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[] | 2016-08-29T00:48:54 | null | 2016-08-28T21:19:21 | The fallout from The Bachelor NZ's controversial finale is showing no signs of letting up. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fentertainment%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1501119%26objectid%3D11701346%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/CompImage2Template_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Jordan Mauger hits back at Naz, says her raised voice claim is 'a complete fabrication' | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | The fallout from The Bachelor NZ's controversial finale is showing no signs of letting up.
Now, Jordan Mauger has hit back at claims he raised his voice at The Bachelor NZ runner-up Naz Khanjani, calling it a "complete fabrication".
Khanjani used a Woman's Day interview last week to claim Mauger hounded her after The Bachelor wrapped, saying he called her "three or four times a day" after dumping winner Fleur Verhoeven just days after the finale.
Read more: Naz slams Bachelor star Jordan Mauger: 'He actually raised his voice at me'
"He kept telling me he wanted to be part of my journey ... He'd ask me to send him selfies. I wasn't into it," she told the mag.
She also claimed Mauger "raised his voice at me" when she tried to cut off contact.
But Mauger continues the pair's war of words in the latest edition of WD, saying: "I don't know what she's talking about".
"After the show, I really thought I could maintain a friendship with Naz, but her true colours started to show. It's pretty unbelievable that she said I'm fame hungry - she should look in the mirror," Mauger said.
Continued below.
Related Content TV3's Heather du Plessis-Allan tried to interview Naz, then this happened Video Watch: Naz apologises for swearing on TV Former Bachelor star Naz Khanjani back in hospital after boxing dropout
"To say that I raised my voice at her - well, that's a complete fabrication."
Mauger also told WD he'd returned to the dating scene and was enjoying going on normal dates without cameras monitoring his every move.
He hinted that he was seeing someone special, and his advice to Khanjani was to move on.
"I'm a true believer in surrounding myself with people who bring out the best in you - and she's not one of those people," he said, ruling out any further contact.
Khanjani has started seeing a new man, digital developer and stripper Craig Sutherland, while Verhoeven has also found love with Kiwi photographer Richard Wood.
Both revealed their new partners in last week's WD magazine.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11701346&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/f1d91cc82009951b0058a84a634945061bca969e19ea04f4a0933870701e2832.json |
[
"Patrick Mckendry Is A Rugwriter For The Herald."
] | 2016-08-26T13:08:01 | null | 2016-08-26T01:36:18 | Porirua, with its state houses and Jerry Collins Stadium, is a place familiar with hard knocks, and it's here, two days before one of the biggest tests of his career, that Quade Cooper - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fsport%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D4%26objectid%3D11700772%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/SCCZEN_GettyImages-591911836_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Quade Cooper: Hot-head or flawed genius? | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Video will play in Play now Don't auto play
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Porirua, with its state houses and Jerry Collins Stadium, is a place familiar with hard knocks, and it's here, two days before one of the biggest tests of his career, that Quade Cooper is putting the finishing touches on his preparations.
The 28-year-old has had his struggles too, many of his own making, and there is no understating the importance of this match for him, the first time he has played for Australia since the World Cup pool match against Uruguay in October.
A good performance, even in a defeat, outside his old mate Will Genia, could see him stay in the No10 jersey for the Wallabies, with coach Michael Cheika talking up a potential long-term partnership with Bernard Foley, who will play at second-five at Westpac Stadium.
After returning a year early from France and his contract with Toulon, and getting over the disappointment of missing out on Australia's sevens squad for the Rio Olympics, Cooper, who played the first of his 58 tests as a 20-year-old, is on the brink of re-igniting his international career or potentially seeing it sink altogether.
With former All Blacks assistant coach Mick Byrne, now with the Wallabies, watching, Cooper goes through his goalkicking return at the place formerly known as Porirua Park and now named for the late All Blacks loose forward Collins.
From the right-hand side of the field he kicks most of them. One attempt bounces back off the right upright. Cooper walks off, smiling with Byrne, before facing the media, who are watching from the sideline.
There are no smiles now from behind his scruffy beard during his six minutes in front of the microphones.
To get to his point Cooper has had to go through what could be considered as more than his fair share of lows. The high point probably came in the months preceding the 2011 World Cup.
Continued below.
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Cooper, in partnership with Genia, swept all before him for the Reds and Australia, and the results were a Super Rugby title and Tri-Nations triumph.
Cooper and Genia were a devastating combination, the former's quick feet, sidestep, vision, and ability to send a pass into from virtually the middle of the park to a flying wing on the sideline making him a huge threat to opposition defences.
As a result, the elusive Genia had more room in which to operate, and few matches illustrated their twin dangers than their Super Rugby final victory against the Crusaders at Suncorp Stadium.
But Cooper's strength - his impetuous, spontaneous, nature - has also been his greatest weakness. A charge into a prone Richie McCaw a year earlier in Hong Kong, plus a spray of invective as the Wallabies secured victory over their old rivals, was followed during the 2011 Tri Nations by an opportunistic knee to McCaw's head in Brisbane, and Cooper arrived in New Zealand for the World Cup that year as the so-called Public Enemy No1.
What made it worse for Cooper was how he responded - not with humility and an apology, but with defiance, an attitude that firmly turned the New Zealand public against him. Whether his approach was the result of poor advice or his nature it's hard to say, but either way he was in the spotlight, his every move scrutinized, and it didn't help his game.
The criticism, rightly or wrongly, came from nearly every quarter. Former Wallabies skipper Nick Farr-Jones called him a "boofhead", and he struggled in the semifinal against the All Blacks, who targeted him and will do so again at Westpac Stadium. Since that 20-6 semifinal defeat, Cooper has started three tests against the All Blacks at No10 and has suffered the same result every time.
Now, as he addresses the media on a cool but calm afternoon in Porirua, that old defiance is present again.
"It's just another game of rugby against the best in the world," he says. "It's something that's pretty exciting if you ask me. For me, I'm just happy to be back starting and back playing test football against the best.
"It's about the Wallabies against the All Blacks ... so I'm not getting drawn into anything personal.
"I'm not coming over here thinking I need to do anything special to beat the All Blacks. I've just had a bit of time off to reflect on the things that are important. I've been training very hard. I can't say that I'm going to be more consistent or anything like that but I know that every time I put the jumper on, I give it everything I've got and this will be no different."
Asked about the last time he played the All Blacks - the 41-13 thrashing at Eden Park in August last year - he says: "That's a long time ago. There's been so much in between it. We've gone to a World Cup final against the All Blacks, come up short there but as a team we've grown. This is a different challenge. You can't look back and draw too many parallels. It was only eight months ago that we were playing in a final against them and then last week they put 30 points on us. Anything could happen. We're going out there determined to right those wrongs and just play well."
However much Cheika says he backs Cooper, the selection of a man who didn't make the match-day 23 last weekend in Sydney has a whiff of a gamble about it. But, with his team's chances of winning back the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2002 suffering a huge blow in the wake of the 42-8 humiliation at ANZ Stadium, Cheika needs something different and in Cooper he has it.
A fragile-looking Wallabies, who have lost five tests in a row, need a vastly improved performance in order to claw back a little self belief as they approach the rest of the Rugby Championship, and the same could be said of Cooper, the man from Tokoroa looking to put the past behind him. | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11700772&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/dd4a27f25368fcb21aca62a341f54abd8c195a0d9da9431b190de93c57744f7b.json |
[
"Gregor Paul Is The Herald On Sunday'S Rugwriter"
] | 2016-08-27T10:47:24 | null | 2016-08-27T09:28:17 | Lock up the cabinet and throw away the key. The Bledisloe Cup is staying in New Zealand and, at this rate, maybe it will never again know the feeling of having its base resting snugly - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fsport%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D4%26objectid%3D11701120%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/270816NZHMMTEST13_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Rugby: All Blacks outclass Australia to keep Bledisloe | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | All Blacks 29 Australia 9
Video will play in Play now Don't auto play
Never auto play
Lock up the cabinet and throw away the key. The Bledisloe Cup is staying in New Zealand and, at this rate, maybe it will never again know the feeling of having its base resting snugly on Australian soil again.
The gap between these two sides is significant - metaphorically, bigger than the Tasman which literally separates them.
Take any part of the game - any - and the All Blacks were streets ahead. Their lineout was like a French train with precision its only form of expression. The ability to pass under pressure came into its own in the second half. Again and again, the ball would be shot out of hands at incredible speed and with unfailing accuracy. Tacklers would fly up but, the ball would still be moving, from touchline to touchline and the Wallabies might even have begun to admire what they were so hopelessly trying to defend against.
The finishing was the only part missing, it wasn't as clinical or ruthless as it needed to be.
The show up to that point, though, was compelling.
Physically, there was no ambiguity about who had it there, either. The All Blacks stopped the Wallabies behind the gainline with thumping, driving two-man tackles. The Wallabies, scragged and ragged, did what they could but it was never enough. Not even close.
The Wallabies at least had more urgency, more desire to let the All Blacks know they were there. But they made their presence felt as much through niggle, off-the-ball stuff as they did with their work at the coalface.
There was barely a collision that ended without a bit of push and shove; a bit of verbal sparring and a whole lot of aggressive body language.
Continued below.
Related Content As it happened: All Blacks retain Bledisloe Rugby: Wallabies gambles come up short Video Watch: All Blacks retain Bledisloe Cup, win 29-9 against Australia
That sort of stuff is the Wallabies at both their best and worst. It's always good to see a team pumped, ready to make a physical stand. It is possible to overdo it, however, and the fact Wallabies lock Adam Coleman was sent to the sin-bin before halftime was no surprise.
He'd clearly been letting the red mist descend a little too much and he followed through with a needless late charge on Barrett. The game needed a card to calm it down and speed it up.
It also paved the way for the All Blacks to get on with landing the killer blow and give the game definitive direction. The All Blacks were in control of the first half - not in the same way they were last week - but they had enough possession, territory and dominance to suggest that, at some stage, they were going to break the Wallabies' resistance.
That's how it felt, but the Wallabies did enough to keep themselves in it. When Reece Hodge landed an enormous penalty to close the gap to 15-9, there was still the real possibility of the game swinging back to the Wallabies. One try and they could have been in front and, who knows, suddenly everything could have clicked for them.
Maybe ironically, but it was the second that Coleman returned to the field that the All Blacks put the distance they wanted between the two teams. A miraculous high ball take from Israel Dagg, a few huge passes across the field and Julian Savea stormed down the line - too big, too strong and too fast to be pushed into touch.
It's often the way with the All Blacks that if they can give themselves a buffer, a bit of breathing space, then their confidence flows, their passes stick a little more and, in no time, the tempo of the game can be electric, the opposition left scrambling and wondering just how bad things are going to be for them.
It's a bit of an art form that second-half surge and, when the All Blacks do it well, as they have done so many times over the last few years, no team survives it. Especially not one with the limitations of the Wallabies.
New Zealand 29 (I. Dagg 2, J. Savea, S. Cane tries; B. Barrett pens, 3 cons) Australia 9 (B. Foley 2 pens; R. Hodge pen).
Halftime: 15-9.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11701120&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/1d24566b8c9c5a7cf6ae9a2a0aef25899f93854eec1c8b766d9bd1a2a57e0237.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T20:50:04 | null | 2016-08-30T19:25:18 | Police say a man is lucky to be alive after someone threw a empty bottle of Jim Beam through his windscreen while he was driving on the Hawke's Bay expressway. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11702037%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/img_0621_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Man lucky to be alive after bottle of Jim Beam thrown through windscreen | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Police say a man is "lucky to be alive" after someone threw a empty bottle of Jim Beam through his windscreen while he was driving on the Hawke's Bay expressway.
The man identified as a baker was on his way to work when someone coming in the opposite direction threw the bottle at his car.
The bottle smashed windscreen and struck the man on the shoulder.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11702037&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/04e83a9d42cb261359d5fa4e9f01f4fbd1befbe476c0c6f271f279e23c887ede.json |
[
"Jamie Morton Is The Nz Herald'S Science Reporter."
] | 2016-08-28T20:48:36 | null | 2016-08-28T05:53:37 | One of the most shocking exhibitions in the history of British art - featuring tissues soiled by Billy Apple - is now the focus of a new Kiwi scientific study. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11701251%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/SCCZEN_280816SPLAPPLE1_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Artist's 46-year-old loo paper to be studied | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | One of the most shocking exhibitions in the history of British art - featuring tissues soiled by Billy Apple - is now the focus of a new Kiwi scientific study.
When the artist unveiled his work Body Activities - consisting of tissues and cotton buds stained with excrement and other bodily fluids - at London's Serpentine Gallery in 1974, authorities immediately ordered it be taken down.
But he kept all the original tissues and more than 45 years later, researchers have found a new purpose for them, in the latest intriguing collaboration between the 80-year-old and top New Zealand scientists.
"Billy has provided us with fecal samples that are 46 years apart, and by looking at the bacteria from these, we can understand how Billy's gut bacteria have changed," said Dr Justin O'Sullivan, of the Auckland University-based Liggins Institute.
"These types of samples are extremely rare."
In the study, being led by PhD student Thilini Jayasinghe, the team is using a method called "16S amplicon sequencing" which effectively takes copies and sequences regions of the bacterial DNA.
These are then used to search a database and identify the bacteria.
"It has a lot of similarity to the toll gate on the northern express way - cars pass through, number plates are photographed, and then the numbers used to identify the individual cars from the database."
Continued below.
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O'Sullivan and his colleagues have been offering senior high school students with an opportunity to perform this type of analysis on soil bacteria for the past six years.
"This project provides us with a new avenue through which we can expose a different audience to the scientific advances that are changing our understanding of ourselves - as walking, talking ecosystems.
"More studies like this will help us understand how bacteria change us and contribute to non-communicable diseases."
Apple was amused at the renewed interest in the work.
"Who the hell keeps their tissues for 46 years unless it's an art work?" he told the Herald.
"But for them, it's a pretty special project, and I'm just thrilled to be able to work with them."
Apple has a long history of collaborating with scientists and bridging the worlds of research and art.
In 1970, he collaborated on an installation, Laser Beam Wall, with renowned physicist and white light laser pioneer Dr Stanley Shapiro.
Four decades later, at the instigation of Dr Craig Hilton, Otago University-based New Zealand Genomics Ltd sequenced Apple's entire genome.
Some of his personal genetic information is detailed in a diagram and printed onto canvas which the artist likens to a new type of self-portrait.
In 2008, in another project with Hilton, dubbed "The Immortalisation Of Billy Apple®", cells were taken from his blood and scientifically altered using a virus so that they would keep regenerating forever.
The cell lines - formally named after Billy Apple® - are now held at University of Auckland's School of Biological Sciences and the American Type Culture Collection, Virginia, a biological culture repository that aids studies in areas such as cancer research.
"It's a curious thing for an artist - I'm in a collection in a cell bank, it's just like one of my works being in the Tate Britain collection: it's incredible.
"The body may go but the cells will live on."
Works by Apple, who is represented by Auckland's Starkwhite, will also be showcased as part of Queenstown Research Week - this year staged in Nelson - this week.
The diagram of his genome will be presented in a talk to researchers, while the exhibition Cell Culture runs at Nelson's Suter Gallery until Sunday.
About Billy
• Born Barrie Bates in Auckland, changed his name to Billy Apple in 1962 and became a registered trademark in 2007.
• Moved to New York in 1964 and spent the 1960s and 1970s heavily involved in the pop art movement. His work is now held in museums and galleries around the world.
• Has had his entire genome sequenced and donated a cell line, formally named after him, to research.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701251&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/5d8fc3c8bb2c620109dc573de052c908ae2341652fe2128bdc04d9857cac6fe2.json |
[
"Chris Rattue Is A Sports Columnist For The New Zealand Herald."
] | 2016-08-28T20:48:46 | null | 2016-08-28T19:41:47 | Herald sport's writer Chris Rattue names his winners and losers from the sporting weekend. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fsport%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D4%26objectid%3D11701313%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/Barrett6_1024x768.jpg | en | null | The weekend's winners and losers | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Chris Rattue is a sports columnist for the New Zealand Herald.
Herald sport's writer Chris Rattue names his winners and losers from the sporting weekend.
WINNERS
Beauden Barrett
The two tests against Australia have established the wizard playmaker as New Zealand's premier No. 10. Keep working on the goalkicking though, Beauden.
Springboks captain Adriaan Strauss...
After South Africa's second only second ever defeat to Argentina, Strauss said: "Well done to Argentina, they played a fantastic game." Phil Kearns will be impressed.
Steve Sumner
The great All Whites captain - who led his team on a magical ride to the World Cup finals in 1982 - has had a stand named after him at English Park in Christchurch. Wonderful stuff, and so well deserved.
EPL fans
Once again...the new football channel on Sky is brilliant.
LOSERS
The Warriors
Yet another season full of promise has disintegrated - they were at their erratic worst against the depleted Tigers. Andrew McFadden will come under pressure again, but some of those players lack the necessary desperation.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika
Moan, moan, moan, moan, moan. Have you got a mirror handy Michael?
The Bledisloe Cup contest
Another forgone conclusion. Boring. Come on Australia - give us something to worry about.
Tom Latham
New Zealand's test opener was undone by another Richard Illingworth howler, this time as the third umpire in South Africa. Illingworth saw the no-ball that wasn't there in Wellington early this year, and now he's created a mysterious edge on Latham's bat. | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11701313&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/3ab54c5165779144a46cfea3ee7e3251125e899a6899f3a254773e575a55bf0e.json |
[] | 2016-08-27T00:47:05 | null | 2016-08-26T23:13:24 | Facebook addicts had a bit of a scare this morning as a glitch temporarily posed problems accessing the mobile site. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fbusiness%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D3%26objectid%3D11701048%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/facebook_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Uh oh! Facebook goes down for users | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Facebook addicts had a bit of a scare this morning as a glitch temporarily posed problems accessing the mobile site.
A number of users reported being unable to access the site both on the mobile app and through various browsers around 11 this morning.
Attempts to go through to the site on the cellphone app showed a "network error" message, while the PC browser displayed a "sorry, something went wrong message".
"We're working on it and we'll get it fixed as soon as we can."
It didn't take long for users to take to twitter to express their loss of one social media forum.
In a matter of minutes of the site going down, hundreds took to twitter.
Yo solo se que estaba a punto de terminar de programar mi fin de semana en #Facebook y ahora #QuienPodraAyudarme pic.twitter.com/ZhGxu0AwZQ — Lorena Flores (@loreeflores) August 26, 2016
Click here for a look at current Facebook outages around the globe.
Approximately twenty minutes after the initial outage the site appeared to be back up and running.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11701048&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/d3d1eeb75b847cf9fa26c41a0d3f396ee6d997869a5030dbc4efd1ce06caea44.json |
[
"Kirsty Wynn Is A Senior Reporter At The Herald On Sunday."
] | 2016-08-26T18:50:29 | null | 2016-08-26T10:07:47 | Eleven eateries have closed their doors in the past year after council inspections found rat and cockroach infestations, poor food handling and storage and filthy conditions. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11700985%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/22db9c99c3b705d701e081270148cb974d738ef2_1024x761.jpg | en | null | Eateries not up to scratch close doors | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Kirsty Wynn is a senior reporter at the Herald on Sunday.
Eleven eateries have closed their doors in the past year after council inspections found rat and cockroach infestations, poor food handling and storage and filthy conditions.
Photos provided to the Weekend Herald by Auckland Council under the Official Information Act show a rat in a rubbish bin, rodent droppings in a food storage area and dirty preparation areas at restaurants and fast-food outlets around the city.
Of the 8300 food premises in the Auckland Council boundary, 126 eateries had either D or E food grades as of August 1, according to council reports.
An establishment graded D is considered to be of "poor" standard and E is "unsatisfactory". There were 21 E-grade eateries and 105 D grades. Of the 126 premises graded a D or E, 10 remained closed beyond the temporary closure enforced by council. Seven still operate with an E grade.
"Any food premises that receives an E rating has to close for a few days until it has removed any risk to the public," said Neil Silver at Auckland Council.
There are four grades - A, B, D or E. There is no C because eateries should be clearly above or below standard. Establishments are graded on overall hygiene standards, conduct and maintenance, process control, cleaning and sanitising and staff training.
Dragon Chinese in Henderson closed in October last year when inspectors found rat droppings in food storage areas and a dead rat on top of rubbish in a full bin.
Silver said despite rodents posing a high risk to food safety and attracting an E grade, there were other kitchens that looked clean that posed an equally dangerous risk.
Continued below.
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"Risks to the public might be because someone has failed to keep rodents off their premises or it might be because they cut chicken up on a board and then put a green salad on the same board. Sometimes it might look clean but they have unsafe practices."
Reev's Kitchen, in Blockhouse Bay closed in December last year. Photos show a blocked and filthy hand-wash basin and microwave splattered with built-up grime sitting on a dirty bench.
Yi Xin Li in Upper Queen St closed down this year. Photos show a blackened chopping board, oil dripping from ventilation ducts and a dirty dishwasher and stovetop.
Patricks at West City Mall Henderson closed because of poor food handling, unhygienic conditions and cockroach activity.
Chinese restaurant Wok in Queen St and Aroy Thai Express in Customs St closed after they both received D ratings because of poor food handling and storage. Cockroach activity was also noticed at Aroy Thai Express.
In April, Habitual Fix in Manurewa and Carl's Jr in Lincoln Rd, Henderson, were given D ratings.
Habitual Fix in Manurewa closed and Carl's Jr improved conditions and was reassessed with an A grade.
Mission Bay's Mehfil Indian, Silverbell Market in Henderson, Biwon Butchery in Rosedale, Just Samosas in Papatoetoe, Blue Star Takeaway in Favona and Bayview Superette currently operate with E grades.
Silver said premises can trade with an E grade but the risk that earned the low rating had to be removed.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11700985&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/d575154df3c47afcb568eb8655bef73da1adc545588953cca6e630743e3886d9.json |
[] | 2016-08-28T20:48:48 | null | 2016-08-28T18:52:27 | Internet tycoon Kim Dotcom is set to return to court today as he appeals a decision to allow his extradition to the United States. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11701300%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/SCCZEN_A_211215NZHGBKIM51_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Kim Dotcom showdown: Internet tycoon fights to prevent his extradition to US | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Internet tycoon Kim Dotcom is set to return to court today as he appeals a decision to allow his extradition to the United States.
In December, a judge ruled there was "overwhelming" evidence the 42-year-old tech entrepreneur and his three co-accused - Mathias Ortmann, Finn Batato and Bram van der Kolk - had criminal charges to face in the US over their part in running file-sharing website Megaupload.
But their lawyers immediately filed an appeal and the High Court at Auckland will today begin to hear arguments about why the extradition shoudn't go ahead. The hearing is set down for six weeks.
During the 10-week extradition hearing last year, lawyers for the US argued Dotcom and his associates had earned US$175 million ($242m) by running a website funded largely by revenue from publishing copyright-infringing files. They said the site had paid people to illegally upload copyright-infringing files and then charged others to watch them.
But Dotcom's lawyer, Ron Mansfield, said the website was protected by a "dual- use" defence - where a company couldn't be responsible for the illegal use of products with other legitimate purposes.
The High Court ruling is unlikely to be the end of the story though, with both parties open to appealing and Dotcom saying he would take the case all the way to the Supreme Court if it didn't go his way. His legal team has already made two unsuccessful trips to the Supreme Court as part of a protracted legal battle since he was arrested.
The four men have been locked in a protracted legal battle over the case since Dotcom was dramatically arrested in a Hollywood-style raid on his Coatesville mansion in 2012.
They face charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to commit money laundering, wire fraud and two kinds of criminal copyright infringement based on an FBI investigation going back to 2010. If eventually extradited and found guilty in the US, they could be up for decades in jail. | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701300&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/3b0545c82dfdf727835b8e04db35ea634cea450a11432f1fc48a2539fa9c47d5.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T20:47:11 | null | 2016-08-26T19:58:38 | A controversial ban on the burkini was overturned by France's highest administrative court on Friday (Saturday NZ time), prompting a Right-wing backlash as mayors vowed to defy the - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fworld%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D2%26objectid%3D11701014%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/burkini-lady-large_trans4k9pB6mVv575RZMUuuHUNrAAnWBRWSafDGbtJ1IgEw4_1024x768.jpg | en | null | prompting right-wing backlash and vow from towns to ignore it | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | By Rory Mulholland, David Chazan
A controversial ban on the burkini was overturned by France's highest administrative court on Friday (Saturday NZ time), prompting a Right-wing backlash as mayors vowed to defy the ruling.
The State Council's judgment suspended a ban in the Riviera resort of Villeneuve-Loubet and set a legal precedent for about 30 other towns that have also prohibited the full-body swimsuit worn by a minority of Muslim women.
The council ruled that mayors overstepped their powers by introducing the bans this month amid growing anxiety over security after a series of terrorist attacks including the Bastille Day massacre of 86 people in Nice.
"The emotion and the anxieties resulting from the terrorist attacks and especially the one committed in Nice on July 14, are not sufficient to justify legally the prohibition," the judgement said.
The ban "constituted a serious and manifestly illegal infringement of fundamental liberties", it said, ruling that mayors "may only restrict freedoms if there are confirmed risks" to public safety, which it said was not the case with the burkini.
Lionnel Luca, the mayor of Villeneuve-Loubet, said: "This decision, far from pacifying, will serve only to heighten tensions which will carry risks of trouble which we wanted to avoid."
He argued that the judgment was inconsistent as another Riviera town, Mandelieu-la-Napoule, introduced an identical ban in 2013 that was never contested.
"Rampant Islamism has been gaining ground. With this ruling it has gained some more," Mr Luca added.
Continued below.
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He said he would comply with the ruling, but other local authorities, including the mayor of Sisco, in Corsica, vowed to maintain their bans.
"This judgment does not affect us here because we had a fight over it [the burkini]," said Ange-Pierre Vivoni, referring to a brawl on a beach in Sisco on August 13 which preceded the ban.
Mayors who contest the ban will be backed by Nicolas Sarkozy, the former conservative president who introduced France's ban on the Islamic full-face veil five years ago.
He demanded a nationwide burkini ban this week, placing Islam, immigration and security at the heart of his campaign to win back power from the Socialists in elections next year.
An ally of Mr Sarkozy, Guillaume Larrivé, said: "We support 100 per cent the mayors who introduced bans."
He said parliament could still pass a law banning the burkini, which a poll suggested would be backed by two-thirds of French people.
Florian Philippot, deputy leader of the far-Right Front National, accused Mr Sarkozy of "poaching ideas from the FN to dupe our voters into backing him".
Support for the bans is not confined to the Right.
The Socialist prime minister, Manuel Valls, has described the burkini as a "symbol of the enslavement of women" unacceptable under France's secular constitution.
"Denouncing the burkini is not jeopardising an individual freedom. There is no freedom that locks up women! It's denouncing a deadly, backward Islam," he wrote on his Facebook page on Friday.
However, opponents of the bans, who include the Moroccan-born education minister, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, have argued that they only served to fuel a racist political agenda as the election campaign kicks off.
The court's decision was welcomed by the French Muslim Council, which described it as a "victory for the law and wisdom ... that should make it possible to reduce tension".
Feiza Ben Mohamed of a Muslim group based in Nice said it "gives Muslim women back their dignity".
Asked if it meant burkini-clad women would throng the town's beach, she laughed and said: "There were hardly any there before the ban so I don't see why they should turn up there now."
There was outrage in Britain and around the world after photographs emerged showing armed police apparently compelling a woman on a beach in Nice to remove a long-sleeved top - although she was not in a burkini.
Mayors of the towns that prohibited the Islamic swimsuit justified the bans on the grounds of public order and safety, hygiene or secularism.
Religion and public life are strictly separated in France, which was the first European country to ban the Islamic full-face veil in 2011.
However, few women in France wear the veil or the burkini, and only two towns, Nice and Cannes, have fined women for wearing it.
Amnesty International praised the court's ruling. "By overturning a discriminatory ban that is fuelled by and is fuelling prejudice and intolerance, today's decision has drawn an important line in the sand," said John Dalhuisen, its Europe director.
Critics compared the enforcement of the ban to repression in Saudi Arabia and Iran, where religious police enforce strict dress codes on women.
Some rights groups have said the new bans amounted to "collective punishment" of Muslims after the terror attacks amid growing friction over immigration.
Terrorism analysts warned that the bans were feeding jihadist propaganda and could help Isil recruit new members.
Marine Le Pen, leader of the FN, described the court's ruling as "obviously regrettable but not surprising."
She urged parliament to vote to ban the burkini "in order to protect women, secularism and our way of life."
With the exception of the prime minister, the ruling was welcomed by the Socialists.
Razzy Hammadi, the party spokesman, said he hoped it would "put an end to this nasty controversy".
- Daily Telegraph UK | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11701014&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/ff45528621f20536ab6f0bc9ad0b6229382780fbb1c0ffd0340ee2a2d36ea8be.json |
[] | 2016-08-29T04:48:57 | null | 2016-08-29T02:00:07 | A man who alleges he was the victim of a 16-hour Mongrel Mob bashing has had his interview with police, recorded just hours after the attack, played in court. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11701494%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/SCCZEN_A_030516NZHNRCOURT5_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Dawson Reihana tells court how Mongrel Mob bashed him for 16 hours | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | A man who alleges he was the victim of a 16-hour Mongrel Mob bashing has had his interview with police, recorded just hours after the attack, played in court.
Seven men associated with the Mongrel Mob are currently on trial in the High Court at Christchurch.
A DVD interview, which was played to the jury, showed a battered Dawson Reihana in a hospital bed.
The 35-year-old claimed he was attacked for hours on end with hammers and knuckle dusters at two Christchurch properties while he was bound with Sellotape.
He says he was hit so badly he couldn't open his eye lids.
Reihana says he managed to escape after the person keeping watch fell asleep, so he chewed himself free and called 111.
The trial, before Justice Cameron Mander, continues.
- Newstalk ZB
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701494&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/236ef24ec47caa154877a00b6605e78388dca0b1c7f9cba3ff823dc849c49b2b.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T08:49:46 | null | 2016-08-30T07:47:08 | A six-car crash is causing delays on the Auckland Harbour bridge. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11701999%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/CRASH1_1024x761.jpg | en | null | Six-car crash causes delays on Auckland Harbour bridge | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Video will play in Play now Don't auto play
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A six-car crash is causing delays on the Auckland Harbour bridge.
The crash happened before 6.30pm near the Shelly Beach Rd off-ramp southbound.
NZTA spokeswoman Sarah Azam said the crash has now been cleared, but motorists should expect delays with congestion all the way back to Northcote Rd.
A police spokesman said no-one was injured in the crash, and it was too early to tell what had caused it.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701999&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/2a0a86eb6f1bf58252423f006c2e8cf60cd153025e64e35ddc2ec51d25bf7d25.json |
[
"Ben Hill Is A Reporter For The New Zealand Herald"
] | 2016-08-31T00:50:28 | null | 2016-08-31T00:29:54 | Richie McCaw said he has learned to embrace the intense scrutiny that comes with being an All Black. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fsport%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D4%26objectid%3D11702232%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/310816nzhjimccaw04_1024x768.jpg | en | null | All Black legend Richie McCaw embraces media machine as Chasing Great premieres | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Richie McCaw said he has learned to embrace the intense scrutiny that comes with being an All Black.
Speaking after the premiere of Chasing Great, a documentary chronicling the career of the 148-test legend, McCaw said his feelings towards the media changed over time.
"There's things you've got to do as a rugby player that you never imagined you would have to do.
"All the media interviews, all the sponsorship stuff, perhaps at times when things haven't gone so good, particularly when I started, we saw that as this thing that you didn't really like doing.
"We changed our whole attitude because that's part of being a rugby player now, especially in New Zealand, that's how you make rugby work. If you approach it with the right attitude it's just part of what you do.
"We rely on how we're able to function from the support we get from the fans, and that's a way of making sure that can happen."
McCaw said he was nervous at the film's premiere but was pleased with how the final product turned out, despite cringing at one of the scenes.
"[The most cringe-worthy scene] was probably when I was sitting there doing the crossword, they told me just do what you normally do.
He said the film crew, led by directors Michelle Walshe and Justin Pemberton, were not a distraction in the lead up to the 2015 World Cup.
"There's no way I would've considered doing it if I thought there would be any impact at all on how I was going to perform, and we made sure that was the case."
Continued below.
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The directors said she was careful not to impose too much on the All Black captain while the crew were following the team through last season.
"If i got an inch i took three-quarters," Walshe said. Pemberton was confident there was "no chance [McCaw] was going to get distracted".
The core narrative of the film centres on McCaw's mental preparation while attempting back-to-back World Cup victories, an angle which fascinated both directors.
"The mental side of playing rugby is more of a toll than the physical, and I think that's one of the big surprises," Pemberton said.
The directors said there was considerable internation interest in the film, but they were limiting its release to New Zealand and Australia at this stage.
McCaw was hesistant to get on board with a suggestion of turning his life-story into a Hollywood blockbuster, but was open to the possibility of Matt Damon playing him in a dramatisation.
"He's already had a go at rugby hasn't he, so yeah maybe someone like that."
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11702232&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/5ea965e202dbc080e83f920555ed4f697201328415ca49b2ba75854a4c3fec4b.json |
[] | 2016-08-29T08:49:04 | null | 2016-08-29T06:56:43 | The family of a teenager pushed by a police officer off his bike and into a fence are seeking an apology. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11701611%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/SCCZEN_280816SPLBIKE1_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Pushed teen: 'Pretty shocking from a policeman' | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Video will play in Play now Don't auto play
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The family of a teenager pushed by a police officer off his bike and into a fence are seeking an apology.
Matthew Heather, 13, was pushed off his bike by a police officer in Mangere on August 27. His friends took a video which has since gone viral on Facebook.
Police launched a full investigation on Monday.
Matthew said he and his friends, the Siren Assassins, were on their way home after a siren battle. This is where gangs compete to make the most noise by strapping sirens to their bikes and blasting them as loud as they can.
Matthew told Fairfax it was around 5.30pm when the police showed up to break up the audio battle. He was cuffed and put in the police car where the officers took his details.
"They just said to get off the road and hurry home. As they left I crossed the road and decided to bike with the other crew [home].
"They told me to f-off the road, and f-off home... I kind of swore to myself, for them not to hear, I whispered for them to leave me alone, and then all of a sudden I saw him get out of the car, and that's when it happened.
"A cop came out of the car and came from behind and pulled me off my bike, then slammed me on the ground. Then he picked me up and ... threw me against the fence.
"[It was] pretty shocking from a police[man] - I would expect it from someone off the streets, but not from my own police. It was uncalled for, unnecessary."
Matthew's mother, Rangi Heather told Fairfax the officers overreacted. She admitted her son gets "lippy" sometimes, but is generally a good kid. She wants an apology from police.
Continued below.
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"I don't think it's appropriate for the police to be hitting our children... totally inappropriate, I would say abusive.
"I'm just trying to understand why did he react like that? I just want to get to the bottom of why he was a bit more aggressive than what he should have been."
The Facebook clip shows a group of teenagers walking along the footpath in Mangere with a couple of the group on bikes with large speakers when a marked police car pulls over.
Two officers get out of the car, approach one of the teens on the bikes and one officer pushes him off, knocking the bike to the ground.
The uniformed officer then pushes the teen up against a chain-mail fence while his friends ask whether the one holding the phone is recording.
Counties Manukau west area commander Inspector Jason Hewett said police received multiple calls around 5pm on Saturday about a group of youths acting in a disorderly manner on Savill Drive and Alderman Place in Mangere.
The reports were of excessive noise, alleged fighting and cyclists weaving in and out of traffic which caused fear for their safety.
"Police have concerns around what can be seen in the video posted on Facebook and accordingly have begun a full investigation into the incident," Hewett said.
"We appreciate the high level of interest however we cannot comment any further until the investigation is complete."
Posted on Saturday night, the two and a half minute video has already been viewed more than 37,000 times, been shared by 625 people and more than 1000 people have liked it.
One of the teens in the group, Matthew Lamar, wrote on the post that a woman said she would ring the police so they ran down the street and hid.
A cop who caught up to him told him to "hurry home" so he started biking away.
Matthew said the police officer came back as they were going home in a group and again said to go home.
The teen said he swore at the cop under his breath which was when he got out of the police car and "threw me down off the bike then picked me up and threw me against the fence and cuffed me".
During the video, one of teens says: "It's recording, it's recording."
Another says: "What the heck, gee? Aww gee, that's sad. He didn't do anything."
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701611&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/0fd61237dca693cc5cc65b6fb46fa1065c1b28483850f2bb0a939b52a49d4dce.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T18:50:52 | null | 2016-08-26T09:38:17 | A new book by Eric Murray and Hamish Bond lifts the lid on a unique partnership that has built a legendary domination of world rowing. In this exclusive extract, written immediately - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11700978%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/1358de86ff0a3ef18b8173f4fe492be333bd86b4_1024x761.jpg | en | null | Eric Murray and Hamish Bond: 'Somewhere in the middle the magic happened' | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | A new book by Eric Murray and Hamish Bond lifts the lid on a unique partnership that has built a legendary domination of world rowing. In this exclusive extract, written immediately after the Rio gold medal race, Murray opens up on the Olympics final and why their chalk and cheese relationship works.
There were just 10 days to go until the heats of the men's pair at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and I was sitting on the side of the road, a few kilometres from our training base in Lucerne, covered in blood, wondering what part of me was broken.
Earlier that day we had rowed one of the toughest training sessions of our life, racing the New Zealand double sculls crew of Robbie Manson and Chris Harris into a stiff headwind down the Lucerne course. It was our final session before heading to Brazil, and once we were off the water our boats were packed away, ready for shipping. Hamish and I had decided to keep our road bikes with us, although we were under strict instructions not to do any more training until we hit the Olympic course at Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas in Rio.
So much for that idea. With our bodies stiff after the last session, we decided to loosen up with one last ride. We had two full days of travel ahead, during which there would be no time for any form of exercise. That would be, in Hamish's word, "sub-optimal". A casual pedal around the picturesque Swiss countryside couldn't do us any harm, surely. We both thought it was a way to stay ahead of our programme and the opposition.
It had been that sort of season for us, one in which we sought every possible advantage. Hamish had become obsessed with the set-up of the boat, making minute adjustments to the rigging in the search for every last scintilla of speed. Noel Donaldson and I would roll our eyes at every new measurement, but Hamish's theory was always the same: if it makes the boat feel better and makes it easier to work harder, then it couldn't hurt. We had to accept his rationale, and his hunches were invariably right.
It wasn't just the rigging of the boat that had concerned him, it was the boat itself. We had ordered a brand new shell from Empacher for the European season, but as soon as we had rowed our first session in it in Sursee, ahead of the Lucerne World Cup in May, we knew something wasn't quite right. Hamish had immediately felt his back tighten up, and every stroke seemed to require a massive effort. It wasn't that there was anything wrong with the boat, it just didn't feel like our boat.
We persisted for the rest of the week, trying to familiarise ourselves with the particular idiosyncrasies of the new shell, but we just couldn't seem to find a rhythm. Instead, Hamish's back became steadily worse, to the point where he didn't know whether he would be able to race in our first world cup of the season. He had already spent the first two months of the new season out of the boat with a back problem caused, in true Hamish fashion, by training the house down before Christmas. That had meant a slow return to training together in the pair. A part of us didn't mind the time to ourselves, but we knew we would have to catch up.
Continued below.
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Unfortunately, once Hamish was fit to row and we had come back together, there had been no gradual easing back into work. We were told we would be racing the Cambridge Town Cup at Lake Karapiro in January, which doubled as a selection regatta for the national trials. There we would be up against the best of the lightweight pairs, which had been formed from the national lightweight four that had qualified for Rio and included Hamish's brother Alistair - and they were absolutely flying in training. We had already raced them over 500m pieces at Karapiro and they had smashed us.
We did not want to be at the regatta. Hamish risked re-injuring his back, and lurking in the recesses of our minds was our unbeaten record. How would we feel if we were dusted up by the lighties on home water? Not that what we thought mattered - we were doing the race.
Less than three weeks after getting back together for any kind of decent training, we lined up in the final of the Town Cup regatta and took the best part of 1600 metres to reel in James and Jamie.
Amazingly, given our lack of preparation, we posted a winning time of 6:16, which was almost as fast as we had ever gone at Karapiro.
From that point on we buried ourselves in training, not ever going back to the monotony of Dick's endless miles, but ensuring that every session had an intensity that tested us mentally as well as physically. By the time we left for Sursee in late April we knew we were on track. Until we got in our brand new boat.
After three days' training in our new shell and with Hamish's back becoming progressively worse, we had to make a decision. Hamish spoke to Noel and told him he felt he was only a 30 per cent chance of lining up in Lucerne. We racked our brains to think of a solution, and then it hit us: let's get the old boat and see how that goes. We called Empacher and asked them to deliver the boat we had used for the World Championships for the past three years, and by the next day it was ready for us at the team base. At least we thought it was.
It had the same lemon-yellow hull and was exactly the same dimensions, but both of us sensed something wasn't quite right.
