ka Taea campaign had generated "The whakapapa connections and taonga that is Kahurānaki maunga remain our greatest advantage is that we live in perpetuity and our maunga and our tīpuna live with us and they continue to be ours "And like all of our tūtohu whenua (landmarks) our maunga carries our traditions and our identity and our histories and we remain uncompromising to act in the best interests of our tūtohu whenua both for this generation and for future generations." Paku said the trust may look at legal personhood as another avenue to protect the mountain but ultimately he said the maunga remains an ancestor and retains its own mana which no one can ever own rnz.co.nz More than 25kg of cocaine has been seized and four men arrested following an joint investigation into the importation of the drug into Christchurch Police and Customs received information about a "significant importation" of cocaine that had come through Lyttelton Port on March 29 Search warrants were then executed across the country by specialist teams to support investigators with evidence gathering Tauranga and Auckland as a result of the six-week investigation including possession of cocaine for supply and burglary and will appear in various district courts across a range of dates Detective Senior Sergeant Phil Sparks said the seizure equated to more than 250,000 doses of cocaine and $9 million of harm "That is an enormous amount of damage and misery that had been heading into our communities that has now been halted through this investigation." Sparks said the success of the investigation was partly down to the "excellent partnership" between Customs and the police "We continue to have a focus on engaging with businesses and supporting their legitimate services by keeping them safe with prevention advice to deter drug trafficking organisations’ attempts to exploit their people and premises." Customs acting investigations manager Rachael Manning said the investigation resulted from quick action and close collaboration between the agencies as well as industry partners "We know that transnational and serious organised crime groups are actively targeting New Zealand to drive up both demand and supply of illegal drugs such as cocaine for maximum profit They’re using every method possible to exploit any vulnerabilities within international supply chains in secure areas or on vessels themselves." Audrey Backeberg disappeared from a small city in south-central Wisconsin after reportedly hitchhiking with her family’s babysitter and catching a bus to Indianapolis Nobody ever knew where she went or what happened to her All that changed last week when she was found alive and safe in another state thanks to the fresh eyes from a deputy who took over the case in February Detective Isaac Hanson discovered an out-of-state arrest record that matched Backeberg which triggered a series of investigative moves that led to finding her alive and safe in another state Turns out Backeberg chose to leave the town of Reedsburg on her own accord – likely due to an abusive husband safe and secure; And just kind of lived under the radar for that long,” he said Hanson was assigned the case in late February and he and other officials met with Backeberg’s family to see if they had a connection with that region They also started digging through Backeberg's sister's Ancestry.com account obituaries and marriage licenses from that region they found an address where a woman was living that Hanson said shared a lot of similarities with Backeberg including date of birth and social security number Hanson was able to get a deputy from that jurisdiction to go to the address "I was expecting the deputy to call me back and say ‘Oh nobody answered the door.’ And I thought it was the deputy calling me I could sense that she obviously had her reasons for leaving.” Most of the information he learned during that call he declined to share saying that it was still important to Backeberg that she not be found “I think it overwhelmed her of course with the emotions that she had having a deputy show up at her house and then kind of call her out and talk with her about what happened and kind of relive 62 years in 45 minutes,” he said Hanson described discovering her safe after more than six decades practically unheard of And while he doesn't know what will happen next in terms of her family reconnecting he said he was happy that she can reach out if she wants to so she has my contact number if she ever wants to reach out or needs anything any phone numbers of family members back here," he said "Ultimately she kind of holds the cards for that.” Shane William Pritchard has been charged with crimes he didn’t commit and chased for debts he doesn’t owe That’s because the Dunedin man is not the only Shane William Pritchard in town While the duo’s shared name and age has sometimes been a handy loophole for one Shane for the other it has caused problems for 36 years It’s been years of fearing every knock on the door Years of wondering if