The Northern Advocate - 28 January 2023

Fluoridateddrinkingwater forupto100,000 Northlanderscouldbe comingoutoftheirtaps within18months.

LastJuly,thendirectorgeneral ofhealthDrAshleyBloomfield orderedGovernment-mandated fluoridationforWhanga¯reiandFar Northcouncildrinkingwater plantsservicingallbutoneofthe region’sbiggestpopulationcentres —inWhanga¯rei,BreamBay, Kaita¯iaandKerikeriandaffecting 65,250people.

TheGovernmentthenin Novemberindicatedfurther mandatedfluoridationwasinits sightsformoreFarNorthdrinking watersuppliesincludingthosefor Kaikohe,Kawakawa,Moerewa, Okaihau,Opononi,Paihiaand Rawene —potentiallyaffecting another14,180people.

Ithasalsoaskedforhigh-level fluoridationcostestimatesfortwo Kaiparacouncildrinkingwater supplies,buthasnotyetmandated thechemical’sadditiontoanyofits supplies.Addingfluoridationto council-suppliedDargavilleand Maungaturotodrinkingwater wouldadd afurther7600affected peopleintothemixintheNorth.

NoneofNorthland’s17council drinkingwatersuppliesiscurrentlyfluoridated,butthefirst publicdrinkingwatersupplyinthe regionislikelyhaveindustrially producedfluoridewithin18 months.

TheGovernmentsaysthe Whanga¯reiDistrictCouncil(WDC) andtheFarNorthDistrictCouncil (FNDC)haveuntilJuly2024to startaddingfluorideattheseven

watertreatmentplantsthatwere partoftheGovernmentorder.

Iffluoridationgoesahead, councilswillbeusingNew Zealand-madeindustrialfluoride intheformoffluosilicicacid,also knownashydrofluosilicicacid.

Hydrofluosilicicacidisproducedduringthemanufactureof superphosphatefertiliser.Itisthe formoffluoridemostwidelyused byNewZealandcouncils,added intodrinkingwateras aliquid.

WDCandFNDChavetoldthe Governmentitwillcostmorethan $5milliontofluoridatetheirJulymandatedwatertreatmentplants–WDC$3.75mandFNDC$1.32m. Theyareamong14councilsthat weremandatedtoaddfluoridatein Julywhichwillbecompetingfor theGovernment’s$11.3mManatu¯ HauoraMinistryofHealthfund. Thiswassetupforcouncilsfor drinkingwaterfluoridationintroductioncosts.ThetwoNorthland councils’costsaloneamountto morethan40percentofthe availablemoney.

WDCwaterservicesmanager AndrewVenmoresaidhiscouncil waswaitingtohearbackfrom Manatu¯Hauoraaboutfundingand WDC’sfluoridationstartdate woulddependonwhetherfunding wasprovidedtothecouncil.

Venmoresaidoncefundingwas

secured,itcouldbeassoonas18 monthsforfluoridationtokickin forthecouncil’sWhauValleyand Ruddellswatertreatmentplants, 24monthsfortheAhuroaand Ruaka¯ka¯ watertreatmentplants and42monthsforthecouncil’s Porotitreatmentplant.

Thecouncilwouldhaveto“seek fundingfromwithinourown resources”ifgovernmentfunding wasnotavailableorenoughforthe jobtobedone,Venmoresaid.

WDCwouldalsohavetospend $100,000annuallyto runits fluoridateddrinkingwater supplies,hesaid.

FNDCmanagerinfrastructure operationsGlennRainhamsaid fluoridatingtheKerikeriand Kaita¯iaplantswouldaddanother $42,000annualcounciloperating costontopoftheinitialoutlay. Therewouldbemorecostsifother treatment plants were mandated.

“If anewdirectionorderis given,itisthecouncil’sunderstandingthatthecostwillbemet bynewwaterentitiesplannedby theGovernment,”Rainhamsaid.

KDCoperationsmanagerinfrastructureservicesDonnick Mugutsosaidhiscouncilhadnot beenmandatedtoaddfluorideto itsDargavilleandMaungaturoto drinkingwatersupplies.

HesaidKDChaddoneinitial high-levelfluoridationimplementationcostestimatesasrequested bytheMinistryofHealth.Itwould domoredetailedcostingsif directedtofluoridate.

KDChastoldtheGovernmentit wouldtakeaboutthreeyearsto bringinfluoridation.

MandatedfluoridationforKDC watertreatmentplantswouldaffectmorethan11,000people.More than70percentofKaiparaison privatewatersupply.

—LocalDemocracyReportingis PublicInterestJournalismfunded throughNZOnAir

LionelSandshasopenedthedooronFrenchmanIsland’smystery.

Mysterybehindsealed door unlocked

KarinaCooper

Aconcretedoorhiddenawayona smallrockyislandattheentrance totheWhanga¯reiHarbourhas created quite astir of theories as to itsexistence.

AnarticlebyStuffhighlighted FrenchmanIsland’sstrangedoorwaysealedwithconcreteand framedbyroundedpillarswith threestepsatitsfeet. Rumoursaboutthe doorclaimeditwas usedtoconceal explosivesorwasa wartimedecoy.

Somepeople suggestedthe doorwaslinked topastsmugglingin Whanga¯rei Headswherein the19thcentury cargo,liketobacco andwhisky,was stowedawayatnearby SmugglersBay.

ButWhanga¯reiHeadslocal LionelSandswashandedthekey tothedoor’smystery70yearsago, as a6-year-old,byhisfather.

“Ilearneditwasn’t adoortoa secretcabin,”hesaid.“Thereare nopirates,novillains,oranything

terydooronFrenchmanIsland. PHOTO /TANIAWHYTE

likethat —it’sactuallyveryboring.”

Sands’father sharedthesecretwith hissonwhenhespokeof Sands’grandfather, MarmadukeLionelSands.

“HeworkedfortheWhanga¯rei HarbourBoardinthe1920sservicingthelightontheFrenchman [Island],”Sandssaid.

Marmadukewasalsocharged withmaintainingthelighton CoppermineIsland(Mauipane)

neartheHenandChickenIslands.

Andashedidso,Sands’father wouldtagalong.