We buried our doubts for the sake of getting out on the water, and within a couple of sessions Hamish was beginning to feel more like himself, and we were both feeling more comfortable on the oars. It was the rowing equivalent of taking your favourite golf club out of the bag - it seemed to respond when we needed it to, and flex to our particular rhythm. Forty-eight hours later we were on the start line in Lucerne and six minutes and 26 seconds after that we had won our heat. It wasn't pretty, but it was a start.
We were used to the first race of the European season being sloppy, so we weren't overly concerned. We just carried on with our normal preparation and vowed to be slow and steady out of the start, and to power through the middle as we always had. We duly won the final ahead of the Dutch and the British, but we still had some doubts about the boat. There was just something about it that made us think it may not be the boat we thought it was.
Seeking answers, we paid a quick visit to the Empacher team and after a few minutes the mystery was solved. We had not been delivered our World Championship-winning boat; we had been delivered one out of the very same mould that had previously been used by a Swiss crew. Our boat - the one we thought we had - had been given to the Czechs. They had even rowed it in the final Olympic qualifying regatta. And they had qualified.
Much to the Czechs' disappointment, we took it back off them for the rest of our time in Europe. Meanwhile, we had the former Swiss boat packed up and ready to deliver to Rio. That would be the boat we would row at the Olympic Games. We now had Old Faithful for the final World Cup in Poland and, I guess, New Faithful for the Olympics. The freshly minted shell we had originally ordered - sporting a silver fern that had been printed on specially for us - was put back on the rack. Hopefully it found a good home.
With the first world cup done, we headed to Italy for another block of training. It would prove to be the toughest 10 days of the year. We rowed good solid pieces for the first few days, followed by an atrocious session that left us wondering what had happened. That's why rowing is a sport of suffering. No matter how many kilometres or years you put into it, it always finds a way to kick your arse. Dan Plews, our physiologist, managed to calm us down by pointing out that our stress readings were the highest they had been all year.
We hadn't suddenly lost our form; we had just buried ourselves in training. A couple of days after that we found our pace again and headed to Poznan for the final world cup of the season.
The heat was the same old story - we were sloppy. We managed to win by a three-second margin, but we were sick of getting to regattas and then rowing badly. That night we had the longest debrief we had ever had as a pair. We had never debriefed with Dick, and hardly with Noel either, but we needed answers and we resolved to stay in the room till we found them. Hamish wanted to discuss how the boat was feeling, but eventually we settled on a much simpler solution - we just needed to get out on the water and be mongrels.
We knew our first 500 wasn't the best part of our race, so we looked at the GPS, saw that by the 200m mark we were settling into race rhythm, and decided we would get there faster, and hold it for longer. And while we were at it, we would absolutely destroy the morale of every other crew. In the semi-final we did exactly that, winning in a time of 6:16:800, seven-tenths of a second off our best-ever world cup time. We had figured out what had been missing: we had forgotten our killer instinct.
The final was as routine as we could make it, stretching out over the field and gaining clear water to watch the battle between the two British crews behind us. It was a win and it was one step closer to the Olympic regatta, with one last block of training to complete in Sursee, and one last bike ride around the Swiss countryside ...
'What the hell did you do?' Hamish asked me as he sat on his bike saddle and looked at me trying to figure out how many parts of my body were bleeding and which of them might be broken. I didn't know. All I could think about was the fact that I was 10 days from the Olympics and I had stacked myself in a heap on a Swiss road. It turned out I had simply hit the kerb, thinking it was a ramp on to the bike path. We took a few minutes to take stock of the damage, both of us fearing that I may have sustained a serious injury. Once we realised I was probably okay, we pedalled back to base and breathed a combined sigh of relief.
I was certainly sore. My hands and knuckles had been badly scraped, my chest ached, and my right shoulder, which had borne the brunt of the impact, felt as if it had been punched by a heavyweight contender. All we could think about was how much worse things could have been - a broken hand, a dislocated shoulder or a popped rib would have rendered the past four years completely wasted. As it was, I had simply lost a bit of skin and dented my pride. All things considered, I was happy to take that.
We flew out to Rio the following afternoon. "One more regatta to go" became our mantra. Hamish was quiet and nervous, but I knew he felt good in the boat, and when he was like that it gave me a lot of confidence. I watched him filling out his Brazilian arrival card and in the "purpose of visit" section he ticked the box next to "Business".
I loved that. It encapsulated everything we were there for; we were there to win.
Neither of us had ever been to Rio before, but landing at the airport and seeing the Olympic signage everywhere gave us an immediate sense of familiarity. The first thing I did was snap a selfie with Usain Bolt, at which point Hamish just shook his head at me.
But to me that was a cue that we were at the Games and this daily, grinding, endless campaign was reaching its denouement. We were at the biggest show on earth and it was time to go to work, to make sure we finished what we had started when we had committed to another Olympic cycle after London.
The next day we took the team bus to the Lagoa and saw the course for the first time. It was an incredible setting. To the east lay the oceanside neighbourhoods of Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon, their famous promenades along the bleach-white beaches thronged with tourists and Cariocas alike, the small corner restaurants, known as botecos, heaving with drinkers and diners at all hours of the day. Above the start line, in the northwest, the sheer cliffs of the Corcovado rose 700m above the leafy streets and apartment towers, on top of which Rio's most famous landmark, Christ the Redeemer, surveyed the city and harbour below.
We had been given the opportunity to visit the course and the city at the conclusion of the World Championships in 2015, but we had turned it down. We had asked Noel Donaldson if the course was 2000m long. He had said it was. We decided that that was all we needed to know. I had wanted to get home to Jackie and Zach, and Hamish and Lizzie had an overdue honeymoon to take.
We understood it was a venue that could throw up some tricky and changeable conditions, but that was nothing new to us. Having each spent more than a decade rowing on Lake Karapiro, we were fairly confident we had experienced the worst conditions in rowing. We would soon learn that this wasn't the case.
We didn't even row on the first day of training. We spent the morning rigging the boat to the precise measurements we had taken in Europe, and by the time we finally picked up the shell to put it in the water, the course was closed. Undeterred, we headed out first thing the next day and immediately felt fast. The big kilometres had been done, the boat was dialled in and all that was left to do was put it all together. We trained on the water for the rest of the week, and during our last 1000m time trial, two days before the heats, we flew down the lake at a pace that would have eclipsed our own world best time. That was all I needed to know.
If there is one key difference between Hamish and me, it lies in our perception of situations. I was supremely confident that we could reproduce our speed on demand. Hamish, on the other hand, was not so optimistic. Of course he knew we were fast, but he remained on edge about the heats and about the regatta. It is just how he is put together - he is hard-wired for contingency. In the same way he insisted on making small adjustments to the rigging, he was always thinking about every possible thing that could go wrong.
After so long together, and with the end in sight, I realised that I had never given him enough credit for just how hard he thought about everything we did, and just how singular and all-consuming his will to win was.
On August 6, the first day of competition, we arrived at the Lagoa in time to see the start of Mahe Drysdale's single sculls heat. The surface of the course was glass, the early morning sun illuminating the cliff face of the Corcovado. We watched Mahe get under way and then headed straight to the team tent to go through our own preparations. By the time we emerged, less than an hour later, a vicious wind had whipped the surface of the lake into a frenzy of white caps.
We put the boat in the water and rowed out for the warm-up. Ten minutes into it, Hamish turned to me and said, 'There's no way we can race in this.' Yet as he spoke, we watched the Australian single sculler Kim Brennan heading down the course in her heat, her boat filled with water. If the organisers were still sending off the women's singles, there was no way they were going to call us back.
All we could do was warm up as normally as possible, while trying not to sink, and get to the start. We had never raced in anything like it. In fact, the only time we trained in anything close to it was when we were hightailing it back to the pontoon at Karapiro when a storm had blown in. It was an unbelievable scene, made even more so when the Serbian crew of Milos Vasic and Nenad Bedik capsized during the third 500m of our heat. The middle part of the course was the most treacherous, and also where we would usually drop the hammer.
All we could do was keep the strokes long and smooth and trust we had more speed and ability than anyone else.
We safely navigated the course and won the heat, but it was a strange feeling to have been more technically than physically challenged.
Hamish described the race to me as like walking down a flight of stairs and suddenly finding one of the steps missing. Anything could have happened - we were just glad it happened to the Serbs and not us. We were disappointed it had to happen to anyone. All the rowers were thinking the same thing: how can you turn the pinnacle event of our sport into a storm-tossed lottery?
The next day officials decided to postpone the regatta for the entire day, a decision that was made early and far too prematurely in our opinion, notwithstanding the fact that our men's lightweight four had ventured onto the Lagoa for a training run and had promptly sunk. It was a sign of things to come as FISA and the Olympic broadcasters spent the week weighing up the best interests of the rowers against the best interests of the God of Television.
Television was always going to win that battle.
The impact on us was negligible - we had made it safely through to the semi-final and knew we could deal with any unforeseen delays.
We spent the time working on the boat, training when we could, and resting at the team day-house, which was nestled under the outstretched hands of Christ the Redeemer, just five minutes from the boat park.
On August 9, with conditions vastly improved, we lined up in the semi-final. After our victory in the heats, we reminded ourselves of the attitude we had taken into the semi-final at Poznan. The heat had been about getting down the course safely, but now it was time to stamp our authority on the regatta. We had drawn the British and South Africans, the capsizing Serbs, who had come through the repechage, and the Hungarians and Czechs. We knew the Brits and South Africans would go out fast, so we followed them, hunted them, and pulled away before the first mark, setting up a lead that we would keep all the way.
We were satisfied but far from happy. We had massive expectations of ourselves. Expectations that we had fostered since our first victory together in 2009. With expectation came standards and we knew we could do better. We also didn't want to take anything for granted. Not long after our race, the women's and men's double sculls were knocked out of the medal races, both finishing fourth in their semi-finals. We watched on numbly as their Olympic dreams were shattered. It brought back memories of 2008 and our own Olympic nightmare in the four. We never wanted to feel like that again, and so far we hadn't, but the reminder of that agony was right there in the tears of our team-mates. It reinforced the cut-throat nature of semi-final racing at the Olympic Games.
There is very little you can say to someone in that situation.
Rather than offering words that would go unheard and hugs that would remain unfelt, we simply redoubled our determination and prepared for our final. We were motivated for that race by the expectation of success and the fear of losing.
Two days later, on August 11, 2016, Hamish and I won our second Olympic gold medal in the Rio sunshine. It was the third-slowest time of our pairs career (six minutes and 59 seconds). It was also our 69th consecutive victory in the pair. We had claimed six world championships and set the world best time in the coxless pair, and we had claimed a world championship title and set the world best time in the coxed pair. We rowed to the pontoon, climbed out of the boat and embraced. Hamish called it our "quadrennial man-love moment".
In our post-race interview we were asked about the impact of our first coaches, Charles Haggie at Mercer for me, and Peter Foster and the legendary Fred Strachan at Otago Boys' for Hamish. Right at that moment, I think we both thought about our 15-year-old selves. It is a bloody long time to have been rowing boats. And it has all been worth it.
It was a different feeling to winning at London. Yes, we were proud as Punch, but we were more relieved than anything else. We had come to Brazil for business and the job was done. Later that evening we sat at the New Zealand Club, looking back over the beach of Ipanema. We were asked what we thought of each other, and the truth is what we feel is enormous mutual respect. Australian triple Olympic gold medallist Drew Ginn said after the race that most crews have a commonality, but that the Kiwi Pair's strength lies in the differences between the two men. He may be right.
Hamish used to joke that I was able to pull big numbers in training because I was "no brain, no pain", but as we sat around the table sharing a beer or two, he talked about my self-belief, which can counteract his doubts, and my ability to dig deep, even when swimming in lactate [high intensity training]. I know there have been times when my life and his goals haven't aligned, but our two different lives have had to work together. I had to have in mind that Hamish was going to allow only so much. I had to give a little bit and he had to give a little bit.
Somewhere in the middle the magic happened.
We sat at that table long into the night, and I saw the stress and the strain start to leave his face. I have never met a man more committed, more determined or more singularly focused on a goal. For the past eight years every decision Hamish has made has prioritised rowing. There was not a day when I didn't think to myself that he could probably do all of this with someone else in the boat.
I'm glad he didn't exercise that option.
We spoke about that, too. He said that the one thing he knew was that no matter how hard he went, I would be able to follow, and we both knew that there was never a time when I would let him down in that boat.
That was quite enough mutual respect for one night, for what we always knew didn't need discussing. We were two very distinct personalities and we found the finest of intersecting lines upon which those personalities could bleed into one. It was on that line that we rowed a boat into history.
On that line we became the Kiwi Pair.
Extract reproduced with permission from The Kiwi Pair by Hamish Bond and Eric Murray. Published by Penguin NZ. RRP $40. Available nationwide.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11700978&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/c3db5935ef53c0bc7ab9e9e02b629361add4ef4499f4f79731ab90de26359f53.json |
[] | 2016-08-28T22:48:55 | null | 2016-08-28T19:24:27 | The panty-selling business isn't anything new, and if you hadn't heard of it before - you may have caught it on Netflix series Orange is the New Black. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Flifestyle%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D6%26objectid%3D11701307%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/GettyImages-200478019-001_1024x768.jpg | en | null | How Orange is the New Black created a boom for the used panty trade | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | The panty-selling business isn't anything new, and if you hadn't heard of it before - you may have caught it on Netflix series Orange is the New Black.
In the third series of the award-winning comedy-drama, main character and prison inmate Piper Chapman recruits a string of fellow female felons to wear underpants for a day or two, and smuggle them out of prison to be sold for a pretty profit.
The narrative sees the inmates make a few dollars for going about their daily business, but instead of throwing their undies in the laundry basket with the towels and bedsheets - they get packaged and sent to men on the outside who get off on their used undergarments.
The world we live in today, right?
While the concept did raise a few eyebrows and even sicken a few viewers, panty-selling convicts paved the way for a surge in the online "used-underwear" trade.
When the first episode about Piper's business hit our screens in June 2015, Google trends showed the search term "sell used panties" experienced the biggest global spike ever.
The interest into the fetish went viral, and for the few sites around the world that make money off the dirty business - the episode couldn't have come at a better time.
Continued below.
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A gap in the market
Alex and his undisclosed business partner, who launched the site SofiaGray.com in 2015, said while they saw a gap in the market for people wanting to buy used underwear for sexual pleasure - their site soared after the airing of the Netflix series.
"The storyline did send a surge of traffic to our site during the months it aired," Alex, who didn't want his surname disclosed, told news.com.au.
"We have no idea who the buyers are, nor do we want to know. We keep all buyers completely anonymous."
While Alex admits the influence of the OITNB series did wean off, his site is still booming - with one woman this week making a staggering $AU6500 for a single pair of used undies.
"The seller is a student and this is her side income," he said.
"She's a popular seller on the site who has a few dedicated buyers. One of these buyers requested a pair of underwear with "special requirements", all of which were at a price.
"A few figures were thrown around by the buyer, when the seller jokingly quoted $5000, to which the buyer quickly obliged and bought for this amount."
Alex, who says he has a few hundred sellers using his site daily to make money, admits the interest in the fetish creates a profitable second income for women who want to take part.
"Some sellers have supplemented this to be their side income and some have made this their full time job," Alex revealed.
"It really depends on how much you put in. If you're a seller that is consistently listing [new undies] and promoting these items you could see hundreds if not thousands in a month."
Sellers can create a shop on the website, completely free of charge and then list their used undergarments. From here, buyers can browse through the listed items and purchase said items paying via credit and debit cards.
"Buyers purchase as they would with any online transaction via credit and debit cards," he said.
"In the last year it has grown a lot in popularity, because anyone in the world can sell and buy."
People interested in buying used panties on Sofia Gray can browse through different listings and literally "add to cart".
For most of the items up for sale, the price tag lingers around $45 per piece, while others soar into the hundreds.
In Japan, the trade of used underwear is slightly more publicly accepted.
For about $AU6.50, people can purchase a pair of panties manufactured to appear used - straight from a vending machine.
While the Japanese text on the machines makes the fact they "appear" used clear enough, English words such as "used" are prominently featured to attract attention.
Japanese customers instantly know the difference, while foreigners who can't read the language return home with lurid but false tales.
Founded in 2015, Sofia Gray claims to be the largest and safest marketplace for the buying and selling of used underwear, isn't the only sale site.
Pantydeal is another American website which runs on the same business model, but ask for a membership fee from all sellers.
One user, who didn't want to be named, told The New York Post she started selling on their site after working as a waitress and injuring her shoulder, meaning she couldn't work the hours she used to.
"I had to give up my waitress jobs (at the Cheesecake Factory and California Pizza Kitchen) because I could no longer hold the trays. Another server confided that she occasionally sold her underwear for cash. I was intrigued," she said.
"My first deal went like a dream. A guy messaged me about a pair of panties he'd seen on my page. He wanted me to wear them for 24 hours, and to not masturbate in them (most men actually want you to do that). He paid me via PayPal within 20 minutes, and I shipped the undies off in a Ziploc bag and a discreet brown envelope.
"I will send buyers a digital picture of myself - waist-down only - wearing the panties they've bought.
"The more info you share about yourself, the more popular your products, and the more you can charge. There's no way I would show my face, because it's not worth jeopardising a future career."
While Alex admits his website SofiaGray does cop flak from people who see the fetish as "disgusting", he doesn't see any reason why people should judge a sexual fetish.
"We have had complaints from people who think the business is disgusting or immoral," he said.
"Our response is that everyone is different and can't control what they like. If it's not harming anyone and all parties are consenting adults, I see no problem with it."
- news.com.au | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11701307&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/977bb19245fda4736923386b302165c25845217cc340dc200c1ec816a527903b.json |
[
"Simon Collins Is The Herald S Social Issues Reporter."
] | 2016-08-27T18:47:58 | null | 2016-08-27T06:32:46 | Property developers are quitting planned Auckland building projects which would have locked them into building affordable homes as Auckland's average house price prepares to hit the - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fbusiness%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D3%26objectid%3D11701098%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/SCCZEN_A_151215Halsey1_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Developers walk away from fast-track process as Auckland house prices top $1m | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Property developers are quitting planned Auckland building projects which would have locked them into building affordable homes as Auckland's average house price prepares to hit the $1 million mark.
Housing Minister Nick Smith told the Herald on Sunday that landowners in five Special Housing Areas (SHAs) had decided not to proceed under the previous fast-track process, which would have required 10 per cent of housing to be affordable.
The developers have instead opted to use provisions under the newly approved Unitary Plan which does not have the same affordable housing rule.
"There are five that have decided not to proceed with their SHA because they have effectively got a better deal through the unitary plan planning process," Smith said.
"Affordable" housing, is defined in the special housing area legislation as below 75 per cent of the city's median house price.
CoreLogic analyst Nick Goodall yesterday predicted the average Auckland house price would top the $1m mark in the next valuation update on September 6.
"It was $975,000 in June and $992,000 in July, so I think it's safe to assume it will be more than $1 million in August," he said.
Labour housing spokesman Phil Twyford said the fact that developers were walking away from the SHAs showed that they had been "a spectacular flop".
Continued below.
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"Why would they stay with the SHAs when they can make more profit by getting out of that and not having to build affordable homes?," he said.
But Smith said the SHAs were always seen as a temporary measure to kick-start new housing projects while the unitary plan was being debated, and the law provided for them to be disestablished on September 16.
"Then the council has the consideration, if that area was a SHA and was zoned residential, does the landowner have the capacity to withdraw their qualifying development application under the SHA and lodge a new application after September 16 based on the unitary plan," he said.
"There are other people that are choosing to do that because the zoning that has been determined by the independent hearings panel is more advantageous for them than the zoning under the SHA status."
Smith said 129 of the city's 154 SHAs had either completed some houses (26), started earthworks (15) or applied for resource consents or plan changes (88) by the end of June, up from 75 in the council's last published update to March 31.
That left only 25 SHAs, down from 79 in March, which had not yet applied for consents, and 16 of those had only been approved as SHAs this year.
Some developers said they had abandoned some SHA proposals only because they had not been able to get the necessary finance and other resources together in time.
John Dare, a consultant for developers in four SHAs, said his clients had decided not to seek consents for a proposed 66-unit project on the site of the Brownzy Sports Bar in Browns Bay because they were fully extended developing an initial 62 townhouses and apartments on the Poenamo Hotel site in Northcote.
He said 10 per cent of the Poenamo units would be within the affordable limit, and "a large portion" of a 125-unit project next to the Southgate shops in Takanini would be affordable.
Former Conservative Party leader Colin Craig, who is developing the 40 or 50-unit Ozone Apartments in Stanmore Bay, said he hoped a majority of units there would be affordable.
Stevenson Group chief executive Mark Franklin, whose company proposes 800 homes at Drury, and David Nakhle, who is developing SHAs at Papakura and Clarks Beach, both said they would meet the 10 per cent affordable housing requirement.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11701098&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/4d385c37bf4dee730e44200a604ce73e4dc07623de12648bdcf89b576f587b71.json |
[] | 2016-08-27T18:48:13 | null | 2016-08-27T06:40:39 | In a first world country, there are certain things we take for granted. A constant, efficient supply of basic utilities like electricity and water are a given. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11701101%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/cd8211819243eeba2f7194697535c7beba5c3f4e_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Niki Bezzant: There's something in the food, too | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | In a first world country, there are certain things we take for granted. A constant, efficient supply of basic utilities like electricity and water are a given.
We should have no reason to think our water supply could make us sick.
Of course this changed recently for the people of Havelock North, whose water has been contaminated with bugs thought to be campylobacter.
When the water you drink can no longer be trusted, it throws everything into disarray.
But as surprising as this outbreak is, it's not uncommon for people to get sick from water in New Zealand.
Radio New Zealand recently quoted a Ministry for the Environment report that estimated 18,000 cases of waterborne illness in New Zealand every year.
It's also worth reflecting on the many who get sick from food.
We tend not to think about food-borne illness until it happens to us, which it does to 500 Kiwis every day, often from surprising sources.
I'm fastidious with raw chicken - possibly to the point of paranoia - but foods I hadn't thought about can cause food poisoning. I will pay more attention to them from now on.
Cooked rice. According to the Ministry for Primary Industries, rice and other starchy foods such as potato flakes, custard powder and pasta can be infected with Bacillus cereus, which can cause nausea and vomiting. The bacteria grow when these foods have been cooled too slowly, or not correctly refrigerated.
Continued below.
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The bugs are not killed if rice is reheated.
MPI advises eating rice straight away, keeping it hot or putting it in the fridge promptly. Sushi rice with its vinegar, salt and sugar, is less prone to Bacillus cereus.
Bean and seed sprouts are also surprisingly risky.
Bacteria can hide inside the seeds and, when sprouted in warm water, can grow and spread pathogens.
MPI says the only completely safe way to eliminate this risk is to thoroughly cook sprouts, which somewhat lessens their appeal in salads and stir-fries.
However, shop-bought sprouts are generally safer because they're grown from suitable seed, under controlled conditions. Just store them according to the instructions and eat them before their use-by date.
Other common foods that could make us sick include tahini (linked with salmonella), deli meats and salads (listeria), rolled roasts and pies (Clostridium perfringens) and shellfish (a range of bacteria, toxins and viruses).
Lest this makes you really paranoid about your food - and downloading MPI's "Meet the Bugs" pamphlet may well do that - it's useful to know we can drastically reduce our risk of getting sick by following some basic food safety practices, essentially: clean; cook; cover and chill.
Storing food appropriately; keeping raw and cooked foods separate and keeping our kitchens, fridges and hands clean should help.
As long as what is coming out of the tap is okay, of course.
Niki Bezzant is editor in chief of Healthy Food Guide
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701101&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/449bbb1b6653f0197f156460edacc0cfdaab436bc628b7ee2536f455cabc1701.json |
[] | 2016-08-29T04:49:14 | null | 2016-08-29T01:27:07 | Kanye West just got his four minutes of unfiltered stage time at MTVs VMAs and, true to form, things got weird. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fentertainment%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1501119%26objectid%3D11701481%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/GettyImages-597568366_1024x768.jpg | en | null | MTV Awards: Kanye West packed quite a lot into his four minutes | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Kanye West just got his four minutes of unfiltered stage time at MTV"s VMAs and, true to form, things got weird.
The rapper took to the stage as the crowd chanted "Yeezy", and announced he was there to premiere his new video. First, he said, "I'mma talk" (surprise).
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He rambled on for some time referencing his beef with Taylor Swift and joking about how he was "always wishing for Beyonce to win", and also how his video for Famous was "an expression of our now".
Then, in a few minutes' worth of what was basically stand up comedy crossed with motivational speaking, he gave a fragmented speech which at different times referenced everything from from shootings in Chicago to finding motivation and role models.
Then he dropped a load of names - including his wife Kim Kardashian-West - and by the time he was done, hadn't really said much at all.
However, he did debut the video for Fade featuring actor and GOOD Music (Kanye's label) signee, Teyana Taylor dancing around nearly nude in a Flashdance-style clip before turning into a catwoman surrounded by sheep and a baby. Why? Because Kanye.
Continued below.
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There was some Madonna-esque, oiled up dancing in a gym, there was a naked shower sex scene, and just a lot of not safe for work visuals all of which - just like Kanye's speech - doesn't make a whole heap of sense.
Warning: Video contains explicit content:
West's video was followed up by the second of four performances by Rihanna in which she performed another medley including her hits Rude Boy and Work, with a stage filled with dancers and a dance-hall party vibe.
Beyonce has also taken to the stage to perform a medley of Lemonade hits complete with visuals, performance aspects - including smashing a camera with a baseball bat - some killer dance moves and the most vocally impressive performance of the night so far.
As far as the awards go though, only two have been handed out so far, with Best Hip Hop Video going to Drake for Hotline Bling, and Best Male Video going to Calvin Harris ft Rihanna, for This Is What You Came For.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11701481&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/5b784cc9912e5e87af33648f315e92167bb16571a02b19f1c8f7b97acf18cf89.json |
[] | 2016-08-29T00:48:43 | null | 2016-08-28T21:16:47 | When Jo and Brian Guy's son Scott was murdered near Feilding six years ago it set into motion a series of tragic events and traumas which left two sets of grandchildren fatherless - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11701344%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/SCCZEN_BTG250716DL_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Parents of murdered son Scott Guy determined to find something good to celebrate | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | By Dave Murdoch
When Jo and Brian Guy's son Scott was murdered near Feilding six years ago it set into motion a series of tragic events and traumas which left two sets of grandchildren fatherless and had the parents wondering when it was going to stop.
Jo Guy came to Dannevirke Host Lion's guest speaker night on Wednesday July 13 to explain what she had learnt about resilience from those stressful years.
Brian and Jo resolved that whatever else they had to get through the family must remain intact. When the media applied constant pressure they learnt to be ready with a positive message. Jo's first message to them after the murder was "to go home and hug your kids".
Every day they resolved to find something good about it to celebrate.
"We became good-finders" she said. Her blog's title Make Lemonade grew out of this philosophy - turning a lemon into something useful.
The couple actively sought good people in their community who provided wisdom and other support.
The local and wider dairy farming communities were particularly supportive, farmers setting watches for 10am when the trial began each day, just to send prayers and encouragement.
Jo's blog is full of advice and observations about life. She has even written a children's book Snooty Stanley Plays a Prank to reach children promoting the golden rule - do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
The couple has donated 500 books to the Duffy Books in Homes programme.
With events still proceeding, Jo just hopes her blog and book will help.
"If someone breathes easier because of these then it was worthwhile," she said. | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701344&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/e485d562160f32615a338f4c131447fff6648bbe52488f6e6612d577443b0e65.json |
[] | 2016-08-29T00:48:56 | null | 2016-08-28T23:13:47 | A Bay of Plenty mother killed in a crash on Te Puna Rd this weekend has been named as Paula Kia Heke. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11701403%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/SCCZEN_280816gn04bop_1024x761.jpg | en | null | Mother-of-two killed in Bay of Plenty crash | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | By - Bay of Plenty Times
A Bay of Plenty mother killed in a crash on Te Puna Rd this weekend has been named as Paula Kia Heke.
The 38-year-old Western Bay of Plenty woman died in a collision with another vehicle on Te Puna Rd - a few metres past the intersection with Te Puna Station Rd.
Heke is a well-known member of the community and has left behind a partner and two children.
A police spokesperson said their thoughts were with the family at this difficult time.
The police investigation into the crash is ongoing.
The crash happened shortly after midnight yesterday, with the bang of the impact with an SUV causing local residents to rush out.
Heke died at the scene of the crash.
Police said the driver of the late model Nissan SUV was taken to hospital as a precaution. The drivers were the only occupants of the vehicles.
Heke's death comes on top of a devastating month for road fatalities in the Western Bay of Plenty after five Tongans were killed in a crash with a truck at Aongatete on August 3.
An elder from Te Puna's Paparoa Marae, Kiritoha Tangitu yesterday took part in a ceremony called te whakatapuranga to spiritually cleanse and purify the spot where she died.
He was also called to the Aongatete crash site to give a blessing before the bodies of the Tongans were removed from the car.
Continued below.
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Tangitu said the fatal crash was something locals had been dreading for years.
"We have been waiting for this to happen."
He has called on roading authorities to extend the 50km/h speed zone past the primary school to before where Te Puna Rd curves down the hill and goes past the intersection with Te Puna Station Rd.
Western Bay Mayor Ross Paterson said he had no problem with the council having a look at that stretch of road as part of its speed limit reviews.
''Let's find out the details [of the crash] first and see if there are any road safety improvements that we can bring.''
Another kaumatua who took part in the ceremony, Billy Borell, said the corner was very dangerous, with many cars going through the hedge or hitting the power pole.
Ricky Kuka, who assisted the kaumatua in lifting the tapu, said the intersection was a very awkward set-up with cars coming down the hill at speed.
At the very least, the men wanted a warning sign put before Te Puna Rd descended down and around past the intersection.
A resident who lives next to the scene of the accident said that every day he heard horns beeping from drivers braking to avoid crashes at the intersection.
Many drivers came down the hill too fast.
The man, who did not wish to be named, said he had lived in the house for two years and was seeing near misses nearly every day. The worst time was when parents were picking up their kids from school.
He was not at home when the crash happened but knew something terrible had happened when he saw all the police markings on the road later in the morning.
One of the residents who went out to help at the crash scene, Enslin van Schalkwyk, said people drove down the hill too quickly.
''They are not taking the corner at the correct speed.''
Inquiries among Te Puna locals by the Bay of Plenty Times revealed the woman was well respected, with one resident saying she was a great contributor to the community and loved by everyone. She was known as a keen gardener.
Tauranga Fire Service senior station officer Len Sabin said rescue equipment was used on the car holding the deceased driver.
They also provided lighting for the police crash investigation team scene until 4.30am. | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701403&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/5465d272aa83b2ce64be9b65845930a74bcc605d873222a82784333dd712b416.json |
[] | 2016-08-28T02:48:10 | null | 2016-08-27T23:13:11 | Donald Trump's doctor finally spoke out in an interview that aired Friday night (US time). But his comments aren't likely to end the questions about the strange letter he drafted last - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fworld%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D2%26objectid%3D11701176%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/SCCZEN_AP160828082525_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Tale of Trump's doctor letter just got weirder | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Donald Trump's doctor finally spoke out in an interview that aired Friday night (US time). But his comments aren't likely to end the questions about the strange letter he drafted last year declaring Trump would be the healthiest president in history.
NBC News tracked down Dr. Harold Bornstein, who said in the interview that he crafted Trump's doctor letter in only about five minutes - declaring his patient healthier than all 43 American presidents - while a limousine waited impatiently outside for him to finish.
"I thought about it all day and at the end, I get rushed, and I get anxious when I get rushed," Bornstein said. "So I try to get four or five lines down as fast as possible so that they would be happy.
"I've got five minutes to sit right at this desk and write that letter while the driver waited for me."
Needless to say, this isn't a fantastic way to write a sober-minded review of the health of a now-70-year-old man who could soon lead the free world. And Bornstein's letter raised roughly as many questions as it tried to answer, given the errors and typos it contained and the fact that it read, well, a lot like something Trump himself would write.
As Philip Bump wrote back in December when the letter was released:
Trump's recent lab tests were "astonishingly excellent," said Harold Bornstein, a gastroenterologist on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. His recent examination showed "only positive results." His strength and stamina are "extraordinary." His cardiovascular system is "excellent," and he has "no history" of drinking or smoking.
Continued below.
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What's more, Bornstein writes, "If elected, Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency."
Clearly, Trump's hyperbole is itself a disease - and it's contagious.
Bornstein admitted in the NBC interview that he was at least somewhat influenced by the kinds of words Trump uses.
NBC NEWS: Is that the way that you write most of your medical letters?
BORNSTEIN: No, but for Mr. Trump, I wrote that letter that way.
NBC NEWS: Did he ask you to describe it that way? Or do you pick up his kind of language by spending time with him?
BORNSTEIN: I think I probably picked up his kind of language and then just interpreted it to my own.
Got it.
EXCLUSIVE: @realDonaldTrump doc says he picked up Trump's language in health letter & 'interpreted it into my own.' pic.twitter.com/wb3pMPmO2C — NBC Nightly News (@NBCNightlyNews) August 26, 2016
While the strangeness of the doctor's letter was largely laughed off and forgotten at the time - perhaps given it was back during a time when many were still convinced Trump wouldn't actually win the Republican nomination - it has resurfaced in recent days.
Trump himself has played a big role in its reemergence, by raising suspicions and feeding conspiracy theories about Hillary Clinton's health.
A Newsweek reporter responded to the Trump campaign's innuendo about Clinton by raising fresh own questions about the letter, suggesting Trump's doctor's letter might not be totally legitimate. Kurt Eichenwald noted the doctor said Trump had received only "positive results" during a recent examination - when testing "positive" generally suggests a bad result.
CNN's Sanjay Gupta then raised his own questions about the letter.
Of all the problems with the letter - and there are more than a few - the biggest may be the hyperbole. Doctors are trained to be circumspect and not draw conclusions that aren't supported by facts. Bornstein's letter, quite simply, didn't sound as though it were written by a serious-minded doctor who had given it the kind of thought it warranted.
And in his interview with NBC, Bornstein seemed to confirm it wasn't.
"In the rush, I think some of those words didn't come out exactly the way they were meant," he said.
The question from here is what it means going forward.
The letter was already arguably incomplete. As the New York Times noted, it "contained no details about his heart rate, respiratory rate, cholesterol level, past medications or family medical history."
And now, given Bornstein's comments suggesting his own letter was written under some duress - or at least, less than ideal circumstances - you can expect rising demands for a do-over, and perhaps more information about Trump's health.
That is, of course, assuming Trump decides he wants to provide it: As he's shown with his tax returns, he won't easily give in to public pressure to disclose things about himself.
But given Bornstein's comments Friday night, it's clear we don't have a particularly serious evaluation of what condition Trump's health is in. And it seems logical that a guy whose campaign is raising questions and suggestions about Clinton's health would want to erase any doubt about his own.
- Washington Post | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11701176&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/1871684f24e562cca4a180b80c55a75b53e4d4364aa87f46058375df1a5df9e9.json |
[] | 2016-08-27T04:47:17 | null | 2016-08-27T02:24:55 | Former World Anti-Doping Agency boss David Howman has lambasted the International Olympic Committee's handling of Russia's systemic doping programme in the lead-up to the 2016 Games - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fsport%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D4%26objectid%3D11701071%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/SCCZEN_AP160725071354_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Rio Olympics 2016: Russian rewards 'make me sick' | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Former World Anti-Doping Agency boss David Howman has lambasted the International Olympic Committee's handling of Russia's systemic doping programme in the lead-up to the 2016 Games.
The New Zealander's 13-year tenure as Wada's director-general ended in June. He watched on as the IOC shied away from issuing a blanket Russian ban in Rio.
Howman told Newstalk ZB's Tony Veitch that the IOC, led by German Thomas Bach, had abdicated responsibility.
"Here was an opportunity for a head of the world of sport to stand up for principles like fair play and supporting clean athletes," Howman said. "We [Wada] had done our work, made the report [on Russia's corruption] available and apparently it wasn't good enough, despite being based on clear evidence.
"What happens under the IOC bubble is that they do not have the strong leadership you would expect. Instead of leading, they require consensus. To divert the decision-making [on Russian participation] to each individual international federation was a total waste of time. Why would you have an IOC if the IFs run the Olympic Games?"
Howman said Bach was among those to acclaim the latest set of Wada doping rules which came in on January 1, 2015. Those enabled the organisation to investigate Russia more thoroughly and unearthed whistleblowers in former 800m runner Yuliya Stepanova and her husband Vitali Stepanov, a former anti-doping official.
Their accounts were broadcast in a German television documentary last year. Russian anti-doping agency boss Nikita Kamaev described the claims as "wanton speculation" and sports minister Vitaly Mutko called it a ploy to "belittle Russian sport".
The recent Wada report issued by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren suggested otherwise. He advised a full sanction, accusing Russia's sports ministry of overseeing a doping conspiracy.
Continued below.
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Bach defended the IOC's position before the Games and said a total ban on Russia "would not be justifiable" on either moral or legal grounds.
"Every human being is entitled to certain rights of natural justice."
Bach said the IOC had set a "very high bar" by imposing strict conditions on the entry of Russians, including a ban on any athletes with prior doping sanctions. He has since rejected accusations the IOC did nothing to support Stepanova, who was invited as a guest to Rio but prohibited from competing.
"We are not responsible for dangers to which Ms Stepanova may be exposed."
That followed Stepanova describing efforts to hack her email account and discover her secret American location as part of the whereabouts anti-doping programme. She has been branded a traitor by many Russians.
"If something happens to us then you should know that it is not an accident," Stepanova said in a conference call this month.
Howman said Wada's IT system was also hacked by Russians at one point.
"This is not something that is fun. It is life-and-death stuff."
He said responsibility for the world's athletes rests with those running sport, and the IOC had not met their obligations.
"They [Stepanov and Stepanova] did things beyond expectations and put their lives at risk. We were in no position to do an investigation until January 2015. All we could do was pass info to Russia [which Wada opted not to do].
"Somebody has since seen their plight and looked after them financially. But no one's in a position to guarantee their safety. It's the same for Grigori Rodchenkov [whistleblower to the New York Times in May] whose assets have now been seized."
Rodchenkov also resides in the United States. He's accused by Russian authorities of abusing his power while serving as head of Moscow's anti-doping laboratory.
Howman was appalled Russia, according to state news agency TASS, rewarded each Rio medallist with a BMW sports utility vehicle and at least 1.7 million roubles (NZ$36,000). Russia won 56 medals. The medallists are eligible for other monetary rewards from regional administrations, including housing subsidies.
"It made me sick," Howman said. "It's probably because they did what they were told in the lead-up to the Games. Who knows whether they were clean?
"If New Zealand was found to be running a government-sponsored doping programme, we would have been turfed out. Russia has a lot of political clout."
Howman said the future of the anti-doping movement is at a crossroads.
"Decisions taken in the coming weeks are crucial. The IOC wants Wada to do testing and be a service organisation, not a [independent] monitor.
"Governments [who invest in Wada alongside the IOC] need to stand up and say, 'We don't want that, we want Wada to be the regulatory body which looks at the way sport conducts its programmes'.
"Otherwise [no one will come forward and] we risk going back to the old omerta system which we thought we'd beaten post-Lance Armstrong. The rules are now broken."
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11701071&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/dd1398f8915a4091b9a310f083ad1ead80b206eed6b88ec43061a278296b6d75.json |
[] | 2016-08-29T22:49:39 | null | 2016-08-29T20:24:31 | Young Frankenstein (1974) - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fentertainment%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1501119%26objectid%3D11701672%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/Willy-Wonka-and-the-Chocolate-Factory-willy-wonka-and-the-chocolate-factory-4801292-800-588_1024x768.jpg | en | null | From Frankenstein to Willy Wonka, these are Gene Wilder's finest moments | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Actor Gene Wilder has passed away at 83. We look back at some of his greatest works on the big screen.
Young Frankenstein (1974)
Wilder takes on the role of Dr Frankenstein - the grandson of the original scientist - in a comedic take on the classic horror story. The screenplay was written by Wilder in collaboration with Mel Brooks who directed the film, along with other Wilder-starring movies, Blazing Saddles and The Producers.
Silver Streak (1976)
Wilder starred as George Caldwell, a book editor who got more than he bargained for during a train three-day ride from Los Angeles to Chicago.
The comedy-thriller, directed by Arthur Hiller, earned Wilder a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.
• Read more: Willy Wonka star Gene Wilder dies at 83
Blazing Saddles (1974)
Continued below.
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In Mel Brooks' comedy Western Blazing Saddles, Wilder stars as Jim, the Waco Kid, a gunslinger and recovering alcoholic. The film received three Academy Award nominations in 1974 as well as two Bafta nominations.
