Northern Advocate 23rd April 2023

Cyclone threat to prices Warning beach propertymarkets maysufferfollowingstorms

Jaime Lyth

New housing data shows Northland might be bucking the trend when it comes to decreasing house prices, but the impact on buyers’ confidence following Cyclone Gabrielle remains unknown.

Aotearoa’s property prices continued on adownward trend last month, starting off the year with a record-breaking asking price fall of 8per cent year-on-year in January, according to the latest Trade Me Property Price Index.

However, Trade Me property sales

director Gavin Lloyd said not every region saw prices cool off in January, including Northland.

“In the North Island, the Northland (+5 per cent), Taranaki (+3 per cent), and Waikato (+1 per cent) regions all saw their average asking prices increase year-on-year,” Lloyd said.

OneRoof editor Owen Vaughan said while some areas may have seen an increase in asking prices for property, that doesn’t always reflect the actual selling price.

“The trend line for the New Zealand home market is downwards.

“The average property value in Northland from our figures is down

year-on-year by 8per cent to $844,000.”

Time will tell how the damage from Cyclone Gabrielle this month may impact the property market going forward.

“It’s very hard to get ahandle on

where the market is heading.

“I think you’re going to find some markets that are high-value, markets that are attractive to Auckland investors like Mangawhai and Langs Beach. Those higher-value beach markets will probably now take ahit from the storms.”

Coastal properties at Langs Beach and the neighbouring Mangawhai Heads continue to attract skyrocketing prices for residential properties in Northland, the Advocate reported in December.

One of the biggest sales was a $5.6 million property in Langs Beach, sold in February 2022.

“But, the strength of those markets is that the infrastructure that’s been laid down to increase the speed of journey times between Auckland and those places kind of makes those properties more attractive.

“But the questions that’ll be on buyers’ minds at the moment will be, has your house been flooded? And vendors need to prepare for that.”

“For Northland, and for many of the other regions that have been hit really hard by the recent extreme weather events, their focus will be on rebuilding their communities.”

OneRoof editor Owen vaughan.

Cyclone adds extra uncertainty to market

continued from A1

Vaughan said in the aftermath of the cyclone there might be an increase in pressure in terms of sale activity, especially in the rental market.

“That might actually put an extra bit of pressure, at least in the shortterm, on the housing market.

“People who have been displaced will need to find temporary accommodation.

“That might be putting pressure on the rental market, or maybe also putting pressure on some kind of sections of the market as people look to buy atemporary solution while there are properties being rebuilt or been demolished.”

While the housing market has been termed a“buyer’s market” with prices decreasing, housing affordability still remains out of reach for alot of Northlanders.

“Low sales means kind of low activity, and acertain amount of buyers are kind of holding off.”

Harcourts real estate agent Paul Beazley said he’d seen aslowdown in the number of sales and abit of

Isolated communities

Residents sharing generators in of wild weather

While anumber of Northlanders found the going tough during Cyclone Gabrielle, residents in arural community banded together and checked on the elderly and the sick at the height of the natural disaster.

The cyclone last week caused slips and flooding that closed roads, cut off power and damaged crops, resulting in tens of millions of dollars worth of damage to infrastructure.

Northern Advocate reporter Brodie Stone and photographer Michael Cunningham travelled to the isolated community of Pouto Peninsula, 70km south-east of Dargaville, and spoke to locals about how they fared in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle.

The Advocate’s visit to Pouto coincided with amonthly visit from an iwi that provided apop-up medical centre for residents.

Anurse at the centre said residents remained astrong community, with some checking in on elderly or unwell people during the cyclone.

“They look after each other. It’s the most amazing small community.

“When it’s time to come together, they are amazing,” she said.

Residents have been sharing generators with one another, ensuring frozen food didn’t go to waste.

to one lane, making the drive hazardous as logging trucks rush to pick up fallen trees.

uncertainty about pricing in the marketplace recently.

“I think what’s happened over the last three to six months is that the market has been uncertain, mainly because of interest rates increasing the cost of living.

“I think putting on top of that the fact that we’ve had these storms, it will make some people nervous, for sure.”

Beazley said he thinks buyers will be more cautious about property and location after the cyclone, but he wasn’t sure that would last long.

“I think it’ll be short-term. Ithink once we get amonth or six weeks out from the storm period we’ve had —people think it will start to settle down alittle bit.

“But if you take Covid as an example, you know, everybody imagined that the market would just wind down and crash, almost, but it went completely in the opposite direction,” Beazley said.

Kiwis are resilient, Beazley said, so he thinks it’s possible things could settle down quickly in the housing market post-cyclone.

“People have been opening their homes up for those who have solar power to charge their homes and have ashower and do whatever they need to do.”

The road out to Pouto is along one, stretching about 55km south.

The land changes dramatically the further one goes, from undulating hillsides, valleys with lakes and wetlands, to the end of the peninsula, which is marked by ind-exposed

settlement and white sandy beach.

Large slips litter the road to Pouto, and hundreds of trees lie uprooted on hillsides, in valleys and forests. Many parts of the road reduced

The Advocate spoke to those at the pop-up medical centre about their experiences during the cyclone.

Aresident of 30 years, Brian Malam said the cyclone didn’t worry him because he was “used to the wind”.

He and his wife live at the point at Pouto, and said the marae kept them involved.

“It’s good, they go around and make sure everyone’s all right during times like this.”

Another resident, Stephen

Middleton, works in farming and said cowsheds that have been on land for “centuries” were now gone, flattened by the strong winds.

The local marae provided cellphone coverage and internet when needed and was also abase when aUnimog ventured to Pouto, delivering medical supplies as well as water and kai packages last week.

Stephanie Barnes has lived in Pouto for 13 years and said the cyclone was unlike “anything I’ve ever seen in my life”.

“It was extreme and quite scary,” she said.

She recalled feeling shocked after

Septuagenarian gets 4.5

Aman who came forward about his sexual offending after being confronted by his victims has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail for his “premeditated” offences.

The Northland man, in his 70s, cannot be named for legal reasons.

He was supported in the Whanga¯rei District Court by family members and sentenced on three

The man’s offending was described as “premeditated”. Photo /NZME

charges of unlawful sexual connection and three charges of indecently assaulting afemale.

The court was told the man would often take the victims into aforest to commit his offending, which happened more than eight times.

Prosecutor Nicole Jamieson said there were different levels of assaults on multiple occasions over two to three years, and therefore the man’s offending was a“gross breach of trust” and he should be sentenced at the higher level of offending.

Low sales means kind of low activity, and a certain amount of buyers are kind of holdingoff.

Owen Vaughan

Ernie Unkovich is afrequent visitor at Kelly’s Bay and weathered the storm in the isolated community.

You see the daylight through there? That shouldn’t be there. All the trees have smashed down.

Ernie Unkovich

‘look after each other’

Medical service keeps Pouto locals fighting fit

Once amonth, grateful residents on the rural peninsula of Pouto make their way to Rangitane Hall, where they are provided with free medical care.

Remnants of floodwater can still be seen in valleys towards Pouto.

The road through Rototuna Forest to Kelly’s Bay shows hundreds of trees toppled over from the strong winds during Cyclone Gabrielle.

Photos /Michael Cunningham

seeing the “devastation” the following morning, with massive trees that had been uprooted or cracked in half during the storm.

“You think, ‘I never even heard that!’ Because the noise was so strong that Ididn’t even hear amassive tree coming down.”

She said the forest near her home was now full of “widow-makers”, trees teetering on weird angles waiting to crash down.

Before Pouto lies Kelly’s Bay.

The 6km route down to the beach goes through forestry, and lines appear snapped, with some entirely toppled over.

Uprooted pine trees also litter the ground.

Resident Ernie Unkovich said the small settlement where around seven people lived permanently still remained without power.

Much like at the Pouto Peninsula, the community has rallied together to ensure everyone is safe and well.

Unkovich pointed out ahillside of Rototuna Forest behind him.

“You see the daylight through there? That shouldn’t be there. All the trees have smashed down.”

On the other hillside, more trees lay toppled. He described it as being “like atwister went through”.

Long-term resident Brian Malam describes the service as “excellent”.

Living in an isolated community made accessing medical care much more difficult.

“You can’t get to adoctor, you can’t even ring adoctor,” he said.

The initiative is run through Te Ha Oranga, aNga¯tiWha¯tua organisation that provides services to Dargaville, Helensville, and Wellsford.

It allows those who live in cut-off areas to access important care, including mental health and smoking cessation support, addiction help, access to screening services and more.

Patients are also able to organise prescriptions.

Pouto resident Stephanie Barnes said the clinic was areassurance for her, and said “the nurses are so good, they are really caring”.

The monthly clinic provided the “best place” to talk and catch up with community members.

“You always catch up with people that you haven’t seen for abit,” she said.

Atriage nurse at the clinic told the Northern Advocate providing medical care to the Pouto community was essential.

“We do have some very sick people out here and down the point. For instance, Civil Defence couldn’t get to them, so it was really concerning, especially if you need dialysis or something like that.”

Getting access to patients was difficult during Cyclone Gabrielle,

Unclaimed trailer boat

Asmall trailer boat on the side of Riverside Drive is waiting to be reunited withits owner. The boat— with no motor —ended up on the road on Sundayevening during the storm,blockingone lane. It is now sitting by the side of the Riverside Drive/Tanekaha Drive intersection. There were no identifying marks to help find the owner, police said.

Largetruck stuck and trailer unit on Cove Rd afternoon —two days Defence ban. The truck, trailers, blocked one lane Mangawhai and Langs aroundanhour from ce from Northland statesthat truck and are bannedfrom the detour and all heavy should be limited to servicing local areas. The heavy-vehicle detour SH1 through the sremains closed, is Dargaville.

hlanders safe

Youcan’t get to a doctor, youcan’t even ring adoctor

Brian

with roads entirely cut off and strong winds stopping access from above as well.

“I don’t even think the helicopters could fly. The wind was so strong, it was totally unsafe.”

During this time, one patient missed asingle dialysis appointment, she said.

However, she was reassured at the effort from community members who could help while communication was at aminimum.

“We relied on wha¯nau that live in the area that could stay in contact.

“Honestly, they’re just amazing, they just go and check on everybody.”

“We do as much as we can for them, and they do alot for each other as well,” she said.

years’ jail time for ‘premeditated’ sexual offending

“This offending was premeditated. This was not aone-off,” Jamieson said. She submitted that although the defendant went to police and handed himself in, this only occurred after the victims were brave enough to confront him.

Defence lawyer Catherine Cull told the court the offender was cooperative with police and had engaged in anumber of therapeutic rehabilitation services.

“The approach for admitting

OPE N

sexual offending needs to be acknowledged because the stakes are high,” she said.

Cull also said the fact he came forward and co-operated had significantly reduced the legal process.

“Thankfully, this was asituation where the victims did not have to give evidence.”

Judge Greg Davis accepted Crown submissions the man had breached the trust of the victims, and referred to alengthy summary of facts that was not read out in court for the benefit of the victims.

“These are not easy cases to be involved with. Iknow there will be conflict and emotion amongst everyone.

“In cases like this, it can be like a

pebble being dropped into acreek. The offending goes much wider than the victims,” Judge Davis said.

In delivering the four-and-a-half year prison sentence, Judge Davis gave discounts for early guilty pleas, co-operation with police, and selfdirected rehabilitation and remorse.

The judge allowed family to hug the offender before he was taken to the cells.

The judge did not impose aminimum non-parole period, and advised this would be up to the Parole Board.

Police have confirmed that every person in Northland listed as uncontactable after Cyclone Gabrielle has been accounted for. The number of people across the country still uncontactable now stands at 346.

High hopes for whales

Two whales strandedonNinety Mile Beach alongside three pilot whales that died are believed to have successfully refloated. The Department of Conservation (DoC) said staff saw no sign of the two outstanding whales —a sperm and afourth pilot —after the February 14 stranding. Staff also spoketo locals on the beachwho said they hadn’t seen anything.

Injured in crash

One person was seriously injured after asingle-vehicle crash at Tamaterau.Whanga¯rei HeadsRdat Tamaterau was closedfor about90 minutes following the crash about 3.50pm yesterday. The road was reopened about 5.15pm.The injured person was taken to the Whanga¯rei Hospital.

Contact insurers

Kaipara residents whose homes are stickered are encouraged to get in touchwith their insurers.

Kaipara District Council building services manager Alistair Dunlop said anumber ofstickers have been issued, mainly in Dargaville. To book abuilding assessment, homeowners can contact buildingcompliance@ kaipara.govt. nz or call KDC’s customer services on 0800 727 059.Kaipara residents can call 09 439 1111 for support.

Pouto Point resident Brian Malam is aregular visitor to the monthly pop up medical centre in Pouto.

Photo /Michael Cunningham

Malam

Altercation sends parrot packing

Violent incident sees Pablo take flight. Now there are fears he may have been birdnapped

ANorthland family’s desperate search for their missing macaw has entered its fourth week. Pablo the parrot is still leading his owners on ahunt across Auckland, and even sparking sightings as far away as Hawke’s Bay.

Owners Lulu and Hamish Peterson, from Russell, took Pablo on at 4months old and trained him for two years to free-

fly, undertaking the same techniques used to train hunting falcons to return.

But an alleged violent incident late last month saw Pablo fly from his owners and not come back.

Lulu Peterson immediately launched a search and online appeal, which turned into a“whirlwind” when Pablo was spotted 180km away in Auckland.

The sighting, in Howick, sent hundreds of out searching and saw the Petersons make the trek south.

AFacebook page set up for Pablo is full of reports of possible sightings and emotional support as the search for the rare bird, described by Peterson as “a real show off and areal poser”, continues.

Pablo’s impressive plumage was spotted across East Auckland, seen flying in Pakuranga, Pigeon Mountain and Cockle

2023 Northland FieldaysPromotion

Well-loved Pablo the macaw from Russell is missing after an alleged altercation with a local. Photo /supplied

Bay. The online movement was sent into aflap earlier this week when amacaw turned up at arescue centre in Hastings after the devastating effects of Cyclone Gabrielle —but this sighting was soon discounted.

But the hunt has recently taken adark turn, with suspicions growing that Pablo has been taken after an unconfirmed sighting of the bird leaving an Auckland park with aman on February 15.

Peterson said she was “99.9 per cent” sure that the sighting of Pablo at Stockade Hill was accurate and some focus had shifted to trying to find the mystery man. Areward of $1500 has been offered for information on the man and $7000 for handing the bird back, no questions asked.

Peterson said she was not suggesting Pablo had been taken deliberately but, with no confirmed sightings since February 15, it was necessary to pursue that line of enquiry with vigour.

She said there was alimited number of macaws in New Zealand, especially those that did not have their wings clipped and were free-flying.

Other lines of enquiry remained open, with another recent sighting at Point England pools creating interest, especially as the witness had previously seen macaws flying in the wild.

She said reports indicated Pablo, who is trained to seek asafe location and stay put in times of danger, has been increasingly seeking human help since Cyclone Gabrielle hit.

Peterson told NZME she felt bad about her public efforts to find the much-loved bird, given the scale of the damage brought by the cyclone, but was dedicated to bringing Pablo home.

She believed Pablo would be able to fend for himself at this time of the year, with plentiful fruit and water from recent rainfall keeping him going.

But she had concerns about his ability to thrive when autumn arrives.

She admitted that asmall minority of the Russell community had taken issue with Pablo, with one irate local even attempting to take out arestraining order against the bird.

But in general, Pablo enjoyed overwhelming support —even regularly having an audience with neighbour and former Prime Minister Jenny Shipley and her husband Burton.

But aviolent incident late last month saw alocal allegedly admit to kicking Pablo after they claimed he attacked a child —and he has not been seen in the area since.

Lulu Peterson said Pablo would not have attacked achild, citing his frequent positive interactions with children during his flights on Russell’s Long Beach.

She said she received well-meaning calls from locals, who had likely seen other kinds of parrot, such as arosella, and advised callers that Pablo cut amuch more impressive figure.

The bird’s body is about twice as big as akereru and he measures about a metre from head to tail.

Peterson said locals calling out for him may be causing confusion and advised anyone that saw him to call her immediately.

If Pablo landed on amember of the public they should speak to him like a baby and slowly walk into ahouse or car and close the door before calling her.

They should not attempt to grab him because he would resist and she feared it would only add to his distrust of humans.

Peterson was initially “absolutely against” aGiveALittle page, but the fundraising drive had enabled her to travel to and from Auckland and now allowed her to offer areward to help bring Pablo back.

“But people have said: ‘Why don’t you go and buy anew macaw?”’ she told NZME.

“Well, it’s like saying ‘go and get anew child’. You just don’t do that.”

Peterson was at pains to pay tribute to everyone who had assisted in the search, especially the people of East Auckland who had dedicated hundreds of hours of their own time to help.

She also said the long search had taken an emotional toll —but she was not giving

“I go to bed at night thinking: ‘Gosh, maybe this is amassive mistake’. But in the morning Ilook at the evidence and Ithink no, it’s Pablo —there’s no doubt.”

Counting the beat

Whanga¯rei’s Unichem Buchanans

Pharmacy has been offering member of the public free blood pressure tests as part of Heart Health Awareness Month.

Pharmacy business manager and retail lead Lisa Clyma said yesterday’s event was to promote the idea knowing your blood pressure numbers could make for alonger, healthier life.

“It’s good because you never know when you might actually pick up someone that might have hypertension or something going on.”

Ablood pressure measurement is expressed by two numbers, the top number (systolic) and the bottom number (diastolic).

The systolic number refers to the amount of pressure in your arteries as the heart contracts.

The diastolic —bottom —number refers to your blood pressure when your heart is between beats.

“If people do have concerns, they can get their own blood pressure monitor at home and get an actual pattern of what their blood pressure is,” Clyma said.

Exercise, caffeine or even heightened stress at the doctors —called “white coat syndrome” —can impact your blood pressure results.

“There can be people who are really fit who have heart issues.

“It’s something you’ve always got to be mindful of,” she said.

Kayaker ‘a good soul lost at sea’

Wha¯nau fundraising to help search

Karina Cooper

The wha¯nau of aKaita¯iaman described as a“good soul lost at sea” for nearly aweek is raising funds to spur on the massive search efforts.

Johnny Latimer is yet to be found after he headed out on his kayak from Aurere at the southern end of Tokerau Beach in the Far North about 7pm last Thursday.

Alarge cohort of emergency services, including the New Zealand

Royal Navy and members of the National Police Dive Squad, have been looking for the experienced fisherman ever since.

Police Search and Rescue (SAR), LandSAR volunteers, Far North Surf Rescue, Karikari Fire and Emergency Services, Coastguard Whangaroa and Northland Coastguard Air Patrol, as well as Far North Radio have helped comb the bay’s coastline and waters.

Wha¯nau, friends, and Doubtless Bay locals added their efforts to the search as they continue to turn out

daily to help find Latimer.

AGivealittle page, titled “Lost At Sea”, was created as away to keep searchers going as wha¯nau vowed not to stop until their loved one had been found.

The family’s plight was laid bare on the page: “A good soul lost at sea, please help us find him and bring him home.”

The loss of Latimer was described as having added to the devastation already experienced by wha¯nau in the last year.

“Search and rescue are doing their best, as well as our family members, to find him and bring him home.”

The page was set up so searchers

can access funds that will help pay for gas, food, and water to fend off the summer temperatures during long days of looking for Latimer.

By 3pm yesterday, 26 people had

donated $1515 through the Givealittle page, which signs off with amessage of unity.

“We are stronger together, one love wha¯nau, We love you Uncle Johnny. COME HOME SOON.”

Apolice spokesperson confirmed the search which was stood down on Tuesday evening continued the following day.

They asked that anyone who spots something of interest in the Doubtless Bay area contact police immediately on 105.

Ara¯hui, supported by all marae with ties to Doubtless Bay, remains in place within the boundary of Berghan’s Point and Knuckle Point.

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Kinetik Wellbeing head of partnerships and digital marketing

Amie Kendall and Whanga¯rei local Terry Veale conduct afree blood pressure test.

Photo / Michael Cunningham

Jaime Lyth

Search and rescue are doing their best, as well as our family members, to find him and bring him home.

200th kiwi released into

Matakohe Island project is the only one in Northland

Brodie Stone

Hundreds turned up at events to celebrate the 200th release of kiwi that have been reared on Matakohe Island.

Two events —one at the Onerahi Yacht Club and another at Te Wha¯nau aRangiwhakaahu Marae took place on Sunday last week, with around 420 people taking the opportunity to see alive kiwi.

Six accredited handlers from Kiwi Coast, Northland Regional Council (NRC), and Friends of Matakohe Limestone Island (FOMLI) caught five kiwi at dawn on the island, before bringing them to the mainland.

Each kiwi was also fitted with an ID chip and transmitter to monitor their health and dispersal after their release.

At both events, attendees heard from certified handler Todd Hamilton about the work done to reach the milestone of 200 kiwi.

Hamilton called the day “a celebration of success and acelebration of teamwork” marked by awhakawa¯tea performed by Te Parawhau kaumatua Fred Tito.

The whakawa¯tea was followed by anaming ceremony, in which the 200th kiwi was bestowed with the name Te Ao Tahi.

Around 120 people attended the first event.

“It’s very special. There’s nothing quite as special as people seeing their own kiwi,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton said to have made it this far, it had been all about teamwork.

“It’s all the community groups working together.”

Matakohe is a“Kiwi Creche”, which raises 10-day-old chicks until they are strong enough to fight off astoat.

The kiwi are then taken to the mainland, and released into pestcontrolled areas, courtesy of Tu¯tu¯ka¯ka¯ Landcare and Backyard Kiwi.

The day also marked the 20th anniversary of the Tu¯tu¯ka¯ka¯ Landcare Coalition.

Asecond po¯whiri courtesy of Te Wha¯nau aRangiwhakaahu Marae occurred before the release of the five kiwi, which were released at different sites within Tu¯tu¯ka¯ka¯ Land Care’s 11,000-hectare predator controlled area.

About 300 people attended the po¯whiri.