he’ll be hand-cuffed and taken to jail to be honest,” says Shane William Pritchard a scout and a member of the Air Training Corp remembers getting quite a shock when her friend called one evening She'd been acting as a referee for a gun licence for Shane whose friend informed her that the police had a long list of offences against Shane’s name Not long after that the police turned up to where Shane was working at the local tannery to arrest him “You're scrambling in your head to think of ways that you can prove it's not you.” Another Shane William Pritchard had been born in Otago They were separated by just two weeks and about 50 miles – one growing up in Mosgiel the other in Milton – but also by the lives they’d been leading To watch the full video story go to TVNZ+ Shane from Milton had huge problems focusing at school He was raised in foster care and then boys’ homes I just wanted to look cool and get in trouble,” he tells Fair Go Milton Shane was used to run-ins with police he got pulled over in his car and asked about his driving licence one’s got a licence and the other hasn’t.’ And I’m like ‘obviously it must be the one with a licence’.” he went to his bank to draw out an ACC payment and was asked which bank account was his He says that at that point he was trying to figure out what was going on “I thought it was just an error.” But he took advantage of the situation and withdrew a large sum of cash Mosgiel Shane became aware of the withdrawal when a scheduled car payment was declined and when Milton Shane turned up at the bank to withdraw more money Identity fraud was considered but Milton Shane was legitimately expecting an ACC payment so the withdrawal appeared to be a genuine mistake and the police couldn’t take any action 'Anything I could get away with Mosgiel Shane thought the bank incident would have alerted police to the problem But his nemesis had cottoned on to the advantages of having a second identity to use Milton Shane acquired a suite of furniture on hire-purchase Milton-Shane clocked up more driving offences Mosgiel Shane thought about changing his name but realised he’d have to provide his previous name in the process the courts and debt collectors such as Baycorp should be able to distinguish between himself and Milton Shane The police first addressed the issue in the 1990s after Mosgiel Shane went to the media He was given a letter to carry with him should he be apprehended He and his parents felt his situation wasn’t being taken seriously Mosgiel Shane went to the media a second time in the mid-2000s the police gave their word that a record in their system would stop the misidentification from happening again This does appear to have worked as far as police action goes But while Mosgiel Shane was given the same reassurance by the Ministry of Justice he continued to receive demands from the courts for unpaid fines He’d also get stopped and questioned whenever he left the country for work trips or holidays It took a huge toll on Mosgiel Shane’s mental health not realising the constant stress it placed on his life John Pritchard says that at times his son felt his life wasn’t worth living worrying about what he was going to do to himself and that really ate me up.” he and his son were in tears as Shane admitted he was at breaking point He described going for days at a time unable to eat or sleep wondering what might happen next "Am I going to be in a position where they've got me in handcuffs or I've got debt collectors coming to the door?" ...You're spiralling into this black hole." He started taking anti-anxiety medication which helped And events regarding Milton Shane seemed to settle Milton Shane was charged for fishing without a licence in Twizel and failing to comply with fisheries officers But a court registrar incorrectly entered the birth date of Mosgiel Shane in the system both Shanes were being chased to pay the $1530 fine It was Mosgiel Shane who spotted the error and rang the court He also sent a statement from his manager saying he’d not been fishing in Twizel that day The reply he got was to say he’d been given the wrong form and that they wouldn’t accept his proof They just wanted to know how I was going to pay the fine.” The first Milton Shane knew about this was when Fair Go told him Mosgiel Shane had been chased for the fine He was told to pay up or face the consequences feeling he shouldn’t have to pay good money to correct someone else’s mistake But it cost Mosgiel Shane over $5000 in legal fees and took months of back and forth between him “Why should anybody have to pay their own money to right somebody else's wrongs and prove who they are I’m sick and tired of proving who I am all the time.” He wanted the Ministry of Justice to take responsibility and reimburse him for his legal costs saying court staff such as the registrar in this case have immunity if they make mistakes such as the one made here and if I make a mistake and it's affecting my client that it's going to cost them money to rectify a mistake