NZ Herald 10th February 2025

Rollingoutthe welcomemat

TheGovernmentisrelaxingimmigration settingsasitlookstorollout‘thewelcome mat’toinvestors.

PrimeMinister ChristopherLuxon yesterdaydetailed changestotheActive InvestorPlus(AIP)visa category,creatingtwo ‘simplified’investment categoriesthatwill replaceits‘complex weightingsystem’.

‘ForwaytoolongNew Zealandhasputupthe shuttersoninvestment,’ Luxonsaid.

Thechangeswill reducethe

amountofwealtha foreignerneedstoapply foraninvestorvisa, andgrantresidency toforeignersifthey investdirectlyinlocal companies.Also, applicantswillno longerneedtospeakor understandEnglish.

Luxon,wholastmonth saidNewZealandhadto enda‘cultureofsaying no’,hammeredhomethe

samemessageyesterday.

‘Weneedtosayalotmore yesandalotlessno,in NewZealand,’hesaid, addingtheGovernment wouldbe‘rollingout thewelcomemat’to investors.

Labour,meanwhile, warnedthechanges, allowingafast-track toresidencefor wealthymigrants, werenot‘theKiwiway’. FullstoryA4-5

PhilGifford onSuperRugby’s dreamopening clash A43

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Audrey Youngon DavidSeymour’s ‘dumb’ decision A5 +

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A9 Boltoutof theblue

TeHere or ora o a Aoteartearoa oa

Photo/AlexBurton

Govtopensdoorfor richforeigninvestors

Settingsrelaxedfor visasinbidtodraw wealthymigrants

AdamPearse

TheGovernmentisrelaxing immigrationsettingstoencouragemigrantstoinvest inNewZealandbusinesses, andhasacknowledgedwealthy foreignersunabletoeasilypurchase NewZealandproperty“don’tlove” renting.

PrimeMinisterChristopherLuxon announcedthechangesyesterdayat anAucklandBusinessChamber eventattheCordisHotel,sayinghe was“dustingoffthewelcomemat” anddeclaringNewZealandopenfor business.

Luxondetailedthechangestothe ActiveInvestorPlus(AIP)visacategory,creatingtwo“simplified”investmentcategoriesthatwillreplace itsexisting“complexweightingsystem”.

FromApril1,thevisawouldbesplit intotwocategories—growthand balanced.Thegrowthcategory wouldapplytothosemaking“higherriskinvestments”,includingthose directlyinlocalbusinesses.Itwould requireaminimuminvestmentof$5 millionforaperiodofatleastthree years.Visaholdersinthiscategory wouldhavetoresideinNewZealand foraminimumof21days.

Thebalancedcategorywouldfocusonmixedinvestment,allowfor aminimumspendof$10moverfive yearsandrequire105daysspentin NewZealandwiththepotentialtoget reductionsifinvestmentsexceed $10m.

Severalotherchangeshavebeen made,includingstrippingawaythe visa’sEnglishlanguagerequirement, whichdemandedapplicantshavean Englishlanguagebackground.Luxon yesterdayclaimedtherequirement hadscaredoffmanypotentialinvestorsinrecentyears.

Labourwarnedthechangeswere not“theKiwiway”byallowingafasttracktoresidenceforwealthy migrants.Italsoexpressedsurprise thatNewZealandFirstpartyleader WinstonPeterswasn’topposingthe movefollowinghisdemolitionofthe foreignbuyerstaxplanNationaltook totheelection.

Peters,however,isechoingLuxon inhiscriticismoftheformerLabour Government’sabilitytoattractoverseasinvestmentthroughtheAIPvisa categoryandissupportingmeasures toaddressdeclininginvestment.

Luxon,appearingalongside EconomicGrowthMinisterNicola Willis,ImmigrationMinisterErica StanfordandTradeandInvestment MinisterToddMcClay,criticisedthe previousLabourGovernmentduring theannouncement,sayingmigrants enteringNewZealandunderthevisa hadinvested$70msince2022,which wasdownonthe$2.2billioninvested inthetwoyearsbeforetheCovid-19 pandemic.

Stanford,speakingtoreporters aftertheannouncement,saidshehad beenconsultingontheideafor monthsandexpectedtherewere50 high-wealthindividualskeentosign up“ondayone”.

“I’mexpectingahugeamountof interest.”

BothsheandLuxonpointedtothe absenceofsuchavisaintheUnited KingdomandAustralia,claimingit wouldgiveNewZealandanadvantage.

“IwantregularKiwistounderstandinvestmentlikethisisfantastic,” Luxonsaid.

currentrulesbybecomingpermanenttaxresidentsaftera“significant periodoftime”.

Labourimmigrationspokesman PhilTwyforddescribedStanford’s changesas“peakshortsightedness” andclaimedtheywouldwaterdown domesticeconomicbenefits.

“Allowingpeopletobuyresidence byparkingtheirmoneyinapassive investmentlikepropertythatwon’t generatejobsorsustainableeconomicdevelopmentforNewZealand doesn’tsitwell,”hesaidinastatement.

IwantregularKiwisto understandinvestment likethisisfantastic. PMChristopherLuxon

Centraltothediscussionabout overseasinvestmentwastheprospectofinvestorsbeingabletopurchaseproperty.

Inthe2023election,National campaignedona15%foreignbuyer taxonhousesworthover$2m,which thepartypredictedtoraise$740mon averageperyear.Thepolicywas scotchedbyNZFirstduringcoalition negotiations.

Stanfordconcededtheinabilityfor overseasinvestorstoeasilybuya houseinNewZealandwasn’tideal.

“Theydon’tlove[renting],but they’restillhere.”

Willisarguedforeigninvestors couldpurchasepropertyunderthe

“Thiswillstickinthecrawforthe hard-workingmigrantswhohaveto crawlovercutglasstogetresidence. Givingthefasttracktoresidencefor therichwithnorequirementfor economicdevelopmentforNewZealand,andremovingtheEnglishlanguagetestfortherichbutnotfor everydaymigrants,isnottheKiwi way.”

Twyfordsaidhewas“surprised WinstonPetersdoesn’thavemoreto sayaboutthis”asit“fliesintheface ofwhathehasfoughtfordecades”.

Speakingtothe Herald,Petersfired backatTwyford,sayinghetoowas surprisedtheformerHousingand TransportMinisterwasstillanMP givenhisfailuretodeliverproposed Aucklandlightrailandthe100,000 KiwiBuildhomes.

Peterssaidhesupportedaddressinga“failedsystem”thathadledto suchadeclineininvestmentinjust afewyears.

Hedeniedtheprospectofforeign investorsbuyingNewZealandhomes wasassociatedwiththevisachanges andbackedhisparty’soppositionto National’selectionpolicy,sayingit was“boundtofail”.

Yesterday’sannouncementwas welcomedbyBusinessNZchief executiveKatherineRich,who believedthechangeswouldmake

NewZealandmoreattractivetoinvestors.

Zealandbusinessestoleveragethese networksforinvestmentandinternationaltrade.”

“Abroaderrangeofinvestment opportunitiesandinternationally comparablesettingswillopenthe doorsforinvestorsthatwanttocall NewZealandhome.

“ThereisanopportunityforNew

FormerLabourMinisterStuart Nash,nowfounderofconsultancy outfitNashKellyGlobal,launchedthe ActiveInvestorPlusvisain2022but yesterdaysaidthecoalitionGovernment’schangesamendedsettings thatweren’t“quiteright”.

“Therearecompetitorcountries thatveryclearlyunderstandthe economicandsocialvalueofhaving theseindividualsactivelyparticipatingintheireconomy,andsoare creatinginvestorvisasthatencouragethesuper-wealthytorelocate.

“NewZealandisuniquelyplaced totakeadvantageofthiscurrentlevel ofgeopoliticaluncertainty,butthe firstversionoftheAIPdidn’thavethe settingsquiterighttoattractthevery best.Thesechangesgoalongwayto remedyingthis.”

COMMENT

Youngisasenior political correspondent basedatParliament andspecialisesin writingabout politicsandpower.

DavidSeymourwasextremely unwiseinwritingalettertothepolice abouttheirconductduringtheir investigationofPhilipPolkinghorne, followingthesuspiciousdeathof Polkinghorne’swife,PaulineHanna. Seymourclaimshewassimply writingonbehalfofaconstituent.

Buthehadaluckyescape.

Ifhehadbeenaministerwhenhe wrotetothepolice,hewouldhave beenunderseverepressuretoresign today,followingtherevelationofhis

DavidSeymourwrotetothepoliceabouttheirconductduringtheirinvestigationofPhilipPolkinghorne.

letterinthe NZHerald

Thatwouldhavecausedacrisis inthestabilityofthecoalition GovernmentandacrisisforPrime MinisterChristopherLuxon. FormerPrimeMinisterSirJohn Keyrequiredtheimmediate resignationofMauriceWilliamsonas aministerinMay2014insimilar circumstances.

NewZealandisopenforbusiness— thatwasthemessageyesterdayat theAucklandBusinessChamber from(fromleft)EricaStanford, NicolaWillis,ChristopherLuxonand SimonBridges.

SeymourandWilliamsonisnotthe conduct,butthefactthat,inApril 2022whenSeymour’sletterwas written,hewasnotaminister.

Theletterdidnothavetheeffect ofthepoliceeasingupon Polkinghorne.

Hewassubsequentlychargedwith murderbutwasfoundnotguiltylast yearafteranine-weektrial.

The Herald hadrevealedthat morningthatWilliamsonhad contactedaseniorpoliceofficer abouttheinvestigationofa constituentwhowasfacingassault charges.Hewasgonethatday.

Theonlydifferencebetween

Buttheletterclearlyquestioned thepoliceforfocusingtheirinquiries onPolkinghorne.

“MrPolkinghornehashada harrowingandtraumaticexperience butfeelshehasbeentreatedlikea suspectratherthanatraumatised

memberofthepublic,”Seymour wrote.

Hepinpointedvariousaspectsof thepoliceinvestigationinto Polkinghorne’slifewhichSeymour concludedwereinappropriateand invasivetohisconstituent’sprivacy.

Theletterdidnotsimplyconvey Polkinghorne’sopinion;itconveyed Seymour’sviewsonthepolice investigation.

Thatwasnotjustunwise,itwas dumb.Theywerethesortsof complaintsagainstthepolicethat lawyersaretrainedtomake,not politicians.

Seymour’sletterreinforcesthe

cautionthatMembersofParliament mustexercise,whetherministersor not,ininterferinginpolice investigationsordoinganythingthat couldbeconstruedasinterfering.

Williamsoninsistedatthetimeof hisresignationthathehadnotbeen seekingtoinfluencethepolice investigationintoanassaultcase againstDonghuaLiu—Liulater pleadedguilty.

However,Keydescribeditas“a significanterrorofjudgment”.

“Theindependenceofpolice investigationsisafundamentalpart ofourcountry’slegalframework,” Keysaid.“MrWilliamson’sactions havebeenveryunwiseastheyhave thepotentialtobringthat independenceintoquestion.”

Itisirrelevantwhetherthepeople atthecentreofpoliceinvestigations arepoliticaldonorsornot.

Itshouldbeirrelevantwhetherthe MPisaministerornot.

Theheartoftheissueisthe conductofanMP.Anditshouldbe asalutarylessontoallMPstoturn ontheirpoliticalradarswhendealing withpotentiallycriminalcomplaints. SeymourwasnotaMemberof ParliamentwhenWilliamsonwas forcedtoresignin2014.

Hewaselectedlaterthatyearas MPforEpsombutby2022,hehad beenanMPformorethanseven years.Heshouldhaveknownbetter. Hopefully,hedoesnow.

Photo/AlexBurton

CookIslandsPMheadstoChina

Govtsaysthere hasn’tbeenproper consultationonthe proposedalliance

TheNewZealandGovernmentsaystheCookIslands hasfailedtoproperlyconsultitonproposed agreementsCookIslandsPrimeMinisterMarkBrownwillbesigningin Chinathisweek.

BrownhasnowleftforChinawithoutfurtherconsultation,RNZunderstands.

Inastatementyesterday,Foreign AffairsMinisterWinstonPeters’office saiditcouldconfirmBrownand PetersspokebytelephoneonFriday.

Duringthatconversation,Peters impresseduponBrownwhatfurther informationNewZealandrequiredto assuageconcernsaboutthelackof consultationregardingtheproposed ComprehensiveStrategicPartnership betweenCookIslandsandChina.

“TheDeputyPrimeMinister,inthe phonecallandinwritingwithinhours ofthecall,repeatedtothePrime Ministeramonths-oldrequestthat theGovernmentoftheCooksIslands sharewithNewZealandthecontents oftheComprehensiveStrategicPartnership(CSP)andotheragreements thatPrimeMinisterBrownintendsto signinChina,inlinewiththerequirementforconsultationinthe2001 JointCentenaryDeclarationbetween NewZealandandtheCookIslands,” Peters’officesaidinastatement.

Itsaiditwasunderstoodasof yesterdaythatBrownhasdeparted theCookIslandsforChinaviaAucklandwithoutanyfurtherconsultation

andthetimeforconsultation“has nowpassed”.

“WethereforeviewtheCook Islandsashavingfailedtoproperly consultNewZealandwithrespectto anyagreementsitplanstosignthis comingweekinChina.

“ThislackofconsultationisamatterofsignificantconcerntotheNew ZealandGovernment.Welookforwardtocontinuingdiscussionswith theGovernmentoftheCookIslands onthisimportantmatterinthe comingdaysandweeks.

NewZealanddeeplyvaluesits relationshipwiththeGovernment andpeopleoftheCookIslands,the statementsaid.

“CookIslandersaretreasured membersoftheNewZealandfamily. TheDeputyPrimeMinisterwillcon-

tinuetodefendandprotecttheinterestsofCookIslanders,inthecontext ofNewZealandprotectingthesecurityandprosperityofallNewZealand citizensandoftheRealmofNew Zealand.”

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TheKaimaumau-Motutangiwetlandwasfoundtobedamagedbyvegetationclearance,livestockandpesticideuse.

Remedialworktowetland orderedafterwidedamage

Landownerwholet livestockinharmed areasizeof54rugby fields,courttold

ShannonPitman OpenJustice

Northland’slargestwetland hassufferedsignificant damagetoanareathesize of54rugbyfieldsaftera landownerallowedlivestocktoenter, sprayedpesticidesandillegallyinstalled600mofdrains.

Now,theEnvironmentCourthas orderedNewZealandWatermelon DistributorsLimited(NZWDL)andits director,PaulMartinHarvey,to undertakeimmediateremedialwork ontheKaimaumau-Motutangi wetlandinNorthland.

LocatedbetweenKaimaumauand theHouhoraHeads,northofKaita¯ia, the1860hawetlandisclassifiedasa high-priorityconservationareaby bothNRCandtheDepartmentof Conservation.

Thenationaltreasureishometo severalendangeredspeciesincluding plants,birdsandreptiles,andswamp kauri,someofthemostexpensive timberintheworld.

Overtheyearsthewetlandhas fallenvictimtolarge-scalefiresthe fireservicesaidwereaccidentally causedbyhumans,andotherdamagethathascomebeforethecourts.

In2014,RaymondBirdandGary Beckhamwerefined$50,000each fordiggingfortimberwithinasignificantnaturalarea(SNA)of Kaimaumauwithoutaresourceconsent.

Theyhaddivertedwaterwaysand clearedvegetationforyearsinthe protectedwetland,defyingregional councilwarningsandtwoEnvironmentCourtorders.

DoCalsoraisedconcernsin2018 aroundthenumberoflocalavocado companieswantingtotakewater fromtheAupo¯uriaquiferwhich supplieswatertothewetland.

DoCarguedtotheEnvironment Courtthewetlandwouldbeatrisk ofdryingout.

Despitethoseconcerns,fiveavocadocompanieswentaheadand plantedtrees,taking10timesthelegal amountofwaterwithoutresource consents.Noneofthosefirmsare believedtohavebeenprosecuted.

Inthecurrentcase,theportionof wetlandthatsitswithinHarvey’s 191hapropertyisaround55haandis deemedaSNAundertheResource ManagementAct(RMA).

InJune2023,NRChydrologists workingintheareanoticedvegetationwasclearedinthewetland, launchinganinspection.

Complianceofficersinspectedthe siteayearlaterandfoundnotonly hadlargeamountsofvegetationbeen illegallycleared,but600metresof unauthoriseddrainshadbeeninstalled.

Abatementnoticeswereissuedto stopworkimmediatelyandasearch

warrantwasexecutedinAugust 2024.

Expertsfoundthemajorityofthe 55hawetland,equivalentto54rugby fields,hadbeensubjecttovegetation clearance,pesticideuseandstock accessingareascreatingpugging.

TheNRCsubmittedtothecourt thepropertywassubjecttoconsents andnodevelopmentwastotake placeunlessanecologicalmanagementplanwassubmittedandapproved,whichHarveydidnotdo.

Asaresult,NRCsoughtlegalinterventiontoenforcerehabilitation efforts,ensuringthewetlandcanrecoverfromtheextensivedamage inflictedbyHarvey’sactivities.

Initsrecentruling,theEnvironmentCourtissuedaseriesofenforcementordersmandatingimmediate remedialaction.

Harveymustceaseallfurther drainageactivities,reinstatenatural waterflow,implementanative

Familyleft inGazawill notmove —NZman

RachelHelyerDonaldson ofRNZ

AChristchurchmanwholost55 relativesinthreeIsraeliairstrikeson Gaza,sayshisremainingfamilywill neverleave,despiteaUSproposalto removethem.

USPresidentDonaldTrump doubleddownonhisplanonFriday afteritwasrejectedbyPalestinians andleadersaroundtheworld.

YasserAbdulaal,whohaslivedin Otautahiforfiveyears,saidhistwo sisterslosttheirhomesinthe 15-month-longwar.

Abdulaalsaidtheyandtheir husbands—allteachers—couldhave leftatthestartofthebombingbut refusedtoabandontheirland—and theywouldnotbeleavingnow.

“Aftertheceasefireandwith Trump’sstatements,theyaredefinitelynotgoingtoleaveGaza,regardlessofwhathesaysandwhat[the US]does.It’stheirland.”

HesaidNewZealandshouldrecognisePalestineasastateandsanction Israelinaccordancewithinternationallaw.

Itshouldalsocallformorefunding forinternationalaidtoGaza,hesaid.

“NewZealandvotedforatwo-state solutionandwehavebeenaskingthe Governmenttoenforcethat.

“Ithinkitistherighttime,andNew ZealandshouldrecognisePalestine immediately.”

Abdulaalsaidhereacheda momentduringthewarwherehe couldn’tbringhimselftocallhis sisters.

“Ididn’tknowwhattosay,remotely,fromNewZealand.

revegetationprogramme,remove chemicalcontaminants,andregularlyreporttoNRCwithrestoration efforts.

Northlandconservationadvocate forForestandBirdDeanBaigentMercertoldNZMEtheorganisation wasgratefultotheNRCfortaking actionagainstlandholdersforenvironmentaldamage.

“Theevidenceinthiscaseissignificantandworseinthecontextthat theKaimaumauwetlandburntfor manyweeksin2022and2023and hadpreviouslybeentargetedin placesforswampkaurimining,”he said.

Baigent-Mercersaidthecasewas anexampleofwhyfreshwaterpolicieswereneeded.

“Withoutthemthiskindofactivity canhappenwithoutrepercussions.

“Over90%ofwetlandsnationally havebeendestroyedanditisappallingtoseetheimpactsonthe Kaimaumauwetlandoverthepast fewyears,withthedrainageandland clearancebeingsodeliberate.”

Baigent-Mercersaidwetland waterwayswere“thekidneyofthe land”andcalledontheGovernment toinvestinpracticalwetlandsprotectiontoprotectthreatenedspeciesand carbonstorage.

“It’sareallyhardtimeforeveryone,they’vebeenintentsformore thaneightmonths,both[mysisters’] houseshavegone,theyarecompletelyrubble.

“Theyarestillintentsdespitethe ceasefirebecausetheyhavenoother placetogoto.”

Buthehastalkedtothepairsince theceasefirebegan.

“Oneofmysisterscan’tevengo andseeherhouseasthere’sstill Israelitanksinthatarea[the Philadelphicorridor].Butweknow fromfootage—asshesays,‘theheight ofmyhousenowishalfametre,it wastwolevelsbutnowit’shalfa metre.’

“It’smixedemotions.Thekilling andbloodshedhasstopped,butI havelost55[relatives]inthe airstrikes,mostofthemwomenand children.

“Theyhaven’tevenhadaproper funeral...it’sreallyhard,peopleare justtryingtogetfoodfortheirkids, thosebasichumanrightsforpeople whichtheydon’thave.

“Theyarehappywiththe ceasefire,andwehopeitwillbea permanentceasefire,butwehave alsolostlotsofpeople...[therest] havelosttheirhouses,theirjobs, everything.”

Trump’sproposalwasa“dangerousstatementandoutrageous”,he said.“[PresidentTrump]sayshe wantstodrivethepeopleoutofGaza, meaninghewantstoethnically cleansethepeoplefromGaza,which isanotherwarcrime.”.

—RNZ

DefenceapologisestoWaiourufordelayonwateralert

TheDefenceForcehasapologisedfor “confusionanddistressitcaused peopleinWaiouru”afterfailingtotell themhighlevelsofleadandaluminiumwerefoundinthewater. ItstestsreportedbackonJanuary 23,showedthataluminiumwasup tofivetimesofficiallyacceptable levels—at5.12g/m3 comparedtothe maximumacceptablelevelof1.0g/m3

andleadat0.016g/m3 againsta 0.01g/m3

ButtheDefenceForcedidnottell localsuntilalmostaweeklater,becauseofwhatitcalled“awellintentioned,butincorrectdecision”. Waterandhealthauthoritiestold itthehealthrisktoconsumerswas minimal—theDefenceForcesaidthe aluminiumlevelwaslessthanwhat

couldbefoundinacupoftea. Ithadbeenflushingthesystem andlevelshadsincedroppedbelow thethresholds,itsaid.

“Theinitialcommunityadvisory didnotcontainthetestresultsthemselves,noranexplicitwarningthat thelevelswereabove.

“TheNZDFsincerelyapologisesfor theconfusionanddistresscausedto

theWaiourucommunityasaresult ofthisincident,andwehopeour improvedresponseonthisparticular issue,andanyfutureones,willhelp torebuildtheirtrust,”estateand infrastructureheadMarkBrunton said. Heavymetallevelsaroundthe Waiourubasehavecomeintoquestionbeforebecauseofammunition usedinexercises.

Butinthiscase,Bruntonsaiditwas stillinvestigatingthecausethough“it isbelievedtohaveoriginatedfrom thewatertreatmentprocess,which involvesacommonaluminiumcompoundbeingaddedtohelppurifythe water”.Thehighleadlevelwasmost likelybecauseofthetestsampleitself beingcontaminated,hesaid. —RNZ

Photo/NorthlandRegionalCouncil.

20km

CapeReinga

Pacific Ocean

Tasman Sea Kaitaia Kerikeri

Whangārei

Kaimaumau wetland

Heraldgraphic

Zoneswheretopmarks meetaffordablehousing

Reportcompares students’NCEA achievementswith nearbyhomeprices

BenLeahy

WellingtonGirls’College’s academicexcellence andreasonablehouse pricesinthecapital couldmakeitoneofthenation’s smartestchoicesforparents,accordingtoanexclusive Herald analysis.

Ninety-onepercentofthecollege’s studentsachievedtheirNCEAlevel 3in2023—thehighestpassrateof anymajorstateschoolinthecountry.

ItsschoolzoneininnerWellington hasamedianhousepriceof $935,000,amoreaffordableprice thaninmostotherhigh-achieving schoolzones.

WellingtonCollege(82%)andWellingtonEastGirls’College(78%)are twomorestateschoolswithhigh 2023achievementrates—andthe medianhousepricesintheir catchmentsarebelow$900,000. Bycomparison,housesinthe vicinityofhigh-achievingAuckland schoolstypicallycostwellabove$1 million.

Thefindingsarepartofanexclusivereportbythe Herald usingdata frompropertyanalystsValocity, matching2023NCEAschool-leaver achievementratesat493schools withthepricesofhomesintheir catchmentzonesornearbysuburbs.

Theresultscanbeseeninthe tablesonnzherald.co.nz,whichshow schoolswiththehighestachievement ratesindifferenthouse-pricebands: below$1.3m,below$1m,below $800,000andbelow$600,000.

Wellington’sMtVictoriaisclosetoanumberofwellregardedschools,whileIonaCollege(belowleft)inHawke’sBay andWestlakeBoys(belowright)areratedhighlyforstudentachievement.

Thefindingsfocusonstateschools buttheanalysisincludesprivateand integratedschools.

IonaCollegeinHawke’sBayis amongthestandoutsforresultsand housingaffordabilityforfee-paying schools.Ofits33graduatinggirlsin 2023,100%achievedNCEALevel3.

Localhousepricesmaynotbe importantfortheHavelockNorth school’scontingentofboarding students,whopayabout$30,000in annualfees.

Butparentsofdaystudentsmay wanttolivenearby.Theycan typicallybuyinsurroundingsuburbs forabout$700,000whilepaying around$13,800infees.

Similarly,specialcharacter schoolsfocusingonMa¯oristudents areamongthehighestperforming andarelocatedinsomeofthe country’smoreaffordableareas.

InAuckland,TeKuraMa¯orioNga¯ Tapuwae*(83%)hadthesecondhighestNCEA3achievementrate amongstateschools,behindonly MacleansCollege(84%).

Yethomesinitsnearbysuburbs haveamedian$800,000salesprice comparedtothe$1.65mtypically paidintheMacleansCollegezone.

Housepricesdon’tnecessarily relatetoschoolquality,however— lowhousepricescanindicatea higherconcentrationofapartments inthezone,orsmallerhomesand sections.

Stateschoolsareobligedto providefreeeducationtoeverychild livingwithintheircatchmentzones anddonotalwayshaveroomfor thoseoutsidetheirzones.

Parentsmayconsequentlyhavea preferredstateschoolbutbe preventedfromsendingtheirchild therebecauseofhighhouseprices.

The Herald hascalculatedhouse pricesforallschoolswithzones definedbytheMinistryofEducation bytakingintoaccounteverystreet insidetheircatchments.

NapierGirls’HighSchoolisoneofthemostaffordableandhighest-achievingregionaloptionsforparents.

Forschoolswithoutzones,we calculatedthemedianhousepricefor thesuburbwheretheschoolis locatedandeachsuburbsurrounding it.

Theachievementrateinthetable showshowmanystudentsaged16 oroverlefteachschoolin2023with anNCEAlevel3certificate.

Thisso-calledleaversrateisthe measuretypicallyusedbytheMinistryofEducation.

Forfamiliesnotwillingorableto paytopdollarforahome,Wellington Girls’Collegeagainpotentiallyranks amongthetoppicksduetoitsNew Zealand-leadingNCEAachievement rateforstateschoolswithatleast20 graduates.

Its$935,000schoolzonemedian priceiswellunderthe$1.3mmarkset hereandcoverstheinner-city suburbsofKelburn,Wilton,

Thorndon,Wadestown,Pipiteaand Northland.

ManukurainPalmerstonNorth hasthesecond-highestachievement rateat88%andan$800,000typical pricefornearbyhomes.

WestlakeBoysHighSchooland WellingtonCollegehavethenexthighestachievementratesat82% each.

WestlakeBoyshasamedian $1.295mpriceinsideitszoneand WellingtonCollege’szonehasan $840,000typicalhouseprice.

NapierGirls’HighSchoolisoneof themostaffordableandhighestachievingregionaloptionsfor parents.

Ithasthehigheststateschool NCEAachievementrateforcolleges inareaswherethemedianpriceis below$800,000. Itsstudentsachieveda77%

A60-year-oldAucklandmanhas beenchargedfollowinganalleged stabbinginTitirangionSaturday. Policesaidtheywerecalledtoa WoodlandsParkRdaddressabout 7.20pmafteramansufferedserious injuries.Inquiriesledpolicetoa MountRoskilladdresswherea 60-year-oldmanwasarrestedshortly after10pm.Hehasbeenchargedwith woundingwithintenttocause grievousbodilyharmandwasdue toappearintheWaita¯kereDistrict Courttoday.Thevictimyesterday remainedinhospitalinastable condition.

Riverrescue

Threemenhavebeenrescuedafter beingreportedmissingwhilerafting ontheWaikaiaRivernearPianoFlat, Southland.Policesaidtheywere alertedabout9.30pmSaturdaythat themenhadnotreachedtheir designatedpick-uppointaftera plannedrivertrip.Aftermakinginitial inquiriesovernight,policeSearchand Rescueteamsbeganthesearchatfirst lightyesterdaymorning.Southern LakesHelicoptersTeAnauprovided ahelicoptertoassistinthesearch. Theaircraftlocatedtwoinflatable watercraftinagorgesectionofthe riverabout6.5kmnorthofPianoFlat. Ataround11.30am,oneofthemen wassightedbythehelicopternearthe river’sedgewithaleginjury.The othertwomenwerelocatednearby ashorttimelater,coldbutotherwise uninjured.Thetriowerewinched fromtherivertosafetybythe helicopterandweremedically assessed.Themanwiththeleginjury wastransportedtohospitalby ambulance.

Patientairlifted

Apersonwasyesterdayairliftedto hospitalincriticalconditionfromthe ShipwreckedFestival,apopular musicandartsevent.AHatoHone StJohnspokespersonsaidtheywere alertedtotheincidentat4.11am yesterdayatTeArai,northof Auckland.Anambulanceandrescue helicopterweredispatched,andthe individualwastransportedto AucklandHospital.Theinjurieswere notduetoassaultandtherewereno interruptionstotheevent'sschedule, afestivalspokespersonsaid.

Roaddeaths

Onepersondiedafteracarcrashin ruralWaikatoyesterdaymorning. PolicewerealertedtothesinglevehiclecrashinNga¯hinapo¯uri, southwestofHamilton,ataround 8.55am.Theaccidenttookplaceon StateHighway39.Thepersondiedat thescene,despitetheeffortsof emergencyservices.Nooneelsewas injuredinthecrash.Meanwhile,a mandiedinacrashbetweenaute andamotorbikenearWhanganuion Saturday.Policesaidemergency servicesrespondedtothecrashon ParihauhauRdnearWhanganui around1:40pm.Themotorcyclistwas founddeceased,andtheoccupants ofthevehiclewerenotinjured,police said.

achievementrate,whilehomesinits zonetypicallycostaround$765,000.

OtagoGirls’HighSchoolin Dunedinrankednextwitha76% achievementrateand$650,000 mediansalespriceinitsschoolzone. Ma¯kouraCollege’s65%achievementrateisthehighestamong schoolswithnearbyhousescosting lessthan$600,000.

HomesintheMastertonschool catchmenttypicallycostaround $560,000.

Opunake¯HighSchoolinTaranaki hasthenexthighestachievement rateat61%witha$420,000median salesprice.

* Despitebeinghigh-achieving,Te KuraMa¯orioNga¯Tapuwaedoesn’t appearinourtablesasithadonly 15studentsgraduatein2023andthe minimumtoappearinthetablesis 20graduates.

Capital’sjob

GeorginaCampbell

Recruitershave warnedofanother toughyearforWellington’sjobmarket andsayincreasinglydesperatejobseekersshouldbepreparedtomoveelsewherein NewZealandoroverseas.

Itcomesafterthousandsof roleshavebeenaffectedby publicsectorcutsdrivenby theGovernment’sdirectiveto slashspending.

Nationally,unemployment roseinthelastquarterof2024 to5.1%,upfrom4.8%inthe Septemberquarter.

RobertWaltersseniordirectorBridgetClarkesaidthepublicsectorwastheirbiggestclientandbudgetswere expectedtobetightagainthis year.

“There’slikelyaneedfor furthercostreduction,and that’sallgoingtohavean impactonrecruitmentandthe abilitytohire.Sowe’reinfor anothertoughyear.”