The Producers (1967)
The satirical comedy is about a duo that conspires to put on the worst Broadway production so they can cash in on investors' excess money. Starring as accountant Leo Bloom earned Wilder an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 1968. The film also won Mel Brooks the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
This is the film Wilder is most famous for. He plays Willy Wonka, an eccentric chocolatier who opens up his factory to five lucky golden-ticket holding kids. The musical has proved popular with generations of people, of all ages and earned Wilder a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11701672&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/fa930df4136aed827159ecdabf3d91fef910ee273b29f9e16da7099a1efecfce.json |
[] | 2016-08-28T04:48:02 | null | 2016-08-28T03:36:34 | A 53-year-old woman is missing after failing to get off the bus in Hamilton last night. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11701232%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/png/201636/townsend_1024x768.png | en | null | Hamilton woman Adele Townsend missing from bus | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | A 53-year-old woman is missing after failing to get off the bus in Hamilton last night.
Adele Townsend took the bus from Wellington yesterday morning, but did not make it to her destination.
Waikato Police are asking for the public's help to find Townsend. She is 150cm tall with long brown hair and was carrying a blue and white material bag.
She was seen getting onto the bus by her brother, but her family did not see her get off it when it arrived in Hamilton just after 6pm.
Police were not sure if Adele got off at an earlier spot, but are unclear as to where else she may have gone as she had been planning on going home.
Anyone with information about Adele's whereabouts are asked to contact the Hamilton Police on 07 858 6200.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701232&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/f77898f15c8999c698b329d1c385e91f974c5a59331ef15a727147d9fbb0936c.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T20:50:07 | null | 2016-08-30T17:57:10 | It's been suspected for years and can now be statistically confirmed: The New Zealand Warriors are the biggest underachievers in the NRL. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fsport%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D4%26objectid%3D11702027%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/shaun11_1024x768.jpg | en | null | NRL: Why it's a very bad idea to bet on the Warriors | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | By Niall Anderson
It's been suspected for years and can now be statistically confirmed: The New Zealand Warriors are the biggest underachievers in the NRL.
While their propensity for performing below expectations has been deeply suffered by Warriors fans, this disappointment can now be proven by betting data.
Betting data is the most valuable way to measure expectations of both season-long and game-to-game nature, with the scrupulous bookies more impartial and informed than fan or media predictions.
Data from Pinnacle Sports shows that if you bet $10 on every Warriors game since available records began in 2009, you would have lost $317 - the worst return of any NRL club.
That scant return may even be underselling it, with the Warriors often listed at shorter prices at the New Zealand TAB, where patriotic money often comes in on New Zealand teams at greater rates than overseas bookies.
If you bet $10 on every Warriors game since available records began in 2009, you would have lost $317 - the worst return of any NRL club.
Of course, it would be silly to bet on the same team every single week without considering odds and value, but the data can craft a much more significant picture of just how much the Warriors are underperforming traditional expectations.
Due to a wariness built up for backing the Warriors as favourites after years of inconsistency, many punters favour putting money on the Mount Smart side when they are underdogs with lower expectations.
However, the Warriors rarely taste upset victories on the road - in fact, the Warriors are the worst team in the NRL to back as an underdog. Since 2009, betting $10 a game on the Warriors as underdogs would have lost you $226 - 40 percent worse than any other side in the competition.
Continued below.
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The bulk of the Warriors' woes have come from 2012 onwards, where five straight seasons of missing the playoffs have resulted in five straight losing seasons at the bookmakers.
A playoff appearance in 2010 provided an 11 percent return on investment, while their 2011 run to the grand final would have brought back 17 percent in profit. However, that superb season saw them overestimated by all in 2012, crashing back down to earth with one of the least-backable seasons in NRL history. They haven't been a season-long profitable entity since.
Even if you back the Warriors with a points start, they're still a losing proposition, holding a 42-52 record against the spread since records were tracked in 2013, including a 9-14 mark ATS this season.
Twist these numbers around though, and you may have a get-rich slow scheme on your hands.
If you bet $10 every game against the Warriors since 2009, you would have made $123.40 - a tidy profit for the casual punter. Boost those numbers up to a figure more relatable to the sharps - say $50 per game - and you would have seen a profit of $617.
Perhaps most tellingly, betting against the Warriors every week would have been a profitable endeavour for the past five years.
The lesson from all this? Maybe think twice before taking that $1.40 price against Parramatta this weekend.
Betting on the Warriors - Return on Investment:
2016: 22% loss
2015: 37% loss
2014: 15% loss
2013: 5% loss
2012: 50% loss
2011: 17% profit
2010: 11% profit
2009: 32% loss
Worst Warriors Losses (Since 2009)
2013: 28-24 to Penrith ($5.36 outsiders)
2012: 24-19 to Newcastle ($3.88 outsiders)
2013: 19-10 to St George ($3.80 outsiders)
2015: 32-28 to Gold Coast ($3.48 outsiders)
2016: 41-22 to South Sydney ($3.43 outsiders)
Biggest Warriors Upsets (Since 2009)
2013: 23-12 over Sydney ($3.81 outsiders)
2011: 18-14 over Melbourne ($3.80 outsiders)
2011: 22-20 over Wests Tigers ($3.36 outsiders)
2014: 20-16 over North Queensland ($3.16 outsiders)
2010: 12-6 over Penrith ($3.11 outsiders)
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11702027&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/6e33ba52928768c863e8d236a35a855badc8b598cef0b08cfd099be4fdef191c.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T22:50:23 | null | 2016-08-30T19:56:19 | A new study has revealed that New Zealand is the fifth best country in the world for expats, while Kuwait is the worst. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Ftravel%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D7%26objectid%3D11702045%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/45219375_l_1024x768.jpg | en | null | New Zealand rated as a top spot for expats | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | A new study has revealed that New Zealand is the fifth best country in the world for expats, while Kuwait is the worst.
The results come from a report by the online expat community InterNations, which looks at everything from quality of life and personal finance, to job satisfaction and ease of settling indices.
Taiwan was ranked number one out of 67 countries on the list, with Malta scored second place and Ecuador came in third, followed by Mexico and New Zealand.
According to InterNations, Taiwan holds first place in the Quality of Life and Personal Finance Indices, with the country performing particularly well with the quality and affordability of its healthcare and the financial situation of expats.
It also came second place in the Working Abroad section, with more than a third of expats completely satisfied with their jobs, compared to the global average of 16 per cent.
Foreigners living in Taiwan were also overwhelmingly positive about the friendliness of local people, with nine out of ten people surveyed saying they received a positive reaction.
Meanwhile, Malta, which was rated number two on the list, performed best in the Ease Of Settling section of the survey, with more than 40 per cent of those questioned saying that they found it very easy to settle into the local culture.
The country also fared particularly well in the Personal Finance index.
Continued below.
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Some 25 per cent of those questioned saying they were completely satisfied financially, compared to a global average of 15 per cent.
At the other end of the spectrum, Kuwait was rated worst in the survey, followed by Greece and Nigeria.
Kuwait came third from the bottom and Nigeria came last in the Quality of Life section, which looks at things like leisure options, travel and transport and health and well-being.
Kuwait also came last in the Easy Of Settling In section, which examines welcome expats feel, the friendliness of locals and how easy it is to find friends
Meanwhile, Greece fared worst in the Working Abroad index, which examines expat feelings about work-life balance, job security and career prospects.
TOP TEN COUNTRIES
1. Taiwan
2. Malta
3. Ecuador
4. Mexico
5. New Zealand
6. Costa Rica
7. Australia
8. Austria
9. Luxembourg
10. Czech Republic
BOTTOM TEN COUNTRIES
67. Kuwait
66. Greece
65. Nigeria
64. Brazil
63. Saudi Arabia
62. Egypt
61. Mozambique
60. Qatar
59. Italy
58. Tanzania
- Daily Mail | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=11702045&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/bae0ba53c18b51ae570198556b1e7ce5fcbe77cfd8bc69547d48074649478900.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T04:49:40 | null | 2016-08-29T23:57:27 | It looks like a gruesome scene, interrupting the pristine whiteness of ice-covered East Antarctica. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Ftravel%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D7%26objectid%3D11701797%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/bloodfalls_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Why is this glacier in Antarctica bleeding red? | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | First discovered by Australian geologist Griffith Taylor in 1911, scientists initially thought Blood Falls' colour was due to red algae.
It looks like a gruesome scene, interrupting the pristine whiteness of ice-covered East Antarctica.
What appears to be blood can be seen spilling over the snow in the extreme desert, begging the question — what on earth happened?
Thankfully, this is no crime scene, nor is it the site of a terrible accident.
It's actually a strange natural wonder that could hold the secret to life on Mars and it has an appropriately gory name: Blood Falls.
Blood Falls, in the Taylor Valley of Antarctica's remote McMurdo Dry Valleys, is a gushing stream of crimson-coloured saltwater flowing from the Taylor Glacier.
The bizarre colour of this saltwater is traced back about five million years, when the ocean flooded East Antarctica and created a salty inland lake.
Over time, pristine saltwater from the ocean became trapped in a basin that was totally isolated from light, heat and oxygen. The saltwater became more and more concentrated in this basin, and is now said to be about three times saltier than the ocean, and too salty to freeze.
When this saline water trickles through small fissures in the ice, it reacts with oxygen in the air to create a brilliant, bloodlike hue.
The red cascade then spills onto the ice-covered surface of West Lake Bonney, earning its name, Blood Falls.
The phenomenon was first discovered in 1911 by Australian geologist Griffith Taylor, who first explored the valley that is now his namesake. At first, scientists thought the red colour was due to red algae.
Continued below.
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But Blood Falls is not just an eye-popping natural wonder. Scientists believe it could also be the gateway to some crucial revelations about life in hostile environments.
Last year, a study on the bacteria in the saltwater suggested Antarctica could be awash with subterranean microbial life. Microbiologists found that the basin of saltwater covered a much bigger area than they initially thought.
"I've been studying Blood Falls for quite some time, and it's always been a mystery," lead author Jill Mikucki of the University of Tennessee told the Washington Post.
"We found, as expected, that there was something sourcing Blood Falls, and we found that these brines were more widespread than previously thought.
"They appear to connect these surface lakes that appear separated on the ground. That means there's the potential for a much more extensive sub-surface ecosystem, which I'm pretty jazzed about."
Scientists said the findings could provide new insights into how organisms adapt in extreme environments. And because the McMurdo Dry Valleys are similar to the surface of Mars or Jupiter's moon Europa, it could also help researchers understand how life could exist on other planets.
If you're keen to witness the bizarre spectacle for yourself, Blood Falls and McMurdo Dry Valley can be seen by helicopter from nearby Antarctic research stations or cruise ships visiting the Ross Sea.
- news.com.au | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=11701797&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/dfe4eefe68292a625079129438f95c5679efe1c3c3f804117a2fb3f827d59f0e.json |
[
"Matt Nippert Is A Business Investigations Reporter"
] | 2016-08-26T13:07:47 | null | 2016-08-26T03:12:15 | The widening KiwiSaver scandal this afternoon saw the Commerce Minister put the ball into Police's court following the receipt of official advice that concluded laws banning controversial - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fbusiness%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D3%26objectid%3D11700839%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/mines_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Minister says KiwiSaver concerns a matter for Police | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | The widening KiwiSaver scandal this afternoon saw the Commerce Minister put the ball into Police's court following the receipt of official advice that concluded laws banning controversial weapons applied to providers of the public savings scheme.
Official advice received this morning by Minister Paul Goldsmith from Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment officials considered three pieces of legislation banning clusterbombs, nuclear weapons and landmines.
"We believe that three Acts apply to potential investments in weapons manufacturers," the advice concluded.
Green MP Julie Anne Genter said the latest development showed the government was a victim of its own inaction.
"I think the government is being really irresponsible and showing shocking failure of moral leadership in passing responsibility to Police," she said.
Genter said the issue was particularly acute for those placed in default KiwiSaver schemes who had wound up exposed to the controversial industries.
"You would expect they'd be required to comply with the law before being allowed to sign people up," she said.
A Herald investigation into the sector found more than 1.8 million New Zealanders had invested in funds which had invested at least $43 million to companies producing such weapons.
The advice - weighing up The Cluster Munitions Prohibition Act, The Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament and Arms Control Act and The Anti-Personnel Mines Prohibition Act - concluded "The Police are responsible for investigations in respect of these laws".
Continued below.
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A Police spokesperson this afternoon said they were aware of the issue and had begun asking questions.
"Police are making enquiries with other agencies to gather more information. This will be assessed as appropriate in due course," the spokesperson said.
Goldsmith said he and his officials had not formally referred the matter to Police, but it was not his place to request they pick up the issue.
"It's not appropriate as a Minister for me to suggest what the Police should be doing. It's up to them, like any enforcement agency, to weigh up all the factors."
He agreed the ball was now in Police's court: "Well, yeah: They're the appropriate authority."
Goldsmith sought the advice following a Herald investigation into KiwiSaver holdings, and an independent series of stories from RNZ, that showed KiwiSaver investors had invested millions into companies producing weapons banned by New Zealand and international law.
The Dirty Secrets of KiwiSaver analysis found $4.3m of client funds had been invested into landmine producers, $2.3m into cluster-bomb makers and $36.9m into nuclear weapon-producers.
In response a number of KiwiSaver providers found to have invested in cluster bomb producers - including Westpac and Aon - announced internal reviews. Grosnover and AMP went further and announced they would take immediate steps to divest their holdings.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11700839&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/5fad89a192e1e01706f8be352f282d35cfc3b98f24002dcf347b2200600c80eb.json |
[] | 2016-08-31T00:50:37 | null | 2016-08-30T21:51:36 | A woman caused an online meltdown after posting a question on an online forum, asking whether there was anything wrong with sleeping naked with her 16-year-old son. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Flifestyle%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D6%26objectid%3D11702120%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/bednaked_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Mother causes outrage for sleeping naked with teen son | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | A woman caused an online meltdown after posting a question on an online forum, asking whether there was anything wrong with sleeping naked with her 16-year-old son.
The anonymous poster, who wrote the question on Q&A site Quora, received a resounding 'yes' from others on the forum.
The question, which has now been deleted by the website's moderators, quickly racked up more than 500,000 viewers.
According to the Daily Mail, many commenters said her actions were child abuse and had overtones of incest.
"This is a most awkward thing to do," one commenter warned. "I don't understand your intention behind sleeping with your son, naked."
"It may be viewed differently in other cultures, but in American society it's 'f***** up", wrote another.
Others cited legal issues.
"If your son were to casually mention to someone (friend, teacher, relative) that you and he share a bed and that you also are naked this person could potentially cause a LOT of legal issues for you, at least here in the US, one person wrote.
"You could possibly be arrested for child indecency and put into prison and be forced to register as a sex offender."
Continued below.
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Some commenters said the mother was not considering the impact it may have on her son, saying it may scar him for life.
"Why are you not wearing night attire?, another asked. "I do not think that it is appropriate for either of you to be naked in the same bed. Certainly it does appear to have over-tones of incest."
Other people on the forum asked why a mother was sleeping in the same bed as her teen son in the first place, and queried whether he suffered from a medical condition.
"The initial reaction is, WHY do you need to sleep in the same bed with your 16 year old son in YOUR home, does he have medical issues?" somone asked.
"Do you only have one bedroom in the apartment? If that is the case then you should be in single beds, albeit it the same room."
While many commenters flew into a rage, others explained that it simply wasn't appropriate.
"I think you're 9 years (or so) too late in asking this question," one person wrote. "Granted it's been a practise that you've been doing since he was an infant, but at school age the practise becomes innappropriate.
"While you may choose to raise your family in a certain way, at school age he starts to interact with other members of society, other than just his family. Therefore, he must act within the boundaries set by society. Sleeping NAKED with your teen son is inappropriate in our society."
"Don't distort his values!... Please put clothes on."
-nzherald.co.nz | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11702120&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/6c8334efc77424d74e502aa6e33608883e30854d7ab3ee874374e7067dde713d.json |
[] | 2016-08-27T00:47:22 | null | 2016-08-26T22:48:49 | A Kiwi artist is behind the breast tattoo which has set social media on fire. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Flifestyle%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D6%26objectid%3D11701043%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/tattoo_1024x761.jpg | en | null | Kiwi's breast tattoo sets internet ablaze | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | A Kiwi artist is behind the breast tattoo which has set social media on fire.
Hamilton's Makkala Rose is the tattoo artist who created the intricate ink on the right breast of young Sydney cancer survivor Alison Habbal.
Habbal, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at 36, had to have her nipple removed as part of a lumpectomy to cut her cancer out.
But rather than have plastic surgeons create her a new nipple, Habal instead chose to cover up scarring left by surgery with a large, floral tattoo.
An exhaustive search for the right artist led Habbal to Rose, 24, whose painstaking work has gone viral on social media.
According to Habbal, the tattoo took a whopping 13 hours in a single session which she said was "blood-curdlingly horrific".
Instagram posts revealing Rose's finished work are drawing legions of fans from all around the world and been reposted thousands of times.
Rose said that particular part of the human canvas was challenging, but commended Habbal as an "absolute champion" for seeing it through in a single session.
"Alison was pretty clear about the idea that she had and what she wanted it to look like, but she also gave me a bit of freedom," Rose told the BBC.
"Tattooing a breast is quite different to tattooing a leg or a back or something. It's a bit challenging to design something that would fit and work around it.
"It's quite humbling and it puts a lot of things into perspective. That made it really cool to be able to do for her."
Habbal's ink also includes the name of her 7-year-old daughter, Bessie. | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11701043&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/5945e6215ff8500f8b15ea69cc69d86d7818c091f5c9fa0d63268802caf1ae54.json |
[
"Eva Is A Regular Columnist For Nzme Publications."
] | 2016-08-31T08:50:28 | null | 2016-08-31T03:50:33 | I'm feeling hard done by. This week during an idle moment between making dinner and folding washing, I found myself on the couch watching a reality show that I should have starred - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11702339%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/SCCZEN_A_070516SPLHOUSEWIVES_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Opinion: Sham glam, thank you ma'am | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | I'm feeling hard done by. This week during an idle moment between making dinner and folding washing, I found myself on the couch watching a reality show that I should have starred in.
The Real Housewives of Auckland was, after all, only a few hours' drive away from my own suburban housewife life, right?
Except as the first episode unravelled (in so many, many ways) I couldn't help feeling the absence of a Rolls Royce, art-buying sojourns and rambling country estates in my own life as a housewife.
In fact, as the hour played out in ever-expanding circles of conspicuous consumption I began to wonder what possible shred of DNA I shared with the show's "stars" and I was frankly quite relieved at the end to concede that there was very little.
Real Housewives is about as real as some of the physical attributes of its characters. And before you start calling me out for showing my claws, in my defence I am simply getting into the spirit of the show.
What became evident early on is that in a small enclave of the most lofty echelons of society there are women whose whole lives revolve around the spending of other people's money, and the demonstration of that.
As the show's expensively sculpted centrepieces were brought together and introduced, it was extraordinary to observe how women whose lives revolve around the pursuit of personal beauty can render themselves so ugly simply by opening their mouths.
The "are you a plus-sized model?" one-liner from former-model Michelle Blanchard must surely go down in history as one of the most epic moments of reality television. It was so casually brutal you just wouldn't have believed it if it had been scripted.
Quite frankly, it was the most hideously brilliant hour of television I've ever watched in my life. My husband agreed.
Continued below.
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During the ads while I was scanning Google for evidence of all this prolific former modelling (correction; one of them is currently modelling), my husband was taking equal delight in searching the companies register to see just how rich you had to be to secure one of these fading flowers of Auckland high-society.
The conclusion here was "very rich indeed", which to me presented a bit of a contradiction, because presumably one has to be fairly smart to amass great wealth, and yet I couldn't imagine anyone with half a brain cell finding the Auckland Housewives set attractive life-partner material.
While the trade-off of youth and beauty for wealth is a longstanding tradition, surely if you cast the net wide enough you could hook up with a hottie who has a few lashings of integrity, humbleness and kindness along with the willowy legs?
Or is that not the point?
It's certainly not the point of the show, and my hat goes off to the show's producers, who must have cast nets very widely indeed to find women of means who were prepared to be so grotesquely frank about their wealth and so unkind to their fellow women.
For a bunch that cares so deeply about their public image, it seems mystifying why they would sign up for a show that in my opinion is clearly pitched at portraying them as vapid, mean and shallow. These are no real housewives, and the "reality" of this TV is as far from anything most of us could imagine. Cheers to that.
Eva Bradley is a columnist and photographer. | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11702339&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/f487d645b590ebe3227f4418c5d7b0ab9058e0f847788ccf441869f62cc39e16.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T22:47:04 | null | 2016-08-26T19:14:10 | The father of Kiwi Olympian Dylan Kennett believes his son was the subject of a personal attack from Cycling New Zealand's high performance director, following his races in Rio. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fsport%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D4%26objectid%3D11701008%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/SCCZEN_AP160816082534_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Dylan Kennett's dad slams Cycling New Zealand over treatment of his son in Rio | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | The father of Kiwi Olympian Dylan Kennett believes his son was the subject of a personal attack from Cycling New Zealand's high performance director, following his races in Rio.
Kennett's performance was openly questioned by Cycling New Zealand high performance director Mark Elliott and Craig Kennett, Dylan Kennett's father, told Fairfax Media it was appalling the way his son was treated during the Games.
Craig Kennett said it was a personal attack on a rider who had questioned New Zealand's preparation for the Games.
"Elliott singled out just Dylan. Clearly it is personal," Craig Kennett told Fairfax media.
Dylan Kennett finished fifth in the scratch race at Rio, but an error from the commissaires saw Kennett given 10th spot in the event. Cycling New Zealand appealed, but the 10th placing wasn't overturned until after the first day of racing.
In the final event of the day, Kennett bombed out of the elimination race, ending his chances at an Olympic medal.
Elliott called out Kennett on his efforts.
"Dylan's got to learn how to be a champion and it's not by giving up," Elliott told Radio Sport.
"I think we've just seen someone who hasn't been able to focus for the elimination and do what he is really capable [of]."
Continued below.
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Craig Kennett thought the comments from Elliott were appalling.
"What great support from your leader. It's just a disgrace to call Dylan a quitter," he told Fairfax media.
"Mr Elliott said that Dylan needs to learn to ride like a champion but he was a world champion last year.
"What has Mr Elliott been a champion at to know how they handle setbacks? Tiddly winks?"
Craig Kennett said his son was critical of the Bordeaux track the team prepared for the Games on, because it wasn't like the tracks they raced on. | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11701008&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/9fbc697cd6f804001211e03043b63f1740424c6cfc2056b564569f6c1499d159.json |
[] | 2016-08-31T04:50:16 | null | 2016-08-31T03:17:02 | Auckland police have shut down a large dealing network of cocaine and methamphetamine today, ending a three-phase investigation over several months. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11702323%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/operation_ceviche_hand-made_cocaine_press2_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Senior Hell's Angels member arrested in cocaine, meth bust | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Auckland police have shut down a large dealing network of cocaine and methamphetamine today, ending a three-phase investigation over several months.
Police seized 750g of cocaine and $81,000 in cash in the bust and arrested seven men, including a senior patched member of the Hell's Angels Auckland chapter, bringing the total number of arrests in Operation Ceviche to 13.
All of the men arrested now face between one and 11 counts of methamphetamine and/or cocaine charges. The Hell's Angel member has been charged with possessing for supply and supplying methamphetamine.
Detective Senior Sergeant Lloyd Schmid said the cocaine had a street value of more than $300,000.
"It's unusual to achieve such a big domestic seizure.
"Cocaine is usually picked up in much smaller amounts, so today's find is indicative of people who have been heavily involved in persistent, premeditated, career drug dealing."
Today's find comes after 84g of cocaine was seized earlier this month in the second phase of the operation. Two of the men arrested today had previously been arrested during the second phase.
Police arrested six people, including the Hell's Angel member, during the operation's first phase, which wrapped in June.
Schmid said each of the men arrested had been operating "mini drug supply networks" which police found were linked.
"These offenders were creating some fairly identifiable cocaine. The drug was being mixed with another substance and moulded into ounce-sized bricks with a hand-made wooden press.
"These are people who've been living beyond their means by selling drugs to others, and despite some attempts to conceal their offending, they've now been fully exposed.
"People who choose to involve themselves in the supply of illicit drugs can expect to be held to account."
The maximum penalty for the supply of methamphetamine and cocaine is life imprisonment.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11702323&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/6fe55d0072cbaae891a07648a5671c78534b256214a8a5bd14210ede97e8c7da.json |
[
"Kirsty Wynn Is A Senior Reporter At The Herald On Sunday.",
"Louise Nicholas"
] | 2016-08-26T18:50:34 | null | 2016-08-26T04:10:26 | Advertising for a exclusive menswear brand that features a topless model has been labelled as soft porn and sexist by women's advocates. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Flifestyle%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D6%26objectid%3D11700871%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/SCCZEN_250816SPLMENSWEARa_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Topless advert for luxury menswear range labelled sexist | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Kirsty Wynn is a senior reporter at the Herald on Sunday.
Advertising for a exclusive menswear brand that features a topless model has been labelled as soft porn and sexist by women's advocates.
The stylised shots for luxury brand E Von Dadelszen feature partially nude shots of well-known New Zealand model Zippora Seven and a fully clothed male model.
In some photos Seven wears a pair of black knickers alongside a male wearing a suit and tie.
In other shots she wears black lingerie and a white business shirt, in another, a man's cashmere sweater.
Clothing from the store, in Auckland's Britomart precinct, is bespoke and fitted by appointment with "steaming espresso or chilled Perrier Jouët" while the car is valet parked. Satchels come with a $5000 price tag, shoes $1400 and cashmere sweaters start from $800.
Founder Eddie Von Dadelszen said the photos told a story and were relevant in that they pointed to an upcoming woman's line of clothing.
Woman's advocate Louise Nicholas said the campaign was little more than soft porn with nothing to do with clothing.
"The thing that angers me is in these shots this young woman is exposed but they are covering up the man. She hides his face, we don't know what he looks like but she is there in the nude.
"It is just soft porn, it has nothing to do with men's clothing at all."
Continued below.
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Nicholas is an advocate for sexual assault survivors and rose to prominence after a public battle to have four policemen she said raped her when she was a teenager brought to justice.
She has since campaigned for women's rights.
She said the nude shots were unnecessary and sexualised the E Von Dadelszen brand.
"If the product is good it should sell itself," she said.
"I love the shoes but I don't think they need to sexualise women to sell them."
Nicholas' views were echoed by top PR woman Deborah Pead.
It is just soft porn, it has nothing to do with men's clothing at all. Louise Nicholas
She said the use of provocative images might "generate traffic" to the website but would not necessarily increase sales.
"I really thought the industry had moved on from the sexualisation of women," she said.
"It feels like the 70s car show where they put the bikini clad woman on the bonnet of the car."
Pead said men might be aroused by the shots but that didn't mean they were going to part with cash.
"It is there as a traffic generator. I suggest no one would be looking at the clothes."
Pead said advertisers had a social responsibility not to exploit women.
"Responsible advertising can change attitudes and move stereotypes but as far as I am concerned this just reinforces one," she said.
"We have got a long way to go to settle the gender disparity and stop women from being disadvantaged."
Pead said the only time such shots would be appropriate was if the product was lingerie or beauty products and was being marketed to women.
Both Von Dadelszen and photographer Mara Sommer said Seven was shown as strong and confident in the series of photos with the male admiring her beauty.
"She is a very strong woman and strong character and that comes across in the photos," Sommer said.
Sommer said Seven was relaxed and happy during the shoot.
"She is very comfortable with her body and I would never have done that with a model if she wasn't."
Sommer had heard only positive things about the campaign.
Von Dadelszen, who is the partner of Love and Object jewellery store owner Constance Cummings, said the photography was "beautiful and presents an image of a strong, confident woman."
He said he was surrounded by women in his life "that I respect highly and are a constant source of inspiration to me."
Von Dadelszen said his campaign was nothing like the one pulled by jewellery brand I Love Ugly last year.
The local men's fashion label pulled jewellery adverts showing naked women following a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority .
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11700871&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/c4db8f6fa0a680421709bef5831105c059216740551c6d59bfb59a8995f4c9eb.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T20:46:59 | null | 2016-08-26T18:52:07 | Several thousand homes in north and west Auckland remain without power this morning as strong winds wreak havoc in the area. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11701007%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/winds_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Weather: Thousands in the dark after wild and windy night | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Several thousand homes in north and west Auckland remain without power this morning as strong winds wreak havoc in the area.
More than 1000 properties in Mahurangi, Rodney are without power, but Vector predicted these would be switched on later this morning.
Meanwhile several hundred in Kaukapakapa, Coatesville and Titrangi are also without power, but are expected to be back on within the next couple of hours.
It's also been a wild and windy night for parts of the North Island, with gales of up to 140km/hour recorded in Auckland city.
WeatherWatch said late last night "hurricane force" winds were recorded above the Manukau Heads, just west of the city's international airport.
The strong winds were forecast to stick around for a little bit longer, but could likely clear later in the day.
Despite some reports of broken signs and scattered debris, there have been no major reports of damage from the emergency services this morning.
Spare a thought for all the Mayoral candidates/campaign people in Auckland out overnight & Saturday fixing all the broken election signs! — WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) August 26, 2016
In the main centres today, MetService said Auckland was expected to be cloudy, with a few showers and a high of 15C. The northwest gusts of up to 90km/h this morning were forecast to ease off later in the day.
Continued below.
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Tomorrow the rain would clear for a period, before showers returned on Monday.
In Wellington, it was also forecast to be a wet day today, with a high of 13C, which was good news for rugby fans.
MetService expected the showers would clear in time for the All Blacks kick-off time against Australia in Wellington's Westpac Stadium at 7.35pm this evening.
Tomorrow weather in the capital was forecast to clear, though remain relatively cool with a high of 14C.
Christchurch was expected to be wet today, with a cool high of 12C and southwesterly winds also dying out.
The sun was forecast to come out in force tomorrow in the Garden City, with a warmer high of 17C.
Today's weather
Auckland: 15C
Cloudy, few showers, gales easing
Wellington: 13C
Wet, showers clearing by this evening
Christchurch: 12C
Showers today, with southwesterly winds easing
-MetService
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701007&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/e0b204168820cd02f9e3168ac89429456486bb21989e22b639c0cdde7b592f0b.json |
[] | 2016-08-27T20:47:53 | null | 2016-08-27T19:53:51 | A family has lost two sons to suspected murder in the space of just six months - with one of the men's bodies still missing. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11701145%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/SCCZEN_SUP290616NADMISSING_1024x768.jpg | en | null | One family, two sons dead in suspected murders in just six months | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | A family has lost two sons to suspected murder in the space of just six months - with one of the men's bodies still missing.
Brothers Kimble and Gary Moore are the subjects of separate homicide enquiries, with the first disappearing in March, and the second found dead at his home last month.
Their father Billy Moore told Fairfax the family was trying to stay strong in their time of need.
"What's the chances of that? The two brothers? They were the most cruelest deaths you could think of," he said.
Kimble, 48, went missing from Taipa, in Northland, on March 18. He was in the company of fellow Tribesman Rawden Yates, who went on the run and was later arrested on a series of other charges.
Following Kimble's disappearance his family spent months searching for him, to no avail.
This week police launched a homicide inquiry, saying they had gathered information suggesting Kimble had been killed.
Following the announcement, his mother Erana Moore told NZME that Kimble, the eldest of seven siblings, had moved to Kaitaia three years ago after a stint in prison, and had hoped to open a butchery in the Far North.
She said the family had heard many stories about what had happened to her son, including he had been "cut up and put here and there" but there was no evidence that could prove where he was or who might be responsible.
"I know he's gone and I'd be stupid not to accept it. For me it's getting worse. It makes me feel shattered but I'm his mum and I'm not giving up," Mrs Moore said.
"Someone knows what's happened and they need to give the family that bit of respect so we can have that closure for Kimble. I know he was no angel but he's still human."
Continued below.
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News of Gary's death came amid the family's search for Kimble, Fairfax said.
Gary's body was found by his partner at home in Otara on July 31.
The 57-year-old died after what was described as a "physical altercation".
Gary's colleague, Teina Taunga, 29, has been charged with his murder and will appear in court next month.
The Moore family told Fairfax that losing Gary "shattered" the family but "at least they had a body to bury".
• Anyone with has information on Mr Moore's disappearance can contact Kaitaia Police Station on 09 408 6500.
Facing charges
The last person Kimble was seen with in Taipa was arrested in April after a three week man-hunt. However, the charges do not relate to the disappearance of Kimble.
Kaitaia man Rawden James Yates, 35, was charged with attempted murder in Kaitaia on February 12, arising from the shooting of a man in Archibald St, aggravated robbery and kidnapping at Doubtless Bay, December 14 , unlawful possession of a firearm, February 18, threatening to kill and assault with a firearm, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Marama Pickering, 24, of Kaitaia, is facing three charges of aiding and abetting Yates.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701145&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/7a05f5966fa8e8b49340b53f12e1e72caaa1118c78d37049b7d7c636c3037384.json |
[] | 2016-08-27T02:47:22 | null | 2016-08-27T01:39:13 | It's hard to put a price on a piece of Wairarapa history, but for the freshly marketed Carrington House, valuers say it would cost just under $4m to rebuild it with the original timber - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fbusiness%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D3%26objectid%3D11701063%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/wta260816supcarrington01_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Inside the historic Carrington House up for sale | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | By Emily Norman - Wairarapa Times-Age
It's hard to put a price on a piece of Wairarapa history, but for the freshly marketed Carrington House, valuers say it would cost just under $4m to rebuild it with the original timber.
Carrington House, built in 1874, and one of the oldest and most prestigious homes in Wairarapa, has a government valuation of $2,185,000.
But its historical significance and grandeur could place it in the category of properties that sell for more than $5m in Wairarapa.
The elaborate home has a floor area of 811m2, four large bedrooms, each with an ensuite, a drawing room, family room, formal study, grand dining room, powder room, country style kitchen, and butler pantry.
It is positioned on approximately 6.9 hectares across three titles with two cottages, stables, multiple outbuildings and-six car garaging.
Clark & Co Realty which are selling the property on behalf of current owners Shirley and John Cameron describe the property as "immaculate and magnificent".
"We feel extremely privileged and excited to be able to showcase such an amazing property," real estate agent Jane Mather said.
"We have an independent survey valuation that states that to rebuild the home in the timbers used it would cost over $3,800,000, and that is if they were actually able to be sourced which is nigh on impossible."
Continued below.
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She said a comparable property sale was Fernside, at Tauherenikau, which sold for more than $5m.
The property has generated interest from around New Zealand and Australia.
Ideal buyers would be a family, according to the real estate agency, but the property could also be a business opportunity for some buyers.
Carrington House is registered with New Zealand Historic Places Trust as a Category 2 Historic Place, and joined New Zealand Garden Trust as a Garden of Significance in 2013.
It was originally the home of one of Carterton's most prominent citizens William Booth, who had the house moved back from the road to where it now is, using traction engines in 1894.
The Booths had a sawmill built on the estate and the timber used in the construction of the house was the best quality native timber they milled. | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11701063&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/1f41a72b35e77afbf683e51c4ff1ffe937a440d768f22e2566597c46527bd11f.json |
[] | 2016-08-29T00:48:47 | null | 2016-08-28T22:20:44 | Dejected Warriors fans have reacted passionately to another failed season, with coach Andrew Cappy McFadden among those in the firing line. Here's a sample of the comments which - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fsport%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D4%26objectid%3D11701382%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/SCCZEN_280816NZHDPWARRIORS08_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Fans react to Warriors loss: 'I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed' | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Video will play in Play now Don't auto play
Never auto play
Dejected Warriors fans have reacted passionately to another failed season, with coach Andrew "Cappy" McFadden among those in the firing line. Here's a sample of the comments which have flooded in after the shock loss to the Tigers meant the Auckland club missed the playoffs yet again.
* Dear Warriors ... Thank you for giving us fans another opportunity to "keep the faith"...I look forward to the day however when we can change our slogan to "We used to have faith but now we have effort and hard work".
* I'm not angry.... I'm just disappointed
* Do you guys ever listen at training? Are you ever going to show up for the full 80 minutes?
* Dear Warriors of 2016: I am sick of trying to justify to non-Warriors fans/bandwagon jumpers that you had every chance to win this year. Today was the last straw...I honestly thought we would win today.
Please do not win by 50 points (against the Eels) next week! That would really **** me off.
* No game plan again...come on dude (coach McFadden), Tigers known for their speed and mobility...
* Dear Warriors, can you please change your name to something more appropriate? Something like the NZ muppets? Or the NZ Disappointments?
* A valiant effort given the early loss of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and golden point losses...slow start and McFadden's decisions just too much to overcome.
Continued below.
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* Thanks for living up to my expectations for yet another season. Please don't spend money on bad players this off season. Instead find a better coach.
* Take some personal pride in your performance. You cannot rely on the same two or three players week in week out. Too many passengers and not enough desperation yesterday.
* Although the officiating would occasionally try to beat you, you were always your own worst enemy.
* Your supporters will all be back next year...bring on 2017.
* 2017 will be the Warriors year.
* Can you please ask Shaun Johnson if I can borrow his Harry Potter invisibility cloak that he likes to wear during the game.
* Dear Warriors of 2016, I sure as hell hope I don't see you in 2017.
* Just for once I'd like to see the Warriors look gutted to lose. It always seems to be smiles and hugs after the game.
*The Warriors just ran out of gas. Fitness just wasn't there. Roll on next season.
* Does Cappy's job finally come under scrutiny.
* The Warriors are ninth in a comp which is only played in two states of Australia.
* McFadden has to go and not based on his coaching ability. I just don't think he can inspire the players.
* Bring back Ivan Cleary yeah.
* Everyone agrees Cappy should go but the playing group also needs a shake up * Too small in the forwards. Not fit enough as they fade noticeably in the last 20. Every club gets bad calls now and then.
* Buy more players with plenty of "tomorrows" in them as most of the buys this year are players with their best days behind them.
* Even felt sorry for Johnson as it seems that everyone relies on him to do something! | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11701382&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/056570c93c5af1daf733a2b6caa54a2dcf1bad5f0379d0ad341223bd543fccb8.json |
[
"Simon Plumb Is A Journalist For The Herald On Sunday"
] | 2016-08-27T18:48:07 | null | 2016-08-25T03:08:07 | Troubled former All Black Zac Guildford yesterday took his first steps on a long road to rugby redemption - and off the field he is on a mission to help Kiwis kids avoid the mistakes - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11700411%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/SCCZEN_A_231011NZHSRIGAME45_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Zac's back: Guildford pledges road to redemption | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | The World Cup-winner is back, soberly making a new bid at reviving his career, writes Simon Plumb.
Troubled former All Black Zac Guildford yesterday took his first steps on a long road to rugby redemption - and off the field he is on a mission to help Kiwis kids avoid the mistakes that have riddled his career.
After a string of high-profile incidents with alcohol and a trail of torn-up rugby contracts through New Zealand, Australia and France, the World Cup-winner says he's "starting again" in a bid to prove his drinking demons are under control and he deserves another professional deal at the game's highest level.
Booted from his latest gig at the NSW Waratahs - with the Australian Super Rugby franchise citing "wellbeing reasons" for cutting the winger loose - Guildford says he understands how serious a situation his career is now in and the faith he must earn back.
Admitting to being haunted by alcohol and being unhappy with life - despite success on-field and earning big money off-it - the 27-year-old says he's ready to prove himself by battling back from the amateur ranks.
A world away from the iconic All Blacks jersey and the 60,000 fans who packed a floodlit Eden Park for the 2011 Rugby World Cup final, Guildford ran out for Wairarapa-Bush in an early afternoon Heartland Championship opener yesterday - in what he hopes will be the first, small step on a long, hard road back to top-grade rugby.
"I wouldn't be playing rugby at the moment if I didn't want to return to the top level. That's the ultimate goal but you can only take each week as it comes. If I keep in good shape mentally and physically, then hopefully, I can do that," Guildford told the Herald on Sunday.
"It hasn't been easy. It is starting again. I grew up down here so hopefully being back here can be a good turning point for me. I know the club's pretty confident, I'm pretty confident and hopefully we can just keep getting better.
"I don't want to get too far ahead of myself, like I usually do, so it's just about taking one week at a time."
Continued below.
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Addressing the most obvious issue on the table, Guildford says he cannot say he'll never drink alcohol again.
However, he says he believes he can slowly win the battle inside his head.
"I can't say I'll never touch it again, but at the moment I don't see it as a part of my future," he said.
"I can't think too far ahead, I've just got to take each week as it comes here. At the moment I'm feeling pretty good mentally and physically, I'll get better as the game's go on. I'm hoping to build to something bigger, I don't know if that will be in New Zealand or overseas. We'll just have to see how I am."
In a bid to gain control of his future, Guildford has moved into his grandparents' South Featherston farm. He began rugby training with the Wairarapa-Bush team on Thursday and has slotted straight into the starting lineup.
"I think it's good for the community, it's good to give something back while I'm still at an age where I can play my best footy. Hopefully, expectations aren't too high but then again hopefully I can play my best.
"It'll be good to just get out there and have a run. I obviously haven't played for a few months, I'm pretty excited and hoping the lungs hold up."
When not training, at the gym, or chopping wood on the farm, Guildford has been mentoring local school children and accepted an ambassador's role for international life-skills group "Boys to Men."