Kaumatua Aperahama Edwards named two of the kiwi Aorangi and Tawhiti Rahi after two of the islands in the Poor Knights group off the Tu¯tu¯ka¯ka¯ Coast.

wild

The ongoing project is acollaboration between the Northland Regional Council, the Whanga¯rei District Council, FOMLI, Backyard Kiwi and Kiwi Coast.

It’s the only project of its kind in

Northland.

Hamilton said the kiwi showing wasn’t a“tourist attraction” but away to spread awareness about the damage dogs can do to kiwi.

He highlighted the fact that while

stoats have been arelatively easy target in terms of pest control, managing dogs has been nearly impossible, which is why teaching people to keep their dogs on aleash is so important.

One squeeze from acanine can result in catastrophic injuries for kiwi.

The kiwi released on Sunday each surpassed the weight of 1250 grams, strong enough to fend off astoat.

Three were female, two were male.

Ngaire Sullivan of Kiwi Coast with Aperahama Edwards, Chris Macdonald and Tawhiti Rahi.

Photo /Kieran Pullman

Todd Hamilton of Kiwi Coast addresses the crowd at Rangiwhakaahu Marae. Photo /Kieran Pullman

Electricity Pricing Schedule |Effective1 April 2023

Distribution Charge Discount

In the year commencing 1April 2023, Northpower Limited will provide adiscount forthe benefitofNorthpower consumerstotalling an estimated $14.1m. This will be adiscount on Northpower’s distribution charges and the amount which each consumer receives foreach eligible ICPwill be determined by the consumption notified to Northpower by the electricity retailersfor the 12-month period to 30 September 2023 in twobands as follows:

•Eligible ICPs with consumption exceeding 2,000 kWh will receivea single discount of $248.18.

•Eligible ICPs with consumption between 1kWh and2,000 kWh will receiveasingle discount of $92.65

To qualify as an eligible ICP, an ICPmust be supplied from the Northpower electricity network with aregistry status of “Active” (Connected) on 1November 2023, havea current customer of an electricity retailer on that date, and the net consumption advised by the electricity retailerstoNorthpower forthe 12-month period to 30 September 2023 forthe ICPmust be 1kWh orgreater.Discounts will be applied via acredit on the electricity bill from the current electricity retailer during November or December 2023.

*All prices exclude GST. Refer to our Electricity Pricing Policy formoreinformation on how these prices areapplied.

Northpower Pricing

Keychanges for2023/2024

We collect the money we need to run our electricity network, and to repair,maintain and upgrade our assets through lines prices charged to retailers. Retailersthendecide how and what they want to charge their customers. The lines charges on average make up about one thirdof your totalelectricity bill (which also includes the transmission charges we have to payTranspower forour connection to the national grid).

We’vejust set the prices which we will charge electricity retailersfor 2023/2024. Unlike last year wherewemanaged to hold prices largely flat overall, this year we have hadtoincrease prices on average in line with inflation. This is due to many factorsincluding increases in the costs of labour,fuel, vehicles,external charges, electrical components, and other materials. In addition, the new methodology which Transpower is using to allocatetheir chargeshas increased the transmission costs that we havetopay

Time of Use Pricing

We introduced Time of Use pricing three years ago forresidential and business consumerswith communicating smart meters. Time of Use pricing has different charges depending on the time of day that electricity is used. This is because electricity networks areabit like roads, in that they can get congested at times of the day when everyone wantstouse them. When networks get congested, we then havetoinvest in extralines and equipment to accommodatethis increase in peak demand -like building extralanes onto aroad. Over time, this additional investment will increase the costs to all consumers.

The higher price at peak times (mornings and evenings)signals that if our network reaches its capacity we might havetospend money to increase the capacity,and ifyou can shift use of the network to off-peaktimes (like turning on your dishwasher or dryer later at night, or charging your EV overnight)wecan reduce the cost of upgrades and sharethe benefitwith you through lower prices. We use Time of Use to charge your retailer,but it is up to your retailer whether they pass this through to you.

Fixed Prices

We aregradually adjusting our prices to increase the fixed component (e.g. the daily charge) compared to the variable component (e.g. the charge per kWh). This reflects that the costs to run an electricity network aremostly fixed, and other than building extracapacity forpeak times, it does not generally cost us much moreifyou use moreelectricity.Our network has capacity outside of peak times, and we want you to be able to use this capacity without having to pay extralines charges. Therefore, over time most of our revenue will come from the fixed charge, and the variable component (e.g. the charge per unit of electricity used) will be used to provide an incentivetoshift load outofpeak periods to avoid congestion only The Government recently changed the Low Fixed Charge regulations, which previously limited the fixed component of lines charges to 15c aday for consumersattheir principal place of residence. This cap will lift by 15c each year for5 years, and will then be removed completely.For most consumersahigher daily charge will be offset by variable charges that arelower than they otherwise would havebeen.

Impact of change

We recognise that with any pricing reform, the totalcost forsome consumersmay go down, and forothersitmay go up.However,these reforms aredesigned to ensurethatovertime everyone pays asimilar contribution towardsthe fixed costs of running of the electricity network. Therefore, in the future, lines pricing will likely be similar to today’s “unlimited internet” pricing, enabling you to use our network moreatlittle to no extracost.

Export Generation

Our export generation charge of 1c/kWh is expected to generateonlyabout $50,000 in revenuethisyear,which goes towardsthe costs of managing generation connections on our network. Toomuch generation injecting into one part of the network can cause issues which affects other consumers, so we incur costs to manage and review applications, and to monitor the network. We think it is fairer to recoverthese charges from the consumerswho have generation at their properties, rather than from all customers.

Distribution Charge Discount

Northpower,with the support of the Northpower Electric PowerTrust, will pay adistribution charge discount forthe benefitofelectricity consumers connected to our network of $285.41 including GST (for most consumers) in November or December this year.See our pricing disclosurefor more details.

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Tech failure fails to deter eager buyers

Unique Kerikeri property sells for $2.3m, well above its $1.6m RV, despite acyclone

Nikki Preston

Anorth Auckland couple set eyes on their resort-style dream home on Saturday and were the new owners four days later, even when the region was left without phone or internet communications hours before they were due to bid at auction.

The unique Mediterraneaninspired property on Daroux Drive in Kerikeri was aperfect match for the retired couple, who had already sold their home before making apre-auction offer of $2.3m for the property –well above its RV of $1.595m.

Bayleys listing agent

Sheree Robinson said the octagon-shaped property designed by well-known innovative and creative architect Ian Burrow was always going to be an emotional purchase due to its absolute uniqueness and had been difficult to put aprice on for that reason.

“It’s areal stunning Mediterraneaninspired home. You walk into the atrium and there’s water features,

there’s little curved windows that gives you the impression that you are walking through aMediterranean village. It’s beautiful.”

The outside area was equally impressive, she said, with the owners transforming what was essentially a paddock when they bought it in 2016 into atranquil garden with amanmade lake and 4000 tropical and native trees.

“It was ahuge project for the owners and it was all done from scratch.”

The property included aJapanese garden, which struck aspecial chord with the buyer who was a keen landscape gardener and had spent time overseas creating them.

Robinson said the original owners had spent alot of time creating the showcase home and she couldn’t have found amore suitable buyer for it.

“The property was perfect for them –I’m just so glad they saw it because it was absolutely perfect for them.

“They are very excited and Iknow they will look after it.”

The buyers were aretired couple who had been looking for awhile. They made the pre-auction offer at

the weekend in the hope of securing it and once the offer was accepted the auction was brought forward.

However, Robinson said the auction nearly didn’t happen after Kerikeri lost communication on Wednesday.

“The whole of Kerikeri was out –no phone reception and no internet which was abit scary.”

With the Bayleys auctioneer unable to fly up to attend the auction and no way of live streaming the auction due to no internet, they managed to find an auctioneer in Whangarei who drove up to Kerikeri

to run it.

“He was agodsend.”

Robinson said the people who made the pre-auction offer and were the only bidders had also lost internet at their north Auckland home due to storm damage, but were able to listen to the auction via the phone.

“Luckily it all went to plan in the end, but it was abit intense.”

Aluxury four-bedroom, twobathroom property, with asimilar price range to Daroux Drive, on 21 Adamson Road is for sale in Taipa. Robinson said it was another stunning home.

This three-bedroom resort-style home on Daroux Drive, in Kerikeri, sold under the hammer.

It was ahuge project for the owners and it was all done from scratch.

Sheree Robinson

Lifesavingthefts

‘We’re doing it for

The marae getting a small town back on its feet after storm

Michelle McIlroy is exhausted —not that she has time to be, she says.

“You collapse at night and your bones are sore,” she chuckled. “But you go, ‘Snap out of it, you’ve gotta carry on! We’ll collapse later’.”

McIlroy is running the distribution centre set up at her marae, Hinemihi, on the outskirts of Wairoa, the Hawke’s Bay town devastated by floods aweek ago that, until Sunday, was cut off from the outside world.

From the crack of dawn until well after dusk, she co-ordinates the marae’s disaster response, which involves wha¯nau cooking hundreds of meals, sending out packs and offering labour, or ameal and ahug.

One week on, Wairoa is still cleaning. The destruction is still everywhere, from the night the river swallowed half atown. About 250 homes were inundated, including McIlroy’s.

The water rose at about 6am last Tuesday, the lifelong local said, and it only took afew minutes to ruin her home of decades.

“It was silent,” she recalled. “You would look at it and be like, ‘Oh, it’s down there’. Next minute, it was up to your hip.

“Our internet was down, [there

was] no power and none of us could ring 111, so we had to save ourselves.

As Iwas driving Iwas stopping at houses —just had my hand on the car horn screaming, ‘Move, get out of your house! The river’s coming!’

“My kids were watching the river following us as their mother’s running into houses telling people to get out.”

McIlroy raced to her marae, one of the few places on Ruataniwha Rd that did not flood. It’s where she’s been ever since, helping everyone else while the few family photos she could salvage dry on the concrete out front.

Wander through the north of Wairoa, and the damage is still clear. The army marches through streets with shovels, while bulldozers roll out of driveways with yet more buckets

of silt and muck.

On the bridge to the largely unaffected town centre, trucks loaded with debris rumble past regularly. They have been at it for aweek, but still have so much to clear.

Street after street is piled with beds, toys, saturated books, and even cars stuck in the muck. Sections are sapped of colour: gardens, grass and concrete, all the same mud-brown of dried silt and dust.

Mary Jarden Lewis lost her home too. “When Ileft our property after rescuing my mother and my sister, the water was up to my waist. Ishut the gate so none of my stuff could float out on the road.”

Jarden Lewis has been running the kitchen at Hinemihi Marae ever since, where dozens of wha¯nau work from

dawn until well after dusk.

Inside, the wharekai is brimming with donated kai. Dozens of people sit at atable, wrapping sandwiches that will be dropped off to those cleaning up in town.

On the other side, others sort packs with essentials like nappies, sanitary items and bottled water. Out front, they sift through donated clothes.

Out back, Steve Foley —whose home was unaffected —sweats over the barbecue all day.

“Just whatever, eh, taking the meat, stocktaking meat —meat’s coming from everywhere. We’re doing 600 meals, three times aday.

“It’s for Wairoa, bro, it’s home. We just gotta do it. Wairoa’s going to get back to where it was, bro.”

Alifesaving club on Auckland’s cyclone-ravaged west coast has been brokeninto with 17 handheld radios, apatrol laptop and charging bases stolen which lifeguards say now puts lives at risk. United North Piha Lifeguard facility is set up behind the communityhall after their club was ravagedinthe floods was raided yesterday. The club said lives had been put at risk after critical equipmentworthtens of thousands of dollars was gone United North Piha Lifeguard Services chair Robert Ferguson said the incident had added stress to an alreadydifficult situation. The equipment was expensive and each radio cost $1200;17ofthem were stolen. “We have insurance but we would still have to pay an excess of $2500.

Six athletes rescued

Six people rescued in amassive evacuation operation near Arrowtown have mild hypothermia. The Rescue Coordination Centre says abeacon was activated at 1am by runners in the Southern Lakes Ultra Marathon.Its organisers say all competitors are safe and accounted for.

Kiwi shotbymuggers

ANew Zealand man has been shot dead by muggers in the Philippines.Thirty four-year-old Nick Stacey and his girlfriend were approached by two men on amotorcycle, as they walkedin Manila after midnight on Sunday. Local news reports the two men shot Stacey and took his girlfriend’s phone and wallet.A manhunt is under way, and a Givealittle page has been set up to bring Stacey’s body home.

Muriwai locals are used to power cuts, storms, and south-westerlies whipping off the sea.

The wildness of the beach is why they are here: The black sand, pounding surf, steep cliffs and long grass.

It is aplace for artists, entrepreneurs, and fifth-generation families who live on bushy hillsides and valleys squeezed between the Waitakere Ranges and the ocean.

“We are there because it’s extreme,” one resident told the Herald

But even for those who choose the wild, Cyclone Gabrielle tested their capacity for such alifestyle.

Over 12 bewildering hours, unrelenting rainfall soaked Muriwai’s hills until they gave way, claiming the lives of two locals and leaving dozens of families homeless.

The Herald spoke to residents to piece together those hours and the week which followed.

Monday, Feb 13, 4pm

For most of summer, easterlies had swept over the top of the beachside village, which is protected by the green wall of the Waitakere Ranges.

About 4pm last Monday, Cyclone Gabrielle’s tail swung around and hit the village front-on, and the rain strafed horizontally across homes.

Homeowners had cleared their gutters ahead of the storm. They packed grab bags but did not expect to use them. They went to sleep feeling that Cyclone Gabrielle could pass them by. That feeling changed about 10pm.

The rain intensified.

Seth Thompson, who lives on Domain Cres, was just getting into bed when he got acall from brother-inlaw Eddie Wood.

Wood lived on Motutara Rd, below alarge cliff face, and was worried about the “phenomenal” amount of water gushing down the hill.

When he stepped outside his home to inspect his gutters, he heard cracking and rumbling sounds. He called his wife on the other side of the house to grab their two kids out of bed and they fled across the road.

In apanic, Wood scrambled over afence and dropped down atwometre retaining wall, hitting his head.

After calling Thompson, they walked up the road to afriend’s place. On the way, they saw two volunteer firefighters, Dave van Zwanenberg and Craig Stevens.

Wood and his wife Hannah Thompson told the firefighters there was aslip at their house and that their neighbour, who lived alone, might need some help.

It was abrief conversation but one that would stick with them.

The two firefighters went straight to the neighbour’s house, which had slipped down the hill, and extracted the woman.

In shock, she crossed the road to aneighbour’s carport while the firefighters went to the back of her property to try diverting water away.

Afew doors down, Abe Dew was watching post-apocalyptic television show The Last ofUs with his wife.

It was about 10.45pm.

“There was anoise like aHercules flying six feet above the house,” he said.

The hillside had slipped onto Motutara Rd, carrying two houses with it, and burying the two firefighters.

SHUTTERED HOMES &

“The silence was eerie,” said chef Mike Van de Elzen, who has ahouse in Muriwai and was supplying food to volunteers at the fire station.

“Even the cicadas had gone. There was nothing to hear.”

With the power off and the water plant out of action, Muriwai’s water reservoir ran out. About 20,000 litres of water was brought in by tankers.

On Wednesday afternoon, abody was recovered from the slip on Motutara Rd. It was later confirmed to be van Zwanenberg.

The following night, Auckland Emergency Management held a public meeting at Muriwai Golf Club. At the meeting, people were tired and abit lost. Many at the meeting found the information useful and it gave some hope that they would get back into their homes soon. But there was tension too. Some worried about looting in the closed streets. Others were annoyed at visitors trying to access the beach.

The community still felt they were grieving their lost firefighter. Surfing and tourism seemed abit ghoulish.

Friday, Feb 17

Early in the afternoon, the fire service confirmed that volunteer firefighter Craig Stevens had died.

He had been pulled from the landslide on Motutara Rd on Tuesday but never recovered from his injuries.

Half an hour later, geotechnical engineers were inspecting land on of one Muriwai’s worst-hit streets, Domain Cres.

It is understood they were at a property where aslip had separated the house and the front deck by about ametre. When they walked back around the house, the gap had closed. The earth was shuffling under them.

“Immediately evacuate,” residents were told in atext alert. “Leave on foot, do not drive.”

LANDSCAPE SCARRED

Wood and his family are still too traumatised to speak about it, and Seth Thompson told their story on their behalf.

When Thompson arrived at the scene, other firefighters had come to dig out their colleagues. He was asked to tell Motutara residents to evacuate. The power had gone out on the street and it was dark and wild.

Later, as he drove families to the Muriwai Surf Club in his Toyota Land Cruiser, the floodwaters rose up to the bonnet.

Authorities had directed evacuees to the Sand Dunz cafe and the surf club but when the first people arrived at the beach car park they found the electric gate would not open because the power was out. Afew residents smashed the lock open.

The surf club had also lost power. At 11pm, there were 25 to 30 people at the club. That would soon change.

Tuesday, Feb 14, 1.30am

By now, it was clear that Auckland’s West Coast was bearing the brunt of Cyclone Gabrielle. While the eye of the storm was hovering off Great Barrier on the other side of the isthmus, the heaviest rainfall was concentrated over Muriwai and Piha.

At 1.33am, phones connected to the Muriwai cell tower pinged with an Auckland Emergency Management alert.

“Evacuate now” was the message for residents on Motutara Rd and Domain Cres. They were told to head to the cafe and take only essential items —pets included.

At the surf club, families were

directed to the top floor and people with pets stayed on the ground floor. In the dark of the night, the residents kicked into gear. Supplies were handed out and spare couches and fold-out beds were found for homeless residents.

“That’s the community. When you’ve raised a14-year-old who will jump into 10-foot breaking surf, swim out the back and round and come out again, for fun, or for an emergency, you know —people in this community step up.”

At 2am, the Defence Force arrived with two Unimogs.

As the water continued to rise around the surf club, soldiers began evacuating people to Waimauku War Memorial Hall.

By 4am, about two months’ worth of rain had fallen in 12 hours.

Back on Motutara Rd, volunteer firefighters had found Craig Stevens in the landslide and sent him to hospital in acritical condition.

At 6.30am, they suspended the search for the other firefighter, Dave van Zwanenberg.

Tuesday, Feb 14, 6am Nikita Tremain was woken about 6am by her parents calling her mobile phone. She had gone to sleep the previous night in the upstairs room of her parents’ house on Domain Cres but moved downstairs during the night because it felt safer.

Her mobile phone was on vibrateonly and she had slept through the emergency alert. Her parents were urging her to get out of the house and head for the surf club.

Tremain fled the house with a small bag of supplies and her phone on 7per cent battery.

About 200 metres down the street, Tremain found her way blocked by amountain of earth which had slipped down the hillside. She backtracked and, with luck, found a walkway, which took her past the slip and to the bottom of the road.

When she hit the flat land near the surf club, the water was knee-deep. It was still raining and dark.

AUnimog drove past and she waved her torch. She breathed asigh of relief as it pulled over and she climbed into the back of the vehicle. At the time, she thought she might be back home within aday or two.

As Cyclone Gabrielle headed down the country, Muriwai homeowners began to survey the damage. The power was still out. The water treatment plant which supplied about 200 homes was offline.

About 20 building inspectors and geotechnical engineers arrived in Muriwai in the morning to begin rapid building assessments, but out of concern about further slips, the process was halted. Police cordoned off the village. It was now an exclusion zone.

Wednesday-Thursday, Feb 15-16

With the storm gone and the sun starting to emerge, the focus turned to recovery in Muriwai.

On days like these asteady stream of families and surfers would usually show up. But cordons were keeping all non-residents out.

Homeowners on Domain Cres had just that morning been told they could return for the first time since the cyclone to collect any precious items. They were given 20 minutes to get in and out, but that plan was abandoned when it was discovered the land was slipping under them.

People had filled their cars with belongings but had to abandon their vehicles.

One person had tied their dog to their house but were told they could not go back to get them.

Saturday-Sunday, Feb 18-19

As Aucklanders basked in sunshine and reclaimed their summer by going back to the newly reopened beaches, much of Muriwai was still in limbo.

Seth Thompson, now living in a campervan, ventured into the city.

People appeared to have moved on from the cyclone, he said.

“I went to Ponsonby Rd and people are sitting there having abeer You’re so far removed from it, it seems like an odd thing to do.”

Tuesday, Feb 20

Aweek on from the cyclone, water had been restored across the West Coast beaches, but Muriwai was still cut off. Homeowners on the main supply line were told they were unlikely to get water back for another week.

Dave van Zwanenberg was lying in state at the fire brigade ahead of his funeral on Wednesday.

Some mourners had been unable to get back into their house and had no clothes to wear to the funeral.

Fashion designers Juliette Hogan, Ingrid Starnes, Crane Brothers, Zambesi, Kate Sylvester and others offered up items for them.

In all, 130 homes had been redstickered in Muriwai, meaning they were not safe to be lived in. That is nearly athird of all the homes in the village. The enormous toll raises fears the area may have been changed irreversibly.

“These communities have taken a beating like never before,” Dew said.

“And it’s going to take one hell of an effort for them to survive. And that’s what we’re doing now.”

Muriwai residents struggling with loss tell Isaac Davison how events in the week of the devastating cyclone struck unfolded

‘Everything the water touched’

Napier and Hastings councils helping with waste disposal

Sam Hurley

Children’s toys, art, work tools, fridges, barbecues.

And what seems like asick metaphor for climate change —a world globe that was once a vibrant blue and green, now stained with mud and silt.

Before Cyclone Gabrielle, these possessions would’ve been loved by their owners.

But now Hawke’s Bay residents are hurling microwaves, mattresses, couches and shoes into adusty, hot concrete waste pit just outside Napier.

Meeanee resident Jake Haszard was disposing of equipment he uses for work at Stewart Decorators.

“Everything the water touched,” he said through amask, tossing floodcontaminated material into the Redclyffe Transfer Station.

Among the waste at Redclyffe were dozens of fridges, freezers, washing machines and dryers. Some fridges had magnets, stickers, shopping lists and family notes on the doors. Some still had food inside.