that I've made.” he deserves a million apologies from those guys,” she says Milton Shane told Fair Go he still gets in trouble but wants the other Shane to know he doesn’t use his birth date anymore And he had a message for him: “We’ve got to get it sorted for you so you can have a good life with you and your family because I’m trying to get my life together with my son and my grandson” He offers to meet to see if they can sort it out together but I’m not interested in meeting him,.” says Mosgiel Shane He says he doesn’t hold any grudges and accepts Milton Shane’s apology And he believes the only way for that to happen is for the courts and the Ministry of Justice to give him a guarantee that mix-ups won’t occur in the future Fair Go asked the Ministry of Justice to appear in person to apologise and provide reassurance to Shane of its plans to guard against these mistakes The Ministry declined our request to be on camera saying any comment on an individual case would compromise the independence of the courts as the Ministry operates separately But it did send a written apology directly to Mosgiel Shane It also admitted mistakes can occur in clerical records but said instructions were clear and the importance of getting things right had been emphasised to staff Mosgiel Shane isn’t totally convinced that’s the end of it “All I want is for the Ministry of Justice and the courts to do their job I'd like to live without this hanging over me all the time his criminal check has come back showing a clean slate The government is making it harder to make a claim for pay equity that will cut costs There have been massive pay equity claims in recent years for nurses and resthome workers Workplace Minister Brooke van Velden announced the moves to raise the threshold for proving work has been historically undervalued to support a claim on Tuesday saying changes back in 2020 had created problems "Claims have been able to progress without strong evidence of undervaluation and there have been very broad claims where it is difficult to tell whether differences in pay are due to sex-based discrimination or other factors." Claims were concentrated in the public sector with costs to the Crown of all settlements so far totalling $1.78 billion a year "The changes I am proposing will significantly reduce costs to the Crown," she said "The changes will discontinue current pay equity claims." Van Velden told Midday Report she believes in pay equity but the current thresholds were "a bit too loose" Asked how she ensure women were not hurt by this the minister said "I'm a woman and I support women who work" "I also support removing gender based discriminations from our workforces but what I don't support are muddied laws and unclear laws," she said "So these changes are better for all women who are working where we can genuinely say hand on heart that what they are finding with their claims is genuine gender based discrimination." Van Velden told reporters at Parliament any current claims would be stopped and need to restart under the new threshold to show "genuine" gender discrimination and make sure the comparators were right She gave a figure of 33 current claims that would be stopped as the legislation was put through under urgency "You have librarians who've been comparing themselves to transport engineers We have admin and clerical staff at Health New Zealand comparing themselves to mechanical engineers." Social workers had compared themselves to air traffic controllers "We don't believe we have that setting right." Any comparison would now be between female employees and male employees at the same employer "But you cannot go fishing for discrimination across the New Zealand workforce." All current settled claims would continue but the government was drawing "a line in the sand" "We're not stopping claims." The nurse's union has this year had at least 10 pay equity claims in play The PSA union has said pay equity claims and settlements had resulted in significant improvements in pay and working conditions for many workers The union said the changes would make it "impossible for people in female-dominated professions to be paid fairly" "Women across the country will pay the price for this," PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said "The government's changes today are a dark day for New Zealand women as the government says it will repeal the pay equity law and extinguish 33 existing claims in a constitutional overreach "The PSA is exploring all possible avenues to oppose these unconstitutional amendments and stop this attack on women We will not be deterred in our fight to achieve pay equity for all." "This is a blatant and shameful attack on women," New Zealand Nurses organisation chief executive Paul Goulter said "Women in workforces predominantly performed by female employees have been underpaid and undervalued for generations That is what pay equity claims seek to rectify," he said "This move by the government will widen the pay gap between men and