"I just do it when I'm asked. I like to give a little bit back," Guildford said. "I do tell them about my experiences and that being a rugby player and earning lots of money, sometimes it doesn't make you happy like people might think. There's a lot more to life than rugby and earning money.
"I just talk to them about what they want to achieve out of life, what they'd like to prove to themselves in the coming years. We're not going to change lives overnight but if we can keep chipping away, helping out where we can, I'm sure we can make a difference.
"I don't get paid for any of that, it's just volunteer stuff. It's something I've done for quite a while now and don't expect to be recognised or paid for it."
Tamatea High School received a visit from Guildford recently, with principal Robin Fabish commending his "willingness to keep getting back up when he falls over."
"We're a family here at Tamatea High school, and family stick by one another," Fabish said. "It's good for us to be able to support Zac on his journey. I don't judge Zac for the problems that he's had - every one of us has done things we're not proud of. I think it's really healthy that he is open about the difficulties that he's had and how that's impacted on his life."
Guildford says he's confident he can learn from his mistakes and fight his way back into paid rugby.
"I'm only just concentrating on little blocks at a time. For the next two or three months I'll be here and then after that I'm not too sure," he said. "I'm just hoping this can build me in really good stead for a future contract, but as I said, I've got to make sure it goes well here first, and I'm pretty confident it will."
THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF ZAC GUILDFORD
Born: February 8, 1989, Greytown, Wairarapa. Attended Napier Boys' High School.
Burst onto the scene in 2009 with New Zealand's Junior World Cup in Japan with All Black Aaron Cruden - scoring two tries each in the final win over England.
Tragically, the tournament victory tinged with sadness. Guildford's father, Robert, died in the stands shortly after the final whistle.
October 2009: First selected for the All Blacks after a stellar season on the wing for the Hurricanes. Goes on the end of year tour as the youngest player in the squad.
February 2010: Scores a try on his Super Rugby Debut for the Crusaders.
October 2010: Wins gold at the Commonwealth Games as part of New Zealand's rugby sevens squad.
October 2011: Peak of his rugby career, Guildford helps the All Blacks win the Rugby World Cup on home soil.
November 2011: Hits rock bottom. Naked, drunk and bleeding Guildford staggers into a beachside Rarotonga bar and assaults two holidaymakers.
November 2011: Then-Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder says Guildford admits drinking problem for very first time.
May 2014: Granted an early release from his Crusaders contract and joins French Top 14 team Clermont Auvergne, but leaves halfway through two-year contract.
September 2015: Thrown a Super Rugby lifeline with a short-term contract from the NSW Waratahs.
June 2016: Guildford exits the Waratahs for "wellbeing reasons".
August 2016: World Cup-winning All Black appears for Wairarapa-Bush on the long road back to a professional contract, says he's "starting again".
Once Zac Guildford played beside some of the highest-paid rugby players in the world, but now his team mates are farmers in a side which isn't entitled to any match fees.
Chief executive Tony Hargood says his Wairarapa Bush Rugby Union has taken an "eyes-wide-open" attitude to offering the troubled former All Black an amateur contract with the Heartland Championship team.
Hargood has only known Guildford for a couple of months but said instinct told him to reach out to a man trying to salvage his career. He has, however, made it clear to Guildford he won't be getting any special treatment.
"At the end of the day I look at everything and I just felt there was an opportunity. I gave Zac a handshake and I think he's going to be alright," Hargood told the Herald on Sunday.
"Zac's been open about the challenges he's facing [with alcohol] and he's got personal responsibilities around those matters."
Hargood, who went to Chanel College with Guildford's mother, hopes a return to home and rustic rugby will be the foundation for the 27-year-old getting to grips with his demons and one day returning to the professional ranks.
But until then, the only financials he'll receive are expenses of around $100 a match.
"The Heartland protocol is players get reimbursed for expenses and that's what we keep to. Throughout New Zealand that averages about $100 a game," Hargood said.
"The other players in the team are predominantly farmers, it's not uncommon for us to see them turn up in their ute with the dog in the back, overalls still on. That's part of the colour of Heartland rugby. No-one expects any frills."
Hargood, who received formal clearance from New Zealand Rugby on Friday lunchtime for Guildford to play this weekend, says discussions had been in the mix for just over a month. weeks.
"I received a phone call about five weeks ago that Zac may be looking at coming home to the Wairarapa. After conversations with a few people I caught up with Zac to see whether he was returning and would he be interested in playing for us if everything panned out OK," he said.
"Our focus has been about him coming home to family, and if footy can be part of what he's working through and re-establishing his career, then we're right into it."
Hargood said local interest this week has been "absolutely phenomenal" over talk of Guildford's involvement.
"We've tried to keep the whole thing on a level playing field, Zac is just one of 22 guys that turn up to training twice a week and make the squad on Saturday. He's got to pick up the tackle bags like everybody else.
"When I originally spoke with Zac I said, 'this is amateur rugby at it's best and you're going to have to turn up and do your job just like everyone else, we don't have a lot of wraparound services and you won't be treated any differently.'"
- Herald on Sunday | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11700411&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/4cf755eb19649a3538651281163faf67b4fc01b29d1863d9730771d92c557aca.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T04:49:39 | null | 2016-08-30T03:12:48 | I wanted to leave this world and never come back, - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fworld%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D2%26objectid%3D11701905%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/Feed1_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Brutal breaking point: Pictures no parent wants to see | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | "I wanted to leave this world and never come back,"
These are the words no 12-year-old should ever say, but for one young girl this was her brutal reality.
Months of relentless bullying had pushed Tayla to breaking point and she felt her only way of escape was to try and take her own life.
Her devastated mother had sought repeated help from her daughter's school, but the bullying continued with the family eventually forced to move away from their central Queensland home.
Her story forms part of a special investigation into bullying tonight on The Feed which examines how widespread it really is and how authorities are often powerless to prevent it.
Reporter Patrick Abboud gained exclusive access to families affected by this tragedy spending months working with them to share their stories.
Abboud said he was drawn to Tayla's story but sadly found hers was far from unique with one in three suicides in Australia directly related to bullying.
Having experienced bullying himself first-hand as a teenager, Abboud said he found several other cases where kids had been severely bullied.
Tayla told Abboud how she was bullied from the day she started at her new school in central Queensland, with her single mother moving to the country to give her daughter a safe upbringing.
Instead, it was anything but.
Continued below.
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She told Abboud kids called her a freak, told her to drown herself and called her lots of other abusive names.
Despite being put in isolation, her torture didn't end, resulting in a suicide attempt.
"I wanted to die," the now 13-year-old told The Feed.
While the family has since moved and made a fresh start in Cairns, Tayla is scarred by the bullying experience but is now receiving the help she needs.
"Tayla's in a good place now," he said.
"Her story is just heartbreaking, she's such a brave kid."
Her mother Kali told Abboud the reality was Tayla would have died if they stayed.
Showing him pictures of her tortured drawings, she said: "No mum wants to see their kids drawing these things."
Abboud also spoke to other families who had experienced the devastating effects of bullying including one who took her own life because of it.
"There's this assumption that kids will be kids,' Abboud said of the bullying issue.
"But Tayla's story made me dig deeper and I got talking to other families who had experienced the same thing."
Abboud said he also spoke to several anti-bullying groups and a school in Victoria which had a zero-tolerance policy around bullying.
He told news.com.au that Victoria was the only state in Australia which had legislation criminalising bullying.
While stopping short of saying the crime should be punished with jail time, he said the Victorian example showed that having legislation in place was a deterrent.
Abboud said while there were government programs in place regarding bullying, they were more reactive rather than preventive.
"It's a vicious cycle, the kid tells the parents, the parent tells the school, but not enough is being done to stop these kids dying," he said.
"There's a gaping hole in the system.
"My feeling is legislation will help send a signal that bullying is not okay and it is a crime that has consequences. I'm not saying let's lock kids up, but like any crime there is a scale of punishment"
Principal of Essendon Keilor College Heather Hawkins supported the tough legislation and told Abboud she believed it had made a difference.
"Kids (are) suiciding because of someone else's actions. Suicide as a consequence of bullying is it not akin to murder?"
Abboud also speaks with another woman, who confronts her own bully and who still suffers anxiety today, with surprising results.
While Tayla's story had a happy ending, other teens are not so lucky.
NSW mother Melinda Tolhurst revealed how her 14-year-old daughter Jessica was tormented to death and is petitioning Premier Mike Baird to make bullying a crime.
"Last Christmas my 14-year-old daughter committed suicide after relentless bullying by a group of thugs. She's now dead, and they walk free," her Change.org petition reads.
The devastated mother reveals how the abuse was vile, how her daughter was called an "ugly s***" and told to kill herself.
She also writes how it feels unreal to be writing the petition without her here but wanted to see people punished for such actions.
"Jessica will never go to her formal, finish school, learn to drive, get married or have children. Our lives have been destroyed, they'll never understand our pain," she said.
Where to get help:
• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)
• Youthline: 0800 376 633
• Kidsline: 0800 543 754 (available 24/7)
• Whatsup: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm)
• Depression helpline: 0800 111 757 (available 24/7)
• Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
• Samaritans 0800 726 666
• If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
- news.com.au | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11701905&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/49c3f03f8acd8821da8bd081a9a502bcaed68cab8cf28a2343c4337f25d0885c.json |
[] | 2016-08-27T22:47:53 | null | 2016-08-27T21:51:28 | Two 41-year-old best friends have broken down in tears after being told they were switched at birth and spent their lives with each other's biological family. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fworld%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D2%26objectid%3D11701159%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/menxx_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Canadian best friends switched at birth 41 years ago | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Two 41-year-old best friends have broken down in tears after being told they were switched at birth and spent their lives with each other's biological family.
David Tait and Leon Swanson were swapped in the government-run Norway House Hospital in 1975 in the western Canadian province of Manitoba, DNA testing has confirmed.
"I want answers so bad," Tait said, choking back tears at a press conference in Winnipeg on Friday.
He added that he felt "distraught, confused and angry".
Swanson tried to hold back tears and said he did not know what to say.
Tait's biological mother ended up raising Swanson instead, and Swanson's birth mother raised Tait, CBC News reported.
Norway House is made up of two northern Manitoba communities and has a population of about 5000 predominantly indigenous Cree Nation people.
It is accessible by airplane and a long indirect road linking it with Winnipeg, about 500 miles (800km) to the south.
In November, the Manitoba government said two other men who were close friends were also switched at birth in 1975, at the same Norway House Hospital. As they grew up, people noticed how they resembled each other's family more than their own.
Eric Robinson, a former Manitoba cabinet minister who is helping the men in the latest case, said there were always suspicions in the community about their parentage
"The federal government owes these people," Robinson said.
Continued below.
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"What happened to them is criminal.
"We can live with one mistake, but two mistakes of a similar nature is not acceptable.
"We can't slough it off as being a mistake. It was a criminal act."
The former aboriginal affairs minister added he suspects there are more undiscovered cases.
"It's something (the government) can't sweep under the carpet. There are lingering questions out there," Robinson said.
"These two gentlemen are not the only victims. We have families who are deeply hurt by this. We have siblings ... that are hurt by this."
Canada's health department operates the Norway House hospital.
Canadian Health Minister Jane Philpott said the second case "deeply troubled" her, before adding an independent party will be hired to investigate hospital records and look into whether there are other such cases.
"Cases like this are an unfortunate reminder to Canadians of how urgent the need is to provide all Indigenous people with high-quality health care," Philpott said in a statement.
Canada's 1.4 million indigenous people often live in dire social and economic conditions with subpar health and education services.
Practices to ensure the identities of newborns have improved since the 1970s, and Norway House Hospital now fits infants with identification bands, the health department said in a statement.
- Daily Mail | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11701159&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/48fe1e037d146f2bd9448eed39959e9b5af0933d88c677f482728d7b893af53f.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T22:50:12 | null | 2016-08-30T20:33:04 | Neither Michael Fassbender nor Alicia Vikander was especially keen on living at a remote New Zealand lighthouse for the duration of shooting Derek Cianfrance's 1920s period drama - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fentertainment%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1501119%26objectid%3D11702068%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/AP160829190204_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Michael Fassbender thought NZ would be 'hell' | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Video will play in Play now Don't auto play
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Neither Michael Fassbender nor Alicia Vikander was especially keen on living at a remote New Zealand lighthouse for the duration of shooting Derek Cianfrance's 1920s period drama The Light Between Oceans.
Cianfrance, the director of the gritty independent films Blue Valentine and The Place Beyond the Pines is known for leading actors to immersive extremes.
To play a married couple in Blue Valentine, Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams lived in a Scranton, Pennsylvania, home together. Williams has said she often has to remind herself that she didn't actually marry Gosling.
For The Light Between Oceans, adapted from ML Stedman's 2012 best-seller about a lighthouse keeper after World War I, Cianfrance wanted to keep his stars and small crew at their exotic location: Cape Campbell on the New Zealand coast, to double for the tale's Australian island.
Fassbender and Vikander are both known for complete commitment to their roles, but neither is a method-acting nut.
"Run for the hills," Fassbender says was his initial reaction, humming the Iron Maiden song of the same name. "Initially I thought, 'Oh god, this is going to be hell: on this peninsula in the middle of the nowhere. It turned out to be a really unique experience, to be in such an extreme environment."
"They were, especially Fassbender, uncertain," says Cianfrance. "I'm like, 'Michael just give me a shot here.' I had to work really hard to convince my production to stay out there. He was like, 'OK, I'll give it one night.' Flash forward five and a half weeks later and he didn't want to leave, and neither did Alicia."
They had other reasons for wanting to stay. Since shooting The Light Between Oceans, which releases in America this week and in New Zealand on November 3, more than a year ago, Vikander and Fassbender have been a couple: one of the movies' most decorated if discreet pairings. Both the film and their romance are, in part, a product of the blurring of fiction and reality.
Continued below.
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"We had a chemistry from the beginning, obviously, and sort of to the present," says Fassbender, chuckling, "I just found her to be extremely committed and brave and really fierce. She goes for it. She doesn't let the fear of falling on her face stop her from trying things out."
The two came into the film having only briefly met. This was before Vikander exploded across movie screens last year, in films like Ex Machina and The Danish Girl, for which she won an Oscar. A fan of Fassbender's for films like Hunger and Fish Tank, Vikander says she considered him "one of the best actors of his generation".
"It's something when you get to work with an actor who immediately vindicates your faith," says Vikander. "He pushed me and I dared to do the same back. It was easy from the get-go. He kind of came in with open-arms and was willing to really serve this story justice."
Fassbender plays a former soldier craving isolation after the war. He and Vikander's character, who lives in the nearest village, fall in love, but their union is haunted by miscarriage and later, a shared deceit. The stark, wind-swept beauty of the film's rugged, romantic location, along with cinematographer Adam Arkapaw's photography, gives the film a classical sweep new to Cianfrance's films.
"I make movies about family. I make movies about relationships. This one just has an epic backdrop," says the Brooklyn writer-director. "In some ways when I was shooting it, I was thinking of trying to make a Cassavetes film on a David Lean landscape."
Cianfrance eschews saying "action" or "cut" and instead has the actors improvise their way into and out of a scene. He would rouse the cast and crew for first light, or bring them back for the evening sun. They slept in trailers near the lighthouse.
For Vikander's first day of shooting, before she arrived on set, he had her picked up at 2am and driven to the lighthouse. She was asked to cover her eyes until she was to exit a woodshed for her first take.
"I just looked out and saw this huge lighthouse, which is pretty extraordinary," Vikander recalls. "And the film crew was up on the top, so I started to climb up to the top. And they had timed it so the second I came up there, the sun just popped up over the horizon. It was probably the most extraordinary sunrise I had ever seen. It's not me acting, really, in the film when I see it."
The elements, Fassbender says, also made a powerful impression on him, particularly the relentless wind. And the removal from cellphones and other day-to-day pressures turned out to be welcome in focusing on the film's tender and tragic story.
"I'm a big part of superhero franchises and sci-fi franchises but these are real people dealing with life, and what life throws at you and how you handle it and how lives veer off a path that you thought they were destined for," says Fassbender. "That struck a chord with me personally."
"We actually had a true experience on that island. A lot of stuff made the film. A lot of stuff didn't," says Cianfrance. "But we were actually living there and the film witnesses the truth of our experience."
- AP | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11702068&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/0aa7b63ef89ebbe71b7a0dbca20372f96b7d7e37aa49f22e97f12a88bd8d8cae.json |
[
"Retail",
"Innovation",
"Manufacturing Reporter For The Nz Herald"
] | 2016-08-26T13:04:32 | null | 2016-08-25T23:59:24 | Law firm Bell Gully is reminding employers that they could be held accountable for workplace bullying after a prosecution case in Australia. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fbusiness%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D3%26objectid%3D11700711%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/GettyImages-73212288_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Employers liable for workplace bullying | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Law firm Bell Gully is reminding employers that they could be held accountable for workplace bullying after a prosecution case in Australia.
Carpentry business manager Wayne Dennert was prosecuted and fined for bullying an employee and encouraging other employees to join in.
Dennert pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to provide a safe workplace after his 18-year-old apprentice complained to WorkSafe Victoria that he had been bullied.
The allegations included verbal, physical and psychological bullying and harassment.
Examples of some of the abuse included the victim being drenched with water, spat on, having 'Liquid Nails' squirted in his hair, a meths-soaked rag held over his mouth, a live mouse put down his shirt, hot drill bits held against his skin, plaster smeared across his face and into his eyes, sandpaper scraped across his face, and being pinned down while a strip of paint was applied to his face.
Bell Gully partner Tim Clarke said while the case was extreme, it was also a timely reminder to New Zealand employers to toe the line.
"We haven't seen prosecutions for bullying in New Zealand but it's clearly something that is caught by their jurisdiction," Clarke said.
"This is something that is definitely applicable in New Zealand," he said. "It is pretty extreme to have WorkSafe actually prosecute an employer for bullying like that but maybe they wanted to send a signal to employers that they'll be watching out for this behaviour as well."
The victim began working for Dennert in April 2013 when he was 16-years-old. The complaint was laid in 2015 and in June this year, Dennert was convicted and fined AU$12,500 ($13,052) and ordered to pay court costs of AU$750 ($783).
Continued below.
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The investigation into the complaint found Dennert had bullied the victim and encouraged his other employees - another apprentice and two sub-contracters - to participate.
WorkSafe Victoria said Dennert had also failed to provide the necessary information, instruction, training and supervision to employees in relation to workplace bullying.
WorkSafe prosecutor Olivia Barnes said Dennert's behaviour was an appalling abuse of power.
"Not only did he use his position of power to encourage a bullying culture among his workers, he actively participated," Barnes said.
"Dennert had responsibility under law to proactively recognise workplace bullying and put a stop to it."
Magistrate John Lesser said young workers were particularly vulnerable to psychological and physical risks in the workplace because of their inexperience.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11700711&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/e2eac1f51bdc0a8fc6b071bfea7f76eb90b33b8bad2d9866f82ed97fb779fb23.json |
[] | 2016-08-31T06:50:26 | null | 2016-08-31T05:12:58 | An Olympic champion is thanking a seven-year-old Atlanta girl who found his gold medal in a pile of rubbish weeks after it was stolen. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fsport%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D4%26objectid%3D11702375%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/jacobi-medal-large_transqVzuuqpFlyLIwiB6NTmJwfSVWeZ_vEN7c6bHu2jJnT8_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Girl strikes gold by finding stolen Olympic medal in rubbish bin | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Video will play in Play now Don't auto play
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An Olympic champion is thanking a seven-year-old Atlanta girl who found his gold medal in a pile of rubbish weeks after it was stolen.
Joe Jacobi won the medal in men's canoe double slalom at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. Jacobi says it was stolen when somebody broke into his car in June.
Weeks later, Chloe Smith was walking with her father when she spotted the gold medal discarded in a pile of garbage. Chloe returned the medal to Jacobi, who had posted about the theft on social media.
Olympic Medalist @JoeJacobi visited @Woodson_Park 1st grader Chloe Smith 2 thank her 4 finding his lost! @ATLsuper pic.twitter.com/uJbtryl03p — KimberlyWillisGreen (@kimberlywgreen) August 29, 2016
The former Olympian then promised to visit Chloe's school and let her classmates know about her good deed.
"(Chloe asked), 'Mom when is Joe coming to school?' She was very excited. She couldn't wait," Chloe's mother, Charlmonique Smith, told local news.
Jacobi spoke on Monday to Chloe's first-grade class at Woodson Park Academy, WSB-TV reports.
The Olympian brought his recovered gold medal with him and spoke highly of Chloe's character.
Continued below.
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"It's the idea of choosing to do the right thing, and so Chloe, I thank you for good character and doing the right thing. And to her parents and her family, I thank you guys," Jacobi said.
Jacobi said everyone can learn from Chloe.
"I think sometimes we don't give a seven-year-old child enough credit for the choices they can make and the influence and power of one choice on an entire community," he told WSB-TV.
"We don't have to sit around and just talk about the sometimes the poor choices and poor behaviours that athletes choose.
"Sometimes we have incredible role models to look at right inside an elementary school."
- Daily Telegraph UK | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11702375&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/55c0134c77d5edadfb7390107887f987fafd467930266d69c15d06826bb5aef1.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T20:47:09 | null | 2016-08-24T03:31:48 | The term nouveau riche is a fancy way of saying you're a rich person who acquired your wealth on your own. You didn't inherit it all from your great-grandfather. You worked for it - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fentertainment%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1501119%26objectid%3D11700016%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/SCCZEN_150816SPLAMY_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Amy Schumer on being trash and proud of it | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | An exclusive extract from Amy Schumer's new memoir The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo.
The term "nouveau riche" is a fancy way of saying you're a rich person who acquired your wealth on your own. You didn't inherit it all from your great-grandfather. You worked for it. Either that or you bought that lottery ticket fair and square. But I actually prefer the term "New Money" because it's a way of saying, "Yes, I am trash and I'm embracing it!"
I am New Money.
I feel lucky to live in America — where people will treat someone like me (trash) as if they come from bloodlines with Benjamins [US$100 notes] streaming through them.
In England, they are not as impressed with people who have made their own dough within their lifetime. New Money is considered gaudy there. But in America New Money is celebrated more than Old, because it was earned in some way or another.
We use our new money for stupid shit like spa treatments where eels eat the dead skin off of our toes or baby seal fat is injected into our assholes so we look young again.
(A lot of marine life is utilised for some reason.) People applaud us. Go ahead, start a charity and give back a little and no one in the States gives a hot damn how you got it.
You were knocked up by a basketball player and took him for all you could? Great, here is your own television show. You made a sex tape with a mediocre rapper? Here is the key to a billion-dollar corporation.
Or, in my case, hey, you told dick jokes to drunk people in small rooms at places called the Giggle Bone and the Banana Hammock?
Would you like a movie deal?
Looking back, I realise this is technically my second time to fall into the New Money category. My parents were living the textbook New Money lifestyle during my childhood ... until they slipped into the No Money lifestyle just in time for my delicate pre-teen years. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Continued below.
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I was born a precious little half-Jew in Lenox Hill Hospital on the Upper East Side and sailed the five blocks home to our huge duplex apartment in a limo. Dad's idea. My parents were rich. They were rolling in it. I mean, I thought they were. They'd take a private jet to the Bahamas at a moment's notice, and they thought the high life was going to last forever. It didn't.
My dad owned a company called Lewis of London, a baby-furniture business that imported cribs and such from Italy. I don't remember why they named it "Lewis of London" but if they were looking for a fancy name that only New Money people would use in order to make something sound high-end and international, they knocked it out of the park. At the time, no one else was selling fine foreign baby furniture, so rich Manhattan parents sought out my father's store, where they could pick up the fanciest tiny infant prisons that money could buy.
I had some extravagant, rich-person things as a little kid. We moved out of the city to a nice suburb on Long Island when I was 5, where we would eat lobster once a week and smoked fish for Sunday breakfast. Or as we called it, Jewing-out hard!
On lobster nights, my mother would bring the live ones home from the grocery store and put them on the kitchen floor for my brother, sister, and me to play with. At the time, I thought it was just a fun thing we did before boiling the tasty crustaceans, but in retrospect, I realise that we were playing with our future food in a Little Mermaid-eating-Sebastian way that was very uncool. Couldn't they have just got us a pet goldfish? All the other kids were outside riding bikes and we were making our lobsters race each other like gladiators. Sick.
Either way, when I remember what it was like to grow up in a wealthy household, the food we ate stands out the most. Come to think of it, that's mostly what I remember about any event or moment in life — the food that was there.
A couple years ago, before I had "real" money, I asked film director Judd Apatow if it was fun being rich, and he explained to me that once you become rich you find out all the good things in life are free.
He said you can buy a house, good sushi, and CDs, but that's about it. Still, as someone who waited a lot of tables and ate off people's plates on the way back to the kitchen, fancy sushi sounded pretty good to me.
Anyway, Lewis of London cornered the market — until other stores started selling European baby furniture and my parents lost it all. Which happened, incidentally, during the onset of my father's multiple sclerosis. Cool timing, universe!!! I don't remember how it felt to lose everything, but I do remember men coming to take Dad's car when I was 10.
I watched him standing expressionless in the driveway as it was pulled away. My mother claims she didn't know what was happening financially, but if this were an episode of MTV's True Life: Squandering That Chedda they would say, "She blew his millions on furs and homes." And if it were a Lifetime movie, they would say, "She was a victim whose life changed drastically in a split second." I don't know which is true. Probably neither. All I know is that my mum stayed in the house denying reality like it was her job when those men came to take away the black Porsche convertible.
I didn't generally notice the loss, but I did notice a change in the quality of my birthday parties. That's probably where I felt the biggest shift in my family's financial situation. When I turned 9 and we still had money, my parents threw me a "farm party" at our beautiful home on Surrey Lane, a quiet street in Rockville Centre. Early that morning, a box with holes in it was placed in the garage. When I removed the lid, a gaggle of baby ducks looked up at me. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. I remember believing in my heart that I was the little girl in Charlotte's Web. I was so in love with those little creatures that I could have sat there and petted them all day, and died happy.
Since we could afford the whole kit and caboodle, real-life farmers carted real-life farm animals to our house in shifts throughout the day. Bring on the donkeys! We had a pony; we had goats; we had chickens. If you're a kid from Iowa and you're reading this, you're like, who cares? A couple of animals in your yard sounds like a Tuesday.
But trust me, if you're from New York and you have a cow in your driveway, you're rich — and the most popular kid in school for a year. All of my little friends dressed up in overalls and played in a pile of hay and went f***ing crazy. It's gross when you see it for what it really was: a bunch of well-off kids whose idea of a great time was to slum it like poor farm children. I've also been to a food-fight birthday party. Can you imagine starving kids in Syria watching us waste food like that? It makes me shudder.
Don't worry, the irony came back to bite me in the ass soon after.
Life got less and less comfortable for us after my parents lost all their money. We began moving into smaller and smaller homes until it felt like we were all sleeping in a pile — and not a fun pile like the monsters in Where The Wild Things Are. A sad, poor pile like the grandparents in Charlie And The Chocolate Factory. (Amy, do you ever reference adult books? No!)
By the time I was in college, my mum had moved us into a basement apartment, where my sister, Kim, who is four years younger than me, had the one bedroom and I had to share a bed with my mother. (Quick tip: do not try to ditch a cab when you are black-out drunk and then get in bed naked with your mother. The cab driver will follow you home and knock on your door, and then your mother will have to apologise to him and give him cash while you lie giggling and nude under the sheets, where you are experiencing the bed spins ... I heard from a friend.)
But to be honest, I never felt poor, even when we were. I always had enough money for lunch and to go on field trips with my class. I was always well provided for. We would go to the occasional Broadway show or take a road trip to somewhere with trees and a lake or pond, or a sizeable puddle when the going got really tough. We were living above our means, just not Real Housewives of New Jersey level. It was more like the staff at Lisa Vanderpump's restaurant. (Yes, I only speak in Bravo metaphors; thank God for Andy Cohen.)
It wasn't until college that I began to take note of the fact that I had to work a little harder than the average student to get by. I was living on my meal plan, stealing food from the student union, and scamming drinks off guys when necessary — which wasn't easy because in freshman year I looked like a blond Babadook. I got a job teaching group exercise classes at my college and those classes were my main source of legal income. (I sold a little weed and shoplifted from department stores too ... oops — shhh.) Anyway, I was the worst drug dealer ever. I would run out of baggies and have to use entire garbage bags for the smallest amount of weed. I'd give a gift along with it, like a baked potato or whatever I had lying around the apartment.
When I graduated college I was B to the R to the O to the K to the E. Broke broke. Vanilla Ice broke, before HGTV Ice. I made enough money waiting tables to pay rent and eat nothing but cheap dumplings every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And snack. And brunch. I lived in a closet-sized studio apartment with a Craigslist room-mate. One night a bunch of comics were going to get sushi and I couldn't go because I'd spent my last few dollars paying for my five minutes of stage time.
Sushi in New York costs more than a blood diamond, so it was out of the question for me. But one of the comics, Lorie S, kindly bought me a california roll. I was so grateful and felt really embarrassed that I needed her to get it for me.
But I worked really hard and, soon enough, instead of buying stage time at open mics and going home hungry, I started making a couple-hundred dollars a weekend doing stand-up. And then about four years ago, I started making a couple-thousand a weekend. The first very, very big cheque I got was for a performance where I was paid $800 for one hour. I ran around my apartment, screaming for joy.
When I made my first real chunk of change doing the Last Comic Standing tour, I took my sister to Europe. Instead of sharing a cot in a filthy youth hostel, we got to stay in real hotel rooms with private bathrooms and everything. They weren't fancy, but we felt like the Rockefellers. Or if you're a Millennial, the CEO of Roc-A-Fella Records.
But the thing about Old Money (Rockefellers) vs New Money (Roc-A-Fellas) is that both still have M-O-N-E-Y.
I don't care if the Old Money folks look down on me for being New Money. I will happily clink glasses with them sitting up front on a plane. What an amazing privilege it is to fly first class! I don't take that for granted. I still recall the first time I stepped foot on a private jet. The first time for anything having to do with money is the best. I was doing a show headlined by Louis CK, Sarah Silverman, and Aziz he-doesn't-need-a-last-name. The show was in Connecticut, so the trip home wasn't far, but when Louis asked if I wanted a lift I said, "F*** yeah!"
People with money feel guilty about having it in front of people who don't, and they don't want to say the words that make others hate them. He didn't say, "Amy, would you like to fly on a private jet I have paid for to travel the mere 20 minutes it takes to get home?"
No. He said, "Do you want a lift?" as if we were in an old movie and I was a distressed damsel waiting for a streetcar on a rainy night.
The year after my parents lost it all, my birthday party was much different than the barnyard fantasy experience I had during the rich years. The theme was the Lionel Richie song Dancing on the Ceiling. Dad put a light fixture on the rug in the middle of the living room and the seven kids in attendance danced around it as the song played, over and over again. Dad filmed it with his camera upside down, and then we all watched the recording and ate pizza.
I actually remember it being a great time. It was, and still is, a great song, and the kids didn't care. We didn't need a bouncy castle or someone dressed as Rainbow Brite to have a good time — give us some pizza and a disco ball, and there's a party. I didn't even realise we were out of money; I just thought my parents were confused about my level of affection for Lionel Richie.
Today, I'm just as happy as I was when I was waiting tables at a diner or collecting
unemployment after getting fired. I don't believe that money changes your level of happiness. But things do get easier, and I feel great in the moments when I can help someone. I still mostly stay home and order Chinese food or sushi. I still get drunk and binge-eat late at night. But now it's just on more expensive wine instead of the boxes of Carlo Rossi that got me through more than half of my life. I'm glad I struggled. I think I'd be an asshole if my money were anything other than the new kind.
Extracted from The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer (HarperCollins, $35).
- Canvas | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11700016&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/6859297c4d99afe92701fd98654e1de0af1e414cb8127f0d8aac9e7a931b7028.json |
[] | 2016-08-29T20:49:45 | null | 2016-08-29T18:20:47 | Apple confirmed Monday that it will have a press event on Sept. 7 -- at which it is expected to introduce a new iPhone and the next version of the Apple Watch. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fbusiness%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D3%26objectid%3D11701648%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/SCCZEN_AP160826051626_1024x768.jpg | en | null | New Apple iPhone tipped for next week | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | By Hayley Tsukayama
Apple confirmed Monday that it will have a press event on Sept. 7 -- at which it is expected to introduce a new iPhone and the next version of the Apple Watch.
While Apple never says what it's planning before it announces new products, this is the time of year for a new iPhone and there have been plenty of reports indicating what's expected for the next smartphone.
The main rumor is that the company is going to break with its normal upgrade rhythm this year. In the past, Apple's alternated between offering major updates for the iPhone and smaller, more incremental updates. According to that schedule, Apple should be offering a significant update to the iPhone this year, and call it the "iPhone 7."
But reports from analysts and other Apple watchers indicate that Apple's actually not going to offer that much of an overhaul to its phones, but will instead likely introduce two phones that look an awful lot like its current iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. A bigger change to the device is actually now expected next year, in 2017.
Apple is expected to give the guts of the phone its typical overhaul, with faster chips, a better camera and maybe a larger battery, according to multiple reports, including one from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
The larger version of the iPhone, which will probably be called the iPhone 7 Plus if Apple sticks with its conventions, may have two cameras on the back of the phone.
Despite not being a "major" upgrade on the scale of years past, Apple is expected to make at least one big change: many reports have said that Apple will do away with its headphone jack. Instead, reports have said, the company is expected to use the space now occupied by the headphone jack for a second speaker.
Headphones for the iPhone may instead work with the Lightning port on the bottom of the phone, which is currently only used for charging and data transfer.
That would make the standard headphones that users have had for years completely useless with a new iPhone. Since the rumor first broke, there's been lots of pushback from those who say it's not a consumer-friendly move. That includes Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, who told the Australian Financial Review last week that Apple shouldn't ditch the headphone jack unless it also improves the sound quality over Bluetooth wireless headphones.
If the reports are true, Apple is unlikely to get a sales bump on the scale that it normally does when releasing a overhauled iPhone.
Overall, Apple's iPhone sales in 2016 haven't been as strong as they were last year, and that's worried many investors who know that the majority of Apple's money comes from iPhone sales. If the reports are true, Apple is unlikely to get a sales bump on the scale that it normally does when releasing a overhauled iPhone. For example, those still using the iPhone 6 (or older) may find themselves unwilling to pay for more incremental updates, and may hold out for another year until the next model.
Then again, Apple is nothing if not surprising -- so hopeful phone buyers shouldn't go into mourning just yet.
- Washington Post | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11701648&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/832191bf90dfb019ba6ce037ba656a22a33821cda5d8f043ae3436f116743ae9.json |
[
"Kurt Bayer Is A Herald Reporter Based In Christchurch"
] | 2016-08-29T22:49:36 | null | 2016-08-29T21:59:31 | The remains of a New Zealand soldier killed in the First World War have been identified more than a century after his death. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11701728%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/HenryJohnInnesWalker_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Remains of First World War captain Henry John Innes Walker discovered in Flanders field | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | The remains of a New Zealand soldier killed in the First World War have been identified more than a century after his death.
Excavations of a Western Front battlefield have uncovered the remains, and remarkably well-preserved possessions, of Henry John Innes Walker.
The area - in the West Flanders Langemark - was the site of the Second Battle of Ypres.
After a gas attack on April 22, 1915, there was heavy fighting in the area.
Walker, an Aucklander who had joined the British Army and rose to become a captain with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment's 1st Battalion, was killed in action on April 25, 1915 - at around the time the Anzacs landed several hundred kilometres away at Gallipoli.
His remains have just been uncovered as part of a dig forming a TV series, In War Special: Among Flemish Fields, Belgian news outlet HLN reports.
He was one of 45 fallen soldiers found, it was reported.
Objects found with Walker's body including a medallion, whistle and a pair of binoculars.
Along with bone material analysis and the examination of historical sources, the possessions helped archaeologists to conclude that the remains could only belong to Walker.
Continued below.
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It is a rare discovery, 101 years after Walker's death.
Officials now say they will try to contact Walker's descendants and find a final resting place for him.
New Zealand military records say he was killed in action on April 25, 1915.
Walker attended King's College in Auckland where he now appears in the school's Roll of Honour.
He is also remembered at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial in Belgium and at Auckland War Memorial Museum's World War 1 Hall of Memories.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701728&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/eb2ebe9ee9c82a0a82c03b961f13563bba39609457d9efdc51b073bd7c71921f.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T18:50:19 | null | 2016-08-30T00:31:03 | • Barney Irvine is Principal Adviser, Infrastructure, at the New Zealand Automobile Association. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11701817%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/SCCZEN_A_C_NZH0553794066_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Barney Irvine: City's next mayor must not let down Auckland drivers again | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | • Barney Irvine is Principal Adviser, Infrastructure, at the New Zealand Automobile Association.
"It's the transport system, stupid." That twist on Bill Clinton's 1992 election slogan seems to be guiding the campaigns of all the main candidates in Auckland's upcoming mayoral election. And so it should be. Aucklanders have made it clear that, alongside housing, this is the issue facing the city.
But making broad promises at campaign time is the easy bit; once in office, delivering results that satisfy the public is much harder. Whoever wins will face a big deficit in public trust and confidence - Aucklanders have been let down on transport in the past and they won't cut the next leader much slack.
Since the last local body election we've regularly surveyed random samples of our nearly 500,000 Auckland AA Members on transport issues, and their feedback tells us a lot about public expectations, and what the next mayor will need to do to meet them.
Here are five keys to transport success:
1. Get runs on the board
Like all Aucklanders, AA Members are desperate to see action. The big, strategic projects will take time, so the immediate focus needs to go on smaller, technology-driven projects that can have an impact now. Increased investment in things like traffic light phasing, variable lane directions on arterials, and travel information systems is key to reducing congestion and would be quickly seen, understood, and liked by motorists.
2. Provide access to growth areas
Continued below.
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The ability of the transport system to cope with Auckland's growth is a big worry for our Auckland members. In particular, they see the council is well behind the play when it comes to providing transport infrastructure to the new housing projects cropping up all over the city. Whoever wins the mayoralty will need to present a clear vision of how people are going to get to and from these new suburbs, whether by car, public transport, walking or cycling. Projects that will have a big impact on access, like the northwestern busway, need to be brought forward.
3. Work with Wellington
For the past year the Auckland Council and the Government have been working together on a transport strategy for Auckland through the Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP). This turned the page on a long period of political bickering which had stalled progress and dented the confidence of our Auckland members in transport decision-makers. Collaboration must remain the name of the game, and ATAP must continue to succeed - the public won't tolerate a return to the bad old days.
4. Provide transport choices
Though 85 per cent of Auckland AA Members typically drive to work, they're keen to have public transport alternatives. But they don't just want to use public transport for the sake of it. Public transport services will need to compete directly with the car for speed and convenience before large numbers will change behaviour. That's why more park and ride investment is a no-brainer.
And public transport needs to appeal in its own right, without the squeeze being put on car use. There'll be limited public tolerance for projects that involve replacing busy car lanes with bus lanes.
5. Tread carefully on cost
By and large, Auckland AA Members are willing to consider paying more to improve the transport system. But they need to see that it'll make a real difference to congestion, and there are limits to what they'll be prepared to pay. Digging too deeply into people's pockets will turn many against the whole programme.
Our Members would prefer to use a mix of tools to bridge any funding gap. Existing options like rates and tolls on new roads should be considered, along with new tools like a regional fuel tax.
With transport decision-making, the stakes couldn't be higher. Get it right, and the political rewards are potentially huge; get it wrong, and it's a long road back. Auckland needs the next mayor to get it right.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701817&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/ae56a78a41ec56fb0f5156bc00fd3926f1efdbc286bbd6b55194db750618b308.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T02:49:32 | null | 2016-08-30T00:58:43 | A claw hammer and crowbar are no match for a hockey stick and table leg, when wielded by father and son duo Manmohan and Sukhjinder Pal Singh. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11701825%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/SCCZEN_HBT16378702_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Watch: Father and son fend off shop attackers | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Video will play in Play now Don't auto play
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A claw hammer and crowbar are no match for a hockey stick and table leg, when wielded by father and son duo Manmohan and Sukhjinder Pal Singh.
Security video of the failed attempt to rob the Te Awa Dairy on Friday shows the two would-be masked robbers stride into the Napier dairy at 5.41am. They sprint out 15 seconds later.
Father Manmohan, a 61-year-old farmer, reached for the table leg under the shop counter and struck the first blow as the first offender arrived at the counter.
The table leg narrowly missed and the robber responded with his hammer, jumping over the counter and returning blows.
The two men grappled behind the counter as his son kept the second assailant at bay with a hockey stick, occasionally landing a blow on his father's assailant.
The grappling pair knocked over the shop counter, blocking the exit of the second offender who retreated to the back of the shop to make his exit.
The first offender also exits, tumbling head first over the fallen counter but finds himself struck with his own crowbar, taken from him by the father.
He picks up a newspaper display stand and throws it at the pair and and the two make their escape.
Sukhjinder Pal told Hawke's Bay Today he was at the counter trying to fix a glitch with the till's computer when the masked pair entered.