Thatishowhelearnedthedoor —oncewoodenuntilitbecametoo

INSET:Marmaduke LionelSands.

weathered —openedto aconcrete recessusedtostorecylindersthat fuelledthelightattheisland’s peak.

An Advocate articlefrom1913 wroteoftheWhanga¯reiHarbour Boardofficiallylightingthe acetonelightonFrenchmanIsland inJanuaryofthatyear.

“Whenmygrandfatherwas servicingthelight,myfathersaid hecouldfilltheboatupwithblue codfromthewatersaroundthe Frenchman,”Sandssaid.

Heexplainedhowon CoppermineIsland,thecylinders werekeptin alittleshed.

“There’snot alotofmystiqueto thedoor,”Sandssaid.“Butit’s goodtohavethestories.”

Hethoughthisfatherand grandfatherwouldhavehad agood chucklehearingthetheories.

“It’sprettyneatforyoung peopletohavethemysteryofthe doorontheFrenchman —it’slikea fairytale.”

PHOTO /TANIAWHYTE

FarNorthDalmationkauri gumdiggers’descendantsare todaymakingtheirmarkintheir district’slocalgovernmentpolitics —astheareacelebratesitsfirst heritageweek.

Almost30percentoftheFarNorth DistrictCouncil(FNDC)politiciansareof Dalmationheritage —thehighestpercentage of any New Zealand council.

Dalmationsarenow adistinctivepart oftheFarNorthanditscouncil.Penetaui Kleskovic(Ma¯ori/Dalmation/Welsh), MateRadich(Ma¯ori/Dalmation)andJohn Vujcichmakeupthetrioofcurrent councillorswiththeEasternEuropean roots.

FNDC’sfirstmayor,MillieSrhoj MBE,QSM —whospentalmost50 yearsinlocalgovernment,hadroots fromthatpartoftheworldtoo.

CrKleskovic’sgreat-great-great grandfather,AndrijaKleskovic,from Dalmatia,marriedErinaKaaka,from TeHapua,in1892inthefirst Dalmation-Ma¯oriweddinginNewZealand.

FarNorthhistorianandauthorKaye

DragicevichsaidDalmationgumdiggers made ahugecontributiontotheFar North’sheritage,shesaid.

Diggingkaurigumwaspopularforthe councillors’forbearsbecauseitoffereda wayofmakingmoneywithoutneeding toomanyinputs.

“Theycouldgetintoitfairlycheaply, withoutneedingtoomuchskillortoo manytools.Theydidn’thavetospeak English.Set-upcostswereprettylow.

Thegumbuyerswouldprovidethemwith thingslikespades,diggingtoolsand tents,inturnpurchasingtheirharvested kaurigumwiththepriceoftheinitial materialsgraduallypaidoff,”Dragicevichsaid.

ThefirstwaveofDalmationsarrived intotheFarNorthin1892.TheKleskovics startedkaurigumdigginginthe1890sat WaihoponearTeKao.

Radich’sfamilystartedgumdiggingat Sweetwaterafterarrivinginthe1930’s, hisfatherdigginggumonthelandthatis nowhisson’sfarm.

Vucjich’sNewZealandfamily beginningsstartedintheearly1900s,his great-grandfathergoingtoRaweneat first,labouringanddoinggeneralwork suchasmakingstonewallsratherthan gumdigging,eventuallyheadingback thereaftertimeelsewhere.

Thegenerationsthatgrewfromthe earlyDalmationsbecameconnectedinto thecommunity,linkingcloselywith Ma¯oriinparticular.

FarNorth-basedformerMPShane Jones(Ma¯ori-Dalmation-Welsh)saidit wasonlynaturalsomewouldgoonto representtheircommunitiesinthelocal governmentarena.

KleskovicandRadichareTarara, meaningofmixedDalmationandMa¯ori blood.

Ma¯oricoinedthewordtodescribe whattheyheardwhenDalmationstalked.

“Dalmationsspokesoquickly.They usedthephrasetodescribethesoundof whattheyheardwhentheDalmations werespeaking,”Dragicevichsaid.

Radichsaidtherewasalwaystremendousrespectbetweenthetwo cultures,andmanyFarNorthresidents todayhavemixedMa¯oriandDalmatian ancestry.

“WewereraisedMa¯oriwhichmeant focusingoncommunalwaysofliving. PeopleseemeasMa¯oriandtheyknowI alsohaveDalmationblood,”Kleskovic said.

First-generationKiwi-bornRadich grewupspeakingonlyDalmationand Ma¯oriathome.

“Iwaslucky,theprincipalatPukepoto SchooltaughtusEnglishafterschool,” Radichsaid.

OtherFarNorthgumdigger descendantsincludeBorisJurlina,94,a 24-yearMangonuiCountyCouncilpolitician(until1983),muchofthatasdeputy chairman. Hisfather,Loui,was aSweetwaterand LakeOhiagumdigger. LouicametoSweetwaterin1914aged 16.Hehelpedhisoldergeneralstorekeeperandgum-buyerbrothers.

Hedrove abullockwagoncollecting

gumforsortingandgradingbackat Sweetwater.Helaterdevelopeddrains forthegovernmentacrossAwanui.In 1929hebought aLakeOhiagumcompany thenwentfarming.

First-generationDalmationKiwi,sixyearFNDCdeputymayorandTarara JohnKlaricich(1998-2004)QSO,CNZOM, spent18yearsinlocalgovernmentalso includingasHokiangaCountyCouncil chairman.

Klaricich’sfatherwentgumdiggingat AranganearWaipouaForestin1902, latersettlingonOmaperewifeNikkiToi’s familyland.

Meanwhile,Jones’youngerbrother, Peter-LucasJones(Ma¯ori-DalmationWelsh)is aNorthlandRegionalCouncil TeRakiMa¯oriConstituencycouncillor. VujcichsaidDalmationforbearswere passionatelyinterestedinfosteringtheir tinyhomelandcommunities. ThischaracteristiccametoNewZealandwiththemandwasamongreasons descendantswantedtobeinlocalgovernment. Radich, a15-yearcouncillor,said

Dalmationsstartingoutasgumdiggers soonboughtfarmsanddevelopedother businesses. “Theyplayed amajorpartindevelopingtheFarNorthanditseconomy,” Radichsaid.