Withheavilyreduced headcountsandcapsonnumbers,therecouldbesomeopportunitiesinthecontingent labourmarketorcontractor roles,Clarkesaid.

Therewerestillmore candidatesthanroles,shesaid.

“Unfortunately,some candidatesaregettingdesperate.Theyhavekidstofeed, mortgagestopay...theytry andapplyforeverything.”

TheRobertWalters2025 salarysurveyshowedNew Zealandwaslosingmoretalent toAustralia,with42%of

peopleplanningtorelocate optingtogoacrosstheditch. ForAustralians,only2%would considermovinghere.

ThescarythingforWellingtonwastheprospectoflosing midtoseniormanagers,Clarke said.

“They’regoingtogotoAustralia,they’regoingtotake theirfamiliesandthey’renot goingtocomeback.”

TherewasariskthatWellingtoncouldeventuallybecomeshortontalentwhich couldleadtoover-inflated contractorrates.

Askedforheradvicetojob seekersthisyear,Clarkesaid employeesshouldbeopento relocatingelsewhereinNew Zealandorfurtherafield.

Theyshouldspeaktoat leastacoupleofdifferentrecruitmentconsultanciesso theydidn’tmissoutonopportunitiesandhaveastrong coverletterwithanup-to-date CVthatmatchedtherolethey wereapplyingfor,shesaid.

ForteRecruitmentdirector AnitaMurdochsaid candidateswerealsoapplying forjobstheydidn’thavethe skillsforbecausetheycould notfindworkintheirchosen field.

“Wearealsoseeinghigher numbersofapplicantsthat havebeenoutofworksince JuneandJulylastyear.

“Thesepeoplearenowgettingdesperateandapplying forjobswelloutsideoftheir skillset—engineersapplying forprojectco-ordinatorroles, commsprofessionalsapplying foradministrationroles.”

MyJandalssavedmylife, sayslightning-struckman

BernardOrsman

ATaupo¯mansayshisrubber Jandalsandhavingsomerubberrollersonscaffoldingare potentiallywhatsavedhim fromseriousinjuryafterbeing struckbylightningathispropertyduringFriday’sheavy thunderstorms.

BruceWilsonhadcovered amowerparkedontheside ofthehouseasthestormhit whenhehearda“hugeclapof thunder”inthedirectionofa blockoftreesabout400m awayfromhishomenearKinloch.

Itdidnotoccurtohimhe couldbeinthepathofthe stormastheclapofthunder seemedtooccursomedistanceaway.

“Iwasjustcasuallyleaning againstascaffoldwhichI’m stainingthehouseon.Iwas justinterestedinseeingwhere thenextclapofthunderand lightningwascomingfrom.”

Secondslater,hewas blindedbyahugeflashoflight.

“Itcameoutoftheskyand allIsawwaswhatIwould describeasarcwelding,the whitelightyouseeifyoudon’t wearyourhelmet.Itwasjust twomassiveshocks,andthe nextsecondIwasthrownoff myfeetandagainstthewall.

“Ididn’tevenfeelbeing thrownintheair.Iwasjust pushed,”hesaid.

Wilsonsuspectslightning hittheSkydishontheroofof thehouseandarceddownto themetalscaffoldinghewas restingagainst.Severalfusesin thehouseblewoutandtheSky dishis“absolutelyscrewed”,

BruceWilsonbelieveshisflip-flopsandrubberrollerson scaffoldingsavedhislifewhenhewasstruckbylightning.

hesaidyesterday.

The70-year-oldsaidhedid notknowwhatwouldhave happenedifhehadbeenholdingontothemetalscaffold, andbelievesitsrubberrollers andwearingrubberJandals preventedseriousinjuries.

“Thereisnoburnonmy arm.Ithasbeenvery,verysore andisstillsore.Icouldhardly seeforawhile,andallday yesterdayitwaslikehavinga hangover.

“Ijustfeelalittlebitstuffed atthemoment,”saidWilson, whothedaybeforethestorm wasstungbyabee—he’s allergictotheirstings.

“I’vehadadouble whammy,”saidWilson,who stillfelta“bitstuffed”yesterday,whichheputdowntothe

adrenalinetakingacoupleof daystofilteroutofhissystem. Taupo¯washithardby Friday’sstorm,withreportsof floodingandpoweroutages. Videoseenbythe Herald showedasteadystreamof vehiclesslowlydriving throughafloodedroadon Taupo¯’slakefront.

Anotherimagesharedwith the Herald showedpowerlines downonaTaupo¯road,with apowerpolebelievedtohave sunkintotheground. AFireandEmergencyNew Zealandspokesmanconfirmedtheservicewasrespondingto“multiplereports” offloodingandweatherrelatedincidentsintheTaupo¯ area.Theywereunabletoprovideanyfurtherinformation.

seekersfaceleavinghome

Recruiterswarnof anothertoughyear forWellington’sjob market.

Photo/MarkMitchell

Oneofthesaddestpartsof thecurrentjobmarketwasthe graduatemarket,Murdoch said.

“Graduateshavestruggled tofindworkandareapplying forjobsabroadorconsidering takinganOEwhentheywould ratherstayinNewZealand andgetworkexperience.”

Murdochsaidmanygraduateswereendingupinwork completelyunrelatedtowhat theyhadstudied,justtosecure ajob.

“Wehadalawgradtakean accountsrolerecently,apublichealthandnutritiongrad tookareceptionrole—there aresomanystorieslikethis.”

ForteRecruitmentworksin theprivateandpublicsectors, includingcorporateservices, technologyanddigitalfields.

Murdochsaidtherewere reducedofferingsforremote workingandmuchstricter guidelinesforworkingfrom home.

Workingoneortwodaysa weekfromhomehasbecome themaximumofferingand therehadbeennocomplete remoteworkinglistingssince November,shesaid.

Murdochexpectedgovernmentspendingtobelimited untilBudget2025,makingfor a“quietish”marketforthefirst halfofthisyear.

Manyorganisationswere makingdoandusingexisting stafftocoveranygapsrather thanadvertisingfor contractorsortemporarystaff.

Despiterecentchallenges, Murdochsaidtherewasageneralfeelingofpositivityand

renewedenergywiththestart ofanewyear.

“Wefeelconfidentthat2024 wastheworstofthejobmarket.Itcanseriouslyonlyget betterfromhere,butitwillbe aslowbuild.”

InsideRecruitmentmanagingpartnerTroyTurnerfelt thethemefortheWellington jobmarketthisyearwas“realistic”becausetherealityof “surviveto2025”was confronting.

tinuetobechallengingtorecruitfor,andsomecandidates within-demandskillswould receivemultipleoffers,hesaid.

“Ahard-to-fillpositionisstill hardtofindthereallygreat candidateforbecausegreat candidatesaretryingtobe retained,tryingtobesecured andperhapstheyknowthey can,throughreputation,walk tothenextrolewhereasthat’s nottrueforallpeople.”

Call0800785077, orvisitwww.audika.co.nz tofindoutmore.

Theyhavekidsto feed,mortgagesto pay...theytryand applyforeverything.

BridgetClarke,RobertWalters

Turnersaidthecapital would“trulyseepeopleunemployed”thisyearnowmany changeproposalshadbeen completed.

“Theeffectin2025isitwill bealotmorerealthisyear.”

Ifpeoplefoundithardlast year,itwillbeharderforthe firsthalfofthisyearaswell, hesaid.

“Goingforward,Ithinkwe’ll haveroughlythesamenumberofopportunitiesbutwe’re goingtohaveasignificantly greaternumberof applications.”

InsideRecruitment specialisesinleadershipand specialistpositionsacross executive,governmentand executivecontracting.

Hard-to-fillrolesand specialisedskillswouldcon-

Turner’sadviceforjob seekerswastoengagewith theirnetworks,includingwith thosewholiked,knewand trustedthem.

“Buildingandnurturingprofessionalrelationshipswillbe keytofindingopportunitiesin acompetitivemarket.”

ArchwayRecruitmentmanagingdirectorJonathan Greeningsaidtheoutlookwas mixed.

HiscompanyhasaWellingtonteamthatdealswith finance,businesssupporttype rolesaswellasconstruction andengineering.

“Thereisageneralsenseof optimismcomingintothemarketbutIdon’tthinkit’sbased onanythingfactual.”

Itwasa“newyear,new start”mentalityratherthan anythingconcretehappening inthemarket,although positivitycouldbeselffulfilling,Greeningsaid. Engineeringandconstructionwerealsotoughsectors fornewjobsbecauseseveral largeinfrastructureprojectsin thecityhadrecentlybeen stopped,changedorputon hold,Greeningsaid.

AleynaMartinez

‘Right,whatarewegoing todowiththecats?” Alongwithconcernand uncertainty,thatwas oneofJenAgnew’sfirstreactions whentestresultsconfirmedher fatherhadStage3lungcancerlast week.

TokoroamanWayneProffitt,68, wastoldbydoctorshecouldbegin treatmentinaboutthreeweeksatthe CancerSociety’sLionsLodgeinHamilton.

Withthatnews,hisfamilywere facedwithamission—rehoming100 ofhiscatsinlessthanthreeweeks.

“Hecouldbecalledupfortreatmentanyday,”Agnewsaid.

Wayne’swife,KarenProffitt,plans tostaybyhissidewhilehereceives treatmentinHamilton,justoveran houraway.

Thiswouldmeanfamilymembers inTokoroacouldnotcareforthecats atthesemi-ruralproperty,Agnew said.

WayneandKarenwerescheduled tostayinHamiltonfromMondayto Fridayduringhistreatment,shesaid.

Herson,14,alsocommutedto Rotoruawiththemeverydayto attendWesternHeightsHighSchool. Agnew,42,worksfulltimeinRotorua andsodoesherwife,DainaAgnew.

“You’relookingattwohoursinthe morningandtwohoursatnightfor feedingandcleaning,”shesaid.

Andthecost:“About$60,000a year.Wewerebuyingbig700kgbulk bagsofkittylitter,thebiggestbagof biscuitsyoucanfind,justbulkeverything.”

WayneProffitthadthecats desexedtopreventmorefrombeing born,“assoonastheyarrived”.

Thecatsstartedshowingupather father’sbusiness,SurfaceCoatings,in BrowningSt,Tokoroa.

Atfirst,therewere17cats.Thatwas 20yearsago.

“Thenthepopulationjustgrew,” saidAgnew,whoworkedasapayroll administratorinthebusinessinher 20s.

“It’sjustindustrialareas,you’vegot catshangingaroundandthenobviouslywhenyoustartfeedingthem, moreshowup.”

Overtheyears,thefamilynoticed “dumpings”ofkittensattheirbusiness.“We’llseecatsaroundandthink, ‘No,that’snotoneofours,it’stoo fluffy’.”

WhenProffittretiredlastyear,the 70catslivingonsiteathisbusiness weremovedtoanew,purpose-built enclosureathislifestyleblockonthe outskirtsofTokoroa.Hewantedto keepthemseparatedfromthe30cats alreadylivingatthehome,Agnew said.

“Thoseonesareonlyalittlebit youngerbut,becausethey’vebeen exposedtomoreillnesseslikeFIVor catfluandstuff,wejustthoughtwe wouldkeeptheseonesseparated.”

Withsucha“softspotforcats”, Proffitthadoptedoutoffamily holidaysandothereventsoverthe years.

“He’ssacrificedalotforthecats.” Shecouldn’testimatehowmany catsthey’drehomedduringthe20 years,“butIknowit’salot”.

Thefamilyhadnevercharged peoplewhencatswereadopted.

“Dad’sdonesuchagoodjobover theyears,butnow’sthetimethathe actuallyneedstoputhimselffirst...

WhenWayneProffittretiredlastyear,hebuiltasecondenclosureforhisscoresofcatsonhissemi-ruralSouthWaikatoproperty.

Cancerdiagnosislaunches urgentmissionfor100cats

TokoroacatloverWayneProffittisabouttostarttreatmentforlungcancer inHamilton.

Boyracerburnoutscopcharges

Aboyracerisfacingmultiplecharges afterbeingcaughtperformingdangerousburnoutsinLowerHuttinthe earlyhoursofSaturdaymorning.

Policesaidthe24-year-oldisfacing threechargesandhisvehiclewas impoundedfollowinganincidentat theintersectionofBunnyStand QueensDriveabout12.30am.

Avideohascapturedtheactions oftheallegeddriverperforming burnoutsinayellowcarwithsmoke billowingfromthevehicleatthe intersectioninLowerHutt.

Itshowsagroupofbystanders watchingandfilmingtheevent,some gettingascloseaspossibletothe

movingcar,othersspurringthedriver on,andthecarcomingdangerously closetoothersbeforeleavingthe scene.

Policesaidabout12.40amthey werealertedtothevehicleofinterest amongagroupofpeopleatthe MellingRailwayStationcarpark.As thedriverattemptedtofleethearea, hewasstoppedbypolice.

Themanwastakenintocustody withoutincidentandhisvehiclewas impounded. Twootherpeopleweretakeninto custodyforobstruction.

The24-year-oldisduetoappear intheHuttDistrictCourton

Thursday,chargedwithsustained lossoftraction,dangerousdriving andaggravatedfailingtostop.

Policesaidthoseconsideringengaginginthisactivityputthemselves, theirpassengersandeveryoneinthe immediateareaatrisk,andcause greatdistressinthecommunities wheretheseincidentsoccur.

Theytoldthe Herald thosewho witnesssuspicious,unlawfulordangerousactivityontheroadsshould contactpoliceandshareasmuch informationaspossible.

Ifit’ssafetodo,recordtheactivity asitoccursortakephotosofvehicles involved,theysaid.

he’ssoheartbrokenthatit’scometo this.

“Evenforme,it’sgoingtobehard. I’vegotthreeathomethatareoriginallyfromwork.

“Thistreatmentissupposedto curebutwedon’tknowwhatwill happen...orhowhe’llrespondtothe treatment,”Agnewsaid.

Proffittwouldnotbeabletofocus ongettingbetterifheknewthecats werestillathome.

“Anythingtomaketheirlifeeasier.”

AFacebookpostfromAgnewon February1hashelpedthecouple rehome28catssofar.

“I’mjustblownaway.Ididn’texpectit.Ithoughtmaybewemight rehomeacoupleofcats,butwejust didn’texpectittoblowuplikethis,” Agnewsaid.

Theposthasbeensharedmore than270times.

Thefamilydidnotwantmoney fromthepeoplewhowouldadopt theircats.Alltheyaskisthattheygo toagoodhome.

Agnewsaidsheandherwife wouldevendropthemoffifrequired. Theyhadalreadyplannedtotake sometoHawke’sBay.

AwomanfromWaihekeIsland hadalsocourieredthefamilymultiplecatcagesandplannedtomeet theminAucklandattheferry.

“Alotofpeoplehaveofferedto meetushalfway,butouraimisjust todropthemoffatthedoor,”Agnew said.

Andtherewerefavourites,she said.“There’slittleLulu—man,she’s reallypopularandshe’sgotalotof homestogotoif...[some]fall through.”

Avetwasscheduledtovisittheir homeandeuthanisetheremaining catstomorrow.

“Butifweknowwehavegotothers thatarerehomeable,wewillhangon tothemandwaituntilFriday.”

TheSPCAwasduetopickupas manycatsasitcould.

“Thequietonesthatmightneeda littlebitmoretimeadjusting[toanew home],theSPCAaregoingtotake becausetheycanputtimeandeffort intothemandgetthemreadyfor theirhomes,”Agnewsaid.

SPCAareamanagerVivMoore saidWayne’sdedicationtocaringfor catsoverthepast20yearswas“really kind”.

“Thenumberofcatswecanaccept intocaredependsonourcurrent capacityandresources.

“Weprioritiseanimalsbasedon theirhealth,vulnerabilityandthe urgencyoftheirsituation.”

In2024,theSPCAtookin7882cats and14,554kittens.Adoptionfeesfor kittenswere$200,andcatswere$125. Seniorcats,over10years,were$90.

“Weensureallanimalsarehealthy andpreparedfortheirnewhome priortoadoption,withessential thingssuchasdesexing, microchippingandvaccinations alreadydone,”Mooresaid.

TheSPCAacknowledgedthat,in certaincircumstances,iftherewere nootherviableoptionsafterhealth andtemperamentassessments,it mightbenecessarytoeuthanisean animalthatcouldnotberehomed. However,thatwasthelastoption.

“WearegratefulforWayneand others’passionandcommitmentto animalwelfare,”Mooresaid.

Galleryshutforsafetycheck

AucklandArtGallerysaysitwas forcedtocloseyesterdaydueto “unexpectedbuildingissues”.

Thegallerysaidinastatement onlinethegalleryandcafewouldbe closedwhilethebuildinghadasafety assessment.

“Thesafetyofthegallery’scollection,staffandvisitorsareourtop priority,andwearetakingprecautionarymeasurestoensurethe buildingissafe,”thestatementsaid.

“Weareactivelyassessingthe situationandwillprovideupdateson thegallerywebsiteandsocialmedia pagesonceweknowmoreinformation.”

Nofurtherdetailwasprovided aboutanyproblemswiththebuilding. ThreePride-relatedeventsscheduledyesterdaywerecancelled. Thegalleryisalsohostingamajor exhibitionbyIcelandic-Danishartist OlafurEliasson,OlafurEliasson:Your CuriousJourney.

“Wesincerelyapologiseforany inconvenienceandlookforwardto welcomingyoubacksoon,”thegallerysaid.

A$121millionredevelopmentof thegallerywascompletedin2011. Theroofofthe135year-oldheritage buildingisnowbeingreplacedata costofaround$12m.

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Incourt,shesaidshehadbeen unawareofthebrokenyellowlines.

Wattssaidpeopleoftenparked there,nearatightbend,anditwas an“accidentwaitingtohappen”.

Whenhefirsttookphotos,Ormsby wasn’tinhercar.Hethensawher returnandallegeswhenheaskedher tomovehercar,sheattackedhim.

Herememberedhergrabbinghis neckbutsaidhismemorywashazy afterthat.

“Iwasknockedunconscious,” Wattssaid.

outofhishouseangryandupset.

Herememberedlyingonthe groundandOrmsbylookingathim, aswellas“seeingblood”.

Shethenreturnedtoherrugby practice,hesaid.

“Idon’tknowanyonewhowould assaultsomebodyandseetheextent ofthoseinjuriesandthengobackand playsport,”Wattssaid.

Policearrivedandtoldhimtogo tohospitalbecausehehad“ahuge dent”inhishead,hesaid.

DefencelawyerTonyRickardSimmsaskedifWattshadbeenon bloodthinners.

“No,that’ssomethingthehospital said,thatitwasluckyIwasn’ton bloodthinnersorIwouldhavebeen deadwithin20minutes,”Wattssaid.

ThedefenceclaimsWattscame

Ormsby,inherevidence,saidshe wasrunninglateforrugbypractice and,comingfromRotorua,didn’t knowtheareawell.Shesawhow othercarswereparkedanddecided tofollowsuit.

Assheputonherrugbyboots whileinthedriver’sseat,shenoticed amancomingdownthestreet.

Hewasyellingandshesaidthe firstfullsentencesheheardwas,“Do youthinkyoucanf***ingparkhere?”

Asshemovedtothefrontofher Toyota,sheallegesWattswaspacing upanddownonthepassengerside ofthecar,andshenoticedadeep scratchonhervehicle.

Sheassumedhemustbeclenching asharpobjectinhisclosedfists.

Ashecametowardsher,shesaid, “Whatthehellareyoudoing?”before

shovinghimhardinthechestand headingforherdriver’sdoor.

Hewas“amale”and“biggerthan [her]”,andsheremembered“being frightened”.

Shesawhe’dfallenoverbutwas tryingtogetawayasshewas“worried aboutwhatwouldhappen”.

OrmsbynoticedWattswasbleedingaftershemadeaU-turninher vehicleanddroveback,bywhich timeWattshadgottohisfeet,but hadn’tseentheamountofblood showninthephotographsproduced asevidence.

Afterusingadifferentparkentrancetogettorugbypractice,she sawpolicearrive.

Ormsbymetthemwalkingacross therugbyfieldandtoldthemabout thedamagetohercar.

Shesaidpoliceweremorefocused

ontheallegedassaultthanhearing theallegationsofWatts’confrontationanddamagetohervehicle.

PoliceprosecutorSergeantDan DickisonsuggestedtoOrmsbyshe hadkeyedherowncaraftermoving it.“Becausethatwouldhavebeena goodopportunitytocreateanexcuse ...forassaultinghim,”hesaid.

Ormsbysaidshehadn’tassaulted Watts,nordamagedhercar.

Rickard-SimmsputOrmsby’saccounttoWattsundercrossexamination.HeaskedWattsifthe “businessofthecarparks”hadbotheredhimfora“longtime”.

“It’sbeenbotheringeveryonewho livesinthatstreetforalongtime,” Wattsreplied.

Heconfirmedhe’dhad“alot”of communicationswithTaurangaCity Councilaboutpeopleparkingillegally onthefootpathsandbrokenyellow linesbecauseitcauseddangerand inconveniencetoresidents.

Heacceptedhewasupsetabout thewayOrmsbyhadparkedbutsaid hehadn’tbeenangry.

Rickard-SimmssaidWattswanted totellOrmsbyoff,notsimplyinform herthatherparkingwasdangerous.

“Youjustwentinthereangryand ranting,”Rickard-Simmssaid.

“Yougotrightinherface,andthe onlythingthatshedidtoyouwas topushyouawayfromher.

“Youscratchedhercar,rightdown thesideofthecar.” Wattssaidnoneofthatwastrue. JudgeMelindaMasonhasreservedherdecision.

Photo/GoogleMaps

World VerbalshotsfiredinIsrael,

ThreegauntandweakIsraelimenforced tothanktheircaptorsbeforehandover

Israel’sPrimeMinisterBenjamin Netanyahuvowedtodestroy Hamasandbringhomeall captivesheldbythemilitant groupfollowingafifthhostageprisonerexchangeyesterdayunder aceasefiredealinGaza.

Meanwhile,Hamasofficialssaid Israel’s“lackofcommitment”isputtingtheceasefireindangerofcollapse.

“WewilleliminateHamasandwe willreturnourhostages,”Netanyahu saidyesterday,denouncingthe militantsas“monsters”afterthehandoverofthreehostagesinGazaduring whichtheyappearedemaciatedand werecompelledtospeakonstage.

Israelcondemnedtheconditionof thehostagesasa“crimeagainst humanity”,asNetanyahuwarned theirconditionwould“notpasswithoutaresponse”.

AllthreemenfreedbyHamas weresufferingfromseveremalnutritionandhadlostsignificantweight, theHealthMinistrysaid.

ThefamilyandfriendsofEli Sharabi,52,EliLevy,34,andOhadBen Ami,58,werevisiblydistressedupon seeingfootageofthemenhanded overbyHamasafter491daysin captivity.

ABritishfamilymemberofSharabi said:“Itlooksasthoughhe’sbeento Belsen”—referringtotheinfamous Naziconcentrationcamp.Other onlookersdenouncedthe“grotesque spectacle”oftherelease.

Beforebeinghandedovertothe RedCross,themenwerehauledon toamakeshiftstagebymasked Hamasfightersandforcedtothank theircaptors,withtheiranswersprojectedoutoverayellingcrowdvia loudspeakers.

Allthreemenlookednoticeably gauntandweak,withBenAmiwearingdarkglasses.

IsaacHerzog,Israel’sPresident, saidshortlyafteronX,formerlyTwitter:“Thisiswhatacrimeagainst humanitylookslike!Thewholeworld mustlookdirectlyatOhad,Orand Eli—returningafter491daysofhell, starved,emaciatedandpained—beingexploitedinacynicalandcruel spectaclebyvilemurderers.”

Themen’spoorconditionwasin sharpcontrasttothehealthofthe womenreleasedinearlierhandovers, whohadreportedlybeenwellfed andgivenimprovedtreatmentby

Hamasintherun-uptotheirrelease.

Thethreemenreleasedyesterday weresparedbeingmarchedthrough anoisycrowd,afterIsrael’sGovernmentaggressivelydenouncedthe practiceand,inoneinstance,temporarilydelayedthereleaseofPalestinianprisonersinretaliation.

Thereleasewasthefirstsince DonaldTrumpsaidhisintentionwas todisplaceGazanciviliansand redevelopthestripasa“Rivieraofthe MiddleEast”lastweek.

Inanapparentresponse,Hamas coveredthetemporaryreleasestage inDeiral-BalahwithslogansinArabic, HebrewandEnglishsaying:“We’re theflood,thewar’snextday.”

Yesterdaymarkedthehalfway pointofthefirstpartofthehostage releasedeal,althoughnooneissure exactlyhowmanyofthe33ofthe nameslistedforphaseoneareactuallyalive.

SixteenIsraelihostageshavebeen releasedsofarunderthedeal,along withfiveThainationalsunderaparallelarrangement.

Yesterday,Hamaspoliticalbureau memberandformerGazaHealthMinisterBasemNaimwarnedthe ceasefiredealwasindanger,butsaid thePalestinianmilitantgroupdidnot wanttoreturntowar.

Israel’s“procrastinationandlackof commitmentinimplementingthe firstphase...certainlyexposesthis agreementtodangerandthusitmay stoporcollapse”,Naimsaid.

“Thereturntowariscertainlynot ourwishordecision.Butifoneparty decidestoreturntowar,certainlyour Palestinianpeoplewhoenduredfor 15monthsandhaveresistancein theirheartwillbereadytorespond appropriately.”

Netanyahuorderednegotiators yesterdaytoreturntoQatarfortalks.

Thefragileceasefire,whichtook effectlastmonth,broughttoahalt morethan15monthsofwarsparked byHamas’unprecedentedattackon IsraelonOctober7,2023.

Israel’sretaliatorycampaignin GazahasleftitsHamasrulersweakenedbutnotcrushedandquestions remainoverhowthedevastatedterritorywillberuninapost-warphase.

Themorethan100Palestinians freedintoGazayesterdayreturnedto theterritorytofinditrenderedunrecognisableby15monthsofwar, whileformany,thefateoftheirloved

oneswasunknown.

“Howismyfamily?Aretheystill alive?”oneprisonerasked,callingout fromabuswindowasprisoners arrivedinKhanYunisinthesouthern

GazaStrip.

“Havetherebeenmartyrsinmy family?”heshoutedagainbeforea voiceinthecrowdresponded.

“Theyareallokay,”camethereply.

Intotal,183PalestinianswerereleasedfromIsraeliprisonsyesterday inexchangeforthethreeIsraelisheld inGaza. SteppingofftheRedCross-

SouthAfricahitsbackat‘campaignofmisinformation’

SouthAfricacondemneda“campaignofmisinformation”afterUS PresidentDonaldTrumpissuedan orderfreezingaidtothecountryover alawheallegesallowslandtobe seizedfromwhitefarmers.

“Weareconcernedbywhatseems tobeacampaignofmisinformation andpropagandaaimedat misrepresentingourgreatnation,”the Governmentsaid.

Landownershipisacontentious issueinSouthAfrica,withmost farmlandstillownedbywhitepeople threedecadesaftertheendofapartheid.

Itisalegacyofapolicyof expropriatinglandfromtheblack populationthatenduredduring

apartheidandthecolonialperiod beforeit.

“Itisdisappointingtoobservethat suchnarrativesseemtohavefound favouramongdecision-makersinthe UnitedStatesofAmerica,”Pretoria said.

Trumpclaimedyesterdaythelaw would“enabletheGovernmentof SouthAfricatoseizeethnicminority Afrikaners’agriculturalproperty withoutcompensation”.

Theallegationcameinanexecutiveorder,whichalsonotedforeign policyclashesbetweentheUSand SouthAfricaoverthewarinGaza, particularlyPretoria’sgenocidecase againstIsraelattheInternational CourtofJustice.

SouthAfrica’s ForeignMinistry saidit“hastaken note”ofTrump’s executiveorder butadded:“Itis ofgreatconcern thatthe foundationalpremiseofthisorder lacksfactualaccuracyandfailsto recogniseSouthAfrica’sprofound andpainfulhistoryofcolonialismand apartheid.”

“Itisironicthattheexecutiveorder makesprovisionforrefugeestatusin theUSforagroupinSouthAfricathat remainsamongstthemosteconomicallyprivileged,whilevulnerable peopleintheUSfromotherpartsof

theworldarebeingdeportedand deniedasylum,despiterealhardship.”

TheSouthAfricanPresident’s officehasdeniedanyintentionof “seizinglands”.

Trump’sexecutiveorderpledges toassistthe“ethnicminority Afrikaners”—descendantsofthefirst Europeansettlers,includingoffering refugeestatustowhatitsaidwere “raciallydisfavouredlandowners”.

StateDepartmentspokeswoman TammyBrucesaidyesterday “persecutedSouthAfricanfarmers andotherinnocentvictimsbeing targetedsolelybasedontheirrace whochoosetoresettleinAmerica willbewelcome”.

PresidentCyrilRamaphosasaidin anationaladdresshiscountrywould notbe“intimidated”bytheUnited States.

“Wearewitnessingtheriseof nationalism,protectionism,thepursuitofnarrowinterestsandthedeclineofcommoncause,”Ramaphosa said.

Forseveraldays,SouthAfricansof allracialoriginshavetakentosocial mediatomocktheUSstance.

“Shouldwenowcallthem Amerikaners?”quippedoneperson. Trump’sallyElonMusk,whowas borninSouthAfricaunderapartheid, hasaccusedRamaphosa’sGovernmentofhaving“openlyracistownershiplaws”. —AFP

CyrilRamaphosa

Hamashostagetrade

Harryspared

charteredcoachesinthePalestinian territory,somelookedwearyand weak,whileothersexulted,looking tocatchaglimpseofafamiliarface. Familymembers,friendsand

lovedonesinthecrowdsurgedtowardsthereturningprisoners,wantingtotouchthem,shaketheirhands orfilmthesceneontheirphones. Inthebackground,loudspeakers

blastedpoliticalchants,sometimes echoedbythecrowd.

Khadraal-Daghma,onthevergeof collapse,struggledtomakeherway tohersonbeforefallingintohisarms

PalestinianHamasfighterscrowd Israelihostagesinthefifthhostageprisonerexchangebeforehanding themovertoaRedCrossteamin centralGaza.

ashekissedherforehead.

“I’msohappy,”shesaid,struggling tofindwords.“Iwaitedforthisday tocomefor15years.”

Allaroundher,teary-eyedrelativesandfreedprisoners,someof whomhadnotseeneachotherin decades,werehuggingandcrying.

“He’schangedsomuch,”alDaghmasaidafterholdingherson Amar,whowasarrestedin2009,in herarms.

FollowingHamas’unprecedented attackonIsraelin2023,theIsraeli armyrelentlesslybombardedGaza formorethan15months.

Thescaleofthe destruction shockedus,Gazais inruins,thereis rubbleeverywhere.

FreedPalestinianprisoner

Analreadyimpoverishedterritory beforethislatestwar,ithasnowbeen leftinruins.

Withover48,000deadand111,000 wounded,accordingtoHamas’MinistryofHealth,thepopulationhas beenleftdrainedandtraumatisedby therelentlessviolence.

Over90%ofPalestiniansinGaza weredisplacedatleastonceduring thewar,accordingtotheUN.

Ofthosewhoreturnedhomeafter aceasefiretookeffectonJanuary19, manyhavehadtopitchtentsnext totheiroldhomes,whichtheyfound destroyed.

Thecontrastbetweentheland theyleftandtheonetheyare returningtoisstarkforreturning prisoners.

“Duringoursixmonthsofdetention,wewerecompletelycutofffrom theworld,wegotnoinformationon thewarinGaza,”Mohammed,afreed prisonerwhodeclinedtosharehis lastname,said.

“Thescaleofthedestruction shockedus,Gazaisinruins,thereis rubbleeverywhere,”hesaid.

“Withthe[Israeli]occupationof Gaza,I’mafraidthey’llarrestusagain atanymoment,”therecentlyfreed prisoneradded.