The Napier City Council opened the Redclyffe dump at 1pm yesterday for Napier residents to dispose of flood-damaged household items until Sunday —free of charge.

Aline of cars stretched along part

of Springfield Rd and parts of Gloucester St as, one by one, authorities let vehicles traverse the siltcovered track to dump their possessions.

They drove past the destroyed Redclyffe Bridge and substation,

where ateam of workers continue to toil.

After Sunday, normal charges will apply, but the council said free landfill access will continue for certain flooddamaged properties as advised. Redclyffe is not taking recycling or

green waste currently.

Some Puketapu residents have expressed their frustration at the neighbouring Hastings District Council still charging afee to dump flood waste.

However, yesterday afternoon the council changed course and said it

was now collecting flood-damaged household goods for free from the verge outside damaged properties on nominated days.

“Please wait for info on when collection will happen in your street before putting your goods out for collection,” the Hastings council said in astatement.

“We know flood waste disposal is apriority for affected residents and we appreciate your patience while we organised trucks, manpower and adisposal site.”

Communities will be advised of their collection day ahead of pick-up, the council said. Residents were also told to photograph their belongings before they were collected, if they plan to claim insurance.

Taradale resident Hayden Allen was removing several trailer loads of possessions after the water swamped his rental home, about 100 metres from the Tutaekuri River.

The house was “surrounded by a swamp of water” nearly 2m high. “Words can’t even describe it,” he said, recalling his return to his home after the storm.

“We’ve got about five rubbish loads at this stage, and we’re still going Beds, linen, clothes TVs, all your electronics. Idon’t think there’s any stone left unturned.”

Despite not having contents insurance, Allen considered himself and his children lucky to escape the floodwaters after learning of at least 11 deaths from the cyclone —nine of which have come in Hawke’s Bay.

Allen said he wasn’t sure if his family would return to live in Taradale.

Meeanee resident Jake Haszard dumps his work gear, contaminated by floodwaters during Cyclone Gabrielle.

Opinion

EDITORIAL Planning managed retreat

National MP

Pugh probably the last person doubts about human contribution change. However, she pulled off a“managed after achat with her Christopher Luxon.

Local territorial authorities have been having “managed retreat” conversations years.

These briefings are under public-excluded restrictions due to the disclosures might have property values. The the Environment estimates 750,000 New Zealanders, 500,000 buildings than $145 billion, are and in coastal areas exposed to extreme

Another reason discreet conversations there are also anumber urban centres, taonga cultural importance

However, dramatic scenes from cyclones Hale and Gabrielle in recent weeks have brought the topic into open discourse.

We now know through hardlearned lessons there are several ways to respond to the rising risks of extreme weather events. We can adapt to climate impacts by attempting to protect ourselves, with sea walls as an example. We can accommodate the change with measures such as raising properties or rebuilding more resiliently. Or we can move away from the riskiest locations.

Managed retreat identifies areas deemed to be of intolerable risk and reduces or eliminates exposure to extreme weather events. It enables people to relocate their houses, activities, and sites of cultural significance away from at-risk areas.

Climate scientists believe the number of ex-tropical cyclones affecting New Zealand might decline but expect events to be more severe as the planet continues to warm. This means higher category cyclones, stronger winds, heavier rain, more wind damage, flooding and storm surges.

By the end of this year, the Government intends to introduce aClimate Adaptation Bill, setting out the managed retreat framework. This will be rolled out following areview of local authorities who have, sometimes in isolation, been grappling with the challenges of climate change impacts. Local authorities have had varied results in dealing with flood events as we have seen in Westport, Hawke’s Bay and Auckland.

In the months ahead, some may cite the passage of the Climate Adaptation Bill as further evidence of the Government’s ideological obsession with centralised control. Up to this point, local government has been at the frontline for climate change. It’s time to scale up our managed retreat on anational scale.

LETTERS

Just get on with providing afour-lane state highway

Re the article February 20, MP Kelvin Davis warns Northlanders not to expect agold-plated fix for the region's cyclone damaged roads.

Of course not Kelvin, but for me just atwo-lane State Highway 1, for which potholes and slips are promptly repaired, will do.

Ido, however, expect agold-plated plan and funding for the provision of afour-lane state highway by the end of this year. Iamnot interested in past history —just get on and do it.

ShonaSmith Whanga¯rei

Systemic changethe key

Equality and equity are related but distinct concepts.

Equality refers to treating everyone the same, regardless of their individual circumstances or differences. Equity, on the other hand, recognises that people have different needs and seeks to distribute resources or opportunities in away that is fair and just.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Email editor@northern advocate.co.nz to have your say. Responses may be published.

It is unlikely that true equality will ever be achieved in the sense that everyone will have exactly the same resources, opportunities, and outcomes, simply because people have different needs and circumstances. However, it is possible for society to strive towards greater equality through measures such as equal protection under the law, equal access to education and healthcare, and equal pay for equal work.

But even with these measures in place, it is unlikely that equity will be achieved in full, as systemic barriers and unequal distributions of power and resources can perpetuate inequities. Achieving equity requires acommitment to addressing the root causes of inequality, including discrimination and historical

injustices, and promoting diversity and inclusion.

In short, while equality is an important goal, achieving true equity is amore complex and ongoing process that requires ongoing effort and systemic change.

PaulEvans-McLeod TeRapa

Food for thought

The statistics for food insecurity in children is extremely concerning when my uncles tell me that even during the Great Depression they never went hungry.

With rationing during the two World Wars the amount of food and

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choice was severely limited but food was budgeted by Government mandates and research has shown that people were actually at their healthiest in those years.

Why with the generous payments for families is food not getting to those who need it most for growth? In all the animal kingdom the adults feed their offspring first. Why not humans? If the government was really determined to rid NZ of child poverty it would give some of benefits in food vouchers, fund more food parcels or give budgeting services the power to convert some wages into food vouchers, advise shopping lists, set up food co-ops, attend cooking

classes or community gardens. All rentals should be required to have fruit trees. There is no need for children to go hungry when NZ dumps tonnes of food waste in landfills. Well done to those who collect odd-shaped veges and fruit, bread, etc, that would normally rot. With Cyclone Gabrielle destroying our food basket regions, more innovation is required, but ensure that children and animals are fed first. It is remarkable how little power and voice children have over their lives. They are not even given the option of being procreated and born.

MarieKaire

Ngararatunua

Aletter writer expects Kelvin Davis to deliver funding for a four-lane state highway this year. Photo /Mark Mitchell

Healing trauma inflicted by Gabrielle along haul

Massey University

clinical psychologist

Associate Professor

Kirsty Ross looks emotional responses occur after atraumatic event like Cyclone Gabrielle and how process the impacts

Atraumatic event is defined as one that causes asense of horror, helplessness, serious injury or the threat of serious injury or death. Cyclone Gabrielle most definitely meets this definition, particularly following the serious flooding experienced only days before. There was asense of anxiety after the floods —with those who had lost aloved one also experiencing grief and trauma. However, this cyclone has brought significant trauma to whole communities that have been directly affected, and their loved ones.

Trauma causes extreme levels of distress, and affects your body, mind and spirit. It is an understandable reaction when horrifying events such as this cyclone have occurred —and anormal response to what people have gone through and witnessed. The horrors of the cyclone for those most affected are hard to comprehend for those of us who were not there, but the stories emerging give an indication of the severity of the event. As aresult, we need to be aware of the immediate impact of trauma, how to support those who have been affected, and what the longer-term psychological needs might be for those communities that have suffered the most.

Trauma affects our bodies; the brain will be on high alert, looking for signs of more threats as it attempts to try to keep us safe. Your brain will be occupied with scanning the environment and then sending off adrenalin through the body at any reminders of the previous threat —noises, smells, sights. Anything that brings up memories of what has happened.

This is completely normal, and understandable, because your brain and body are in survival mode, and the thinking part of your brain is not as active as all focus is on safety.

These increased levels of watchfulness and energy in your body can lead to people being more emotionally reactive. Feelings may be felt very strongly and feel less able to be controlled. People can be very quick to burst into tears, or become upset, angry, scared —and even have moments of intense relief, joy and happiness.

This “hyperarousal” is again because your body and brain are on high alert, and it is important to give yourself (and others) some slack about how emotions may show up in the immediate days after a trauma. Iknow some people feel “survivor guilt” after acommunity disaster —but you can (and are allowed to) feel joy, gratitude, happiness and relief that you have

HOT TOPICS

Quiz

1 World War Iended in what year?

2 Limaisthe capital city of what South American country?

3 What 24-year-old is currentlythe only American in the top five of the WTA singles rankings, sitting at #3?

Traumas like this can affect people’s view of the world and the future, and while there are discussions to be had about rebuilding and how best to do this, it is important to remember that you are not alone, writes Dr Kirsty Ross. Photo /123rf

come out okay, and that does not make you abad person. It makes you human.

After atrauma, people can have what is called “re-experiencing” literally, feeling that you are going through the same thing again. People might recognise the term “flashbacks”; these can be triggered by predictable things. Such as rain and the sound of water, or any sound, smell, sight that reminds someone of the traumatic experiences they have had.

Sometimes, areminder might be more unexpected, and that can lead people to feel fearful of being triggered without warning. Some people try to make their worlds very small to avoid any reminder of what happened, to avoid feeling the emotions it brings up for them. This is understandable in the short term, but ultimately not very helpful, or even possible.

It takes time for your brain to truly believe you are safe. While you are going through the immediate emotional and physical responses to trauma, it is important to be extremely kind to yourself and allow people to care for you.

Firstly, taking care of your body is crucial, as trauma has such a physical impact and can affect sleep, appetite, and your ability to think clearly and manage your emotions. Getting as much sleep as you can is vital, but also difficult when your brain is constantly on high alert. Sleep when and how you can; if you feel comforted sleeping in the company of others, set up the whole family in one room.

WHATDO YOU THINK?

Email editor@bayofplenty times.co.nz.

Responses may be published.

Avoidance can bring about a reduction in your mood, as you withdraw from people, places and activities that are meaningful and important to you, out of fear of being reminded of what has happened. It is important to know that as reminders come up and nothing bad happens, your brain will realise these are memories rather than things happening in the present moment, and you will react less to these triggers over time. And that’s one of the hard parts. Getting through atrauma takes time.

Adults, take care of yourselves and support one another —children will look to you for guidance and cues as to whether things are okay and whether they are safe. It is going to be along time before things are okay, but the more you tell yourself that you are now safe and focus on the present moment, the more you will feel safe in the world around you again. And children will pick up on this.

Traumas like this can affect people’s view of the world and the future, and while there are discussions to be had about rebuilding and how best to do this, it is important to remember that you are not alone, this has been an extraordinary event, and that there are good people around who are

helping. Regaining optimism for the future is really important for people’s mental health, as they are grappling with what they have lost. For adults (and the tamariki watching them) having asense of hope is so important for your state of mind and wellbeing.

For those supporting people who have experienced this trauma, just be there. Listen when people want to talk, but don’t force people to share their experiences. People need to do this in their own time when it feels emotionally manageable for them.

We know from research and clinical experience that asking people what has happened to them in detail can lead to people feeling overwhelmed with emotions and their memories. This can actually make things worse and they are “flooded” with traumatic memories. Let people tell you in their own time about what they have seen, heard and experienced. And when they do, just let them talk, listen and validate how they are feeling. Don’t immediately focus on any positives or try to find “silver linings”; this can feel incredibly disrespectful for people who have lost so much.

Listening and hearing means people will feel heard and understood, and will help their brains to feel more regulated as they feel safe in relationships with supportive others. And once they have been able to talk freely to accepting and open ears, people will often try to find the things to be grateful for and balance their thinking themselves.

We have to allow space and time for processing the tragic events of the past few days. Some people are obviously distressed straight away —through cues such as tears, high emotions, or even being so shocked they find it difficult to know what to do next or make any decisions.

But it is also important to recognise that delayed responses may occur; people can feel initially okay, as they get busy “doing” and getting active with tasks that require alot of physical and emotional focus. This includes cleanups, organising insurance claims, figuring out the practical tasks such as food, clothing, shelter. Once the busyness and necessary tasks involved in the immediate stages of atraumatic disaster are addressed, that is when some people find they start to reflect on and process emotionally what they have been through. There are no timeframes restrictions for grief, loss and trauma.

And so, as anation, this cyclone will have impacts that are felt for decades to come. We are all experiencing varying degrees of distress and sadness over what has happened. But support goes inwards —those less affected support those most affected. And for those communities hit hardest, the rest of the country is here for you. Aotearoa NZ is acountry that rallies in acrisis and comes together. We are already seeing that, with stories of heroism, generosity and kindness. There is a long road ahead for these affected communities, but you are not alone.

Kia kaha —Aotearoa NZ is with you.

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2021 Golfer Tiger Woods isseriously injuredwhen his SUV crashes into a median and rolls over several times on asteep road in suburban Los Angeles.

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1. 1918 2 Peru. 3. Jessica Pegula 4. Einsteinium 5. Shoe 6. Sydney 7. Hollandaise 8. The Menu 9. Oscar de la Renta 10. Norway Questions set by Believe It Or Not

Complaints

Bay News Generous gesture for Hospice Mid-North

The brazen theft of petrol from one of the clinic’s cars parked at Hospice MidNorthland last month meant the car was out of action until it could be fixed.

Thieves drilled ahole in the fuel tank and drained petrol from it.

The on-call nurse had to resort to using another vehicle to visit adying patient and the organisation’s chief executive, Belinda Watkins, said the cost of repairs would be “massive”.

“It just goes to show how one callous act can have amajor impact on our service,” she said.

Hospice Mid-Northland has subsequently been contacted by people who have helped the police identify the alleged thief and one man has paid the insurance excess bill and has paid for anew tank of petrol.

Watkins said they hope to have the car back on the road soon and with anew fuel tank.

In the meantime, the fundraising golf tournament for Mid-North Hospice kicks off on Friday next week at the Bay of Islands Golf Club in Kerikeri. Play is ambrose style with teams of six and the cost is $60 a person or $360 ateam.

Italian festival postponed

The Little Italian Festival, which was to have been held in Russell last week at Hone’s Garden Restaurant, had to be postponed. Organiser Chris Albrecht said because of the weather and the condition of the roads, with some roads were closed, logistical issues occurred.

“None of the food, drinks and merchandise could arrive on time and some of our market stallholders couldn’t get to Russell from Auckland. So, unfortunately, we had to delay.”

The

Anew date will be posted on social media and is likely to be at the end of April.

Forge theory tested

Adive trip 14 years ago introduced Jack Kemp to aforge site at Luncheon Cove in Fiordland. He is aHeritage New Zealand volunteer and is researching apossible early French forge site in the Bay of Islands.

Last year, he moved to Blacksmith’s Bay just out of Kerikeri. It was where repairs were carried out on the HMS Osprey by Royal Navy sailors using aportable forge, possibly some time between 1844 and 1846.

After catching up with archaeologists Bill Edwards and James Robinson in the Kerikeri office of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, he heard they had found what they suspected was the site of apossible metalwork repair forge on Moturua Island built by early French explorers. They suggested Kemp take alook.

“The feature on Moturua Island looked very similar to the Cook site in Fiordland which was ahole in the ground with aditch leading from it down to astream. Using ametal detector we found many metal targets, most likely being scale from when they were striking metal with ahammer,” he says.

The blacksmiths in question would

have been sailors with French mariner Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne during his disastrous sojourn in the Bay of Islands in 1772. Du Fresne had brought his two ships, the Mascarin and the Marquis de Castries, into the Bay for repairs, and for his

scurvy-riven crew to recuperate.

Although things had started well with Ma¯ori in the Bay, aseries of missteps on the part of the French resulted in Du Fresne and anumber of his men being killed and French retribution resulted in the deaths of

more than 200 Ma¯ori. Kemp was keen to test his theory about the suspected Moturua Island forge, and with abit of guidance from James Robinson and Bill Edwards,

Sandy Myhre

Hospice Mid-Northland where thieves drilled ahole in the fuel tank of acar parked in the yard and drained petrol from it. One man has offered to pay the insurance excess and has paid for anew tank of petrol. Photo /Myke Wing continued on

Little Italian Festival, which was to have been held in Russell, has been postponed.

Fiery test for early French forge theory

continued from A14

undertook some experimental archaeology.

“I built asimilar pit forge, which operates above asimple hole in the ground, and did some tests. Though instead of aset of bellows —which the sailors would have used —I rigged up amechanical blower in the base of the hole to generate the heat required in the forge to soften metal.

“Bending the metal on an anvil wasn’t aproblem —even with lowcarbon metal —and Iwas able to make afew fish hooks,” he says.

Kemp’s experiment is aperfect example of how archaeological theories can be “ground truthed” by subjecting them to agood dose of reality, in this case 1500 degrees of heat. Jack’s theory came through the fire unscathed, according to James Robinson.

From Dark to Light

Kerikeri musician Merv Pinny and his band will be performing at the Turner Centre on March 18.

The show has been labelled Dark toLight,anoriginal rock show, and features an eclectic range of songs he

has written influenced by war, refugees, mass shooting, love on the internet and pink elephants.

“I started the Darkto Light journey about six years ago and the first video went viral and made number one on some of the US radio stations.

“I also released material about gun violence and the LP made it to number six on the college radio charts in the United States.”

He wrote asong called Pink Elephants about make believe on the internet, apunk song that went to No. 1onthe South African iTunes charts.

The inspiration for one song entitled TooMuch White, TooMuch Red came from the streets of Kerikeri.

“I found myself feeling guilty about the amount of recycled wine bottles Iwas putting on the side of the road during lockdown and then Irealised every house had just as many bottles as Idid,” he says.

He has even written asong on New Zealand rail to help Northland get a rail link north.

For the Kerikeri show he will be joined by Gerry Paul, Turner Centre manager and asongwriter and session performer in his own right.

His band, T-Bone, has just won the Best Folk Album in the Music 101 RNZ awards for their debut album Good ‘nGreasy.They were the first Tu¯i recipients for 2023. The album went to No. 2onthe New Zealand album charts when it was released in June. Some of the songs will be supported by video footage from Pinny’s own YouTube channel. There is, he says, “Something for everyone, rock, funk, blues and alittle bit of country.”

All proceeds from this event will go to the Red Cross New Zealand Disaster Fund.

Heritage New Zealand volunteer Jack Kemp working on his property to replicate the forge used in 1772 by sailors Marion du Fresne’s ship when it anchored in the Bay of

Merv Pinny will be performing with T-Bone band, featuring Turner Centre manager Gerry Paul.

way

After seeing the destruction of Cyclone Gabrielle on their fellow farmers, one Far North hay company is sending atruckload of free hay from Awanui to Hawke’s Bay.

Jones Hay owner Johnnie Jones and manager Waiata Kitchen, with the help of Mangonui Haulage, have donated asemi-trailer full of hay bales and other items donated by Kaitaia residents.

Kitchen said this summer season had been the worst on record due to extensive rainfall following avery wet winter.

After witnessing the destruction in Hawke’s Bay, Kitchen said she had put the call out for atruck to transport the much-needed hay south.

“The response was massive and in less than six hours Mangonui Haulage had offered their curtain sider to carry the $6000 worth of hay. These are dark times in the farming community, but we escaped relatively unscathed up here, so to see this happen to alot of people already struggling is devastating.”

The majority of Kitchen’s clients were in the equine industry, and had lost not only feed but livestock.

With large volumes of water and silt now on farms, Kitchen said farmers would be unable to graze

their paddocks due to pathogens. She said the flow-on effects of this could last years.

As one of the largest hay suppliers in the Far North, Kitchen said the pressure was on to gather as much hay as possible before winter.

“For the next 10 days, all my staff are going to go hell and high water to get it done as it may be the last sunny block we have.

“I’m praying we get extreme volume done so we can take care of everyone.”

In response to last week’s destruction of farmland around the country, the Government announced the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)

and Federated Farmers would restart the national Feed Coordination Service to help farmers recovering from Cyclone Gabrielle.

The service would immediately provide $4 million to help farmers, growers, whenua Ma¯ori owners and rural communities mobilise and coordinate cyclone recovery efforts.

It would be operated by Federated Farmers, with funding support from MPI to assist farmers to source supplementary feed or grazing.

The national Feed Co-ordination Service will help match people with grazing or supplementary feed for sale to those who needed it.

“It is atough time for many farmers, especially those in Northland, Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay, and this is apractical way to provide support,” Federated Farmers chief executive Terry Copeland said.

“Having anational Feed Coordination Service has proved valuable in the past, including during the widespread drought in 2020 and the Canterbury floods in 2021, and we encourage farmers to use it.”

Rural areas of Northland are still struggling with flooding, power outages and slips aweek on.

According to the Minister for Agriculture, Damien O’Connor, up to half of kumara crops had been destroyed

in Northland.

“Yesterday Ivisited growers in Northland in kumara-growing areas, where the impacts on the annual crops will be quite severe.”

O’Connor told RNZ last week there would be more support needed as they uncovered the true extent of damage. “There will be additional funding and Government has already announced that through MSD [the Ministry of Social Development], there is direct support for those people who need it.”

Requests to list or seek grazing or feed can be made online or by phoning 0800 FARMING (0800 327 646).

‘Epic resilience’ in face of disaster

Myjanne Jensen

The Far North has only two full-time emergency management professionals, yet Northland Civil Defence said last week’s rapid community action proved the region was well-equipped to respond to any emergency.

Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management Specialist (Far North) Sarah Boniface is one of two people responsible for navigating any natural disaster or civil defence emergency in and around Te Hiku.

Boniface said while CDEM numbers were limited in the area, asuccessful collaboration between local iwi, community groups, government agencies, health and emergency services had meant the Far North had shown “epic resilience” in the face of disaster.

“We have ajointly developed emergency plan for Kaitaia, so last December we had ameeting with all our stakeholders to prepare for the cyclone season,” Boniface said.

“As aresult, we were all already well connected and knew who each other was. You can be prepared as you like, but if there’s no connection before it starts, it’s slumpy.

“Since then we’ve had to put that plan into play twice in the last two weeks, but we got through that quickly and got the mahi (work) done.”

The group operated out of the Kaitaia Fire Station last week, meeting daily to assess the situation on the ground.