DragicevichsaidtheDalmationcharacteristicofworkinghardtomakethings happenalsocontributedtopeople wantingtostandforcounciltoday. Kleskovicsaidhavingpeoplewith Dalmationheritageonthecouncilmeant

thebreadthofFarNorthsocietywas represented. HeisformerMPShaneJones’sonand justthesecondinhisfamilyafteran almost100-yearabsenceacrossfivegenerations,tobearthesurnameofhis

gumdiggingDalmationforefather Andrija.

AndrijaandErinaKleskovichad13 children,whosesurnameswerechanged toAnaruorAndrew.Surnamefluidity continueddownthegenerationstobecomeJonesthenfinallybackto Kleskovic.

Andrija’sdaughter,Raiha,asked ShaneJonestogivetheoriginal Dalmationsurnametohisfirst-bornson atbaptism.Soitwasbroughttolifeagain afteritsalmost10-decadeabsenceand prevailedforallhissons. Dragicevichsaidtherewerethree thingsthatwereimportanttoDalmation gumdiggersastheymovedonintheir lives,gotmarriedandhadchildren.

“Theywantedtheirchildrentoassimilate,toworkhardandtoholdontotheir culture.”

Vujcichsaideducationwasalways seenasimportant. Thethird-generationKiwihas aBachelorofScience(Hons)degreeinrelativity andcosmologyplus aMasterofScience incomputerscience.Hesetup alocal computerbusinessandhas adeerfarm and aforestryblock.

Vujcich’scouncilrolesincludeFNDC’s jointregionaleconomicdevelopment portfoliowithKleskovicandFNDC NorthlandChamberofCommerceappointee.

Heisalsocloselyinvolvedinthe council’ssocialprocurementandcommunitywellbeingconsiderations.

Kaita¯iahaslongcelebrateditsmixedheritage, an town.

NorthDistrict’sfirstmayor,thelateMillie Srhoj(left),in Kaita¯ia.

PHOTO /TANIAWHYTE

Gumdiggingindustrylabourersalongside agum washing machineonAhiparaHill.

PHOTO /SUPPLIED

"Theywantedtheir children to assimilate, toworkhardandto holdontotheir culture"

KayeDragicevich, FarNorthhistorianandauthor

Northescapesmajordamageinstorm

Slipblocking SH1mainissue —but morewet weatherexpectedbeforesystemclears

MikeDinsdale

Northlandwasleftbattered andsoddenafteryesterday’sfoulweather,but escapedrelatively unscathed,withnomajorissues reported.

However,withmorerainand strongwindslikelytoday,there couldstillbemajorproblems causedbythestorm.

Weatherforecastershave predicted awetstarttothelong weekendwithrainexpectedto makeanappearancethroughout allthreedays.

Butthereisstillhopeforlocals andholidaymakerswhomaybe fearingtheirweekendplansto rechargeinbeautifulNorthland havebeendashed.

Whiletheregionisbestknown foritspristinecoastlinesbordered withstunninghikesandgorgeous beaches,thereisstillplentytodo on arainyday.

Staydrywiththeselocalmustdos:

Waitangigrounds

Thestunninghistorical groundsaremostlyundercover, makingthem agreatwaytospend arainydayintheBayofIslands.

LoseyourselfinthepastatTe Ko¯ngahuMuseumofWaitangias youdelveintothestoriesand taonga(treasuredobjects)that bringthehistoryofWaitangiand AotearoaNewZealand’sfounding documentstolife.

Checkouttheimpressivewaka (warcanoe),andsampleMa¯ori cultureandcuisineatitsbestby enjoying aliveperformanceand ha¯ngı¯dinnerattheWaitangi TreatyGrounds.

GlowwormCaves

Staydrybymarvellingat WaiomioValley’sresidential glowwormslivinginKawiti Caves. Admirethousandsofluminous lightsastheglowwormslightup thefascinatingrockformations andlushgreenrainforest.

A45-minutetohour-long guidedtourtakesyoudownthe 200mcave,duringwhichyouwill learnaboutthelegendsofthe cavesandthelifecycleofthe

Aslip,then atree,blocking StateHighway1 overthe Brynderwyns,southofWhanga¯rei, probablycausedthemostissues yesterday.Theslipandtreecaused theroadtobeblockedand diversionswereputinplace,and werestillthereateditiontime yesterday.Ifthediversionsarestill inplacetodayitwillmean alongerthan-expectedjourneytoAuckland forthoseattendingtheEltonJohn

farewellconcertatMtSmarttonight.

Theraindumpedupto100mm in24hoursonpartsofNorthland, causingminorsurfacefloodingin placesand afewotherminorslips ateditiontime. Therewerealso anumberof crashes,believedtohavebeen associatedwiththeatrocious conditions.

injuriesin acrashonSH1atMata yesterdaymorningandtakento hospital.Thetwo-vehiclecrash nearSalmonRdhappenedshortly after10am.Theroadwascleared shortlyafterwards. Apolicespokespersonsaidthey wereawareofloosegravelinthe areaduetoroadworksandnotified theappropriateagencies.They advisedpeopletodrivetothe

Aswellastheheavyrain warningissuedfortheregion,the MetServicealsoissued asevere thunderstormwarningforKaipara yesterdayafternoon.

MetservicemeteorologistLewis FerrissaidKaikoheborethebrunt ofyesterday’sstorm,receiving morethan100mmofrainfrom9pm onThursdayto4pmyesterday.

Overthesameperiod,Puhipuhi received70mmofrain,Kerikeri

Grey skies can’t cloud out the fun

glowworms.

Severeweathermayimpact thecaves’openinghourssomake suretocheckbeforeyougo.

BayofIslands

Justbecauseitisraining doesn’tmeanyoucan’tgetouton thewater.Getyourself aticketfor oneofthemanycruiseoptions availableintheBayofIslands.

Thankstomanyvesselshaving indoorcabinsandcovered outdoorareas,youcanstillrevel incruisesthatrangefromsailing todolphin-spottingortosimply enjoyingthebreathtakingviews

oftheislands.