Trump’sreturnreshapingEurope’sfar-right

HungarianPrimeMinisterViktor OrbanandFrance’sMarineLePen headlinedarallyinMadridby Europe’sbiggestfar-rightblocyesterday,buoyedbyDonaldTrump’sreturntopowerintheUSandcalling for“a180-degreepivot”.

PatriotsforEuropehasrealigned extreme-rightforcesintheEuropean Union.ItbecametheEuropeanParliament’sthird-largestforceafterOrban helpedlaunchitlastyeartopullthe bloctowardsthefarright.

“Yesterdayweweretheheretics. Todaywearethemainstream...We arethefuture,”proclaimedOrban, sharingthestagewithotherleading extreme-rightnationalistsincluding Dutchanti-IslamfirebrandGeert Wilders,ItalianDeputyPrime

MinisterMatteoSalviniandformer CzechpremierAndrejBabis.

BothOrbanandLePenhailed Trump’s“tornado”asshowingthe wayforwardfortheEU,whichthe partieshadcondemnedinajoint statementasrivenwith“climatefanaticism”,“illegalimmigration”and“excessiveregulation”.

“We’refacingatrulyglobaltipping point.HurricaneTrumpissweeping acrosstheUnitedStates,”LePensaid.

“Foritspart,theEuropeanUnion seemstobeinastateofshock.”

SpanishpartyVox,whohostedthe rally,saidabout2000people attendedtheevent.Thesummitin theSpanishcapitaladoptedthe slogan“MakeEuropeGreatAgain”,a nodtoTrump’srallyingcry“Make

AmericaGreatAgain”.

OrbanisseenasoneofTrump’s closestEUallies,whileVoxleader SantiagoAbascalhashighlightedthe ideologicalaffinitybetweenthe groupandTrump,especiallyonimmigration.

“PresidentTrump,tous,islikea brotherinarms,”saidWilders,who calledfora“reconquista”ofEurope, akintothewarswagedbySpanish Christianmonarchstoretakethe IberianpeninsulafromMuslim kingdomsbetweentheeighthand 15thcenturies.

ButsomesayTrump’sthreats— fromslappingprohibitivetariffson Europeangoodstoannexing Denmark’sgiganticArcticterritoryof Greenland—couldembarrass

DonaldTrumphasruledout deportingtheDukeofSussexfrom theUS,claimingtheroyalhas “enoughproblemswithhiswife”, Meghan,whomhesaidwas“terrible”. Inhisfirstinterventioninalongrunninglegalcase,Trumpsaidhehad nointerestinthrowingthe40-yearoldDukeoutofthecountryover claimsofhistoricaldrug-taking, effectivelydrawingalineunder speculationthathemighthavebeen preparedtorevokehisvisa.TheDuke hasfacedalengthylegalbattleover whetherheliedaboutdrug-takingon hisapplication.Headmittedto substanceuseinhisautobiography, Spare.Whenaskedbythe NewYork Post ifhewouldintervene,Trump said:“Idon’twanttodothat.I’llleave himalone.He’sgotenoughproblems withhiswife.She’sterrible.” Trump’sremarksrepresenta dramaticvolte-faceonhisearlier position,whenhesaidthePrince wouldgetnosupportfromtheWhite Houseifhewontheelection.

Govtformed

Lebanon'sPremiernamedanew Governmentyesterday,the presidencyannounced,withthe weakeningoflong-dominant HezbollahfollowingawarwithIsrael bringingtoaclosemorethantwo yearsofcaretakerauthorities.Prime MinisterNawafSalamsaidhehoped toheada“governmentofreformand salvation”,pledgingtorebuildtrust withtheinternationalcommunity afteryearsofeconomiccollapse blamedoncorruptionand mismanagement.Hisnew Governmentfacesthedauntingtask ofimplementingreformsneededto unlockfundingfrominternational donorsafteryearsofcrisis, overseeingafragileIsrael-Hezbollah ceasefireandrebuildingthecountry.

Mediasilence

NicolasSarkozysaidhewouldno longerspeaktothemedia,24hours afterhebecameFrance'sfirstformer Presidenttobefittedwithan electronictag.Sarkozy,whoturned 70lastweek,wasfittedwiththeankle monitorforayearafterthecountry's highestappealscourtfoundhim guiltyofillegalattemptstosecure favoursfromajudge.Theankle braceletwasimposedasan alternativetospendingoneyearin jail.“Ihavedecidedtoputmypublic activitiesasaformerPresidenton holdandtorenounceallformsof expressioninthemedia,”therightwingpoliticianwroteonsocialmedia.

Fundingcut

nationalistpartiesinEurope.

“LikingDonaldTrump’spatriotism doesnotmeanbeingthevassalofthe UnitedStates,”JordanBardella, leaderofFrance’sNationalRally(NR), saidlastmonth. NR,whosefigureheadisLePen, leadsthePatriotsgroupintheEuropeanParliament.

Afterlastyear’sEuropeanParliamentelections,inwhichfar-rightpartiesperformedstronglyinseveral countries,yesterday’sgatheringwas designedtobe“ashowofforce”,said StevenForti,aresearcherattheAutonomousUniversityofBarcelona. Itwouldalsoservetopromotethe Patriots’turfwarwithotherfar-right groupsintheEUassembly,hesaid. —AFP

TheTrumpadministrationiscutting billionsofdollarsinbiomedical researchfunding,alarmingAmerican academicleaders,whosaiditwould imperiltheiruniversitiesandmedical centresanddrawingswiftrebukes fromDemocrats,whopredicteddire consequencesforscientificresearch. Themove,announcedyesterdayby theNationalInstitutesofHealth(NIH), drasticallycutsitsfundingfor “indirect”costsrelatedtoresearch. “TheUnitedStatesshouldhavethe bestmedicalresearchintheworld,” theNIHsaid.“Itisaccordinglyvital toensurethatasmanyfundsas possiblegotowardsdirectscientific researchcostsratherthanadministrativeoverhead.”Inasocialmedia post,theNIHsaidthechangewould savemorethanUS$4billion($7.07b) ayear.Thenotehighlightedthe multibillion-dollarendowmentsof HarvardUniversity,YaleUniversity andJohnsHopkinsUniversity, implyingthatmanyuniversitiesdo notneedtheaddedfederalfunding.

Photo/GettyImages

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Sculpture returnsto spreadits peace message

Atonetime,districtofficialsand residentsfearedamultitudeofguns helpedfuelWashingtonDC’sdescent intothedeadlymadnessofthe1990s.

Somuchsothat3000werebought tokeepthemoffthestreets— revolversandsemiautomatics,.38 specialsand9mms.

Sincethen,theirchambershave remainedempty,theirtriggers immobileforalltime,forgedintoone asamassivemonumenttopeace.

SculptorEstherAugsburgerandher sonMichaelconstructed Gunsinto Plowshares morethanthreedecades agotoconverttheweaponsintoa lastingsymboltosowpacifistideals intoanAmericancityrackedbygun violence.

Despiteweighingfourtonnesand standing4.8mhigh,thesculpturehas beenmovedmultipletimesand enduredanodysseyofobscurityand disrepair.Inrecentyears,ithasbeen onthecampusofasmallMennonite collegeinVirginia.

Lastweek,cityofficials repatriatedthesculptureto SoutheastWashingtonwith pompandceremony,in hopesthatthemessageof peacewillgrow.

“It’sadaywehavebeen lookingfor,”saidJohn Augsburger,thesonand brotheroftheartists.

“It’salwaysintendedfor Washington.Itwastomakea statementaboutgunuse withinthecity.”

Speakingtoasmallcrowdin SoutheastWashington,Marcia Augsburgerofferedhermother’s wordsfromwhenthesculpturefirst wentondisplayinNorthwest.

“Toparaphrasemymother’s commentsatthefirstdedication ceremony:wewantthissculptureto helpbearthepainofthosewholost lovedonesbygunviolence.

“Itcomesfromourheartsasa symbolofthejoythatcomesfrom

countriesworldwide.

bringingpeacetotheworld.”

Thepieceisinspiredbya Bible verseandconceivedbyMichael Augsburger,whoworkedwithhis mother,Esther,anaccomplished sculptorwithpiecesondisplayin

“Theyshallbeattheir swordsintoplowshares andtheirspearsinto pruninghooks:nation shallnotliftupsword againstnation,neither shalltheylearnwaranymore,”theversereads. Theinfluencefora piecethatsymbolises peacebeganlongagowith EstherAugsburger’sfather LloyKniss—apacifist, Mennoniteconvertwhoservedas amissionaryabroadanda conscientiousobjectorinWorldWar I. Thegunsusedinthesculpturewere purchasedin1994forUS$100($176) eachduringacitywideno-questionsaskedgun-buybackprogramme fundedbythenheavyweightboxing championRiddickBowe.

Originally, GunsintoPlowshares stoodoutsidetheDCpolice department’sheadquartersinthe JudiciarySquareareauntila2008 renovationofthearea.Thesculpture wasmovedtotheBluePlainsfacility inSouthwestWashingtonforthree yearsthenwasinstalledatEastern MennoniteUniversityinHarrisonburg, Virginia,whereEstherAugsburgeris analumnaandherhusband,Myron, servedaspresidentwhenitwas EasternMennoniteCollege& Seminary.

JohnAugsburgersaidthefamily twicehashadtosandblastandrepaint thepiece.

Thefirstcamenearly15yearsago afteritwasleftinafieldatBluePlains, whereweedsandrustovertookthe sculpture,andtoremovegraffiti beforeitwasmovedsouthto Harrisonburg.Thesecond refurbishmenttookplacetospruceit

JohnandMarciaAugsburgernextto thesculptureconstructedbytheir motherEstherandbrotherMichael inthelate1990s.Gunsfroma buybackprogramme(inset)were usedforthesculpture.

Photos/WashingtonPost

upforthereturntoWashington.

Thepieceisnowhousedoutsidethe district’sOfficeofUnified CommunicationsonMartinLuther KingjnrAveinWard8,wheregun violencehaslongbeenprevalent. Attheceremony,AnacostiaCoordinatingCouncilchairPhilipPannell donnedared“ThouShaltNotKill” T-shirtandstaffedatabletopassout anti-violenceliterature.Thelong-time politico,whohasspentyearslobbying forawarenessabouttheimpactofgun violenceeastoftheAnacostiaRiver, hopeditwouldcausepassersbyto reflect.

“Whenyou’refacedwithan epidemicofviolence,youuseevery instrumentinyourtoolbox,”Pannell said.“Wecannottalkenoughabout peace.Ifthissparksconversationas peoplearewalkinganddrivingby,it servesthatpurpose.”

—WashingtonPost

‘Trump-lite’mayworkforDutton

Anti-‘woke’Aussie Oppositionleader

PeterDuttonscores

It’sbeencalledtheTrump playbook,theTrumpcard,the Trumpist approach, campaigningas“DonaldTrumplite”andeven“goingfullTrump.” Electionseasonisheatingupin Australia,wheretheOpposition leader,PeterDutton,hasbeensoundingalotlikeUSPresidentDonald Trump.

Hehaslashedoutata“woke brigade”ofbanks,grocerystoresand achainofpubsforaddressingenvironmentalandindigenousissues. Hehaslamentedaboutyoungmen being“disenfranchisedand ostracised”bydiversityinitiatives. Andhe’ssetupashadowministerfor governmentefficiency.

Dutton,theheadofAustralia’s maincentre-rightpoliticalparty, hopestooustPrimeMinister AnthonyAlbaneseinanelectionthat mustbeheldbyMay17.

Albanesehasbeenunderpressure toreininpost-pandemicinflation, andDuttonhasaccusedhimofbeing toodistractedby“woke”issues,like indigenousrights,toaddresshigh pricesandunaffordablehousing. Albanesehasrolledoutataxcut

andsaidtheGovernmentwasgetting ahandleonunderlyinginflation, whichhasfallentoathree-yearlow of3.2%.Butlastweek,awidelyfollowedpollbyNewsPollhad Albanese’sapprovalratingatits lowestpointsincehecametopower in2022,with57%ofrespondents sayingtheydisapprovedofhisperformance.

Ahead-to-headcomparison showedDuttonclosinginon Albanese,asignthathispolitical messagingwasgettingatleastsome traction.

“WhatIlikeaboutDuttonishe doesn’tsitonthefence,”saidLouise Pridham,57,aretirednursewholives intheSydneysuburbofCronulla.She andherhusband,NigelPridham,a 57-year-oldbuilder,saidtheywere notTrumpfansbutfeltvalidatedby someofDutton’smessaging,which NigelPridhamacknowledgedhada Trump-likequality.

LouisePridhamsaidmorepeople sheknewseemedtobeappreciating Dutton’sbluntness.“Hesaysasitis. There’snowokenessinit.”

TheparallelsbetweenTrumpand Dutton,a57-year-oldformerpolice officerknownforhistoughstances onimmigrationandasylum-seekers, aredrawnbybothsupportersand critics.

Duttonhasnotshiedawayfrom theallusion;thismonth,herailed abouttheGovernment’sdiversity andinclusionefforts,hoursafter

Trump,withoutofferingevidence, blamedDEIpoliciesforadeadly plane-helicoptercollisionoutside Washington.

“Positionsadvertisedhaveincludedculture,diversityandinclusionadvisers,changemanagers andinternalcommunicationspecialists,”Duttonsaid,referringtojob openingsintheGovernment.“Such positions...donothingtoimprove thelivesofeverydayAustralians.”

Dutton’s officedidnotrespondto requestsfor comment.

Trump’sreturntoofficehas emboldeneda rangeofrightwingpoliticiansacrossEuropeto hardentheirrhetoric,solidifytheir basesandexpandtheirambitions.

ButinAustralia,theinfluencesare moremuddled.In2019,asurvey foundthattheconservativebasein Australiawasfarmoreideologically alignedwithHillaryClintonbackers intheUnitedStatesthanwithTrump supporters.Lastyear,barelyafifthof Australianvoterssaidinasurveythat theywouldhavechosenTrumpover thenVicePresidentKamalaHarrisif theUSelectionwereuptothem. Duttonmadeclearhisdistastefor “wokeness”asearlyas2021,when,as DefenceMinister,hebannedevents wherestaffmembersworerainbow-

coloredclothingtosupportLGBTQ+ awareness.

Twoyearslater,conservatives wereenergisedbyawatershedmomentinAustralia’sculturewars.In 2023,aproposaltogiveindigenous AustraliansavoiceinParliamentin theformofanadvisorybodywas rejectedsoundlybyvotersinareferendum.Ithadbeenalandmark effortforAlbanese,anditsdefeat,his opponentsargued,meantamajority ofAustraliansfeltthatplacingtoo muchemphasisonthecountry’scolonialsinswasdivisive.

OneofDutton’srallyingcrieshas beenhisdefenceofAustraliaDay,the annualJanuary26holidaymarking thedayBritishsettlersfirstlandedin theSydneyarea. Inrecentyears,peoplewhoseeit asacelebrationofbrutalcolonial oppressionoftheAboriginalpopulationhavecalledforabolishingthe holidayormovingittoadifferent date.

Butasurveyconductedlastmonth by TheSydneyMorningHerald found that61%ofAustralianssupported keepingAustraliaDayasitis,upfrom 47%ayearearlier.

MarkKenny,thedirectorofthe AustralianStudiesInstituteatthe AustralianNationalUniversity,said Dutton’srhetoricappealedtoa working-classbase,which,likeits Americancounterpart,seesitselfas havingbeenabandonedbyeconomic shifts,includingthedeclineofmanu-

facturing.Thosevotersfeltletdown bytheirtraditionalpoliticalleadershipontheleft,Kennysaid.

“Whatyou’vegotthereisakind oflong-simmeringsenseofdissatisfaction,ofbeingignored,ofnotheard, beingleftbehind.

“WhenDuttonsays‘woke’,it’slazy andimprecise,butthatdoesn’tmatter.Peoplecanattachtoitwhatthey think.”

ItisunlikelythatDuttoncanwin justbymobilisingsingle-issuevoters. That’sbecausevotingiscompulsory inAustralia,withthethreatofafine fornoncompliance.Turnouttypically exceeds90%.

Asreadilyashehasadoptedsome ofTrump’slanguageandpriorities, Duttonhasdrawnthelineatothers, resistingpressurefromacoalition partnertocampaignontransgender issues.Hehasalsoindicatedthathe wouldnotconsiderwithdrawingAustraliafromtheParisAgreement,the internationalclimateaccord.

ToGraemeTurner,emeritusprofessorofculturalstudiesattheUniversityofQueensland,Dutton’suse ofTrump’swordsandrhetoricseem alotmoreopportunisticthansubstantive.

“Idoubtyoucouldfindapolitician whocoulddefinetheword‘woke’,” Turnersaid.“It’sbecomeareally handysloganasawayofsmearing anyideatheydon’tlike,asawayof pre-emptingitfromseriousanalysis.”

—NewYorkTimes

PeterDutton

Yousay Wesay

Endtogay blooddonor banoverdue

‘Discriminatory”ruleswhichprevent somegayandbisexualmenfrom donatingbloodwillbechangednext year,theNewZealandBloodService confirmedlastmonth.ChiefmedicalofficerDr SarahMorleysaidMedsafehadapprovedan applicationtochangethewayitassessedpotential bloodandplasmadonors.

Withthisapplicationapproved,NewZealandis onestepclosertoscrappingthebanonblood donationsfromgaymen.

Thenewsalsocomesoneyearonfromthe removalofthe“madcow”blooddonation restriction,whichhappenedinFebruarylastyear. Atthemoment,NewZealandmencannotdonate bloodiftheyhavehadoraloranalsexwithanother maninthelastthreemonths.Thisban,withathreemonthwindow,istoreducetheriskofpassing undetectedHIVontoabloodrecipient.

However,asmanyhavearguedovertheyears, ablanketbanlikethisisoutdated,unscientificand discriminatory,asitusesabroad-brushapproach thatexcludespeoplewhoposenoriskofHIV transmission,suchasthoseinamonogamous relationshiporwhohavenothadsexwithnewor multiplepartners.

Underthenewsystem,alldonorswouldhave individualisedriskassessments,regardlessof gender,sexorsexualorientation.

“Atthisstage,weanticipatethatindividualised donorassessmentswillbeintroducedinearly2026. Wearecommittedtochangeandwelookforward tosoonwelcomingmoregay,bisexual,takata¯pui andothermenwhohavesexwithmenintoour wha¯nauoflifesavers,”Morleysaid.

Thischangewillputanendtodecadesof discriminationagainstpeoplebasedontheir sexuality—peoplewhocouldotherwisehave helpedsavelivesbutwerebarredfromdoingso.

Thechange,asAucklandUniversity’sAssociate ProfessorPeterSaxtonsaid,willtakeAotearoaNew Zealand“onestepclosertoamoreinclusiveblood donorpolicy”andwillprovidemorebloodforthose whosodesperatelyneedit.

ASexandPreventionofTransmissionStudy (Spots)studylastyearfoundthatthreetimesas manygayandbisexualmenwoulddonateifthe ruleswerechangedtoamoreindividualised assessment.

“Spotsdatashowthatfouroutoffivegayand bisexualmeninNewZealandwantedtodonate bloodiftheruleswerechangedandtheywere allowedtodonate.Importantly,ourdatasuggest thiswouldbesafeforbloodrecipients.Wefound noparticipantswithconfirmed,undiagnosedHIV,” Saxtonsaid.

Weoftentellstoriesofpeopleindesperateneed ofblooddonations,orthosewhoselivesweresaved bygenerousbloodandplasmatheyreceivedfrom fellowNewZealanders.

Thischangetothecriteriawilllikelyseean increaseinthenumberofpeopledonatingblood tosavelives.Inaworldwheresomuchnewsfeels liketheworldistakingstepsback,thisfeelsavery welcomechange.

Thisnewspaperissubjectto NZMediaCouncilprocedures. Acomplaintmustfirstbedirectedin writing,withinonemonthof publication,to formalcomplaints@nzherald.co.nz. Ifdissatisfied,thecomplaintmaybe senttothe MediaCouncil,POBox 10-879,TheTerrace,Wellington 6143. Orusetheonlinecomplaint format www.mediacouncil.org.nz

Includecopiesofthearticle andallcorrespondence withthepublication.

Bondsare right,not assetsales

Ihavenothingagainsttalkingabout privatisation,asDavidSeymoursuggests. ButIdoobjecttodiscussionon privatisationwithafalsepremise:thatwe don’thaveenoughmoney,thereforewe mustsellsomeassetssowecanpurchase others.

Thatisplainwrong.Itisfalsescarcity. Asasovereigncountrywithitsown currency,weshouldusedirectmonetary financing(DMF)tofunddesperately neededinfrastructure,wherebythe ReserveBankbuysverylow-interest infrastructurebondsfromTreasury.This canbedonewithoutcausinginflation.

Wedon’tneedtosellassetstoafford others.Wedon’tneedtoborrowmoney frombanksorforeigners.Othercountries useDMFsuccessfully,whynotus?

ChristopherLuxon,NicolaWillisand DavidSeymour,pleasetakethe inexpensiveoption thatisbestforNew Zealand:please useourown

ReserveBank. CliffHall,BlockhouseBay.

Boostingproductivity

Inthequestforgreaterproductivity,the solutionsofferedappeartobemore overseasinvestment,acuttocompany taxandderegulation.

Deregulationseemstobelikecutting wastefulgovernmentspending—agood ideabutyouhavetofindtheactual wastefulspendingandbadregulations beforeyoucanmakeameaningful difference.

Soinsteadofinvestigatingregulations aroundhairdressingandearlychildhood learning,DavidSeymourcouldsendhis bureaucratsouttoourconstructionand farmingindustriesandfindthefivemost hatedregulations.

Yes,talktothebigplayersbutalsoto individualbuildersandfarmers.Onceyou haveyourlist,investigatewhythe regulationswereimposedandwhether theycanbeimprovedorsimplyremoved. Getridofoneortwooftheworst regulationsineachindustryandyouhave instantlyimprovedourproductivity.

JohnO’Neill,Dargaville.

Thedeeplypolarisingimpactsofthe TreatyPrinciplesBillcastashadowover whatshouldbeacelebrationof nationhood,unityandracialharmony. Some185yearsonfromthesigningofthe Treaty,WaitangiDaycontinuestodeliver disappointingoutcomesandimagesof disunityfuelledbyactualorperceived grievancesandanger.

NewZealandershavemuchtobe proudofandthankfulfor.Ouroverall qualityandbalanceoflife,standardof livingandcollectivesharedvaluesare amongthebestintheworld.Wehave goodreasontofocusonwhatunitesus ratherthanwhatdividesus.

Inrecognitionofallthatisgoodabout NewZealandsoastoprovidemuchneededoptimismandhope,especiallyfor youngpeople,ourpoliticalleadersshould enactourownversionofa“Thanksgiving Day”oradayof“NationalUnity”.

Giventhecountrycannotaffordan additionalstatutoryholiday,theremust beanopportunitytothinkoutsidethe squareandrenameanexistingholidayof limitedorexpiredsignificance.

BruceEliott,StHeliers.

TOP10

Submissionguidelines

Letterstotheeditorshouldbesentto:PrivateBag92198,VictoriaSt West,AucklandCBDEmail:letters@nzherald.co.nz Lettersshouldnotexceed200wordsandmustcarrytheauthor’s signature,nameandresidentialaddress.Emailedlettersmustinclude

afullresidentialaddressandphonenumber,allowingacheckonbona fides.Attachmentswillnotbeaccepted.Nomsdeplumearenotaccepted; namesarewithheldonlyinspecialcircumstancesatthediscretionof theeditor.Lettersmaybeedited,abridgedordiscarded.

GuyBody’sview

protest.Perhapswecouldaddasmall UnionJackorthefourstarstothetop right-handcornertorepresent compromiseandmovingontogether. Howeverthismaydetractfromitsdesign simplicity.

Asafifth-generationNewZealander,I feelitiswaypasttimedifferenceswere settledonatogethernessbasis.Adopting thisflagasournationalflagcouldhelp thisprocess.PerhapsmakeAotearoathe officialnameofourcountryatthesame time. DavidLittle,Whanga¯rei.

Falseeconomy

ThelatestTransportMinisterisfollowing hispredecessor’sclaimthatincreased speedlimitswillbenefittheeconomy. NeitherChrisBishopnorSimeonBrown hasproducedevidencetobackthisup. Oneminorcrashcanholdupthetraffic foraconsiderableamountoftime,a seriouscrashwillcloseroadsformany hours.Ahighwayclosedforseveralhours won’thelptheeconomyoneiota. GregCave,Sunnyvale.

Hakapolitics

Newholiday IfthemediacoverageofWaitangiDay celebrationsaccuratelycapturedthe moodoftheTreatygroundproceedings, therewasagainheightenedpolitical tensionsmanifestedbytheatricsandbad behaviour.

Flyingaflag

Lookingatthedifferentflagsflyingat Waitangi,thetinorangatiratangastands outasabeautifulandsimpledesignand wouldhaverepresentedourcountrywell ontheworldstage. It’sapityithasbecomeasymbolof

Youreditorialwasright,NewZealand Rugbydoesn’townthehaka(February8). ButneitherdoesTJPerenara.Itisan honourandprivilegetoplayforyour countryatthehighestlevel,evenmore sotobegiventhemantletoleadthehaka. Usingthatplatformtoespousepersonal politicalviewsiswrongoneveryfront. LaurenceMallon,TeAtatu¯.

OPINION AngelaBrazieristhe

executivedirectoroftheFirearms

SafetyAuthority

Whenpolicewentwitha searchwarranttoaMongrel Mobprospect’shomelast November,thestorywasall toofamiliar.Alongwithasignificant amountofcannabis,theyfoundarifle, shotgunandhundredsofroundsof ammunition.Arecipeforharm. Butratherthanpolicehittingtheusual brickwallofsilenceaboutwherethegang prospectgotthesefirearms,thegunstold theirownstory.TheFirearmsSafety Authoritydidaquickcheckoftheserial numbersinNewZealand’sfirstdigital FirearmsRegistry,whichrevealedwho shouldhavebeeninpossessionofthem. Thatpersonhasnowhadtheirfirearms licencesuspended,allotherfirearmsin theirpossessionhavebeenseizedand theyhavebeenchargedwiththeunlawful supplyoffirearms.

Inthepastweonlyhadapartial picture Gangsareusinggunsmoreandmore. Whenpoliceareoutonourstreets,they andthepublicareincreasinglybeing confrontedwithguns.Weneededto knowthatfirearmsarestayinginthe handsoflaw-abidinglicenceholders. BeforetheFirearmsRegistrystarted inJune2023,therewasamajorgapin thesystem.TheFirearmsSafetyAuthority knewwhoheldafirearmslicence,butwe didn’tknowwhatgunseachlicence holderhadintheirhomesorbusinesses. Wedidn’tknowwhereorwhengunswere

NewZealand’sfirstdigitalFirearmsRegistryishelpingtotracegunsthatendupinthe handsofcriminals.

beingbought,soldandmovedbetween peopleoriftheywerebeingstockpiled orgettingintothehandsofcriminals.

HForadifferentview, gotonzherald.co.nz/ opinion

Stoppingtheflowofgunstocriminals through‘strawbuyers’ Oneofthecommonwayscriminalsget gunsisbyexploitingthesystem through“strawbuyers”.Thisiswhere alicenceholderbuysgunstosellor passontocriminalsandgangs. Thepolice’sNationalOrganised CrimeGrouphasbeensuccessfulat lookingforsuspiciouspatternsto identifystrawbuyersbyanalysing salesrecords.Beforetheregistry,it meantmanuallyenteringhundredsof thousandsofindividualrecords. Knowingwhenfirearmsaremoving aroundmeansthesmallgroupoflicence holderscaughtsupplyingcriminalswith

gunswillbecharged.Theregistryis alreadyhelpingdetecttheseillegal transfersandsales.

Mostlicenceholderswanttodothe rightthing AttheendofJanuary,athird(31%)ofall activelicenceholdersowned345,000 registeredfirearms.Ofthe72,000licence holdersregisteredtodate,around30% havedonesoproactively,withoutwaiting foraneventwhichrequiresthemto,such asbuyinganewgunorshiftinghouse.The registryisontracktocontainalllicence holdersbythe2028deadlinesetby Parliament.

Thecriticsarewrongabouttracing firearms Thoseagainsttheregistryarguecriminals arejustrubbingofftheidentifyingserial

numbers,makingtheregistryredundant. Thebestdataavailableshowsthisisnot thecase.

InJune2024,theFirearmsSafety Authorityconductedastocktakeofmore than7100seizedandsurrendered firearmsheldinthearmouriesinpolice stationsacrossthecountry.Ofthoseguns, morethantwo-thirds(69%)containeda serialnumber,28%hadnovisibleserial number(itshouldbenotedthatwith somefirearms,theserialnumberis presentbutnotvisible,forexample,under thesightmount)andlessthan3%hadhad theserialnumberremoved. Overthelast11years,recordsshow 7800firearmswerereportedstolen, potentiallyendingupinthehandsof criminals.Theregistryisimprovingthe chanceoffirearmsbeingrecoveredand increasingthemotivationforlicence holderstoremainvigilantaroundthe securestorageoftheirfirearms. Licenceholdersarevitaltoarobust system Ultimately,thegoalofastrongfirearms systemistoprotectourcommunities fromtheharmcausedbyunregulatedand illicitfirearmsuse.Closeco-operationand interoperabilitybetweentheFirearms SafetyAuthorityandpoliceiscriticalto improvingpublicandfrontlinesafety. Closecollaborationbetweenpolicewho enforcethelaw,organisationslikemine whoactasthe“regulator”,Customs,who protectourborders,intelligenceagencies, whomaybecomeawareofpeople plottingmassharm,andfirearmslicence holdersisessential.

Weareallcriticaltomakingsure firearmsarekeptoutofthehandsof criminalsandgangs. Byworkingtogether,ourcommunities aresaferfromguncrime.

Photo/AFP

Continuetheconversation... KerreWoodhamNewstalkZB 9am-noon

Willhighmilkpricehurt plantosellproductsline?

JamieGray

Fonterra’sfarmgatemilkprice islikelytohit$10akiloof milksolids—aboonfordairy farmers—butapotential hitchintheco-op’splanstosellthe consumerarmofthebusiness.

Thecountry’slargestbusinessrevealedinMaylastyearitwaslooking atfullorpartialdivestmentoptions forsomeorallofitsglobalconsumer business,includingwell-known brandssuchasAnchor,anditsintegratedbusinessesFonterraOceania andFonterraSriLanka.

OnMay29,2024theco-operative forecastafarmgatemilkprice midpointof$7.80perkiloofmilk solids.ButbyDecemberlastyear,it hadbeenreviseduponmultiple occasionsandisnowforecasttobe $10perkiloofmilksolids.

Ahighmilkpricehasinthepast tendedtoactagainstFonterra’sconsumerdivision,withmilkbeingits highestinputcost.

“Thereisascenarioherethatconsumer’searningswillbeunderpressuremorethantheywouldhave beensixmonthsago,withthemilk pricebeingwhereitis,whichis frustratingwhenyouaretryingtosell abusiness,”ForsythBarrsenioranalystMattMontgomeriesaid.“But overall,itshouldn’thaveamaterial impactontheprocess.”

AndrewMurray,theco-op’schief financialofficer,saysFonterracan handlewhatlookslikelytobea recordmilkprice.

Theco-opwantstodivestitsconsumerbusinessaswellasintegrated businessesFonterraOceaniaandSri Lanka—assetsestimatedbyanalysts tobewortharound$2.5billionto $3.5b—inordertofocusonitshighperformingingredientsandfoodservicebusinesses.

Assetsaleswillrequireapproval fromits10,000orsofarmershareholders.

Murray,whohasspentmostofhis careerinthefast-movingconsumer goods(FMCG)market,joined Fonterrain2023ascommercialdirectorforFonterra’sglobalmarketsbusiness.HewasappointedchieffinancialofficerlastAugust.

Fonterrahasalreadysoldassets

suchasTipTopandChile’sSoprole tonarrowitsfocusandreducedebt.