According to Boniface, in addition to the central Te Hiku group, around 33 community response groups were also currently listed throughout the Far North, which were “ready to snap into action” where required.

“Hands down, the Far North has responded to this so well and it speaks volumes of everyone involved.”

Te Hiku Iwi Development CEO Carol Berghan is part of the Te Hiku Delta group that formed during the Covid-19 lockdowns.

Berghan said the group had been regularly meeting since the lockdowns and was therefore able to quickly take action last week.

“When you get the cocktail of internet and phone coverage loss like we did (last week), you suddenly realise how vulnerable you really are,” Berghan said.

“The group was able to mobilise straight away and together the communication coming out was fast and effective.

“I hope that when this is over, they make sure we’re 50 per cent of the solution so that we see ourselves in those plans and feel we have control over the decisions being made in our community.”

While the situation on the ground has improved in Northland, anumber of residents still remain without power.

As of Monday evening, Top Energy said 503 homes were still without power, down from the peak of 16,000 last week.

Crews were working in Awaroa,

Waiomio, Opononi, Otaua, Mata Road, Ruapekapeka,Waiere Road, Papaonga Kohukohu and Herekino to help restore power to those areas.

Top Energy said most of the damage to the network was in the west, with multiple trees on lines requiring total line rebuilds in some areas, some with difficult access.

“Our crews are working hard to get poles, transformers and lines replaced to make the HV network stable,” aspokesperson said.

“For those with damaged service lines or with individual faults, please know that we haven’t forgotten you.

“We are systematically working through the network, restoring power to as many properties as we can. If you have rung through your fault , we will have it in our system.”

NZ Police Northland District Commander superintendent Tony Hill was also advising people in Northland to avoid travel into and across the region where possible.

Hill said although the sun was now out, the effects of Cyclone Gabrielle

remained. “The roading infrastructure has been affected by the weather, and may be unsafe if there are too many vehicles on the road,” Hill said. “It’s really important we prioritise traffic to vehicles needed to support recovery efforts.”

The Department of Conservation was also urging people to check tracks, huts and campsites were open before attempting to visit conservation land in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle.

According to DoC, there was extensive public conservation land across the North Island that had been affected, with several DoC facilities in Northland closed to the public in the past week.

“This was an unprecedented event it will take time for DoC to make sure that conservation areas are safe,” DoC Organisation Support deputy director-general Mike Tully said. The Northland Regional Council has also advised residents to avoid floodwaters, streams, rivers and harbour water and beaches.

My, my, hay, hay, atruck full of help is on the

(From left) Waiata Kitchen (Jones Hay), Ella (Sweetwater Construction) and Stace (The Honey Trap) stand with the hay bales and donated items for Hawke's Bay. Photo /Supplied

Russian President Vladimir Putin suspended Moscow’s participation in the last remaining nuclear arms control pact with the United States, announcing the move yesterday in a bitter speech in which he made clear he would not change his strategy in the war in Ukraine.

Putin emphasised, however, that Russia isn’t withdrawing from the pact yet, and hours after his address the Foreign Ministry said Moscow would respect the treaty’s caps on nuclear weapons. It also said Russia would continue to exchange information about test launches of ballistic missiles per earlier agreements with the United States.

In his long-delayed state-of-thenation address, Putin cast his country —and Ukraine —asvictims of Western double-dealing and said it was Russia, not Ukraine, fighting for its very existence.

“We aren’t fighting the Ukrainian people,” Putin said ahead of the war’s first anniversary on Saturday. “The Ukrainian people have become hostages of the Kyiv regime and its Western masters, which have effectively occupied the country.”

The speech reiterated alitany of grievances he has frequently offered as justification for the widely condemned military campaign, while vowing no military let-up.

Along with limits on the number of nuclear weapons, the 2010 New Start envisages broad inspections of nuclear sites. Putin said Russia should

TWO VERSIONS OF AN INVASION

Wagner owner blasts Russian military ‘treason’

The owner of the Russian private military company Wagner accused Russia’s defence minister and chief of general staff yesterday of starving his fighters in Ukraine of ammunition, which he said amounts to an attempt to “destroy” the force.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, amillionaire with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said in an emotional audio statement released through his spokespeople that “direct resistance” from the Russian military “is nothing other than an attempt to destroy Wagner”.

Emotional statements from Prigozhin and his fighters highlighted

stand ready to resume nuclear weapons tests if the US does so, a move that would end aglobal ban on such tests in place since the Cold War era.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres responded by calling for Russia and the United States to return to dialogue immediately because “a world without nuclear arms control is afar more dangerous and unstable one”.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described Moscow’s decision to suspend participation in the treaty as “really unfortunate and very irresponsible”.

intelligence service, Vadym Skibitskyi, said his agency hasn’t seen any signs so far that China is providing weapons to Moscow.

Yevgeny Prigozhin

long-brewing tensions between the Russian military and Wagner, which has unclear legal status because Russian law prohibits private military companies.

Prigozhin said in araised voice that Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov are handing out orders “left and right” not to supply Wagner with ammunition and not to support it with air transport. The

“We’ll be watching carefully to see what Russia actually does,” he said while visiting Greece.

US President Joe Biden, speaking in Poland aday after his surprise visit to Ukraine, did not mention the Start suspension but blasted Putin for the invasion. He pledged continued support for Ukraine despite “hard and bitter days ahead”.

“Democracies of the world will stand guard over freedom today, tomorrow and forever,” Biden said at Warsaw’s landmark Royal Castle before acheering crowd of Poles and Ukrainian refugees.

Putin’s announcement was the

company has been actively involved in heavy fighting in the east of Ukraine.

This “can be likened to high treason in the very moment when Wagner is fighting for Bakhmut, losing hundreds of its fighters every day”, Prigozhin said.

Last month, Putin reaffirmed his trust in Gerasimov by putting him in direct charge of Russian forces in Ukraine, amove some observers also interpreted as an attempt to cut Prigozhin down to size. Yesterday, in along awaited speech, Putin profusely thanked his military, but made no mention of Wagner. —AP

second time in recent days the Ukraine war showed it could spread into perilous new terrain, after Blinken told China over the weekend that it would be a“serious problem” if Beijing provided arms and ammunition to Russia.

China and Russia have aligned their foreign policies to oppose Washington. Beijing has refused to condemn Russia’s invasion or atrocities against civilians in Ukraine, while strongly criticising Western economic sanctions on Moscow. Late last year, Russia and China held joint naval drills.

The deputy head of Ukraine’s

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and made adash towards Kyiv, expecting to over-run the capital quickly. But stiff resistance from Ukrainian forces —supported by Western weapons —turned back Moscow’s troops. While Ukraine has reclaimed many areas initially seized by Russia, the sides have become bogged down elsewhere.

The war has revived the divide between Russia and the West, reinvigorated the Nato alliance, and created the biggest threat to Putin’s rule of more than two decades.

In yesterday’s speech, Putin again offered his own version of recent history, discounting Ukraine’s arguments that it needed Western help to thwart aRussian military takeover. He has repeatedly depicted Nato’s expansion to include countries close to Russia as an existential threat to his country.

“It’s they who have started the war. And we are using force to end it,” he said before an audience of lawmakers, officials and soldiers, and broadcast on all state TV channels.

Zelenskyy cited fresh attacks on Ukrainian civilians yesterday, and downplayed Putin’s speech.

“I have not watched it, because during this time there were missile strikes on Kherson. Twenty-one people were wounded and six were killed,” he said. —AP

Israel’s president urges dialogue over divisive reforms

Israel’s president yesterday called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition to seek dialogue and compromise after it pushed ahead with acontroversial judicial overhaul in aturbulent parliamentary session.

President Isaac Herzog said it was a“difficult morning” following the late-night parliamentary vote that saw two contentious pieces of legislation pass apreliminary hurdle.

The legislation is part of sweeping changes proposed by the Government that have prompted vocal criticism in Israel and abroad, drawn tens of thousands of protesters to the streets and spooked investors and financial markets.

Yesterday, the dollar gained over 2per cent against the shekel, continuing amonth-long slide that has seen the Israeli currency lose over 5per cent of its value against the dollar.

Several Israeli companies have said they are withdrawing money from the country, while Israeli newspapers have reported even larger withdrawals of cash as investors have grown jittery about the business climate.

Critics say the judicial overhaul underway will concentrate power in the hands of the ruling coalition in the Knesset and erode the democratic system of checks and balances.

Netanyahu and his allies insist the changes will better curb an overly powerful Supreme Court.

“Many citizens across Israeli

society, many people who voted for the coalition, are fearful for national unity,” Herzog said. He urged Netanyahu and his allies to enable

dialogue to reach aconsensus on judiciary reform.

Netanyahu later issued an appeal for dialogue, saying he believed that

the gaps could be reduced or closed.

“Let’s talk, here and now, without preconditions or excuses, so together we can achieve abroad agreement for the good of all citizens of Israel,” he said.

His critics have called on Netanyahu to freeze the legislation and start negotiations. Opposition Leader Yair Lapid mocked the PM’s appeal.

“Citizens of Israel, Ihave no pleasant way to say this: Prime Minister Netanyahu is lying,” Lapid said. “We have been trying to hold talks with them for many weeks.”

Herzog’s remarks came after tens of thousands of Israelis protested outside the parliament ahead of the vote, the second mass demonstration in Jerusalem in recent weeks.

Netanyahu and his allies passed two clauses in the package of proposed changes. —AP

Israelis in Tel Aviv protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to overhaul the judicial system. Photo /AP

Benjamin Netanyahu Isaac Herzog

Putin suspends nuclear pact and claims Russia and Ukraine are victims of the West as Biden casts conflict as abattle between democracy and autocracy

United States President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin offered very different portrayals of the war in Ukraine yesterday.

Photo /AP

Russia seeks deeper China ties

Kremlin official pledges support for Beijing objectives

Russia’s security head yesterday held talks with the Chinese Communist Party’s foreign policy chief, calling for closer co-operation with Beijing to resist Western pressure.

Nikolai Patrushev, the secretary of Russia’s National Security Council, said during ameeting with Wang Yi, the party’s most senior foreign policy official who is visiting Moscow, that the West sought to deter Russia and China as part of its attempts to pre-

Bomb hoaxes

North Macedonia’s Government yesterday vowed to improve its online security in response to aspate of emailed bomb hoaxes that have caused widespread disruption since mid-October. Officials have described the threats as an act of terrorism, suggesting apossible link to the Nato member’s pro-Ukrainian stance.

Yesterday police evacuated more than 30 locations in the capital Skopje and the southern town of Prilep, including the presidential residence, shopping malls, schools, hotels, museums and sports venues, after receiving what ultimately turned out to be fake bomb threats —the latest in aseries of similar incidents. The latest bomb threats were accompanied by texts accusing Macedonians of being “complicit in the destruction of my country,” without naming the country, and included ademand to lift unspecified sanctions.

Brazil deluge toll

The death toll from flooding and landslides in Brazil’s southern state of Sao Paulo reached 44 yesterday as searches continued for dozens still missing. Most of the search was concentrated in the mountainous coastal municipality of Sao Sebastiao where 43 deaths have been recorded. Seven bodies have been identified and released for burial, while nearly 800 people are homeless and 1730 people have been displaced, the Sao Paulo state Government said. Authorities are digging through the mud and clearing roads, but parts of the highway connecting Rio de Janeiro state with Sao Paulo’s port city of Santos are still blocked by landslides. Another road connecting the city of Bortiga to inland Sao Paulo remains completely blocked. Rain in Sao Sebastiao surpassed 600mm during a24-hour period over the weekend, among the largest such downpours ever in such ashort

serve global domination. “The bloody events in Ukraine staged by the West is just one example of it,” said Patrushev. “All that is being done against Russia and China and to the detriment of developing nations.”

Russia has sought to cast what it calls its “special military operation” as an effort to protect Russian speakers and to derail Western efforts to turn Ukraine into an anti-Russian bulwark. Kyiv and its Western allies reject that argument as abogus cover for an unprovoked invasion.

China, which has declared a“no limits” friendship with Russia, has pointedly refused to criticise Moscow’s actions, blaming the US and Nato for provoking the Kremlin, and has blasted the punishing sanctions imposed on Russia. Russia, in turn,

Nikolai Patrushev, the secretary of Russia’s National Security Council

has strongly backed China amid tensions with the US over Taiwan. During yesterday’s meeting with Wang, Patrushev emphasised that “amid acampaign by the West to deter both Russia and China, it is particularly important to further

deepen the Russian-Chinese coordination and co-operation in the international arena”.

Patrushev said that the development of “strategic partnership” with China remains atop priority for Russia, and reaffirmed Moscow’s “invariable support for Beijing on the Taiwan, Xinjang, Tibet and Hong Kong issues, which the West has exploited to discredit China’’.

The two nations have held aseries of military drills that showcased increasingly close defence ties amid tensions with the United States.

Patrushev yesterday invited Wang to discuss international and regional issues, adding that “this will help greater consolidation of our approaches and our unity in addressing shared challenges”.

Up, up and away! Balloon ride to the edge of space

If you want to be aspace tourist but don’t have millions of dollars to spare, aJapanese start-up is offering the chance to fly high into the stratosphere in atwo-seater cabin attached to ahelium balloon.

For less than $292,000, travellers will be able to journey 24km up into the sky. Unlike other companies

period in Brazil.

Toxic derailment

The US Environmental Protection Agency yesterday ordered Norfolk Southern to pay for the clean up of the East Palestine, Ohio, train wreck and chemical release. The EPA’s

Prolonged low tides see canals reduced to atrickle in Venice

Some of Venice’s smaller canals have practically dried up due aprolonged spell of low tides, frustrating boat crews and bewildering tourists.

The stretch of ebb tides is linked to alingering high-pressure weather system over Italy, experts say.

Since the canals essentially serve as streets in car-less Venice, the phenomenon has added to the challenges of every-day life in the lagoon city. Ambulance boats in some cases have had to tie up farther from their destination, forcing medical crews to sometimes carry stretchers over long distances since their vessels can’t progress up canals reduced to a trickle of water and muck.

For tourists, it meant gondolas couldn’t navigate some secondary waterways that run under Venice’s many picturesque bridges.

In mid-winter, high atmospheric pressure combined with the lunar cycle produces the ultra-low water levels during ebb tide, noted Jane Da Mosto, an environmental scientist and sustainable development analyst with We Are Here Venice, an environmental advocacy group.

Navigation continued on the wider, main waterways, including the Grand and Giudecca canals.

Separately, the same high pressure system compounded by scarce Alpine snow melt this year has been a factor for the shrivelling of lakes and rivers in northern Italy in recent weeks. This month, an isthmus linking the shores of Lake Garda to asmall island has re-emerged, delighting visitors who were able to walk part-way across the middle of the lake.

offering space tourism, there is almost no training required. “The idea is to make space tourism [available] for everyone,” said Keisuke Iwaya, president of Iwaya Giken.

The balloon is attached to a1.5m diameter cabin, which carries one passenger and the pilot, is resistant to changes in temperatures and air

order comes nearly three weeks after more than three dozen freight carriages —including 11 carrying hazardous materials —derailed on the outskirts of East Palestine, near the Pennsylvania state line, prompting an evacuation as fears grew about apotential explosion of smouldering wreckage. Officials

pressure, and has large windows. The trip takes two hours to reach the gateway to space. After an hour’s space-gazing, the 9.4m diameter balloon, will make an hour-long descent before landing at sea.

Applications opened yesterday and will be accepted until the end of August.

—Telegraph Group Ltd

seeking to avoid the danger of an uncontrolled blast chose to intentionally release and burn toxic vinyl chloride from five rail carriages, sending flames and black smoke again billowing high into the sky. That left people questioning the potential health impacts for residents in the area and beyond, even as authorities

Wang’s visit to Moscow follows President Joe Biden’s unannounced visit to Ukraine on Tuesday, where he met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and reaffirmed astrong US support for Kyiv on the eve of the Russian military operation’s one-year anniversary.

Before heading to Russia, Wang held talks on Sunday with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of an international security conference in Munich.

Blinken noted that he reiterated a warning to China against providing assistance to Russia in Ukraine.

Wang is also set to hold talks today with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

The Kremlin said that ameeting with Putin is also possible. —AP

maintained they were doing their best to protect people.

Deby death trial

Authorities in Chad yesterday started the mass trial of hundreds of alleged rebels accused of killing longtime President Idriss Deby Itno, who died under murky circumstances in 2021 two days after winning asixth term in office. Apart from the assassination charges, the 454 alleged members of the Front For Change and Concord rebel group are also formally accused of terrorism, using child soldiers and undermining Chad’s integrity and security, according to adefence lawyer, Vounsia Vetada. Deby ran the country for more than three decades and died of unspecified injuries during an April 21, 2021 visit to troops fighting the rebel group, which was seeking to gain control of the oil-rich Central African nation. No details of his death were made public.

Forbes backlash

Afront-runner to become Scotland’s next leader fought to keep her campaign alive yesterday amid a backlash over her opposition to same-sex marriage. Scottish Finance Secretary Kate Forbes, who belongs to the evangelical Free Church of Scotland, said on Tuesday that her faith would have prevented her from voting in favour of allowing same-sex couples to wed. Yesterday, Forbes added that having children outside marriage “would be wrong according to my faith”. Forbes had been considered afavourite to replace First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who announced her resignation last week after eight years as leader of the governing Scottish National Party. Several SNP lawmakers withdrew their support from Forbes following her marriage comments. Yesterday Forbes said she was continuing her campaign and that she would not seek to change the marriage law if she became leader.

Jamaica urged to repeal laws criminalising gay sex

Activists demanded yesterday that Jamaica repeal acolonial-era law criminalising gay sex, noting that the government still has not heeded a regional rights panel’s recommendation two years ago to do so.

The call comes as agrowing number of islands in the conservative Caribbean region strike down similar but rarely invoked laws that often seek life sentences and hard labour.

Jamaica has resisted such arepeal, and is considered the Caribbean nation most hostile toward gay people.

Rainbow Railroad released areport yesterday along with Human Dignity Trust, aUKnonprofit legal organisation, that found the LGBTQ community in Jamaica faces “horrific violence, discrimination and persecution and lack(s) the most basic

protections under the law”. Since 2019, Rainbow Railroad has seen an increase in calls for help from gay people in Jamaica, with 411 violent incidents reported last year, compared with 377 the previous year, Matthews said in aphone interview.

In February 2021, the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights found that Jamaica’s government was violating aright to privacy, equal protection, humane treatment and freedom of movement involving two members of the island’s LGBTQ community who were forced to flee Jamaica.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, which is part of the Organisation of American States, recommended at the time that Jamaica repeal its so-called anti-buggery law. This has not yet happened. —AP

The stretch of low tides and dry weather has posed transport troubles for car-free Venice. Photo /AP

It is particularly important to further deepen the RussianChinese co-ordination and co-operationinthe international arena.

The balloon will hoist atwo-seater cabin 24km high.

Photo /AP

Wars are world-shaping. Beyond their immediate human and physical tolls, wars alter the fates of societies and states; of clans, cultures and leaders.

They establish new lines of access to resources and influence, determining who has what —and who doesn’t.

They set precedents for how future wars are justified and, in the case of attempted conquest, wars can ultimately redraw the map of world politics.

One year after its unprovoked invasion on February 24, 2022, Russia’s war against Ukraine encompasses all these dangers.

With Ukraine waging an existential battle for survival, and Russia seemingly happy to settle for destroying Ukraine if it fails to conquer it, neither side has any incentive to stop fighting.

Absent the complete collapse of either the Ukrainian or Russian armed forces, the grim reality is that the war will likely drag on throughout 2023 —and potentially beyond it.

2023willbecrucial

But what happens in Ukraine during 2023 will be crucial. For astart, it will reveal whether victory for either side is possible, or whether a“frozen” conflict is more likely.

It will test the resolve of all the main protagonists and their supporters:

● Ukraine’s ability to repel Russian onslaughts and recapture territory

● the extent to which Vladimir Putin can command domestic obedience

● and even of China’s intentions, as it mulls giving Moscow weapons.

How the war plays out in 2023 will also reveal how credible the West’s resolve to stand up to bullies really is. Will it move further towards supporting Kyiv by all means necessary, revert to drip-feeding its assistance, or give in to apathy and war fatigue?

Ukraine continues to have the upper hand, even if Russia’s forces have lately wrested back some momentum. But in the coming months, Kyiv will face two key challenges.

First it must absorb Russian attacks while staging its own offensive operations, which will require Western heavy armour, longer-range strike capability, and perhaps air power.

Second, Ukraine will need continued international aid and assistance to ensure its social order doesn’t fragment due to economic collapse, and to be able to mitigate further damage to its critical infrastructure.

Putin’sarmy—andhisauthority

—inthespotlight

Conversely, for Russia to turn the tide it will have to dramatically reverse the abysmal performance of its armed forces. The recent spectacular failure of the Russian assault on Vuhledar in Ukraine’s southeast, seen by many as the prelude to aspring offensive, didn’t bode well.

With an estimated 80 per cent of Russia’s entire ground forces now engaged, plus tens of thousands of newly mobilised conscripts arriving

War set to redraw world political map

at the front, there’s rising pressure on those at the very top of its military leadership to achieve rapid results.

Failing to achieve that will rebound on Putin. To maintain social order he has become increasingly repressive, banning books, engaging in shadow conscription campaigns, and imprisoning many who speak out against the war.

And while the bitter infighting between the armed forces and paramilitary Wagner Group seems to have been settled for the moment, the fact that it was conducted so publicly suggests Putin no longer enjoys the same iron control amongst Russia’s leaders that he once did.

Of course, another Russian revolution (either from above or below) is still far off. There’s no alternative value proposition for Russia’s political elites to remove Putin, and the personal risks for trying remain high. For its part, Russian society remains effectively apathetic —ifnolonger very enthusiastic —about the war.

Yet that might change. Putin can’t endure unscathed by forever blaming the West, or purging his security services for his own bad choices.

His longevity has relied on the bargain he made with Russians: to protect them, and offer them stable lives with improving living standards.