Continued below.
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"My father thought they were going to attack me," he said.
He said his father said nothing, just reached for the table leg and started swinging.
Police had visited the store and warned them of a spate of attacks in the area, so they placed weapons of defence behind the counter.
He said human safety was the most important thing, and he had started to retreat, "but it happened so quick".
Neither were hurt but police believe the robber that took on his father likely was.
While he is pleased they escaped injury and the video may act as a deterrent to others he is not impressed with the thieves arming themselves.
"That is the first time that has happened. That is not a robbery, that is an attack. That is not good - normally they just run away.
"Everything is insured but no insurance for me. If I am lost I don't come back." | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701825&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/5c0a85153cfab63b5468449e72daa41d617d0a0f37af28a4ccae6ac7b8cd2824.json |
[
"Property Editor Of The Nz Herald"
] | 2016-08-30T00:49:40 | null | 2016-08-29T23:01:03 | A young Auckland local board representative has died suddenly, shocking fellow politicians who knew her. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11701759%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/SCCZEN_300816NZHSPLHIGGINS3_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Shock at death of young Auckland politician and real estate agent Sarah Higgins | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | A young Auckland local board representative has died suddenly, shocking fellow politicians who knew her.
Sarah Higgins, a real estate agent for Barfoot & Thompson and member of the Franklin Local Board in her 20s, died on the weekend.
Andy Baker, board chairman, said the death was an utter shock.
"She was the youngest member ever elected to this board and probably one of the youngest to be elected in the whole Franklin area over many decades," Baker said.
"It's left the local board absolutely devastated at her loss. This is a loss not only for the board but for the community. It's such a tragic waste of a wonderful young life with so much to offer. Our thoughts are with her friends and family," Baker said.
Higgins was on the board for a three-year term so was in her early 20s when she was elected, Baker said.
She was not standing again for the board in this October local body elections, he said, adding that her funeral was planned to be in Dargaville on Thursday although that was yet to be confirmed.
Joseph Bergin, Devonport Takapuna Local Board chairman, also paid tribute to her.
Continued below.
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"It's extraordinarily tragic to hear of the passing of a friend and colleague. Sarah Higgins was an absolute breath of fresh air for local government in Auckland and had the drive and focus to achieve so much more that lay ahead of her," Bergin said.
Higgins' profile onm the Barfoot & Thompson website said: "Combining the work ethic of her rural farm upbringing and with the skilled diplomacy required from a successful politician, Sarah is professional, hardworking and dedicated to achieving the very best results for her clients.
"Sarah made headlines in 2013 becoming New Zealand's youngest female politician. She continues to advocate for local communities with her seat on the Local Board and her involvement with local charity groups.
"Sarah is committed to making your next real estate transaction as smooth and stress free as possible by anticipating issues before they become problems and doing all the hard work behind the scenes," the profile said.
Bergin, who is 24, said people did not appreciate how difficult roles like his and Higgins' could be.
"A lot of people forget about how much stress there is," Bergin said, adding that he had helped her initially in a mentoring role.
Higgins' Facebook page has been updated, saying it is now 'remembering Sarah Higgins'.
Where to get help:
• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)
• Youthline: 0800 376 633
• Kidsline: 0800 543 754 (available 24/7)
• Whatsup: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm)
• Depression helpline: 0800 111 757 (available 24/7)
• Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
• Samaritans 0800 726 666
• If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701759&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/0f194d5db70271001c656dd9967d6dd6abf84d136ffabb3a4cd4e1a42b20ada8.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T00:49:35 | null | 2016-08-29T23:58:25 | A traffic island prematurely placed in the middle of a busy Lower Hutt road is drawing the ire of local motorists who say the feature is a hazard. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11701799%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/14151956_10154172366068961_573552669_o_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Traffic island 'hazard' angers Lower Hutt residents | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | A traffic island prematurely placed in the middle of a busy Lower Hutt road is drawing the ire of local motorists who say the feature is a hazard.
The island was part of a development in Parkway, Wainuiomata, but contractors have come under fire for putting it in before starting the rest of the project.
The island was forcing motorists to swerve out of their lane and into a cycle lane to avoid it, angry residents said.
"What can be done about removing this hazard from Parkway extension," one person posted in a local Facebook group on Sunday afternoon.
"The whole island is plonked in the middle of the lane, forcing drivers to drive in the cycle lane - which is illegal.
"In the minute or so I was stopped there, I saw several cars almost run over the island in an effort to avoid driving in the cycle lane."
Others agreed the island was dangerous, and comments from a Wainuiomata councillor confirmed the installation had been a bit of a mistake.
"All work is being undertaken by the developer. They submitted a roading plan to council which was approved," wrote councillor Campbell Barry.
"However, they have since been given a grilling for putting the island in first before any of the other stuff was completed. To put it simply, they made a stuff up."
Continued below.
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Barry said his team at the council had been in contact with the developers, instructing them to post better signage and more actively monitor the safety of the site.
"They have also been instructed to complete the rest of the work as soon as possible."
He posted a planning picture of the site to give context to motorists confused as to why the island was there at all.
"Once it is all completed, as you can see in the picture, it will make sense."
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701799&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/252d21de0b411d13cd779020e365ad5364ec86d4084320275c491a6f3cee7995.json |
[] | 2016-08-29T20:49:49 | null | 2016-08-29T18:36:49 | A New Jersey Transit police officer is being hailed as a hero for pulling a man from train tracks in northern New Jersey last week. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fworld%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D2%26objectid%3D11701650%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/train_rescue_ap_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Watch: Officer hailed a hero for pulling man from train tracks | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Video will play in Play now Don't auto play
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A New Jersey Transit police officer is being hailed as a hero for pulling a man from train tracks in northern New Jersey last week.
Authorities say Officer Victor Ortiz says he followed the man he saw exiting a train at Secaucus Junction as the man jumped onto the tracks.
Ortiz says the man kneeled down onto the tracks as a train was about half a mile away.
He grabbed the man who kept saying "I just want to die," and Ortiz eventually was able to pull him off the tracks just as the train was coming into the station.
NJ Transit officials say they couldn't be more proud of Ortiz and hope it reminds people what police officers do every day.
- Daily Telegraph UK | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11701650&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/97da99541a5d3d9253e5a7cf7e5077484215535828ab89a85148b62dd166263d.json |
[] | 2016-08-31T00:50:26 | null | 2016-08-30T23:47:26 | Byron Bay woman Sara Connor and her British boyfriend David Taylor have been brought to Kuta Beach in two separate small armoured personnel carriers, known as Rantis or tactical vehicles - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fworld%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D2%26objectid%3D11702203%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/IndonesiaMurder_Tear1_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Bali cop bashing: Sara Connor and David Taylor re-enact events | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | By News Corp Australia Network
Byron Bay woman Sara Connor and her British boyfriend David Taylor have been brought to Kuta Beach in two separate small armoured personnel carriers, known as Rantis or tactical vehicles.
There are a large number of police at the beach as they prepare to conduct a re-enactment of the night that Bali police officer Wayan Sudarsa was brutally bashed to death.
The couple, together for the first time since their detention 13 days ago, embraced at the gate to the beach as they were brought out for the re-enactment.
Connor rested her head on Taylor's shoulder and he kissed her forehead.
Connor and David are wearing orange outfits, with the Indonesian word for suspect on the back.
Around their necks they are wearing placards with their own names.
The role of murdered police officer is being played by a fellow officer.
The reconstruction of the crime is a normal part of police investigation in Indonesia.
Connor and Taylor will be instructed to show what happened on the night their paths crossed fatally with the traffic policeman.
Continued below.
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Denpasar Police general crime unit chief, Reinhard Habonaran Nainggolan, said the re-enactment would be conducted in three locations - the beach, the Kubu Kauh Beach Inn where the couple stayed on the night and at Jimbaran, where the couple is alleged to have burned their bloody clothes and stayed in the days after the murder.
Mr Nainggolan said witnesses had also been summoned to attend.
It comes as a fund set up to raise money for 45-year-old Connor and her family in the wake of her detention in Bali has now requested that all donations go to a similar fund set up for the widow of the murdered police officer.
The Sara Fund, set up by friends and family in Byron Bay, had been raising money to pay for Connor's family and two young sons, aged nine and 11, but late last week the amount of money it raised was removed from the web page.
And now any donations are directed to the fund in Bali for the police officer.
"Sara thanks you for your support but requests that any donations in the future be directed to the fund established by the widow of Wayan Sudarsa ... a fund supported by Sara and her family," the website now says.
A group of UK expats in Bali and a charity called Soleman set up a fund last week to raise money for Sudarsa's family and to assist with his children's education and university fees.
Last Friday The Sara Fund had raised $7182 before the tally was removed from the site. At the same time the fund for Sudarsa's family was $7341.
Late yesterday the Sudarsa family fund had raised more than $10,000.
Connor's former husband, Anthony "Twig" Connor, also from Byron Bay, has travelled to Bali to visit his estranged wife this week.
On Monday Mr Connor was allowed to visit for only 15 minutes, during which the couple wept and embraced in what her lawyers said was an emotional meeting.
Denpasar police chief, Hadi Purnomo, said he is optimistic that everything about the alleged crime would be revealed when the couple is brought to the scene today.
Some differences have emerged in the versions given to police by Connor and Taylor.
Taylor was interrogated again on Monday night for four hours with police attempting to drill down on the motive for allegedly killing the police officer.
Mr Purnomo said police hoped to complete the brief of evidence or dossier against the couple as soon as possible. Police were now only waiting on the result of the re-enactment and for the results of forensic tests on blood found in the couple's hotel room, at the scene and in Taylor's hair.
Drug tests conducted on the couple after their arrest were also not complete.
Mr Purnomo said the beach area where the officer was killed would be closed off for the re-enactment but the road would remain open and police will be deployed for security.
Police allege that a fight broke out between Taylor and the police officer after an accusation that the officer had stolen Connor's bag on the beach. The officer, feeling offended when Taylor accused him of being a fake officer and trying to 'frisk" him, is said to have pushed Taylor and the pair started fighting.
Connor denies any role in the murder, saying she tried to separate her boyfriend and the police officer after the fight broke out.
Officer Sudarsa was brutally and repeatedly bashed to death with a beer bottle, his own binoculars and a mobile phone in the early hours of August 17. Connor's handbag, NSW driver's licence and ATM card were found at the scene.
Two days later Connor and Taylor were detained as they attempted to go to the Australian Consulate.
They have been named as suspects on murder, assault and beating charges but are not charged. The murder charge carries a maximum 15 years in jail.
- news.com.au | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11702203&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/8c4ca04333121f63cdeb73b5143aeedec99ddb818aacedcf89784bfab3ce4ca1.json |
[] | 2016-08-28T22:49:00 | null | 2016-08-27T08:08:43 | A man allegedly punched a woman in the face several times after wrestling her baby out of its stroller on Timaru's main street early on Saturday afternoon. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11701109%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/SCCZEN_A_HBT134299-06_1024x765.jpg | en | null | Mother's terror: 'Don't take my baby' | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | A man allegedly punched a woman in the face several times after wrestling her baby out of its stroller on Timaru's main street early on Saturday afternoon.
The woman was heard yelling "don't take my baby" as the man tried to snatch the baby on Stafford St at about 1pm, Fairfax reported.
The man allegedly punched the woman and an onlooker in the face during the ordeal. He gave the woman the baby back as a crowd of people came to her aid, Fairfax reported.
Sergeant Grant Lord told the New Zealand Herald a 31-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the alleged assault.
He will appear in court facing two assault charges.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701109&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/de2561a0efd6d3d258fcf49a0618d331eb17ac05d99a028802299c378b5babe3.json |
[
"Lane Nichols Is A Senior Nz Herald Reporter"
] | 2016-08-26T18:50:37 | null | 2016-08-26T03:57:48 | A real estate agent faces criminal charges and could be jailed for up to seven years over two property transactions in which investigators say he personally benefited by more than - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fbusiness%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D3%26objectid%3D11700867%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/SCCZEN_A_190416SPLHUGHES_1024x762.jpg | en | null | Real estate agent faces criminal charge and up to seven years in jail after REAA probe | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | A real estate agent faces criminal charges and could be jailed for up to seven years over two property transactions in which investigators say he personally benefited by more than $850,000.
Charges laid against former Barfoot & Thompson agent Aaron Hughes this week allege he obtained a valuation showing a Mt Wellington property he was selling was worth at least $1.2 million. He purchased it himself 11 days later through his company Az-Iz Rentals in a private sale for $530,000.
It is alleged the valuation was not disclosed to the elderly sellers Jack and Walter Tata and he on-sold the house within months with little or no improvement work for a $725,000 profit.
Hughes was investigated by the Real Estate Agents Authority after the transaction was revealed by the Weekend Herald in April and now faces one charge of causing loss by deception.
The charge has been laid under the Crimes Act, meaning the matter will be heard before the District Court. Hughes faces up to seven years in jail if convicted.
Another charge alleges that Hughes, while acting as a real estate agent, obtained a Mangere Bridge property at 191 Wallace Rd by deception between October last year and January this year.
Charge documents say that on or about August 13 last year, Hughes obtained a valuation for the property showing it was worth at least $720,000 and that this was not disclosed to the vendor.
Hughes' company Kora Rentals Ltd then purchased the property on October 12 for $590,000 and still owns it, according to QV records.
Continued below.
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The final charge is for carrying out real estate work without a licence. It is alleged that Hughes marketed three properties earlier this year through Trade Me after he had voluntarily suspended his licence when the Mt Wellington sale was revealed by the Weekend Herald.
Hughes was immediately sacked by Barfoot & Thompson when that story broke and referred for investigation to the REAA.
He is due to make his first appearance in court next month and did not respond to requests for comment yesterday.
Jack Tata told the Weekend Herald he thought he was doing Hughes a favour when he sold his old family home privately to Hughes for $530,000.
He was shocked to learn the agent may have known full well what the property was really worth.
"I was lost for bloody words. You think you're doing a person a favour and then he goes and shits all over you."
The Tatas are now preparing a civil claim against Hughes.
Their lawyer Peter Jefferies said he was awaiting documents from the REAA that would form the basis of a claim for deception or misrepresentation.
"It appears that our initial suspicions may in fact be confirmed as a result of these charges. If the charges are proven or upheld, in my view they will form the basis for a potential claim."
Barfoot director Peter Thompson declined to comment as the matter was now before the courts. But he confirmed both the Mt Wellington and Mangere sales were conducted privately and without the company's knowledge.The Trade Me listings had occurred after the company dismissed Hughes.
REAA chief executive Kevin Lampen-Smith said the agency's role was to protect consumers and promote professional standards so agents who broke the rules were held to account.
"The buying and selling of property is a big deal, both financially and emotionally, and New Zealand's consumers should be able to trust that the person they are dealing with is licensed, will treat them fairly and that they are playing by the rules."
He urged consumers to protect themselves by ensuring they dealt with a licensed agent and checking an agent's disciplinary history on the REAA's public register.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11700867&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/c7b6fe7486bb36e2a91da9f84d7ee36340c4f9666fb3102d565140029e4e4444.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T00:49:54 | null | 2016-08-29T23:11:33 | Thousands of people took part in the Clean For The Queen campaign to celebrate Her Majesty's 90th birthday earlier this year. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Flifestyle%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D6%26objectid%3D11701765%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/GettyImages-486967915_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Buckingham Palace offers a room to one lucky applicant | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Thousands of people took part in the Clean For The Queen campaign to celebrate Her Majesty's 90th birthday earlier this year.
But one jobseeker is about to be regularly scrubbing, polishing and dusting for Her Majesty on a regular basis - with the perk of being able to live in the most famous house in Britain: Buckingham Palace.
The Queen is advertising for a new housekeeping assistant to work in her London residence.
The new assistant will be expected to "clean and care for interiors and items from carpets and furniture to historic vases and irreplaceable paintings."
The advertisement posted on the royal household website asks for someone who "takes care and pride in their work" as well as having "excellent communication skills" and "good time management skills".
And it warns: "This is no standard housekeeping role. You'll work, and live, in stunning historic settings, ensuring that they're presented to their best for colleagues, guests and, of course, the royal family."
However, it makes no mention of salary, instead using the usual corporate term of "competitive".
In 2014, a similar position was advertised with a rather low salary of £14,000 (ND$25,000) per annum.
However, many would argue that given all living and food expenses are included within the job, this salary is very reasonable.
The full-time role includes a pension scheme and 33 days a year holiday.
More than 800 staff members currently work at Buckingham Palace, with many living-in.
- Daily Mail | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11701765&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/0b682f60fbf5b31fb332f9974f742ee96c299fb7082763cb04101703bdf4168b.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:02:34 | null | 2016-08-26T08:45:21 | Weather chaos has struck Auckland, with winds gusts reaching hurricane force in some areas. High winds have downed power lines causing major outages, trees have hit houses and blocked - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11700961%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/20160826-081518-3551IMG_20160826_200645_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Thousands of homes without power as 'hurricane force' winds hit | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Weather chaos has struck Auckland, with winds gusts reaching hurricane force in some areas.
High winds have downed power lines causing major outages, trees have hit houses and blocked roads, and an unruly trampoline has flown from one backyard to another.
Gales are currently gusting at between 90 and 120km/h across parts of the region, according to WeatherWatch.
And in Manukau Heads, winds have been recorded at 140km/h and above.
Asquith Rd in Mt Albert, Miller St in Pt Chevalier, and Royal Rd in Massey are all closed due to power lines being down, a fire service spokesman says. Power is also out on Phillip Ave and Shetland St in Glen Eden.
On the North Shore, a roof is lifting from a house in Manurere Ave, Takapuna and a large gum tree has crashed on a house in Hanlon Crescent, Narrow Neck. The road has now been closed and neighbours say they had been warning the council about the tree's shallow roots "for years."
Meanwhile in Henderson, a trampoline described by fire crews as "unruly" was lifted from a backyard on Larnoch Rd, and deposited atop a garage three doors down.
Roofing iron is reportedly flapping from many other buildings across the city, and in Huntly, a garden shed has been blown of its foundations and into a neighbouring property.
In Wellsford, 1000 homes remain without electricity and power is unlikely to be restored until tomorrow, according to Vector.
Continued below.
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About the same number of homes are without power tonight in Titirangi, but it is hoped they will be restored by 11.30pm.
In Auckland's CBD, Daniel Alexander said the high winds were causing chaos with road works signs.
"A lot of construction going on and signs have been blowing over, [so] we have tipped over signs on Quay St for pedestrian safety," he said.
Weather is lashing boats at their moorings in the Waitemata Harbour, and a yacht has been spotted caught up in overhanging pohutukawa trees in Herne Bay.
A fallen tree is blocking part of State Highway 1, between Puhoi and Mahurangi West Rd, with traffic down to one lane, the New Zealand Transport Agency reported.
The road is congested and motorists are warned to expect delays.
NZTA also warned that motorcyclists and high-sided vehicles should take extra care on the Auckland Harbour Bridge tonight
The winds are expected to last until 3am, according to WeatherWatch.
MetService issued a severe weather watch at 8.30pm, for much of the North Island.
A low pressure system is expected to move across the centre of the island overnight, bringing with it a period of westerly gales.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11700961&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/c153b598dd80f5b27b8bf96fd8c603013ca5687d92b5650e80239d7174f24fa7.json |
[
"Simon Plumb Is A Journalist For The Herald On Sunday"
] | 2016-08-27T18:48:26 | null | 2016-08-26T02:38:23 | Kim Dotcom is back in court on Monday for the next round of his fight to avoid extradition to the United States - with his lawyer vowing the internet tycoon will exhaust every legal - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11700812%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/SCCZEN_A_231215NZHNRDOTCOM3_1024x761.jpg | en | null | Dotcom ready to fight on eve of extradition appeal | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Kim Dotcom is back in court on Monday for the next round of his fight to avoid extradition to the United States - with his lawyer vowing the internet tycoon will exhaust every legal avenue to remain in New Zealand.
Dotcom and his co-accused, Mathias Ortmann, Bram van der Kolk and Finn Batato, were deemed eligible for extradition to the US to face copyright charges by Judge Nevin Dawson just before Christmas. They appealed the ruling immediately.
The best part of a year later, the hearing has rolled around - with the world expected to tune in for the next instalment in a saga which has been allocated eight weeks before the High Court at Auckland.
Dotcom's lawyer, Ira Rothken, jetted to New Zealand on Thursday afternoon. He told the Herald on Sunday his client is in good spirits and ready to continue the fight over the next few weeks - and for and as long as it takes beyond that.
"Kim is excellent, under what are typically stressful circumstances for a defendant - particularly a defendant in the largest criminal copyright case in history," Rothken said. "He is doing what he can to persist in his defence and also continue to be a great father and to be an entrepreneur - under circumstances where many other folks would go into a hole.
"We believe that the law is heavily on the side of Kim Dotcom and the others and we look forward to the court listening to the different arguments and making a ruling. We believe if we have a fair hearing and the court has the opportunity to hear all of the legal arguments and analyse them, they will rule in favour of Kim and the others."
The group was charged by the US Government in 2012 of conspiracy to operate websites used to illegally distribute copyrighted material via Dotcom's Megaupload website. They all maintain they are innocent.
If Dotcom does overturn December's District Court verdict and wipes out the decision to make him eligible for extradition to the US, it was expected the Crown would launch an appeal of its own.
Continued below.
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If Dotcom fails, the lengthy legal scrap - and Dotcom's ability to remain in New Zealand - will probably still be years from reaching a conclusion, with the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court still options for Dotcom's defence.
"[If he loses] It will mean that he will have to go ahead and take his case to the New Zealand Court of Appeal and argue it there," Rothken said.
"Kim's a fighter. These issues are important not only for his well-being but society and the health of the internet and he's going to continue defending what is right here, what is just. Even if it means that he has to go to New Zealand's Supreme Court."
The defence case is expected to hinge heavily on whether an internet service provider can be held criminally responsible for the actions of its users.
"In addition, in New Zealand there is no criminal copyright infringement that would be applicable to the allegations in this case," Rothken said.
"This is a hearing that is not only important for Kim Dotcom but for all New Zealanders, and for that matter, everyone who has a stake in the internet globally."
Dotcom is also trying to have the court sessions streamed live on the internet.
The story dates back to 2012 and a raid on the Coatesville mansion Dotcom was living in at the time.
United States authorities had charged Dotcom and others with particular offences, including money laundering and criminal breach of copyright. Through New Zealand police, US authorities sought and obtained warrants to search for and seize material, including computers, relevant to the alleged offending.
Dotcom and his co-accused appealed the legality of the raid. In 2014 the Supreme Court ruled it was done legally.
In an eventful period since, Dotcom has revealed plans to relaunch his Megaupload file-sharing website in January next year - after the US Government took it down over piracy claims.
Despite hefty legal bills, Dotcom was still able to produce a music album in 2014's called Good Times. The album featured a song called Good Life - which Dotcom made a lavish music video for, the cost of which he estimated at $24 million.
Dotcom also had a fling with politics and founded the Internet Party which contested the 2014 general election in a failed alliance with the Mana Movement.
- Herald on Sunday | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11700812&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/d50b1a45a9a3b66614a1406dba6bf82f674ef75af049ab1edc99262044a1437e.json |
[] | 2016-08-27T04:47:19 | null | 2016-08-27T01:26:42 | Herald rugby experts Gregor Paul and Patrick McKendry answer three key questions ahead of tonight's Bledisloe Cup test in Wellington. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fsport%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D4%26objectid%3D11701061%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/Allblacks8_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Three key questions: Can we expect a close game? | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Video will play in Play now Don't auto play
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Herald rugby experts Gregor Paul and Patrick McKendry answer three key questions ahead of tonight's Bledisloe Cup test in Wellington.
The Wallabies have copped a fair amount of criticism this week after last week's result. Do you expect it to be a closer game in Wellington than it was in Sydney?
Gregor Paul: The Wallabies should certainly play with more urgency and accuracy and be more proactive about things. They are set up - with two No 10s - to kick more. If the weather holds, might see a tight first half with the All Blacks coasting away in the final 15 minutes to maybe winning by 12-15 points.
Patrick McKendry: Yes, and because of familiarity as much as anything. The Wallabies will know exactly what they are up against now and should have prepared accordingly. Their attitude at least should be better and they will have worked on specific ways to combat the All Blacks' attack, in particular. Look for them to attempt to slow the All Blacks' ball at the breakdown and improve their line-speed on defence.
Do you expect fans to boo Quade Cooper? Is it time to move on or is it a bit of harmless fun?
Gregor Paul: Not really interested in whether anyone boos or cheers for Quade. People can do what they like, not really our place to tell New Zealanders how they should feel about Cooper.
Patrick McKendry: Hard to say - there might be some early booing, and yes it's definitely time everyone moved on.
The All Blacks were pretty impressive last week but talk about constant improvement. What areas could they do better?
Gregor Paul: They were good, but they also turned the ball over 22 times. That's quite a lot so they will want to protect the ball better. They also lost a bit of their clinical edge in the second half - they will want to retain that for longer.
Patrick McKendry: They have to start again from scratch so that means they must look to improve every aspect of their game. Ball retention is one thing in particular they might have done better in Sydney, but that's probably being a bit picky. | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11701061&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/f8ed72125bacc4d7d0323be44d5465d7a93fd44cef81a61bb2108d04232e5ba1.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T18:50:42 | null | 2016-08-26T10:00:53 | Disney-themed burkinis are making a splash in New Zealand, spurred by a woman's desire to help Muslim girls and women lead more active lives. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11700983%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/c38cc21d2baccbbd47a8248c74f0a671d7ff6700_1024x761.jpg | en | null | Kiwi kids making happy splash in burkinis | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Disney-themed burkinis are making a splash in New Zealand, spurred by a woman's desire to help Muslim girls and women lead more active lives.
Merissa Santoso has lived here for about five years. A keen swimmer, she sought to buy a burkini - modest women's swimwear covering the head and body - to wear in public.
However, she found they were not available in New Zealand.
"I had a problem - I like to go swimming, but I can't. There was nothing available for me, so I thought other people might have the same problem."
She said she wanted to encourage Muslim women to to exercise and not be afraid of going to a public swimming pool.
"I [saw] there was a need for this burkini thing because nobody was selling it before."
Santoso, who lives in South Auckland, started importing burkinis and opened her online store, Chador Couture: NZ Islamic Boutique.
As well as offering different coloured burkinis, the shop has a range of abayas, or cloak-like dresses, scarves and kaftans which have been popular with non-Muslims.
Her burkinis for young girls come in brightly-coloured three-piece sets: A top, pants and mini hijab head cover.
"We've got them in Frozen, Minnie Mouse, Cinderella and all these princess [prints]," she said. "The kids, they like it. They want to be like their mum. And they like it because it has all this Disney stuff on it. People like their little children to wear it as well, so that they get used to it.
"It is optional. But it's obligatory when ... say a girl has her period, then from that point you have to cover yourself."
Continued below.
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Their most popular product was the burkini range for teenagers and women. Santoso said the girls' burkinis were becoming increasingly popular as more people found out about them.
The garment was invented by Australian-Lebanese woman Aheda Zanetti in 2004, after trying to come up with suitable sportswear for her young niece.
Zanetti has since popularised the burkini - a combination of the words burqa, the garment worn by Muslim women, and bikini.
Although many people see it as being just for Muslim women, burkinis have been popular with body-conscious women, those wanting more modest swimwear or to protect their skin from the sun.
In the past week, there has been controversy surrounding the swimwear after several French cities banned them at beaches, citing threats to public order.
Santoso said the bans were a shame, given the reason they were created in the first place - to give women the freedom to live normally.
One of her customers and now friend, Sumaya Syed, said she had bought burkinis for her young daughters Sidra, 2, and Mehreen, 3, who loved being able to swim together with mum.
"We cover up most of the time for religious reasons. I feel that teaching them this at this age, they grow up and know that this is how we dress."
This year's Rio Olympics saw a number of athletes covered up during competition.
US fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad became the first American athlete to compete in a hijab.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11700983&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/75ac1f0e39046dcb1584cd4c9fe2025384de9291f14746ea9af965ead0333d6c.json |
[
"Chris Rattue Is A Sports Columnist For The New Zealand Herald."
] | 2016-08-28T02:48:15 | null | 2016-08-28T02:07:53 | Stop whining Michael Cheika, and get on with a proper game plan. At the moment, you are coming across like a fool. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fsport%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D4%26objectid%3D11701212%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/GettyImages-596243904_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Chris Rattue: Stop whining Michael Cheika, you look like a fool | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Video will play in Play now Don't auto play
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Stop whining Michael Cheika, and get on with a proper game plan. At the moment, you are coming across like a fool.
Wallaby coach Cheika can moan all he likes. He might even have a very minor point or two. But he's barking up the wrong tree, and barking mad if he thinks he's on a productive track.
Yes, maybe at a pinch it's difficult to work out why Owen Franks - who had a magnificent test in Wellington - won't at least face a hearing for raking his hand across the face of Kane Douglas.
But there was also Cheika's claim that the All Black coach Steve Hansen had a rogue meeting with referee Romain Poite - the All Blacks don't bother meeting the referees anymore according to Hansen.
And then Cheika dug deep into his bag of sad tricks, claiming that his poor captain Stephen Moore gets treated in an offhand way by referees. Oh dear. Pass the tissues.
Cheika launched a load of red herrings into the gulf between the two sides, and looked out of his depth in the process. It made two horrible defeats even more cringe-inducing.
Watching an ineffective forward like Scott Fardy - who isn't good enough to lace the boots of the silent destroyer Jerome Kaino on this showing - yapping away is embarrassing. Less talk, more action Australia.
Cheika's gripes have got nothing to do with why his team is getting smashed. His players aren't good enough and his coaching sucks if the lineouts are anything to go by. Some selections look like desperate rolls of the dice. His words are hot air, a smoke screen.
The Wallabies are getting belted because, individually, they aren't good enough. It's that simple. Yes, Australia made the World Cup final last year. But they got smashed in that too.
Continued below.
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The only player who might make a combined All Blacks-Wallabies starting lineup is Israel Folau, a league product. Even the warhorse Moore would dip out - he's in horrible form to the point that Cheika is surely faced with deciding whether to drop his captain and spin the Wallaby leadership roundabout again.
Some of the Aussies would struggle to get much time in New Zealand Super Rugby teams.
The Aussies have been rubbish, and it is sad to see. New Zealand likes to win, loves to win, but the Bledisloe Cup contest is losing its lustre. The first test was exhilarating, but watching a virtual replay and the whole inevitability of it all became tedious given the All Blacks' dominance over many, many seasons.
Australia didn't create one decent try scoring chance in the second test until it was far too late. Even then, they blew it.
Their forwards are lazy and lack aggression. Skills wise they are streets behind. Will Skelton should be a dominant forward in world rugby by now, but the giant is apparently only good for a fourth quarter trot.
Recalled No. 10 Quade Cooper belongs to a bygone era and went AWOL for long periods. The long line of scintillating and often history making Australian backs has come to a shuddering halt.
Cheika might be talking some sense if his team was competitive. Go away Cheika, and make more noise in your own backyard.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11701212&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/f702e429e5125c52f89ce259c227b22dd0c8b58bb168c29e28b2801a040a1c2a.json |
[] | 2016-08-27T08:47:25 | null | 2016-08-17T23:38:01 | All the action from day one of the second test between the Black Caps and South Africa - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fsport%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D4%26objectid%3D11696391%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/160819NZvSA_24_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Live: Black Caps v South Africa, second test | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | All the action from day one of the second test between the Black Caps and South Africa
The two teams head to Centurion after the first test in Durban was abandoned due to a wet outfield. That means it's effectively a one-test series.
Match centre with scorecard, wagon wheel and Manhattan/Worm
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11696391&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-17T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/e37571cb4a12e5a8db68619c102b2bb23c8d25672399e1693942371e33279775.json |
[
"Chris Rattue Is A Sports Columnist For The New Zealand Herald."
] | 2016-08-27T22:47:53 | null | 2016-08-27T21:37:59 | Chris Rattue runs the rule over the standout players in the All Blacks' 29-9 win over the Wallabies in Wellington last night. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fsport%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D4%26objectid%3D11701155%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/DaneColes1_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Player Ratings: Dynamic Dane Coles leads the way | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Chris Rattue is a sports columnist for the New Zealand Herald.
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Chris Rattue runs the rule over the standout players in the All Blacks' 29-9 win over the Wallabies in Wellington last night.
Read more:
All Blacks outclass Australia to keep Bledisloe
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika takes swipe at referee
Gregor Paul: Wallabies need to clean up their act to get referee's respect
All Blacks
Ben Smith 8
A tip top fullback who is alienated on the wing. Back to near his best.
Israel Dagg 7
Not a classic wing but fine high takes - one led to Savea try.
Gained bench versatility marks for when the real wings are fit.
Malakai Fekitoa 7
Growing confidence, especially in the way he chased the game.
Anton Lienert-Brown 7
Excellent debut. A couple of things went wrong but sharp passing, and scrapped for every metre.
Julian Savea 6
One nice finish when given an overlap the highlight. Moderate otherwise.
Continued below.
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Beauden Barrett 8
A trade mark scoot set up a try, long pass to set up another. Knew when to hold 'em and fold 'em.
Aaron Smith 8
He's a precise kicking and passing machine. One jinking run to get All Blacks on front foot.
Kieran Read 7
Not his finest work - more workmanlike compared to his usual amazing standards.
Sam Cane 7
Muscled over for a try and complemented what was going on around him.
Jerome Kaino 9
A man made for tests. Crunching runs, loads of strong tackles. A stunning late offload to Faumuina. Classy. Scary.
Sam Whitelock 8
Two lineouts steals and big early tackles significant in ensuring the Aussies were smashed again.
Brodie Retallick 8
As with Whitelock, not a lot of ball running. But a powerhouse elsewhere and sweet hands on short passes.
Owen Franks 9
Ignoring the scrum shambles..his transformation into a gap-running, ball playing prop belongs is almost supernatural. Athletic tackles. Had a blast, set up a try. (Eye-gouge decision pending of course)
Dane Coles 9
Wow. Discipline not great but everything else was. Fab runs, lineouts perfect. And his game has personality.
Joe Moody 6
Low tackles his forte. Crockett might wonder why he didn't get a start though.
RESERVES
James Parsons (Coles, 70m) 4
Dropped a sharp pass. Token test with Aussies already beat.
Wyatt Crockett (Moody, 52m) 6
Quite busy, and one terrific fast transfer.
Charlie Faumuina (Franks, 52m) 5
A couple of runs.
Liam Squire (Retallick, 70m) 6
Once again, looked the part by finding game quickly and muscling the ball forward.
Ardie Savea (Cane, 73m) 6
Nothing with the ball, but tackled and put Phipps off try.
TJ Perenara (A. Smith, 66m) 6
A good busy burst against beaten team.
Aaron Cruden (Savea, 66m) 5
Struggled to make a mark in revolving pivot system.
Seta Tamanivalu (Lienert-Brown, 76m) 6
As with test debut, showed he likes to spot tackle.
Wallabies
Israel Folau 7
Great in the air, but the attacking Folau the Wallabies needed appeared far too late.
Adam Ashley-Cooper 3
Injured early in clumsy tackle, his only contribution.
Samu Kerevi 5
Horrible kick started the rot. Slip contributed to Dagg try. Better than Kuridrani? Probably not.
Bernard Foley 5
Kicking misfires. An undersized honest toiler at 12.
Dane Haylett-Petty 6
Tried to get involved but the converted fullback looks limited as a test wing.
Quade Cooper 4
Brought in to spark something and he didn't until it was far too late. Low involvement.
Will Genia 7
Certainly among Australia's best. Ran like the Genia of old at times.
David Pocock 6
Had an okay game, but Australia desperately need a power ball runner at No. 8.
Michael Hooper 7
Upped his game from last week. Brave effort from the little man.
Scott Fardy 4
It's not a speech contest. Looked speechless when hooked because of Coleman's yellow card.
Adam Coleman 6
Costly binning for a late hit. But did try to put up a fight and got around in defence.
Kane Douglas 5
A big bloke who did not make a big impact.
Sekope Kepu 5
Major disappointment in the two tests so far. Not a great advert for European rugby.
Stephen Moore 4
Good turnover start but...another lineout shocker. Part of scrum shambles. Bloodied and bowed.
Scott Sio 5
In constant scrum dialogue with Franks. Hard to spot otherwise.
Reserves
Tatafu Polota-Nau (Moore, 63m) 6
Added a bit of grunt. In messy tag team with bloodied captain.
James Slipper (Sio, 52m) 6
Busy enough without high impact.
Allan Ala'alatoa (Kepu, 52m) 5
Should see many better days.
Dean Mumm (Fardy, 38m) 6
Immediately won two lineouts which is not to be sniffed at in this team.
Will Skelton (Coleman, 63m) 6
If the monster could dig deep, Aussie would be on to something. A few runs.
Nick Phipps (Genia, 68m) 5
Bombed a try.
Tevita Kuridrani (Kerevi, 68m) 4
Nothing doing.
Reece Hodge (Ashley-Cooper, 16m) 5
Two huge goal kicks, and one counted. Otherwise, not obvious test class. | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11701155&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/a4301d562ce3de0a7292b594485d32a60bf16d6c466650bea401a5e90fb36c84.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T20:47:03 | null | 2016-08-26T09:38:17 | A new book by Eric Murray and Hamish Bond lifts the lid on a unique partnership that has built a legendary domination of world rowing. In this exclusive extract, written immediately - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fsport%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D4%26objectid%3D11700978%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/1358de86ff0a3ef18b8173f4fe492be333bd86b4_1024x761.jpg | en | null | Eric Murray and Hamish Bond: 'Somewhere in the middle the magic happened' | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | A new book by Eric Murray and Hamish Bond lifts the lid on a unique partnership that has built a legendary domination of world rowing. In this exclusive extract, written immediately after the Rio gold medal race, Murray opens up on the Olympics final and why their chalk and cheese relationship works.
There were just 10 days to go until the heats of the men's pair at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and I was sitting on the side of the road, a few kilometres from our training base in Lucerne, covered in blood, wondering what part of me was broken.
Earlier that day we had rowed one of the toughest training sessions of our life, racing the New Zealand double sculls crew of Robbie Manson and Chris Harris into a stiff headwind down the Lucerne course. It was our final session before heading to Brazil, and once we were off the water our boats were packed away, ready for shipping. Hamish and I had decided to keep our road bikes with us, although we were under strict instructions not to do any more training until we hit the Olympic course at Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas in Rio.
So much for that idea. With our bodies stiff after the last session, we decided to loosen up with one last ride. We had two full days of travel ahead, during which there would be no time for any form of exercise. That would be, in Hamish's word, "sub-optimal". A casual pedal around the picturesque Swiss countryside couldn't do us any harm, surely. We both thought it was a way to stay ahead of our programme and the opposition.
It had been that sort of season for us, one in which we sought every possible advantage. Hamish had become obsessed with the set-up of the boat, making minute adjustments to the rigging in the search for every last scintilla of speed. Noel Donaldson and I would roll our eyes at every new measurement, but Hamish's theory was always the same: if it makes the boat feel better and makes it easier to work harder, then it couldn't hurt. We had to accept his rationale, and his hunches were invariably right.
It wasn't just the rigging of the boat that had concerned him, it was the boat itself. We had ordered a brand new shell from Empacher for the European season, but as soon as we had rowed our first session in it in Sursee, ahead of the Lucerne World Cup in May, we knew something wasn't quite right. Hamish had immediately felt his back tighten up, and every stroke seemed to require a massive effort. It wasn't that there was anything wrong with the boat, it just didn't feel like our boat.
We persisted for the rest of the week, trying to familiarise ourselves with the particular idiosyncrasies of the new shell, but we just couldn't seem to find a rhythm. Instead, Hamish's back became steadily worse, to the point where he didn't know whether he would be able to race in our first world cup of the season. He had already spent the first two months of the new season out of the boat with a back problem caused, in true Hamish fashion, by training the house down before Christmas. That had meant a slow return to training together in the pair. A part of us didn't mind the time to ourselves, but we knew we would have to catch up.
Continued below.
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Unfortunately, once Hamish was fit to row and we had come back together, there had been no gradual easing back into work. We were told we would be racing the Cambridge Town Cup at Lake Karapiro in January, which doubled as a selection regatta for the national trials. There we would be up against the best of the lightweight pairs, which had been formed from the national lightweight four that had qualified for Rio and included Hamish's brother Alistair - and they were absolutely flying in training. We had already raced them over 500m pieces at Karapiro and they had smashed us.
We did not want to be at the regatta. Hamish risked re-injuring his back, and lurking in the recesses of our minds was our unbeaten record. How would we feel if we were dusted up by the lighties on home water? Not that what we thought mattered - we were doing the race.
Less than three weeks after getting back together for any kind of decent training, we lined up in the final of the Town Cup regatta and took the best part of 1600 metres to reel in James and Jamie.
Amazingly, given our lack of preparation, we posted a winning time of 6:16, which was almost as fast as we had ever gone at Karapiro.