women." The union had at least 10 pay current pay claims across Aged Care These cover many nurses and support workers The E tū union also called the changes an attack on women and a green light to pay them less for work of equal value The government was pulling the rug out from under a 13-year-long fight in aged care "These changes are not about evidence — they are about saving money by keeping women underpaid," national secretary Rachel Mackintosh said in a statement A number of unions have called a snap rally at Parliament at 1pm today in light of the announcement the Council of Trade Unions and representatives of other unions say they will be "protesting the government's attack on women and the destruction of progress on pay equity..." rnz.co.nz 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, 2021's Solar Power. Her other albums were 2013's Pure Heroine and 2017's Melodrama. Last year, she collaborated with British singer Charli XCX on a remix of Girl, so confusing — on a re-release of the Grammy award-winning Brat. Virgin is Lorde's fourth studio album. 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. More than eight years later, 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, 2016. 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. I’m like, ‘What is happening? Are we gonna die? Just tell them I have children. I have babies, I have a husband, I have a family.'" Twelve people were originally expected in the defendants’ box. One of them has died, and another is seriously ill and can't be tried. According to the investigation, 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. Shortly afterwards, Kardashian told investigators that she had not been injured. She filed a complaint, 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, with which he threatened the victims. The gangsters stole many pieces of jewellery, including a ring of great value, 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, as their DNA was found at the crime scene. The alleged ringleader, 68-year-old Aomar Aït Khedache, is one of two suspected robbers who allegedly entered the apartment. Nicknamed "Old Omar", his genetic profile was found on the tape used to gag Kardashian. He left the hotel on a bicycle, as did two other robbers, then met his son, 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. Yunice Abbas, 71, said he acted as a lookout in the ground-floor reception area, making sure the escape route was clear. 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. In 2021, he co-authored a French-language book titled I Sequestered Kim Kardashian. Didier Dubreucq, 69, known as "Blue Eyes", is the second alleged robber suspected of entering the flat. He denies any involvement, although he was filmed by CCTV cameras and numerous telephone contacts with the other co-defendants show his involvement, according to the investigation. 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, Belgium. First-time nominees Chubby Checker, 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 hip-hop pioneers Outkast, the rock duo the White Stripes and grunge masters Soundgarden. Salt-N-Pepa, the first female rap act to achieve gold and platinum status, and the late singer-songwriter Warren Zevon will get the Musical Influence Award. The late record producer Thom Bell, pianist Nicky Hopkins and bassist Carol Kaye will each get the Musical Excellence Award. The late Cocker, who sang at Woodstock and was best known for his cover of The Beatles’ With a Little Help From My Friends, had the backing of Billy Joel, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top and Pete Thomas, 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, a former head of Warner Bros. Records who signed Prince and R.E.M., and had a part in records from Madonna, Randy Newman, the Doobie Brothers, Rickie Lee Jones, Paul Simon and Gary Clark Jr. Some nominees that didn't get in this year included Mariah Carey, Phish, Billy Idol, Joy Division/New Order, Maná, the Black Crowes and Oasis. Checker’s recording of The Twist, 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. I’ll tell them to drop dead, 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. OutKast, made up of André 3000 and Big Boi, 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". Last year, Mary J. Blige, Cher, Foreigner, A Tribe Called Quest, Kool & The Gang, Ozzy Osbourne, Dave Matthews Band and singer-guitarist Peter Frampton were inducted. A resident who frequently walks their dog around the lagoon said the dumping of carcasses, both in the lagoon and on its banks, was a regular occurrence. In most recent incident, a stripped deer carcass that appeared in long grass on the lagoon’s edge overnight, left the walker reeling with disgust. The local, who Local Democracy agreed not to name, said carcasses were usually dumped under the cover of darkness, but just a few weeks ago they had witnessed a man walk into the reserve from Horrocks Ave carrying a deer’s head and throw it over the edge of the bridge