Justmakesuretocheckwith operatorsastowhatweather conditionsyourdesiredcruisestill runsin.

AquickGooglesearchwillgive youmoredetailsorpopintothe informationcentresineither PaihiaorRussell —thetownships fromwhichmostcruisesdepart.

TheKempHouse

TheKerikeriMissionStationis thesiteoftwoofthecountry’s oldestsurvivingbuildings —the iconicStoneStoreandKemp House,whichistheoldest

Newmarinaberthsinstrongdemand

ImranAli

Onethirdofthenewmarinaberths inWhanga¯reiHarbourhavebeen snappedup—justweeksafterthey wereadvertised.

TheWhanga¯reiHarbourMarinaManagementTrustisbuilding 114berthsjustdownstreamofthe TeMatau aPohebasculebridge andtheclearingofmangrovesand dredgingworkswillstartin Marchandtake ayearto complete.

Thenewmarinacanaccommodateboatsupto35mlong andanofficebuildingwith parkingwillbebuiltona reclaimedareaaspartofthe project.

Salestoraisecapitalstarted twodaysbeforeChristmasand thetrusthopestoraise$15 millionfromthesaleofberths, whiletheWhanga¯reiDistrict Councilhasloaned$5m.

“There’sbeengoodinterestand we’re30percentthrough.There aresomethatarestandingby.

That’sreallygood.We’vegotsome firmdepositsandthere’s alotof peoplewhoaresortingoutthe investments,gettingfundsand thatsortofthing,”marinamanagerBrianCaultonsaid.

Trustassistantmanager SharronBecksaidthesmaller berthshadbeensellingwellbecauseitwasmorethelocalpeople

whohadknownaboutitbutnow shewasgettinginquiriescoming fromAucklandwherethebigger boatswerestrugglingtofind placestoberth.

internationalvisitingboatscoming here, Ijustheardfrom amarina managerinMexicowhosaidit’s absolutelycrazythenumberof boatsthatareontheirwaynext seasontocomeoverhere.

survivingbuildinginthecountry at200yearsold. Establishedin1819,thestation isoneofthefirstplacesinNew ZealandwhereMa¯oriinvited visitorstoliveamongthem. InsidetheStoneStore’swalls are agiftshopand amuseum upstairs,withKempHouse nestlednextdoor.Entrytothe houseisby afreeguidedtouronly tohelppreservethebuilding.

Wineries,breweries

Make abeelinefortheFar North,whereyoucanrewardyour tastebudsatthemanyvineyards

whichboastspectacularviews andfood,suchasParoaBayin RussellorDancingPetrel VineyardinMango¯nui. Ormaybebeerisyour preference,inwhichcaseyoucan delightinthehomemadetalentsof McLeodsBreweryinWaipu¯or PhatHouseBrewingCointheBay ofIslands.

Dargaville’smuseums

Museumsarenotinshort supplyintheKaipara. Afavourite istheKauriMuseumatMatakohe —dedicatedtorecordingthepast ofNewZealand’slargestand

50.5mm,Whanga¯rei50mm,Kaitaia 42mm,andDargaville30mm.

Ferrissaidtheheavyrainwould likelycontinueintotoday,but therecouldbesomedryspells tomorrowandMondaywaslookinglikethebestdayofthelong weekend.

Hesaidtherewassomegood newsas,atthisstage,itlookedlike WaitangiWeekendcouldprovide somedecentweatherintheNorth.

longest-livingtree.

Butthemuseumisn’tabout timber.Itlaysbarethestoriesof Ma¯oriofthenortheastern Kaipara,ofEuropeanpioneers,of forestersandsawmillers, gumdiggersandfarmers,andof businesspeople,fishersandthe familieswhohavemadethisarea theirhome.

OrtakeintheDargaville Museum,whichshowcases marinerelicsanddisplaysthattell thestoriesoftheearlyKauri gumdiggers.

Whanga¯reiartscene

TheHa¯teaArtPrecinctin Whanga¯reiishometothenew HundertwasserArtCentreand WairauMa¯oriArtGallery,aswell astheWhanga¯reiArtMuseum, andisbolsteringWhanga¯rei’s reputationas avibrantart destination.

Don’tmisstheforestedrooftop oftheHundertwasserbuilding andifitleavesyouwantingmore, chuckon araincoatandexplore thesculpturetrailontheHa¯tea LoopWalk,andthestreet.

Arttrail

Spot akiwiattheWhanga¯rei KiwiHouse,HeritagePark& Museum

KiwiNorthisgreatforrainy dayswiththefamily.Setinan attractive25hapark,thesite features aKiwiHouse,several historicVictorianbuildings,a museum,andheritageclub collection.

TheWhanga¯reiNativeBird RecoveryCentreisnextdoorand givespeoplethechancetoseea varietyofbirdsrecoveringfrom injuriesorillnesses.

Thewingedresidentschange oftendependingonwhoisinneed ofRobertandRobynWebb.

Spateofretailrobberies, burglaries incity

AngelaWoods

HareKrishnafestival Northland’sHareKrishna communitywillholdits10th annualRathaYatraFestival (FestivalofChariots)through Whanga¯reitomorrow.Thefestival andparade,whichfeatures colourfulchariotsbeingpulled throughthestreets,startsat11am fromtheWaterStCarpark.Itwill wenditswaythroughthecity,with afreefeastheldafterwards.Ratha YatraFestivalis asignificantHare Krishnafestivalthatseespeople paradethroughthecitypullinga chariotcarryingthreedeitieswho bestowedblessingsonthe residentsofWhanga¯reiandall thosewhoseethem.

Touch aTruckstillon

KamoTouch aTruckisstillon tomorrowfrom10amatHurupaki School.Eventorganisersare encouragingattendeestobring theirrainjacketsasintermittent showersareexpected.

Racingcancelled Racingwascalledoffyesterdayon thefinaldayofBayofIslands SailingWeekaswildweather batteredtheregatta’s20th anniversaryevent.Thestrong winds,heavyrainandroughseas alsoforcedthecancellationof passengerferriesbetweenPaihia andRussell.Itwasthefirsttimein 20yearsthatracinghadtobe cancelled,theregattacommittee said.Theeventstartedon Wednesdaywith103boats competingin25-knotwindsand wavesofupto2.5m.