From that point on we buried ourselves in training, not ever going back to the monotony of Dick's endless miles, but ensuring that every session had an intensity that tested us mentally as well as physically. By the time we left for Sursee in late April we knew we were on track. Until we got in our brand new boat.
After three days' training in our new shell and with Hamish's back becoming progressively worse, we had to make a decision. Hamish spoke to Noel and told him he felt he was only a 30 per cent chance of lining up in Lucerne. We racked our brains to think of a solution, and then it hit us: let's get the old boat and see how that goes. We called Empacher and asked them to deliver the boat we had used for the World Championships for the past three years, and by the next day it was ready for us at the team base. At least we thought it was.
It had the same lemon-yellow hull and was exactly the same dimensions, but both of us sensed something wasn't quite right.
We buried our doubts for the sake of getting out on the water, and within a couple of sessions Hamish was beginning to feel more like himself, and we were both feeling more comfortable on the oars. It was the rowing equivalent of taking your favourite golf club out of the bag - it seemed to respond when we needed it to, and flex to our particular rhythm. Forty-eight hours later we were on the start line in Lucerne and six minutes and 26 seconds after that we had won our heat. It wasn't pretty, but it was a start.
We were used to the first race of the European season being sloppy, so we weren't overly concerned. We just carried on with our normal preparation and vowed to be slow and steady out of the start, and to power through the middle as we always had. We duly won the final ahead of the Dutch and the British, but we still had some doubts about the boat. There was just something about it that made us think it may not be the boat we thought it was.
Seeking answers, we paid a quick visit to the Empacher team and after a few minutes the mystery was solved. We had not been delivered our World Championship-winning boat; we had been delivered one out of the very same mould that had previously been used by a Swiss crew. Our boat - the one we thought we had - had been given to the Czechs. They had even rowed it in the final Olympic qualifying regatta. And they had qualified.
Much to the Czechs' disappointment, we took it back off them for the rest of our time in Europe. Meanwhile, we had the former Swiss boat packed up and ready to deliver to Rio. That would be the boat we would row at the Olympic Games. We now had Old Faithful for the final World Cup in Poland and, I guess, New Faithful for the Olympics. The freshly minted shell we had originally ordered - sporting a silver fern that had been printed on specially for us - was put back on the rack. Hopefully it found a good home.
With the first world cup done, we headed to Italy for another block of training. It would prove to be the toughest 10 days of the year. We rowed good solid pieces for the first few days, followed by an atrocious session that left us wondering what had happened. That's why rowing is a sport of suffering. No matter how many kilometres or years you put into it, it always finds a way to kick your arse. Dan Plews, our physiologist, managed to calm us down by pointing out that our stress readings were the highest they had been all year.
We hadn't suddenly lost our form; we had just buried ourselves in training. A couple of days after that we found our pace again and headed to Poznan for the final world cup of the season.
The heat was the same old story - we were sloppy. We managed to win by a three-second margin, but we were sick of getting to regattas and then rowing badly. That night we had the longest debrief we had ever had as a pair. We had never debriefed with Dick, and hardly with Noel either, but we needed answers and we resolved to stay in the room till we found them. Hamish wanted to discuss how the boat was feeling, but eventually we settled on a much simpler solution - we just needed to get out on the water and be mongrels.
We knew our first 500 wasn't the best part of our race, so we looked at the GPS, saw that by the 200m mark we were settling into race rhythm, and decided we would get there faster, and hold it for longer. And while we were at it, we would absolutely destroy the morale of every other crew. In the semi-final we did exactly that, winning in a time of 6:16:800, seven-tenths of a second off our best-ever world cup time. We had figured out what had been missing: we had forgotten our killer instinct.
The final was as routine as we could make it, stretching out over the field and gaining clear water to watch the battle between the two British crews behind us. It was a win and it was one step closer to the Olympic regatta, with one last block of training to complete in Sursee, and one last bike ride around the Swiss countryside ...
'What the hell did you do?' Hamish asked me as he sat on his bike saddle and looked at me trying to figure out how many parts of my body were bleeding and which of them might be broken. I didn't know. All I could think about was the fact that I was 10 days from the Olympics and I had stacked myself in a heap on a Swiss road. It turned out I had simply hit the kerb, thinking it was a ramp on to the bike path. We took a few minutes to take stock of the damage, both of us fearing that I may have sustained a serious injury. Once we realised I was probably okay, we pedalled back to base and breathed a combined sigh of relief.
I was certainly sore. My hands and knuckles had been badly scraped, my chest ached, and my right shoulder, which had borne the brunt of the impact, felt as if it had been punched by a heavyweight contender. All we could think about was how much worse things could have been - a broken hand, a dislocated shoulder or a popped rib would have rendered the past four years completely wasted. As it was, I had simply lost a bit of skin and dented my pride. All things considered, I was happy to take that.
We flew out to Rio the following afternoon. "One more regatta to go" became our mantra. Hamish was quiet and nervous, but I knew he felt good in the boat, and when he was like that it gave me a lot of confidence. I watched him filling out his Brazilian arrival card and in the "purpose of visit" section he ticked the box next to "Business".
I loved that. It encapsulated everything we were there for; we were there to win.
Neither of us had ever been to Rio before, but landing at the airport and seeing the Olympic signage everywhere gave us an immediate sense of familiarity. The first thing I did was snap a selfie with Usain Bolt, at which point Hamish just shook his head at me.
But to me that was a cue that we were at the Games and this daily, grinding, endless campaign was reaching its denouement. We were at the biggest show on earth and it was time to go to work, to make sure we finished what we had started when we had committed to another Olympic cycle after London.
The next day we took the team bus to the Lagoa and saw the course for the first time. It was an incredible setting. To the east lay the oceanside neighbourhoods of Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon, their famous promenades along the bleach-white beaches thronged with tourists and Cariocas alike, the small corner restaurants, known as botecos, heaving with drinkers and diners at all hours of the day. Above the start line, in the northwest, the sheer cliffs of the Corcovado rose 700m above the leafy streets and apartment towers, on top of which Rio's most famous landmark, Christ the Redeemer, surveyed the city and harbour below.
We had been given the opportunity to visit the course and the city at the conclusion of the World Championships in 2015, but we had turned it down. We had asked Noel Donaldson if the course was 2000m long. He had said it was. We decided that that was all we needed to know. I had wanted to get home to Jackie and Zach, and Hamish and Lizzie had an overdue honeymoon to take.
We understood it was a venue that could throw up some tricky and changeable conditions, but that was nothing new to us. Having each spent more than a decade rowing on Lake Karapiro, we were fairly confident we had experienced the worst conditions in rowing. We would soon learn that this wasn't the case.
We didn't even row on the first day of training. We spent the morning rigging the boat to the precise measurements we had taken in Europe, and by the time we finally picked up the shell to put it in the water, the course was closed. Undeterred, we headed out first thing the next day and immediately felt fast. The big kilometres had been done, the boat was dialled in and all that was left to do was put it all together. We trained on the water for the rest of the week, and during our last 1000m time trial, two days before the heats, we flew down the lake at a pace that would have eclipsed our own world best time. That was all I needed to know.
If there is one key difference between Hamish and me, it lies in our perception of situations. I was supremely confident that we could reproduce our speed on demand. Hamish, on the other hand, was not so optimistic. Of course he knew we were fast, but he remained on edge about the heats and about the regatta. It is just how he is put together - he is hard-wired for contingency. In the same way he insisted on making small adjustments to the rigging, he was always thinking about every possible thing that could go wrong.
After so long together, and with the end in sight, I realised that I had never given him enough credit for just how hard he thought about everything we did, and just how singular and all-consuming his will to win was.
On August 6, the first day of competition, we arrived at the Lagoa in time to see the start of Mahe Drysdale's single sculls heat. The surface of the course was glass, the early morning sun illuminating the cliff face of the Corcovado. We watched Mahe get under way and then headed straight to the team tent to go through our own preparations. By the time we emerged, less than an hour later, a vicious wind had whipped the surface of the lake into a frenzy of white caps.
We put the boat in the water and rowed out for the warm-up. Ten minutes into it, Hamish turned to me and said, 'There's no way we can race in this.' Yet as he spoke, we watched the Australian single sculler Kim Brennan heading down the course in her heat, her boat filled with water. If the organisers were still sending off the women's singles, there was no way they were going to call us back.
All we could do was warm up as normally as possible, while trying not to sink, and get to the start. We had never raced in anything like it. In fact, the only time we trained in anything close to it was when we were hightailing it back to the pontoon at Karapiro when a storm had blown in. It was an unbelievable scene, made even more so when the Serbian crew of Milos Vasic and Nenad Bedik capsized during the third 500m of our heat. The middle part of the course was the most treacherous, and also where we would usually drop the hammer.
All we could do was keep the strokes long and smooth and trust we had more speed and ability than anyone else.
We safely navigated the course and won the heat, but it was a strange feeling to have been more technically than physically challenged.
Hamish described the race to me as like walking down a flight of stairs and suddenly finding one of the steps missing. Anything could have happened - we were just glad it happened to the Serbs and not us. We were disappointed it had to happen to anyone. All the rowers were thinking the same thing: how can you turn the pinnacle event of our sport into a storm-tossed lottery?
The next day officials decided to postpone the regatta for the entire day, a decision that was made early and far too prematurely in our opinion, notwithstanding the fact that our men's lightweight four had ventured onto the Lagoa for a training run and had promptly sunk. It was a sign of things to come as FISA and the Olympic broadcasters spent the week weighing up the best interests of the rowers against the best interests of the God of Television.
Television was always going to win that battle.
The impact on us was negligible - we had made it safely through to the semi-final and knew we could deal with any unforeseen delays.
We spent the time working on the boat, training when we could, and resting at the team day-house, which was nestled under the outstretched hands of Christ the Redeemer, just five minutes from the boat park.
On August 9, with conditions vastly improved, we lined up in the semi-final. After our victory in the heats, we reminded ourselves of the attitude we had taken into the semi-final at Poznan. The heat had been about getting down the course safely, but now it was time to stamp our authority on the regatta. We had drawn the British and South Africans, the capsizing Serbs, who had come through the repechage, and the Hungarians and Czechs. We knew the Brits and South Africans would go out fast, so we followed them, hunted them, and pulled away before the first mark, setting up a lead that we would keep all the way.
We were satisfied but far from happy. We had massive expectations of ourselves. Expectations that we had fostered since our first victory together in 2009. With expectation came standards and we knew we could do better. We also didn't want to take anything for granted. Not long after our race, the women's and men's double sculls were knocked out of the medal races, both finishing fourth in their semi-finals. We watched on numbly as their Olympic dreams were shattered. It brought back memories of 2008 and our own Olympic nightmare in the four. We never wanted to feel like that again, and so far we hadn't, but the reminder of that agony was right there in the tears of our team-mates. It reinforced the cut-throat nature of semi-final racing at the Olympic Games.
There is very little you can say to someone in that situation.
Rather than offering words that would go unheard and hugs that would remain unfelt, we simply redoubled our determination and prepared for our final. We were motivated for that race by the expectation of success and the fear of losing.
Two days later, on August 11, 2016, Hamish and I won our second Olympic gold medal in the Rio sunshine. It was the third-slowest time of our pairs career (six minutes and 59 seconds). It was also our 69th consecutive victory in the pair. We had claimed six world championships and set the world best time in the coxless pair, and we had claimed a world championship title and set the world best time in the coxed pair. We rowed to the pontoon, climbed out of the boat and embraced. Hamish called it our "quadrennial man-love moment".
In our post-race interview we were asked about the impact of our first coaches, Charles Haggie at Mercer for me, and Peter Foster and the legendary Fred Strachan at Otago Boys' for Hamish. Right at that moment, I think we both thought about our 15-year-old selves. It is a bloody long time to have been rowing boats. And it has all been worth it.
It was a different feeling to winning at London. Yes, we were proud as Punch, but we were more relieved than anything else. We had come to Brazil for business and the job was done. Later that evening we sat at the New Zealand Club, looking back over the beach of Ipanema. We were asked what we thought of each other, and the truth is what we feel is enormous mutual respect. Australian triple Olympic gold medallist Drew Ginn said after the race that most crews have a commonality, but that the Kiwi Pair's strength lies in the differences between the two men. He may be right.
Hamish used to joke that I was able to pull big numbers in training because I was "no brain, no pain", but as we sat around the table sharing a beer or two, he talked about my self-belief, which can counteract his doubts, and my ability to dig deep, even when swimming in lactate [high intensity training]. I know there have been times when my life and his goals haven't aligned, but our two different lives have had to work together. I had to have in mind that Hamish was going to allow only so much. I had to give a little bit and he had to give a little bit.
Somewhere in the middle the magic happened.
We sat at that table long into the night, and I saw the stress and the strain start to leave his face. I have never met a man more committed, more determined or more singularly focused on a goal. For the past eight years every decision Hamish has made has prioritised rowing. There was not a day when I didn't think to myself that he could probably do all of this with someone else in the boat.
I'm glad he didn't exercise that option.
We spoke about that, too. He said that the one thing he knew was that no matter how hard he went, I would be able to follow, and we both knew that there was never a time when I would let him down in that boat.
That was quite enough mutual respect for one night, for what we always knew didn't need discussing. We were two very distinct personalities and we found the finest of intersecting lines upon which those personalities could bleed into one. It was on that line that we rowed a boat into history.
On that line we became the Kiwi Pair.
Extract reproduced with permission from The Kiwi Pair by Hamish Bond and Eric Murray. Published by Penguin NZ. RRP $40. Available nationwide.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11700978&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/eaf7108270a815f81dcfce3156e12df301d810f364c7d5245d06da7ab499a3ae.json |
[
"Wendyl Wants To Know",
"Each Week",
"Wendyl Nissen Takes A Packaged Food Item",
"Decodes What The Label Tells You About Its Contents."
] | 2016-08-26T18:50:45 | null | 2016-08-26T08:16:33 | I've never met a cat who would turn down a saucer of milk. In fact, I managed to train one of my cats out of a very annoying yowly, attention-grabbing habit by simply giving her a - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Flifestyle%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D6%26objectid%3D11700943%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/53734f7eb17f02c06d48fd5db8f4bb680d055ff6_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Wendyl Nissen: Sugary additives turn milky pet treat into lap of luxury | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | I've never met a cat who would turn down a saucer of milk. In fact, I managed to train one of my cats out of a very annoying yowly, attention-grabbing habit by simply giving her a little bit of milk once a day to make her feel special. But we all know that cats don't actually need milk once they are weaned and lose the ability to digest lactose. Some cats can still tolerate cow's milk as it comes but some develop an allergy and get diarrhoea. So I guess that is why this product has been produced. So that you can still watch your cat joyfully lap up a saucer of milk as if it was down on the farm, even though it doesn't really need it.
Whiskas Kitten Adult Cats Milk Plus Lactose Free $4 99 for 1 Litre
Ingredients (in order of greatest quantity first)
Milk
We all know milk is a great source of calcium so that's got to be good for a cat.
Malt
I have no idea why this is in here. How would a cat, in it's natural habitat, access sweet malt? Unless it lived in a brewery. As the second ingredient on the list there is obviously quite a bit in here. I have to presume it is in here for flavour as the packet says "the rich malty flavour and creamy texture ... cats love".
Sucrose
Continued below.
Related Content Wendyl Nissen: Special K investigation Wendyl Nissen: Turning to custard Wendyl Nissen: Who kneads so many ingredients?
This is sugar. Your cat should not be fed sugar. Unfortunately there is no requirement to give a nutrition breakdown on pet food so I can't tell you how much is in here. But any amount is probably too much. And according to an article in Scientific American, a study has shown that unlike dogs, cats cannot taste sugar. They lack the amino acids that make up the DNA of the gene that taste sweetness. And some vets are concerned that the increased prevalence of sugar and carbohydrates in commercial cat food could be causing a rise in diabetes in cats.
Salt
I've never heard of salt being added to milk either. Normal milk that we drink has about 45mg of sodium per 100ml.
Emulsifier
This will be in here to keep the milk looking like milk rather than separating.
Vegetable gum
This may be to increase the fat content of the milk.
Taurine
Cats need taurine as they can't manufacture it themselves and most commercial pet foods have it added in. It helps regulate the nervous system and promotes thyroid and cardiovascular health. It is found naturally in red meat and fish and other sources are brewer's yeast, eggs and other dairy products.
Lactase enzyme
This breaks down the lactose in milk, thus making this milk lactose-free.
Thiamine
This is vitamin B1. It is a water-soluble vitamin necessary for normal carbohydrate metabolism in cats.
Water added
My recommendations
If your cat enjoys a healthy diet full of meat then as a carnivore it should be quite healthy, so it doesn't really need this milk and its added sugar, malt and emulsifiers.
But if you really want to give them milk then look for lactose-free milk for humans. I found Liddells Lactose Free Full Cream Milk for $4.69 for a 1 litre carton. And all it has in it is milk and the lactase enzyme to get rid of the lactose. Using this product means you are just giving your cat a treat of two natural ingredients and no added sugar. But, if you just want to give your cat a nutritious treat she will really enjoy, toss her a sardine. She'll get loads of calcium, taurine and fish oil.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11700943&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/4e5d5a02e17403fec1bde7fd5eec9ba9d682ed11f2cafbed6ce94e7cf3a093cf.json |
[
"Property Editor Of The Nz Herald"
] | 2016-08-30T20:50:09 | null | 2016-08-30T00:04:45 | Learning golf, appearing in Auckland house sale videos and with her arm around PM John Key at a black tie function - Sarah Higgins was a dynamic high achiever who expressed joy in - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11701802%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/Sarahhiggins_1024x761.jpg | en | null | Dynamic young politician/agent Sarah Higgins joyful at achievements | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Learning golf, appearing in Auckland house sale videos and with her arm around PM John Key at a black tie function - Sarah Higgins was a dynamic high achiever who expressed joy in her accomplishments.
But the Auckland politician and real estate agent died suddenly on the weekend, drawing tributes from fellow local board politicians Joseph Bergin and Andy Baker.
Higgins, a Barfoot & Thompson agent and Franklin Local Board member, posted her photo with Key before a glittery backdrop.
"It was such a great night catching up with everyone and hanging out with friends. Loved it!" Higgins wrote on social media, wearing a black outfit, her right arm draped around Key's shoulder.
She told of learning golf and also appearing in videos marketing Barfoot houses for sale.
In March, she posted a stylish slow-motion black and white golf Instagram video, exhibiting a practised swing, tagged as @politicoolaniml.
"I'm just learning," she told curious friends.
She fronted Barfoot ads for properties being sold in Papakura and Karaka.
Continued below.
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In one extensive post from June this year, she explained how much she was learning about politics.
"It was a sunny afternoon at the Pukekohe Anglican church over cups of tea and biscuits that I first brought this to the attention of our new MP Andrew Bayly. He called for any further policy ideas that we could develop into a remit," Higgins wrote.
"I was working in rentals at a real estate company and we had just finished a training in what to look for to spot signs of drug use at a property. The trainer kept saying "Ministry of health guidelines" in regards to testing for P.
"Having been recently elected to the local board my understanding of policy and law was growing rapidly. I questioned the trainer at the end as to whether or not there was any law or something more concrete than "guidelines". I did some quick research and found anyone could test properties for P with no qualifications and considering the ramifications it alarmed me that "Guidelines" are all that is in place.
"So when Andrew asked the question I spoke quietly, not quite sure if I really had something "what about P"? I simply asked. We went on to discuss the issue in depth and from there any chance I've had to speak at conferences and all the networking with ministers I started to lobby for a change, I even debated it with the prime minister at his visit to Pukekohe Cosy Club, he eventually agreed.
"Since then we have seen so much in the media about homes that are testing positive so many stories from family, friends and clients all the while I kept asking the question "How are they getting these results and how qualified are these people?" From there it has brought up many more questions on the issue.
"Andrew has worked very hard with me on this and we now have caucus support and a private members bill. More importantly the government is starting to ask the same question I have for well over a year.
"It was my idea. I asked the right question to the right people. This is grass roots politics, this is why I am a national party member. If a high school dropout who was working in hospo only a few years ago can influence change as big as this, why can't you?" Higgins wrote.
Friends praised her for that, saying what a positive difference she had made and to keep up the great work.
Where to get help:
• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)
• Youth services: (06) 3555 906 (Palmerston North and Levin)
• Youthline: 0800 376 633
• Kidsline: 0800 543 754 (available 24/7)
• Whatsup: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm)
• Depression helpline: 0800 111 757 (available 24/7)
• Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (available 24/7)
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701802&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/28a1f39290f478623a62322212f06a50fb726a5a372ebeb55f456259063cef7b.json |
[] | 2016-08-27T08:47:27 | null | 2016-08-27T01:39:29 | The All Blacks bugging scandal means people must realise other sports in New Zealand are also targets for underhand and potentially illegal tactics, says the chief of the New Zealand - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11701064%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/SCCZEN_21816NZHBPALLBLACKS11_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Nichol: AB's bugging scandal a wake-up call for other sports | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | By Simon Plumb
The All Blacks bugging scandal means people must realise other sports in New Zealand are also targets for underhand and potentially illegal tactics, says the chief of the New Zealand Rugby Players' Association.
Rob Nichol says other codes - particularly those which enjoy greater global popularity than rugby such as football and cricket - must grasp they are also exposed to integrity risks, including being bugged or tapped-up in person for insider information.
"One-hundred percent," Nichol said. "You only have to Google corruption and cheating in sport overseas and the biggest sports, like football, will have numerous stories about what has happened over the years.
"For the New Zealand public, I dare say this will be a shock. By and large here, we are a corruption-free and an honest country in the world of sport.
"But for the team and coaches, it won't be a surprise. There's been so much education around it, it's been a matter of when, not if, something like this happens."
Nichol said the All Blacks players are not too concerned about being targeted by the scandal, but they are likely to have concerns about the integrity of their game.
"The players won't be too worried about how it affects them individually, they'll be more concerned about the integrity of the game," he said.
"Competition is about being pure, it's no different from doping or any other form of cheating. You do not want it infiltrated looking to compromise it. That's where the players' heads are at.
Continued below.
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"It's a breach of the integrity of sport whether it's information gathered for betting or for another sort of advantage. It's the kind of thing that happens."
Today the Herald revealed the bug only had a battery life of around three days - and was still operational when discovered by All Blacks security personnel - strongly suggesting the All Blacks were the explicit target.
Australian police, who have launched a criminal investigation, are scouring CCTV footage from the Intercontinental hotel in Double Bay to try and catch the culprits.
After what happened in Sydney, New Zealand police said they took "the normal steps to ensure the safety of both spectators and players" for tonight's test between the All Blacks and the Wallabies in Wellington.
"The security of the premise in which the players are staying is a matter to be addressed by the team and or the hotel."
The duty manager at the Intercontinental's Wellington hotel - where the All Blacks are based this week - said she was not allowed to discuss this week's security arrangements or the ongoing police investigation into the company's Double Bay hotel in Sydney.
New Zealand Rugby has previously said it would be inappropriate to comment further while the police investigation continues.
"You've got to take it seriously, Nichol said. "The right thing to do is to get it into the hands of the police, it's a criminal matter.
"It's outside the rules of the game in this situation, potentially a breach of the law."
- Herald on Sunday | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701064&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/209aa5382ff9032c1b20a2c9bb147ed6bcb831f37e16eb3a8fbf1909c57c47fa.json |
[
"Covers Sport Across Nzme'S Print",
"Digital",
"Radio Brands."
] | 2016-08-30T20:50:06 | null | 2016-08-30T10:46:00 | South Africa 481-8 declared and 132-7 New Zealand 214 and 195 South Africa won by 204 runs. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fsport%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D4%26objectid%3D11702016%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/bjwatling_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Cricket: South Africa hand Black Caps heavy defeat | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | South Africa 481-8 declared and 132-7
New Zealand 214 and 195
South Africa won by 204 runs.
A Dale Steyn bowling masterclass and another paralysed New Zealand top order batting display helped South Africa complete a 204-run victory on the fourth day of the second test at Centurion.
The result gave South Africa their 11th triumph in 14 series between the countries since 1932. New Zealand have never won.
"It was a shame to play the one test and for that to be a decider," New Zealand captain Kane Williamson lamented after the Durban match was abandoned due to a rain-soaked outfield.
"I think we almost played the perfect test," South African captain Faf du Plessis responded. "If I could write a script to have it my way that's how it would've gone. It's been tough for us the last while [dropping to seventh in the world] so this is a great result.
"We've definitely found our passion again."
South Africa (fifth) and New Zealand (seventh) have swapped places on the test rankings.
The visitors faced defeat by attrition, intimidation and embarrassment chasing 400 to win.
Only four times in 2219 tests had teams chased more to win.
To compound matters, the highest fourth innings winning score at the venue was 251 for eight by England in January 2000.
Those circumstances proved hypothetical when New Zealand slipped to seven for four. Thanks to some lower order spine, they were dismissed for 195.
Steyn delivered his 26th test five-wicket bag, taking five for 33 from 16.2 overs and advancing to 11th on bowling's all-time list of top wicket-takers. He moves to 416, overtaking Wasim Akram's 414 across the day. Steyn sits five behind South African record-holder Shaun Pollock.
Before the series he spoke of being "a fisherman" when it came to wicket-taking:
"I love testing guys' patience," he said. "I will wait there all day and hopefully find the edge or knock his poles over."
So it proved.
If there was a positive for New Zealand it was the application of Henry Nicholls who, in his sixth test, made 76 from 140 balls as he attempts to establish himself as the No.5 following Brendon McCullum's retirement.
"To come up against an attack like that on a tough surface was a great experience for him and he showed a lot of character," Williamson said.
Nicholls received patches of support from B-J Watling (32), Mitchell Santner (16) and Doug Bracewell (30).
In the opening session, the hosts whittled away the visitors' esprit de corps by batting to drinks and declaring at 132 for seven.
South African No.6 Temba Bavuma eked out an unbeaten 40 from 113 balls. His compact technique brought patient reward.
Tim Southee's skill in getting a ball to seam back into Vern Philander's off stump for 14 was the sole New Zealand highlight of the session.
With the wicket getting baked in the winter sun, the bounce varying by the session and New Zealand batsmen imploding, any survival prospects proved minimal. In fact, they all but evaporated in the first over as the Steyn juggernaut rolled in.
The onus went on someone, anyone, to match Williamson's defensive batting pluck from the first innings. It wouldn't be Tom Latham. He was bowled by Steyn attempting to shoulder arms to the first ball of New Zealand's second innings. The ball hit his gloves and ricocheted onto the stumps. Nor would it be Martin Guptill. He also succumbed for a golden duck, fending to first slip, to complete a mortifying first over.
The openers contributed 23 runs from six innings in this series, reinforcing the chasm between plundering Zimbabwean medium pacers and wilting against Steyn, one of history's finest pace bowlers.
Taylor fell prey to a zooter lbw for a duck, thus maintaining the scorecard's binary code. It took Williamson, who had the middle finger of his left hand jammed against the bat handle by Philander, to break the strain of noughts by edging behind for five.
He said the injured finger was stiff but nothing worse at this stage, and he was "just trying to get it wrapped it around the bat again".
New Zealand's next opponents are India. The first of a three-test series starts in Kanpur on September 22. | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11702016&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/c9398f198bf146dcb56058962e20defc3f6207aa17fcf0a9dde1855f14e134e7.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T04:49:37 | null | 2016-08-30T00:48:46 | Asbestos cancer patient Leonard Pene was close to death when he took a chance on the hyper-expensive skin cancer drug Keytruda. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11701824%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/LEN_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Auckland asbestos victim rises from death bed after Keytruda treatment | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | By Martin Johnston
Asbestos cancer patient Leonard Pene was close to death when he took a chance on the hyper-expensive skin cancer drug Keytruda.
His cancer specialist Dr Richard Sullivan had told him it might be too late for the drug to work.
But within three days of his first Keytruda infusion, the 68-year-old Auckland grandfather was starting to feel better - and hungry. On Anzac Day, son James Pene recalls, his dad opened his eyes and asked for Watties spaghetti, which he ate, cold, straight from the can.
Over that weekend, Pene snr, a former coach of the Aotearoa Maori rugby league team, had been near-unconscious and his family had organised his funeral.
Sullivan's grim outlook had been that Pene would survive just days and no more than a fortnight.
"His personal story is truly remarkable," said Sullivan.
Now, four months later, Pene is planning to return to his job as a supervisor at a pest control company two days a week, partly to help pay for Keytruda, but also because "I've always worked, all my life, so has my wife".
He has had seven infusions of Keytruda. After the third, a scan showed his tumours, caused by mesothelioma in the peritoneum, the lining of the abdomen, had shrunk by 61 per cent. He was exposed to asbestos at a Penrose factory as a 15-year-old during a holiday job at the workplace of his father, whom Leonard said had died of asbestos-related illness in his 60s.
Continued below.
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"I've got no pain, I don't take any pills ... no problems."
But financial concerns for the cost of Keytruda are growing. The drug has chewed up more than $34,000 of his and wife Paulette's retirement savings, even with a large discount from the supplier, Merck, Sharp and Dohme.
He said it was "stupid" that Pharmac wouldn't pay for him to have the drug when it does pay for those with advanced melanoma to be treated with it or Opdivo, a similar drug.
Keytruda and Opdivo have had remarkable results in many patients with melanoma, but in others they don't work and there is no way of predicting who will benefit although work is under way on developing tests.
Both drugs are licensed with Medsafe New Zealand for treating lung cancer as well as melanoma, but neither is licensed for mesothelioma, in which there is not yet sufficient evidence of superiority to chemotherapy to seek a licence. A Medsafe licence is generally required before Pharmac will consider funding.
The two drugs, both in the "PD-1 inhibitor" class, are being trialled in numerous cancers, including Keytruda in breast, head and neck and stomach cancers; and Opdivo in bowel, brain, and head and neck cancers. It is unclear how long they should be taken for.
"The highest benefit seems to be melanoma," said Sullivan.
"There is a phase 1 trial of Keytruda in mesothelioma with a response rate around 25 per cent, but as yet we don't know the duration of response as the data is too immature."
He has treated around 20 mesothelioma patients and seen "some amazing responses, Len being one of them."
"The real challenge is trying to perfect the PD-1 testing so we can predict who benefits and who doesn't ... and then make cost effective health investment decisions."
• Leonard Pene's Givealittle page can be found here
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701824&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/09ff7a9018f82caf1c7f1db40d20e8ad3b008b93b090fad868d6c7c29db6c7b2.json |
[
"Morgan Tait Is The Nz Herald'S Police Reporter."
] | 2016-08-26T13:03:23 | null | 2016-08-26T01:04:20 | • Pavlina Pizova watched her partner, Ondrej Petr, 27, fall and die on the Routeburn Track. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11700750%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/SCCZEN_260816NZHJAPRESSCONF14_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Against the odds: Czech woman's month-long wait for help in the New Zealand wilderness | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Video will play in Play now Don't auto play
Never auto play
• Pavlina Pizova watched her partner, Ondrej Petr, 27, fall and die on the Routeburn Track.
• She crawled for three days to the sanctuary of a warden's hut.
• There she waited for four weeks, suffering frostbite and hypothermia until her rescue yesterday.
• She used fire ash to mark a giant "H" in the chest-deep snow.
She watched her partner fall to his death and then crawled for three days through snow and rugged terrain before finding shelter.
But Pavlina Pizova's ordeal was far from over.
The Czech tourist spent four weeks alone in the isolated warden's hut at Lake Mackenzie, unable to leave because of physical injuries and fear.
Found yesterday, frostbitten and with hypothermia, her incredible tale of survival has been labelled "courageous" and "resilient".
Like most horror stories, the couple's journey began in an idyllic setting, the 32km Routeburn Track in southern New Zealand.
One of the Great Walks, it overlaps Mount Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks and showcases the best of the country's alpine scenery - soaring, snow-capped mountains, huge valleys and cascading waterfalls.
Continued below.
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AN IDYLLIC HOLIDAY
Pizova, in her early 30s, and her friend, Ondrej Petr, 27, arrived in New Zealand in February.
With working holiday visas and plans to work on a farm near Dunedin, they set about making the most of their new surroundings.
According to their Facebook pages, they are both outdoor lovers.
Pizova is believed to be from the small town of Police nad Metují, near the Polish border. It had a population of 4300 in 2007.
Photos show the woman atop alpine rocks, with sweeping views of the wilderness in the background.
Petr's profile is strikingly similar. He was from Nove Mesto nad Metuji, 30km south of Pizova's town,
He climbed rocks barefoot, shirtless and posted photos of his intended travel destinations.
A post from September 2015 carries the hashtags #liveyourdream! #NewZealandAustralia2016+17
The pair set out on the Routeburn Track on July 26, leaving their car at the Glenorchy end of the track near Queenstown.
They started their journey despite being warned off by Department of Conservation staff, having no tent or locator beacon and telling no one of their plans.
After just one night on the track in freezing conditions including falling snow, strong winds and heavy fog they slipped about 7m down a steep slope.
Petr fell further and became pinned between rocks and vegetation.
Vladka Kennett, Consul for the Czech Republic, told NZME how Pizova tried but failed to reach her friend, and heard him take his last breath.
She said the woman spent three days wandering through the wilderness trying to find help, before she came across the warden's hut at Lake Mackenzie.
She broke in through a window and found four bunks and cooking and heating facilities.
There was a radio in the hut, but she was unable to make it work.
There was also some food, but DoC had been careful not to leave too much over winter for fear of attracting rodents.
WAITING FOR A MIRACLE
Extreme and severe conditions, including heavy snow and the risk of avalanche, along with her minor injuries - frostbite and possible hypothermia - prevented Pizova from walking to safety.
No other trampers passed through the area; the track was officially closed for winter.
Police and DoC yesterday praised her for not trying to get out on her own.
"Her last decision was a very good decision - just to hunker down and wait for somebody to come along," said DoC Wakatipu operations manager Geoff Owen.
And it has now emerged a Facebook message helped spark the rescue mission for Pizova after her extraordinary ordeal.
The alarm was finally raised on Wednesday by Kennett after messages were noticed on social media from concerned friends and family back home.
Car registration details and photos were sent through, and Queenstown-based Kennett contacted police on Wednesday, 29 days after the pair set out on their trip.
The same day, a helicopter crew spotted the giant "H" Pizova had written in the snow with fire ash, and she was finally rescued.
A 'HARROWING' ORDEAL
Pizova spoke publicly for the first time today, supported by Kennett.
Looking nervous and pale, she spoke softly in a heavy accent.
She said the ordeal was "harrowing". She said her tramping partner falling and dying was a "tragic accident".
"After his death it took three nights in the open before I reached the safety of the hut. I was walking through waist-deep snow and, because of that, the track lines were covered.
"My feet were frozen."
Because of her health and the weather, she thought it was best to "stay in a safe place".
"I made a few attempts to leave the hut but because of the weather and my physical conditions, it discouraged me from doing so."
She took the opportunity to send safety messages to "anyone travelling in the New Zealand mountains".
"We made a few mistakes with not leaving out intentions with somebody and not carrying a PLB [personal locator beacon] and underestimating the conditions of the track."
She thanked her rescuers.
She broke down in tears towards the end of her statement, which she read from a sheet of paper. It was too harrowing to go into too many details about the ordeal, she said.
"The conditions were extreme," she said.
Kennett said Pizova's ordeal was unbelievable.
"I don't understand it myself. I think she is a very strong woman. She just tried everything to survive. Tried to warm her feet up, keep moving her feet and hands, put everything she could find on her feet and body."
"It's too difficult to describe emotions like that. She went up to the public hut and made a fire there.
"She made a few attempts as she said to walk out of the hut but because of the situation she was in, her physical conditions and the snow, she always went back.
"She only made it a few hundred metres and went back.
"As you can imagine if you're stuck somewhere for a month you would be very relieved, quite happy [to be rescued]."
The woman and her partner's families were sticking together, she said.
The trampers were partners in New Zealand on a working holiday, she said.
Pizova was very resourceful. "I give her enormous credit. She used whatever she could find."
It was "very important" for Pizova to get her partner's body back, and for the families.
A police spokesman accompanied the pair at the conference. He expressed disappointment at "unhelpful comments" that were circulating about the ordeal.
Kennett said the comments were not affecting Pizova. "She is such a brave person, she is above it all. She just ignores it all."
Pizova was dressed in a thermal top and tramping pants, with tramping boots.
Petr's body was today recovered by Search and Rescue and the death had been referred to the Coroner.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11700750&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/f03ab4e5f0113e06d430d9610c527533c6b9daf8edcc1ddfb7a1397ccca163c2.json |
[] | 2016-08-31T04:50:18 | null | 2016-08-31T02:53:09 | Melina Roberge's Instagram account reads simply: Currently travelling. But that's not entirely true. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fworld%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D2%26objectid%3D11702307%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/Melina1_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Canadian tourists' dream cruise ends with Australia's biggest drug bust | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | By Rohan Smith of news.com.au
Melina Roberge's Instagram account reads simply: "Currently travelling". But that's not entirely true.
The 22-year-old Canadian spent almost two months in paradise throughout July and August. On her social media accounts, she shared pictures drinking from coconuts and posing in front of turquoise waters in her bikini.
She was travelling with Isabelle Legace, 28, and Andre Tamine, 63, aboard the $20,000-a-head MS Sea Princess, stopping in idyllic locations including French Polynesia, Chile, Ecuador and sunny Bermuda.
"Monday mood," she wrote beneath a picture of her feet in crystal clear waters four weeks ago.
A day earlier, at Manta, Ecuador, she posted a picture of herself above cliffs by the ocean. She wrote: "In my top five for sure."
She got tattooed in French Polynesia and rode a quad bike in Peru, but the holiday of a lifetime could be her last.
When the Sea Princess docked at Sydney's international terminal at Circular Quay, Australian Border Force officials were waiting to welcome her.
They posted a picture of their own: the contents of her suitcase. Inside the suitcases of all three Quebecers the officers allegedly found bag upon bag of cocaine. They estimate between them the trio had allegedly hauled about 95kg of the white powder into Sydney, a stash worth around $30 million on the street.
Continued below.
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Beneath a post on Roberge's Instagram account on August 27, after news of her arrest, followers mocked her.
"Currently travelling to prison," one wrote.
"Nap with one eye open in prison," another wrote.
The arrests carry with them the possibility of life in prison. Australian Border Force released a statement warning international drug syndicates would not get away with smuggling drugs into Australia.
"These syndicates should be on notice that the Australian Border Force is aware of all of the different ways they attempt to smuggle drugs into our country and we are working with a range of international agencies to stop them," assistant commissioner Clive Murray said.
"Today's successful operation has resulted in three arrests and we will not rule out further activity as we continue our investigations. The AFP is committed to working with its partner agencies to protect the community by stopping these dangerous drugs making their way to Australian communities, and bringing those responsible to justice."
According to the Toronto Star, authorities within the Canadian Border Service and the US Department of Homeland Security shared intelligence ahead of the arrests.
They will now turn their attention to establishing where the drugs came from. The tourists boarded the P&O Cruises ship along with more than 1000 other passengers in the UK.
They travelled together to North America, including a stop in New York, before touring the Caribbean and parts of South America, including drug hot spots Colombia and Peru.
It's estimated a kilogram of cocaine could fetch $160,000 in Australia. The alleged smugglers won't see any such reward.
On social media, users were quick to criticise them. But others labelled celebrated their gumption.
"It was just coke, I mean, come on," one user wrote beneath a picture of Roberge and Legace.
"I'm your newest, biggest fan. Come back to Canada soon so I can marry you. I'll never judge you or your drug choices."
- news.com.au | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11702307&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/1ef642ee9342629e170667823590d41888c66e1e8556e52c5145492c20edbd14.json |
[
"Vaimoana Tapaleao Is The New Zealand Herald'S Pacific Affairs",
"People Reporter."
] | 2016-08-27T18:48:05 | null | 2016-08-26T01:16:54 | When your days are filled with the quick-paced glitz and stresses of show business, the simple life is pure bliss. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11700757%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/SCCZEN_110816SPLYURT5_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Home is where the yurt is | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Vaimoana Tapaleao is the New Zealand Herald's Pacific Affairs and People reporter.
When your days are filled with the quick-paced glitz and stresses of show business, the simple life is pure bliss.
For songstress Georgia Duder-Wood, that bliss comes in the form of her home - a modern yurt tucked away in the forests of beautiful Kawau Island.
The 44-year-old and her husband, Simon Wood, are the proud owners of the country's biggest residential yurt, a portable tent-like structure inspired by the Mongolian tents of the same name.
With a performance career that spans over 20 years - including musical theatre works around New Zealand, Australia and residencies in Auckland, Japan and London - not even the bright lights of the West End could keep her away.
"Working overseas and in big cities, I returned to the beauty of New Zealand."
Measuring about 80sq m inside, the yurt was purchased from the US and is made of architectural fabric.
It has double-glass French doors and large windows - something not currently available with New Zealand-made yurts.
The couple has also added a huge deck around it, as well as an outdoor bathroom and wood stove that had to be helicoptered in because of its size.
Their home is completely solar-powered and like most structures of its kind, has no internal walls.
The yurt itself cost about $55,000.
Continued below.
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Getting everything they needed to Kawau Island and the overall setting up of their new home set them back about $200,000.