In the last 12 months he has broken both parts of that bargain, drafting

large numbers to fight in Ukraine, and causing tough sanctions in response to his actions.

By using mobilised Russians as cannon fodder, and having emptied much of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund in 2022 to blunt damage to its economy, Putin has created dual pressures on Russian society.

First, the demand for fresh recruits has become recurrent, mandatory and inexhaustible.

Second, sanctions will bite harder. And instead of being able to direct mobilisation campaigns at marginalised and minority groups, affluent and influential areas such as Moscow and St Petersburg will for the first time find their livelihoods affected by the war.

If the war escalates, it will likely happen this year

If maintaining control at home becomes more challenging for Putin, anew round of brinkmanship will look increasingly attractive. In turn, that elevates the risks of conflict escalation.

The past 12 months have witnessed the Kremlin flirting

with global hunger games, hinting at nuclear annihilation, raising the spectre of “dirty bombs”, and branding virtually anyone who opposes Moscow as aNazi.

So far, the West has responded tactfully and proportionately to the threats. It largely weaned itself off Russian energy in the past year, removing akey part of Russian strategic leverage. But in 2023 we should expect aredoubling of Moscow’s efforts to fracture Western unity.

Putin’s propensity for risk means any action short of war in the socalled “grey zone” is possible, as demonstrated by reports the Kremlin has been backing acoup attempt in Moldova and aiding Serbian nationalists protesting at closer ties with Kosovo. More broadly that list could include blackmail, cyberattacks, sabotage, and even assassinations on Nato territory, coupled to posturing and provocations by Russia’s military.

Similar efforts will likely be made to try and sway Western populations. True, Russia’s previous attempts to enlist gullible and/or reflexively

suspicious Western citizens with false narratives about Nato growth have only had limited success, mainly because it’s obvious Russia is engaged in awar of imperial expansion. But just like prohibition-era Baptists and bootleggers, it will continue trying to exert pressure by seeking to unite seemingly disparate groups, such as the anti-war campaigns which have brought together the anti-globalist Far Left with the conspiracy theory-laden Far Right.

Nato’scentre ofgravitywill continuetoshift

The centre of Nato gravity will likely continue to shift further east. Both Poland and Estonia have emerged as strong champions of Ukrainian sovereignty, and have been particularly instrumental in pushing more reticent European nations, including Germany and France, towards a firmer stance. Nato aspirant members Finland and Sweden have been busy too, each increasing its 2022 defence expenditure by 10-20 per cent.

With the exception of Hungary, the Bucharest Nine Group —formed in 2015 in response to Russian aggression in Crimea —has emerged as apowerful voice within Nato, advocating for the transfer of more sophisticated weapons systems to Ukraine.

In January 2023, Poland said it was increasing its military spending to 4 per cent of GDP, and it has been placing numerous orders for weapons, including from the US and South Korea.

Policy co-ordination between Warsaw and Washington has increased too, especially on stationing Nato systems, personnel, and providing training for Ukrainian forces —including US President Joe Biden’s surprise visit to Kyiv this week to unveil anew military aid package, before avisit to Poland to mark Russia’s invasion anniversary.

The challenge for Nato is that a two-speed approach to Ukraine within the alliance increases the potential for disagreement and fracture. Conversely, given the reticence of some West European nations to lead the response to Russian aggression, it’s incumbent on the Baltic States, Poland and others to do so.

Ultimately, those predicting aswift end to Russia’s war in Ukraine are likely to be as disappointed in 2023, as they were 12 months earlier.

The past year has taught us much: about how the weak can resist the powerful; about the dangers of peace at any price; and about the hubris of believing autocrats can be bought off with inducements.

But perhaps most importantly it has taught us to question our assumptions about war. Now, one year into aconflict in Europe that many thought impossible, we are likely about to rediscover just how world-shaping wars can be.

—The Conversation

many

writes Matthew Sussex

Collected fragments of the Russian rockets that hit Kharkiv, Ukraine. Bottom: Vladimir Putin. Photos /AP

OCR rise right call, say analysts

Economist says lift to 4.75% looks past cyclone impact

Liam

Dann analysis

Hiking interest rates after a disaster like Cyclone Gabrielle was atough call —but it was the right one. With the short-term impact of the cyclone likely to add to the country’s inflation woes the Reserve Bank had no choice but to stick to its guns yesterday —lifting the OCR by 50 basis points to 4.75 per cent.

“All else being equal, these severe storms will keep CPI inflation high for longer and may lead to alonger period with inflation above 7per cent,” Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr said.

“While estimates are highly uncertain, our central projection assumes the storms result in an

additional 0.3 percentage points on CPI inflation in each of the March and June 2023 quarters.”

While the RBNZ did —aswidely expected —pull back from a previously forecast 75-basis-point hike, much of the logic for that was pinned on the signs easing in global inflation.

Some economists —like those at Kiwibank —had argued the hikes should go on hold until April while the damage from Gabrielle was assessed.

But the RBNZ didn’t pull any punches in its justification for the 50-basis-point rise.

“The best contribution monetary policy can make is to free up resources by slowing demand elsewhere in the economy with higher interest rates. This will also limit further increases in the cost of living over the medium term,” Orr said.

That logic is compelling.

While the total impact of the recent weather events is clearly a major economic cost, history

suggests that in the short term recovery and rebuilding activity provides additional stimulus to an economy —the last thing we need right now.

After the Christchurch earthquakes, the Reserve Bank reversed plans for rate hikes and cut the OCR by 50 basis points.

But as Orr emphasised yesterday, the economic context was very different then —with sectors like construction still in the doldrums after the Global Financial Crisis.

More broadly the RBNZ has

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argued it is still too early to assess the monetary policy implications of the cyclone. For now, at least, this event was primarily an issue for the private sector and government fiscal policy, Orr said.

On that basis, the RBNZ stuck to its guns, leaving the projected peak for the OCR at 5.5 per cent.

But some economists interpreted the tone of this statement as less hawkish than in November.

“We suspect it will now only lift the overnight cash rate to 5.25 per cent instead of our previous forecast of 5.5 per cent,” said Marcel Thieliant, Head of Asia-Pacific at Capital Economics.

The good news for stretched borrowers was that there were no surprises for the financial markets so mortgage rate rises should be limited, with pricing already baked in by banks.

“The impact of today’s decision on mortgage rates doesn’t seem likely to be too significant,” said CoreLogic NZ Chief Property Economist, Kelvin Davidson. “Floating rates will likely

go up again, but only about 10 per cent of loans are on these rates,” he said.

ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner said the RBNZ had taken the “only sensible approach” to the impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle.

The 50-basis-point hike was effectively a“wait and see” approach, she said, “because expectations of the future OCR are actually more important for monetary conditions than the actual decision on the day.

“Had the RBNZ blinked today, it would have risked losing control of the narrative on the future path for the OCR, potentially seeing the swaps curve and mortgage rates drop sharply.”

As it was the kiwi dollar rose by one-third of aUScent after the announcement but settled back to US62.3c —well within the trading range of recent days.

The RBNZ still forecasts a recession in the second half of this year but now sees the economy recovering faster —moving back to growth from the start of 2024.

Ebos profit soars

Ebos Group’s history of delivering record earnings has continued with the medical supplies distributor and pet food company reporting a30per cent lift in its underlying net profit to A$141.6m ($156m) for the first half. Dual-listed Ebos said the result came from continued strong performance from both its Healthcare and Animal Care segments. Revenue in the first half to December came to A$6.1 billion, up 17.0 per cent on the previous comparative period. Underlying ebitda was A$289.2m, up 39.3 per cent. The company lifted its interim dividend by 12.8 per cent to NZ53c.

Boost for Winton

Winton Land, has nearly doubled its revenue and significantly boosted bottom-line profit after making strong residential sales. In the six months to December 2022, the company earned $81.1m revenue, up from the previous $44.3m in the six months to December 31, 2021. A previous interim net profit after tax of just $1.3m rocketed up to $34.5m net profit after tax in the December 2022 half-year. The company settled sales of 219 housing units, including land lots and residential homes, at a 12.2 per cent higher average sales price than H1 FY22. Its bottom line was also boosted by $15.6m revaluations. Shareholders will get a 2.06 cents per share interim dividend. The company has no debt and cash holdings of $89m. Winton’s profit of $39.4m was 204.1 per cent up on H1 FY22. It expects to deliver net profit after tax of $72.4m to $82.4m.

Had the RBNZ blinked today, it would have risked losing control of the narrative on the path for the OCR.

Sharon Zollner, ANZ

Ebos profit soars

Queenstown facility to restart dividends with record payout after Covid pause

Grant Bradley

Queenstown Airport will pay arecord interim dividend after astrong start to the financial year, and forecasts steady growth for the rest of the year. Its interim results for the six months to December 31 reflect the steady recovery of passenger numbers after travel restrictions linked to the pandemic were lifted.

Queenstown Airport Corporation last paid a$1million interim dividend in the 2020 financial year and none in the following two years as Covid19 hit aviation.

It will pay $5.98m for the past six months.

As the majority shareholder, the Queenstown Lakes District Council will receive $4.49m.

Auckland International Airport owns the remainder of the company.

QAC says it is expected the total dividend for the full 2023 financial year will also be the highest ever paid. For the last six months, revenue of $30m was up from $12.7m in the prior corresponding period.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (ebitda) increased by 256 per cent from $6.3m to $22.5m.

After-tax profit was $11.5m, up from $0.8m in the same period last year.

Term debt was $53m, down from $65m.

Total passenger numbers exceeded 1.2 million, up from 482,000 domestic-only movements in the period. Those numbers are now on par with pre-Covid levels.

QAC board chair Adrienne Young-

Airport CEO Glen Sowry believes the steady return of travellers will continue over the next six months.

Airport feels the wins of change as travel revives

Cooper said that in the last six months Australian and domestic visitors had steadily returned to Queenstown.

“The great snow conditions during winter, combined with the uplift in passengers taking the opportunity to reconnect with friends and family, made the Southern Lakes apopular destination,” she said.

Demand had been boosted by rapid population growth.

The Queenstown Lakes District population had grown by 10.5 per

cent since 2019 and was now close to 50,000.

Thanks to the larger population base and more New Zealanders working remotely, the airport said it was an important link for residents of the region.

The company’s report from Young-Cooper and chief executive Glen Sowry said it was expected the steady return of travellers experienced during the reporting period will be sustained over the next six months.

However, aforecast economic recession could have asuppressing effect on demand for travel as significant increases in the cost of living take effect, the company warns.

“As has been the case around the world, we have experienced staff shortages and supply chain issues as aviation has restarted.”

Auckland Airport, Air New Zealand and Qantas report interim results today and they will show the strong recovery of travel in this region.

Ebos Group’s track record of delivering record earnings has continued with the medical supplies distributor and pet food company reporting a30per cent lift in its underlying net profit to A$141.6m ($156m) for the first half. Dual-listed Ebos said the result came from continued strong performance from both its Healthcare and Animal Care segments, boosted by acquisitions made in the 2022 financial year. Revenue in the first half to December came to A$6.1 billion, up 17.0 per cent on the previous comparative period. Underlying ebitda was A$289.2m, up 39.3 per cent. The company lifted its interim dividend by 12.8 per cent to NZ53c.

Sales boost Winton

Winton Land, which was listed on the NZX two years ago, has nearly doubled its revenue and significantly boosted bottom-line profit after making strong residential sales. In the six months to December 2022, the company earned $81.1m revenue, up from the previous $44.3m in the six months to December 31, 2021. A previous interim net profit after tax of just $1.3m rocketed up to $34.5m net profit after tax in the December 2022 half-year. The company settled sales of 219 housing units, including land lots and residential homes, at a 12.2 per cent higher average sales price than H1 FY22, reflecting settlements of units in more mature developments. Its bottom line was also boosted by $15.6m revaluations, when many other listed property companies were suffering devaluations. Shareholders will get a 2.06 cents per share interim dividend. The company has no debt and cash holdings of $89m. Winton’s profit of $39.4m was 204.1 per cent up on H1 FY22. It expects to deliver net profit after tax of $72.4m to $82.4m, subject to no material adverse changes or unforeseen events, it said yesterday.

.

.

Queenstown

Media company NZME says it is focusing on keeping costs down amid an uncertain economic outlook but remains on track to achieve targets after reporting its full-year result yesterday.

The company, which owns the Herald and other newspapers, radio stations including Newstalk ZB, ZM and The Hits, as well as the OneRoof real estate platform, reported full-year operating earnings of $64.7 million for the year to December 31, in line with guidance issued in November, and anet profit of $22.7m.

Operating ebitda was down on the previous year’s reported $66m, but 4per cent higher when that figure is adjusted to exclude the one-off impact of the sale of GrabOne in October 2021. Statutory net profit was 66 per cent lower, also due to the GrabOne effect.

Operating revenue climbed 7per cent year-on-year to $364.6m and NZME noted that digital revenue was up 16 per cent.

The board declared afinal dividend of 6c ashare, payable on March 22, taking the total normal dividend for the 2022 financial year to 9c ashare.

Other highlights included NZME growing its overall audience to 3.6 million people in 2022 with radio market revenue share reaching 41.4 per cent —the highest since 2016. Publishing subscriptions increased to 209,000, including 113,000 paid digital subs, and OneRoof showed a30per cent increase in digital revenue compared with 2021.

“We remain largely on track to achieve the targets we set out in our 2020 three-year strategy, which shows the strength and flexibility of our business and our team to get through difficult times,” said chief executive Michael Boggs.

“We made significant progress and delivered strong earnings results despite business confidence falling to historic lows, supply chain challenges, labour shortages, higher interest rates and inflationary pressures.”

Boggs said the company’s focus on digital transformation and diversification of its platforms continued to have a positive influence on business performance, with digital revenues becoming amore significant part of NZME’s total revenues.

Chair Barbara Chapman said NZME’s progress in digital transformation had been instrumental in continuing to drive growth across the business.

The company noted in its market announcement that

NZME digital revenue rises as firm ‘on track’ for targets

Online and other gains prove firm’s resilience in tough times, says CEO

it had made total distributions to shareholders of $43m during the year, including ashare buyback totalling $17.6m. That saw net debt increase by $31m, leaving anet debt position of $17.5m at year-end.

In terms of the outlook, NZME said it had been asoft start to 2023, especially given the subdued real estate market. “However, March 2023 is tracking to deliver growth over 2022,” the company said in its results announcement.

“Cost pressures remain across the business and we continue to be focused on substantially mitigating these through disciplined cost controls.

“There is uncertainty across the economy and the market, and we will update

shareholders further at the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting on 26 April 2023.”

NZME’s cost pressures are reflected in operating expenses which climbed 7per cent during 2022 to $299.9m.

People and contributors costs were 9per cent higher due to people costs associated with the addition of BusinessDesk, additional resources to deliver Government grant projects and aoneoff $1000 discretionary bonus paid to each eligible employee.

Print and distribution costs were similar year-on-year, with increased paper and distribution costs offset by lower volumes.

Other expenses grew 14 per cent, reflecting the impact of the BusinessDesk and Radio Wanaka acquisitions, higher

radio broadcast costs and the return to more normal levels of activity.

Cash flow from operations for the year was $37.5m, down from the previous year due to adecrease in working capital and higher amount of tax paid during the year. Capital expenditure of $10.7m was higher than the prior year, which was reduced due to Covid.

Expanding on the outlook, Boggs said the company was forecasting March advertising revenue to be up on the same month last year.

“One thing that makes us feel good about this is while the market has been tough we’ve actually been growing our share across all the platforms.

“On the other side the real

estate market, which is one of our largest verticals from a revenue perspective, really dropped in the last quarter of 2022 —new listings coming to market were 25 per cent down on the year before. So that might take some time to recover.”

On rising costs, he said some of the most significant pressure was coming from print and distribution, with paper costs going up by as much as 50 per cent. But investment spending, including on new acquisitions, had also contributed to expenses.

“We have invested to grow revenue with the acquisition of BusinessDesk and investing in OneRoof and that’s paying off. We are pleased with the investments we’ve made and we are actually getting revenue returns from them.

Some of those are about returns in future growth.”

Staff reporter

Sales boost Metlifecare revenue

Anne

Gibson

Privately-owned $5.3 billion retirement giant Metlifecare pushed revenue up 32 per cent in the latest half-year from rising sales and retaining 30 per cent of residents’ money once they leave.

The company, which delisted from the NZX after a takeover three years ago, said its new unit sales and deferred management fee from resales meant it made more money.

The company made $98.3 million in revenue in the six months to December 31, 2022, up 32 per cent on the $74.9m in the six months to December 31, 2021. Revaluations weren’t as strong, up only $46.6m compared to awhopping $129.6m previously.

Net after-tax profit dropped from $114m to $12.7m, partly as aresult of those lower revaluations but also due to employee expenses rising from $38.7m to $56.1m.

Revenue was up “due to strong growth in deferred management fees from resales and new development village sales”, the company said yesterday.

“Metlifecare’s balance sheet has continued to grow, with total assets rising by $378.9m to $5.346b at 31 December 2022, underpinned by the acquisition of the Merivale and The Village Palms (Shirley, Christchurch) retirement villages and care communities in Christchurch in November 2022 and the completion of new independent living units

across our development villages,” it said.

Total debt rose by $246.7m to $989.2m due to more new development, increasing the company’s future development landbank and the Merivale and The Village Palms retirement village acquisitions.

The company’s balance sheet remains robust with net assets of $2.093 billion supporting adebt-to-valuation ratio of 34.4 per cent, up from 28.1 per cent at last June.

With the two new villages, the company has 36 operating retirement villages and 20 hospitals or aged care centres at its sites, although it is adding new hospitals to some existing village operations.

The business houses around 7000 people.

We remain largely on track to achieve the targets we set out in our 2020 three-year strategy.

NZME chief executive Michael Boggs

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins visits NZME’s Hauraki breakfast hosts. NZME’s radio market revenue share hit 41.4 per cent —the highest since 2016 —inthe year to December 31.

Photo /Jason Oxenham

Harvest begi id

The 2023 kiwifruit harvest has kicked off with the first crop picked in Pukehina, outside Tauranga, with more to be picked around New Zealand over the coming months.

This was grower Robert MacKenzie's first harvest of red kiwifruit for his 0.84ha orchard under management by the Levi Hartley from Prospa.

Zespri’s new RubyRed variety is picked first and is followed by the Gold and Green varieties. The harvest traditionally peaks in mid-April and runs through until June. This is the second year that RubyRed will be sold as acommercial variety.

NZ Kiwifruit Growers Inc (NZKGI) says adverse weather over recent months has meant that the 2023 season is forecast to be alower volume year than last year’s 160 million trays exported. On average, each tray has around 30 pieces of kiwifruit.

Cyclone Gabrielle managed to spread its wind and rain across every kiwifruit growing region in New Zealand last week, aparticularly critical time for kiwifruit growth close to harvest.

NZKGI chief executive officer Colin Bond says that, although the situation continues to evolve, “our primary concern at this time is with the immediate needs and wellbeing of the impacted members of our industry”.

“I have been working closely with other leaders from the horticulture industry, government and stakeholders within our industry to ascertain the extent of the damage and the immediate needs of our people.

“No doubt that there will be medium- and long-term needs for

$75m

● Poverty Bay $89m

● Hawke’s Bay $39m

● Lower North Island $5m

● South Island $27m

—Colin Bond , NZ Kiwifruit Growers Inc

some those impacted too.

“I also recognise that the flooding prior to Cyclone Gabrielle as well as the halting of the February progress payments had alarger impact for some growers. Our focus is on alleviating arange of pressures on many growers at this time.

“In addition, there is also awider concern with the recent climatic conditions, including lack of sunlight hours, which may impact on fruit growth as harvest approaches.”

Bond says the industry has been working hard to lessen ongoing quality issues that hampered last years’ harvest.

But, he says, adverse weather effects such as hail, frosts, cyclones and flooding in the lead-up to harvest as well as apoor opening of flower buds, which form kiwifruit, have combined to make it an “extraordinarily challenging one for growers”.

“While this years’ poor budbreak and weather mean that it is too early to have agood grasp on the seasonal labour requirements to pick and pack the 2023 harvest, the lower forecast volume for 2023 indicates that we will need less labour than 2022 which required around 24,000 people,”

Bond says.

The reopening of New Zealand’s borders, lack of Covid-19 and downward economy indicate atemporary respite from the severe labour shortages of previous years, Bond says.

“At this time, while the number of working holiday visa holders entering New Zealand is reassuring, it is not yet clear if the horticulture industry will receive its full allocation of RSE workers due to visa and flight disruptions.”

The industry is also mindful that the drop in volume expected this season provides only atemporary break, he says. The pressure to source sufficient labour next year is forecast to return “when volumes significantly increase”.

New Zealand has about 2800 kiwifruit growers located from Kerikeri to Motueka.

“The industry must work together to ensure the 2023 season runs as smoothly as possible despite the curveballs being thrown,” Bond says.

New Zealand’s kiwifruit industry is horticulture’s largest export, with an economic contribution of $2.4 billion in 2022 which is expected to grow to over $3.8b by 2030. ■

weather and poor opening of flower buds this season are just two of several challenges facing kiwifruit growers, says NZ Kiwifruit Growers Inc boss Colin Bond.

KIWIFRUIT: Adverse weather andothercomplications mean alow volume is expectedtobe harvestedthisyear.

The industry must work together to ensure the 2023 season runs as smoothly as possible despite the curveballs being thrown.

Desperatefeed shortage looms

POST-FLOODTIPS

● Keep up-to-date with advice from civildefence.govt.nz

● Floodwaters may be full of sewage, chemicals and other hazardous materials and should be avoided as much as possible

● Floodwater can carry bacteria that can contaminate food

Itisfeared some farmers have had their valuable winter feed crops completely wiped out by Cyclone Gabrielle, which will cause further headaches in the coming months.

Dairy farmers typically spend the warmer months preparing hay and silage as feed for winter and spring.

Last year about 1.2 million tonnes of maize silage was produced as supplementary feed for livestock, particularly on dairy farms —but entire crops have since been lost to the cyclone.