into the lagoon. When questioned, he had said he was "feeding the eels". "The worst part was that he had a young child with him so he was teaching the next generation that this is a good way to behave." The head could be seen from the bridge for several weeks afterward, floating on the surface, and smelt terrible. The dog walker said they were concerned that with the roar approaching the problem was only going to get worse. Environmentalist and member of the Awatapu Otamakaokao Kaitiaki Trust Keith Hamill said while it was true that fish and eels would eat the carcasses, it would do more harm to them than good. He said the decomposing carcasses would only add to the low oxygen levels the lagoon was experiencing at the moment due to lack of water flow and pest plants covering the surface. "Because there’s not a lot of flow running through it, it’s just going to decompose and add to the anoxia setting in. That sort of thing can become a breeding ground for issues like botulism." Hamill has played an important role in restoration of the lagoon over several years and was contracted by Whakatāne District Council last year to report on the condition its condition and options for improvement. Based on this, the council has planned to budget over $2.6 million for wetland construction at Awatapu over the next 10 years. Hamill said the lagoon needed to be treated as "a taonga". "It has problems but it has huge potential as well and the more we treat it as a taonga, as something to respect, the better it is going to be. "It’s disrespectful to the lagoon for people to throw rubbish in there." The site, along the southern edge of Awatapu Lagoon, where a deer carcass has been dumped amid the long grass. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting) The dumping of deer carcasses, shellfish remains and other organic waste in Whakatāne's Awatapu Lagoon, which is in the centre of a residential area, is reaching a level a local dog walker describes as "feral". Owner prosecuted after dog starves to death SPCA inspectors found evidence suggesting Mike had been tethered to the same spot "for an extended period" Crime and Justice 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 Stowaway weka catches ride across Southern Alps The native bird caught a ride after a couple left their car door open at their campsite New recycling scheme turns car bumpers into fence posts The idea is to repurpose broken car parts destined for landfill 23 mins ago shellfish remains and other organic waste in Whakatāne's Awatapu Lagoon which is in the centre of a residential area is reaching a level a local dog walker describes as "feral" A resident who frequently walks their dog around the lagoon said the dumping of carcasses a stripped deer carcass that appeared in long grass on the lagoon’s edge overnight said carcasses were usually dumped under the cover of darkness but just a few weeks ago they had witnessed a man walk into the reserve from Horrocks Ave carrying a deer’s head and throw it over the edge of the bridge into the lagoon he had said he was "feeding the eels" The head could be seen from the bridge for several weeks afterward The dog walker said they were concerned that with the roar approaching the problem was only going to get worse Environmentalist and member of the Awatapu Otamakaokao Kaitiaki Trust Keith Hamill said while it was true that fish and eels would eat the carcasses He said the decomposing carcasses would only add to the low oxygen levels the lagoon was experiencing at the moment due to lack of water flow and pest plants covering the surface "Because there’s not a lot of flow running through it it’s just going to decompose and add to the anoxia setting in That sort of thing can become a breeding ground for issues like botulism." Hamill has played an important role in restoration of the lagoon over several years and was contracted by Whakatāne District Council last year to report on the condition its condition and options for improvement the council has planned to budget over $2.6 million for wetland construction at Awatapu over the next 10 years Hamill said the lagoon needed to be treated as "a taonga" "It has problems but it has huge potential as well and the more we treat it as a taonga 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 weka who travelled from the West Coast to Christchurch over the Alps has been returned home after his roadie adventure The endemic bird caught a ride after a couple left their car door open at their campsite in Buller Gorge while packing up from their Easter getaway The gear was split between campers Kim Ranger and her partner Ian's two vehicles hidden in dog blankets in Ian's ute despite multiple stops He got home to Christchurch and hopped out and didn’t notice the weka," Kim said I opened the back door of the Ranger to get something there it was in the rear passenger footwell what on earth do you do with a weka in Christchurch?”  