Twilightmarketcanned Organisersoftonight’sTu¯tu¯ka¯ka¯ TwilightMarketshaveannounced ithasbeencancelledduetothe unpredictableweather.Thenext marketwilltakeplaceonFebruary 18.

Toowetforsandcastles

Asandcastlecompetitiondueto takeplaceonPaihia’smainbeach todayhasbeenpostponeddueto poorweather.Theannualevent, organisedbyBayofIslandsRotary ClubandtheSandpitBar,maybe heldonFebruary 4instead,tides andweatherallowing.

Traineventoff

TheKawakawaMarketsatthe Stationplannedforthisweekend hasbeencancelled.Badweather hascausedorganiserstopullthe plugonthemarketdayandsneak peekatGabrieltheSteamEngine.

MBIEwantsfeedback

Shesaidoneofthesalespeople she was workingwith,whohadbeenlookingfor aberth,didn’tknowabout thesaleofthemarinaberthsbut hadmetsomeonewhoreadaboutit in TheNorthernAdvocate andtold himaboutit.

“Thereare50boatsjustsitting there,anchoredbecausetheycan’t getintothemarinasthere,thatare wantingtocrossthePacific.Maybe duetoCovidaswell people justwanttogetoutthere,”Beck said.

ANorthland-basedcompanywillundertakethe$20m project,justuptheharbour fromLimeburner’sCreekand accessedoffPortRd,andat least94peopleareexpectedto beemployedduringtheconstructionphase.

Retailcrimehasbeenrampantin Whanga¯reioverthelastweek, withonecafeinTikipungaburgled twiceinfourdays. Therehavealsobeenatleast tworobberies —oneaggravated— andtwootherburglaries.

BurglariesattheTotaraCafeon WairauDr,TikipungaandBottle-O KamoonThreeMileBushRdon Mondaynightfollowed acartheft onTorreyPinesRisearound11pm.

BrianCaultonandSharronBeckare pleasedwithhowthesaleof thenew berthsisprogressing.

Accordingto areportpreparedbyMarketEconomics around2019,thelocaleconomyis expectedtoearn$9.4meachyear fromberthingfees,retailspending, andtourism-relatedactivitiesonce themarinaisfullyfunctional.

TheNorthlandRegionalCouncil publiclynotifiedtheconsentapplicationforthenewmarinasand associatedworkinSeptember2018 andeightofthe10submissions receivedsupportedtheventure.

Resourceconsentfortheworks runsuntil2054.

Thetrusthas109mooringsat KissingPointand a173-berthmarinaattheTownBasin.

“Becausewedofocuson alotof

Twoyoungpeoplewerearrestedaftertheseincidents.However,theTotaraCafewasburgled againaround9.45pmonThursday. Policesaidinquiriesintothelatest burglarywereongoing. ThemanageroftheTotaraCafe, whodidnotwanttobenamed,said itwasthefourthburglaryinless than ayear.

“Ithinkcrimegenerallyin Northland’sgottenreallybad theydoneedtogetstricteronwhat thepunishmentis,”shesaid. “Nothingreallygetsdonebecause they’retooyoungtogotoprison.”

OnMondaynighttheoffenders took aquantityofwineandbeer, butonthesecondoccasionthe fridgehadnotbeenrestockedso only afewsoftdrinksweretaken.

“Ifeelreallybadformyboss havingtocomeinanddealwith this,”themanageradded. NorthlandChamberofCom-

mercepresidentTimRobinson saidretailcrimeinWhanga¯reihad been aproblemforsometime.

“It’salmostlikepeopleare resignedtothefactthatthis happens,dayin,dayout It’sjust oneofthemanychallengesof being aretaileratthemoment.”

Robinsonsaidsomeyoung peoplecaughtforcrimessometime agohadrecentlybeenseenaround townagain,andhe’dheardofmore burglariesshortlyafterwards.

”Whetherit’sthosesameones,I don’tknow.”

Tikipunga’sGASservicestation wasalsorobbedonThursday morning,forthefourthtimeinfive months.Twopeoplewerearrested inrelationtotherobbery.

Anaggravatedrobberyat Arthur’sEmporiuminWhanga¯rei around1pmonTuesdayresultedin

TotaraCafe wastargeted by thieves twiceinone week. PHOTO /ANGELA WOODS

minorinjuriestooneperson.Police inquiriesareunderway.

“Itappearsthreepeoplehave takenitemsfromtheshopand haveassaultedstaffbeforefleeing in avehicle.”

AnotherburglaryatcommercialpremisesinKensingtonwas reportedaround4.30amon Wednesday. Agroupofoffenders stoleseveralitemsbeforefleeingin avehicle,policesaid.Inquiriesare ongoing,including areviewof CCTVfootage,policesaid.

● PoliceaskedanyonewithinformationontheKensingtonburglarytocontactthemon105orfillin areportonlineatwww.police.govt. nz/use-105,usingUpdateMyReport,referencingfilenumber 230125/4514.Informationcanalso beprovidedanonymouslyvia CrimeStopperson0800555111.

TheMinistryofBusiness, InnovationandEmploymentis seekingfeedbackonwaysto addresssafetyconcernsaround cordedwindowcoverings,suchas rollerblinds,concertinablinds, Romanblindsandslattedblinds likevenetianblinds.Since2009 therehavebeensixdeathsof youngchildrennationwidedueto cordsinwindowcoverings. ConsultationclosesonMarch5. Tofindoutmorevisitthewebsite www.mbie.govt.nz/have-yoursay/ Trash policyforcampers

TheDepartmentofConservation isremindingvisitorsthat a“pack in,packout”wastemanagement policy for its campgrounds in the widerWhanga¯reiareastartson February1.DoC’sWhanga¯rei operationsmanagerJoel Lauterbachsaidthenewpolicy meansDoCwillnolongerbe processingcampers’wasteonsite,anddisposalwillbecomethe responsibilityofcamperswho needtotakeallrubbishwiththem. Stolenvehiclehitsbridge Astolenvehiclehit abridgeonSH1 atthebottomofTurntableHill yesterdayafterbeingspikedby police.Thevehiclewasreported onGilliesSt,Kawakawaaround 8.30am.Itfailedtostopforpolice, whodidnotinitiate apursuit.The vehiclewassuccessfullyspikedon OldBayRd,WaimateNorth.The occupantswereassistingpolice withinquiries.