Thedecisiontoexittheconsumer businesswaswhatoneanalystcalled Fonterra’sboldestdecisionyet.

Ifitcametoasale,Fonterra expectsthatitwouldcontinueto supplytheconsumerbusinessin muchthesamewayasitdidwithTip Top,whichitsoldin2019toFroneri for$380million.

Inaninterviewwiththe Herald Murraysaidhedoesnotseea“good, solid”milkpricestandingintheway ofanypossiblesaleofFonterra’s consumerbusiness.Hesays theco-op,whichissued anupdateinNovember,hasmoreclaritynowastowhat liesahead.

“It’sanice spottobein.

“Everything isproceeding exactlyaswe expected.

“It’snota quickprocess, obviously.Our lastcommunicationinNovemberwas thatwehadmovedinto asaleprocessandthat’s thepartweareinnow.

Thefuturecouldseeaninitial publicoffer(IPO)oranoutrightsale.

“Weareabsolutelypursuingadual trackthatcouldinvolveatradesale aswell.”

Fonterrahaspreviouslysaidthe divestmentscouldtake12to18 monthstocomplete.

Onthemilkprice,Murraysaid: “Fromourperspectiveasacooperative,ahighmilkpriceisagood thing.

“Forconsumerandfoodservice, whatweneedtobeabletodoisdeal withthevolatilityofthemilkprice —thatmeansbeingabletoputin placetherightmeasures—beitin pricingorinformulation.

reacttothatthatisimportant.

“It’snotautomaticallyabadthing —usuallyit’snotamatterofallcosts goingthesameway.

“Themilkpriceisabigpartofthe inputcost,buttherearemanyother variablesthatareatplayaswell.”

Thehighmilkpricescoincidewith whatanalystsexpecttobeastrong financialperformancefromthecoop.

“Ithinkthatwehavedeveloped quiteastrongmodelinthatspace nowaroundbeingabletodothat.

“That’swhatitmeansfortheconsumerbusiness—ahighermilkprice meansthatyouessentiallyhavea higherinputcost—butit’showyou

“Weareinagoodspaceatthe moment,”thesoftlyspoken Glaswegiansays.

Assumingconsumerissold—and farmershaveyettogive theirsealofapproval— whatwouldFonterra looklike?

Ingredients— mostlymilk powder—isthe biggestpartof Fonterra’sbusiness,offeringa goodreturnon capital.

“It’sagood marginbusiness andasizeable partofourebit comesfromtheingredientsbusiness. Foodservice,again,is veryimportant,offering agoodmarginandagoodreturnon capital.”

Murraysaystheco-ophopesto leveragethesuccessithaswithfood serviceinChinainothergeographies.

“Weknowthatweareinagood spotandit’saboutmaintainingthat momentum—wearereallyfocused onthat,”hesaid.

HesaidFonterra’sstrategywasnot reliantongettingasaleforconsumer.

Rather,hesaiditwasaquestion ofwhethercapitaltiedupwithconsumercouldbeusedinabetterway.

Assumingasalegoesahead,what wouldapost-consumerFonterralook like?

“Iningredientsinparticular,we haveverystrongrelationshipsand wearecontinuingtodevelopthose aroundbeingabletopushintothe highervalue,moreadvancedingredients—that’sadefinitespaceforus.

“Ithinkalsothatsometimeswe forgetthattheconsumerbusiness—

ifwedivested—isalmostguaranteed tobecomeoneofourbiggestcustomersbecausethebusinesswillstill needamilksupply.”

Therewasanopportunitytofurtherstrengthenitsfoodserviceusing theknowledgealreadybuiltupinthe business-to-business(B2B)space.

Fonterra’sfoodservicebusiness hasdonewellinChina,wherethe uptakeofdairyproductshasrisen overtheyears.

Murraysaysthereisstillplentyof growthpotentialforfoodserviceover thenextfiveto10yearsasdairy consumptionisstillrelativelylowin alotofSouthEastAsiaandtheMiddle East.

“Itisfoodservice,itisingredients, andthatfocusonbeingthebestB2B businessthatwecanpossiblybe— that’swheretheopportunitylies,becausewehaveaworld-classmanufacturingfootprint.

“Ourabilitytoreliablycollectand processmilkisnotguaranteedeverywhere,andwecandothatverywell.”

Murraysaystherearestillopportunitiesforgeographicalexpansionin China.“IfyoulookatChinaasawhole, thereisalotofdoomandgloom,but actuallywehavenotseenmuchof that.”

China,hesaid,lookedtobeatwospeedeconomyandthefoodsector wasstillgoingstrong.

Feedbackfromfarmershadbeen positiveontheprospectsofa$10milk price,butMurraysaysit’snotthe sameasitwouldhavebeenthreeor fouryearsago,thankstoinflation.

Sinceitsinceptionin2001, Fonterrahasuntilrecentlystruggled toputtogetheraconsistentearnings record.

Lastyear,Fonterrareportedearningsfromcontinuingoperationsof70 centspershare—thetopofits guidanceandonlymarginallydown on2023’srecordearningsoutcomeof 75cents.

“Wehavehadreasonablystable earningsforaperiodnow,sowehave muchgreaterstability,”Murraysaid.

“Thereisstrengthinouringredients,foodserviceandconsumerbusinessesandwehavemaintained marginsinthosespaces.

“It’sanicepositiontobein,and wedon’ttakeitlightly.”

Signsof optimism foroutlook statements

JamieGray

Theupcomingreportingseason lookslikelytoreflectthetoughtimes seenintheeconomyinthesecond halfoflastyear,yetcompany “outlook”statementsmayprovide someoptimismfortheyearahead. Theseason—comprisingmostly second-half2024results—gets underwaythisweek,startingwith VulcanSteeltomorrow. Economicgrowthwaseither

AndrewMurray.

slightornegativelastyear,soanalysts arenotholdingtheirbreathfor bumpercorporateearnings.

However,sharpfallsininterest ratesandaweakNewZealanddollar maychangethelandscapein2025. CraigsInvestmentPartners investmentdirectorMarkListerhas highhopesfortheseason,even thoughitwillreflectaneconomyin recession.

“Forastart,thebarisincredibly low,”Listersaid.

“Wehavehadastringofsoft reportingseasons,sothemarketwill belookingforsomethingmore upbeat,”hesaid.

lowlevelsagainsttheUSdollar.

“TheweakKiwiisgivingexporters moreoptimismforthefuture,soI’m stillupbeatabouthowthingslookfor theyearahead.”

Investmentandadvisorygroup Jardensaideconomicconditionsover thehalfyearhadbeendifficultand werelikelytoremainthatwayover thebalanceofthiscalendaryear.

“Additionally,wenowhavethe uncertaintyofPresident[Donald] Trumpwithtariffthreatsandalookafter-America-firstagenda.”

reflectinglastwinter’sabnormallydry andwindlessconditions,coupledwith agasshortage,followedbystrong inflowsandpricedeclines.

Futuresmarketsretractedbutspot pricesarerising,particularlyforJune 2025,signallingconcernsabout wintersupply.

“Mostcompaniesnavigated volatilitywithoutmajoroutlook revisions,exceptMeridian,”Jarden said.

Thefocusnowwouldbeonhow the“gentailers”managethiswinter.

“Thesecondhalfoflastyearwas, Isuspect,oneofmaximumpain,which wastheworstpoint,soIexpectthe numberstolookprettyterrible.

“I’mhopefulthattheoutlook commentarieswillreflectthefactthat interestratesarecomingoffthickand fast,andthattheKiwidollarisatvery

ButJardenwasoptimisticthe easingcyclewouldcontinue, providingsomereliefascompaniesgo intothesecondhalfof2025.

“Thismacrobackdropislikelyto bemostmagnifiedincyclicals exposurestoFletcherBuilding,Vulcan Steel,andTourismHoldings,”Jarden said.

Thebigpowercompanieslooked likelytoreportamixedbagofresults,

JardenhasestimatedContact’s (resultdueFebruary17)earnings beforeinterest,tax,depreciationand amortisation(ebitda)at$406million, up$73myearonyear(yoy),driven bynewgeothermalandimproved retailpricing.

GenesisEnergy’s(February21)halfyearebitdaisestimatedat$246m,a 22%increase.

ForMercury(February25),Jarden

saysthehalf-yearebitdawasexpected tobeflatyoyat$434m,despitethe droughtimpact.

Meridian’shalf-yearprofit (February26)isestimatedtobe $257m,asignificantdecreaseof $189m,drivenbydroughtandlow wholesaleprices.

“Wereduceourfull-year2025 ebitdaestimateto$843mfrom $881m.” FletcherBuilding(February19) remainedinadowncycleandwasstill managingthetailofitslegacyissues, Jardensaid.

ForAustralasianmedicalgoods distributorEbos,thefocuswouldbe oncalibratingtheChemistWarehouse Australiancontractloss.

JardenexpectsEbos(February19) toissueanunchangedfull-year guidanceandsaidtherewaspotential fortheboardtoliftdividendpayout asasignofcontinuingconfidence.

Amongthesmallerissues,stock

exchangeoperatorNZX(February21) hadseenitsearningsrebound stronglywithimprovedcapital markets.

BrokersForsythBarrsaidthis earningsseasonwouldlapthe weakestearningsseasononrecord.

“Yetweareforecastingarecord seventhconsecutiveearningsseason, withmeaningfulaverageandmedian year-on-yearearningspershare declines,”itsaid.

“Frombadtoworsedescribesthe backdropfortheNewZealand economyduringtheMarchto September2024periodquitewell.

“However,thatisallwell understoodandinthepast.Luckily, themarkethasashortmemory.”

ForsythBarrsaidthatontopof lowerinterestrates,business confidencewasrunninghigh,andthe Governmenthadproposedfast-track legislationforbigconstruction projects.

Sinkinghubofretirementvillagehasresidentsonedge

AnneGibson

ResidentsinRymanHealthcare’s EdmundHillaryvillageinAuckland havecomplainedaboutworktofix themainbuilding,whichissinking. Rymanhasacknowledgedproblemswiththegroundunderitsmain blockinRemuera,whichhousesthe AorakiHospital,villagecentre,reception,entertainmentandsomeservicedapartments.

Oneresidentsaidjustunder600 peopleliveinthevillageonAbbots WaywheresincelastMay,some serviceshadbeencutduetoparts ofthathubbeingshut.

“Thisisanawfulsituationthat hundredsofusarebeingsubjected to.Therehasbeennoentertainment duetothereceptionareasinking.We getweeklyupdatesbutthestoryis stillthesamewithnoendinsight,” aresidentsaid.

Thedancefloorhadbeenlocked offsincelastMayandattimes,lifts inthereceptionareacouldnotbe used,theresidentsaid.

Anumberofresidents,whodidnot wanttobenamed,andfamilymembershavecontactedthe Herald since itwasfirstreportedthatextensive workwasunderway.

Onemansaidhedidnotexpect tobelivinginthemiddleofwhatfeels likeaconstructionsiteduringhis retirement.

Tworesidentstoldofcracks appearinginbuildings“causingseriousconcernstousasresidents”.

ManypeoplehadtoleaveAoraki Hospitalduetotheworkandwere shiftedtootherRymanpropertiesor elsewhere.

Onewomantoldofthedistressfor herfamilywhenlastyearRyman offeredtomoveherparenttoavillage farfromtheRemueraone.

Thefamilywereunhappyand althoughtheymanagedtofindan alternativehospital,itwasnotina Rymanvillage,shesaid.

GrantCostello,villagemanager, sentoutinformationlastAprilwhen theworkwasabouttobegin,saying itwasfortunateRymanhadalarge networkof11villagesintheAuckland region.

Hesaidthentheworkhad“an estimatedtimeframeoffourmonths

Themainblock isunderrepair atRyman’s EdmundHillary Retirement Villagein Remuerasince themiddleof lastyear.

tocompleteboththeworkandrestoration”.

ButworkscontinueandaRyman spokesmantoldthe Herald this monththerewasnoenddate.

“Weareverysorryfortheinconveniencethisrelevellingworkwill cause.Unfortunately,thereisno otherwaytocarryoutthework effectivelywithoutcausingthisdisruption.Wewillbetheretosupport youthroughouttheprocessandwe

willbeprovidingregularupdateson progress,”Costellowrotetoresidents lastApril.

Thismonth,aRymanspokesman said:“Wearecarryingoutsome relevellingworkatourEdmund HillaryRetirementVillage.Overtime, groundsettlementhasledtofloors becominguneveninplaces.The workinvolvesasectionofthevillage centrebeingtemporarilyunavailable.

“Whilewe’reworkingtocomplete theremediationasquicklyaspossible,we’renotyetabletoprovidea precisetimeframeforcompletionof theworks.Wehaveapologisedto residentsforanyinconvenienceor disruptiontheworkhascaused,”the spokesmansaid.

Rymanhasanassetbaseof$14.1 billion,hasvillagesinNewZealand andVictoria,Australiaandhas14,600 peopleinitsvillages,whichare staffedby7700employees.

VulcanSteelisthefirstcompanyofftheblock whenanewreportingseasonstartstomorrow.

SmallbusinessQ&A

SeanFoster, founderof

Perchspace,talksto TomRaynel about hisbeliefinremote working,andwhy thedigitalnomad economyhas untappedpotential.

WhatisPerchspace?

Perchspaceisawebsitethatgives businessesorsmallbusinessesaway tomakeadditionalincomeoutof spacestheyhavefreeorthatthey don’tuseregularly.AnexampleIcan giveyouiscafes.

Cafeshavepeakhours,they’llhave off-peakhours,butthemajorityofthe time,they’llhavefreetables.

Thesearehospitalityvenues,right?

They’remadetomakepeoplefeel relaxedandcomfortable,andthese spacesarejustwasted.

Soit’sofferingtocombinethe hospitalityindustrywiththecoworkingorsharedworkspace industryandgiveyourbusinessa sidehustle.

It’sgivingpeopleaverycheapand affordableoptiontoworkremotely, butalsoveryconvenient.

Whatinspiredyoutostartthe business?

Therewereacoupleofpersonalones. Iwasgoingtohavemyfirstkidand Ireallywantedtospendmoretime withhim.Startingabusinesshas meantlosingalotofthattimeaswell, butIjustwantedpeopletohavemore flexibilityinwhattheydo.

IfIwantedtowork,Ididn’twantto havetocometothecitycentre.All thesebeautifulFrenchsuburbsareby thebeachorsomethingandit’sacool placetowork.Youactuallyfeellike doingsomeworkratherthanbeing inanofficewithbluelighting.

OneofthebiggestthingsisIdoabit ofconsultancyforsmallbusinesses andIworkreallycloselywith hospitalitybusinesses.

Iusedtoworkwiththemandtalk abouthowtheindustryisindecline andyoulookatreports,youseehow theindustryisindecline.Soitwas alwaysaconceptofhowdowe changethis?Again,tappingbackinto thefirstonetheycreatethese beautifulenvironmentsforpeopleto comerelaxandenjoy,whycan’tthey workhere?

Howbigisthefreelance/digital nomadeconomy?

Theco-workingorsharedworkspace industryisonethatisgrowingcrazily, andithadmassivegrowththrough Covidlockdowns,asyouwould

SeanFoster’swebsite Perchspacegives businessesawayto makemoneyoutof theirunusedspaces.

Tapintodigitalnomadculture fromyouridealPerchspace

imagine,andit’skeptgrowing.Oneof thefunfactsthatpromptedmeto keepgoingwithitwasthat Australasiaisoneofthelargest marketsforitandoneofthefastestgrowingmarketsforit.

TheplanistotakePerchspaceglobal, that’swherewewanttoendup.I wantedtotestitinNewZealandfirst becauseNewZealand’sbigonthe coffeeculture,howmanycafesdowe haveforsuchasmallspace?

Onethingthat’sbigformeisyoulook atcompaniesandtheyhavethe abilitytoofferflexibleworking.Our marketisn’tthem,it’sthe90%ofsmall businessesthatareinNewZealand. That’sthepeoplewe’rereally targeting,notthebigoneswho’ve mandatedyou’vegottocomeintothe officenow.

Whathasbeentheresponsefrom thoseusingtheservice?

Initially,Idon’tthinkIhadmypitch downtoascienceorthatlanguage thatyouneedtospeak,butnowit’s aloteasier,sowehavesites approachingus.Somethingwedois helpthemwithsettingupthespace. TojoinPerchspacethere’sno subscription,there’snostart-upfees. It’sjustopentouseforanyone. Rightnowwehavespaces,wedo photographyforthem,wecreate reelsfortheirsocials,andwe collaboratewiththem.Sowemarket themalot. Wewanttobeaplacethat encouragessmallbusinessestotalk aboutitandnotjustthespaceowners likecafes,butourconsumerstoo. Explainingallthattohospitality

ownershasbeengettingaloteasier andthereaction’sbeenpositive.

Whathasbeenthebiggest challengeinstartingthebusiness? Ithinkthehardestthinghasbeen socialmediabecauseI’mnotaperson who’stookeenaboutit. Ilookonlineandthereareallthese beautifulpeopledoingallthese lovelyvideos,that’sbeenhard puttingmyselfoutthereanddoing thatsideofthings. Theotherthingistime,right?Time isfinite,youknow,andmyfirstjob istobeagooddadandagood husband,soIneedtofocusonthat first.It’sbeen3amwake-upsand workingthatthensmashingupthe 9to5andthendoingtheconsultancy. Soalotofjuggling,butliketheysay

Musk,TrumpatoddsoverbillionairebuyingTikTok

it’sbettertofeelfulfilledattheend ofthedayratherthanhaveaboring day.

Whatwouldbeyouradviceto otherbuddingentrepreneurs? I’dsayacquireasmuchknowledge aspossible,butI’dsayworkfora companyfirst—inallthesebig companiesyouhavepeoplewithso muchmoreknowledge.There’sso muchyoucanlearn,whetherit’show toleadateamorwhattodowhen thingsgettough. Onceyouknowhowtofollow,you’ll knowhowtolead.

i

DoyouhaveaKiwismall businessstory?Emailtom. raynel@nzme.co.nzwiththe subjectSmallBusinessQ+A.

ElonMusk,world’srichestperson ElonMusk,theworld’srichestperson andatopadvisertoUnitedStates PresidentDonaldTrump,saidhehas nointerestinacquiringsocialmedia platformTikTok’soperationsinthe UnitedStates.

“I’venotputinabidforTikTokand Idon’thaveanyplansforwhatI woulddoifIhadTikTok,”saidMusk incommentsmadeviavideolinkat aGermanforuminlateJanuarythat werereleasedontheweekend. TikTokisfacingdownaUSlaw thatorderedthecompanybrokenoff fromitsChineseownerByteDanceor otherwisebebannedintheUnited Statesovernationalsecurityconcernsregardingthedataitgatherson users. Inoneofhisfirstactsinoffice, Trumporderedapauseonenforcing thelawthatshouldhaveseenTikTok effectivelymadeillegalinthecountry

I’venotputinabidfor TikTokandIdon’thave anyplansforwhatI woulddoifIhadTikTok.

adaybeforehetookofficefora secondterm.

Soonafter,Trumpsaidhewould beopentoMusk—theownerofsocial mediaplatformX,Teslaandaslew ofothercompanies—buyingthe platform. Musk,however,saidhedidnot wishtoacquirethecompany. “Idon’tuseTikTokpersonally,so, youknow,I’mnotthatfamiliarwith it,”hesaid.“I’mnotchompingatthe bittoacquireTikTok.” Muskboughtsocialmediagiant

Twitter,whichherenamedX,for US$44billion($77b)in2022,insisting hewasdoingsoinordertosafeguard “freespeech.”

Sincehistakeover,rightscampaignerswarntherehasbeenaspike inhatespeechanddisinformationon theplatform.

MuskwasoneofTrump’smain financialbackersinhispresidential campaign,andisheadingtheUS President’sbudget-slashing initiatives.Hisso-called“Department ofGovernmentEfficiency”(DOGE) hastargetedarangeoffederalgovernmentagenciesandregulators, withtheapparentintentofshutting themdownandfiringstaff,especially thosenotinlinewithTrump’spoliticalagenda.

Yesterday,aUSjudgeissuedan emergencyorderblockingMusk’s governmentreformteamfrom

accessingpersonalandfinancialdata formillionsofAmericansstoredat theTreasuryDepartment,court documentsshowed. Inthecommentsattheforumin Germany,Muskalsotookaimat Diversity,EquityandInclusion(DEI) initiatives,whicharemeanttosupporthistoricallyoppressedand disenfranchisedcommunities.“DEIis simplyracismrebranded,”hesaid. “I’magainstracismandsexismno matterwhoit’sdirectedagainst.” USofficialshavebeenracingto enactTrump’swaronDEIacrossthe federalbureaucracy—dismantling traininginitiatives,scrappinggrants andsidelininghundredsofworkers. InGermany,Muskhasvoicedfirm supportforthefar-rightantiimmigrationAfDparty—apolitical tabooinacountrywhoseNazipast remainsasensitivesubject.

FrazerBartonhadbeenonleaveforfive monthswhilecomplaintswereinvestigated byanindependentstandardscommittee.

ShouldNZLawSocietypresidentstay?

SashaBorissenkocomment

SashaBorissenkois

afeelancejournalist whohasreported extensivelyonthe lawindustry

FrazerBartonwasreinstated aspresidentoftheLaw Societylastweek.Thenews comesafteranindependent standardscommitteeconcludedit wouldtakenofurtheraction followingtwocomplaintsquestioning Barton’sinvolvementinthe destructionofrecords.

Abitofcontext.Accordingtothe RoyalCommissionofInquiry’sAbuse inCarefinalreport,Bartonadvised PresbyterianSupportOtago’s(PSO) formerchiefexecutiveshecould destroyrecords“atanappropriate milestoneoranniversary”.Barton wasservingontheboardina governancerole.

Thecommission’sreportsaid recordsweredestroyedineither2017 or2018byaseniorPSOstaffmember whorecognisedtheirsignificance, notingtherecordswereheldfor27

yearsprior.Atthetime,PSOstaffwere awareofreportsofabuseandneglect intheircareandaRoyalCommission wasonthehorizon.

Followingthereport’srelease,the LawSocietyreceivedtwocomplaints allegingBartonbroughtthe professionintodisrepute.Whilean independentstandardscommittee reviewedthecomplaints,Bartontook aleaveofabsenceaspresident.

Theissueswith‘advice’? Cuethestandardscommittee’s findings.“AlthoughMrBartonwas actingasaboardmemberandnotas PSO’slawyer,hewasapproachedby theCEObecauseofhislegalskillsand theadvicehegavewasaboutalegal issue,”theLawSociety’ssummary read.

Oncetheadvicewasconsidered withinthescopeoflegalservices,the nextquestionwaswhetheritwas sound.

Forcontext,thestandards committeereferencedanemail exchangeinFebruary2016between BartonandPSO’sCEO.TheCEO soughtadviceasafollow-uptoa requestregardinganindividualfile andastaffmember’sretirementinthe nextfiveyears.

Thecommitteewasn’tconcerned abouttheadvicetodestroyrecords perse,provideditalignedwith informationmanagementand retentionprinciples.TheRoyal CommissionofInquiryissueda preservationofdocumentsorderthat prohibitedstateandfaith-based institutionsfromdestroying

potentiallyrelevantinformationin 2019.

Sotheadvicewaslegal,butwhy askifyoucandestroydocumentsif youhavenothingtohide?

ThecommitteeconcludedBarton couldn’thavereasonablyforeseenor expectedhisadvicein2016tobe implementedwithoutafollow-up discussionorconsiderationofan appropriatemilestoneor anniversary.

What’smore,thecommittee couldn’tidentifyanyevidenceto suggesttheadvicewassoughtin relationtoorwithreasonablebelief thataRoyalCommissionofInquiry wastocommence.

Whynofullreport?

Ihavesomanyquestions,suchas whyfurthereffortsweren’tmadeto ascertainwhytheadvicewassought, whoknewwhatandwhen,or whetherPSOvictimsorstaffwere amongthe“keywitnesses”involved inthestandardscommitteeprocess.

Theissue?EntertheLawyersand ConveyancersAct,whichrestricts thepublicationofstandards committeedecisions.Specifically,the 2008regulationsstatedecisionsmust remainconfidentialunlessthere’san orderforpublication.

LawSocietychiefexecutiveKatie RusbatchtoldmeBarton,the standardscommitteeandtheLaw Societyacknowledgedtherewasa significantpublicinterestinreleasing theoutcomeofthecomplaints.

Shesaidthesummary—consistent withtheact’spurposeandtheLaw

Society’spowersandfunctions—was intendedtoinformthepublicand lawyersthatprofessionalissueshere wereinvestigatedandsubjecttothe scrutinyofanindependentprocess.

“Thereisalsoaneducative opportunityheretoclarify obligationsthatfallonalllawyers, providingguidancetolawyerswho contributetheirtimeandexpertisein non-legalroles.”

Inmyview,thesummaryfalls short.Nevertheless,in2023theLaw Societysaiditsupported—in principle—recommendationsmade byanindependentreviewto separateitsregulatoryand representativefunctions.

“TheLawSocietyissupportiveof moretransparencyaround complaints;however,legislative reformisrequired.Thecurrent Governmenthasindicatedthiswill notbeaprioritythisterm,”Rusbatch said.

Presidentialmaterial?

I’mintwomindsoverwhetherBarton shouldstillbepresident.Ontheone hand,there’stheruleoflawandthe righttonaturaljusticeinsofarasthe standardscommitteeputanendto thecomplaints.

Butfromanopticsorpublic perceptionperspective,I’mnotso sure.Thepresident’spositionsetsthe tone,andthisisnotthefirsttimea LawSocietypresidenthascome underscrutiny.Norwerethe complaintsmadewilly-nilly—they werefromtheverypeoplethe president’sroleisdesignedto represent.

What’smore,themovealmost underminestheLawSociety’sAbuse inCareInquiryefforts,havingmade submissionsontheOversightof OrangaTamarikiSystemLegislation BillandRespondingtoAbuseinCare LegislationAmendmentBill,for example.TheLawSocietyeven soughtlawyerstoserveonapanel toadvisetheAbuseinCareRoyal Commissionin2019.

Moreimportantly,whatdoesthis sayaboutacknowledgingtheharm donebythePSO—onthegoverning boardofwhichBartonserved?

FortheLawSociety,thereisno abilitytoremoveapresidentfromthe LawSociety’sconstitution.

RusbatchsaidBartonhadthefull supportoftheLawSocietyboard, bringing“awealthofexperience, knowledge,integrityandcommunity servicetohisposition.The[Law Society]boardbackshimtobringthat valuableexpertisetotheroleofLaw Societypresident”.

Bartondidn’trespondtomy questions,insteadreferringthemto theLawSociety.

“BoththeLawSocietyandFrazer Bartonacknowledgetheimportance oftheRoyalCommissionofInquiry andthesignificanceofitsfindings,” Rusbatchsaid.

“MrBartoniscommittedandfully focusedongettingbacktotherole andcontributingtotheongoingand importantadvocacywork undertakenacrossmanydifferent areasoflawandthelegalprofession inNewZealand.” TrumpsaysNipponSteelwillinvestin,notbuy,USSteel

USPresidentDonaldTrumpsays Japan’sNipponSteelwillmakea majorinvestmentinUSSteel,butwill nolongerattempttotakeoverthe troubledcompany. Trump,referringtotheJapanese carcompanyNissanbutapparently meaningNipponSteel,said“they’llbe lookingataninvestmentratherthan apurchase.”

SpokespeopleforNipponSteeland USSteeldidnotrespondtoarequest forcomment. USSteel’ssharescloseddown5.8% onthenews.

Theannouncementmarksashift intonefromTrump,whoheavily criticisedNippon’sUS$14.9billion ($26.3b)takeoverofferduringthe 2024presidentialelectioncampaign. FormerUSpresidentJoeBiden blockedthedealshortlybeforeheleft officelastmonthonnationalsecurity grounds,sparkingajointlawsuitfrom thetwofirms—andcondemnation fromJapanesePrimeMinister ShigeruIshiba. InthesuitfiledonJanuary6, NipponSteelandUSSteelsaidBiden hadimproperlyusedhisinfluence

Nipponhasprovenitself tobeaserialtrade cheaterwithahistoryof dumpingitsproducts intoourmarkets.

DavidMcCall,UnitedSteelworkers

andblockedthedeal“forpurely politicalreasons”togainfavourwith workers’unions. Inresponse,theUSauthorities announcedtheyhadextendedthe

deadlinefortheJapanesefirmto abandonitsacquisitionofUSSteel untilJune18,extendinganinitial 30-daydeadline.

Trump’sremarkssuggesthis administrationisopentoNippon Steel’sinvestmentintheUSsteelgiant solongasitdoesnotassumeoverall control—astepthatcouldintheory ensureitremainsinAmericanhands.

“OurconcernsregardingNippon’s continuedinterestinUSSteelremain unchanged,”UnitedSteelworkersinternationalpresidentDavidMcCall saidinastatement.

“Nipponhasprovenitselftobea serialtradecheaterwithahistoryof dumpingitsproductsintoour markets,”hesaid,addingthattheUS steelworkers’unionhadnotbeenin contactwitheithercompanyorthe Trumpadministrationabout Nippon’sproposedinvestment.

“Whileweawaitthedetailsofthe proposedinvestment,weencourage PresidentTrumptocontinue safeguardingthelong-termfutureof thedomesticsteelindustrybyinsteadseekingAmericanalternatives,” hesaid. —AFP

KFCcopschickencoup

GregorThompson

TheNewZealandoperatorsof friedchickenchainPopeyes appeartobechasingRestaurantBrands’historically highKFCmargins,analystssay.

PopeyesopeneditsdoorstocustomersinTakanini,Auckland,inApril lastyearandnowhasstoresinWellington,HastingsandTaupo¯.

SenioranalystatSaltFundsManagement,NealBurghardt,saidit’sfair toassumePopeyeshaslookedat RestaurantBrands’marginsandseen thereismoneytobemadeselling friedchickeninNewZealand.

“Popeyessawthisasalogicalnext stepforaplacetoexpandandthey obviouslyfoundapartnerthatwas willingtodoithereandhavecome intothemarket.”

Thefriedchickenbusinessisthe newestventureofTahuaGroup,a consortiumthatmanagesBurger King,Starbucks,Hannahs,Hush Puppies,Torpedo7andNumberOne Shoesstores.

RestaurantBrandsdeclinedto comment,andTahuaGroupdidnot respondimmediately.

Whileit’searlydaysandKFC storesstilloutnumberPopeyes119to six,thenewentrantappearstobe havingsomeswaywithconsumers. Itmadeheadlinesthisweekafter trafficmanagementwascalledtostop queuesspillingoveratitsnewsitein LowerHutt.

DirectorofCoriolisResearch,Tim Morris,saidPopeyeswillhaveits sightssetonKFC’sclientele.

Thenewrestaurantchainis inspiredbyLouisianacuisine.KFC,as

itsnamesuggests,isfromKentucky. Thechains’menusfeaturemanyof thesameitems,suchasspicywings andchickenbuckets.Popeyeseven sells“Cajungravy”.

Attheendoftheday, bothgroupsarefighting forthesamecore customers.

TimMorris,CoriolisResearch

“It’saclassic80/20.80%offastfoodfriedchickenissoldto20%of thepopulation,”Morrissaid.

“Attheendoftheday,bothgroups arefightingforthesamecorecustomers.”

The Post reportedlastyearthat

TahuaPartnersplanstoopen30 restaurantsinitially.

MorrissaidthatusingtheUnited Statesasamodel,NewZealandcould “probablysupport40to45Popeyes outlets”.“Atsomepoint,thatwillhave toreallyhurtRestaurantBrands.”

Burghardtsaidonethingthat mightpreventPopeyes’expansionis itsabilitytofindtherightrealestate.

“RestaurantBrandshavesettargetsforstorerolloutsovertheyears andstruggledtofindgoodspotsfor thesebusinesses.Yousortofneedto gettoalevelofscaletomakethe operatingoverheadsmakesense.”