Kim said they contacted the after-hours vet SPCA and DOC but were told to care for the bird until morning Apart from setting off the car alarm at 7am and covering the inside of the ute with poo Kim said the weka didn't seem distressed after her last name and given its temporary home Ranger was collected by DOC and checked over at the South Island Wildlife Hospital where — apart from being slightly dehydrated — was in good health and was released back to the area from where it hitched a ride DOC Biodiversity supervisor Craig Alexander said the episode was a reminder for people to check their vehicles for any wildlife when camping “There are no wild weka in Christchurch so we wouldn’t want to see them accidentally introduced here.”  we also had someone accidentally bring two wētā over from the West Coast in their wetsuits,” said Alexander If you find a native animal has snuck a ride somewhere it shouldn't be; contact DOC on 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468) for advice on what to do next A new recycling scheme turning bits of old bangers destined for landfill into fence posts is underway Eurotech Auto Repair Centre director Marino Milich said there's been a history of being able to recycle products "but plastics we've been found wanting" "This is great for the automotive trade and for generations to come," said Milich Among the biggest plastic components are car bumpers The plastics they're made of are designed to absorb force but therefore don't break down easily Milich sends around 10 of them to landfill every week but a new collection service from the country's motor industry body aims to end that Larry Fallowfield from the Motor Trade Association said they've started the service in the greater south and east Auckland areas and will be rolling it out to the greater Auckland over the next few months "With the intention that by the start of 2026 there will be no more bumpers going to landfill," Fallowfield said The process begins in south and east Auckland where broken car parts are placed in specifically-designed cages They are then brought to a plastic manufacturer in Waiuku to be made into fences Alloy Logistics Solutions' Grant Rollo said they received 24 bumpers in the first rollout "Wwe can fit about 50 to 60 bumpers per cage," he said Future Post founder Jerome Wenzlick said the plastic is fed into a "big shredding machine" which chips them into 10ml pieces "Then we melt it together and turn it into a post." The Motor Trade Association is currently in talks with other companies around the country that can also repurpose plastic parts repairers are shouldering the costs of the delivery service but Fallowfield hopes insurers will help foot the bill "Most insurance companies will pay an environmental fee What we're trying to do is get insurance companies to pay a repurposing fee." Fallowfield said there's widespread interest from repairers with around 40 companies expected to sign up by the end of the month 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 Emergency services are attending a serious two vehicle crash in Maraetotara One person has died following a serious two-vehicle crash in the Whakatāne town of Maraetotara this afternoon A police spokesperson said emergency services were called to the crash on Ohope Rd in the Whakatāne District about 4.55pm “The Serious Crash Unit is examining the scene and traffic management remains in place.” A Hato Hone St John spokesperson said two ambulances and a rapid response vehicle were sent to the scene about 4.50pm Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday. 'This is not something we’ve seen before.' Firefighters have rescued a man from a burning house in Whakatāne. Photo / File A person has been rescued from a house fire in Whakatāne. Fire and Emergency New Zealand northern communications centre shift manager Joshua Pennefather said a call was received about the fire in Arawa Rd at 4.02pm. “The property was well-involved when we arrived,” Pennefather said. “The single-storey house was 120sqm. Two fire trucks and crews attended from Whakatāne, as well as one each from Ōhope, Edgecumbe and Kawerau. “We rescued one person from the house … They are being treated by ambulance,” Pennefather said. A Hato Hone St John spokesperson said the service received a call at 4.15pm. “We have one ambulance and a helicopter on scene.” Pennefather said the cause of the fire was yet to be determined. “We have a fire investigator attending,” Pennefather said. “We have extinguished the fire and just dampening down the hot spots.” SunLive will provide more information once it becomes available. Phone 0800SUNLIVE or email newsroom@thesun.co.nz Paying for clean-up means less money for the community. Police responded to a "family harm-related incident" at Ōhope Beach, east of Whakatāne, at around 6pm yesterday. When officers arrived at the scene, a 48-year-old Whakatāne man ran away and jumped into the harbour, Eastern Bay of Plenty area commander Inspector Nicky Cooney said. "Officers engaged with him and attempted to get him to come out of the water but he refused, continuing