Don’tletthewetweatherruinyourlongweekend,youcanstillget outandabouttoexperienceplenty.

PHOTO /MICHAELCUNNINGHAM

PHOTO /TANIAWHYTE

What’s in store for2023?

Despite some media headlinesand pessimistic reporting, the underlying drivers that givesentiment to astrongNorthland provincial outlook remain. Tourismisa factorfor the local andnationaleconomy;unemployment remains low, and commodity pricesthatbenefit ourNorthland farmersand growersremainhealthy.Waterfront properties remain in solid demand, with record prices paid acrossthe beautifulNorthland beaches, covesand headlands. Residential values have softened, butlet’s keepitinperspective,with the 100% plusgrowth thatour owners have benefitted from,theyare stillsignificantly aheadof the curve! Interestrates will cause concern, butconfidencewillreturn to the market. Buyerswill soon demonstrate awill to competefor the rightofownership

Tony Grindle Director -Bayleys Northland

RESIDENTIAL RURAL

While it wasawet start in 2023 in Northland, thereisstill some heat in the property market, with deals signed and agentscontinuing to showcasebeautiful properties.

If 2022 wasa year of change,webelieve 2023 will be ayear of stability. Thepre-Christmasperiod sawcaution from buyers navigating the tightening economyand considering the impactofraising interest rates. Whilethe REINZdatashows amedian sales priceof$730,000 forthe Whangareidistrictin2022*, the Bayleys Whangarei median sales pricewas $850,000

Auctionsremain the bestway to reachcashbuyers. Sam Swinburne’s sale of 220 NgunguruRoad sawinterestedparties spilling outofthe auction room,with 22 bids placedbeforesellingfor 35%overthe RV.Jude Coplandsaw similarsuccess,with21bids received for730 Taiharuru Road beforeselling for32.5%overRV.

Ourteamismovingintothe newyear with in-depth knowledgeofthe market and afinger on the pulse of change. There’sa buyer forevery property in everymarket, and Bayleys Whangarei arethe experts at finding them

Rachael Dennis Whangarei SalesLeader

*SOURCE: REINZ Whangarei District, Jan -Nov 2022, residential ex sections.

FARNORTH

Theyear started strongly forBayleys in the FarNorth,with thefirst half of the calendar year carrying on from 2021. Inquiryremained steady,but cash buyers were ararity.Moreconditionaldeals were negotiated thatweresubject to sale,financeorboth. Rising interest rateshavealso made borrowing more challenging forbuyers. Thefinal quarterfor ourmarket hasseena lift in activitywith good inquirylevels and dealsbeingdone. Completed sales havecombined residential,waterfront, lifestyle and ruralproduction properties Listings areahead of last year,and as the market movesintoa “new” normal, saleswill continuetobemade, albeit withlowervolumes. Bringon2023; we areready forwhateveritdelivers.

Dickie Burman BayofIslands Sales Leader

TheNorthland(and NZ)country environment hasgone full circle. The start of the year witnessed some record prices in commodities and productive land sales. Forestry wasthe talk of thecountry,and buyers were competing forasmall number of availabledairyfarms Goingforwarda year,discussionsaroundforestryare abit more circumspect; the number of dairy farms forsalehas doubled, buyers have lessened,and confidencehas plummetedalongsiderisinginterest rates; correspondingly,the bankshavestarted to laager thewagons!

Earlybuyer activity in 2023 is encouragingfor autumndairy &drystock sales.Anew bunch of quality farmsand lifestyle properties soon to be released,will be eagerlysoughtafter

With over25yearsoffocusing on theNorthland rural property market, theBayleys Countryteam hasbeenherebefore, andweknowhow to find buyersand negotiatedeals. We arepositiveabout the opportunities fortrading farms, buyingfarms and entering thecountry market in2023.

Tony Grindle Director- BayleysNorthland

This market wascrystalisedpost-Covid when ablue-chip commercial or industrial investment shortagewas apparentinNZ. As aresult of this shortage, buyersare leavingthe city andenteringthe provinces to diversifytheirportfolios.2023will provetobethe ideal marketto releasequality commercial stocktoa large andhungrybuyer pool Thesortofyieldsthatare nottypicallyachievable in theAuckland auction and sales roomsare commonly experiencedbyvendors in Northland.Indeed, we areonthe radarofAuckland investors.

Tony Grindle Director-Bayleys Northland

Callforhard look atwatersafety as deathtollclimbs

Ignoranceandunpatrolledbeachesamongkeyfactors

JuliaGabel

WhenGurdeepSingh learnedhewasface downinthewater when alifeguardfound him,heknewhewasextremely luckytobealive.

Another“30seconds”andSingh wouldhavejoinedNewZealand’s alarmingdrowningdeathtoll.

Lastyearhad aprovisional93 drownings,theworstsince2008, andthisyearisoffto abadstart, includingsixAucklanddeathsin oneweekend.

Lifeguardsandadvocates believeseveralfactorsarecontributing to our drowning toll, including alackofeducation,unpatrolled beaches,Covid-19andourwarming climate.

Theysaymoreneedstobedone tokeepKiwissafeinthewaterand haveurgedbeach-goerstorethink theirapproachtoswimminginthe ocean.

InNovember2021,Singhandhis sonswereswimmingatKarekare BeachonAuckland’sWestCoastin chest-deepwaterwhentheygot intotrouble.“Thewavescamevery quickly,five,six,sevenwaves.I don’tknowwhathappened,”he said.

Andthewaveskeptcoming, everyfewseconds.Waterentered hislungs.

“Irealisedwearegoingto drownsoon.Whenthewaveswent away,therewas agap, Iscreamed outforhelp,threeorfourtimes butnooneheard[me].”

Singh’ssonswereabout15 metresaway,treadingwater.

“Wewereswimmingforour lives,”16-year-oldManveerSingh said.“Ididn’trealisehowstrongit wasuntil Itriedtoswimagainstit.”