Federated Farmers’ president Andrew Hoggard said there would be feed challenges in the coming months after crops were flattened or destroyed and the group would coordinate donations and supplies when needed.

AgFirst consultant Tafi Manjala said with so much crop destruction, especially in Hawke’s Bay, many farmers would now be well behind on their normal feed supplies come winter, and would need to rely on supplementary feed.

“If people don’t have enough supplement on hand, they’re going to have to purchase additional feed from the market, which adds on to

farm costs,” Manjala said.

“Crop yields have generally been low, given the wetness that has delayed planting and in some instances damaged planting over the past few months and of course, the recent cyclone that flattened some maize crops in certain areas.”

Manjala said Cyclone Gabrielle had hit farmers at abad time, as they tended to take things abit easier right about now in order to be well-rested ahead of the typically busy winter period.

“It will make things really stressful

at areally busy time of year,” he said.

“At this time of the year, people expect to be taking abit of abreak and you want to be going into winter refreshed, especially for dairy farmers.

“But some farmers have got ahuge cleanup ahead of them and if you’re going into winter after ahuge workload like that, it will compound onto that stress.”

His advice for affected farmers was to sit down, take stock and make a list of priorities.

“There’s alot of things to be done,

Teams in isolated country communities in Dartmoor, inland from Napier, spread out wet, flooddamaged hay to prevent combustion.

● Protect yourself when cleaning up floodwater and mud by wearing a properly fitted P2- or N95-rated mask, goggles, gloves, long pants, long-sleeved shirt, and gumboots or work shoes

● Throw away all food and drinking water that has come in contact with floodwater

● Do not eat garden produce if the soil has been flooded

● In power cuts, use torches instead of candles, and use only camp cookers andbarbecues outdoors.

but there’s some activities that are more important than others, like making sure that your cows are milked, making sure that you’ve got secure boundary fences so you can secure your stock, making sure that you can feed those animals so that you keep them in production.”

It was also important to accept help when it was offered, he said. “A lot of us in farming communities feel we can do things and make things happen ourselves, but ahuge effort will be required to recover, get as much help as you can.” ■ —RNZ

Mangawhai 685 OceanView Road, Te Arai

Farm, lifestyle &location!

Superbly positioned in the heart of Te Arai, closetoMangawhai, popular surf &swimming beaches, great fishing, world-renownedgolf courses, Tomarata Lakes and just over an hour to Auckland is this 120hectare grazing property. Its fertile flat to undulating contour has been well subdividedinto 63 paddocks and linked by an extensive limestone race network. As aformer dairy farm, it’shas afull set of farm infrastructure already in place; including a30 ASHB milking shed,anundercover set of cattle yards, acalf shed, abore and recently renovated three-bedroom character bungalow.

Take avirtual tour: www.vimeo.com/796385171 (turn on yoursound to hear the commentary) bayleys.co.nz/1203356

120.8128ha

Tender (unless sold prior)

Closing4pm, Tue 28 Feb 2023

41 Queen Street, Warkworth

View by appointment

John Barnett 021 790 393

john.barnett@bayleys.co.nz

Photo /Supplied by Naomi Rae

CYCLONE: The sting in Gabrielle’s tail willcomeata busy timelaterinthe year when extra feed is often critical.

Tafi Manjala

Mackle hangs up CEO boots

DAIRY: Dedicated advocate steps down

After 15 years as chief executive of DairyNZ, Dr Tim Mackle has decided to step down on June 30.

Mackle said he felt extremely privileged to have had the opportunity to lead and help develop DairyNZ’s solutions and services on behalf of its farmer members, right from the levy body’s formation in 2007 to today.

“After alot of thought and discussion with family, Ihave decided to step down at the end of June which will allow the board time to have a smooth transition and to recruit my successor.”

He said the dynamism, constant challenge and change in the dairy sector made it an exciting and purposeful role.

“I’m hugely proud of the role that NZ dairy has played —not only to help nourish so many people all over world —but to support NZ through some tough times, with dairy exports proving vital through the 2008/09 global recession and recently through the challenge of Covid-19.

“Another highlight for me would be the tremendous progress that farmers have made around sustainability practices, particularly over the last 10 to 15 years. There’s always going to be aneed to keep doing better on farms, but it’s important we do acknowledge the progress made by our farmers and sector as awhole.”

DairyNZ chairman Jim van der

Poel said Mackle had been astrong leader and advocate for dairy.

“Tim has always been hugely passionate about helping dairy farmers navigate challenges they have faced and continue to face.

“We’re fortunate to have had Tim at DairyNZ through many challenging periods. Tim has played akey role in developing the R&D programme and the development of our sciencebased policy and advocacy function. He has been astrong leader and advocate for dairy. Tim is avaluesdriven leader and has built strong relationships with all those he has engaged with.”

Mackle thanked “the dedicated and talented staff of DairyNZ, our supportive and committed board, our partners, and crucially, our farmers”.

“I am deeply passionate about farming, it’s in my blood, it always will be. Iamlucky to have been able to work for farmers.”

The board will begin the recruitment process shortly. ■ —DairyNZ

Theroadfromresponsetorecovery

By RowenaDuncum

Itwas always going to take an extraordinarilydestructive eventto oust Cyclone Bola as thereference point against which all weather-related disasters are measured.

But,asthe full scalecontinues to emergetwo weeks on, Istrongly suspect,“Wasitasbad as Bola?” will be replacedwith “Was it as bad as Gabrielle?”

Anew,devastatingbenchmark –one noneofuseverwantedtowitness –has been set.Through it all, onething has stood out forme.

No matter howbadly someone has been impacted (and I’mtalking people who’velost all their possessions, their crops, their stock,their livelihoods), they’ve allsaidthe same simple thing: “There’ll be someoneworseoff than us.”

It has been truly humbling andmade me extremely proud to be associated withrural NewZealand.

From this point, those who’vebeen around the blockafew times, willknow howthis plays out. But there’llbethose newtofarming, newtoNew Zealand or simply newtoadversityofthis magnitude,experiencingeverything for the first time. Theshift from response to recovery canbechallenging to keep things in perspective andnot get overwhelmed

Since its establishment in 1905,FMG hasbeengoingthrough adverse events

–including Bola –alongside Kiwifarmers and growers. Their team shared afew things they’ve pickedupalong theway that might help alittle.

Thefirstthingtheyimpressed upon me is the importanceofacknowledging that this hasbeen amajor event in your life.Itgoesbacktomyearlier point around using Gabrielle as areference. Foryears people talked about‘Before Bola’and ‘After Bola.’The same will be true here. It is amajor eventinevery sense of the world, andit’sokayto recognise this

Forthose unsure where to begin –it’shelpful tofirst establisha good understandingofwhat is within your control. That way,right from the get-go, your energyisdirectedtowards areas where youcan makea difference,and not squandered

Let’sstart with people. Personal safetyand that of those around youis as importantduring thenextphase in recovery as it has been over the past 10 days.Have athinkabout whether youneed to tweak anyprotocols or safetydirectives on farm to allowfor the changeinsituation?

Do your employees, colleagues, friends or neighbours need extra support?While there are so many optionsonoffer,just reminding themofthis maymakeabig difference.There’s alot going through people’s mindsright now.

When youare safely ableto, carry outastocktake of your animals. Look at

stocknumbers and classes on-farm for the coming months or season.

Feed situations have been severely impacted, eitherdirectly or through generousdonationstothose worse off. Havinganongoing awareness of your situation will mean youcan make informed earlydecisions– vital heading toward winter.

On the financial andbusinessfront, talking to your bank early is critical. Likewise with your processors (dairy/ meat) and other key business partners like contractors. They can’thelpifthey don’tknowhow you’re placedand what youmight neednow or down the track

With suchwidespread damage, it’s important to assess which buildings

So, consider connecting with your local RuralSupport Trust,MPI, Farmstrongand Federated Farmers for extrasupport

Formoreinformation:fmg.co.nzor call 0800366 466

Brookfields bridge across theTutaekuri river, Pokowhai. PhotographybyCorena.

Tim Mackle is proud of what Kiwi dairy farmers have achieved.

www.thecountry.co.nz

Deer milk strengthens muscles, bones

RESEARCH: Aclinical trialby Pamu hasestablished a lesser-knownmilk offers significant health benefits

An18-month-long groundbreaking clinical trial investigating the health benefits of deer milk shows it improves muscle mass and bone density in older adults.

Government-owned farming company Pa¯mu, along with aSouth Island farming couple, milk 300 deer —200 in Southland and 100 on the Central Plateau.

Pa¯muhas been pursuing deer milk as aviable dairy product for many years and deer business lead Hamish Glendinning said scientifically proving the nutritional benefits were vital when building market demand for New Zealand deer milk.

Aclinical trial was set up in conjunction with Massey University in June 2021.

Of 120 female participants taking part in the trial, half consumed deer milk daily and half consumed a market-leading oral nutritional supplement.

“So it’s fairly comprehensive in terms of all of the results that we’ve generated. Going into the study we were hoping that the milk would, I guess, provide the same benefits, if not better, than the oral nutritional supplement.

“And this is aproduct that’s been around for over 100 years and is very well known and we were stoked to see that deer milk did compete and outperform in some areas, and the areas that it did out-perform was really around muscle strength .and that’s all around the protein, high protein.

“Then also bone strength —that’s related to the high calcium levels in deer milk.

“Two really interesting areas that we’ll look to delve into in abit more detail with future work, but it’s positioning us really nicely in that age-nutrition space,” he said.

Glendinning said the aim was to build an industry which increased revenue streams for deer farmers and New Zealand.

He said success so far had been built on the novelty aspect in aparticular food space.

The business needed to prove to consumers that the milk would give them something they could not get from other products. For that reason clinical trials would continue, he said.

“In that nutrition space, in agrowing ageing population, there is massive opportunity there. And so we think with anatural solution, like the milk, high protein, high in calcium and which is an A2-type protein, we think there’s areally neat value proposition there,” Glendinning said.

“It’s just about aligning the science with the right type of customer so we can really build some scalable demand.”

Currently, deer milk is sold in

Deer milk is shown to outperform a market-leading oral nutritional supplement in the areas of bone density and muscle mass.

powder form and exported to multiple markets with Vietnam being the largest. There is also cross commerce into China, while some goes to Australia and Japan.

Glendinning said they saw the milking deer herd increasing in size in New Zealand.

“Once we get it to astage where we’ve built amarket, where we’ve built demand, then absolutely it would be us having conversations and sharing some of that knowledge and getting others on board. The question remains as to Iguess how big it will be,” he said.

Glendinning said milking deer were like pets once they got used to their surroundings, and the fivemonth-long milking season was about halfway through.

New Zealand’s deer milk won the best dairy ingredient at last year’s World Dairy Innovation awards in France. ■ —RNZ

Photo /Warren Buckland

It’s just about aligning the science with the right type of customer so we can really build some scalable demand.

—Hamish Glendinning , Pamu

Chris Childerhouse wants to send socks like these to Ukraine.

Woollen socks might help Ukrainians cope with cold

CHARITY: Strong wool socks

‘an obvious gift to send’.

AWellington man is aiming to send aminimum of 1000 pairs of Kiwi strong-wool socks to Ukraine to help locals cope with freezing temperatures.

Chris Childerhouse hit on the idea late last year when he could see how desperate conditions were following Russia’s invasion —recently Kyiv has been recording -7degC.

He said New Zealand has aproud history of strong-wool production and wool socks seemed an obvious gift to send.

“That’s probably as complex as it got, and Ijust thought if we can get wool products over there they could probably use them,” he said.

The campaign is called SOS —Send

Our Socks —and it aims to get $20,000 of product to fill apallet.

Childerhouse said aNew Zealand aid organisation Mahi for Ukraine was also backing the idea.

The socks will be made by NZ Sock Company in Ashburton.

“They’ll be air-freighted from Christchurch to Poland then transported to the border by truck. From there they will be met by acouple recommended by Mahi in Ukraine.

“They run deliveries over the border, into Ukraine, and they will distribute them to people who need them.”

The socks will mostly be the thicker strong-wool style sock in a variety of colours and sizes.

Donations through aGive ALittle page close soon and Childerhouse said the socks would be sent as quickly as possible after that. ■ —RNZ

AT ARNOLD FRANKS

Boundarylinesare indicative only

Purua Lot 5Pipiwai Road

Breathtakingbeauty

Under 20 minutes fromKamo or Maungatapere,this site would suitthose who wanttobuild apristine lifestyle while allowing them to be closetowork or thosewho retire in style. Theoptions are endless withoutcovenants, you could even usethis as an extragrazing block with the shared troughand plenty of stockshelter fromthe Poplar woodlots.

Agentle andgradual contourofland caters to more than one potential site to build and encapsulate this grand vista of mountainranges with distant hills and countryside.Wait no further, the space is there so the choice is yours.

bayleys.co.nz/1053138

bayleys.co.nz

Boundary lines are indicative only

Photo not takenfrom site

1.124ha

Deadline Sale (unlesssold prior) 12pm, Wed 8Mar 2023

View by appointment

Gabe Schoonderwoerd 021 292 8035 gabe.schoonderwoerd@bayleys.co.nz

Carly Whaikawa 021424 854 carly.whaikawa@bayleys.co.nz

MACKYSREALESTATELTD,BAYLEYS,LICENSEDUNDERTHEREA ACT 2008

RURAL REVIEW

When is the right time to sell?

In years gone by,wehaveseen the numbers of buyers diminish fordairy and drystock farms in response to poor commodity prices. As the returns declined, so did the land values andeventual purchase price. Currently,commodity prices arestrong, and farmers aremakingagoodreturn on investment. As aresult, buyers aremotivated. When thecommodity market weakens, so toowillthe buyer’s appetite. When deciding to sell, Isuggestthatvendors looking to leave the industry bestsellonaconfident market. Those looking at staying within the industry arebestadvised to buy and sell in the same market. Commodity prices arepicked to remain strong forthe next fewyears (according to farmoreacclaimed commentators than I). Land prices per hectareare at levels thatIhaven’t witnessed in Northland. Thepremiumsavailable after acomprehensivemarketing campaign arewithout precedent forvendors considering exitingthe industry

Market sizediminished as median values increase

TheBayleys Country team has had afrantic past12months, with farm sales performing at record numbers. That sentimentisatodds with the story told by the stats. Looking at the total market sizefor Northland and comparing 2021 with 2022 is an interesting exercise.Therewere213 sales of land above 20ha in 2021, with atotal valueof$387million. In 2022, the market retracted to 125 deals with atotal valueof$268million. While this shows a30% reduction in total market value, therewas an increase in the individual median sales value.

Around NZ –Northland leads the nationwide patterns!

Northland has transacted morefarming properties in autumn in the pasteight years than at anyother season. This pastpattern of behaviour helps offer adegree of certainty around futurerural land sales. Interestingly,talking means or averages fordairy farms in the Waikatoisafalse message.The variety and scale areso massivethatthe numbers areprobably misleading, with dairy sales ranging from $23k per/ha to $70k per/ha. Drystock/grazing ranges from $10k per/ha to $50k per/ha, with each farm needing to be examinedonits ownmerits. Theone thing Northland shares with all the other areas is thatincreased commodity prices have affected all land classes. No longer aresmall, marginal or hill country dairy farms being overlooked by buyers. With the changing land use in the North, newbuyers arelapping these properties up –but foruses other than dairy! In the past12months, Northland land valuesindairyand drystock have increased significantly (to giveanacross-the-boardpercentage increase is misleading). Forestry has driven agreat deal of this change.Nomatterwhatyour feelings aboutthis, the reality is thatsome farmers have seen fit to takethe significant premiums made available.Ifyou want me or one of my team to giveyou some clear statisticsand appraisal values,weare happytodoso.

Country Sales Consultants wanted in Northland

Hereisachancetocapitalise on Bayleys nationwide network. Bayleys is renowned forbeing amarket leader in Country Real Estate,with awidenetwork of contacts and ahuge selection of marketing tools. Bayleys Whangarei is committed to growingthis team and business. Thesales manager mentors and assists other sales consultants to be the besttheycan. Whether you’reasales consultant looking to move into country real estate,anexperienced country agent or someone newtothe industry,Bayleys can guide youtobuild arewarding career.Packages can be negotiated; theymay include asalary plus commission, or commission only.Bayleys provides excellent induction processes and ongoing training to ensurethatyou will get ‘up to speed’ with Bayleys systems and processes quickly,allowing youtoachieve continued success.The support and resourcesavailable to youunder the Bayleys brand will add real valuetoyour career andwhat youcan achieve

To find out moreabout this excellent career opportunity please contact Tony Grindle in the strictestofconfidence.

Tony Grindle 021432 308 |tony.grindle@bayleys.co.nz

MACKYS REAL ESTATELTD,BAYLEYS,LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT2008

Puzzlesandhoroscopes

Cryptic crossword

Simon Shuker’s Code-Cracker

Your Stars

ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 19) There is greatjoy to be found from whatisunnecessary,useless and trifling. Tonight: be sure you're really choosing worthy challenges instead of making ordinarythings harder than they have to be.

TAURUS (Apr 20-May 20) So much of life is uncontrollable. Let thatgoasyou fall into the comfortable rhythm of apattern thatyou can predict. Your rhythm may be thrown afew times today, but habits get you right back in the groove.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun 21) Youcannot help whatyou want, but you change your focus to other options, as there are manythingstowant. Could you switch to something that's better for you? There's an art to wanting the right things.

CANCER (Jun 22-Jul 22) There are those around you who will take credit for whatever is up for grabs, whether they were apart of it or not. This is no time for humility. Let people knowwho you are and whatyou do.

ACROSS

1. Sort for pigs to make money from before tax (5,6)

8. Crime detectable by sonar perhaps (5)

9. To pinch astitch when knitting nothing at home (7)

10. Barrister having no cluestosort out (7)

11. Textile fabric Jack uses for flag(5)

12. Whatone says thereare parts of in grammar (6)

14. French poetryAmerican is against(6)

18. He gives aparty,having no right to followit(5)

19. Practically obsolete, but achic Academician turns to it (7)

21. Acopy of aclip may be restarted (7)

23. Persuade one not to start trading in bucks (5)

24. Give praise in wind section, as advised (11)

DOWN

1. Sideways strokes from legs can be made (7)

2. Stop one seeing former scholars effect aremedy(7)

3. Is anoted informer? (5)

4. Holds one off quietly and dances around (6)

5. Whatalot of money with respect to abit of melody! (7)

6. More than one needed to go around the West (3)

7. All an author's work is able to get no return (5)

13. Acrid form of bill from the heart (7)

15. Wasinclined to let sand run out (7)

16. Got hold of us with adifferent creed (7)

17. Greeting aLos Angeles entrymade by Mr Goldwyn (6)

18. Classic reader Byron needed (5)

20. Raced about with nucleus of key personnel (5)

22. Equal value found when two left one out (3)

Quickcrossword

WordWheel

Insert the missing letter to complete an eight-letter word reading clockwise or anti-clockwise.

WordBuilder

How many words of three or more letters, including plurals, can you make only once? No words beginning with a capital are allowed. There’satleast one Good

7 Very Good 9 Excellent 11

LEO (Jul 23-Aug 22) Youtry not to pass judgment on that which you don't fully understand. You'll head in with curiosity and compassion and if you come out knowing only alittlemore than you did before, you'll consider it agood day.

VIRGO (Aug 23-Sep 22) The spoils of success will not bring fulfilment. Youmight think of fulfillment as more of abyproduct than an end product. Like sweat, it's something thathappens in the process of work.

LIBRA (Sep 23-Oct 23) There have been manyinstances in your life and times when you have responded to pressure by doing something amazing. It will bolster your confidence to remember this and retell the story.

SCORPIO (Oct 24-Nov21) Whatmakes thejourney an adventure? It's not the newness of place, but the uncertainty thatcomes with it. Without a fear to face, it's merely apath. Without the risk, it's just aroad.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov22-Dec 21) Youfeelyour work is unfinished but if you don't showitnow,the chance may not come again. Keep in mind how incompletion invites collaboration, which will add energytothe endeavour

CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19) You'll ask excellent questions today. Even when you accidentally brush up againstsore subjects, people are complimented by your interest. The sweetness of your attention is agiftinand of itself.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18) People need people. But there are billions to choose from. Make new connections when you need them and when you don't. Start when you don't.

PISCES (Feb 19-Mar 20) Youusedtothink thatonce a certain problem got solved, you would coast on easy street. But there's always anew problem. That's the fun of life and the reason for sequels.

Previous cryptic solution

Across: 1. Booze4.Striped 8. Fetch and carry10. Chain 11.Tuts 12. Mien 16. Chose 17. International 19. Decoded 20. Robes.

ACROSS

7. Choosing (6)

8. Striped (6)

10. Trouble (7)

11. Drive forward (5)

12. Anger (4)

13. Amusement (5)

DOWN 1. Liken (7) 2. Barren (7) 3. Nose (5) 4. Mixture (7) 5. Skilled (5) 6. Fully grown (5) 9. Unaware (9) 14. Risks (7) 15. Brought down (7) 16. Approaching (7) 19. Elevate (5) 20. Entire (5)

www.thepuzzlecompany.co.nz

Down: 1. Before the wind2.Out 3. Ethics4.Sunday5.Racing 6. Partition 7. Drystonewalls 9.Automatic 13.Scared 14. Coward 15.Senior 18.Nab.

Previous quicksolution

Across: 6. Differs 7. Demon9.Beg 10.Matrimony 12. Illfavoured 15. Pastoralist17. Foretells 19. Coy21. Feted 22.Liberty.

Down: 1. Bided 2.Aft 3.Area 4. Reimburse5.Founder 8.Travel 11. Cluttered 13. Forced14. Cajoled16. Booty 18.Lair 20. Hew.

Sudoku Fill the grid so thateverycolumn, everyrow and 3x3 box contains the digits 1to9

Previous solution: AIRFIELD 23/2 HARD

PREVIOUS SOLUTIONS

NRL cancels season launch party

Groups trying to avoid inflaming pay talks

LEAGUE

The NRL’s season launch has been scrapped for the second straight year, this time as aresult of the bargaining dispute between the game and its players.