"In terms of what we got, it's a very affordable house.
"We didn't want a mortgage. We've been paying a mortgage in the North Shore and weren't getting ahead. We were tired of all of our hard work just going to pay the mortgage."
Asked why they chose a yurt as their permanent home, Duder-Wood said simplicity and sustainability were the key reasons.
"I'm a great believer that the earth - we really need to look at how we're using the earth's resources.
"My husband [is] really in to horticulture, biodynamics and gardening. So we really want to model what we believe - that we need simplicity and sustainability. Just learn to have less and need less and live much more connected to nature."
Being able to call Duder's Bay - her family's slice of the island - home was not only a wonderful thing, it was paradise.
"I've been there since I was in the womb. I got married on our beach, my sister's ashes are buried there and my niece and nephew's whenua are buried there.
"To live there, what it means is I come in to Auckland, I do gigs and recording sessions, teach, perform and work as a working artist and then go home."
Her latest gig is Menopause, The Musical: Women on Fire, currently showing around New Zealand. The show follows four women in a department store who have nothing in common but a black lace bra they want to buy.
There are jokes about wrinkles, hot flushes and chocolate binges - all with the clever use of popular songs from the 60s, 70s and 80s.
Duder-Wood said it was about celebrating the mid-life crisis and menopause.
"It's celebrating it, but also poking fun at ourselves.
"There are also really poignant moments about the pressures on women to remain youthful looking - when things are drooping, wrinkles are appearing and the reality of menopause...are occurring.
"Apparently men love it too because they sort of nudge their wives and say: 'Oh, that's you, darling'.
Duder-Wood is now working on a new book dubbed: Home Is Where The Yurt Is.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11700757&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/d9126b0a7454d02ed9bd9f67aaf8b37420aa729194175214d8bd0bfc328c2b0c.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T22:50:13 | null | 2016-08-30T19:59:57 | Former Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll has found himself in the middle of a Twitter war after taking to social media to express his opinions about All Blacks prop Owen Franks' alleged - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fsport%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D4%26objectid%3D11702047%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/GettyImages-467844809_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Brian O'Driscoll deletes controversial tweet after feud with Kiwi fans | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Former Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll has found himself in the middle of a Twitter war after taking to social media to express his opinions about All Blacks prop Owen Franks' alleged eye-gouge.
O'Driscoll was one of many former players to come out against Sanzar's decision not to cite Owen Franks for an alleged eye-gouge during Saturday night's Bledisloe Cup match against the Wallabies in Wellington.
O'Driscoll tweeted: "This is an absolute sham @WorldRugby ???! Makes a mockery of citing. If nothing comes of this it's a farce."
His tweet incited plenty of debate, from Kiwi fans in particular.
Clyde Rosanowski said, "Was BOD the former holder of the worlds most over rated player who thankfully retired? Can't recall."
This is an absolute sham @WorldRugby ???! Makes a mockery of citing. If nothing comes of this it's a farce. https://t.co/sDr92ggzcU — Brian O'Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) August 28, 2016
@Rozaus @estankard @ajhowse that's one angle is plenty for a case to answer. Different rules for some! — Brian O'Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) August 28, 2016
Another user posted a photo and video of another alleged eye-gouge from Australia's Scott Fardy on Kieran Read.
Continued below.
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O'Driscoll continued to engage the users, saying New Zealand received special treatment and sarcastically saying they are never guilty of foul play.
Once the debate was at its tipping point, O'Driscoll finally broke, taking a dig not just at the All Blacks, but at New Zealand as well.
"You lot are so blinded by your beloved team. It bangs of not having a whole lot else."
Let's all have another look at what Brian O'Driscoll really thinks of New Zealand, and the tweet that he deleted pic.twitter.com/IyVEcm4cIS — Paul (@rugga13) August 30, 2016
His tweet was immediately met with disgust and was quickly deleted.
O'Driscoll himself is no stranger to foul play, famously being the subject of Tana Umaga's spear tackle during the British & Irish Lions tour in 2005.
He posted a tweet this morning in response to a question about favouritism towards the All Blacks saying, "Agree with this wholeheartedly. No special treatment *AB fans that feel scrutinised."
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11702047&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/0ee9b991a3cb7fba93d89135f6d203448f1a8501c1ada65c660dfbc6703afb34.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T00:50:08 | null | 2016-08-29T21:17:08 | FC Barcelona isn't just raising football geniuses, they're also training youth to show heart warming humility in moments like this. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fsport%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D4%26objectid%3D11701698%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/screen-shot-2016-08-29-at-12-52-07-pm_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Barcelona youth team shows amazing sportsmanship after victory | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Video will play in Play now Don't auto play
Never auto play
FC Barcelona isn't just raising football geniuses, they're also training youth to show heart warming humility in moments like this.
Their U-13 youth side beat Omiya 1-0 in the final of the World Challenge Cup in Tokyo over the weekend.
After the final whistle, Omiya's players were completely distraught, making it all the way to the final, only to lose to one of the world's best.
But instead of boisterously celebrating the Cup victory, Barcelona's players took time to walk up to each Omiya player and console them.
Their act touched the hearts of viewers around the world as well as coaches and fans of the Omiya side.
If only all our sportsmen showed this sort of humility after winning.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11701698&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/6b415ffaad9b29c2dd62bfdcae646dfe68716866b479ea43f3411488c8104cdc.json |
[] | 2016-08-27T02:47:21 | null | 2016-08-27T01:42:36 | A 33-year-old mother has died while rescuing her two-year-old son who had fallen into the waters of Lake Powell, Utah, from a boat they were travelling in. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fworld%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D2%26objectid%3D11701065%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/SCCZEN_270816SPLCHELSEY_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Mother dies saving toddler son from drowning | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | A 33-year-old mother has died while rescuing her two-year-old son who had fallen into the waters of Lake Powell, Utah, from a boat they were travelling in.
Chelsey J. Russell, of Lakewood, Colorado was with members of her family out boating on the landmark lake when her toddler fell overboard.
Chelsey jumped in after him to save him from drowning while other family members tried to stop the houseboat they were in and turn it around to pick them both up.
Although the entire ordeal lasted just moments, by the the time family members had reached the mother and son, Chelsey was unconscious. Neither she nor her son had been wearing life jackets at the time of the incident.
Miraculously, she had managed to place her son on her chest meaning the little boy's head was above the waterline and he was able to breathe.
Eventually Chelsey and the youngster were hauled back into the boat, at which point family members began performing CPR on her.
The family reached the shore a short time later where attempts to resuscitate Chelsey continued, but she was pronounced dead a short time later.
The San Juan County Sheriff's Office gave a little further explanation as to why it took so long for the family to turn their boat around and pick Chelsey and the boy up.
"A significant distance developed between the mother and child and the houseboat before the houseboat could be shut down', a report posted to social media stated.
Continued below.
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Deputies said a Chelsey's brother then untied a smaller boat being towed by the houseboat in an attempt to reach the pair of them faster but by that time Chelsey was completely under the water.
She was able to hold her son above water long enough for him to be rescued.
The two-year-boy son was flown by medical helicopter to a hospital in Flagstaff, Arizona, but has now been released.
The doting mother worked as a lawyer in Denver. The firm posted a statement in memory of Russell on its website Thursday: "Chelsey was an amazing mother, an exceptional legal talent, an extraordinary athlete, a loyal and generous friend, and left us all better for knowing her. She is sorely missed."
The law firm's page about Chelsey states: "Ms. Russell was born and raised in Denver. After graduating with a BSBA in General Business from the University of Denver, she worked her way from land associate to landman for a local oil and gas exploration and development company.
"Ms. Russell received her JD from the University of Denver in 2011, where she was a contributor to the Race to the Bottom Blog, a nationally recognized student/faculty collaborative corporate governance blog. Ms. Russell is actively involved in her community and enjoys running marathons, hiking, skiing, and spending time with her family."
"There are no words to convey the tragedy of losing a loved one like this," said Teri Tucker, Acting Superintendent of the national recreation area. "Our hearts are with the family and friends of the victims during this time of unexpected pain and loss."
The cause of death is presumed to be drowning, pending coroner's confirmation.
There have been more than 120 fatalities at Lake Powell in the last few decades, mainly caused by the fact victims were not wearing life jackets.
While life jackets are required for children 12 years of age and under, all boaters on Lake Powell are encouraged to wear them.
- Daily Mail | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11701065&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/990aa645bdfac5ce2b91c9f6c13015c945fb950598ac987c4f0aa7a1d309d2a6.json |
[] | 2016-08-28T22:49:10 | null | 2016-08-28T20:46:16 | An Indonesian man who claims to be the longest living human in recorded history has described how he just wants to die. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fworld%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D2%26objectid%3D11701334%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/078165000_1472037688-Mbah_Gotho_panjang_umur_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Longest living human says he is ready for death at 145 | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | An Indonesian man who claims to be the longest living human in recorded history has described how he "just wants to die".
Mbah Gotho, from Sragen in central Java, was born on December 31, 1870, according to the date of birth on his identity card.
Now officials at the local record office say they have finally been able to confirm that remarkable date as genuine.
If independently confirmed, the findings would make Mr Gotho a staggering 145 years old - and the longest lived human in recorded history.
But despite his incredible longevity, Mr Gotho says he has little wish to remain on this earth much longer.
"What I want is to die. My grandchildren are all independent," he told local media this week.
Mr Gotho has outlived all 10 of his siblings, four wives, and even his children. His nearest living relatives are grand children, great grand children, and great-great grandchildren.
One of Mr Gotho's grandsons said his grandfather has been preparing for his death ever since he was 122.
He has even bought a burial site close to the graves of his children.
"The gravestone there was made in 1992. That was 24 years ago," Mr Gotho's grandson said.
Continued below.
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Members of the family said Mr Gotho now spends most of his time sitting and listening to the radio because his eyesight is too poor to watch television.
He has had to be spoon-fed and bathed for the past three months as he has become increasingly frail.
When asked what his secret to longevity is, Mr Gotho replied: "The recipe is just patience."
While record office staff say they have confirmed the birth date on his identity card, he will not make it into the record books until the findings are independently verified.
The current record holder, French woman Jeanne Calment, died in 1997 at the age of 122.
- Daily Telegraph UK | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11701334&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/16f2d7f2357b10a17be242cc224bede4c6101c1035738d4f76c5eab34a719dbb.json |
[] | 2016-08-29T18:49:32 | null | 2016-08-29T17:37:48 | These are the two United pilots who were arrested at Glasgow airport on suspicion of being too drunk to fly their transatlantic passenger jet from Scotland to the US. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fworld%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D2%26objectid%3D11701643%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/united_airline_pilots_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Pilots arrested on suspicion of being too drunk to fly are both military veterans | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | These are the two United pilots who were arrested at Glasgow airport on suspicion of being too drunk to fly their transatlantic passenger jet from Scotland to the US.
Concerns over Carlos Roberto Licona and Brady Grebenc's sobriety were said to have been raised before the UA162 flight from Glasgow to Newark, New Jersey.
The flight, carrying 141 passengers, eventually took off on Saturday evening with a new crew on board.
Grebenc, 35, and Licona, 45, both claim to be military veterans who have worked as flight instructors.
Licona was awarded in 2013 by the FFA for "setting a positive example" to other pilots.
The men are being held at Goven police station and are expected to appear at Paisley Sheriff Court on Monday.
According to his LinkedIn page, Licona has spent the last 28 years working in Military Intelligence, working for the United States Air National Guard.
At the same time, the account says, he worked as a pilot, check airman and simulator instructor for Colgan Air from September 2003-January 2014. He has been working at United since then.
An Air Force spokesman confirmed that Licona is a guardsman assigned to the 111 Reconnaissance Squadron, Ellington Field, Texas, and holds the rank of senior master sgt.
In 2013, Licona was awarded with inclusion on the FAA Airmen Certification Database, according to Aviation Business Gazette.
Continued below.
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The award recognises "certified pilots who have met or exceeded the high educational, licensing and medical standards established by the FAA," the site said.
Grebenc is a native of Fort Worth, Colorado, living in Columbus, Mississippi.
His LinkedIn page says that he is an 'Instructor Pilot with 8+ years of service, United States Air Force and United States Air Force Reserve.
"Five years international fixed wing flying experience. Four years experience instructing primary flying skills in the Joint Primary Pilot Training Environment."
In total, he says, he has logged "3,200+ hours of Accident and Incident-free flying in high-performance fixed-wing aircraft."
He has been working at United since April 2015. Prior to that he had been a US Air Force T-6 instructor pilot for around five-and-a-half years, four-and-a-half of that as a reservist.
Before that, he was a KC-135 Instructor Pilot in the US Air Force for three years and eight months.
One of this Facebook photographs shows him wearing the patch of the 43rd Flying Training Squadron. A Columbus Air Force Base photograph lists his rank as captain.
Another photo on his page shows the patch of the 22d Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, which has been deployed in combat in the War on Terror.
@united what is going on with the Glasgow-Newark flight UA162? Police in the tunnel, very little information, been here for hours. — Erin Richmond (@_erinrichmond) August 27, 2016
A Police Scotland spokesman said: "Police Scotland can confirm that two men aged 35 and 45 have been arrested and are presently detained in police custody in connection with alleged offences under the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003, Section 93."
The section of the Act relates to carrying out pilot function or activity while exceeding the prescribed limit of alcohol.
A spokesman for Glasgow Airport added: "We are aware of the police incident yesterday involving two pilots."
The incident follows the appearance in court last month of two Canadian pilots charged with being drunk as they prepared to fly a passenger jet from Scotland to Toronto.
Jean-Francois Perreault, 39, and Imran Zafar Syed, 37, were arrested on Monday July 18 before they were due to take off on the Air Transat flight from Glasgow Airport.
The men were remanded in custody when they first appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court, also charged under section 93 of the same Act.
At a second hearing at the same court they were granted bail on condition they surrender their passports.
Section 93 of the Railway and Transport Safety Act states: "A person commits an offence if he performs an aviation function at a time when the proportion of alcohol in his breath, blood or urine exceeds the prescribed limit, or he carries out an activity which is ancillary to an aviation function at a time when the proportion of alcohol in his breath, blood or urine exceeds the prescribed limit."
For pilots, the limit of alcohol in the case of breath is nine micrograms of alcohol in 100 milliliters, according to the Act.
A United Airlines spokesperson refused to comment on the case, instead referring to a statement that reads: "The two pilots have been removed from service and their flying duties.
"We are co-operating with the authorities and will conduct our own investigation as well. The safety of our customers and crew is our highest priority."
The Air Force has been contacted for comment.
- Daily Mail | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11701643&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/5c34a9399fdba5537a34f077b50017e8f2943ba85fe73705122e5c12dd7efb0f.json |
[] | 2016-08-28T18:48:44 | null | 2016-08-28T09:35:16 | Caroline Quirey looks like a normal 11-year-old but behind her smile the Dunedin school pupil is fighting a rare bone marrow disorder. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11701281%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/9d4b6ea24d0f69be938f7b7e0e0a35d1df7f3a1f_1024x761.jpg | en | null | Kiwi kid faces lifesaving transplant | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | By Margot Taylor
Caroline Quirey looks like a normal 11-year-old but behind her smile the Dunedin school pupil is fighting a rare bone marrow disorder.
Since being diagnosed with aplastic anaemia in June, Caroline has had weekly platelet transfusions and fortnightly blood transfusions to replenish her small body with the blood cells the disorder is depriving her of.
Tomorrow she will travel to Starship children's hospital in Auckland to prepare for a stem cell transplant which her mother hopes will allow her to return to school and the netball court.
The stems cells transplanted into Caroline's bone marrow will come from an anonymous donor, known only to be a German male.
Caroline's mother, Lydia Quirey, said the donor would play a crucial role in saving her daughter's life.
"It's extraordinary, she wouldn't be here without it."
Since finding out she would receive stem cells from Germany Caroline had started learning the basics of the language. "I'll be part German", the little girl joked.
Since the diagnosis Caroline had been robbed of the ability to do things she loved, including dance, physical education and swimming because of a risk of bleeding or infection, her mother said. It was "bitter sweet" to have found a stem cell match on the international bone marrow registry.
"We had mixed feelings. We were quite excited because there was a positive chance of curing her, but we were also apprehensive because we know about the process."
Before receiving the transplant, Caroline will have her immune system destroyed by chemotherapy to give her body a better chance of accepting the foreign cells.
Continued below.
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There was also a chance the cells would attack Caroline's fragile immunity, a complication called graft-versus-host, Lydia Quirey said.
She planned to take six months' unpaid leave from her job as a nurse to support Caroline while she had treatment and Caroline's father and older sister would visit the pair as often as they could, she said.
Caroline's battle with the disorder was "incredibly hard" for the family, but they were overwhelmed by an outpouring of support, Quirey said.
"There are so many families and children that go through things like this, you just don't expect it to happen to you."
A Givealittle page established by East Taieri School principal Jennifer Horgan to support the family was particularly overwhelming, she said.
Quirey acknowledged the "wonderful" support from Dunedin City Baptist Church and her workplace.
"These are things I never would have expected or asked for.
"You feel a bit undeserving."
Horgan said many of the school's 300 pupils and friends of Caroline's family, including in Australia, had made donations. "They are a wonderful family and Caroline is such a popular student."
About $7700 had been donated so far, she said.
Caroline said she was "really happy" her school was supporting her. She hoped to go back in time for her year six camp in November.
- Otago Daily Times | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701281&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/581abc2f2c7d23f3e9442be2729af49b991668ea56ce2bb26b0787dbbc90480a.json |
[
"Rodney Hide"
] | 2016-08-27T18:48:30 | null | 2016-08-27T06:28:28 | No one was promising to halve the number of benefit-dependent teen mums but that is what happened. And it has taken just five years. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11701096%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/b9bf2de9e0a998f84dc33c9dd021ba49b290745d_1024x761.jpg | en | null | Rodney Hide: No sex, please, we're Gen Z | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | No one was promising to halve the number of benefit-dependent teen mums but that is what happened. And it has taken just five years.
In 2010 there were 4502 teenagers with a child included in their main benefit. Today there are 2057.
The drop is astonishing.
Abortions are down, too.
They peaked for 15-19 year olds at 4173 in 2007 and dropped to 1635 last year. That's a 60 per cent drop.
Similar drops have been reported in England, Wales and the US.
Surveys in the US show teens having less sex. No one knows why.
Teenage mums typically stay benefit-dependent for 20 years. Thirty per cent stay trapped their entire working lives.
It's an almost surefire way to be poor and, sadly, their children appear disproportionately in all bad statistics.
The huge drop in benefit-dependent teenage mums bodes well for the future.
We seldom see a turnaround in negative social statistics and never one as dramatic or as significant as this.
It would be nice to attribute it to some new, enlightened policy, or better education, but there's nothing apparent to pin it to. The cause is a mystery.
One suggestion gaining currency is the ready availability of broadband and the rise of social media.
Teenagers spend more and more time on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and the theory follows that teens socialise online rather than down at the park with a bottle of vodka. Certainly the timing fits. But I suspect the suggestion is altogether too prissy. Facebook and Twitter are fun but not that much fun.
I suggest the more likely reason is teenagers doing their sexual exploration online by sending each other naughty pictures and watching porn. They're the online generation, and find that easier, more comfortable and safer than the old-fashioned fumbling in the back of a car.
If that's the case, the internet sex that's bothering us all has a big upside. The fibre rollout is the best social policy any government has undertaken anywhere at any time.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701096&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/0d30e08e94647c21ebf6cdd5656e91202e7860f4a7ffde815a2d77d9325bc928.json |
[] | 2016-08-29T20:49:42 | null | 2016-08-29T17:51:39 | NRL referees boss Tony Archer admits Warriors centre Solomone Kata shouldn't have been robbed of a crucial try in the first half of their loss to Wests Tigers on Sunday. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fsport%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D4%26objectid%3D11701645%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/kata3_1024x768.jpg | en | null | NRL admit bunker robbed Warriors of Kata try | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | NRL referees boss Tony Archer admits Warriors centre Solomone Kata shouldn't have been robbed of a crucial try in the first half of their loss to Wests Tigers on Sunday.
On-field referee Gerard Sutton initially awarded Kata a try on the final play before halftime.
However, it was overturned by the bunker, which ruled that Jordan Rankin was obstructed on the other side of the field.
The Warriors went on to lose 36-24, killing off their finals chances for 2016.Archer on Monday said there wasn't sufficient evidence to go against the on-field ruling, explaining that the contact on Rankin by the Warriors attacker was minimal.
"The determination from the bunker needs to be made as to whether or not the impact on Rankin is sufficient enough to overturn the live decision of try," Archer told NRL.com.
"Because the point of where the ball is scored over on the far side, the ability of Edwards and the other defenders to defend, I don't think there's sufficient (evidence) to overturn the live decision."So they should have confirmed the try."
Archer's admission is certain to rankle the Warriors, who were also controversially denied a second try to halfback Shaun Johnson in the second half due to an obstruction on Aaron Woods.
However, Archer stood by that decision.Warriors coach Andrew McFadden was particularly critical of the Johnson ruling post-game.
"If you play them in live motion they're just not obstruction," McFadden said.
"The second one there with Woods, he's engaged the attacker, he's never going to get Johnson there. He's just milked it." | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11701645&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/83ef675fd246c8efec5603dbc446438b41f887bd95edc34f64aba60431a3d925.json |
[
"Alan Duff"
] | 2016-08-29T18:49:52 | null | 2016-08-29T03:23:22 | There can't be many New Zealanders who don't love the All Blacks. I have a daughter who doesn't; used to go fishing with a bloke in Hawke's Bay, all hulking six feet four (192cm) of - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fsport%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D4%26objectid%3D11701529%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/SCCZEN_A_20816NZHBPALLBLACKS78_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Alan Duff: Why loving the All Blacks is good for us | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | There can't be many New Zealanders who don't love the All Blacks. I have a daughter who doesn't; used to go fishing with a bloke in Hawke's Bay, all hulking six feet four (192cm) of him, who'd never played rugby nor had the slightest interest. But they're the exception.
The All Blacks are kind of our religion. Yet we don't worship as such so much as passionately analyse every moment and every player. Unlike the French, who are passionate just for its own sake. Each and every male Kiwi rugby fan considers himself an expert, if not a better coach and selector than the three wise men. How often do we hear, "How has Hansen picked this guy? He's terrible."?
This atypical bloke can't be told he was no great shakes as a player, if he played senior rugby at all. Let alone coached a team. In every bar, at every rugby club, the same type looks you in the eye and says, "Hansen inherited most this team from Graham Henry. Anyone could coach them to victory." With not a blink.
In the same way, many sports journalists think they know better than the All Black coaches. I always think of the player's parents, how they must feel to read scathing criticism of the son whose career they made by taking him to every practice, watching every game. A father spent countless hours passing, fetching kicks, teaching tackling techniques, sidestep, body positioning. A mother and all that muddy washing turned into a perfectly ironed stack of sorts and jersey, socks and polished boots so her son just assumed this happened by some miracle. Letting her boy shed secret tears in her arms.
The sacrifices they made, both of time and stretched finances; never letting go the dream. To finally wear that most-coveted black jersey only to be damned by an overweight journo, or a scrawny one who never played a minute of the game. How would you feel as a parent to read the knockers?
Now we have this hater phenomenon: armies of cowards given life by the anonymity of social media. No different to a kid given free range throwing stones at people passing his house with no consequences.
The beautiful game has got better. Because the players are paid and pretty handsomely by Kiwi standards. They're definitely far bigger; Colin Meads is smaller than some wings. Their skills take our breaths away.
Continued below.
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I left a place in the middle of France at 4am to drive back to see the Sydney Bledisloe Cup test, with the final draft of a column to write first. At an ex-pat Kiwi's house, with something of an international cast, we saw a first half of sublime beauty - if such a word-combination is permitted. The little Maori link, Aaron Smith, is his own act of sublime beauty: flow, swiftness, skill, impossibly long accurate passes, tenacity, cunning; taunting, grim and smiling, a ferocious tackler. And he's just one of near an entire team of world-class players. We've had four beautiful years of this.
In fact, way more than four. Our All Blacks have helped define our country. At the Frankfurt Book Fair several years ago I said in every interview that rugby defines us before anything else. Now settle down you literary folk. I love literature the same as you do. Rugby the same.
Stand on any sideline, from Te Hapua to the Bluff, to see the same enthusiasm, the same racial inclusion, the same parents-from-hell and tch-tching quieter ones.
See the blokes in swannis, gumboots, oilskins, track pants and thongs; hear the mums calling out encouragement, restraining from embarrassing her boy with a hug after the match. Observe them, listen, feel them and know your countrymen and women. Rugby has done more for racial harmony than any government policy or Maori radicals' hard-won demands for respect.
We care not that Tana leading the haka is Samoan Kiwi, or Richie is a Pakeha, or that Liam is a mixed-race adoptee of, he says, magnificent parents who happen to be English. Now Aaron has taken over where Piri left off. Buck raised the bar way back. The ABs keep getting better and better.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11701529&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/1b7404e93d3cba756ad8e81f3f3e38ba4197ded0db0dd9b07117432b387c394a.json |
[
"Russell Blackstock Is A Senior Reporter At The Weekend Herald",
"Herald On Sunday."
] | 2016-08-26T20:47:07 | null | 2016-08-26T03:33:29 | Rugby heart-throb Malakai Fekitoa tonight lines up for his 17th test in the famous All Blacks jersey. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fsport%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D4%26objectid%3D11700852%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/SCCZEN_A_051015NZHBPRWC1270_1024x768.jpg | en | null | How Fekitoa defied the odds to become an All Blacks hero | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Russell Blackstock is a senior reporter at the Weekend Herald and Herald on Sunday.
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Rugby heart-throb Malakai Fekitoa tonight lines up for his 17th test in the famous All Blacks jersey.
But the big-time occasion is a world away from when the midfielder was told as a youngster: "You'll never make it".
Fekitoa will take the field against the Wallabies at Wellington's Westpac Stadium in the battle for the Bledisloe Cup.
And on game day, the 24-year-old opened up on how his rising rugby career is built on the back of a steely motivation to prove his critics wrong.
Doubters insisted he didn't have the presence to play centre - believing he would break the line instead of passing on.
And schoolyard bullies back in Tonga still taunt him about his childhood limp to this day. As a kid Fekitoa could not walk for a year after a freak accident in which a large door fell from a village hall and crushed him, dislocating his hip.
His mother warned him off ever playing rugby. And his father, who died after a car crash, never lived to see his son star as a professional sportsman.
Fekitoa's story features in a new advertising campaign launched today by Rebel Sport and is told by top sporting motivational speaker Eric Thomas.
"Even when you do well, there are always people that doubt you and want you to fail," Fekitoa said. "They are the reason I push myself so hard. I wanted to prove those people wrong.
"From a young age people said I wasn't good enough to play in New Zealand. My "Why" was to make my family proud and to make a better life for all of us. I knew I had something in me, I just needed to find a way to push it."
Continued below.
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This single-minded motivation energising an athlete to defy odds and perform at the highest levels of their sport is familiar to many athletes.
Rugby legend Michael Jones believes this is one of the main springboards for young talent who make the transition from community to professional sport.
"It takes huge motivation and self-belief for a young Pacific islander to move to NZ alone," he said. "Leaving behind his support structures ... his family, kaaiga, village, church, and community in the islands ... for NZ, even if there is a well-integrated and established Pasifika community here.
"It is especially difficult for those forwhom English is a second language, and even more so if they have had setbacks in life already."
Highlanders powerhouse Malakai's journey from humble Tongan roots in a village setting to overcoming adversary and even a physical disability to becoming a rugby superstar is a powerful inspiration for generations of Pacific island and athletes the world over, Jones added.
Rebel Sport marketing manager, Tanya Laurence, said telling the story of Fekitoa's life was a big responsibility.
"We wanted to ensure that we portrayed it in the most authentic way," she said. "Malakai trusted us with his story, in the hope that it will inspire others to get up, prove everyone wrong and live up to their true potential."
Malakai's story is the first of a series covering a range of athletes across different codes, which will be released by Rebel Sport over the next 12 months.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11700852&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/48e794638e318806cf49853eac2d2728bd25ed428db8665d2aa22db9d4ffabdf.json |
[] | 2016-08-29T04:49:16 | null | 2016-08-29T03:44:49 | When Courtney Stevenson was 8-years-old, she wrote a message, sealed it in a sprite bottle and set it adrift. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11701542%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/14095747_10153923374024072_7164619583173814842_n_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Child's message in a bottle floated for 21 years | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | When Courtney Stevenson was 8-years-old, she wrote a message, sealed it in a sprite bottle and set it adrift.
The message floated from Shelley Beach in Picton to the shores of the Chatam Islands, where it was found by resident Richard Groomes 21 years after it was cast out to sea.
"It was quite fragile and falling to bits, so I took the plastic bottle home and cut it with a knife," Groomes told Fairfax media.
"It's been floating around for a very long time.
"I was surprised at how old it was - it could have been to Antarctica and back for all we know."
Stevenson was thrilled to hear from Groomes, who said he spends a lot of time on the beach.
"I even said to my dog that day 'I wonder when we're going to find a message in a bottle'.
"And bugger me, there it was."
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701542&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/c4c14f0deccda86af3f676f66851cef43e1f279bc7eb4fb1c4725cf9fcc305ec.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:06:13 | null | 2016-08-26T01:59:15 | A secret review of the much maligned Super Rugby competition has recommended Australia and South Africa axe one team each. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fsport%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D4%26objectid%3D11700793%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/Brumbies4_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Secret Super rugby review: Axe a team from Australia and South Africa | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | A secret review of the much maligned Super Rugby competition has recommended Australia and South Africa axe one team each.
The Sydney Morning Herald has revealed the recommendation for a new 16-team Super Rugby model was presented to the Australian Rugby Union board last week.
The news outlet claimed other proposed models were also being looked at including the possibility of South Africa losing two teams. Another version actually advocates expanding the tournament even further.
The revelation comes as the Sanzaar joint venture plans out its next 10 years around a competition that is lucrative yet deeply unpopular among fans over its current 18-team format.
Consultancy group Accenture is driving the review but is still at least two months away from settling on a preferred structure.
The Herald reported that Accenture has just completed a lengthy consultation process with 28 stakeholders, including the 18 current teams, the national unions from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina and Japan, plus the host broadcaster from each country.
The news outlet claimed the ARU board spent considerable time at its meeting discussing the prospect of Australia surrendering one of its Super Rugby licences in time for the 2018 season. A 16-team competition could be played under a more workable four conference format.
The Herald nominated the Perth-based Western Force as the most likely victims but said any move to axe them would "represent a major strategic retreat by the ARU from its commitment to a national footprint".
But it noted the ARU will need to consider the dire action as an "immediate solution to rugby's intractable financial problems".
"Less than a year after the new SANZAAR broadcast deal delivered the ARU a record $A285 million cash injection over five years, the celebrations have come to an abrupt end," said the paper.
"The ARU has informed the five Super Rugby franchises they can expect a $A500,000 funding shortfall from head office next year, while the ARU searches for a new sponsor for Super Rugby and gets to grips with the true financial picture at the Western Force and the Brumbies."
The Herald pointed out that the ARU did not secure a naming rights sponsor for the June Test series against England, or this year's Rugby Championship. And also that the Force were bailed out by $A800,000 of additional funding from head office, the Canberra-based Brumbies also have significant financial issues and the Waratahs reported a small $A100,000 profit last year.
In addition in Melbourne the Rebels are being propped up by private owners while the Reds are embarking on a re-building phase with a new coach and chief executive after posting a loss of more than $A1 million last year. | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11700793&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/60a8aac3cf9aa01dd2ae25b39a19520047aa10f86f03f572a68645fc04a4a964.json |
[
"Vaimoana Tapaleao Is The New Zealand Herald'S Pacific Affairs",
"People Reporter."
] | 2016-08-27T18:48:00 | null | 2016-08-27T08:01:26 | Making your own organic bread is pretty fancy already. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11701108%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/efb0603a009fb7f4a6d8cf8816c109854f8f0c30_1024x761.jpg | en | null | Flour-power the new big fresh | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Vaimoana Tapaleao is the New Zealand Herald's Pacific Affairs and People reporter.
Making your own organic bread is pretty fancy already.
But a new artisan bakery in Auckland is going one step further - by making its own flour, too.
It's the new eating trend taking off overseas and now it's arrived in New Zealand.
Amano Bakery, at Britomart, is installing its own flour mill in what its owners say is a bid to introduce customers to a truly fresh eating experience.
The establishment is owned by the Hip Group, which runs several hot-spot restaurants and cafes around Auckland City including Milse, Ortolana, Kohi Corner, Rosie, Provenance and St Heliers Bay Bistro.
Co-owner Scott Brown said installing a flour mill aligned with their goal of providing fresh, sustainable and truly good food.
"In the bakery, instead of just buying flour from beautiful wheat growers who mill the flour, we decided to do it ourselves because we wanted that fresher flour.
"We found it really hard, in New Zealand, to get good boutique and consistent flour and so that's why we decided to go and do it ourselves - so that we can have that ultimate experience of fresh, fresh, fresh flour," he said.
"It's all about pushing the boundaries and doing the world's best. We always try to keep on pushing our chefs and our staff to become better at what they do and have more quality over what they're doing."
As well as making flour for fresh breads, croissants and other pastry delights, the mill will also be used for a new pasta bar the bakery is due to set up.
Diners will be able to choose their pasta dish and see the pasta being made in front of them.
Continued below.
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A number of bakeries in Australia and the US have started using their own in-house flour mills.
And closer to home, Amano isn't the only eatery taking up the trend.
Parnell restaurant Pasture offers customers home-baked sourdough made from grains it mills on site.
"It's not hugely common, it's very boutique," Brown said.
Amano will host a convention next week where bakers from around New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific will gather to talk and learn about all things bread.
It will also be an opportunity to show off the new flour mill.
Ultimately, taking things back to basics was what Amano's food was about, Brown said.
"We want to give our customers the ultimate taste experience with no fillers, no extenders, no chemicals.
"We only get one body in life.
"There are enough pollutants in the world - we don't need to be putting more pollutants in to our bodies."
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701108&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/1c3b504b20d429e79e3be42105369965df4f52579c6e813ee7e65edac51a72a7.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T22:50:27 | null | 2016-08-30T21:04:00 | A truck fire on an Auckland motorway is now out, but the delays remain. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11702090%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/310816SPLFIRE1_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Truck goes up in flames on Auckland motorway | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Video will play in Play now Don't auto play
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A truck fire on an Auckland motorway is now out, but the delays remain.
The blaze sent a plume of black smoke into the air above the South Western Motorway near Lambie Drive.
The Transport Agency says traffic is still slow in both directions, with one lane blocked.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11702090&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/352caaf8f2b3a0e6f93b0426254563929fc6eba19da5e51b71598d3594e7fe20.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T22:50:17 | null | 2016-08-30T21:36:51 | Mediaworks journalist Karen Rutherford has spoken out for the first time since she was hit by a car while horse riding. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11702107%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/SCCZEN_310816SPLRUTHERFORD1_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Mediaworks journo Karen Rutherford speaks out after crash while horse riding | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Mediaworks journalist Karen Rutherford has spoken out for the first time since she was hit by a car while horse riding.
It has also been revealed the 28-year-old driver who hit her was a Chinese national who had been in New Zealand for a short time, Mediaworks reported.
In her a video posted to her Facebook page, Rutherford said the matter was in police hands now.
"We did nothing wrong," she said. "This was an avoidable tragedy."
Rutherford suffered a broken leg, a head injury, and broken ribs and toes in the crash, and the horse she was riding, Curious George, was killed.
Rutherford's daughter Ella, 13, was also riding with her at the time, but was not hit.
Rutherford has been in hospital since the Dairy Flat incident on August 21.
"I'm not sure where to start," she said in the Facebook video.
"How do you thank people who have just been so generous with their thoughts and wishes in the last eight days, I'm just so grateful, as is my beautiful family, for all the love and support you've shown us," she says in the video.
"My leg has been degloved. I won't be wearing a miniskirt for a very long time. 'Woohoo', I hear you say! It's not pretty, but I have a leg, and you've got to be thankful for that.
"I went flying through the air and I hit that windscreen with an almighty force. But when I opened my eyes in that ditch, I just thought 'wow, I'm alive. This is cool, I'm okay'. Then the panic set in."
Continued below.
Related Content Viral New Zealand Police campaign wins social media award Cartoon: Country crying out for Nick Smith Don't expect instant gratification from tech
Prime Minister John Key has ruled out making tourists pass a driving test, as it would mean "retaliatory" action against Kiwis driving overseas.
Key has ruled out forcing tourists to pass a driving test, saying it would mean "retaliatory" action against Kiwis wanting to drive overseas.
"I don't think the answer would be running people through a very short-term test I don't think that is likely to work."
He said a testing regime would be likely to be replicated overseas.
"I think New Zealanders when they went overseas and had to get tested they would find that very frustrating."
He said the rate of tourist-caused accidents was "certainly not perfect but it has improved".
He spoke of other initiatives such as tourism operators, rental car companies educating tourist drivers, arrows painted of the right hand side of the road, and educational videos on Air New Zealand planes.
A foreigner that holds a valid overseas licence in English and that hasn't been disqualified is allowed to drive in New Zealand if they have been in the country for less than a year.
Official figures from the Ministry of Transport show foreign drivers caused 19 deaths last year, 113 serious injuries and 616 minor injuries, Mediaworks said.
- NZ Herald
entertainment | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11702107&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/1bd5cae5f7c6105b76c05336ced7b836b479a951c2ca9a2ee608f8a16d1583d2.json |
[] | 2016-08-29T18:49:35 | null | 2016-08-29T09:59:09 | The mind power of China's Shaolin Warriors is impressive, as Auckland school students found out yesterday. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11701635%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/b65ce3dd43e34d2a3d2bd210aebdac38c9889a36_1024x761.jpg | en | null | China's Shaolin Warriors Showing mind-power | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Video will play in Play now Don't auto play
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The mind power of China's Shaolin Warriors is impressive, as Auckland school students found out yesterday.
Christina Sieberhagen, 12, tried to remove a small bowl that was held only by the stomach of a warrior, at Ponsonby Intermediate School yesterday. But she couldn't do it - the warrior was simply too strong.
The Shaolin performers train in martial arts for several hours each day and practise focused Buddhist meditation to help them endure discomfort and pain.
In their show, their feats include balancing on metal spears and smashing marble slabs with their heads.
The Shaolin Warriors Kung-fu show is in Wellington from tomorrow until Sunday and Auckland from September 7-11.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701635&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/eb6dd5ec90b8248110512d29215209ff1b7e3533dee9928dce55f277524d342d.json |
[
"Reporter For The New Zealand Herald",
"Pizova'S Czech Friend"
] | 2016-08-28T04:48:00 | null | 2016-08-26T23:12:37 | The Czech tourist who watched her partner fall to his death on the Routeburn Track plans to donate money to the New Zealand agencies that saved her life. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11701047%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/SCCZEN_260816NZHJAPRESSCONF11_1024x763.jpg | en | null | Routeburn Track tramper to donate money to Kiwi agencies | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Video will play in Play now Don't auto play
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The Czech tourist who watched her partner fall to his death on the Routeburn Track plans to donate money to the New Zealand agencies that saved her life.
Pavlina Pizova survived a harrowing month is a remote cabin, snowed in and alone after watching her partner Ondrej Petr, 27, breathe his last breath, would like to give back to those who helped her to safety.
She was found by rescuers at the isolated warden's hut at Lake MacKenzie last Thursday.
While she recovers from hypothermia and frostbite, Pizova is resting at the Glenorchy home of Vladka Kennett, Consul for the Czech Republic.
"At the moment she can't do much more - she's just trying to recuperate and get everything back to normal, which is not easy, but she's doing well."
Kennett said Pizova's intention was to give something back to those who helped rescue her and recover Petr's body.
"She has decided to make a donation back to Land SAR and the Department of Conservation as a thank you."
Land SAR is a charity, and volunteers in 2014 and 2015 donated nearly 20,000 hours of their own time to rescue operations and spent more than 76,000 hours training.
In an emotional statement to the public last week, Pizova thanked her rescuers.
Continued below.
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Kennett said Pizova wanted to return home to her family as soon as possible.
This is not the first time the woman, in her 30s, has been touched by tragedy in the mountains.
"In a group of our friends there were several people who died in mountains or were seriously injured and they were really experienced mountaineers," Pizova's friend told Czech News Centre.
"We all knew that life is fragile but we [still] go to mountains."
Pizova and Petr, both from tiny Czech towns, started their journey despite being warned off by Department of Conservation staff, having no tent or locator beacon and telling no one of their plans.
After just one night on the track in freezing conditions including falling snow, strong winds and heavy fog, they slipped about 7m down a steep slope.
Petr fell further and became pinned between rocks and vegetation. Pizova tried but failed to reach him, and heard him take his last breath.
Pizova's tale of survival has been labelled "courageous" and "resilient", and she was praised by Police and DOCfor remaining at the hut, waiting to be rescued.