RestaurantBrandsownsandoperatesKFC,PizzaHut,TacoBelland Carl’sJr.storesinNewZealand,AustraliaandtheUnitedStates.

In2019,beforeRestaurantBrands stoppedsegmentingitsNewZealand

restaurants,KFC’searningsbeforeinterest,taxes,depreciationandamortisation(ebitda)asapercentageof saleswas21.4%.Atthetime,PizzaHut andCarl’sJr.were3.1%and4.4% respectively.

Inearningsforthesixmonthsto June30,2024,RestaurantBrandssaid KFCNZdelivereddouble-digitgrowth insame-storesalesandsteady,solid transactionscomparedwiththesame periodthepreviousyear.

Ofallitsbrandsinallitsjurisdictions,BurghardtsaidKFCstoresin NewZealandhavelongstoodout. “It’sprobablythegoldengoosein theportfolio.It’sveryimportantthat theygetitright,andtheycompete hardandtrytoatleastholdtheir marketshareorholdmargins.”

Thiswasespeciallysoastheother segmentsfacedheadwinds,hesaid.

Photo/MichaelCraig

Eyesonalternative generationsources afterlastyear’s energycrunch

IanLLewellyn

Gassupplyremainstightas theElectricityAuthority seeksmoreinformation aboutgasandcoalsupply aheadofwhatcouldbeatightwinter.

Lastyear,areportcommissioned bysectorregulatortheGasIndustry Company(GIC)warnedthatgas supplywouldsoonnotmeetdemand withoutimportedfuelorasignificant domesticgasdiscovery.

Becausesupplywasdeclining fasterthandemand,gaspriceswould increase,butbyhowmuchwould dependonawidearrayoffactors.

GICchiefexecutiveAndrew KnighttoldBusinessDesklastweek thatnotmuchhadchanged.

“Atonelevel,we’regettingsome encouragingpick-upsinactivity. ToddandGreymouthboth announcedneartheendoflastyear somedrillingprogrammesforthis year.”

OMV,thecountry’slargestgas operator,alsoconfirmedithadgiven uptryingtosellitsNewZealand assetsandthefeelinginthesector wasthatitwouldmakethebestof thesituationandcontinueinvestmentinmaintainingcurrentproduction.

ToddCorphasalsobeen retrenchingfromunsuccessful venturesoverseasandsomebelieve thismayresultinthetightlyheld companyputtingmoremoneyinto itslocalgasfields. Knightsaidtherewassomehope moregascouldcomeintothemarket.

“Havingsaidthat,we’restillona declinecurve.It’sanaturalresource that,asyouproduceit,youdeplete it,andyouneedtokeepinvestingto keeptoppingupthedeliverability, andthat’sthekeythingthey’redoing.”

Therehavebeensomesignsof long-termdemandreduction,most notablyfromFonterra.

Themilkprocessorisstartingto converttwoofitsNorthIslandgas boilerstoelectricity,reducingitsgas usebyaround38%.Untilrecently, Fonterrahasbeenmorefocusedon movingawayfromcoal,particularly intheSouthIsland,wheregasis unavailable.

Fonterrahasalong-termgas supplycontractintheNorthIsland, butuncertainfuturesupplymeansit isconsideringafuturewithoutgas fasterthaninitiallycontemplated.

Anothermajorgasuser,Ballance, isalsosettogotomarkettosecure anewlong-termgassupply.

Othermoveshavebeenmade downstreamaselectricitygenerators trytoshoreupweaknessesintheir exposuretogasmarkets.

GenesisEnergyistryingtofirmup itsaccesstogasstorage.Thelackof thishurtthecompanylastyearwhen itboughtgasoffMethanexatthe heightoftheenergycrunchandwas hitbylowerwholesaleelectricity priceswhenheavyraincame.

Contact’songoingproblemis accesstogasinthefuture;ithas reducedthisriskbyagreeingwith OMVforthesupplyofgasfrom Taranaki’sPohokurafieldfromJanuary2026toDecember2032.

Thedealisgoodforfuturesecurity butcomesatacostthatcouldpush upfuturewholesaleelectricityprices.

ThedealmeansContactwillgetan initial3.5petajoules(PJ)ofgasfrom OMV,whichwillgraduallydecline overtheseven-yearcontract.

ForsythBarrestimatedthatgas wasbeingboughtforabout$15a gigajoule(GJ).Thiswashigherthan previouspricesbutlessthansomeof lastyear’shighprices. Sectorwatcherssaidthehigher pricecouldpartlybeexplainedby

Runningout ofgas:Who’s gotpower? ,,

Contactnegotiatinggreaterflexibility inthecontract.Electricitygenerators arenotoriouslybadcustomersforgas producersbecausetheirdemandis erraticanddependentonunpredictablefactorssuchastheamountof waterinthehydrodams. However,thereareothersignsof

Genesisusescoaltofire partsoftheHuntly stationasaback-up powergeneration sourcebutnowonly stockpilesenoughcoal tocoveritsownneeds.

highergasprices.Thelatestcommercialgasproducerpriceindex indicatedthatpricesincreased19% abovetheSeptember2024quarter afterlastwinter’senergycrunch. “You’vegotamarketwherethere issomereductionindemand,and yousawthatwiththeFonterraannouncement,”Knightsaid.“You’ve gotamarketstillwherethere’suncertaintyabouthowmuchgas,atany pointintimeinthefuture,electricity [generatorsare]goingtoneed.” Gaspriceshaverisenacrossthe board.Whilethiscausessomepain, itshouldalsoresultinmoreinvest-

There havebeen somesigns oflongterm demand reduction.

mentindevelopingfieldsbecauseit willyieldahigherreturn.

Whilethehigherpriceswillaffect consumers,theyalsohaveaflow-on effectonwholesaleelectricityprices. Gaspricestendtosetthepricefor wholesaleelectricity,especially whenhydrolakesarelow.

ForsythBarrnotedthatwholesale futurespricesincreasedimmediately afterContactannounceditssupply deal.In2026,priceslifted4.6%to$203 amegawatt-hour(MWh).Pricesin 2027and2028increasedby3.4%and 3.9%,respectively.

Higherpricesmakeitmoredifficultforlargeuserstofindfixedhedgingdealsthatwillmaketheir businessesprofitable.

Gasisnottheonlysourceof thermalfuel.Coalisalsoavitalbackupgenerationsource.

TheElectricityAuthority(EA)is concernedthatnotenoughisknown aboutthesupplyofallthermalfuels forthesectortoplanahead.

“Theimportanceofup-to-date informationbecomesparticularly acuteduringtimesofmarketstress, aswereobservedinwinter2024,” saidadiscussionpaperontheregulatorrequiringmoreinformationto besupplied.

Whilenewgenerationwascoming onstream,itwasmainlywindand solar,whichneededtobebackedup bythermalgenerationwhenhydro lakeswerelow.

Andwhiletherewasmuch informationaboutgasandcoal,there wasaparticulargapinunderstanding thecontractualarrangements,not justforgasbutalsoforcoal.

Genesisusescoaltofirepartsof theHuntlystation.Ithasshiftedits policyinrecentyearsandnowonly stockpilesenoughtocoveritsneeds, requiringotherstobuytheircoal coverthroughsecurityoptions.

TheEAsaidinformationfrom Genesisshowedthecoalstockpile hadreducedbetweenAprilandJuly lastyear.

Thiscorrelatedwiththedrywinter conditionsandburningcoal,but more“granularinformationabout coalstockpilelevelswasnotavailable tothemarketduringthisperiod”.

Therestartofcoalimportsatthe sametimeashighcoalusealsomade thestockpilelevellessclearbetween quarterlydisclosures.

“Giventheimportanceofcoalto securityofsupply,weareproposing tocollectsolidfuelinformation weekly.”

Forgas,itwasclearthatcontracted supplieswillchangeovertime,and theexactvolumesdeliveredbyproducerscanchangemonth-to-month.

“Therefore,weproposetocollect anaggregatedminimumandmaximumfiguretodemonstratethebest estimateoftherangeofgascurrently undercontract[forthemajorelectricitygenerators].”

KnightsaidtheGICsupportedthe EA’smovebecauseitwouldincrease understandingofthelikelyavailabilityofthermalfuelforthermalgeneratorsandthepotentialimpactson therestofthegasmarket.

“Ifthere’sacircumstancelikewe hadlastyear,wherewehadlowwind andlowerlakelevels,andwesaw thatimpactonthegasmarketinquite apublicway,thenwewouldexpect thatinformationwouldbeavailable muchearlier.Wedon’tnormallysubmit,butwefeelonthisone,wewill beputtingasubmission,andthat’s supportiveofwhat’sproposed.”

TABmonopolyto recapture$185ma yearKiwisbetwith overseasoperators

GregorThompson

Seriouspunterssaylegislating topreventcompetitioninthe sportsbettingindustrywill stacktheoddsagainstthem.

MinisterforRacingWinstonPeters unveiledlegislationinDecemberto reinstatetheTAB’smonopolyinNew Zealand.

Ifagreedupon,theRacingIndustry Actwillbeamendedtomakeitillegal foranyorganisationtosellsportsbet wagerstoNewZealandersotherthan theTAB.Beforetheadventofthe internet,theTABwastheonlyrealisticwayforgamblerstoplaceabet conveniently.

Aspokespersonfortheminister saidthekeydriveroftheRacing IndustryAmendmentBillistoensure theoriginalpurposeoftheRacing IndustryActismaintained—to financetheNewZealandracingindustrysustainably.

EntainAustraliaandNZ,the AustralasianbranchoftheUnited Kingdom-basedfirmthatsigneda 25-yearpartnershipwithTABNZin 2023,estimatesthatNewZealanders spend$185millionayearonoverseas operators.

“Thechangeswillalsohelppreventthelossofmillionsofdollarsor revenuegoingoffshore—proceedsof whicharelosttoNewZealandsportingorganisations,”theminister’s spokespersonsaid.

However,inwrittensubmissions onthebilltoParliamentthisweek, several“sharpbettors”(someonewho hasatrackrecordofwinning)have arguedthemonopolywillharm consumersbyleadingtolessfavourablepricingandfeweroptions.

Entaindeclinedtocommentbut guidedBusinessDesktoitssubmission.

“Werespecttheroleoftheselect committeestageinabill’sprogress throughtheHouseanddon’twishto detractfromtheGovernanceand AdministrationCommitteeorthose oralsubmittersthisweek,”anEntain spokespersonsaid.

DavidBieleski,aparliamentary staffer,golfanalystandsharpbettor, saidinapersonalsubmissiononthe billthatwitheffortstobringcompetitionintootherareas,suchasthe groceryandbankingsectors,itwas misguidedtolegislateforastatutory monopoly.

“Commitmentshavebeenmade bybothNationalandLabourGovern-

ChangetoNZracinglaw nosurething

DavidChaplin Opinion

Acronym-coinersmissedatrick whenmidwifingthebirthofthe environmental,socialand governancemovementsome indeterminatenumberofyearsago.

Whynotenvironmental, governanceandsocial?EGSrollsof thetonguesomuchbetterthanESG.

But,forbetterorworse,ESGwon thenamingrightsforaninvestment (andcorporate)processvariously knownassustainable,ethical,socially responsibleorjustplainresponsible, amongotherlabels.

ApaperpublishedbyBritain’s CoventryUniversityin2019saysthe Westernethicalinvestingtradition wasfoundedonreligiousroots, notablyMethodistsandQuakers.

“Morerecentdevelopmentshave beeninresponsetotheVietnamWar (the1960s),concernsaboutnuclear environmentaldamage(ThreeMile Island1979andChernobyl1986),

mentstoaddressthis,withlittletangibleresultsforeverydayNewZealanders,”hesaid.“Tothenknowingly grantanorganisationofanymanner afullmonopolyisasignificantstep andanactionthatshouldbetaken withextremecaution.”

Rajapakseacknowledgedthatthere isnotmuchpublicsympathyforthe bettingcommunitybutarguedthat hecannotimagineithappeningto anyothercategoryofconsumers.

Inhissubmission,Bieleskiargued thattheTABwouldhaveunimpeded pricingpowerwithoutcompetition— arepeatedviewthroughoutthe submissions.

Inhissubmission,energyconsultantandsharpbettorBuddhika Rajapaksesaidthemovetoappoint amonopolyprovideris“inconsistent withfree-marketeconomicorthodoxy”.

“TheRacingIndustryAmendment Billeffectivelyproposestheequivalentofabolishingforeignstreaming servicestosavelocalindustryand appointTVNZ’sstreamingserviceas theonlylegalstreamingoption.”

Thesharpbettors’viewswerenot representativeofthewider submitters—manyofthe93 submissionsapprovedofthebill.

products.“Itisinevitablethat consumerswillusetechnologieslike VPNstobypassthelegislativenetif Entaincannotofferthesamesuiteof bettingproductsasoverseascompetitors.”

Asidefromreclaiminglost revenuefromoffshoringand pumpingitbackintosports,oneof thebill’spurposesistoreducegamblingharm.

Peters’spokespersonsaidresponsiblebettingisacorecomponentof TABNZ’soffering.

Problemgamblers,hesaid,arethe peoplemostlikelytoexercisethe thirdoption.

“Mostnon-problemgamblers wouldnotbepreparedtocontinue bettingatveryunfavourablemonopolyodds,whileasignificantproportionofthepeoplewhocontinued bettingdespitetheunfavourable oddswouldbeproblemgamblers.”

Initssubmission,Entainsaidthe legislativenetisvitalforensuring harmminimisationremainsatthe coreofregulatoryreform.

WinstonPeters’spokesperson

Hecontendedthatoneofthemain reasonsTABNZiscurrentlylosing businesstooverseasbookmakersis becauseitsoddsarenotcompetitive.

“Evenintoday’shighlycompetitiveonlinebettingmarket,TABNZ andEntainarewellknownasnot pricingassharplyassomeofits competitorsinmanymarkets.

“Withnocompetitivepressure exertedonthem,itishardtoseehow Entainwouldeverimproveitspricing infutureasamonopolist.”

TalkingtoBusinessDesk,

Entain,amultinationalwithamarketcapitalisationof£4.5billion (NZ$9.92b),didnotexplicitlymention itspotentialpricingpowerunderthe monopolyregimeinitssubmission.

Itdid,however,saythatithas deliveredsignificantimprovements toNewZealand’ssportandracebettingindustrysincetakingoveroperationsofTABNZ.

“Keymilestoneshaveincluded updatingEntain’soutdatedtechnologyplatform,relaunchingtheTAB andTracksidebrands,andlaunching anewwageringbrand‘Betcha’.”

Italsoacknowledgedtheneedto matchforeigncompetitorsoncertain

“NewZealandcurrentlyhasno regulatoryoversightofoffshore sportsandracebettingoperators,and thatincludesharmpreventionand minimisationregulation-making powers.

Thechangeswillalsohelppreventthelossofmillions ofdollarsorrevenuegoingoffshore.

“Themovetoamonopolywill provideasaferandmorecontrolled environmentforpotentialproblem gamblersthancurrentlyexists.”

Someofthesubmittersseeitanotherway.

One,CallumFredric,arguedthe monopolywouldleadbettorstoone ofthreereactions:stopbetting altogether,findwaysaroundtherestrictionsorcontinuebettingwiththe TABonlessfavourableodds.

“Undertheact,Entainhasalegislativemandatetoprioritisegambling harmminimisationoverprofit,”it said.“Thisisdifferenttooffshore operators,whoarenotboundbythe sameobligations,anddonotcontributetotheproblemgamblinglevy whichfundsessentialharmminimisationinitiativesforKiwis.”

Entainsaiditfullysupportsadditionalregulatorypowersinrespectof harmminimisationincludedinthe bill.ThepreviousGovernmententeredintothepartnershipagreement withEntainthroughthethenracing ministerKieranMcAnulty.

Entainmadeanupfrontpayment of$150mtoTABNZandcommitted toaguaranteedminimumreturnof $150muntil2028.Beyond2028,TAB NZwillreceive50%oftherevenue generatedthroughthepartnership, andnoguaranteedminimumfunding willapply.

Entainalsoagreedtopayanother $100mifthebillispassed.

UnscramblingESGinvestmentsinTrump’sworld

SouthAfricanapartheid1985-1993 andmorerecentlyglobalwarming, biodiversityandplasticpollution.”

ButsinceESGemergedasthegotogoodnessbrandthesector’shada hugejargonexplosionofsplintered definitions,balkanisedresearchand productproliferation(triggering manyroundsofcounter-regulation). Globalattemptstoimposeorder onout-of-controlmarketinghave reachedmind-bogglinglevelsof detail,includingthereleasemidJanuaryofthe“InternationalEthics StandardsforSustainability Assurance(includingInternational IndependenceStandards)and relatedrevisionstotheCode”bythe catchilynamedInternational AuditingandAssuranceStandards Board(IAASB)andtheInternational EthicsStandardsBoardfor Accountants(IESBA).

Therevampedcodeaddresses “criticalriskstotheintegrity,quality andeffectivenessofsustainability

reportingandassurancesuchasbias, conflictsofinterest,pressuretoact unethically,fraudincluding greenwashing,non-compliancewith lawsandregulations,andthreatsto theindependenceoftheassurance practitioners”,astatementsays. Landingaboutthesametimeas theTrumpascendanceandastory aboutamissingcatfoundsomeeight monthsand1130kmfromitsNew Hampshirehome,thesustainability assurancebreakthroughlikelygot lostinthemainstreamnewsflow. Regardless,theeraofESG-witheverythingisover—atleastinthe USwherethebacklashisinfullswing.

DatapublishedbyMorningstarownedspecialistresearchhouse SustainalyticsthisyearshowsUS investorsrippedoutalmostUS$20 billion($35.68b)netfromsustainable productsin2024afterwithdrawing US$13.3bthepreviousyear.

“Bycontrast,investorspoured about[US]$740bofnetnewmoney

intoconventionalfunds[lastyear],” theSustainalyticsreportsays.

Thestudyalsofound71fundsin thesectorclosedupshopin2024 while24products“movedawayfrom ESGmandates,mostlybydropping ESG-relatedtermsintheirnames”. Only10sustainable-likefunds launchedintheUSlastyear,marking amorethandecade-longlow.

Thestudyattributesthefading enthusiasmforsuchinvestmentsto theirrelativeunderperformanceover thepastcoupleofyearsaswellas “greenwashingconcerns”and “politicalscrutiny”. Politicshasundoubtedlyhurtthe ESGcauseintheUSmorepostthe 12-monthperiodcoveredinthe Sustainalyticsreport:forinstance,in thelead-uptoandaftertheTrump coronation,US-basedfundmanagers includingBlackRock,NorthernTrust AssetManagement,StateStreet, FranklinTempletonandJPMorgan AssetManagementhavebeen

trippingovereachothertoexitglobal industryagreementssuchastheNet ZeroAssetManagementinitiative. NZAM,infact,pushedthepause buttononitsoperationsfollowing BlackRock’shastydeparturefromthe fundmanagerclimatelobbygroup. Theabout-turnofmultitrilliondollarinvestmentfirmsonESG activismisprobablycommercially sensibleathomegivenaUSpolitical climatethathasspawnedanumber oflegalactionsincludinga13-state lawsuitledbyTexasagainstthethree largestfundmanagers,BlackRock, Vanguard,andStateStreet. TheESGcounter-reactioninNew Zealandislessobviouswithrecent movestotonedownclimatereportingdutiesforfundmanagers (andothers),forexample,reflecting pragmatismratherthanpopulism. ArecentBloombergcolumn argued“thestoryisnotthat[ESGhas] warpedmarketsandtheeconomy, butthatit’sbeenutterlyineffectual”.

Eachfortnight, VictoriaCarter speakstosomeone aboutfailureand disappointmentand whattheylearned. Thisweek,shetalks toStephen Wainwright,chief executiveof CreativeNew Zealandforthepast 18years

Iwasreallydisappointed when: IwasinEngland,having agreattime,Iwasinterestedin cricket.Iwasofferedasemiprofessionalcontracttoplaycricket foravillageteam.Unfortunately,my visawasabouttoexpire,andmy motherwasn’twell,soIreturnedto NewZealand.

So,Inevergottheopportunityto findouthowgoodImayhavebeen.

Inmypersonallife,Iamusually even-manneredandcalm.About18 yearsago,Ilostmytemperathome, whichwasquiteunusual.Our youngestson,whowas8,wroteme aletter,andhismessagewasloudand clear:“youmustnot...,thereisnever anexcuseto...”.

Itwasabrutalwaytomakeme accountable—andquiteright,too. Professionally,Ihavehadactsof omissionorcommission.Sometimes, whensomeonehelpsyouseethings differentlyandyoureflect,youhave amomentofinsightandrealiseyou weren’tyourbestatthattime.The bitsIguessyouhaveinyourmind withasickfeelingarewhenyou’ve letpeopledown.

Myfatalflawcanbealackof empathyorfailuretoseetheworld throughotherpeople’seyes.Those arethetimesIamatmyworst.What’s helpfulisforthepeopleclosetome, whoarelovingcritics,whocanwave aflagformeandsay,“Thatthingyou did(ordidn’tdo)wasreceivedincrediblybadlybecause...”

Thenyoufrontupandputitright ifyoucan.Ifthereisareservoirof goodwill,youcanputthingsright,but ifnot,thenit’sadifferentstory.

Mymostembarrassingmoment wasamarvellouslyembarrassingculturalmoment.Wewerehavinglunch withawonderfulMa¯orilanguage expert.Ashepassedmeabowl,he said,“tuna?”Ireplied,“Thanks,I’m prettysureit’seel”.ThenIremem-

StephenWainwrightsays workingwithothercultures hasextendedhisviewofbeing aNewZealandertoday.

‘Ifthere’sgoodwill,you

canputthingsright’

beredthetereowordforeelwastuna! Therewasnocomeback.

WhatdoIknow? I’vehadthe goodfortunetohavehadalotof opportunitiestobroadenmylearning inarangeofthings.

OnethingIknow,havingworked inthebroadworldofGovernment, isthatGovernmentworkswithin verynarrowknowledgesystems, normallydominatedbyeconomic andaccountingmindsets,asifthose aretheonlycrediblepointsofview.

Ifyouspendtimeinthearts,you realisemanymoresophisticatedlanguageandculturalsystemsreveal importantinsightsinadditiontoaccountingandeconomics.

So,ifIlookatacarving,Ican admireitforitstechnicalskill,but otherpeoplewhocanreadcarvings asalanguageandexplaineverything thatsitsbehindittorevealdeeper meaningsandknowledge.

Ifyouworkwithcreativepeople, theybringperspectivesfromtheir trainingandworkthataremostly waymoreinnovativethanpeople likemefromtcommerce.

Oursocietywouldbemoresuccessfulifweweremoreopentothose differentknowledgesystems,cultural,academic,andsoon.

Master yourtrading landscape

Localcouncilsandgovernment attempttocommunicatethework theydobut,forsomanycitizens, planningandcorporatedocuments areimpenetrable.Theymightaswell beaforeignlanguage.

Consequently,wemissanopportunitytoengagewithalltherichness thatexistsmorebroadlyinsociety

Whatmattersis whatyoudoafter somethingbad happens,notthe badthingitself.

andcancontributetothechallenges andopportunitiesweface.

We’reshapedbythehomewe grewupin.Theonlypeopleweknew whenIgrewupwerepeoplewho usedtheirhandstomakealiving,and mostofthemleftschoolat15.My fatherwasaplumber,andmymother wasanartteacher.

Theyhadahard-workingethic, andtheyweredeterminedtoensure theirchildrenhadmoreopportun-

itiesthantheyhad.MysisterandI wenttouniversity.Mymostinfluentialwa¯nangahasbeenspendingtime attheArtsCouncil.WhatI’veencounteredarethingsIcouldneverhave learnedinacademicprocesses.

Once,Ithoughtifeveryone thoughtasIdidwithalltherationality Iaccruedatuniversitytheworld wouldbeabetterplace.

Later,Icametoexperiencethe deepandrichperspectivesofpeople whothoughtdifferentlyfromme. Combiningallthesethingsgivesyou afarricherandbetteroutcomethan anyoneperspectiveonitsown.

I’vebeencoachedandmentored bypeopledeeplyimmersedinthe Ma¯oriworldandPasifikaworlds,and becauseIworkedonaglobalboard, Igotawiderframeofreferencethere, too.Ihavebeensofortunatethese experienceshaveextendedmyview ofbeingaNewZealandertoday.

MichaelKingarticulatedthis:we needourownethicstoinspireus,and wemusttraceourownfootsteps— it’sgoodadvice.Inchbyinch,weare doingitmore.

Cultureisalwaysonthemove.

Onethingabouttheinternetisthe democratisationofculture.Ithinkthe abilitytoexpressidentitythrough

creativityisfarmorepossiblenow. Whathaveyourkidstaught you? It’sgreattheyarenowintheir 20sandadults.Iamveryinterested inseeingtheworldthroughsuch differenteyes,andIseetheirperspectiveasequallyvaluabletomine. Weencouragedourkidstothink forthemselves;discussionsareso muchmoremeaningful.Ilearnso muchfromtheirviews.

Whenyourchildrenarelittle,it’s reallyclearwhatyourroleis;you’re theadult.Atsomepoint,thatchanges. I’venoticedthatourtwohave quitedifferentpodsofknowledge andsingularbeliefs.Irealisethatnow theyoftenknowheapsmorethanme, andthat’saninterestingshift.They’ve taughtmeabouttheirenthusiasm, andyoucanleaninandbuildyour owninterestinthosethings.

Onesontalksaboutlinguisticsand thehistoryoftheEnglishlanguage, whiletheotherisanentrepreneur withaspecialistcompanybuilding retainingwalls.It’ssostimulatingto seeyourchildrenfindtheirownpath. Whenacrisishappenswhat’s thefirstthingyoudo?

Ibringpeopletogether.Everycrisis isdifferent.TheChristchurchearthquakewasaregionalcrisis.Itwas absolutelytraumaticforthose involved.

However,fortheartssector,the biggestcrisiswasCovid.

Overnight,80%ofthosewho workedintheliveartscouldn’tearn aliving.WhatwasusefulwasthatI’d beenonacourse,andsomeonegave somepithyadvice:“Thethingabout acrisisisthatitisnotbusinessas usual,sodonotapplybusiness-asusualthinkingtoacrisis”.Thatwas sound.

Wechangedallourprogrammes, whichhadbeenpredicatedonpeople deliveringtoaliveaudience.

TheadviceIliveby: Inour subconscious,westorethesagacity sharedwithussincewewerequite small.There’salotofadvicethatwas capturedinproverbsorwhakatauki. WhatworksformeistheJapanese, “nanakorobi,yaoki”—“falldown seventimes,standupeight”. It’sobviouslyaboutresilience:be likeharakeke,movewiththewind, meaninglifeisn’tlinear.Sometimes youseethecurve,andsometimes youdon’t.It’slikegoodart;thereis theobviousmeaningandthenthe lessobvious.

Thelessobviousmeaningisthat whatmattersiswhatyoudoafter somethingbadhappens,notthebad thingitself.Howdoyouthinkabout thethingsthatcausedyoutofall downinadeeperway,whichmight bethebiggerlesson?Thisalsotakes usbacktowhathappenswhenyou letyourselforsomebodyelsedown.

Lookthroughtheobviousthings andexplorewhatelsemightbegoing on.Whatcausedthe“falldown”, becausewhenyoureflectonthis,it canbethebiggerlesson.

6am Breakfast 0

9am Lingo 30

10am TippingPoint 30

11am TheChase 30 Quizshowwhere contestantsmuststayonestep aheadofTheChaser.

Noon L NFL:SuperBowl 0 AFCvNFCChampions.From CaesarsSuperdome,New Orleans.FeaturingKendrick Lamarinthehalftimeshow.

4.30 TeKarere Newsandcurrent affairsfromaMaoriperspective.

5pm TheChase 0 Quizshowwhere contestantsmuststayonestep aheadofTheChaser.

6pm 1NewsatSix 0 Thelatestnews, sport,andweather.

7pm SevenSharp 0

7.30 JamesMayandtheDull

Men PG 0 Jamesgets10,000 secondsofhairdressingtraining, attemptstomakesummerin anumbrella,andgivesbroken potterynewlife.

8.30 World’sMostDangerous Roads M 0 JessFostekewand fellowcomedianDesireeBurch takeonaninsanetripacross Colorado’sRockyMountainsina WildWestadventure.

9.25 Piglets ML 0 Geetaisfreaking outaboutthedreadedbleep test,butsoonhasabigger dilemma;Bobgetsintouchwith hisinnerSpider-Man;Paulgetsa finalwarning.

10pm BorderSecurity PG 30

10.30 BorderPatrol 30 Immigration dealswithavisitorwhose luggageconsistsofheavy-duty tools;Biosecurityuncovers unwelcomehitchhikers.

11pm ShortlandStreet PG 30 Itis adayofnewbeginnings,new hopeandnewbloodinFerndale.

11.30 BadHost:HuntingtheCouch SurfingPredator MC 0 More womencomeforwardafter beingabusedbythesameman, asecretFacebookpagefor survivorsisestablished,and theybeginplanningtobringhim tojustice.

12.25 ABriefHistoryoftheFuture

1.25 TeKarere 3

2am Infomercials

5.30 TeKarere 3

7.20 TheExorcist:Believer 16VLSC 2023Horror. Twoyounggirls disappearinthewoods,onlyto returnthreedayslaterwithsigns ofdemonicpossession.

9.10 OneLife PG2023Drama. 11am TheLastVoyageofthe Demeter 16VC2023Horror. 1pm TheBlind PGC2023Drama.

2.55 OrdinaryAngels PGL2023Drama.

4.55 Baghead MV2023Horror.

6.35 Treasure MLC2024Drama.

8.30 Unseen 16VLSC2023Horror. Awomangetsacallfrom anearlyblindwomanwho isrunningawayfromher murderousformerpartnerin thewoods.JolenePurdy,Midori Francis.

9.50 TheHungerGames:Ballad ofSongbirdsandSnakes MVC2023Action. CoriolanusSnowmentorsand developsfeelingsforthefemale District12tributeduringthe10th HungerGames.RachelZegler, TomBlyth,ViolaDavis.

12.30 TheIronClaw 16VLSC2023Drama.

2.40 Assassin 16VLS2023Sci-fi.

4.10 Thanksgiving 18VLC2023Horror.

5.55 Heist88 MVL2023Crime.

6am LesMillsBorntoMove 30

6.30 Children’sProgrammes KiriandLou;Spideyandhis AmazingFriends;SpongeBob SquarePants;Riseofthe TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles; Alma’sWay;PawPatrol;Dorathe Explorer.

9am Infomercials

9.30 LesMillsAdultClasses 30

10am TheDrewBarrymoreShow PG 0

11am HomeandAway PG 30

11.30 UpAllNight PG 0 WhenAva andKevinhaveablow-up, ReaganandChrisarelongingfor relationshipdramaandendup creatingsomeoftheirown.

Noon TippingPointAustralia 30

1pm ParksandRecreation PGL 30

1.30 Superstore PG 30

2pm TheBigBangTheory 30

3pm TheGoldbergs PG 30

4pm TippingPointAustralia 30

5pm Ghosts PGC 0 Trevorisin troublewhenheissummoned toaworkretreat,aftercatfishing hiswayintoaremotefinancial analystjob;HettyandSassstart arumouraboutPete.

5.30 Seinfeld 30

6pm TheBigBangTheory PG 30

6.30 HomeandAway PG 0

7pm ShortlandStreet PG 0 Itisaday ofnewbeginnings,newhope andnewbloodinFerndale.

7.30 N RomeshRanganathan’s Parents’Evening ML 0 ThingsgettenseasAlison HammondandhersonAidan, IainStirlingandhismumAlison, andCarolVordermanandher sonCameronexposetheirfaith ineachother.