The Daily Telegraph is reporting the decision to cancel the event scheduled for today is ameans to avoid any unnecessary further friction with the players, given talks had been progressing well in recent days.

While players still haven’t ruled out strike action and had indicated they were willing to boycott the season launch, the NRL seemingly wanted to remove any further barriers to acollective bargaining agreement getting sorted before round 1 kicks off on Thursday, March 2.

“Due to the ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations, the NRL will not hold aseason launch function this Thursday as originally planned,” the statement read.

“The NRL remains focused on making positive progress regarding the joint NRL and NRLW agreements.”

ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys reportedly intervened in negotiations earlier this week, with both parties agreeing to make concessions in the hopes of coming to an agreement on afuture CBA.

An in-principle agreement for NRLW financial terms was also recently reached between the game and its players.

The decision to cancel this year’s event comes after 2022’s season opener, planned to take place in Penrith, was cancelled because of

flooding in the Blue Mountains area.

It also comes just days after Panthers superstar Nathan Cleary declared players are prepared to sit out NRL games if the league doesn’t come to the party in the CBA negotiations.

However, the World Cup winner is optimistic adeal can be sorted out before the new season.

“We’re prepared to sit out games. It’s obviously not something we want to do (because) it’s robbing the fans of what they want to see,” Cleary said.

“In saying that, it’s something we’re prepared to do to get our fair share.

“I think it’s just about the NRL coming to the party and wanting to find that middle ground where we can have that fair share.

“At the moment, unfortunately, it hasn’t happened yet so we’ll have to wait and see.”

Cleary, who is an RLPA delegate, is confident the two parties can reach an agreement to ensure the competition isn’t overshadowed.

“I’m not in on the inside of the negotiations, but Ithink it will be,” he replied when asked if the CBA would be struck in the next two weeks.

“I don’t think anyone from our side or the NRL’s side wants there to be no games, so hopefully we can come to an agreement. In saying that, we’re not just going to roll over and fall down to what the NRL wants.”

Cleary’s comments came hours after the RLPA shot down reports that they’ve received any new financial offers from the Australian Rugby League Commission as the parties attempt to sort out ajoint CBA for NRLW and NRL players.

The CBA has been delayed by more than three months, although

key progress was made earlier in the week when the parties announced an in-principle agreement for NRLW financial terms.

Anumber of positive meetings led to this week’s NRLW announcement, but reports of anew financial proposal haven’t gone down well with the RLPA, who are fighting to sort out

the CBA before the NRL season kicks off.

“The ARLC financial proposal was recycled and positioned as new information to the media,” an RLPA statement said.

“Given the relative progress that was made during last week’s negotiations, as well as Tuesday’s official

announcement of an in-principle agreement for NRLW financial terms, this does not help either party make further progress.

“There is still much more work to do as we continue to negotiate ajoint CBA for NRLW and NRL players which captures all their terms and conditions.” —News.com.au

Size doesn’t matter: Kolbe in defence of the little guys

Ben Coles of

Cheslin Kolbe, the Springbok wing, says it would be “amazing” if South Africa were to join an expanded Six Nations.

In awide-ranging interview for The TelegraphRugby Podcast,the 29-yearold explained the background behind his move from South Africa to France’s Top 14, heralded Rassie Erasmus as a“phenomenal human” and opened up on the challenges that his size —heis1.7m tall and 80kg had presented during aglittering career.

At the beginning of abumper year for test rugby, with South Africa defending their World Cup crown in France, he endorsed the longdiscussed prospect of the Springboks joining the Six Nations.

“If it does happen, it would be massive and change the whole scenario regarding the Six Nations,” he said.

“For the Springboks, it would be amazing to be part of the Six Nations. You get to play against top countries each week.”

On the issue of size, Kolbe believes Italy fullback Ange Capuozzo (1.78m and 82kg), who impressed against France and England, can help to inspire smaller youngsters to take up the sport, and he recalled his own struggles in South Africa.

In 2015, two years before Kolbe, now with Toulon, left his homeland to join Toulouse, Nick Mallett, the former Springboks coach, suggested he consider aswitch to halfback.

However, the ensuing years have brought rewards for Kolbe’s resilience.

“My main reason at the time for leaving South Africa, obviously Ihad started afamily, was all the bad publicity Ihad got due to my stature and my size,” Kolbe said.

“I thought at the time Iwas playing quite well at wing or fullback, and

contributed to the team Iplayed for —Western Province or the Stormers.

“It was quite disappointing, but also achallenge that Iaccepted and made peace with.

“I was all about proving people wrong at the time, that it doesn’t matter how big or small you are because this game is made for each and every person.”

With players such as Capuozzo, now at Toulouse, shining on the biggest stage, Kolbe hopes any stigma over stature will fade away.

“I hope it’s changed, but I’m afirm believer that if you’re good and you

get the opportunity and make the most of it, then you deserve to be there,” Kolbe said.

“Ange has been incredible for Italy. Hopefully us smaller guys can encourage youngsters to take up the challenge and just enjoy themselves and not worry about what other people think or what they are going to be judging you on —being too small or making mistakes.

“In this game, no one is perfect.”

Kolbe played three games for South Africa last autumn, the second of which came in an incident-packed 30-26 loss to France, when both sides

had aman sent off. After that match, Erasmus received asuspension for seeming to question the decisions of referee Wayne Barnes via social media. Kolbe, however, staunchly defended the Springboks’ director of rugby.

“It just shows you how much he cares about the Springboks and about South Africa,” he said of Erasmus.

“He just wants the boys and the team to be treated fairly and he would go out of his way to make sure that is the case.

“He’s very passionate about his rugby and Iamsure everyone will

know that by now.

“That’s just who coach Rassie is.

“I’ve gotten to know Rassie since Istarted playing [for the Springboks] in 2018, but just his sense of the game, his thinking, is out of this world.

“I take my hat off to coach Rassie for coming in at such adifficult time and turning alot around in quite a short period of time leading into the World Cup in 2019.

“He’s afantastic coach to play under and just aphenomenal human off the field, too.

“He cares alot about the players, their health, their families and just wanting the best for them.

“Everyone knows that the ban he got was for the players, for the Springboks at the time.

“He’s agood guy to have on your side.” —TelegraphGroup UK

ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys is pushing for abargaining agreement to be struck soon.

Photo /Photosport

Cheslin Kolbe thinks the Springboks would benefit from ashift into the Six Nations championship.

Photo /Photosport

Hopefully us smaller guys can encourage youngsters to take up the challenge andjustenjoy themselvesand not worryabout what other people think or what theyare going to be judging youon— beingtoo small or making mistakes.

Cheslin Kolbe

Tall Blacks will make without the Breakers

BASKETBALL

The Tall Blacks have gone heavy on the veterans, while bypassing Breakers players currently involved in the Australian National Basketball League playoffs, for their final squad of 12 to face Saudi Arabia and Lebanon in the final window of the Fiba World Cup Qualifiers.

The team is led by veterans Tohi Smith-Milner, Isaac Fotu, Reuben Te Rangi, Jordan Ngatai and Ethan Rusbatch, with Rusbatch set to be the only player to be appear in all 10 Tall Blacks teams during WCQ play. With the exception of Tyrell Harrison, who last played for the Tall Blacks in 2020, all of 12 athletes named have suited up for the Tall Blacks within the past 12 months.

The squad was only finalised following the NZ Breakers win over the Tasmania JackJumpers in the Australian NBL on Sunday night, with their upcoming finals series against the Sydney Kings removing seven Breakers players —initially named in the squad of 24 —from contention. In addition, both Shea Ili and Tai Webster were unavailable

due to injury, while Corey Webster has elected to pursue aplaying opportunity in Europe.

Tall Blacks head coach Pero Cameron said although the squad came together late, he was pleased with the level of experience and ability of the players coming into camp.

“We had agroup of 24 to choose from, and depending on availability —with most of these guys being overseas and state of the playoff run for the Aussie NBL —it’s meant this team has only been able to be confirmed late,” says Cameron.

“It’s been awaiting game, in that our approach to the players has been ‘if you make the playoffs the,n awesome, if you don’t make it then, can we have your services [for the national team].

“Having Reuben [Te Rangi] coming in and joining the group, what he brings to the team in terms of leadership is great, and the other returning guys like Ngatai, Ethan, Isaac and Tohi, with them being available for us over the past two years is amazing. We know that having that core group together is important.”

Cameron says that the

unavailability of Ili due to injury is ablow for the team, but one they can overcome thanks to the depth of the squad.

“Shea wanted to play, but having asecond and third concussion in that limited space means you’ve got to make sure that his health is first and foremost.

“We wish him all the best, we know he was dying to be apart of this but hopefully he’s able to get to get back on that horse and be ready for the World Cup preparations.”

With the Fiba World Cup seeding not announced until the end of April, Cameron said he wanted the team to finish as high it could.

Tall Blacks

● Squad of 12

Taylor Britt (14 caps)

Walter Brown, Tasmania

Jackjumpers (1 cap)

Isaac Fotu, Utsunomiya Brex (68 caps)

Hyrum Harris, Adelaide 36ers & Hawke’s Bay Hawks (6 caps)

Tyrell Harrison, Brisbane Bullets (3 caps)

Jordan Hunt, Hawke’s Bay Hawks (11 caps)

Nikau McCullough (3 caps)

Jordan Ngatai, Hawke’s Bay Hawks (64 caps)

Richie Rodger, Taranaki Airs (4 caps)

Ethan Rusbatch (44 caps)

Reuben Te Rangi, Southeast

MelbournePhoenix &Auckland

Tuatara (52 caps)

Tohi Smith-Milner, Southeast

MelbournePhoenix &Wellington Saints (51 caps)

● World Cup Qualifier Games

Tall Blacks vs Saudi Arabia, Christchurch Arena —Friday

February 24

Tall Blacks vs Lebanon, TSB Arena Wellington —Monday February 27.

“This is our final window and we want to do well; we have our own standards and expectations and goals we set as agroup, so we want to go in and have agood performance.

“We had amixed bag in our last window where we walked away with two losses, Ithought we played well at times but we were unable to close games out.

“The Lebanon game is big because they’ve qualified [for the Fiba World Cup] so we expect good performances from our guys and we want the win —that’s first and foremost on our mind for these games.”

Cameron singled out 2.13m (7’ 0”) centre Harrison as aplayer who will be “one to watch” for the two games in New Zealand.

“We’re looking at acouple of guys like Harrison who haven’t worn the black jersey in awhile, so it’s important to see how we can get them involved. Harrison has been pretty good in the Aussie NBL and he brings something different to the team with this size and experience, so we’ll get agood look at him.”

“And the fact we’re getting more and more games for the Tall Blacks is great —especially home games as it’s not easy to get teams down this part of the world.” —Supplied content

Nervous owner looking to sprinkle some joy with NZ Warriors

LEAGUE

For three frustrating years One New Zealand Warriors owner Mark Robinson could do nothing as the club he’d bought was forced to operate away from home.

Only four fleeting visits for games at Mount Smart Stadium last year broke the period in exile.

Until the homecoming match against Wests Tigers on July 3last year, Robinson hadn’t even seen the team play at home since buying the club in September 2019.

Which is why starting all over again in 2023 —the club’s 29th season in existence —means that much more. It’s the rebirth or reset of aclub which is at last back where it should be. Once again it has its heart and soul.

The ever-passionate Robinson’s driving dream for the Warriors is

Danny Lee the winner in switch

GOLF OPINION

Cameron McMillan

LIV Golf is the right fit for Danny Lee. I’m not convinced Danny Lee is the right fit for LIV Golf.

Lee became the first Kiwi to join the Saudi Arabia-backed golf league and, ethics aside, it’s the right call at this stage of his career.

Two years ago, Lee’s future at the top of golf was in serious doubt.

He had practically lost his PGA Tour card at the end of 2021 after he finished outside of the top 125 on the FedEx Cup end-of-season standings and then failed to gain

undiminished. “All Iwant from everyone in this club is to make New Zealand proud,” he said.

“I don’t care what it costs, I’m not going to stop until we have NRL trophies in our cabinet.

“This year people think we’re going to finish 15th but Ilike being the underdog.

“If that’s what they think, then that’s what they think. That’s just going to make our club better.”

New Zealand Warriors chief executive Cameron George is in the best place to assess how driven Robinson is for the club to succeed.

“He leads with asense of ambition, aggressive ambition, to do something that’s never been done before for New Zealand,” he said.

“On day one when the pandemic hit not only was he trying to balance aglobal business in Autex, he knocked on the door here (at the club)

Danny Lee has ecured his financial future following his move to the LIV Golf League.

sounds like anice earning for five months’ work but when you factor in tax, travel and accommodation expenses along with caddie and coaching fees, that cash is soon whittled down.

He doesn’t have any major invitations as it stands having to earn his US Open spot last year through qualifying, his only major appearance since 2020. He missed the cut at The Country Club.

The Players Championship would have been the biggest tournament he’d play this year, an event at which he’s made the cut just twice in eight attempts.

and said: ‘I’m here to lead you as well. There’s no way in my lifetime that the Warriors won’t be in the National Rugby League competition.’

“Without ashadow of adoubt if it wasn’t for Mark Robinson being the owner of this rugby league club, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”

Now Robinson’s counting down the days to season 2023, even more so for the first home game of the year at Mount Smart Stadium when the Warriors host the Bulldogs on March 26.

“When Iturn up to the ground I’m really nervous, Idon’t talk much and I’m always on edge from the start until the finish,” he said.

“It’s just overwhelming. Ijust love to see so many happy people in one place and if the Warriors can put on ashow and win agame and everyone leaves happy there’s nothing better than that.” —Supplied content

as atrading partner; they are our 24th most important market in terms of two-way trade.

The question is why did LIV Golf want Lee? You certainly wouldn’t call him adrawcard.

While fellow Kiwi Ryan Fox seems to be hitting his stride jumping into the world’s top 30, Lee has been on aslide since his only win at the Greenbrier Classic in 2015.

Ranked 267th in the world, he hasn’t been in the world’s top 100 since July 2020.

enough points in the Korn Ferry Tour finals.

However, he made the most of a minor injury exemption which earned his place in four events at the start of the 2022 season. He caught fire over two weeks which pretty much secured two more years on tour when he finished second and then seventh aweek later.

He then missed 12 cuts in the 20 other events he played but the earlyseason form was enough to keep his card for this year and continue his impressive streak on the PGA Tour since 2014. That form hasn’t returned.

The 31-year-old has two top 25 finishes in 11 events this season, having made US$316,795. Which

Lee will have to be comfortable with the ethics of his move —there are many who see LIV Golf as a sportswashing exercise by a repressive regime.

He might point to the fact that Saudi athletes are welcomed at major sporting events and —regime or not —the Saudi government does alot of business with New Zealand

LIV probably didn’t need any more big names. If golf fans aren’t tuning in for Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson, who all signed up for LIV last year, then they probably wouldn’t be swayed even if the likes of world Nos 6and 7Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffle made the jump.

The fans certainly aren’t lining up in Mexico this week to see Danny Lee. —NZHerald

Reuben Te Rangi adds veteran leadership.

Photo /Photosport

Mark Robinson’s ownership stint with the Warriors has been coloured by three seasons of Covid restrictions.

Photo /Photosport

Photo /Getty Images

Wada seeks four-year ban on skate drugs cheat

Russia decides on aone-day suspension

The World Anti-Doping Agency has appealed Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva’s doping case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and said yesterday it is seeking afour-year ban.

Wada is objecting to afinding by aRussian tribunal that Valieva bore “no fault or negligence” in the case, which overshadowed last year’s Beijing Olympics. Wada wants afouryear ban and for Valieva’s results to be disqualified from the date she gave the sample, December 25, 2021. That would include the Olympics.

Ayear after the Beijing Games finished, no medal ceremony has taken place for the team competition because of the uncertainty.

Wada said the Russian decision was “wrong under the terms of the World Anti-Doping Code in this case,” without giving further detail.

The Russian skater, who was then 15, won Olympic gold in the team competition in February before it was announced that asample she gave two months before tested positive for abanned substance. The result was reported later because the laboratory which tested the sample was affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Another CAS panel granted an emergency request for Valieva to be allowed to skate in the women’s competition at the Olympics, in part because of her age.

Valieva was favoured for the gold medal but falls in her free skate left her in fourth. She left the venue in tears.

After the Olympics finished, the Russian anti-doping agency took several months to carry out its own investigation and hold hearings.

Wada tried to refer the case to CAS in November because of the delays before the Russian agency eventually produced averdict, which it has not made public.

Wada, which has received acopy, said the Russian tribunal didn’t impose aban and only disqualified Valieva from one day of the 2021 Russian national championships, where the sample was taken.

US Figure Skating said this month that it and its skaters, who placed second behind the Russians in the team event, were “deeply frustrated by the lack of afinal decision” on the competition results.

The case put aspotlight on Russia’s intensive training system for young skaters and in particular the practices of Valieva’s coach, Eteri Tutberidze, who has worked with aseries of champion Russian skaters.

Tutberidze criticised Valieva as she left the ice in the women’s event in Beijing.

Concerns around young skaters’ physical and mental health led the International Skating Union to vote last year to raise the minimum age to compete at the Olympics to 17 in time for the next Winter Games in 2026.

—AP

LIV Golf still struggling for afoothold despite the hefty payroll

GOLF OPINION

Doug Ferguson

LIV Golf decides when to hold tournaments by avoiding what its leader, Greg Norman, calls heritage events. That’s another way of saying it will find holes in the PGA Tour schedule with weak fields or marginal interest.

He got that part right.

More attention should have been given to what LIV Golf has to follow, and what’s ahead, that might make the start of its second season have ahard time living up to its moniker. Golf, but louder —louder than the WM Phoenix Open?

No amount of music can match the volume and energy of aparty so raucous in the Arizona desert that it’s easy to forget there’s atournament going on.

Louder than Riviera?

That’s where Tiger Woods was just as easily heard as seen because of thousands of delirious fans who followed every one of his 283 shots at the Genesis Invitational.

Phoenix delivered Masters champion Scottie Scheffler returning to No 1inthe world. At Riviera, it was Jon Rahm winning for the third time in five tournaments. Woods presented him the trophy and said to crowd:

“Please understand and respect how good this guy is. He’s just getting started in his career, and we all get a chance to watch it.”

Your turn, LIV.

It all unfolds this weekend at Mayakoba along Mexico’s Gulf coast, where the PGA Tour played from 2007 without attracting much of agallery.

And then after it’s over, golf attention returns to the PGA Tour for

the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, followed by The Players Championship with its US$25 million purse and one of the most dramatic tests at the TPC Sawgrass.

The hope for LIV Golf rests on its concept of team golf.

“In less than ayear, LIV Golf has reinvigorated the professional game and laid the foundation for the sport’s future. In 2023, the LIV Golf League comes to life,” Norman said in releasing the rosters of 12 four-man teams.

Some of the newcomers don’t exactly cause arush to buy tickets or download The CW Network app to watch.

The biggest addition based on the world ranking is Thomas Pieters of Belgium at No 35. He shined in alosing cause in the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine, though he failed to make the

next two Ryder Cup teams.

The surprise was Brendan Steele, a three-time PGA Tour winner who joins the team of chief LIV recruiter Phil Mickelson. Both have the same agent, and Mickelson took him under his wing during Steele’s rookie season in 2013, involving him in some of Lefty’s money games.

This is adifferent kind of money game. The stakes are high in so many ways.

LIV Golf introduced Steele as a “10-time professional champion”. That includes his four Golden State Tour wins and one pro-am known as the Straight Down Fall Classic. He joins Mickelson, former US Amateur champion James Piot and Cameron Tringale.

Other additions include Mito Pereira of Chile, Sebastian Munoz of Colombia, former US Amateur

champion Danny Lee and Dean Burmester of South Africa, whose rookie season on the PGA Tour ends after eight tournaments.

“The most popular sports in the world are team sports, and our league format has already begun to build connections with new audiences around the globe,” Norman said.

Dustin Johnson remains the star attraction, with anod to The Players Championship and British Open titles Cameron Smith won last year. Johnson hasn’t played since the end of October, and more time off was part of LIV Golf’s appeal. He earned more more (US$35.6 million) by playing less (eight events).

Making fans miss asport presumably makes them hungry for its return. But in LIV Golf’s case —atleast after one year —the four-month break only created scepticism of its future instead of whetting the appetite. —AP

Tyler Boyd turned out for the Phoenix between 2012 and 2014.

Photo /Photosport FOOTBALL

Former Wellington Phoenix winger Tyler Boyd signed aone-year contract with the LA Galaxy yesterday.

This will be Tauranga-born Boyd’s first time in Major League Soccer after playing in New Zealand, Portugal and Turkey. He had two goals and one assist in 10 appearances for the US from 2016-19.

The 28-year-old had four goals and one assist in 35 matches from 2019-22 with Turkey’s Besiktas. He was loaned to Sivasspor in 2021 and had five goals in 14 appearances, then had two goals in 23 games on loan to C¸aykur Rizespor.

Russian skater Kamila Valieva’s case will go before the sports court.

Photo /AP

Sport White Ferns get no favours

CRICKET

The White Ferns could only watch on as hopes of aplace in the semifinals of the T20 World Cup in South Africa were extinguished in Cape Town yesterday morning.

New Zealand needed the winless Bangladesh to upset the hosts in the final group game of the tournament —instead the match went as form suggested it would. South Africa won by 10 wickets to send the White Ferns home ruing what could have been.

The White Ferns have not made the semifinals of aT20 World Cup since 2016.

After starting this year’s tournament with heavy losses to Australia (by 97 runs) and South Africa (by 65 runs) the White Ferns returned to winning ways against Bangladesh (by 71 runs) and Sri Lanka (by 102 runs).

Defending champions Australia went through Group 1unbeaten to finish top of the group. New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka all had two wins and two losses and net run-rate decided which side progressed to the

final four alongside Australia.

South Africa had the superior runrate, knocking New Zealand out of second spot.

After the shaky start to the tournament, White Ferns captain Sophie Devine said she was “embarrassed” by her side’s showing at the world event.