"In a group of our friends there were several people who died in mountains or were seriously injured and they were really experienced mountaineers. Pizova's Czech friend
Her friend, who asked not to be named, told Czech News Centre the couple bonded over their shared love for the outdoors.
"She and Ondrej like hiking and mountaineering very much. I think she needed to be with someone active . . . "She was able to hike 70km tracks just alone. She is handy, good at technical issues. When she went for a bike she was able to repair it on her own."
The friend knew Pizova had planned to walk the Routeburn Track, but didn't find it odd she hadn't heard from her in a month as they didn't speak regularly.
Another friend, who gave her name only as Martina, told Czech News Centre Pizova had been very active on Facebook, uploading many pictures since she had been in New Zealand.
Pizova's last post was on July 14. Martina knew she hadn't been in contact with any friends for a month.
Pizova is staying at the home of Consul for the Czech Republic, Vladka Kennett, who lives in Glenorchy, near Queenstown.
Petr's body was recovered by Search and Rescue on Friday.
His death had been referred to the Coroner.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701047&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/ac7fada86232794f551b8a5bf04b6bb22d37cef58a34a7012add3ef1e7ac1c54.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T02:49:35 | null | 2016-08-29T22:31:22 | If you're a snorer, you've probably blamed it on allergies, too much alcohol, a lumpy pillow, or even your genes. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Flifestyle%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D6%26objectid%3D11701743%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/snore2_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Could this be the real cause of snoring? | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | If you're a snorer, you've probably blamed it on allergies, too much alcohol, a lumpy pillow, or even your genes.
But new research suggests snoring is most likely caused by a combination of tiredness and exposure to traffic fumes.
An extensive study of 12,000 people found 25 per cent of men snored heavily at least three nights per week, with those exposed to traffic pollution the most likely to do it.
The snoring study was conducted at Bergen University in Norway, where researchers believe toxic gases and particles released by engines, particularly diesel, could be the cause.
Researchers said air pollution can cause snoring due to an increased level of inflammation in the body. Traffic noise is also believed to disrupt sleeping patterns, leaving us tired and restless.
Ane Johannessen, an epidemiologist at Bergen University in Norway, told the Daily Mail: "We know that people exposed to secondary cigarette smoking are more likely to snore, so we wondered if the toxins from traffic pollution might also be linked to snoring."
Scientists also discovered a difference between the way men and women were affected by traffic pollution and snoring.
Men who slept in bedrooms near to traffic-heavy roads were susceptible to increased snoring due to air pollution and traffic noise.
While women with similar sleeping arrangements were more susceptible to daytime sleepiness.
The data was collected from cities throughout Europe, and highlights the extent to which traffic pollution disrupts our health.
-nzherald.co.nz | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11701743&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/cc4a7726941456dee88f3bfeda757194fdf017a0370ccea3c412f811f7ff7dbf.json |
[] | 2016-08-27T18:48:22 | null | 2016-08-27T08:11:55 | New Zealand has never been home to much of a servant class - it is, after all, where DIY went to die - but hiring others to do chores, gardening, shopping, looking after your kids - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fbusiness%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D3%26objectid%3D11701110%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/SCCZEN_A_11102011SPLABBEY_1024x768.jpg | en | null | More servants than the Crawleys of Downton Abbey | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | By Paul Little
Although modern-day servants might not live under our roofs, Paul Little argues some households employ more help than the owners of Downton Abbey.
New Zealand has never been home to much of a servant class - it is, after all, where DIY went to die - but hiring others to do chores, gardening, shopping, looking after your kids and buying clothes is increasingly becoming the norm.
The average person today has more servants available to do things they could do perfectly well for themselves than the Crawleys of Downton Abbey, according to a story in the International Business Times, which surveyed the global growth of the on-demand economy.
Thank - or blame - technology, particularly smart-phone technology and apps, which can connect people who have something to fetch or carry with people to do the fetching and carrying almost instantaneously, and at a low price.
One of the best established on-demand services is online supermarket shopping, which Countdown has now been providing for 20 years.
In Downton Abbey terms, Tony Petrie, the company's national online manager, is your contemporary Mrs Carson, the housekeeper who - among other duties - kept the larder at Downton stocked on the advice of the cook, Mrs Patmore.
The main change Petrie has noticed is that the online customer base has grown to include just about everyone, because the technology has become almost universally available.
And if you wonder why you see staff wearing T-shirts explaining that they are shopping for online customers pushing trolleys along the aisles, that's because the company wants to emphasise that online shopping is just as much a human experience as getting in the car and going to the store.
"We do a lot in training the team to make sure if they wouldn't buy it they don't pick it," says Petrie.
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"They are taking the place of a human so they have to think like one." So if it's in the store it can be bought online, and at the same price including specials.
Cecilia Robinson is founder and group co-CEO of My Food Bag - better known to you as Mrs Patmore the cook.
My Food Bag has quickly established itself in a niche that few realised existed, providing home-delivered menus and the ingredients with which to prepare them for the time-poor.
The trick here is coming up with meals that will appeal to a broad range of people.
"The recipe creation process in incredibly complex," says Robinson.
"It's done through extensive planning but also through listening to customers and their feedback following their meals. You don't have wildly polarising meals - so no liver. We've got the ability for customers to tell us about their reaction every single week, and the eight of us in the leadership team review every meal every week."
As a supplement to My Food Bag, the modern day Daisy Mason, assistant cook at Downton, has her closest equivalent in Paul Duncan, who, like Daisy, is sometimes allowed into the kitchen.
His Anise Catering is the company that comes to your house and throws your dinner party for you.
He'd had enough of working in fancy restaurants, instead launching his service about two years ago on treatme.co.nz.
"I did a deal for a five-course degustation in your own home and it sold out," says Duncan.
"It was all word of mouth from there."
A large part of his business is "birthdays and wedding anniversaries, and special family events.
"I also get a lot of parents with young children who haven't been able to go out since the baby arrived. It saves them money - by the time they have gone out and paid for their meal, a baby sitter and taxis, it's cheaper."
And if you'd care for some wine with that, Debbie Sutton and Yvonne Lorkin of Wine Friend can help.
They are the online Mr Carson, butler in charge of the Downton Abbey cellar.
"Unlike other wine clubs or online retailers," says Sutton, "where if you and your neighbour sign up you get the same, we personalise every case to your individual taste."
Newbies fill out an eight-question survey to narrow their tastes down before the first order. "We curate the first selection then we refine it according to the feedback."
To her surprise, the service, which was launched last October, has a lot of winemakers on the list. "I thought they were checking us out, but they are really engaged because they tend to live in rural areas, where there may not be a good wine shop."
After all that food and wine you might need the services of a house maid, like Gwen Harding to clean up the worst of the mess, which is where on-demand darlings the Morning After Maids, Cat Ashurst and Rebecca Foley, come in - literally.
They only do weekends, and only clean up after parties. But they'll bring you hangover food and coffee.
They have taken on two more maids recently.
They weren't thinking point of difference, when they began, merely building on what they knew.
"We've both got dogs and everyone loves our little dogs so we decided to take them with us. That turned into them being the Morning After Mascots."
Still, party aftermath has to be pretty yucky, right?
"Food that has gone gross just wigs me out," says Ashurst. "So Becs deals with that.
"Some people won't be able to deal with blood or spew. That's when you team everyone up with the right personality so everyone can do the job."
Ashurst is clearly a non-judgmental people person.
"The weekend before last we had a fabulous guy, covered head to toe in something. We couldn't work out what it was, but it was all over his very expensive suit.
"He kept dancing and was singing to us."
In the Downton hierarchy there are people who spend more time upstairs than downstairs, one of whom is Miss O'Brien the senior lady's maid whose local equivalent is Yvette Hopkins, the Bespoke Dresser.
She'd be unlikely to use such a shopworn phrase, but Hopkins is all about dressing for success.
Some personal stylists are attached to shopping malls, which severely limits their choices, but Hopkins is independent and has a background of many years in high-end fashion that has left her with an unbeatable range of contacts.
Her customers "can go into private dressing rooms at Louis Vuitton or have a VIP experience at Gucci.
"I have a really tight list of suppliers who I've vetted that regularly get mystery shopped to make sure their service meets my standard."
How far will she go for a client? To Europe, if necessary.
"There was a bit of a let-down with a courier on one occasion and rather than having a piece missing from an ensemble for a wedding I booked a flight and hand-delivered a jacket to the bride."
But if you just want a jacket picked up from home and dropped off at work, Urban Sherpa is the app for you, filling the role of Downton's first footman Thomas Barrow.
Founder Brian Dewil explains: "Essentially we respond to people's requests to purchase on their behalf or to pick up purchased goods."
Since the service was launched in June last year, more people are using it for every-day errands.
"We've had people say, 'Here's the key to my house. Go into my bedroom, open the wardrobe, get the third jacket on the left, then lock the house behind you and bring it back'."
It's not just about laziness or forgetfulness. "There have been people who couldn't leave the house because of problems with diarrhoea who needed medication.
"We've had people stranded in Starship many times. I used it myself when I was in hospital two weeks ago with appendicitis. I came out of surgery and was hungry so I got Urban Sherpa to bring me takeaways."
It would seem a natural fit for drivers working for Uber, the on-demand taxi service, but not so, according to Dewil.
"There's a big difference between the Uber driver and the on-demand delivery driver. The first one is used to sitting in the car, going from A to B, not having to park.
"The Urban Sherpa driver is dealing with parking, restaurant customers, tight timelines. Uber drivers see it as too hard work."
As well as the services above, you can employ people in New Zealand to choose and hang your Christmas decorations, come to your home to give you a work-out, wash, dry, iron and fold your laundry and do your knitting.
Among other things.
That the work is done on demand is the key factor in the growth of many of these businesses.
The people doing the work aren't employed. Unlike Mrs Patmore and the other Downton staff, who at least had a roof over their heads and three inferior meals a day, the modern servant class have no security of tenure.
Bill Newson is national secretary of E Tu, the umbrella union representing a wide range of workers.
Think of him as Tom Branson - the former chauffeur and Irish socialist in Downton Abbey. He has a downbeat take on the on-demand economy.
"What's happening is a huge shift from what we call high-value jobs for working people to more insecure, low-values jobs where the risk of employment is transferred basically from the employer to the employee," says Newson.
Although the official unemployment figure is 130,000, there are another 340,000 people in part-time work and registered as looking for more work to make a living income.
"In the meantime, they can pick up a few hours providing labour for the on-demand economy.
"You often hear it touted that the modern young workforce is liberated from the yoke of a life spent in one job and will have 15 careers," says Newson.
"The brutal reality is they'd love to have the security of a single well-paid job. So they can get things we take for granted like a mortgage or a hire purchase agreement.
"The freedom to move around is the freedom to take the crumbs that are thrown to them."
- Herald on Sunday | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11701110&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/29cf23d17199cb39bd7b6137873a1ad5cb1ca044d66468b8d6049144edd09af7.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:08:15 | null | 2016-08-26T04:31:14 | An entire New Zealand town and their 440 inhabitants could be shifted to avoid earthquakes, flooding and landslides. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11700883%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201635/SCCZEN_A_091008splFRANZ_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Franz Josef Glacier township recommended to move to avoid earthquakes, flooding and landslides | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | By Laura Mills
An entire New Zealand town and their 440 inhabitants could be shifted to avoid earthquakes, flooding and landslides.
A report has found the Franz Josef Glacier township is in danger of multiple natural disasters.
The natural hazard assessment by the GNS Science institute was prepared for the West Coast Regional Council.
The data suggests the chance of a major earthquake from the Alpine Fault could be as high as 50 per cent in the next 50 years, not the 27 per cent that was previously thought. The 850km-long fault ruptures on average every 330 years, at intervals ranging from 140 years to 510 years. The last big earthquake on the fault line was in 1717.
The village straddles the Alpine Fault.
The fault could move 1-2m vertically and up to 9m horizontally at the southern end of the township.
Houses would be shifted off foundations and there would be widespread landslides and rockfalls, some that could fall onto the town. The report also said there could be liquefaction.
GNS Science endorse that the town be moved 5km to 10km north west of the fault line.
"We recommend that the council undertakes a cost-benefit analysis in consideration of relocating the town of Franz Josef."
The Waiho River, which flooded and destroyed the Scenic Hotel earlier this year, is carrying sediment that is increasing the height of the riverbed. At the current rate the riverbed could be 4m higher in 20 years. If a one in 100 year flood then hit it could send 1m deep floodwaters through the township.
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GNS Science recommends the north bank of the Waiho must remain protected by a floodwall. It also said the community should consider relaxing the confinement of the stopbanks on the south side, and sacrificing farmland to allow the river to flow freely.
Catastrophic rock avalanches, especially in the range east of the town,could lead to a "considerable portion, if not the entire town, being overrun" stated the report.
GNS Science said more work is needed to understand the landslide risk.
A landslide dam is another risk, whereby a dam could fill and then burst. In 1999 a dam formed in the Poerua River, near Hari Hari, and when it burst it flooded and damaged lowland native forest.
Several catchments around Franz are at risk, including the Callery River, where water from a dam break could hit the State highway bridge, heliport and lower part of the township.
The report concluded the Alpine Fault rupture and a century-scale flood are the biggest risks, and have about the same chance of occurring (0.01 per year).
Council has referred the 70-page report to the Franz Josef natural hazards working party, but has yet to discuss the findings.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11700883&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/232af575052e04fe95dba3e7e26ed29a8d246b91f3a00a5bce79745683754db1.json |
[] | 2016-08-28T10:48:14 | null | 2016-08-28T09:27:12 | Could this be the worst bunker blunder yet? - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fsport%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D4%26objectid%3D11701278%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/SCCZEN_280816NZHDPWARRIORS18_1024x768.jpg | en | null | NRL: Warriors denied spectacular try by bunker blunder | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | By Alexander Blair of news.com.au
Could this be the worst bunker blunder yet?
Commentators Mark Gasnier, Jimmy Smith and Andrew Voss blew up at half-time after a howler called by the bunker resulted in a disallowed try on a technicality in the bunker's system.
The Warriors weaved inside the Tiger's defence and scored a spectacular try as the first half closed - or so they thought.
Referee Gerard Sutton decided to review a possible forward-pass but was unable to be reviewed under the bunker's system and resulted in a clumsy obstruction call which disallowed the try.
"We're not Warriors fans and we're not Tigers fans but we've all just died a little inside," Jimmy Smith said as the first half closed.
"What are they doing, what rulebook are they applying to?"
Gasnier was especially disappointed with the system, saying little blunders such as these could have huge consequences for teams in important stages of the competition.
"It could potentially cost someone a grand final or a competition - that's why we're blowing up," he said.
When Smith suggested the call was made purely because of the forward pass, Gasnier replied: "That's possibly the worst thing I've ever heard on TV."
The Warriors will miss the NRL finals series for a fifth consecutive season after two late Wests Tigers tries gave the side a controversial 30-24 win in Auckland.
Five-eighth Mitchell Moses and centre Kevin Naiqama scored in the 76th and 79th minutes to break the Warriors' hearts.
Continued below.
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Both sides required a victory at Mt Smart Stadium to stay in the finals hunt after losing two games on the bounce and they produced an exciting end-to-end spectacle.
However two controversial disallowed try decisions against the Warriors for obstruction - and the Tigers' late tries, both after the Warriors failed to control the high ball - meant the Sydney-based outfit hold out for at least a week longer.
For the Warriors, an improved performance will count for naught after a strong mid-season run was ruined by disappointing losses to the Rabbitohs and Cowboys.
An inauspicious opening period sprung into life in the seventh minute when Tigers fullback David Nofoaluma was found to have fumbled a Manu Vatuvei grubber.
Second rower Bodene Thompson strolled over from the resulting scrum to put the Warriors in front against his former side.
The Warriors put their defensive woes against the Rabbitohs and Cowboys behind them in the opening passages, hitting the Tigers with quick line speed.
One particularly brutal Albert Vete tryline tackle knocked the ball right out of Tigers skipper Aaron Woods hands.
However the Tigers drew level in the 19th minute. when young gun Luke Brooks made a line break before prop Sauaso Sue barged over from a resulting play.
The Tigers hit the lead six minutes later after the Warriors gifted good field position with back-to-back penalties and Woods crashed over under the posts.
The Warriors hit back with two tries in two minutes.
Prolific centre Solomone Kata crossed after the Warriors created an overload on the left flank, before stalwart Simon Mannering returned his side to the lead at 18-12 with a try when centre Blake Ayshford palmed a Shaun Johnson bomb back.
Kata then wasted a golden opportunity to extend his side's lead when the ball was punched out of his hands as he went to score, before having a try disallowed on the half-time buzzer for obstruction.
The match erupted in the 56th minute when Tigers winger Josh Addo-Carr dashed 70 metres to cross and level the scores again. A try to returning utility Tuimoala Lolohea put the Warriors back in front in the 65th minute, before the Warriors had another try ruled out for obstruction two minutes later.
Sue scored his second try to level the scores yet again, before the last-gasp tries to Moses and Naiqama both following poor defence from kicks - left the Warriors to ponder what might have been yet again.
- additional reporting AAP
- news.com.au | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11701278&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/87ad32d0f931dfe690215d6ce44288d66f83ed41d1c59520cab312c1332bdccf.json |
[] | 2016-08-31T06:50:34 | null | 2016-08-31T04:11:10 | DeShawn Franklin was asleep in his bedroom when police officers, with their weapons drawn, barged in. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fworld%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D2%26objectid%3D11702350%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/deshhwxx_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Jury awards innocent man $18 after being punched, tasered and arrested | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | By Kristine Guerra
DeShawn Franklin was asleep in his bedroom when police officers, with their weapons drawn, barged in.
He was punched several times, including three times in the face.
He was also tasered, dragged out of his bedroom, handcuffed and placed in a police car.
"I didn't even know what was going on. I was just asleep," Franklin told The Washington Post. "It was just all a big shock and disturbance."
One thing became clear immediately: Franklin, then an 18-year-old high school senior, had done nothing wrong. But he did fit the description of a suspect being sought by officers: a slender, African-American man with dreads.
The incident, which occurred in the summer of 2012 in a northern Indiana suburb, prompted a civil rights lawsuit against the police officers and city officials.
Earlier this month, a jury found that the officers violated Franklin's constitutional rights by arresting him and entering his family's home without a warrant.
Still, Franklin and his family feel that justice has been denied.
The jury ordered each of the defendants to pay Franklin and his parents US$1 for the violations of their rights. The total award was US$18 in damages.
The Reverend Mario Sims, a senior pastor in South Bend, Indiana, where Franklin lives, said the small award sends a strong message to Franklin and his family: "Your rights are worth a dollar."
Continued below.
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Russell Thomas Jr, Franklin's nephew, said the whole experience was a "slap in the face."
"To me, it's just solidifying that blacks in America, we have no rights," he said. "How can we fight for something when the system was not made for us in the first place?"
Franklin isn't a thug, Sims said, and he lacks a criminal history. Still the incident four years ago left the now-22-year-old distrustful of law enforcement and in fear that something similar will happen again. He does not want to be recognised, so he has declined requests from local media for a picture of his face.
"It's traumatising," Franklin said. "It's somewhat of a burden that you have to carry every day."
The incident happened about 2.30am on July 7, 2012, when Franklin and his parents were sleeping. Officers Eric Mentz, Aaron Knepper and Michael Stuk, of the South Bend Police Department, were looking for Dan Jones, Franklin's older brother, after receiving a domestic violence call. The officers received information that Jones may have gone to his parents' house, according to an internal affairs investigation report by the police department.
Franklin's mother, Vivian Franklin, answered the door after hearing loud knocks. The officers went inside without a warrant and without asking for permission to go in, according to the report. The officers told her to stay outside on the front porch.
When they got to DeShawn Franklin's bedroom, they saw him lying on his stomach and woke him up. Startled and afraid, he resisted, so the police officers punched and used a stun gun on him.
His father, Dan Franklin, who is disabled, told the internal affairs investigator that he heard a "pop" and thought the officers had shot his son as he screamed for his mother.
The officers soon realized that they got the wrong person. Still, DeShawn Franklin was handcuffed and placed in a squad car for resisting. He was released shortly after, according to the report, and the officers apologized to the family.
The following year, DeShawn Franklin and his parents filed a civil rights lawsuit alleging excessive use of force, unlawful law enforcement entry, false arrest, infliction of emotional distress and other violations.
The internal affairs investigation found that the officers used excessive force and unlawfully entered the Franklins' home. They were disciplined for their actions, including written reprimands, Kevin Lawler, spokesman for the city, told the Indianapolis Star. The police department also trained the officers on Fourth Amendment rights and developed new classes on ethics and diversity, the Star reported.
The same three officers involved in the Franklin lawsuit were named in a 2013 case filed by Jonathan Ferguson, a 7-Eleven store clerk with a learning disability. According to a federal complaint, the officers slashed Ferguson's tire, and two of them challenged him to eat a teaspoon of cinnamon in exchange for $30 and a dinner coupon at a local Applebee's. Ferguson did, and he vomited for several hours.
The officers took a video of the "cinnamon challenge," as it had become locally known, and posted it on YouTube, according to the complaint. The parties have reached a settlement in that lawsuit.
In a suburb where more than a quarter of the population is African-American, some cite the lack of diversity in South Bend's police force as a source of tension. Of the 250 officers in 2014, only 25 were black, fewer than 10 were Hispanic and 20 were female, according to a local Fox affiliate. The city also faces several sex and race discrimination lawsuits filed by current police officers, and have settled three lawsuits involving allegations of racially motivated hate speech by police officers, according to the South Bend Tribune.
This year, however, officials implemented a plan to hire more minorities on the police force. South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, D, said there will be "no quick fixes, no silver bullets," but he promised a "sustainable change," the Tribune reported.
Peter Agostino, the attorney for the police officers and the city in the lawsuit filed by the Franklins, told The Post that the case isn't about racial injustice, but about a lack of evidence.
Although the jury found constitutional violations, there was no evidence presented in court that supported the amount of damages that the Franklins were seeking. He said the Franklins asked for more than US$1 million in damages.
In civil rights lawsuits, damages are usually measured by medical bills, lost wages, property damage, post-traumatic stress, psychological treatment, impairment and others, Agostino said. But in this case, no such evidence was presented, so the jury awarded the plaintiffs the default amount of US$1, he said.
"You can say that they experienced a deprivation of their constitutional rights," Agostino said.
"But other than the deprivation of constitutional rights, the jury did not find other damages that go along with that," he said. "They did exactly what they were instructed to do. They applied the law and determined the facts."
According to Agostino, the city did offer US$15,000 to settle the case.
Johnny Ulmer, the Franklins' attorney, was not available for comment on Monday. But he told the Star that damages for other similar cases are between US$100,000 and US$300,000.
"If they would have put an amount on the table that I felt was appropriate, we would have settled," Ulmer told the Star. "What happened that night, the physical abuse that DeShawn suffered - they were slapping my clients in the face with the offer they put out there."
Stephen Saltzburg, a George Washington University law professor who has dealt with cases on excessive use of force, said lawsuits that usually garner big damages involve excessive force that are "so out of proportion that the jury was just shocked".
In the Franklins' case, although it appeared that the jurors agreed the officers used excessive force, it didn't rise to the level that would justify a big amount. Still, Saltzburg said the amount that the Franklins received doesn't send much of a message to law enforcement about using excessive force.
"I would've expected most juries to have awarded several thousand dollars," Saltzburg said. "It doesn't seem adequate for an illegal entry into a home and for excessive force. It's so low. You can't go any lower. US$18 says, 'We don't really think much of these rights that were violated'. It's an unusually low figure."
Nationwide, the 10 largest police departments have paid out hundreds of millions of dollars in cases involving police misconduct from 2010 to 2014.
New York City, which tops the list, paid US$601.3 million in misconduct cases, according to the Wall Street Journal. Chicago was a distant second, paying US$249.7 million. Washington at No 6, paid US$30.5 million.
Buttigieg, the city's mayor, said the $15,000 that was offered would have been an appropriate settlement, adding that the officers did acknowledge they made a mistake.
"One thing that's really important is that people don't get the impression that civil rights are not taken seriously and that constitutional rights are not valued," Buttigieg told The Post.
He added that, after the incident, police officers went through training on fair and impartial policing. He also called DeShawn Franklin an "outstanding young man".
"I really want him to feel that he has a place here in South Bend, and that the city cares about him," Buttigieg said. "Anything that takes away from that is an example of what we've got to deal with. So long as there is any sense among any part of our community that they don't feel equal, we've got work to do."
DeShawn Franklin now works at the University of Notre Dame, where he sets up equipment and moves furniture. He plans to attend a community college to pursue a general studies degree or possibly study business.
He said the meager settlement he and his family received is hard for him to accept, but it is also out of his control.
"No one would feel it's appropriate for your constitutional rights to be valued at a dollar," he said. "I can't really say how much it would be worth, but no one's life is really worth that amount of money, you know."
All he can do now, he said, is move on.
"You got to still get up and try to make the best of every situation you have," he said.
- Washington Post | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11702350&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/305659089b0134f44310af56a9a5704081aef092426750610b85b43ca93b2ff3.json |
[
"Chris Rattue Is A Sports Columnist For The New Zealand Herald."
] | 2016-08-31T06:50:28 | null | 2016-08-31T04:28:07 | The Dragons are doing their best to give Benji Marshall a fitting farewell, but we all had to say goodbye to the real Benji some time ago. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fsport%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D4%26objectid%3D11702357%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/GettyImages-485903254_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Chris Rattue: We all said goodbye to the real Benji long ago | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | The Dragons are doing their best to give Benji Marshall a fitting farewell, but we all had to say goodbye to the real Benji some time ago.
No footballer, in any code, has given this punter more pleasure to watch. At his best, Marshall was not only a wizard, but a winning one.
Carlos Spencer, Eric Cantona, Cristiano Ronaldo, David Campese, George Best (as seen on murky video)...Benji Marshall resides in my pantheon of footballers whose ability to turn stunning imagination into reality puts them above the rest.
Benji was Spencer in overdrive. Nobody could squirm out of a tackle like Benji, but that was just one of his many tricks. His skipping runs, sidesteps, swerves, hop-skip-and-jumps, no-look passes, reverse passes, cut-out passes, speed, backing up, tricky kicks...they will never be forgotten and it took courage to produce them after a series of serious shoulder injuries.
Watching his greatest moments brought a lump to the throat, a shiver up the spine. The famous 2005 Pat Richards grand final try, which helped the Tigers beat the Cowboys, was among them. There was even a miraculous try save.
As the Dragons great Mark Gasnier said this week, league no longer rewards the most talented teams - Gasnier was even brave enough to say the game favoured "boring" sides. Benji was among the very few who kept the flame of sensational skill alive and he gave kids something very special to aspire to.
The last few years have not been overly kind to Marshall - he's lost the edge which made him so amazing. And while he tasted some significant international glory, including World Cup triumph, his off-the-cuff wizardry didn't always translate well into the hastily-prepared, forever changing Kiwis line-up.
But in his heyday, watching the Tigers was an invitation to sporting fantasy land. You think Jarryd Hayne or Shaun Johnson are the be all and end all of supreme skill...check out those Marshall clips and you will think again. The sheer exuberance was stunning.
Continued below.
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The Dragons have recalled Marshall to first grade for the final match of the year, before he departs to an uncertain future. Given the Newcastle Knight's horrible defence, he has a chance to dance down memory lane on Saturday evening. It might be close to curtains for Bouncing Benji. So from one of your many devoted fans, thanks for the best of sporting memories.
All power to Colin Kaepernick, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback who sits down during the anthem in protest at America's oppression of people of colour. Talk about amazing courage...
You don't have to look far to see what Kaepernick is protesting about. The supposed leader of the free world has let many of its own citizens down disgracefully while preaching to the rest of the planet. Kaepernick wants to stand against the oppression not for it, which is patriotism in a real form.
I hit the mute button anyway when the national anthems are playing before sports contests, because I've heard it all before and it comes across as just another sporting sales pitch in these days of relentless spin. And while this is certainly an amazing country to live in, it's not without faults and I don't actually "love" it more than many other countries.
All that hand on heart rubbish I can live without. Sport's willingness, even desperation, to link with the military is also appalling. And where has all this cookie-cutter patriotism got the world anyway? Good on Kaepernick. Do we actually value free speech, or just free speech which fits a popular narrative?
Who knows how to fix the Warriors but...
...have said it before, and will say it again. It's time to move on from the Manu Vatuvei era. Big Manu has been an iconic and unique Auckland sporting figure, and deserves his many fans. But he makes too many errors, and this is one of the major hurdles to turning the club around. Because of his status, the Warriors have probably got too much money tied up on the wing.
Against the Wests Tigers, Vatuvei inexplicably lost the ball on a break with a 12-point lead in the offing. At the end, he allowed a bomb to bounce, and then reacted slowly as the Tigers nailed their final try. It's just not good enough, again.
Knowing when to move famous, admired and influential players on is a vital part of any successful club. Vatuvei represents the antithesis of the amazing Melbourne Storm culture, where a core of senior players set very high standards which inspire the rest. It doesn't mean the Warriors have to play dull percentage football, but they do need to be more consistent and precise. Sorry to say, Vatuvei has been a block to that.
And finally...on All Black prop Owen Franks and the face-scraping incident involving Wallaby Kane Douglas.
Franks should have been cited. There should have been a hearing. It's as simple as that. Like many dominant teams, the All Blacks probably do get the odd break. But that was a break too far. Franks may have been exonerated at a hearing, but justice in all its fallibility needed to be done.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11702357&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/4cad7bda52fa3da396df5874e4b283b2c8d137c6693e32cebaa2e6f341735490.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T08:50:02 | null | 2016-08-30T03:56:58 | Anyone looking to sit their restricted drivers licence test in Lower Hutt better know their stuff - it has the lowest pass rate in the country with two thirds flunking. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11701940%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/iStock_000009916945_Medium_620x310_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Good luck to restricted licence sitters in Lower Hutt | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | By Amelia Wade
Anyone looking to sit their restricted drivers licence test in Lower Hutt better know their stuff - it has the lowest pass rate in the country with two thirds flunking.
And the places handing out the most full licences are Blenheim and Gore where nine out of 10 people walk away qualified for the green card.
But the New Zealand Transport Agency says just because a site has a low or high pass rate, hopefuls weren't more or less likely to fail.
According to the agency's data, last year 60 per cent of people who sat their restricted test passed and 70 per cent of those attempting to get their full licence also passed.
For restricted licence hopefuls looking to get on the road for the first time, the testing stations with the top pass rates were VTNZ North Shore in Auckland with an 85 per cent pass rate and VTNZ in Northwood, Christchurch, with 82 per cent.
However, they might want to avoid the VTNZ in Lower Hutt where just 37 per cent of drivers passed followed by the AA in Westgate, Auckland, where 43 per cent succeeded.
And for those hoping to get their full, the AA stations in Blenheim and Gore both have success rates of 93 per cent while only half pass at the AA in Invercargill and 55 per cent at the AA in Ashburton.
But the Transport Agency's national manager of delivery, Robyn Elston, said higher or a lower pass rates for an individual site did not necessarily mean a driver was more or less likely to pass their test.
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Elston said several factors could influence pass rates, including differences in the volume of tests undertaken at different sites and individual preparedness for tests.
"For example, at some sites testing officers have reported that driving instructors are presenting large numbers of students for tests who are well-prepared and confident, which is having a positive impact on pass rates in those locations."
The most important determining factor for each individual driver's likelihood of passing the test was how much that driver has practised and prepared for the test, Elston said.
In 2012 a more difficult restricted licence practical test was introduced. The national pass rate then was 40 per cent but that has now climbed to 60 per cent.
Elston said she believed as word spread that the new test was more difficult, many drivers seemed to have taken that message on board and were better prepared to sit the test.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701940&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/fe584940f4f70fc9c3bfa64bd10a67e3d7ec8255e8e52f277d38ace8381367c1.json |
[
"Tess Nichol Is An Nzme. News Service Reporter."
] | 2016-08-30T22:50:19 | null | 2016-08-30T20:52:49 | A Hastings father-of-one with another baby on the way narrowly escaped tragedy last night when an empty Jim Beam bottle was hurled through his windscreen from a passing car. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11702083%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/12734116_10156484178285431_4967605528647851669_n_1024x761.jpg | en | null | Hastings father on bottle car smash: 'The thing I thought of straight away was my kids'. | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | A Hastings father-of-one with another baby on the way narrowly escaped tragedy last night when an empty Jim Beam bottle was hurled through his windscreen from a passing car.
Caleb Olsen was on his way to Pak'n Save in Tamatea, where he has been working the night shift as a baker for the last six months, about 11 last night.
Shortly after turning onto the Hawke's Bay Expressway Olsen's car was hit by a bottle, believed to be thrown from a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction.
"Out of no where there was a big smash and a big thud on my shoulder and glass in my face," Olsen told the Herald.
"I couldn't see anything."
Olsen said he "knew instantly" it was a bottle because he could smell alcohol when it hit the windscreen.
"The thing I thought of straight away was my kids. I'm still thinking about it now, the memory of the glass shattering in my face is overwhelming."
The bottle glanced off his right shoulder after hitting the steering wheel, landing in between the driver's door and seat.
Brushing glass from his eyes, Olsen pulled over and rang police.
Continued below.
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The officer who attended told Olsen in 15 years he'd never seen such a close call.
"Probably two or three inches to the left and it would have cleaned me out," Olsen said.
"How could someone even think about doing something this stupid.
"I'm a father to a 2-year-old and I've got a child due in five weeks."
Olsen's partner of six years, Terry Nicol, had yesterday begun her maternity leave and the couple were at home today with their daughter Paige after Olsen called in to tell his work he would be taking the day off.
"[Terry's] shocked as well. It kind of sunk in about 1am and she had a bit of a cry. I'm getting through it slowly."
Police had taken the empty Jim Beam bottle away for fingerprinting.
It was the only piece of evidence they had because Olsen couldn't see anything in the dark.
"All I saw was headlights, I've got no description of the car I don't even know what colour it was."
Today, Olsen's shoulder was a bit sore but mainly he was thankful to be alive.
If he could ask the person who threw the bottle anything, Olsen said it would be why they did it.
"Why are you that stupid, that's all I've got for them. What reason do you have to do that other than pure stupidity."
Hawke's Bay Police described the actions of whoever threw the bottle as "reckless in the extreme" and said if the person responsible was found they would likely face charges.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11702083&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/830a2bc4ac2b0eb3db7378e72d4198e0939cfb3556679efe922068cb543c3cae.json |
[] | 2016-08-31T00:50:30 | null | 2016-08-30T23:41:55 | Lingerie retailer Bras N Things is embroiled in a storm in a D-cup after it was forced to pull a campaign video down due to its overtly explicit content. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fbusiness%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D3%26objectid%3D11702200%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/fsadfsdf_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Bras N Things pull Playboy lingerie ad after 'amateur porn' complaints | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Video will play in Play now Don't auto play
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Lingerie retailer Bras N Things is embroiled in a storm in a D-cup after it was forced to pull a campaign video down due to its overtly explicit content.
The video, which played in Bras N Things stores, featured 2011 Australia's Next Model contestant Simone Holtznagel and showed her posing in a series of sexual positions - described as "amateur porn" in complaints - where she flaunted the latest Playboy lingerie.
The campaign, which resembles a Playboy ad, also features close ups of Ms Holtznagel's body wearing the lingerie.
A series of complaints to the Australian Advertising Standards Bureau forced the retailer to pull the ads, claiming the instore screens were so large, seeing it was "unavoidable".
"This was in an ordinary public place, with children and families there, why should they be confronted with it in a shopping mall," read one complaint.
"It was vulgar, unsuitable for the young and simply demeaning for any woman walking past."
Another read: "They were not merely modelling the underwear, they were moving suggestively, gyrating and looking lasciviously at the camera - like a very amateur porn movie.
"It was a demeaning and embarrassing display."
Bras N Things declined to make a comment when contacted by news.com.au, but according to the complaint, the retailer received "very little feedback from customers" and "does not feel that it has breached any advertising standards".
Continued below.
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As a matter of "respect" to shopping centres, the video would be replaced with pictures instead in an act of "good faith".
"The video advertisement is playing on digital screens in our store window in limited stores. There is no sound with the video, it is imagery only," the retailer said.
Yet the ASB failed to agree with the retailer, citing the "manner in which the lingerie is model by the woman is sexualised".
"The silent, moving image draws the eye of passers-by" while "the model is stroking her hair and her moving her body suggestively and that this amounts to a sexualised impact".
Meanwhile, Ms Holtznagel posted a lengthy rant on Instagram hitting back at the critics who claimed the ad was soft porn.
"Shout out to the prude who complained about my 'vulgar' and 'amateur porn' advertisement for the amazing Australian brand Bras N Things, and had the clip banned," she wrote.
"Honestly, it's just soooo offensive to show a confident, sexy WOMAN in her LINGERIE in the window of a (plot twist) - LINGERIE STORE!!!! Won't somebody please think of the children?! I mean it's just truly outrageous.
"How dare you sexualise my body. How dare- after all society's requests, you take a confident and carefree depiction of a normal, healthy womanly body, promoting women's products to women, and deem it offensive.
"Do not impress your insecurities on me, whether physical or sexual."
The collection, according to Bras N Things, "features caging effects and strapping to create unique shapes on body" while "the innovating bunny boost plunge double push up bra" is available in cup sizes up to E.
The campaign ceased in July, and Bras N Things says it is confident the "video footage will not be used again"
- news.com.au | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11702200&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/fb3347448508d41897195800d3032d7e0d1eeaf17ac25b24911ed4b29eb43c6d.json |
[
"Gregor Paul Is The Herald On Sunday'S Rugwriter"
] | 2016-08-28T06:48:08 | null | 2016-08-28T05:22:40 | A treasured rivalry is dying and as contests between the All Blacks and Wallabies become increasingly less competitive, the relationship between the two is unravelling. - New Zealand Herald | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fsport%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D4%26objectid%3D11701246%26ref%3Drss.json | http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201636/270816NZHMMTEST35_1024x768.jpg | en | null | Gregor Paul: Australia rivalry dead as respect dwindles | null | null | www.nzherald.co.nz | Video will play in Play now Don't auto play
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A treasured rivalry is dying and as contests between the All Blacks and Wallabies become increasingly less competitive, the relationship between the two is unravelling.
Mutual respect has been replaced by spite, animosity and ill-feeling. In a series which began with the discovery of a listening device in the All Blacks' team room, it's maybe apt to suggest a new era of Cold War has broken out.
Culturally the All Blacks and Wallabies could hardly be different. The All Blacks went to the World Cup last year with a goal to not only win it, but to steal hearts and minds in the process.
They are all about having respect for opponents, being grateful for the privilege they have been afforded and conducting themselves individually and collectively in a way that makes a nation proud.
Win or lose, for them it's about being graceful and dignified in both. They are neither saintly nor perfect in this ambition but they are at least committed to it and it's in this that they appear to be at odds with the Wallabies.
Test rugby is brutal and unapologetic but it is not without limits or acceptable codes by which all teams are bound. The Wallabies went beyond those limits in the capital and for 80 minutes they played without any sense that they cared about their obligations.
They didn't recognise or perhaps simply didn't care that they played well beyond the line of acceptable conduct. Their aggression was expressed in all the wrong places, all the wrong ways and could there have been a more tiresome sight than Dean Mumm verbally spraying everyone and anyone with whom he had a legitimate physical exchange?
Wallabies captain Stephen Moore couldn't win any courtesy from Romain Poite because he was deemed to be the man leading a team that had no respect for the game's standing or reputation and also because he wanted to voice his opinion at almost every decision.
Surprisingly, for someone who had so much to say on the field, it is believed his speech at the post-match function was barely a few words.
Continued below.
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It's no wonder then that the playful if edgy banter between the respective coaches in the build up to Sydney has dried up.
In it's place has come serious and refuted allegations about the integrity of the second game being compromised by a supposed unsanctioned meeting between All Blacks coach Steve Hansen and Poite.
Hansen says it never happened, but that he did meet assistant referee Jaco Peyper at the official's request to review a few discussion points that had emerged in Sydney.
Rather than express outrage at the allegation, Hansen chose to laugh it off, which is much the same approach the team has taken to the Wallabies' behaviour on the field.
They have refrained from being critical about the level of niggle they encountered in Wellington - choosing to park it under the general umbrella of expected and acceptable Bledisloe Cup activity.
"It's always a fine line between being too passive, being too aggressive and getting it spot on," said All Blacks prop Wyatt Crockett. "We talk about that quite a bit, as a team, about how you have to be aggressive. There is no doubt about that, but I guess it is about making sure you channel that in the right direction."
There's no need for the All Blacks to be openly critical and inflame worsen what is already a bad relationship. They have inflicted enough damage with their performances these past two weeks and besides, they are clearly beginning to wonder whether there is any point in even trying to develop a relationship with the Wallabies at the moment.
Not while the Australians harbour little or no respect for the All Blacks, test rugby or the great rivalry that is the Bledisloe Cup.
- NZ Herald | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11701246&ref=rss | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.nzherald.co.nz/8fce63956d23a0edc9a22d30e41651c6ad998d1301e089e29540070b8a148576.json |
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