8.30 BigFatQuizofSport MLSC 30

10.25 RomeshRanganathans’ Parent’sEvening ML 30

11.25 BasedonaTrueStory 16VLC 0

12am 2BrokeGirls M 3

12.25 CallMeKat PGS 3

12.50 DeadHot 16VLS

1.35 Emmerdale PG 3

2am Infomercials

3am Phrogging:HiderinMyHouse M 3

3.45 Neighbours 3 4.10 Closedown 5am Infomercials

7.25 DonnieBrasco 16VL1997Drama. TruestoryofanFBIundercover agentwho,inthe70s,infiltrated themafiainoneofthemost successfulmoleoperationsever.

9.30 Collateral MV2004Thriller. Acabdriveristakenhostageby acontractkillerandforcedto drivehimtoeachkillingwiththe FBIontheirtail.

11.30 AngelsandDemons MV2009 Crime. AHarvardsymbologist findsancientforceswillstopat nothingtoadvancetheirgoals asheunravelsaplottoblowup theVatican.

1.50 MysticRiver 16VL2003 Drama. Threemen,linked byachildhoodtragedythat overshadowedtheirlives,are reunitedwhenoneofthemloses hisdaughter.

4.10 SherlockHolmes MV2009Action.

6.15 SevenYearsinTibet MV1997Drama.

8.30 TheMummyReturns MV2001 Adventure. Tenyearsafterthe eventsofTheMummy,the evilofthemummyImhotepis letlooseoncemore.Brendan Fraser,RachelWeisz.

10.40 Inferno MVL2017Thriller.

12.45 Prisoners 16VLC2013Crime.

3.20 Rocketman MLSC2019Drama.

5.20 NedKelly MV2003Drama.

6am BeringSeaGold PG 0

6.55 GoldRush PG 30

7.55 BarnwoodBuilders 0

8.50 Infomercials

10.30 HouseHuntersInternational 0 11am HomeTown 30 Acouplecall onBenandErintohelpthem choosewhichoftheirrental propertiesbestmeetstheir needs.

Noon MarriedatFirstSightAustralia 30 Hopefulsingleslookfor lovebymeetingandmarryinga strangeratfirstsight.

1.35 SayYestotheDressUK PG 3 DavidandChristinehelpbrides choosetheirweddingdress.

2.05 TheRealHousewivesof BeverlyHills M AfterOceanside, thewomenreturnhomewith unresolvedfeelings;Garcelle enjoysherfinishedbeachhouse; Erikanavigatesemotionswith hertherapist.

3pm Guy’sGroceryGames 30 Chefs aresentrunningthroughthe aislesinahigh-stakesgrocery storecookingcompetition.

4pm BeachfrontBargainHunt 0

4.30 L Yachting:SailGPSydney DayTwo.

6pm ThreeNews 0

7pm MarriedatFirstSightAustralia 0

8.30 9-1-1 M 0 Athenahastodeliver aprisonertotestifyinahighprofilecase;aplaneishitbya swarmofbeesandcareensinto anotherplane.

9.30 SightUnseen M 0 When TessgetsinvolvedinJake’s investigationtofindoutthe identityofadeadman,shefears forherbrotherLucas’slife.

10.30 TheRealHousewivesof BeverlyHills M 30 AfterOceanside,thewomen returnhomewithunresolved feelings;Garcelleenjoysher finishedbeachhouse;Erika navigatesemotionswithher therapist.

11.30 DeadliestCatch M 0 Batteredbytheicepack,Sig deploysanexperimentalbait fromNorway;ontheTime Bandit,frustrationboilsoveras FreddytestsJohnathan.

12.30 Infomercials

8am TakaroTribe 3

8.30 KiriandLou 3

8.35 KeaKidsNews 3

9am TheBreakdown

10am Infomercials

Noon ANewLifeintheSun PG 3 Thereisaproblemwithsome holidayletsontheCostadelSol; farmersinItalylaunchanew venture;ahotelierplanshisfirst wedding.

1pm TheBreakdown

2pm DemolitionNZ MLC 3 (StartingToday)

2.30 PawnStars PG 3 RickandCorey gainanewfoundloveforanold BuickRoadmaster;Chumchecks outadollandvolleyballsigned byTomHanks.

3.30 RuralDelivery 3 Understanding thehealthandphysiologyof farmdogs;breedingbugsfor biologicalcontrols;creatinga viablehempindustryinNew Zealand.

4pm BarefootContessa:Backto Basics PGC 3 InaGartengetsa masterclassfromchefsNatasha Pickowicz,Marie-AudeRoseand MissyRobbins.

4.30 Cricket:IndiavEngland (HLS) SecondODI.

5pm DesigningDreams 3 Architect RogerWalkertakesMatthew Ridgetothreeofhisfavourite NewZealandhouses.

6pm TheOffice MLS 3

7pm CrowdGoesWild PG

7.30 SavingBritain’sWildlife PGC 3 (StartingToday)

8.30 M MadMax:FuryRoad 16VC 2015Action. Maxsurvivesby wanderingthepost-apocalyptic wastelandalone,untilhe becomesaherotoagroup fleeingfromaviciouswarlord. TomHardy,CharlizeTheron.

11pm CrowdGoesWild PG 3

11.30 TheEqualizer MVLC McCall triestofindthoseresponsible, afterayounggirlisstruckbya carinanillegalstreetrace;Dee contemplatesfollowinginher mother’sfootsteps.

12.30 Infomercials

6am Golf:LPGATour 6.30 Golf:PGATour 7am L Golf:PGATour PhoenixOpen:FinalRound. Noon Golf:PGATour PhoenixOpen:ThirdRound. 12.30 TheBreakdown

1.30 Football:FACup 3.30 Cricket:IndiavEngland SecondODI. 3.50 Rugby:SixNations ItalyvWales. 4.05 Rugby:SixNations EnglandvFrance. 4.20 Rugby:SixNations ScotlandvIreland. 4.35 InvictusGames DayOne.

5.35 TheBreakdown 6.35 Cricket:IndiavEngland SecondODI. 7pm CrowdGoesWild

7.30 Golf:LPGATour FoundersCup:FinalRound. 8pm Golf:PGATour PhoenixOpen:FinalRound.

8.30 CrowdGoesWild 9pm Cricket:IndiavEngland 9.20 TheBreakdown

Rugby:SixNations

Rugby:SixNations 2.20 Rugby:SixNations 4.20 CrowdGoesWild 4.50 Cricket:IndiavEngland

5.10 Cricket:IndiavEngland

5.30 Rugby:SixNations 5.45 Rugby:SixNations

10am KeepingUpwiththe

6am MorningReport WithIngrid HipkissandCorinDann. 9.06 Nine toNoon WithKathrynRyan. Noon MiddayReport RNZnews,followedby updatesandreports. 1.06 Afternoons WithJesseMulligan.Anupbeatmixof thecuriousandthecompelling. 4pm Checkpoint WithLisaOwen. Newsandcurrentaffairsprogramme. 6pm ThePanel WithWallace Chapman.Discussionfeaturinga rangeofpanellistsfromalongthe opinionspectrumandexpertphone guests. 7.06 TheDetail 8.06 Nights WithEmileDonovan. 8.15 PacificWaves

8.30 Nights Continued. 10pm NewsatTen 10.15 Nights Continued. 11.06 NashvilleBabylon WithMarkRogers. 12.04 AllNight Programme 5am FirstUp With NathanRarere.

6am Mornings WithAndrewClark. 10am Days WithNickTipping. 3pm ThreetoSeven WithBryanCrump. 7pm Evenings WithDavidMorriss. 8pm MusicAlive WithClarissaDunn.Visitrnz.co.nz/ musicaliveformoreinformation. 10pm Evenings 12am MusicThroughtheNight Detailsavailableonrnz.co.nz/concert.

AilingOsbournetakes‘finalbow’

PrinceofDarkness reuniteswith bandmatesfor farewellshow

OzzyOsbournehasadmitted he“can’twalk”ashe preparesforhisfinalBlack Sabbathshow.

The76-year-oldmetallegendhas beenbattlingthedegenerative disorderParkinson’sdiseasesince 2019andtheconditionhasaffected hismobility,buthe’sstilldetermined toreunitewithhisbandmatesforone lastconcertinhishometownof Birmingham,Englandthisyear.

Duringanappearanceon AmericanradiostationSiriusXM,he said:“Ihavemadeitto2025.Ican’t walk,butyouknowwhatIwas thinkingovertheholidays?Forallmy complaining,I’mstillalive.

“ImaybemoaningthatIcan’twalk butIlookdowntheroadandthere’s peoplethatdidn’tdohalfasmuchas meanddidn’tmakeit.”

Osbourne’swifeSharonhasalso insistedthesinger’smobility problemsdon’taffecthisabilityto performbecausehisvoiceisstillas strongasever.

Shetoldthe Sun newspaper:“He’s veryhappytobecomingbackand veryemotionalaboutthis[planned gig].

“Parkinson’sisaprogressive disease.It’snotsomethingyoucan stabilise.Itaffectsdifferentpartsof thebodyandit’saffectedhislegs.But

1.List(8) 5.FormerItalian currency(4) 9.Unhearing(4) 10.Sporty(8) 11.Obscene(5) 12.Suite(7) 13.Refilling(13) 18.Sniper(8) 19.Anger(4) 20.Africanspear(7) 21.Blended(5) 22.Knell(4) 23.Riseandfall(8)

2.Raise(7) 3.Unbeliever(7) 4.Killingoff(13) 6.Profound(7) 7.Old(7) 8.Grasp(6) 13.Relic(7) 14.Reading(7) 15.Badge(6) 16.Warlike(7) 17.Ignore(7)

Monday,10-Feb-25

FUNNY SIDEUP

Across:1Depart;4Morass;9Circumspectly;10Denuded;11Adorn;12Shape; 14Devil;18Enter;19Unleash;21Incarceration;22Delays;23Unless. Down:1Decide;2Parenthetical;3Round;5Overawe;6Authoritative;7Saying; 8Aside;13Portray;15Behind;16Queer;17Thanks;20Learn.

Thedaily

QUIZ

1. Whichcountrywasthefirstto legalisesame-sexmarriage?

2. Whichsupermarketwasthefirst tointroducebarcodesonitsproducts in1974?

hisvoiceisasgoodasit’severbeen.” Profitsfromtheshowwillbe donatedtocharitiesincludingCure Parkinson's,organiserssaid.

OzzyOsbournesteppedaway fromtouringinrecentyearsashe battlesspinalinjuriesandParkinson’s disease,buthewillbebackonstage forthespecialhometowncharitygig atBirmingham’sVillaParkonJuly5.

BlackSabbathformedin1968and heldtheirfirstrehearsalatNewtown CommunityCentre,astone'sthrow fromVillaPark.

TheBacktotheBeginningshow willfeatureashortsolosetfrom Osbourne,76,beforethePrinceof Darknessjoinstherestofthegroup forwhathasbeendescribedashis “finalbow”.Itwillmarkthefirsttime Osbournehasreunitedwithhis bandmatesGeezerButler,Tony IommiandBillWardin20years.

Hesaidinastatement:“It’smytime togoBacktotheBeginning...time formetogivebacktotheplacewhere Iwasborn.HowblessedamItodo itwiththehelpofpeoplewhomIlove. Birminghamisthetruehomeof metal.Birminghamforever.”

BlackSabbathwilltopaline-upof rockandheavymetaliconsincluding Metallica,Slayer,Pantera,Alicein Chains,LambOfGodandAnthrax.

Theconcertwillalsofeaturea “supergroup”withstarslikeBilly Corgan,Slash,FredDurst,Wolfgang VanHalenandTomMorello.

SharonOsbournetoldtheBBC:“It’s anendlessamountofpeople.They're goingtobedoingsomeSabbath songs,someOzzysongs,andthey'll allmixtogether. “Differentlittlegroupswillbe comingon,butthey'reallicons.”

6. WhichItalianautomakermanufacturesthe Aventador?

HForanafternoon quiz,goto nzherald.co.nz

3. WhichSouthKoreantechcompanyisone ofthelargestintheworld?

4. Whatisthestateanimalemblemof Queensland?

5. Theflagofwhichcountryisknownas theUnionJack?

Textof theday

7. InwhichUSNationalParkcan youfindthehikingtrailknown as“HalfDome”?

8. Whichfilmproducedby BradPittwontheAcademy AwardforBestPicturein 2014?

9. WhatareadidMeghan Marklestudyatuniversity?

10. Whichprovinceisthe largestbyareainCanada?

Neitherdeathnorlifenor...anyothercreatedthing[can] separateusfromtheloveofGodwhichisinChristJesusour Lord. —Romans8:38,39.

OzzyOsbourneina2013visittoNewZealand.HehasbeenbattlingParkinson’sdiseasesince2019.

Photo/GettyImages

Puzzlesandhoroscopes

Crypticcrossword

1. SimplyproveswhathorseboxdoesatHorseoftheYear(2,4,2,4) 8. Sortofminingpoetscanwriteabout(8) 9. Noendofatrademarkforbreakfastfood(4) 11. Aboutapoundinalms,maybe–it'snotmuch(5) 12. AverylittlecompanyI'dformandkeepsilentabout(7) 13. Fishfromriverdanceneedsnonitrogen(4)

15. Starttowakeupinprison(4)

19. Compunctionfeltbysome,errthoughtheymay(7)

20. AHighlanddancer'sshoutforillicitwhisky(5)

22. Sourceofsugarthatwilladministercane,oneistold(4) 23. GuestRontakesoutisasupplierofcaviar(8) 24. Showingplentyofinitiativeingreenstripdevelopment(12)

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Mystical,thewayitwillalmosthappentoalieutenant(6)

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Quickcrossword

WordWheel

Insertthemissinglettertocomplete aneight-letterwordreadingclockwise oranti-clockwise.

WordBuilder

Previoussolution: SHARPENS

Howmanywordsofthreeormore letters,includingplurals,canyoumake onlyonce?Nowordsbeginningwitha capitalareallowed.There’satleastone Good 10 VeryGood 15 Excellent 22

Previoussolution: ago,along,gal, gaol,goal,lag,loa,loan,log,logan,long, nag,nog

ARIES(Mar21-Apr19): Therearepeoplewho,for whateverreason,areintimidatingbutdon't meantobe.Thentherearepeoplewhoeither secretlyorovertlyhaveanintenttooverpower. Remindyourselfthatyouhavethefinalsay.

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VIRGO(Aug23-Sep22): Alifetoofocusedinwardbecomes brittle;onetoostretchedoutwardforgetsits core.Extendyourvisionfarenoughtogiveyoua feelfortheworld,butnottoloseyourself.

LIBRA(Sep23-Oct23): Someoneyou'veknownandcare abouttreatsyouinconsistently,whichisnot whatyouneed.Yourfeelingsaboutthisare valid.Clarityaboutwhatarelationshipisn't canbebitterrelief.

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SAGITTARIUS(Nov22-Dec21): You'vebeentryingtomake adeal,andthere'sanofferonthetable.The longeryoudeliberate,thelessenthusiasticthe otherpartywillbe.Factorinmanyaspectsofan arrangementbeforearrivingatyourconclusion.

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Previouscrypticsolution

Across: 1.Podium8.Shoal9.Forward11.Selected12.Berry 15.Loll16.Sip17.Lime19.Trope21.Contrary24.Younger 25.Melon26.Kitten

Down: 2.Ozone3.Inwardly4.Mars5.Aster6.Fort7.Plod 10.Dentistry12.Bill13.Clarinet14.Here18.Grand20.Piece 21.Comb22.Null23.Yolk

Previousquicksolution

Across: 1.Alights5.Masks8.Excommunicate9.Tan 10.Overspend12.Hoeing13.Gaffes15.Aftermath16.Hub 18.Tablefootball20.Steer21.Swiftly. Down: 1.Avert2.Incontestable3.Homeowner4.Soured 5.Moi6.Stateoftheart7.Speedos11.Spaghetti12.Hearths 14.Carols17.Belly19.Ear.

PREVIOUSSOLUTIONS

Fitthenumbersintothe grid. Crosseachoneoff asitspositionis found.

6digits:

Monday,February10,2025

AweakfrontmovesslowlyacrosstheSouthIslandtoday, whilearidgeofhighpressureliesovertheNorthIsland.During tomorrowandWednesdaymorning,theweakfrontmovesslowly northwardsovertheNorthIsland,whileanewridgeofhigh pressurebuildsovertheSouthIsland.Alargehighthenextends overmostofthecountrylaterWednesdayandThursday.

ManukauHarbour

Wind: Variable5kt.SW10ktdevelopingforatimein

theafternoon. Sea: Slight. Swell: Forwestcoast:SW2measingto1m. Visibility: Fairinshowers.

WaitemataHarbour

Wind: Variable5kt.N10ktdevelopingforatimein themorningandafternoon.

Sea: Slight. Visibility: Fairinshowers.

LakeRotorua

Wind: Variable5kt.N10ktdevelopingforatimein theafternoonandevening.

Waves: Lessthanhalfametre. Weather: Fairvisibilityinshowers.

LakeTaupo

Wind: NE15kt,easingtovariable5ktinthe morning. Waves: Uptohalfametre.

BayofIslands

Weather: Poorvisibilityinshowers,heavyattimes, clearingintheevening.Possiblethunderstorms fromafternoon.

TongariroNationalPark

Mountainweatherhazard: Thunderstorm. Mostlycloudy.Showers,heavyattimesfrom afternoonandthunderstormspossiblealso.

Windat1200m: Light.

Windat2000m: Light.

Windat2700m: Light.

Freezinglevel: Above3000m.

Additionaldaysandlocationsavailableon

Adelaide fine 34 17 Amsterdam snow 4 1 Apia showers 29 26 Athens cloudy 10 4 Bangkok fine 33 22 Beijing fine 4-10

cloudy 3 -1

showers 31 22

cloudy 37 24

thunder 29 24

fine 18 8

thunder 24 15

fine 27 17

fine 1 -7

cloudy 2 1

thunder 33 26

fog 27 11

fine 24 16

drizzle 6 4

cloudy 6 -1

rain 6 2

cloudy 21 12

fine 18 12

cloudy 29 24

thunder 24 16

thunder 34 23

Wind: Variable5kt.E10ktdevelopingforatimein theafternoon. Sea: Slight. Swell: NE1m. Visibility: Fairinafewshowers,clearinginthe afternoon.

HaurakiGulf

Wind: Variable5kt.NE10ktdevelopinginthe morning.Easingbacktovariable5ktintheevening. Sea: Slight. Swell: Nilsignificant. Visibility: Fairina fewshowers,clearingintheafternoon.

BayofPlenty

Wind: Variable5kt.NE10ktdevelopingforatimein theafternoonandevening. Sea: Slight. Swell: N1m. Visibility: Good.

CookStrait

Wind: S30kt,easingtoSE15ktinthemorning. Sea: Rough,easing. Swell: S1m,easing. Visibility: Good.

Scatteredshowers.Becoming fineaboutthecoastinthe afternoonbutheavyshowersand thunderstormspossibleinland.S.

Mainlyfine,isolated showersdeveloping inthemorning. Lightwinds.

Isolatedshowers, becoming widespread inthewestin theafternoon. Easterlies.

Fine,apartfrom isolatedshowers. Easterlies.

Cloudyperiods.Showers, possiblyheavyaftermidday butclearingintheevening.Sea breezes.

Afewshowers. Easterlies developingatnight.

Mainlyfine,but isolatedshowers intheafternoon. Easterlies,easing.

Partlycloudy.

WEDNESDAYTHURSDAY

Fine.

fine 14 4

rain 28 23

rain 5 3 LosAngeles fog 17 7

Isolatedshowers,widespread intheafternoonwiththe chanceofheavyshowersand thunderstorms.Lightwinds.

Afewshowers. Southeasterlies developinginthe morning.

Southeasterlies, easing.

Partlycloudy. Westerlies developing.

WEDNESDAYTHURSDAY

Mostlycloudywithafew showers.Lightwinds, northerliesfromafternoon.

Isolatedshowers, becoming widespreadfor atimeinthe afternoon.SE developing.

Mainlyfineaboutthecoast. Cloudywithdrizzlesouthofthe Moungainthemorning.Isolated showersinland.Swinds.

Mainlyfine,isolated showersclearing intheevening.SE, becomingfresh foratimeinthe afternoon/evening.

Fine. Southeasterlies, easing.

WEDNESDAYTHURSDAY

Mainlyfine.Areasofmorning cloudandisolatedshowers. Northerlies.

Afewshowers. Southeasterlies developinginthe morning.

Fine. Southeasterlies.

Fine.Lightwinds.

WEDNESDAYTHURSDAY

Fineapartfromareasof morningcloud.Southerlies.

Mostlycloudywith isolatedshowers, clearingtofinein theafternoon.SE, becomingfreshin themorning.

Fine.Southerlies. Partlycloudy. Southeasterlies developing.

Fine.Northerlies developing. Fine. Southwesterlies developing.

Mostlycloudywithshowers. Heavyshowersand thunderstormspossible afternoon/evening.Lightwinds.

Isolatedshowers, becoming widespreadand heavierforatimein theafternoon.Light winds.

Fine.Lightwinds.

WEDNESDAYTHURSDAY

Cloudyinthemorning,andthe chanceofashoweraboutthe WairoaDistrict.Becomingfine earlyafternoon.Sdyingout.

Occasionalrain frommorning. Southerlies developingbefore dawn.

Fine.Lightwinds.

Cloudywithpatchydrizzle, clearingtofineintheafternoon. Freshsoutherlies,dyingoutin theevening.

Mostlycloudywith isolatedshowers, clearingtofinein theafternoon.SE, becomingfreshin themorning.

Partlycloudy, withisolated showersclearing intheafternoon. Southerlies, easing.

Cloudyperiods.Patchydrizzle inthemorning,andisolated showersintherangesinthe afternoon.Sdyingout.

Partlycloudy, withisolated showersclearing intheevening. Southerlies.

Fine. Southeasterlies. Fine,but becomingcloudy inthemorning. Southerlies developing.

Fine.Lightwinds. Fine.Easterlies developing.

Lightwinds.

Fine.Westerlies developing. Partlycloudy. Easterlies developing.

Familynoti y notices ti ti

Deathnoticesindex

BOLD, GregJohn

BOYENS, John

BRANNIGAN, Vaughan

CARROLL, MichaelJohn(Mike)

CLARKE, PaulaMaree

COLLINS, JanetteLorraine

DAVIESCURTIS, Christine

FAESENKLOET, CecielLeonoor

MANKTELOW, Tracy

MILLS, JeffreyWalter

MURDOCH, ChristopherNewell

NICHOLAS, ColinJohnAlexander

O’CALLAGHAN, BrianJohn(John)

RILEY, DorothyMargaret(neeRyan)

ROUXdeBUISSON, RosalindEdith (neeMitchell)

SCHEURICH, GregoryDamianStJohn (Greg)

SHEERAN, SandraLoretta(neeRoberts)

TURNEY, SisterPhilomenarsj(NoraTeresa)

WALKER, JeanChristinaAnnie

WALTERS, George

WOOD, FredaBarkly(néeBrannigan)

WYETH, DianeThelma

WYLLIE, MargaretEva

Deaths

BOLD, GregJohn. 22August1963-6Febuary 2025. Gregpassedawaypeacefully surroundedbyRuthand family.DearhusbandofRuth. Muchlovedfather,father-inlawtoChris,Jo,Matthew,and Conan;andcherishedPoppaG toDeacon,Irirangi, Poutokomanawa,andRutuMei. Aservicetocelebrateand rememberGregistobeheldat LegacyTauranga,383PyesPa Road,TaurangaonSaturday 15Februaryat10.30am. Livestreammaybeviewed andtributesleftat legacyfunerals.co.nz. CommunicationstotheGreg Boldfamilyc/-POBox3136 Tauranga3142. Greg’sfamilywouldliketo thankTaurangaHospital, WaipunaHospice,andthe cancerclinic.Inlieuofflowers pleasegivedonationsto WaipunaHospiceat waipunahosice.org.nzorthe CancerSocietyat cancer.org.nz.

"Whenwelosesomeonewe love,wemustlearnnottolive withoutthem,buttolivewith thelovetheyleftbehind."

BRANNIGAN, Vaughan. OnWednesday5th February 2025,peacefullyatCHT Halldene,aged78years. Dearlylovedhusbandof54 yearsofSusan,lovedand respectedfatherandfatherin-lawofShelleyandDarren, GavinandBonnie,Toddand Karena.Muchlovedgrandad ofRiley,Maia,Molly,Finnand Jude. Aservicetocelebrate Vaughan’slifewillbeheldon Thursday13th Februaryat 10.30amatTheNorthHarbour ChapelofDil’sFuneral Services,185SchnapperRock Road,Albany.Foreverinour hearts.

CARROLL, MichaelJohn(Mike). Passedawaypeacefully6 February2025,aged84, surroundedbyhisfamily. Lovinghusbandandsoulmate ofJill.Dearlyloveddadof Jayne,Sarah,Traceyand Brett.Adoredgrandpaof Connor,Lily,Maxwell,James, Michael,CharlotteandCleo. Atruegentlemannowatrest. InkeepingwithMike’swishes, aprivatecremationhasbeen held. AllmessagestotheCarroll family,POBox31191,Milford, Auckland0741.

CLARKE, PaulaMaree. Passedawaypeacefully3st February2025afteralong battlewithMS.Nowfreedear Paula.ReunitedwithAunty EuniceandUncleNorm. DearlylovedcousinofChrissy, Gill,RitaandLloydWhalen.

COLLINS, JanetteLorraine. Passedawaypeacefullyon7 February2025atSummerset RetirementVillageinPorirua. Much-loveddaughterofJack andIris,sisterofBetty,mother ofMikeandPete,and grandmotherofDrewand Layne.

BOYENS, John. 7December1937-5February 2025,passedpeacefullyat home.Abelovedanddevoted husbandof65yearstoJane.A dearlylovedfathertoDavid, PhilippaandNicolaandadored GrandfatherofAllainandKim, Amber,Calum,Phoebeand David,Anja,Thomasand Emily,Helena,Jemmaand Liam,andIsaac.Veryproud great-grandfathertoChloe, EllaandHenry;fatherinlawto Vivienne,Seth,Nigeland Richard.Hewasthedeeply lovedsonofIvanandMoira BoyensofWanganui;younger brothertoReonandAnne;a wonderfuluncletohiseight nephewsandnieces.John enjoyedawidecircleof friendsthroughouthis87 years.Atalentedteacherand principal,hededicatedhimself toadvancingthecauseof educationinNewZealand.He lovedlaughing,travellingand agoodgin.Hispassingisa greatlosstoallthosewho lovedhim,alossthatwillbe healedbythemanywonderful memorieshecreated throughoutalifewelllived. Godspeed,mydarlingJohn,I amsogratefulforallyougave me.YourDeeni. Funeralservicewillbeheldon Wednesday12th February,at 2:30pm-NorthHarbour Chapel,185SchnapperRock, Albany.

MANKTELOW, Tracy. 3rd November1945–6th February2025.Passedaway peacefullyathome. Tracywasabelovedhusband toLoisandafathertoCraig andKaren,astepfatherto Debra,Bronwyn,Michelle,and Maree,andapoppatoallhis grandchildrenandgreatgrandchildren.Heenjoyeda widecircleoffriends throughouthis79years.Willbe greatlymissed. Afuneralservicetobeheldon Tuesday,11th Februaryat 1:00pmatPaeroaCo-op Church,Paeroa.

MILLS JeffreyWalter. 19March1945-8February 2025.Passedawaypeacefully surroundedbyhisfamilyat 6:50pminWaikatoICU. Mostbelovedanddevoted husbandofTrishfor56years. DearlylovedfatherofPhilippa (deceased)andLibbyand Alan.AdoredHoppittaof Anna,Josh,ReneeandSam. YouwereourRock,ourquiet strength,welovedyoubeyond words. Jeff’spassingwillbeagreat losstoallwholovedhim. AServiceforJeffwillbeheld atNorthShoreMemorialPark Chapel,235SchnapperRock RoadAlbany,onSaturday15 Februaryat1pm.

MURDOCH, ChristopherNewell. Itiswithdeepsorrowthatwe announcethepassingofChris "Weapon"Murdochwho passedawayonthe3rd of February2025attheageof51. BelovedhusbandofGaylene, lovingfatherofSamantha, Dylan,CameronandConnor, cherishedsontoPatriciaand Bruceanddearbrotherto Stephen. Amassivelossforall. ThecelebrationofChris’slife willbeheldonThursday13th Februaryat11.00amatthe KarakaRugbyGrounds,372 BlackbridgeRoad,Karaka.

DAVIESCURTIS, Christine. Passedawaypeacefullyonthe 7th ofFebruary2025aftera courageousbattlewithcancer. DeeplylovedbyRoy,Ivan, Annette,Caitlin,David, Jeanne,andmanyothers.She willbeforeverinourhearts. Aserviceandcelebrationof herlifewillbeheldatSt Stephen’sAnglicanChurch, Whangapara¯oa,onthe13th of Februaryat9:30AM. Livestreamdetailsare availableonthechurch’s website. Inlieuofflowers,donationsto thelocalHospiceorSt Stephen’sAnglicanChurch wouldbegreatlyappreciated.

FAESENKLOET, CecielLeonoor. 6February2025,aged77,after abravebattle.Cherished eldestdaughterofthelate KeesandNoravanderZouwe, andmuch-lovedsisterof JacquieandMaureen. Devotedwifeandfierce ScrabbleopponentofLukefor 55years.Belovedmamaof KeesandCorina,andmotherin-lawofBrian.PreciousOma ofMaxim,andbonusOmaof EvaandMilan.Lovedbythe extendedvanderZouweand FaesenKloetfamilies.Now restinginlove.Leonoor’s kindness,quickwit,baking, hospitalityandunconditional lovewillbemissed. InaccordancewithLeonoor’s wishes,therewillbeaprivate burial.Noflowersbyrequest.

RILEY, DorothyMargaret(neeRyan). 27May1939-7February2025. Passedpeacefully,surrounded bybyfamily.Dearlyloved wifeofJim,muchlovedMum ofJanelleandSean,and adoredNanofJoshandDani, AlexandSharna,Lukeand Hannah.’RestinPeace.’ Agravesideservicewillheldat theWaipuCemetery,Hamon Road(offCoveRoad)on Wednesday12th Februaryat 1pm.Ourheartfeltthanksto theamazingstaffatHospice Waikato.

ROUXdeBUISSON, RosalindEdith(neeMitchell). Passedoverpeacefullyat homeinthearmsofherthree childrenonFriday,7th February2025. Cherishedanddeeplyloved wifeofRaymond. ExceptionalMothertoNatalie, StephanieandMatthew. Lovedmum-in-lawofMark andPenny. WhollydevotedNanatoAsher, Arlen,Noah,AnnabelandEli. Mum,yourfire,your unstoppableenergy,your profoundselflessandconstant lovehasblessedyourfamily withaneternalexample. Wewillseeyouagain. Allcommunicationstothe RouxdeBuissonFamilyC/TheNaturalFuneralCompany –0212345650.

ROUXdeBUISSON, RosalindEdith(neeMitchell). Mydearestfriend,youwere perfect. Iwillloveyouforever. NeilSampson.

TURNEY, SisterPhilomenarsj(Nora Teresa). OnFebruary7,2025,died peacefullyatEastcliffe RetirementVillageandAged Care.Muchlovedmemberof theSistersofSaintJosephof theSacredHeart.Loved daughterofthelateJohnand CatherineTurney,lovedsister ofFrank,Jack,Fred,Leo, Kathleen,Eileen,Margaret andJoan(alldeceased).Much lovedaunttohernieces, nephewsandtheirfamilies. MayPhilomenabeatpeace. Graciousthankstoour HealthcareworkersatMary MacKillopCentreandStaffat EastcliffeRetirementVillage Caressfortheirlovingcareof Philomena. RequiemMasswillbe celebratedonThursday,13th Februaryat11amatMary MacKillopCentreChapel,56 SelwynAvenue,MissionBay, tobefollowedbyintermentat WaikarakaCemetery. AVigilServicewillbeheldat theaboveChapelon Wednesday12th at4.30pm. RequiemMasswillbelivestreamed. ArohaFunerals 095270266

WYETH, DianeThelma. BornMarch1st1945.Passed awayonJanuary30th2025. LovedwifeofthelateAllanand treasuredMumofJoanneand Brooke.PreciousNanaof Brandon,LauraandTyrone.A privatecremationhastaken placeforDiane.