to walk away from them," she said. "When the man started swimming further away and against the outgoing tide, members of the public who were nearby sourced paddleboards, kayaks and a boat and went to assist, but the man was not located." Coastguard and rescue helicopters were deployed to assist in the search for the man but he has not been found. The search, with help from the Police National Dive Squad, has been stood down for the day and will resume again tomorrow morning. Iwi have placed a rāhui on Ōhope Harbour until further notice. A search is continuing for a man missing in the water near Ōhope after police said he fled from officers last night and swam away. Juliana Herrera's family tell inquest: 'Stop repeating avoidable mistakes' was murdered in January 2022 by her neighbour Health Arrest after person assaulted More than 25kg cocaine seizure leads to four arrests across NZ Sole survivor of poisoned beef Wellington takes the stand Korumburra Baptist Church pastor Ian Wilkinson was one of four guests invited to Patterson's home in the regional town of Leongatha in 2023 Man charged after gun allegedly fired in Masterton MSD office Police said it was believed to be an isolated incident with no wider risk to the public 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 32 mins ago A search is continuing for a man missing in the water near Ōhope after police said he fled from officers last night and swam away Police responded to a "family harm-related incident" at Ōhope Beach a 48-year-old Whakatāne man ran away and jumped into the harbour Eastern Bay of Plenty area commander Inspector Nicky Cooney said "Officers engaged with him and attempted to get him to come out of the water but he refused continuing to walk away from them," she said "When the man started swimming further away and against the outgoing tide members of the public who were nearby sourced paddleboards Coastguard and rescue helicopters were deployed to assist in the search for the man but he has not been found with help from the Police National Dive Squad has been stood down for the day and will resume again tomorrow morning Iwi have placed a rāhui on Ōhope Harbour until further notice A 25-year-old man has appeared in court after he allegedly fired a gun at another person inside a Ministry of Social Development office in Masterton yesterday Police were called to the incident on Lincoln Rd at around 12.40pm on Monday Wairarapa Area Commander Inspector Nick Thom said there were no reports of injuries from the incident "Following police's initial enquiries one person was taken into custody a short time later nearby." Cordons were put in place around the area and some staff were armed as a precaution Thom said it was believed to be an isolated incident with no wider risk to the public "Police would like to commend Ministry of Social Development staff for their prompt actions in following their lockdown procedures as this enabled police to provide a swift response to resolve this incident quickly." A 25-year-old man appeared in Masterton District Court today charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and conducting a dangerous act with intent to cause grievous bodily harm 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 Mayor Victor Luca's online health conference is aimed at "lighting a fire" for public services Mayor Victor Luca says the downgrade of specialist services at Whakatāne Hospital's gynaecology and obstetrics department is only the tip of the iceberg of the issues facing health services For the past six months he has been planning a health conference featuring the who's who of health that he hopes will "put a fire under some of the politician's feet" to improve health services The virtual conference will be run out of the Whakatāne District Council chambers and streamed online through the council's YouTube page he has spent the past four years researching New Zealand's health system and will chair the event in which has encouraged mayors from around New Zealand to participate It will be open to the public both in person or online on 26 February from 8.30am and will remain online for anyone to view later Having lived and worked in countries with dysfunctional public health systems where adequate health services are only available those able to afford private health insurance he was surprised on returning to New Zealand to health services were moving in a similar direction only to find out that 35 percent of New Zealanders have actually got private heath insurance "There is no way to logically argue that we have anything but a class-based system Those who have insurance and those who don't If you have insurance you get the premium and prompt service He recalled his own experience of being on the lower tier of a two-tiered health system when living in Buenos Aires I didn't have private insurance and ended up in a public hospital They were competent doctors but working in a completely underfunded system The ultrasound sensor was outdated and broken