Manveersaidheandhis youngerbrotherwerepanickedbut okay.

“Wewerestandingon asandbankand awavecameandswept usout.Itwaschestdepthand10 secondslater Icouldn’ttouchthe ground.

“Mybrotherwasclosesttome. Weallknowhowtoswimso Iwas tellinghimtostayafloatandwhen thewavescome,shutyourmouth, youdon’twantwaterinyour lungs.”

Singhtriedtogettohissons,but blackedoutasheswamtoward them.

Backontheshore,thelifeguards hadalreadyfinishedtheirshift.

GuardShalemaWanden-Hannay washeadingbacktothebeachto gettheJandalssheleftbehind whenshesawpeopleintroublein the water.

Shecalledforhelpfromthe otherlifeguardsbackattheclub andthenswamout.“Imanagedto find[aman],headdowninthe waterthatbasicallytomeappeared tobedead.”

WhenGurdeepSinghwastaken backtoshore,hisbodywasfloppy andlifeless.HewasgivenCPRuntil hestartedgasping.

“Another30seconds,even,we wouldnothavebeenabletogethim back,”Wanden-Hannaysaid.

“It’sreallyhad abigimpacton me.Eventhoughithad apositive

‘I wanttobe aunifyingfigure’

VaimoanaMase

WhenCarmelSepulonistepped outinpublicaheadofbeingsworn inasthecountry’sfirstDeputy PrimeMinisterofPacificdescent, therewasnodoubtaboutwhoshe wasandwhereshecomesfrom.

DressedintraditionalSamoan andTonganattire,theoutfititself wassteepedinsymbolism —not onlypayingtributetoherculture andheritage,butalso asubtlenod toanothersignificanteventin NewZealandhistory.

everybody”aftereachsetofwaves comesin.

Hespeakstopeopleabouttheir swimmingplansastheyarriveon thebeachandstopsthemfrom goingintothewateratdangerous places.“Itmeans Icansleepmore comfortablywhen Idogohome fromthebeachbecause Iknow peoplearebeingsafe.”

SirBobHarvey,anotherlongservinglifeguardatKarekareSurf Clubandformermayorof Waita¯kereCity,saidNewZealand neededafter-hourslifeguards patrollingonsummerevenings.

Overthepastfouryears,more peoplehavestartedcomingtothe beachintheevening,hesaid.

“Suddenlythesummersareintenselyhot,theeveningsarenot coolingdown.Fiveo’clockhas intensesunontheWestCoast.”

Freeswimminglessonsalso neededtobeaccessibletoallNew Zealandchildren,Harveysaid.

“Mywholegeneration,wewere taughttoswimatschool.Butnow, forkids,ifyourparentsdon’thave moneytotakeyouto aswimschool, Idon’tknowwhatyoudo.”

SurfLifesavingNorthernRegion istryingtosecureanextra$455,000 inAucklandCouncilfundingwhich, amongotherpriorities,wouldallow allsixWestCoastbeachesworked byguardstobepatrolledfor betweentwoandsevenmore weeks.

outcome,it’sstillaffectedme deeply.”

Theboyswerebroughttoshore andSinghwastakentohospital.

Speakingthroughtears,Singh saidhislastmemoryoftheincident wasseeinghisboysinthewater.

“Itriedtoaskthedoctors whathappenedtomyfamily ...I thoughttheyweredead.”

Itwasnotuntilmorethanan hourlater,whenhiswifearrivedat thehospital,thatherealisedhis boyswereokay.“Theyarereal heroes,thelifeguards.”

Guards’plea

ThreegenerationsofWandenHannay’sfamilyvolunteeratKarekareSurfClub.ThatdayinNovember,herhusbandandherdaughter, JessWanden-Hannay, apatrolcaptain,helpedherrescuetheSingh family.

Herfather,KarelWittenHannah,is alifememberofthe club.

Sheurgedpeopletochoose patrolledbeachestoswimatandto swimbetweentheflags.

“ChecktheSafeSwimappbefore yougotothebeach.”Theapp displayswhichbeacheshave guardsandtheirdutyhours.

Witten-Hannahbecamesoconcernedaboutpeoplegettinginto troubleafterhoursthatnow,once hehasfinishedhisweekend patrols,hestandsonthebeachwith hisfins,radio,buggyand aflotation device.

“Itwasdoingmyheadin,”he says,aboutoneChristmasperiod wheretherewere15after-hour rescuesatKarekareintwoweeks.

Hestandsontheshoreuntil 7pm,countingpeople’sheadsinthe watertomakesurehe“stillhas

SurfLifesavingNorthernRegion CEOMattWilliamsthisweektold the WeekendHerald therewere planstoextendpatrollinghoursat WestCoastbeachesuntil7pm.

JessWanden-Hannay, apatrol captainatKarekareSurfClub,said Covid-19restrictionsthathalted otherrecreationalactivities,such astravellingoverseas,meantmore peoplewerevisitingthebeach.

Shesaidtherescuesshehad beeninvolvedinhadhappened whenthesurfwassmaller.

“What Ithinkhappensispeople cometotheWestCoast,expecting thesepowerfulwavesrollingin,but insteadtheyseethesebeautiful smalllittlewavesandaremore enticedtogoinandperceiveitas safer,wheninfactit’snotandthere arestillthosesamehazards.”

Lastweekend,sixpeople drownedinthreedays.In astatement,SurfLifesavingNZsaidall thedeathsoccurredatbeachesthat wereeitherunpatrolledoroutside regularpatrolhours.

In2022,93peopledrowned —the highestannualtollsince2008.So farthissummer(sinceDecember1, 2022),32peoplehavedrownedin NewZealand.

WaterSafetyNewZealandprovidedthe Herald withanextractof provisionaldatafromitsdatabase Drownbase.Itshowstherehave been15drowningsfromJanuary 1-24,fewerthanatthe21atthe samepointlastyear.

Nineofthe15deathswereata beach.In10cases,thepersonwas swimming,whiletwopeopledied rescuingothers.

Fourteenofthe15people drownedthisyearhavebeen males,whilemaleshavemadeup 82percentofdrowningvictimsin thepast10years.