WYLLIE, MargaretEva. Passedawaypeacefullyon Thursday6February2025. Belovedwifeandsoulmateof JohnWyllie,muchloved MotherofDean,Fraserand hiswifeNicole,andSusanand specialGrandmargtoJoshua, Reuben,Zeta,Gemma,Aaron, EllaandZane. Servicetocelebrateherlifeto beheldat2pmFriday14 February,StGeorgesChurch, RanfurlyRoad,Epsom, Auckland.

InMemoriam

ADVERTISEMENTOF APPLICATIONFOR PUTTINGCOMPANY INTOLIQUIDATIONBY THECOURT

Thisdocumentsnotifies youthat–1.On4November2024 anapplicationforputting LordLoggingLimited intoliquidationbythe HighCourtwasfiledinthe HighCourtatNapier.Its referencenumberisCIV2024-441-101.The applicationistobeheard bytheHighCourtat Napieron13March2025 at2:15pm.

2.Aperson,otherthan thedefendantcompany, whowantstoappearat thehearingofthe applicationmustfilean appearancenotlaterthan thesecondworkingday beforethatday.

3.Thestatementofclaim andtheverifyingaffidavit maybeinspectedatthe registryofthecourtorat theplaintiff’saddressfor service.

NICHOLAS, ColinJohnAlexander. 5October1945-6February 2025.Cherishedhusbandof Judyfor55years,lovedand respectedfatherandfatherin lawofMichelleandMatt, LouiseandMark.ProudPoppa ofLukeandEvie,Toby,Elsie andGreta. Colinledafulllifeofgivingand servingothers.Agenerous lovingmanwithabeautiful smileandawonderfulsenseof humour.RestInPeace. AservicetocelebrateColin's lifewillbeheldTheNorth HarbourChapelofDil's FuneralServices,185 SchnapperRockRoad,Albany, onFriday14Februaryat10.30 am.Alivestreamofthe servicewillbeavailableat https://share.funeral.stream/ 0xU31TributestoColinmay alsobemadehere. Inlieuofflowers,donationsto ParkinsonsNewZealand wouldbeappreciatedhttps:/ /www.parkinsons.org.nz/ donate

O’CALLAGHAN, BrianJohn(John). Passedawaypeacefullyonthe 4th ofFebruary2025aged90 years.Averymuchloved husbandofBeverleyfor65 years.Lovedfatherand father-in-lawofSueandNick, MichelleandCraig,andSteve. GrandadtoLuke,Alyssaand Sophia. Aprivatefamilyservice honouringJohnhasbeenheld. Thefamilywishtothank,and areverygratefulfor,the supportandamazingcare giventoJohnbyWaikato HospitalandBupaStKilda Cambridge.Communications totheO’CallaghanfamilyC/LegacyFuneralsCambridge, POBox844Cambridge3450

SCHEURICH, GregoryDamianStJohn (Greg). Passedawayon7th February 2025. DearlylovedHusbandofAlex. LovedDadofRachel, Matthew,Jessica,andRuth. MuchlovedGrandpaGregof Milo,Olive,andRiver. AcelebrationofGreg’slifewill beheldattheHowickFuneral HomeChapel,35Wellington Street,Howick,Auckland, tomorrowTuesday11 February2025at11-00am.

SHEERAN, SandraLoretta(neeRoberts). Thebigpartythatwas‘Rett’ sadlycametoacloseFriday 7th February2025attheageof 81.Muchlovedpartnerto RobinandDenis(2012), mothertoBrett,Lana,Tania, KellyandScott,motherinlaw toCornelia,BettinaandHaidi, grandmothertoEthan, Kahleisha,Ashton,Laura, Liam,Lucas,Mathew,Zoe, Tane,TasmanandTiaand greatgrandmothertoNova. Lorettawasatrulyspecial ladywhohelpedshapethe livesofherfamilyandthose whocalledherfriend.Shewill leavealargeholeinthehearts ofthoseshecaredfor,but everygreatpartymusthave itsend.Weloveyouandwill alwayscherishthetimewegot tospendwithyouandwilltry topassonyourenergyand lovethroughtotheoneswe carefor.Restinpeace(or continuetheparty)our dearest,dearestMum. Anafterpartyistobeheldin herhonouratherhomeon 2/311OceanBeachRoad, MountMaunganui.3pm Fridaythe14th February.Wear somethingvibrantandcasual andhelpusgiveherthesendoffshesodeserves. Messagesmaybesenttothe SheeranFamily,c/-Hope Funerals,2ALoopRoad,RD6, Tauranga3176.

WALKER, JeanChristinaAnnie. Passedawaypeacefullyinher 96th year,athomewithher family.Lovedwifeofthelate Colyn.Lovedmotherand mother-in-lawofIanand Phyllis,JenniferandAndrew. TreasuredGrandmato RebeccaandDan;Broganand Kirsty;Campbell,Eleanorand Stephen.Belovedgreat grandmaofAbigail,and Ethan. Pleasecomeandcelebrate Jean’slifeattheChapelof MorrisandMorrisFunerals (entrance17WesternHills Drive),WhauValley, Whangareiat11amon Wednesday12th February2025 followedbyintermentat MaunuCemetery. Theservicewillbelive streamedviahttps://www. morrisandmorris.co.nz/ tributes/.Allcommunications totheWalkerFamilyc/-P.O. Box8043,Kensington, Whangarei0145.

WALTERS, George. Itiswithgreatsadnessand veryheavyheartsthatwe,the ATeam,announcethepassing ofourbelovedFather, Grandfather,GreatestGrand andGreatestGreatgrandto many. Lovinghusbandofthelate ValdaWalters(neeNeeson). Georgepassedaway peacefully,afterlunch,withhis GrandsonMichael. Sunrise:September4th 1934 Sunset:February7th2025 Funeralarrangementsareas follows: FamilyService: Monday10th Februaryat7pm Dorzhouse BurialService: Tuesday11th Februaryat 11am AllSoulsChapelPurewa Cemetery Followedbyburial Pleasedirectall communicationsto: DoriannaSefo0224237240 John11:25"Iamthe resurrectionandthelife,He whobelievesinMe,thoughhe maydie,heshalllive."

ArohaFunerals 095270266

WOOD, FredaBarkly(ne´eBrannigan). Passedawaypeacefullyonthe 6th February2025inher91st year. LovedwifeofthelateWilliam (Bill)Wood.Belovedmother andmotherinlawofRobert andRon,MaxeneandWayne. Muchlovedgrandmotherof Alexander,KellyandSam, DominiqueandMurray.Great grandmotherofArabella, BonnieandBlake. Youwillbedearlymissedby familyandfriends. Thankyoutothewonderful carersatMurrayHalbergRest Homeforthelovingcareyou provided. InaccordancewithFreda’s wishesaprivatefamily servicewillbeheld.

COLEMAN, Warren. 30yearstoday. Thebestwasyettocome. Loved,missedandadoredby Ange,Jackson,Cal,Conor, Alysha,LolaandLachie. FORBES, Kim. Twoyearsagotodayour lovingsister,daughterand friendpassedawayfartoo soon.Wemissherwithallour heartsandwillloveher forever.Averyspeciallady. LoveLeanda,LionelandMum andDad. Dontcrybecausesheisgone, smilebecauseshelived.

4.Theplaintiffis New ZealandTransport Agency,whoseaddress forserviceisLevel5AMP Building,29Customs StreetWest,Auckland 1010,NewZealand.The plaintiff’ssolicitoris MichaelDavidArthur, whoseaddressfor serviceisattheofficesof ChapmanTripp,Level34 PwCTower,15Customs StreetWest,Auckland.

Dated: 10February2025

APPLICATIONFOR PUTTINGACOMPANY INTOLIQUIDATION

Thisdocumentnotifies youthat-

PEDERSEN, RhiannonJane. Theworldchangesfromyear toyear,ourlivesfromdayto day,buttheloveandmemory ofyoushallneverpassaway. LoveMummyandLarissa.

REA, VivienneJanine. Dearlylovedwifeof Michael,motherto KobbieandEmmanuel, Mother-in-Lawto Paige,andsisterof Natalie. Hardtobelieveit’s alreadybeenayear. Sorelymissedbyall everyday. Mayyourkindsoulrest inpeace,tillwemeet again.

Publicnotices

1.On8November2024, anapplicationforputting TianyiConstruction Limited intoliquidation wasfiledintheHighCourt atAuckland.Itsreference numberisCIV2024-404-002942.The applicationistobeheard bytheHighCourtat Auckland,Friday,21 February2025,10:00am.

2.Aperson,otherthan thedefendantcompany, whowantstoappearat thehearingofthe applicationmustfilean appearancenotlaterthan thesecondworkingday beforethatday.

3.Thestatementofclaim andtheverifyingaffidavit maybeinspectedatthe registryofthecourtorat theplaintiff’saddressfor service.

4.TheplaintiffisAnuj Bisht,whoseaddressfor serviceisofficesof ResoluteLawyers,Level 5,3TeKehuWay,Mt Wellington,Auckland. Theplaintiff’ssolicitoris AniteshGovind,whose addressisLevel5,3Te KehuWay,MtWellington, Auckland.

Date: 5February2025

GHCC2016LIMITED(INLIQUIDATION) NoticeofAppointmentofLiquidators CompanyNo.:6102875

AdamBotterill(IP143)andDamienGrant(IP131), LicensedInsolvencyPractitioners,wereappointed liquidatorsoftheabove-namedcompanybytheHigh CourtatAuckland,pursuanttosection241(2)(c)ofthe CompaniesAct1993("Act")on5February2025at 11:04am.

NoticetoCreditorstoProveDebtsorClaims Wefix8March2025asthedayonorbeforewhichthe creditorsofthecompanyaretomaketheirclaimsand toestablishanypriority,undersection312oftheAct,or tobeexcludedfromthebenefitofanydistributionmade beforetheclaimsareprovedor,asthecasemaybe, fromobjectingtothedistribution.

Datedthis7th dayofMarch2025.

ADAMBOTTERILLandDAMIENGRANT,Joint Liquidators.

Pleasedirectanyenquiriesto:BenJuryat ben@waterstone.co.nz.

AddressforLiquidator: WaterstoneInsolvency,POBox 352,Auckland1140.Phone:0800CLOSED.Website: www.waterstone.co.nz.

NEWZEALANDLIMITED (INLIQUIDATION)

NoticeofAppointmentof Liquidators

Theabove-namedcompany wasplacedintoliquidationby specialresolutionofthe shareholders,pursuantto Section241(2)(a)ofthe CompaniesAct1993on4 February2025at12:25pm RaymondPaulCox(IP94)and GarethRusselHoole(IP26), CharteredAccountantsand Licensed Insolvency Practitionerswereappointed jointandseveralliquidators. NoticetoCreditorstoProve DebtsorClaims Noticeisgiventhatthe liquidatorsfix4March2025as thedayonorbeforewhich creditorsofthecompanyareto maketheirclaimsandto establishanyprioritytheir claimsmayhave,underSection 312oftheCompaniesAct1993, ortobeexcludedfromthe benefitofanydistributionmade beforetheirclaimsaremadeor, asthecasemaybe,from objectingtoanydistribution.

Datedthis5thdayofFebruary 2025

GARETHRUSSELHOOLE LIQUIDATOR RAYMONDPAULCOX LIQUIDATOR Theaddressandtelephone numbertowhich,duringnormal businesshours,enquiriesmay bedirectedbyacreditoror member:

EcovisKGALimited, CharteredAccountants Level2, 5-7KingdonStreet, Newmarket, Auckland1023 POBox37223, Parnell, Auckland

Telephone:(09)9214635

Email: businessrecovery@ecoviskga. co.nz

AOTEAWAKANATIVE DISTRICT constitutedandregulated withintheprovisions ofPart13;TeTure WhenuaMaoriAct93, MaoriIncorporations ConstitutionRegulations Act94/95,callforareelectionofmanagement Regardingspecial resolutionsformattersof Importancetobeheldat: 206AnzacParade WanganuiEast,SH4 9March2025 11am

Shinein'ArkProperties Limited (inliquidation)

NoticeofAppointment ofLiquidators CompaniesAct1993, Section255(2)(b) CompanyNumber: 2220766

PresentedBy: SMEFinancialLimited, 6BostonRoad,MtEden, Auckland. Telephone:(09)3667025. To:TheRegistrarofCompanies,Auckland I,GeoffreyAlexander Hamilton,directorofSME FinancialLimitedof Auckland,giveyounotice thatIhavebeen appointedliquidatorof Shinein'ArkProperties Limited(inliquidation) pursuanttosection241(2) (b)oftheCompaniesAct 1993on04thFebruary 2025at2.30pm. Datedthis04thFebruary 2025. GeoffreyAlexander Hamilton Liquidator.

ATTENTIONALLOWNERS, THEIRWHANAUANDTHEIRHAPUOF Nga¯tiRuaka¯ SITUATEDINTHE AOTEAWAKANATIVEDISTRICT

Aspecialgeneralmeetingwillbeheldat:60TalbotStreet, WhanganuiEast,Whanganui4500,5March2025forthe purposeofIncorporatingthewhenuaknownas;Section 6ARananaMa¯oriReserveBlkVITauakiraSDpursuantto: (1)PartXIII(13)ofTeTureWhenuaMaori/MaoriLandAct 1993(2)MaoriIncorporationsConstitutionRegulations Act1994(3)PetitionofTahupotikiWiremuRatana–1932 (4)HeWhakaputangaoTeRangatiraoNuTireni(5) ExtractofaDispatchfromLordGlenelg(6)Standing OrdersinCouncil–BritishCrownTeTiritioWaitangi Intention(7)TeTiritioWaitangi(8)TheNZConstitutionAct 1852,Sec71(UK)(9)TheNativeDistrictRegulationsAct 1858No.4(10)TheNativeCircuitCourtAct1858No.5(11) TheNativeLandCourtAct1894,DivisionIIPartII. Contactdetails:Wilson027-311-2281

NoticeofExtensionof LocalTransitionPeriod forAucklandbyMayor ofAuckland

Pursuanttos94DoftheCivilDefence EmergencyManagementAct2002,I,Wayne KelvinForrestBrown,MayorofAuckland, extendthelocaltransitionperiodforthe AucklandCivilDefenceEmergency ManagementGrouparea,owingtothe severeweathereventsthatimpactedthe Aucklandregion(includingtheJanuary floodsandCycloneGabrielle).

This e

a.comesintoforceonThursday,6 Februaryat7.57am,whichiswhenthe currenttransitionperiodends b.isinforcefor28days c.endsonThursday,6Marchat7.57am, unlessterminatedorfurtherextended earlier.

Notice by: W.Brown

Design

T

AetherPacific Pharmaceuticals Limited (inVoluntary Administration) (7135337)

NoticeofAppointment ofLiquidators

AdamBotterill(IP143)and DamienGrant(IP131), LicensedInsolvency Practitioners,were appointedliquidatorsof theabove-named companyon4February 2024at2.55pmby resolutionofcreditorsata watershedmeetingof creditors.

NoticetoCreditorsto ProveDebtsorClaims Wefix11March2025as thedayonorbefore whichthecreditorsofthe companiesaretomake theirclaimsandto establishanypriority, underSection312ofthe Act,ortobeexcluded fromthebenefitofany distributionmadebefore theclaimsareprovedor, asthecasemaybe,from objectingtothe distribution.

Dated this07February 2025

AdamBotterill and DamienGrant, JointLiquidators Pleasedirectany enquiriesto: PeterDrennan

Addressforliquidator: WaterstoneInsolvency, POBox352, Auckland1140 Phone:0800256733 www.waterstone.co.nz

NOTICEOFAPPOINTMENT OFLIQUIDATORSAND NOTICETOCREDITORSTO PROVECLAIMS

KeatonPronk(IP107)andDaniel Zhang(LP153),Chartered AccountantsandLicensed InsolvencyPractitioners,were appointedjointandseveral Liquidatorsof MITCHELL DISTRIBUTORSLIMITED(IN LIQUIDATION) followingthe directors’resolutionasto solvencyandaspecial resolutionoftheshareholders on29January2025at4.30p.m. pursuanttoSection241(2)(a)of theCompaniesAct1993. Itisa solventliquidation.

DanielZhang(LP153)and KeatonPronk(IP107),Licensed InsolvencyPractitioners,were appointedjointandseveral Liquidatorsof END ELECTRICALLIMITED(IN LIQUIDATION) byaspecial resolutionoftheshareholders ofthecompanyon3February 2025at10.00a.m.pursuantto Section241(2)(a)ofthe CompaniesAct1993.

SteveFarquhar(IP90)and DanielZhang(LP153), LicensedInsolvency Practitioners,wereappointed jointandseveralliquidatorsof NBL(NEWZEALAND) LIMITED(INLIQUIDATION) by aspecialresolutionofthe shareholderofthecompanyon 4February2025at5.04p.m. pursuanttoSection241(2)(a)of theCompaniesAct1993.

DanielZhang(LP153)and KeatonPronk(IP107),Licensed InsolvencyPractitioners,were appointedjointandseveral Liquidatorsof HAELTHTECH NEWZEALANDLIMITED(IN LIQUIDATION) byaspecial resolutionoftheshareholders ofthecompanyon5February 2025at10.00a.m.pursuantto Section241(2)(a)ofthe CompaniesAct1993.

IainMcLennan(IP82)andDaniel Zhang(LP153),Licensed InsolvencyPractitioners,were appointedjointandseveral Liquidatorsof J.M.STORE (NEWZEALAND)PTY LIMITED(INLIQUIDATION) by theHighCourtatAucklandon 5February2025at10.10am pursuanttoSection241(2)(c)of theCompaniesAct1993on applicationofNZCustoms Service.

SKYFLOORINGLIMITED (INLIQUIDATION) (theCompany)

PursuanttoSection255(2)of theCompaniesAct1993 Inthematterofsection241(2)(c) oftheCompaniesAct1993, noticeisherebygiventhatthe Companywasplacedinto liquidationon5February2025at 11:28AMwiththeappointment ofGrantBruceReynoldsas liquidator.

Creditorsandshareholdersmay directtheirinquiriestoGrant Reynoldsduringnormal businesshoursattheaddress andcontactnumbersstated below.

GrantReynolds, Liquidator

AddressofLiquidator: Reynolds&AssociatesLtd, POBox259059 Botany2163 Auckland

Ph:095249238 fax095220975

email:grant@randa.co.nz

LEMARPROJECTSLIMITED (InLiquidation) NoticeofMeetingof Creditors

Noticeisgiventhatameeting ofcreditorsistobeheldon Thursday20February2025 at10:00amattheofficeof ReynoldsandAssociates, Level6,5ShortStreet, Newmarket.

Business

1.Updateontheprogressof theLiquidation.

2.Toconfirmthe appointmentofGrant BruceReynoldsas liquidator.

3.Toappointliquidatorsin placeofthecurrent liquidator,GrantBruce Reynolds. Dated this7February2025 GRANTBRUCEREYNOLDS Liquidator

AddressofLiquidator: Reynolds&AssociatesLtd POBox259059 Botany,Auckland2163

NZHeraldDelivery

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Warkworth,SnellsBeach, Omaha,PointWellsandLeigh. Casual: tostandinwhenregulars areonleave.

Theapplicantmusthave Areliablevehicle,afulldriverslicence andamobilephone

Applicantmustalsobecomputer capableandagoodcommunicator. AgoodknowledgeofWarkworthand SnellsBeachareawouldbean advantage. Goodhourlyrateplusfuelallowance. FormoreinformationcallMalcolmon 021678148.

EARN$200K+ Wesupply: BusTraining, Resources,S/W,Account system,NationalAds, Props.PayMobile,SupportPa.Exp25Y+ Start: $7.5kDeposit,Pay restoff. Youshould: Havecomp skills,Spreadsheets,Ms Word,Friendlysales manner,Owncomputer. be-Organised.&Transport. Tx:Name+Email+ Town/City.0212390010

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KeatonPronk(IP107)andDaniel Zhang(LP153),Licensed InsolvencyPractitioners,were appointedjointandseveral Liquidatorsof WYMOUNT PROPERTYSERVICES LIMITED(INLIQUIDATION) by theHighCourtatAucklandon 5February2025at10.15am pursuanttoSection241(2)(c)of theCompaniesAct1993on applicationofBodyCorporate 355711.

Claimsbycreditorsinthe liquidationsshouldbesentto insol@mvp.co.nzby20March 2025.

IainMcLennan,KeatonPronk, DanielZhangandSteve Farquhar,LIQUIDATORS, LICENSEDINSOLVENCY PRACTITIONERS

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PatrickMahomeswilltodayattempttoleadtheKansasCityChiefstothefirstSuperBowlthree-peat.

Chiefscantriggerdebate

ButEaglesarequietlydeterminedtoruintalkofdynastiesandSuperBowlthree-peats

IfPatrickMahomescanlead theKansasCityChiefstoan unprecedentedthirdstraight SuperBowlvictorywhenthey facethePhiladelphiaEaglestoday, expectthedebateovertheNFL’s greatest-everdynastytoheatup.

Onthefaceofit,theChiefsstill havesomewaytogotocatchwhat iswidelyrecognisedasthegreatest dynasty—theNewEnglandPatriots intheeraofquarterbackTomBrady andcoachBillBelichick.

ThatpairingdeliveredsixSuper Bowltitles,whilethepartnershipof coachAndyReidandMahomeswill claimtheirfourthiftheycanovercometheEaglesandtheirpowerful runninggame.

Butacasecanbemadethatthe Patriotsdynastywastwoseparate periods,giventherewasadecadegap betweentheir2004triumphoverthe EaglesinJacksonvilleandtheir2014 victoryagainstSeattleinArizona.

However,eveninthe10years withoutaSuperBowlwin,thePatriots wereanear-constantchallenger— reachingtheSuperBowltwiceand nevermissingoutontheplayoffs.

ForRobGronkowski,theformer PatriotstightendwhowonfourSuper BowlswithBradyandBelichick,there isnoquestiontheChiefsstillhave somewaytogotobetterNew England’slegacy.

“Idon’tthinkthey’reclosinginon everythingwe’veaccomplishedin ourdynastybecauseitwasovertwo decades.Youhadthatfirstdynasty decade,fromlike2002to2010,then ittrickledintotheseconddecade,” hesaid.

Gronkowski,though,acknowledgedtheChiefshavedonesomethingunique.

“Whatthey’vedoneoverthelast 10years,Ibelieve,[is]thebestdecade ofdominancefromadynasty,especiallyiftheygetthethree-peat,”hesaid.

Thereis,however,atendencyfor recencybiasinsuchevaluationsand it’sworthrememberingthatwhilethe NFLmaybesetuptoavoidlonglastingdynasties,viatheNFLDraft androsterrules,therewereseveral dynastiesbeforeBelichickandReid camealong.

TheDallasCowboyswithquarterbackTroyAikmanwonthreeSuper Bowlsinfouryearsintheearly1990s, andthe1980sbelongedtotheSan Francisco49ers,whowonfourtitles overnineyears.

Beforethat,fromthemid-1970s, thePittsburghSteelersledbyquarterbackTerryBradshawtwicewon back-to-backSuperBowls.

TheGreenBayPackersunder legendarycoachVinceLombardiin the1960swontheNFLcrownfive times,butbecauseonlythelasttwo ofthosewinsarecountedasSuper Bowls,theachievementsofthe Wisconsinclubappearforgottenor

undervaluedbysome.

ThePackersachieveda‘threepeat’winningthreestraightpre-Super BowlNFLchampionshipsfrom1965 to1967.

Whatisbeyonddiscussionisthat aChiefsvictorywillmakethemthe firstteamtowinthreeSuperBowls inarow.

Butallthetalkofdynastiesand ‘three-peats’willsimplybefueltofire upanEaglesteamwhoareinno moodtojustbecomeastatistic.

FormerNewOrleansSaintsquarterbackDrewBreeshassenseda determinationamongthePhiladelphiaplayers.

“TheChiefsaregoingforthethreepeatbutIwillsaythis:there’sdefinitelyachipontheshoulderofthe Eagles.Theylostthisgametwoyears ago.Idon’tthinkthatsitsverywell withthemrightnow.AndIthink they’reabetterteamthisyearthan theyweretwoyearsago.” —AFP

Collwins firsttitle inDetroit

NewZealanderPaulCollhas capturedhisfirsttitleofthe2024-25 PSASquashTourseason,defeating Mexico’sLeonelCardenasina marathon91-minuteencounteratthe MotorCityOpeninDetroit.

No2seedColl,astrongfavourite intheSilver-leveleventafterthe withdrawaloffour-timechampion DiegoElias,waspushedalltheway inatoughfinalattheBirmingham AthleticClubbeforeprevailing8-11, 12-10,11-9,11-9yesterday.

Thefour-gamewinwasademonstrationofColl’srelentlesshitting, physicalpowerandmentalsteeliness,havinghadtofightbackfrom 1-0downandgameballdowninthe secondonhiswaytocapturingthe title.

Thematchbeganwithbothfinalistshappytoplaylongrallieswhile retainingahightempo.

Cardenasgainedanearlyleadand neverletCollbackinfrontthroughoutthe26-minutefirstgame,sealing itwithasublimeoverheadvolleyinto thenick.

Collstartedthesecondgamewell, lookingtopressontheshortlineand huntdownthevolleyonbothsides. ButCardenasprovedtoughtobreak down,comingfrombehindtohold agameballonhisracketat10-9up. TheWestCoasterthenpulledoffa stringofincredibleretrievalstoforce atie-breakbeforelevellingthematch afteralmost50minutes.

Theduocontinuedtogotoe-to-toe inawell-matchedthirdgamebuttwo consecutivestrokesfromCardenasat 7-7handedtheinitiativetoColl.The No2seedheldhisnervetomove2-1 upandwithinagameofthetitle.

Thefourthwasdeadlockedat9-9 beforeCollfoundhisbestsquashat thispivotalmoment.The32-year-old squeezedoutCardenasdownthe backhandwingonhisfirstchampionshipball,lettingoutaroartowards histeamashepickeduphisfirstPSA titlesinceApril2024.

“It’sbeenaprettytoughweek,”said Coll.“Ihaven’tbeenonmytopform butI’mveryproudofhowIgot throughitmentally.Togetthetitle inmythirdfinalhereattheMotor CityOpen,I’mextremelyproud.

“I’mstartingtofeelabitbetteron court.Thisweekwasgoodforworkingafewthingsoutandgetting throughafewtoughmatchesmentally.Imanagedtofindsomegood formatthebackend.”

SavagleeskipsNZBKiwiforAustraliancampaign

Mickon

Monday on ay

Savaglee’sbravedefeatintheBCD SprintatTeRapaonSaturdaywas justenoughtokeepeverybody happy.

Enoughtoensureheisstillontrack forhiscrackattheAustralianGuineas atFlemingtononMarch1.

Andthatmeansenoughtokeep himoutofthe$3.5millionNZBKiwi thefollowingweek,whichwillkeep theconnectionsoftheotherNZBKiwi runnershappy.

TheNewZealand2000Guineas winnerwasthirdonSaturday,well beatenbyoneAussieinHereTo Shockandonlyjustbytheotherin Bosustowinthe1400mGroup1. Hewasfiredoutofthegatesby SamSprattandtrailedBabylonBerlin butHereToShockblewhimand everythingelseaway.

Noshameinthat;thebestversion ofHereToShockwouldhavebeaten manyofAustralia’stop3-year-olds underthosecircumstances,while

SavagleeisbeingsetfortheAustralianGuineas.

BosustowistheMagicMillions Guineaswinner,soagenuinemajor 3-year-oldracecontenderin Australia.

Butpuntersareusedtoseeing Savagleewinandthedefeatraised theobviousquestion:isn’thebetter offstayinghomeforanNZBKiwithan contestinganAustralianGuineas? ManagingownerRickWilliams

fromtheOaksStudsaysheliked enoughofwhathesawonSaturday tosuggesttotrainerPamGerardthey pressonwiththeGuineascampaign andthewindfallavictorythere wouldbringtoSavaglee’sfuture stallioncareer.

“Hewasverygoodwhenyou considertheopposition,”says Williams.“Thewinnerwastoogood,

sonoexcusesfromusthere,butour felladidsweatupabitandmighthave beenfeelingatouchfresh.

“Wethinkhecouldhaverun secondtowhatisagoodweight-foragehorsehadhegotclearerroomin thestraight.Wealsothinkhe’sready for1600mandastrong1600mat Flemingtonnextupwillreallysuit him.Sotheplanistoheadto Melbourneratherthanchanging directiontotheKiwi.”

Williamssaysthatmeanshewon’t beenteringintonegotiationswithany Kiwislotholders,soastonotwaste theirtime.

“Everythingwillbefirmedupmore inaweekafterweseehowhehas comethroughthisracebutthat’sthe planatthemomentandwewantto betransparent.”

Williamssuggestsnextseason, Savagleecouldendupbeinganelite 2000mweight-for-agehorse,which wouldopenarangeofhugeGroup1 doorsifhecantakethatstep.

AsfortheNZBKiwi,itwilldojust finewithoutSavaglee,whowasrated $8inthemarketyesterdayastheTAB bookiestooka“justincase”stance. Amonthorsoago,therewasa where-will-they-come-fromvibeto

thefirstrunningoftheNZBKiwi butitisfillingupnicelyasnew contendersemerge,whilehigh-class VictoriangalloperEvaporatewas backatCaulfieldonSaturdayand lookingontrackforthenewslotrace atEllerslieonMarch8.

Whathorsesarechosennextwill befascinating,butthehypeand interestcontinuetogrow,with promotinganyracemonthsout ahugebattlethesedayswiththe enormousnumberofmajorracedays onseeminglyeveryweekend.

Justaspleasingly,theNZBKiwi lookslikeitwillnotcannibalisethe TracksideNewZealandDerbythe sameday.

Thetworacesdrawonsimilar poolsofhorsesbuttheyaredividing upnicely,withsomesuchas CheckmateheadingtotheKiwi,but otherssuchasSaturday’sWaikato GuineaswinnerTuxedonowDerby bound.

WithAustralianinterestalso growingintheDerbyandithaving agenuinepin-uphorseinWillydoit, bothraceslooksettohaveworthy fieldsonwhatisgoingtobethe biggestracemeetinginNewZealand history.

Photo/RaceImages

Photo/Photosport

BlackFoilsrecordlowestplacing

NewZealandboatimproveshugelyon daytwobutonlyenoughtofinisheighth

ChristopherReive

Afterahorrorstarttolast weekend’sSailGPregattain Sydney,BlackFoilsdriver PeterBurlingsaiddaytwo wouldbeaboutlimitingthedamage ontheleaderboard.

Whetherornottheyaccomplished thatmissioncouldwellremainupfor debatelongintotheseason.

Afterendingtheopeningdayof theeventninthoverallwithjust sevenpointsandaseventhbeing theirbestresultfromthefourraces, theBlackFoilsfinishedtheevent eighth,securingjustthreepoints towardstheirseasontotal.

Aneighth-placedfinishtiesthe worstintheteam’shistory,matching theirmarkfromlastseason’sevent inFrance,wheretheirwingsail collapsedandtheydidnotcompete

inthefinaltworaces.

TheBlackFoilswillbehappywith thequickturnaroundinperformance inSydneyafteritseemedlittlewent theirwayondayone.

Theydid,however,losegroundon GreatBritainandAustraliaatthetop oftheleaderboard.

DylanFletchercontinuedhis remarkablereturntoSailGPwiththe Britishteam,leadingthemtotheir firstwinoftheseason,topping CanadaandAustraliainthefinal.

Theyaretheonlyteamtohave featuredinallthreepodiumracesthis season,nowwithafirst,secondand third.

GreatBritaintooktheoutrightlead fortheseasonwith27pointsafterthe win,fromAustraliaon24,withSpain andtheBlackFoilstiedon20.