I ended up spending the night with a lure in my arm on a table trolley with no mattress and because they couldn't find a pillow I was given a plastic bag stuffed with cotton wool." including making at least 30 Official Information Act requests to the Ministry of Health he has determined that New Zealand's health service is headed in the same direction "What we saw in obstetrics and gynacology recently is just the tip of the iceberg It is just one of the 41 health specialities some of which are well on the track to privatisation I can give you a plot of FTE (full-time equivalent employees) private and public as a function of time for all the health specialities." who has been campaigning for better laboratory services in Whakatāne since they were outsourced to a private laboratory in Tauranga Other speakers are health systems commentator and columnist Ian Powell who is a former Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director; University of Otago Centre for Health Systems and Technology co-director Robin Gauld; University of Otago Centre of Hauora Māori Professor of Public Health in Kōhatu Peter Crampton and specialist medical laboratory scientist Dr Terry Taylor Luca said the complexities of health systems included how to fund them and to address this another key speaker would be Professor Steve Keen History and Politics at Kingston University in London Luca described Professor Keen as "the contrarian economist of our times" because all too often these days I hear the government saying 'we don't have money we can't finance this' we managed to build infrastructure in this country with half the population before the 1970s and since then we've been going backwards Posted on 09-02-2025 15:36 | By Let's get real The population of Argentina is over 46 million and ours is a little over 5 million and unlike Argentina we have a huge percentage of the population that EXPECTS free money from the government for ever increasing numbers of reasons funding the wishes and whims of those that bark the loudest we are seeing many of our quality and qualified population fleeing the country to be replaced in many cases by overseas workers without the skills that we need I have lost hope that anything will change in this country until we can quiet the bleating from some areas of our parliament and concentrate on the real NEEDS OF EVERY HUMAN BEING in the country A family member of mine had to wait 8 months to get an appointment for an Ear Nose and Throat Specialist after an accident covered by ACC Time Politicians got out of the health system because all as they can see is votes They don't appear to give a toss about people Let's hope you conference has a good outcome .....Mr Mayor has time for mayoral duties with all that research time and effort put into doing what New Zealand Health are supposed to be doing I guess if he is supporting the concerns from the people of his district It is true that Maternity services in Whakatane have been reduced at least until new recruits for specialist services can be employed but with the exodus of staff in all industries and professions recently it will sadly take time to recover...so let's hope it's soon... many years and to establish a hospital lab at Whakatane would be mighty expensive...we can't all have flawless public health services at all times for everyone and I disagree that private services are always fast...NOT true.. Warning: This story deals with the death of a child and may be distressing Two women accused of killing 8-year-old Te Teko boy Rickah’Shae Keefe-Haerewa have pleaded not guilty to all charges Both appeared in the High Court at Rotorua on Monday to enter pleas denied a charge of murder and a charge of assaulting a child She did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody pleaded not guilty to a charge of manslaughter and two charges of assaulting a child Rickard-Simms applied for bail on Timu’s behalf but Justice Kiri Tahana reserved her decision on that application Family members of Rickah’Shae were present in court The matter will now head to a High Court jury trial scheduled for April 2027 meaning the two women will face a joint trial over Rickah’Shae’s death An investigation began after police were called to Whakatāne Hospital in November after the child died following an alleged assault A scene examination was carried out at a property in the small town of Te Teko Hati was charged first in relation to Rickah’Shae’s death, with Timu’s charges following. Family members have posted tributes to the young boy supporters of Rickah’Shae wore “Forever 8″ hoodies and t-shirts to the proceedings At Hati’s previous appearance in Tauranga emotions ran high for both families; as Hati’s family expressed their love and support for her as she left the dock a single voice from the boy’s family was heard to allege Hannah Bartlett is a Tauranga-based Open Justice reporter at NZME She previously covered court and local government for the Nelson Mail and before that was a radio reporter at Newstalk ZB