However following New Zealand’s final group game on Monday allrounder Amelia Kerr was philosophical about what the team could take from the tournament.

“Disappointing start but Ithink to

turn it around these last two games has been pleasing but there’s definitely learnings. It’s probably as simple as playing straight and being tough in tough periods,” Kerr said.

Earlier yesterday, in Group 2, England smashed the highest-ever score at aWomen’s T20 World Cup to go unbeaten in the group stages.

Vice-captain Nat Sciver-Brunt’s 81 not out led England to arecord score of 213-5, to become the first women’s team to pass 200 runs in T20 world cups.

England then ripped through the

Pakistan batting order to win by 114 runs in Cape Town, inflicting the heaviest defeat in the history of the tournament.

The previous highest winning margin in the tournament was 113 runs, recorded by South Africa against Thailand in 2020.

England, who claimed the T20 World Cup in 2009, face South Africa in the second semifinal on Saturday in Cape Town.

Australia face India in the first semifinal tomorrow.

The final is on Monday.

FrustratedFoster trying to keep his eye on the ball

Frustrated All Blacks coach Ian Foster has conceded he doesn’t think he’ll have the job after this year’s Rugby World Cup in an impassioned interview.

Foster told Newstalk’s ZB that New Zealand’s Rugby decision to announce the next All Blacks coach before this year’s World Cup had become adistraction for the team while adding it was highly unlikely he would be in charge at the end of his current contract.

“I think it’s pretty highly unlikely that Iwill be in this job next year, but Ikeep getting asked about it, if am Igoing to apply,” Foster said.

“The big question is what’s the best thing for the All Blacks in 2023. And for me, the team comes first and Iwant to express their view.

“I’m reading the tea leaves, Mike [Hosking], and Ithink it looks like there’s amood for achange. And, so for me, I’d like to put energy into that at the end of the year. Not now.

“My sole focus is on the World Cup and quite frankly, Ithink it’s highly unlikely that I’m going to be the next All Blacks coach anyway. But that’s, that to me is not my concern.”

It follows Foster making aplea to NZR in a Herald interview not to disrupt the All Blacks in World Cup year by beginning the hunt for the next coach in March.

Adecision on the timing to appoint the next All Blacks coach is

imminent, with all indications pointing towards apotentially divisive pre-World Cup contestable process ensuing.

Crusaders coach Scott Robertson and Japan coach Jamie Joseph are

considered candidates for the role.

Foster said the whole discussion about who will apply for the job is not helping the team as players kick off the 2023 season and begin preparation for the World Cup in

Wednesday 1st March –Entertainment –Cover Charge Applies

Saturday 11th March –Dave Ewart Jnr –7-10pm–NoCover Charge

France in September-October.

“This is becoming more of a debate about who’s going to apply than what’s the right thing for the team. And for me, Iknow there’s going to be some people going to

Ian Foster doubts he will be the All Blacks coach next season.

Friday 17th March –StPatricks Day –LiveEntertainment with “Scratch” –7-10pm -NoCover Charge

Saturday 25th March –Rud Stewart “ONE MORE TIME”– 7.30-10.30pm

make decisions, Irespect that and Irespect whatever decision is made. But Ibelieve Iowe it to our team to say what Ifelt was the right thing for the All Blacks in aWorld Cup year,” he added.

Photo /Photosport

THE BIGGEST OUTDOOR EVENT IN NORTHLAND

MARCH 2, 3&4 2023

STATEHIGHWAY 14,DARGAVILLE

NorthlandField Days exhibitingresilience

Thelargest agriculturaleventin Northlandhasbeen heldinDargavillefor 37years.

ForNorthlandFieldDaystherewasa breakinproceedingsin2021and2022 becauseofCovid.WithCycloneGabrielle causinghavocintheKaiparaDistrict recently,itinitiallylookedliketherewouldbe anotherenforcedshutdownoftheevent

Dargaville and surrounding districts were awashwithwater,manyresidents left homesto escaperapidlyrisingwater, the TangowahineRiver bankscollapsed, the Northern Wairoa river overflowedon

totheFieldDaysiteandothersurrounding streets andthe towncentrewascrammed withsandbags.

EventCo-ordinatorfortheFieldDays, LucianaSchwarz,saysnotoneofthe250 orsoexhibitorspulledoutbecauseofthe consequencesoftherainandwind.

“Theexhibitorshavebeenverysupportive andourcommitteeofvolunteershasbeen workingdayandnighttocleanupthesite andhaveitreadyfortheevent.”

Schwarzsaidtheamountofwateronthesite afterthecyclonehadpassedthroughwas “significant”butoncetheriverwaterreceded thesitebecamehabitable.Therewassome remedialworkrequired.Thecommittee clearedthedrains,moppedupthewater andmowedthelawnsreadyforexhibitorsto comeinandsetup.

Thelong-termweatherforecastforthe NorthlandFieldDaysonThursday2ndMarch toSaturday4thMarchisforfineweather

Chainsaws ready to go forthe competition to be held at the Northland Field Days.

All lined up and ready to go –just some of the tractorsondisplay at the Northland Field Days.

An aerial shot of Northland Field Days showing the sizeofthe agri-event which is the largest in Northland.

WHAT’SON.

Tractors,LawnMowers, Sheep Dogs andOther Critters

NorthlandFieldDaysareonatAwakinoPoint WestRoad,Dargaville,overthreedays-2nd, 3rdand4thMarch.

TheFieldDayshavea37-yearhistoryand forover25yearsofthoseyearsthere hasbeenatractorpullcompetition. Thecompetitionisonthe100metre trackontheTractorPullAreaonWells Roadandisdesignedforboththenovice contestantandexperienceddrivers. It testsbrutestrengthcombinedwithskill andtechnique. Sectionsincludethebank challenge,thebusinesschallengeandthere aregeneralheats.

Thereislawnmowerracingonaspeciallybuiltoval.It’sdesignedforpeopleofallwalks oflifetogetinvolvedandcompeteandhave funatthesametime.

Oneofthemostpopularevents,and somethingthatispartoftheKiwiDNA,isthe

sheepdogtrials.Dogsandtheirhandlers fromalloverNorthlandwillcompeteand theyareheldonDavePhillipsMemorial Drivedaily

Forchildrenofallages(andforchildrenat heart)thereisCaro’sCrazyCrittersMobile Farm. It’sanopportunitytoexperience hands-onenjoymentandpersonal interactionwitharangeoffarmand domesticanimalsthatcertainlycitydwellers maynototherwiseget. Availablealldayfor allthreedays.

Therearethreelargelifestylepavilions exhibitingfoodandwine,gadgetsofall kinds,outdoorfurnituredisplays,laserclay shootingandvariouscompetitionsata numberofthe250stands

Lawn mowerracing

Caro’sCrazy Crittersatthe petting farm

The ever-popular sheep dog trials

The tractor pulling competition

Te AraHauoraWellnessHub

andservices,visitorswillseeinnovative equipmentsuchasTePahiONgaIwi-the ‘People’sBus’,adiagnosticvanthatcan provideechocardiogramsthatexaminethe heart,aswellasvascularandeyeexams. TeWhatuOra,stafffrombowel,breastand cervicalscreening,willbeonhandtodiscuss howscreeningworks.

industriesaswellasurbansectorsacross theregion.

ThatincludesworkfromTeWhatu Orastaff,whoseaimistohavethe benefitsofagoodshowcontinue longafternextmonth’sNorthland FieldDaysgatesclose.Visitsinthepasttothe TeAraHauorawell-beingsiteattheannual eventhaveliterallysavedlives.

Amonghealthmessages,innovations andinsightsintoregionalprogrammes

Thestaff,messagesandhealthgadgetsatTe AraHauoraWellnessHubwillbeatsitesC1, C2,D1andD2inalargepaviliondevotedto regional,publicandcommunityservice. TeWhatuOra(formerlyNorthlandDistrict HealthBoard)annuallygrabsthischanceto reachouttoomanythousandsofpeople. ThisyearNorthlandFieldDaysorganisers expectaround18,000visitorseachdaythe eventison.Thelonghistoryofbeingpart oftheFieldDaysreflectsTeWhatuOra’s missiontoimprovethewell-beingofpeople intheagricultural,horticulturalandoutdoor

Area-wise,Northlandisoneofthelargest regionsinNewZealand.Becauseofthe distancebetweenservicecentres,the remotenatureofmanysettlements,a historicproportionatelylowincomeand employmentlevelcombinedwithrelated badhealthoutcomes,andaperceivedlack offundingtoovercomeinter-generational problemsacrosstheboardinNorthland, theregionoftensitsatthebottomofthe rungonmostsocialindices.TeWhatuOra hashadatoughhaultryingtoovercome manyobstaclestoimproveaccessibilityand healthoutcomesinitsregionandhasbeen recognisednationallyforlocalprogrammes ithasintroducedandpiloted.

So,what’sallthatgottodowithwhatis primarilyanoutsizedag-hortshow?Well,

nowheredotown,country,andamyriadof industries,communityservices,innovation, andold-fashionedfuncometogethermore colourfullyandaccessiblythanonthe NorthlandFieldDays’36-hectaresiteon Dargaville’soutskirts.Thisyear,morethan 300exhibitorswilldisplaystuffforcows, ploughs,bigrigs,farmbikes,workwear, fencinggear,dogtrials,tractorpulls,solar power,cleanwater,wastewater,croptrees, amenities,barbecues,eco-loos,cabins, kitchens,leisurecraft,artsandcraft,kids’ games,playgrounds,foodhalls,tasting stalls andsomuchmore,includingTe AraHauoraWellnessHub,showingwhat prevention-aimed,practicalsolutionpublic healthinitiativeslooklike.

Beingheldforthe36thtimesince1985but stymiedbyCOVIDin2021and2022,theshow isonfromThursday,March2,untilSaturday, March4.Atitspre-COVIDpeak,theeventhad over500exhibitorsandupto27,000visitorsa day.TheNorthlandFieldDaysissecondonly insizetotheannualnationaleventatMystery Creek,nearHamilton,andattractsexhibitors andvisitorsfromalloverNewZealand.

L-R: Louisa Kingi, Vicky Maihi, Evan Smeath (President Whg A&P Society), AnnetteTeHira, Stuart Selkirk,Tina Quitta

It’sthecountdown untilNewZealand’s secondbiggest agricultureshow openstothepublic butworkorganising thebigeventhasbeen underwayformonths.

TeWhatuOra’smissiontoimprovethewell-beingofpeople intheagricultural,horticulturalandoutdoorindustriesaswellas urbansectorsacrosstheregion.

Locals supporting local

DargavilleFordhasno fewerthansevensitesat theNorthlandFieldDays.

Inpreviousyearstheyhavehadfivesites butforthisyeardecidedtogoallout Ondisplaywillbearound40Fords,20Can Amcars,15Suzukimotorbikesandaround fiveorsixMahindracars.

Dealershipowner,AnthonyWest,saysthey havebeengoingtoFieldDayssincetheystarted in1986anditmeansverygoodbusiness.It’s alsowhytheyhavechosentohavesomany sites.Therewillbesevenoreightstaffmanning thesitesoverthethreedays.

“Wegettradiesandfarmersandotherlocals comingintochat. Itcomesinwaveswith peoplecomingandgoingandthisyear,with thecyclone,afewwillbelookingtoreplace carsthatareflooddamaged.

“Atthemomentwehavesevenvehiclesin theyardthathavebeenmadeinoperable becauseoftheflood.”

WestisalsoownerofNorthlandMotorsport thathasastandattheFieldDaysaswell.

HesaystheirinvestmentintheFieldDays “definitelypaysoff”andunlikeother exhibitorshedoesn’thavetospendmoney gettingthegoodsindisplaytransportedfrom outoftown.He’salocal.

Ford Everest SUV, afinalist in the New Zealand Car of the Year and on show, along with anumber of other Fordsand other makes and models, at the Dargaville Ford stand at the Northland Field Days.

Dargaville Ford,along time exhibitor to the Northland Field Days

TheVetCentreNorthland...........................LP115

ThinkWaterNorthland............................J18,J17 TokoroaEngineering2014Ltd.

What allthe symbolsmean on this map:

VertuEquipment....................................B16,B17

Northpower manning thestand

Northpowerhas astandatthe NorthlandFieldDays.

Thisis despite the factanumber ofcrewsareworkingto restore powertothethousandswho experienced powerfailure during CycloneGabrielle.

Justoveraweekago,there were7,000peoplestillwithout power.Butthatisdownfrom the30,000whodidn’thave powerintheimmediate aftermathofthecyclone.

RachelWansbonefrom Northpowersaidthe KaiparaDistrictisstillof concern,particularly aroundPoto

Thecompanywillhavesixorseven staffmanningthestandattheField Days.Theyaremainlyofficestaffand notthoseworkinginthefield.

Theywillbeboostedbyanother sevenoreightfromtimetotime andsupplementedbysome Northpower’strusteeswhowillbe presenttotalktopeoplewho

“Wehavealteredthesetupofourstand fromwhatwehadoriginallyplannedto reflectwhathashappenedduringthe cyclone,”shesaid.

“Wewillhavealotofphotosofthecyclone’s devastationandIexpecttherewillbealotof discussiongoingonaroundthosebecauseso

manypeoplehavebeenaffectedtoagreater orlesserextent.”

Thecompanywillhaveanoff-gridphone chargingstationonthestand,apedal bikegeneratingelectricity,therewillbe competitionsandinformationoncareers available.

Demonstrating the PPE (Personal Protection Equipment)

Apedal bikegenerating electricity,onthe Northpowerstand at the Northland Field Days.

Areyou coming to theField Days?

It’sthattimeofyearagain!

The2023NorthlandFieldDaysarejust aroundthecorner.Ourteamfrom NorthTec|TePūkengawillbethere toanswerallyourburningquestions abouthowyoucanlearnsomethingnew, upskill,re-train,orgetqualifiedforthecareer ofyourchoice.

Whetheryouareinterestedinagriculture, fencing,horticulture,pestoperations, conservation,orheavytransportwehavethe coursetohelpyougetthere.

AtNorthTec|TePūkengaweofferanNZ CertificateinFencing(Level3)thatallowsyou tolearnfencingbestpracticesforworkasa ruralfencerorinafencingteam.You’lllearn toconstructelectricandnon-electricfences, performroutinerepairsandmaintenance, maintainhealthandsafetyintheworkplace, andoperateallnecessarymachineryand equipmentneededforthefencingworkplace. OurNZCertificateinFencing(Level4)builds onthefoundationsoftheNZCertificatein

Fencing(Level3)withafocusonfenceand stockyarddesignandconstruction,managing staffandclientrelationships,andleadership skills.Theprogrammeisdesignedtosuit theneedsofpeoplealreadyworkinginthe industrywhowanttotakethenextstepin theircareersandopenupthepathwayto managementorsolobusinessownership

Bothprogrammeswillbedeliveredusing onlinezoomtutorials,onlinelearning,and one-on-oneworksitevisits,sotheycanfit

It’s not toolatetoenrol!

Been thinking about studying this year but haven’t got your application in yet?

There’s still time to enrol for study with us at NorthTec |TePūkenga for Semester 1, 2023 and take the next step on your learning journey.

inaroundyourcurrentemployment.These papersarealsoavailableall-aroundAotearoa NewZealand,notjustinNorthland.

MoreinterestedinCommercialTransport? Weoffershortcoursesthatgetyouqualified foryourlevel2MediumHeavyRigidVehicles, level4HeavyRigidVehicles,orCertificatein CommercialRoadTransport(Level3).Wealso offerendorsementsinDangerousGoodsand Wheel,Tracks,andRollers.Ourtutorsareall experienceddriverswiththeknowledgeand skillstohelpyoulearninasafeenvironment Maybeyou’remorefocusedonconservation andtheenvironment?Weofferafull suiteofcourses,fromaCertificateinPest Operations(Level3)allthewaythroughto ourBachelorofAppliedScience(Biodiversity Management).So,whetheryou’rekeento

startlookingafterourenvironmentaspart ofyourcareer,orifyou’rejustinterestedin takingcareofyourownplace,youcanlearn theskillsyouneedwithus.

Wealsoofferawiderangeofcoursesin manyotherpursuits,fromhorticulture, construction,andplumbing,allthe waythroughtobusinessmanagement, accounting,andadministration.Sono matterwhatjobyouwanttopursue,wecan helpyougetthere.

Wantmoreinfo?ComealongtotheField Days,ourteamfromNorthTec|TePūkenga willbereadyandwaitingtohelpyoufind therightprogrammeandhelpyougofar inyourcareerwhilestayingrighthereinTe TaiTokerau.

We understand that it’s not always easy to make time for study around our lives, jobs, and whānau. That’s why NorthTec |TePūkenga offers full-time, part-time, or paper-by-paper study so you can fityour learning around your life, in away that works for you.

We offer online, on-campus, and on-the-joblearning so you can work in the location of your choice, without interrupting your work or family life. We also have campuses across Te Tai Tokerau so you can stay close to home while learning what you need to go far in your career.

No matter if you’re fresh out of high school or are lookingtoretrain, want to increase your skills in your current career, or are simply interested in learning something new, we have acourse to help you achieve your goals.

Enrolments are still open, so get in quick!

Northlanddrinking waternitrates targeted at upcomingFieldays

Northlandboresandspringsbodewellincurrentnitrate watertestingbygroundwaterscientistsatGNSScience.

Forthenextyear,GNSScienceunder acommunityresearchprogram, NitrateWatch,willofferafreenitrate testingserviceforruralNorthland residentstomailinpotablewatersamples fromtheirspringsandbores.Town-supplied waterisroutinelytestedbydistrictcouncils toensurethatthesourceissafeforthe populationtodrink.Thereinliesthe —whotestsruralareasthatrelyonbor springsfortheirdrinkingwater?

“OurgoalistosupportruralNorthland communitieslookaftertheirdrinking byofferingafree,confidentialtesting tomeasurenitratelevelsindrinkingw GNSseniorscientist,KaryneRogers,s drinkingwaterresultshavebeenpromising andbetterthanexpected.TheNewZ drinkingwaterstandardallowsupto11.3

milligramsofnitrateforeachlitreofwater.

“Sofar,ourtestingshowsthatthenitrate levelsfromaround60samplessubmitted bylocalresidentshavebeensignificantly underthelimitandoftenbelowone milligramperlitre.”

TheNitrateWatchTeamwillbeatNorthland Fieldays2023fromMarch2-4inDargaville wherepeoplecanbringalongasampleof theirdrinkingwaterinacleanjarandgetit testedonthedayortheycanpickupafree testingkit

Nitratecontaminationof drinkingwater canhappenwhendairyandfarmingwaste, fertilisersorseptictanksleachthrough the soilandmixwith thefreshwater stored underground thatisextractedas drinking water.Thereisnosimplewayto remove nitratesfromdrinkingwater.Boiling water removesharmful bacteriathat couldcause stomachupsets,but it does notremove the nitrates.

Theteamofscientistsarelookingattrends acrosstheregionratherthanbyspecificbores tocheckifthereisanexcessofnitratein drinkingwaterfromsomeareasofNorthland.

“Wewillbeabletolookatdifferentregions todetermineifsomeareashaveslightly moreelevatednitratesthanothers.Wewant toensurethatNorthlandresidentsallhave accesstothistesting.

“Weencouragepeopletotesttheirwaterand haveconfidenceintheirnitratecontent.The individualnitrateresultsarekeptconfidential andreturneddirectlytothesubmitter.The broadertrendswillbeusedtoensurewater qualityisbeingmaintainedineachregion.”

Testingkitscanalsoberequestedfromnitratewatch@gns.cri.nz

Gabrielle

highlighted the important role power plays in all

Totalspan Lifestyle to Commercial

Totalspaniswellknownasthe marketleaderinlifestylebuildings butwhatmanydon’trealiseisthat wehavestandardengineering optionsupto24mclearspanwhich isanidealsizeforsmalltomedium commercialbuildingsandlarge ruralbuildings.

Totalspanhasbeenaroundforover 25yearsandoverthattimehas developedbuildingssystemsthatcan beadaptedtosuitprettymuchany purpose.Wecandoanythingfromasimple implementshedtoacommercialworkshop withofficesandbathroomfacilitiesoreven ahouse.

WeareNZownedandhaveourownNZ factoryusingNZSteel.

OneofthethingsthatTotalspanexcelat,is attentiontodetail.Whetheritbethewaythe windowsareinstalledormaintaininginternal clearanceorbirdproofing,wehavesystems

WealsohavearangeofColorsteel thicknessestosuittheendpurposeandthe budget.IfyoucomeandseeusatFielddays wecanshowyouwhatmakestheTotalspan systemsogood

Whenitcomestolargerclearspanbuildings thenourstandarddesignsgoto24m withoutanyinternalsupports.Thesetypes ofbuildingsareidealforsmalltomedium commercialbuildingorlargeruralbuildings andcanbedesignedtositonaconcretefloor orontoconcretepileswithagravelfloor. TotalspanNorthland(Whangareiand Dargaville)hasdesignedandbuiltthese

widerspanbuildingsaseverythingfrom housestocommercialbuildings.Wecanfully completethemincludingfullinteriorfitout,a lockableshelloreveninkitsetform.

Whenyoudealwithuswewillquoteyouthe buildingasdesignedforyourspecificsite.It willbeengineeredtosuittheexactlocation

Northlandthiscanbequotedpriortosigning thecontract.Afterallwehaveallheard thestoriesofbeingquotedforabuilding andthenaftersigningthecontractallthe extrasareaddedinandthepriceincreases massively!Weprideourselvesonquoting accuratelyupfronttoremovethesesurprises. Whenyouarelookingforabuilding,another keyfactoriswhowillbuildit.AtTotalspan wehaveourownbuildingcrewsthatare experiencedinourproduct.Wearealso membersoftheCertifiedBuilderssohave qualifiedbuildersandLBP’ssocando restrictedbuildingworkaswell.

Enrolmentfor 2024 and2025 is open

To RSVP pleasevisit www.KCOCA.com and letusknowifyou’llbeattending.

Allare welcome, andwelookforward to connecting withour OldCollegians,current andpastparents andguardians,and anyone interested in joining ourcommunity!