TheKiwismadeanimmediate markyesterday,finishingsecondin

theday’sopeningrace,beforewinningthesecondandplacingfifthin thethird.

Whiletheymissedthepodium race,theturnaroundwasremarkable

fromtheirperformanceondayone.

TheKiwishadmorepaceoffthe lineatthestartofyesterday’sfirst race.Whiletheyweretowardsthe backofthefleet,theyfoundpassing

lanesonthecourseandquickly clawedplacesback. Bythemidwaypointoftherace, theywerecontestingforthelead,but GreatBritainkeptthematbaytotake thewin.

Intheday’ssecondrace,theKiwis flewoffthestartline,gettingtothe frontofthefleetatthefirstmarkand leadingallthewaytothefinish.After adaywhentheymademistakesand unforcederrors,areturntotheirbest wasawelcomereprieve.

Thethirdraceofthedaypanned outalittlefortuitouslyfortheBlack Foilswhostartedslowlybutfound themselvesinthefronthalfofthe fleetonthethirdlegafteratrafficjam atthegatesawfiveteamsjostlingfor positionsandalmostcollidingwith oneanother.

TheKiwismaintainedtheirposition,closingoutfifthplace. Improvingtheireventtotalfrom sevento32yesterday,theperformancewillgivethemaplatformto buildonastheleaguemovestothe UnitedStates,witheventsinLos AngelesandSanFranciscoinMarch.

WillBrownholdstheNewZealandGrandPrixtrophywiththeGilesMotorsportteam.

WillBrownbecamethefirstAustralianin50yearstowintheNew ZealandGrandPrixwithhisvictory atHighlandsMotorsportParkin Cromwellyesterday.

TheSupercarschampionsteered hisGilesMotorsportToyotaFT60to atwo-secondvictoryinthe69th runningoftheracetoemulate compatriotWarwickBrown,who wonin1975.

KiwiZackScoular—theCastrol ToyotaFROceaniaChampionship rookiechampion—wasrunner-up andoverallserieswinnerArvid Lindblad,drivingasparecar,wasa fightingthird.

VictorywasspecialforBrownand teambossStephenGiles.

“Iwasnervousaboutthestartand IknewifIcouldbeatBrocawayoff theline[SupercarsteammateBroc Feeneywasonpole,withBrown second],Ihadachancetogetahead

AussiewinsCoasttoCoastatseventhattempt

TasmanianAlexHunthaswonthe CoasttoCoastLongestDaymen’s multisportraceathisseventhattempt,whileNewZealanderDeborah Lynchclaimedthewomen’seventin herthirdattempt.

Hunt,whohashadfiveprevious podiumfinishesintheevent—includingaguttingsecondlastyear—beat defendingchampionHamishElliott byfourminutes,in11h29m20s. SamClarkfinishedthird,justover 12minutesbehindElliott.

LynchprovedtoostrongforenduranceeventgreatSimoneMaier, whohadwontheracefiveoutofthe pastsixeditions,withastrongkayak legandgrittyfinalcycleburst. Lynchadmittedfeelingunsure

Istillcan’tbelieveit,I’m justinshock.It’sgoingto takeamomenttosinkin.

AlexHunt

howclosebehindMaierwas.

“Evenonthatlaststretchalongthe boulevard,Iwaslike,‘Shecould come’,soIwasredliningthewhole way,”saidLynch.

“Ispentmyentiredaynottrying togetaheadofmyselfandstayinthe moment.Ididn’tbelieve[I’dwon] untilIcrossedthatfinishline.Honestly,it’syettosinkin.” Maiersaiditwasafantasticrace, despitemissingahistoricsixthwin.

“It’ssecondplacebutIwantedto race,andIdidsaywhoeverbeatsme deservesitandDebbiehadanamazingrace.”

MaiersaiditwasherlastLongest Day. Hunt,33,wasthefirstAustralian since1993towintheLongestDay. “Istillcan’tbelieveit,I’mjustin shock.It’sgoingtotakeamomentto sinkin,”Huntsaid. Thecompetitorsran,kayakedand cycledfromKumaraBeachonthe WestCoasttoNewBrightoninChristchurch. HunthadtrailedElliotformuchof theracebutmadeamoveonthe 70kmkayakstageontheWaimakariri River,emergingwithatwo-minute

leadgoingontothefinalcycleleg.

“Itwasn’tanimmediatedecisionto comeback,that’sforsure,”Huntsaid aftertherace.“I’dtoldmyselfandmy familythatitwasgoingtobethelast onebutMaggiemypartnerwassupportiveandkeenformetogoagain.” Toprepareforthe243kmrace,he movedtoNewZealandwithMaggie andtheir2-year-olddaughterinearly January.

“We’vedonecloseto20tripsto ArthursPassthisyeartotrainonthe mountainrunandMaggie’sdriven andlookedafterourdaughterevery day.She’samazing.” ThelastAustraliantowintheCoast toCoastwasMelbourne’sJohn Jacobyin1993.

Photo/BruceJenkins,ToyotaGazooRacing

TheBlackFoilsfinishedfirst,secondandfifthyesterday.

Photo/SailGP

AlexHuntcelebrateshisCoastto Coastwin.

Photo/GeorgeHeard

PhillipsraptwithfirsttonatNo6

All-rounderpaces inningssuperblyto reachcenturywith twoballsremaining

KrisShannon

GlennPhillipsshowedperfect timingtoreachthreefigures andcompleteathree-year chaseaheadoftheChampionsTrophy.

Theall-rounderliftedtheBlack Capstoa78-runODIwinoverPakistaninLahoreyesterday,10days beforetheyfacethesameopponent inKarachitokickofftheeight-team worldevent.

Phillipsstruckhismaidenone-day hundredandclaimedakeywicket toassistineasilydefendingatotalof 330-6.

Thecomprehensivevictory almostsealedaspotinthefinalof atri-seriesthatalsofeaturesan understrengthSouthAfrica,providingNewZealandthechancefor anotherwarm-upfixtureaheadof theirbidforatrophytheyliftedin 2000.

Then,itwasChrisCairnswho posedaformidablebig-hitting presenceinthemiddleorder, strokinganunbeatencenturyina triumphoverIndiainthetournament finalinKenya.

Now,Phillipshassignalledhis abilitytoturnsolidplatformsinto significanttotals,crackingsevensixes ina74-ballknockof106notout.

The28-year-oldsaton60fromas manydeliveriesbeforelaunching ablisteringflurryinthe48thover, unleashingparticularpunishmenton theusuallyreliabledeathbowlingof ShaheenShahAfridi.

Theworld’sfourth-rankedbowler washelplessasPhillipscollectedfour sixesfromhisfinaltwoovers,the No6allowedatlasttoraisehisbat withtwoballsleftintheinnings.

“Itwasaprettysurrealmoment. I’vebeenchasingitforacoupleof yearsnow,”saidPhillips.“Battingat six,itdoesn’tnecessarilymeanyour opportunitiestoscoreahundredare alwaysthere.

“Istartedmyprofessionalcareer atthetopoftheorder,where hundredswerealotmoreachievable. Tocomeintoapositionwherethe opportunitylayinthatNo6-7roleand offeringoverswiththeball,itwas alwaysgoingtobeatoughask.

“Everysortofthinghadtolineup ontherightdayforittohappen,and thankfullyitdidhappen[yesterday]. I’vehadmychancesinthepastbut everythinglinedupnicely.”

Phillipshadregisteredfourhalfcenturiesin36ODIsbuthisprevious twotopinnings—72againstEngland in2023and71againstAfghanistan atthe2023WorldCup—sawhim dismissedwithsufficientoversleftto reachthegreatermilestone.

Ravindraforcedoffwithheadwound

BlackCapsbatterRachinRavindra sufferedasickeningblowtothehead afterheappearedtomisjudgeacatch duringtheirOne-DayInternational victoryoverPakistanyesterday.

The25-year-oldwasfieldingat deepsquarelegwhenheseemed tolosesightoftheballagainstthe GaddafiStadiumfloodlightsashe shapedtotakeacatchtodismiss KhushdilShah.

Bloodpouredfromtheheadof adazedRavindrawhilethecrowd lookedonwithconcern.Afterbeing treated,heleftthefieldholding abandagetighttohisbloodied forehead.

“Ravindrawasforcedfromthe

RachinRavindrawasstruckbythe ballwhileattemptingacatch.

fieldafterbeingstruckinthe foreheadbytheballattemptinga catchinthe38thover,”NewZealand Cricketsaidinastatement.

InLahore,histimingwasimpeccable,adjustingwelltoatwo-pace pitchthathadseentheBlackCaps crawlto135-4inthe28thoverwhile puttingtogetherhandypartnerships withDarylMitchell(81off84)and MichaelBracewell(31off23).

“Idon’tthinkitwasnecessarily abouttakingtimeasmuchasitwas beingabletoactuallyhittheballinto gaps,”Phillipssaid.“Thatwasjustan overallthemeforeverybatter—until youwereon25or30balls,itwas prettyhardtofindanyfluency.

“Hesustainedalacerationtothe foreheadwhichhasbeenaddressed andtreatedatthegroundbutis otherwisewell.

“HecamethroughhisfirstHIA [HeadInjuryAssessment]welland willcontinuetobemonitoredunder HIAprocesses.”

Earlier,Ravindrahadscored25 from19ballsatthetopoftheorder asNewZealandrecorded330-6 beforehisteamwentontoclaima 78-runwin.

Thematchwaspartofatri-nations serieswhichalsofeaturesSouth Africaandisawarm-upaheadofthe ChampionsTrophylaterthismonth.

“Wetalkedabouttryingtonot necessarilyleavealloureffortand firepowerfortheboysatthedeath becausetheyareincredibledeath bowlers.

“Butsometimeswhensomeone’s onaheaterandthepressure’son,it

definitelymeansthebowlerscan miss.[Afridi]isaworld-classbowler andheprobablymissedalittlebit morethanhewouldhaveliked [yesterday].Asabatter,I’mnotgoing tocomplainaboutthat.”

TheBlackCapswouldhavefew complaintsaboutthematch—aside fromRachinRavindra,whosuffered anastyblowtotheheadafterlosing theballinthelightswhilefielding.

WithMattHenry(3-53)theonly effectivefrontlineseameroneither side,spinduoBracewellandMitchell Santnercombinedtoclaim5-82from 20overs.Phillipsessentiallysealed thematchbytrappingdangerman FakharZaman(84off69)butthat achievementwouldranksecondon amemorableday.

“ODIcrickethasbeenmyfavourite formatgrowingupandit’salways somethingI’vebeenreachingfor,to getthatcentury,”Phillipssaid.

“Itrytokeepmyselfprocessdrivenasmuchaspossiblebutit’s nicetohavesomeofthosefruits comingoutoftheprocesstakingcare ofitself.

“Itwasprettyspecialtobringup ahundred—especiallyanoverseas hundredinmyfavouriteformat.”

AlkerundonebyJimenez17th-holeeagleinMorocco

StevenAlkerlooksprimedformore tremendoussuccessonthesenior golftourbuthe’llalsobefrustrated afteranothersecondplacing.

Alker—thePGATourChampions 2024playeroftheyear—hasbeen pippedbyMiguelAngelJimenezat theTrophyHassanIIinMorocco,the secondtournamentof2025.

AlkerandJimenezweretiedat seven-under-pargoingintothefinal round,beforeasuperbfinalnine holessawthecigar-smokingSpaniard claimvictorybytwoshots,finishing at11underforhis14thseniortitle.

Thekeyholewasthe17th,where Jimenezdrovethegreenandnailed aneagle,withAlkermakingpar. ItisthesixthtimeAlkerhasfinishedrunner-upsincehislastvictory,

whichcameoverayearagointhe opening2024eventinHawaii. Meanwhile,KiwisDameLydiaKo andFionaXuarewelloffthepace intheFoundersCupinFlorida. Ko,whohadapooropeninground, shotathird-round70tobenearthe tailoftheweekendfield. FellowAucklanderXuisalsoat oneunderpargoingintothefinal round.WorldNo1NellyKordais amongthepace-setters.

It’sasimilarstoryforRyanFoxat thePhoenixOpen,whereheiswell outofcontentionafteraneven-par thirdroundhashimsittingatfourunderforthetournamentandwell backinthefield.

Thecontendersspentmuchofthe daychasingBelgium’sThomasDetry,

whoisseekinghisfirstPGAtitlein 68starts.

InSaudiArabia,BenCampbell’s tenureasafull-timememberofLIV Golfhasstartedonsolidground, finishinginatiefor15that10under par,sevenshotsbehindwinner AdrianMeronk.

FellowKiwiDannyLeepaidfora two-oversecondround,ultimately finishinginatiefor33rdatfiveunder.

InDoha,DanielHillierisontrack foranothersolidresult,sittingina tiefor16thatfive-underafterthree roundsontheDPWorldTour’sQatar Masters.

Hillierhaspostedback-to-back scorecardsoftwounderparbutsits eightshotsbehindleaderHaotongLi ofChina.

GlennPhillipshitfoursixesinthelasttwooverstofinishon106notoutoff74deliveriesasNewZealandbeatPakistaninLahoreyesterday.

Photos/AFP

EnglandcelebrateElliotDaly’slatetrywhichwasconvertedtoclincha26-25winoverFranceatTwickenhamyesterday.

Itojelauds‘brave’England

FinSmithnailsmatch-winningconversiontoedgeoutFranceinfirststartatfirst-five

CaptainMaroItojewasproud Englanddeliveredoncoach SteveBorthwick’scallfor “bravery”followingadramatic26-25winoverFranceintheSix NationsatTwickenhamyesterday.

VictoryendedEngland’srunof sevenstraightdefeatsagainstleading rugbynations,includinglastweek’s tournament-opening27-22lossaway toSixNationschampionsIreland.

England’ssequenceofreverses hadbeencharacterisedbyalackof composureintheclosingstages,addingtothepressureonbeleaguered bossBorthwick.

Moredisappointmentbeckoned whenFranceled25-19lateon,after wingLouisBielle-Biarreyscoredhis secondtryofthegame.

Butinamatchwherethelead changedthreetimesinathrillinglast 10minutes,replacementElliotDaly’s trywithaminutelefthadEngland trailingbyonepoint.

FinSmiththencrownedanadmirablyassuredfirstteststartatfirst-five bylandingtheclinchingconversion

afterfirst-choicekickerMarcusSmith hadmissedthreechanceswiththe boot.

Englandscoredfourtriesintotal againstaFrancesidewhothrashed Wales43-0lastweek,withItoje tastingvictoryinjusthissecondtest ascaptainafterleadingtheteam againstIreland.

“WeweretoldbySteveBorthwick tobeambitious,tobebrave,togoout andscoretries,”saidItoje.

“Ourbackswereincrediblybrave, incrediblyambitious,andtheytook theopportunitieswhenonotherdays wemighthavetuckedtheballand takentheconservativeoption.

“Itwasn’teasyagainstaverygood Frenchteambutweknowthereisso muchinus.”

Borthwick’sdecisiontogiveFin Smithafulldebutaftersevenreplacementappearanceswasvindicatedby aman-of-the-matchdisplay.

The22-year-old,whotookover atNo10withMarcusSmithmoving tofullback,createdlatetriesfor NorthamptonteammateTommy

Ourbackswere incrediblybraveand tooktheopportunities whenonotherdayswe mighthavetakenthe conservativeoption.

EnglandcaptainMaroItoje

Freemanandveteranutilityback Dalyandlinkedwellwithanother NorthamptonteammateAlex Mitchellathalfback.

“He[FinSmith]playedverywell,” saidBorthwick.“Greatcomposure. Youcouldseethecohesionfactor betweenhimandAlexMitchell.”

Francedominatedterritoryand possessioninthefirsthalf,yetturned roundwiththematchallsquareat 7-7aftersquanderingseveraltryscoringopportunities,whilethe normallyreliableThomasRamoshad anoffdaywiththeboot.

“Wemissedmanychancesinthe

firsthalf,butat7-7atthebreak,we thoughtwejusthadtoplaythesame wayandbemoreprecise,”said FrancecoachFabienGalthiefollowingadefeatthatendedhisteam’s hopesofaGrandSlam.

Thiswasanespeciallyfrustrating lossforGalthie,whohasoverseena Francerevivalsincetakingchargein 2020buthaswononlyonetitle,the 2022SixNations.

“Theconditionsweredampbutit wasplayable,”hesaid.“Andwefound space,soafterthat,therewasno reasonforusnottoscore.”

FrancecaptainAntoineDupont, alreadyregardedasanall-timerugby great,wasamongthosewhodropped keypasses.

Andthehalfback,whosepartnershipwithMatthieuJalibertinthe absenceofthesuspendedRomain Ntamackproveddisappointing, underlinedGalthie’sverdict.

“Wewastedwaytoomanyopportunities,”saidDupont.“Weshould scoreatleastthreetimesinthefirst half.” —AFP

Gatland feelsthe pressure

CoachWarrenGatlandsaidheand hisWalesteamarefeelingthepressureafteryesterday’sSixNations defeattoItalytooktheirrecordbreakinglosingstreakto14tests. Walesfell22-15atasoakingStadio Olimpico,theireighthstraightdefeat intheSixNationssincebeatingthe AzzurriinRometwoyearsago. Gatlandhaspresidedoverall14 defeatsandhispositionisbeing questionedafteranawfuldisplay litteredwithhandlinganddefensive errorswhichallowedItalytobuildup a16-3halftimeleadthatwasnever seriouslythreatened.

“Probablywhenyou’reunderpressure,someofyourdecision-making goesalittlebitoff-cueintermsof makingsureyou’reaccurate,”said Gatland.“Youdefinitelyfeelthe pressure,asateamthathasn’twon forawhile.You’vejustgottokeep workinghardandknowthatat somestage,thingsaregoingtoclick andyou’regoingtogetthatbounce back,you’regoingtogetthatcallor decisionthatgoesyourway.”

ItalycoachGonzaloQuesadawas pleasedwiththewayItalyhandled thehorridconditionsandunfamiliar pressureofbeingfavourites.

TheAzzurriwoninlargepartdue tothesuperbkickingofTommaso Allan,asthewetweatherstopped themfromplayingtheirpreferred, moreflamboyantstyleofrugby.

“Thiswasagreatwinbecause weweren’tinfluencedbybeing favourites.Playinginthatrainwasn’t easy,asweliketoplaywiththeball inhand.Itwasarealstepupforthe team,”saidQuesada.“Theweather madeitamatchwhichhungon discipline.Wewerepragmaticand didn’tgetdistractedbyplayingatype ofrugbywhichisn’tourfavourite. I’mreallyproudofthem.”

ItalynexthostFranceagainst whomtheyplayedathrilling13-13 drawlastyear,whichwouldhave beenashockwinhadPaoloGarbisi nothitthepostwithalatepenalty.

“Itwillbeacompletelydifferent match.Let’shopetheweatherallows ustodosomemorewiththeball thanwedid[againstWales],”saidItaly captainMicheleLamaro.“Thewin hasgivenussomeconfidenceand nowwecanlooktotryandhavefun andmakeitdifficultforotherteams withabitlesspressureonusafter havinggotthisfirstwin.” —AFP

BrightonseeoffChelsea,CitysurviveOrientscare

Brighton’sKaoruMitomasent ChelseacrashingoutoftheFACup astheJapanstarsealeda2-1winin thefourthround,whileKevinDe BruynesparedManchesterCity’s blushesintheir2-1victoryatthirdtierLeytonOrientyesterday.

Chelseahaven’twonadomestic trophysinceliftingtheFACupin2018 andtheirwaitwillgoonforanother seasonaftertheyblewaleadatthe AmexStadium.

EnzoMaresca’ssideweregifted theleadinthefifthminutewhen BrightonkeeperBartVerbruggen fumbledColePalmer’scrossintohis ownnet. ItwasapoormistakebutChelsea failedtopresshometheiradvantage. Thrashed7-0atNottinghamForest inthePremierLeaguelastweekend, Brightonbouncedbackimpressively fromthesecond-worstdefeatinthe club’s123-yearhistory. Theyequalisedinthe12thminute asJoelVeltman’scrossreached GeorginioRutter,whofoundspace betweenChelseadefendersTrevoh ChalobahandTosinAdarabioyoto flickaheaderintothefarcorner. AndBrightoncompletedtheir fightbackinthe57thminutewhen Mitomaclippedadeftfinishpast

ChelseakeeperRobertSanchezdespitethevisitors’claimforhandball. “Ithinkthehandballisquiteclear. WithoutVAR,it’scomplicated,”said Maresca.“Thesecondhalf,theonly shotstheyhad,weconcededagoal from.Wehadafewchancesat2-1. Butyouhavetotaketheconsequenceoftheresult.” AtBrisbaneRoad,ManchesterCity wererockedwhen20-year-oldJamie

Donley’s40meffortcamebackoffthe barandreboundedinoffCitykeeper StefanOrtegatogiveOrientanearly lead. TheEnglishchampionsfinally drewlevelafter56minuteswhen UzbekistandefenderAbdukodir KhusanovdeflectedinRicoLewis’ shotforhisfirstgoalsincesigningfor CityfromLensintheJanuarytransfer window.

CitybossPepGuardiolahadtoturn tohisbenchmorethanhewould havelikedjustfourdaysbeforea mammothChampionsLeagueplayoffroundfirstlegagainstRealMadrid. ButtheintroductionofDeBruyne madethedifferenceastheBelgian midfielderscored11minutesfrom time.

“ItwasatypicalFACupgame, thatiswhythiscompetitionis unbelievable.Forthefans,howthe crowdsupportandweknewthey arestrong,”saidGuardiola,whosaw deadlinedaysigningNicoGonzalez hobbleoffinjuredinthefirsthalfof hisdebut.

Newcastlecamefrombehindto win3-2againstBirminghamCityat StAndrew’s. Birminghamledafter42seconds throughEthanLaird’sdeflected strike.

AquickfiredoublefromJoe WillockandCallumWilsonturned thetieinNewcastle’sfavour,but TomokiIwata’sblisteringstrike levelledthescorebeforehalftimefor theLeagueOneleaders. Newcastle,though,roundedoffa fineweekafterreachingtheLeague CupfinalonThursdayasWillock restoredtheirleadon82minutes.

BottomofthePremierLeagueand seeminglydestinedforrelegation, SouthamptongotnorespiteintheFA CupasBurnleywon1-0atStMary’s. ScottParker’steamwentinfront after77minuteswhenMarcus Edwardsscoredfromcloserangeon hisdebutaftersigningonloanfrom SportingLisbon. Itisalmost600minutessince Championshippromotionchasers Burnleylastconcededagoal,with10 cleansheetsintheirlast11games. “Wewereunluckytolosetoa scrappygoal.Wedidlotsofgood thingsandcreatedlotsofopportunities,”SouthamptonbossIvanJuric said.

InthelastFACuptieatGoodison Park,Everton,whoaremovingtoa newstadiumnextseason,were beaten2-0byBournemouththanks togoalsfromAntoineSemenyoand DanJebbison.

RodrigoMunizscoredtwiceas Fulhamwon2-1atLeagueOneWigan. Ipswich,secondbottomofthe PremierLeague,swepttoa4-1win atFrankLampard’sCoventry. Millwallreachedthefifthroundfor thefirsttimesince2018-19thanksto FemiAzeez’sdoubleina2-0winat ChampionshipleadersLeeds. —AFP

Photo/AFP

KaoruMitomascoredBrighton’swinneragainstChelsea.

Photo/GettyImages

Blues-Chiefsaperfectfirstmatch

Championtownies takeonruralrivals, dramaaboundsin

Europeanrugby

PhilGiffordcomment

SuperRugbyPacificgetsa gameinthisweekend’s openingroundthat’sa match-maker’sdream.

ThechampionBluesareplaying lastyear’sbeatenfinalists,theChiefs, atEdenParkonSaturdayat7.05pm.

Whenrugbytribalismwasatits heightintheamateurera,facing WaikatoinanAucklandjerseyheld alltheappealofcampinginaleaking tentonawetweekend.

“Youmightwin[againstWaikato],” anAucklandplayertoldmeinthe 1980s,“but,God,mostofyourbody achesforaweek.”

Ifthere’snotthesamepassion withSuperRugbyclashes,there’s stillplentyaboutSaturday’sgame tosparkinterest,especiallyif yourformativeyearswerespent somewheresuchasHamiltonor TeAwamutu.

AppointingVernCottercoachhas beenamasterstrokefortheBlues. AsDaltonPapali’irevealedlastyear, Cotterdidn’ttiptoeintothejob.

InCotter’sfirstmeetingwiththe Blues,Papali’irecalledthecoach tellingthesquadthat“wewerejust Aucklanders,we’retownies,wedon’t wanttoworkhard,wejustwantthe result”.

Patentlytherewasthepotentialfor disaster,butinfact,theflashtownies buckleddownandshowedthat whenthegoinggottough,socould Aucklanders.

TheChiefshaven’thadanattitude problemforadecade.Butifthereis anyneedofasharpreminderhow mucheffortisneededtobeatthenew Blues,aquickrevisitoftheiremphatic 41-10wininlastyear’sfinalshould dothejob.

NewZealandrugbyofficials usuallycopmorebrickbatsthan complimentsbutgoodontheBlues forofferingticketstoEdenParkas cheaplyas$20foradultsand$10 forkids.

RevivingtheCrusadersdynasty TheTABhavetheHurricanes($1.70) atrelativelyshortoddsagainstthe Crusaders($2.15)intheseason’s

openinggameinChristchurchon Fridaynight.

AsaformerCanterburycaptain, CrusaderscoachRobPenneyhas beenfullyawarefromwhenhe replacedScottRobertsonlastyear thattheexpectationsofChristchurch fanshaveforeverbeenhigh.

In2024,itsometimesfeltasif allthebadluckateamcouldhave dumpedonithadbeenbuildingup throughthegoldensevenyearsof beingthebestSuperteaminthe countryandhadunloadedinanugly delugeofinjuriesandnearmissesin biggames.

It’dbewrongtoexpectmiracles fromthisyear’smodel,butonFriday, weshouldgetadecentsteeron whethertheCrusadersareready toclawtheirwayback.

Howdeeptheburn England’slast-gasp26-25winagainst FranceatTwickenhamyesterday wasdramaticandexcitingtoan almostcrazydegree.TheEngland

teamhadbeenwrittenoffallweek bytheirownmedia.

Butinthelastminute,with81,000 fansatthegroundgluedtotheirseats, theyproducedabrillianttrybywing ElliotDaly,convertedbythemanof thematch,first-fiveFinSmith.

Smithisonly22andthiswashis firstteststart.Butheplayedwiththe composureofaveteran,showingan all-roundgamethatillustrated, amongmanyotherskills,thathecan tackleaswellaspass,runandkick.

FrenchsuperstarAntoineDupont, liketherestofhisteam,wasplagued byhandlingerrors.Thefieldandball werewetandslippery,butinhis usualform,Dupontcanmakeasoapy balllooklikeaminorinconvenience.

Thedefeatwillbedeeplyhurtful fortheFrenchontwolevels.Oneis thatitdamagestheirchancesof wrestingtheSixNationstitleback fromIreland.

Thesecond,asdetailedina fascinatingstoryinthe Guardian in England,isthatforeverembedded

intheFrenchrugbypsycheis resentmentoverhowtheywere treatedasminionsbyEnglandfor morethan70years.

In1906,thecountriesplayedtheir firsttestagainsteachother.France didn’tbeatEnglanduntil1927.But by1951,Franceweregoodenough tofinallytoppleEnglandat Twickenham,winning11-3.

AnEnglishforwardwiththe wonderfulnameofSquireWilkins claimedthe’51lossmayhavebeen triggeredbytheEnglishplayersnot havingtheirusualhalf-pintofbeer beforethegame.

“Onthisoccasion,someone suggestedaglassofsherry,”said Wilkins.

Englandstilldidn’tallowFranceto jointheInternationalRugbyBoard until1978.

Worldrugby’ssaddeststory Wales,astheyslumpedtotheir14th successivedefeat,losing22-15toItaly intheraininRome,havebecome

thesaddeststoryinworldrugby.

Thisisateamthathashistorically presentedsuchachallenge,theAll Blacksonceresortedtofallingoutof alineouttoearnalatematch-saving penalty.

TheKiwiconnectioninthepast30 yearshasextendedtocoaching,with incumbentWarrenGatlandfollowing GrahamHenryandSteveHansen. Wales’problemsnowgomuch deeperthanthedismalrecordofthe currenttestside.In2003,theWelsh rugbyunionintroducedfourregional sidestoplayintop-levelBritishand Europeancompetitions.

There’sneverbeenthefanatical supportforthoseteamsthatclubs suchasNewportandLlanelli enjoyed.Thediminishingfanbase hasledtomoneyproblemsand threatsofplayerstrikes.

ForaKiwirugbytraditionalist, thedemiseofWalesbringsnojoy. Thegrimrealityisthatit’shardto seemuchchanceofarapidrevival byoneofourreveredrivals.

ChristopherReive

IsraelAdesanyaisofficiallysettobe enshrinedintheUFCHallofFame.

Whilehislegacyasoneofthe greatestmiddleweightsinthepromotion’shistoryiscemented,it’sthe momenthefirstclaimedUFCgold thathasearnedhimhisplace.

Adesanya’s2019boutagainst AmericanKelvinGastelum,which sawtheNigerian-Kiwiclaimthe interimmiddleweightchampionship, willbeinductedintotheFightWing oftheHallofFamethisyear.

TheUFCmadetheannouncement duringthebroadcastofUFC312in Sydneyyesterday.

“Tobehonest,I’msurprisedI’mnot crying,”Adesanyasaid.

“I’mkindofpresent,I’mlucid,I’m justtakingitallin.Idofeelallthe emotionsbutI’mjustgrateful.

“ShoutouttoKelvin.Withouthim, itwouldn’tbepossible,sothiswasn’t justforme.It’smeandhim.Even thoughIwonthefight,meandhim wonatlife.So,Kelvin,gracias.”

TheboutatUFC236inAtlanta wasthefirstof12UFCtitlefightsin arowfortheLastStylebender,and wasonewherehehadtodigdeep togetthrough—leadingtooneof Adesanya’smoretalked-about momentsinsidetheUFCoctagon.

Betweenthefourthandfifth rounds,thecameracaughtAdesanya ashesaid“youcan’tbeatme.I’m preparedtodie”,beforehewenton todominatethefinalround—after beingbadlyrockedbyaheadkick inthepreviousround.

AdesanyaknockedGastelum downfourtimesinthebout,setting anewUFCrecordforknockdowns inatitlefight,andbothmenwere awardedaUS$50,000Fightofthe Nightbonus.Theboutwaslater awardedFightoftheYear.

Adesanya’snewteammateat Auckland’sCityKickboxinggym RongZhualsohadreasontocelebrate inSydney,winninghisfirstUFCfight sincejoiningtheteam. TheChineselightweightclaimed hisfirstUFCwinsince2021,beating

UFCnewcomerKodySteeleby unanimousdecisioninafan-friendly affairyesterday.

ZhumadehisUFCdebutin2021, going1-2andmissingweighttwice beforebeingcutbythepromotion. However,heearnedanothershot withtheworld’stopMMApromotion bywinningthelightweightRoadTo UFCtournament—afeederseriesthe companyusestofindthebesttalent fromAsia. Makinghisreturntothetoplevel inlate2024,Zhufelltoasecondroundlossbeforeseekingoutthe tutelageoftheCityKickboxingteam forhisnextassignment. Hewasquicktopraisehisnew teamafterthewin.

“IthinkCityKickboxingisthebest gymintheworld.Wehavethebest coaches,thebestfightersandalsothe bestteammates.Everybodyhelped mealot,”Zhusaid.

FellowCityKickboxingfighter KevinJoussetalsofoughtonthe cardinSydney,losingaunanimous decision.

DaltonPapali’icelebratesaftertheBluesbeattheChiefsinthe2024SuperRugbyfinal.ThetwoteamssquareoffagainonSaturday.

Photo/Photosport