Correctionsblastedfor handcuffingdefendants

BelindaFeek

Afrustratedjudgeabruptlyendedtwo separatecourtappearancesofdefendants byaudio-visuallinkandlambastedthe DepartmentofCorrectionsafter discoveringtheprisonerswere handcuffed.

WhileJudgeNoelCocurullo,sittingin theHamiltonDistrictCourtyesterday, saidhedidn’thaveanissuewith prisonersbeinghandcuffed,hedidn’tlike notbeinggivenanexplanationastowhy theaccusedwerewearingrestraints.

Itwasthethirdtimein10daysthat prisonershadappearedinhiscourt wearinghandcuffs.

Thefirstprisonerappearedbefore JudgeCocurulloonviolenceanddriving chargesonJanuary16.

Thejudgenoticedthehandcuffsand adjournedthematterfor apleaseexplain fromtheprison.

“Ihadnopriorwarningabout [handcuffs].Itisdiscourteoustomakea courtappearanceandnoreasongiven whyhewashandcuffed.[Accused]isin prisonbutwhenheisonthescreen beforemeheisbeforethecourt.

Yesterday,twootherdefendantsappearedviaaudiovisuallink,minutes apart,andagainwerehandcuffed.

ThefirstappearedfromAuckland’s maximumsecurityunit,Paremoremo, accusedofburglaryandtheftcharges.

JudgeCocurullo,immediatelystopped proceedingsandaskedtheregistrarto get aprisonmanageronthescreenbefore leavingthecourtroom. Shortlyafterwards,hereturnedand explainedtheincidentfromearlierthis month,howCorrectionshadresponded withanapologyfromprisonstaff,butthis timewantedstaffonscreentoexplain whathappened.

Hesaidheknewprisonswere“challenginganddynamic”workplaces,and whilehedidn’thaveanissuewitha prisonerbeinghandcuffedhehadnot beengiventhecourtesyofanexplanation.

However,anothermattercalled,just minuteslater,saw aprisoneratSpring HillCorrectionsFacilityinNorthWaikato,handcuffed.Thistime,thejudge addressedthefirstaccused’scounsel, GlennDixon.

“Thishasgottobetakenupbythelaw society somethingisinherentlywrong here.Whatotherjudgegetsthis?”he asked.

Whentoldbylawyerstheyhadn’tseen itbefore,JudgeCocurulloreplied,“I’m justtheunluckyjudgethatonthreedays thishashappened.”

ASpringHillofficersaidhewould informotherstaffoftheneedtotellthe courtaboutanyuseofhandcuffs.

Soonafter, aprisonmanagerfrom Aucklandprisonappearedandapologised,addingthatthenewstaffknewof otherAVLinterviewboothswhere prisonerswerelefthandcuffedbutdidn’t realisethedifferencewithcourtAVL appearances.

Itwasalsohardertogethandcuffsoff maximumsecurityprisonersasthey enteredtheirAVLboothsastherewasno “hatch”forthedefendanttoputtheir handsthroughtoremovetherestraints safely.

“IhavetothankmyTongan sisters,inparticular,”shesays.

“Ithinktheycamewithabout 10matslaidoutinmyofficeand wehad adiscussionoverwhich wouldbetheappropriateoneto wear.”

Theysettledon afinematfrom Samoathathasbeeninfellow LabourMPandfriendJenny Salesa’sfamilyforyears.

“TheTongancommunityputa lotofvalueontheSamoan weaving,sowedecidedthatwould betheappropriateonetowear.”

Thosewatchingmayhave noticedSepuloni’stwo-piece dress,orpuletasi,wasthesame uniformwornbyothersin Labour’sPacificcaucusthatday.

“Oneofmycolleaguesmade thepointthatJacindaArdernhad givenustheapologyfortheDawn RaidsandChris[Hipkins]was nowgivingusourfirstPacific DeputyPrimeMinister.

“So IthoughtthatifI’mgoing towearthispuletasiagain,it’llbe onthedaythat Igetsworn-inas DeputyPrimeMinister.”

ItisthedayaftertheswearinginceremonywithnewPrime MinisterHipkinswhenthe WeekendHerald meetsSepuloni atherhomeinleafyTitirangi, WestAuckland.

Familyphotosareonthewalls and ahugebookcaseholds variousPacificbooks —andthe oddHarryPottertitle —and keepsakesofCookIslands,Fijian, TonganandSamoanorigins.

Sepulonihailsfromthe SamoanvillageofVailele —and TongaonfatherFa’atali’iKamisi Sepuloni’sside.“Ialwayssaymy bloodlinesareequallyweighted.

But IdoknowSamoaand Iguess I’veexperiencedSamoamorethan IhaveTonga —butI’mproudof both.”

AsinmanyPacificfamilies, Sepuloni’sfatherliveswithher andhusbandDarenKamaliand theirsonsBaileyandIsaiah.

Puttoherthatitwasniceto knowshewastakingcareofher dad, asoftsmileappears:“Idon’t knowifit’smetakingcareofdad ordadtakingcareofme.

“IamofteninWellingtonand busyoutandaboutas apolitician. Myhusbandworksfull-timeas well,sodadholdsdownthefort. He’shereforwhenthechildren gethomefromschooland provides alotofsupporttous.”

Sepuloniisalsofiercelyproud ofherEuropeanheritageonmum Beverley’ssideandspeaks candidlyaboutlifeas abrownkid andonewithmixedheritage.

“Therearesomanypeoplein NewZealandthathavethatmixed heritage.There’sbeen alittlebit ofracialtensioninplacesinrecent yearsand Ithinkweneedtobe remindedofthefactthatwedo havemixedheritage,itisokay,we canworktogetherwell. “There’snoreasontofeel threatenedbyeachother. Ithink thatthat’sthewayforwardasa country. Ireallywanttobea unifyingfigurewithregardsto racerelations inNewZealand.”

Shespeakswith asenseof

pridewheneverherhometown comesup,WaitarainTaranaki, whichshedescribedasbeingvery Ma¯ori/Pa¯keha¯withfewPasifikain town.

“IfeltquiteanaffinitytoMa¯ori andfrom ayoungage, Iknewand feltthatconnectionas aPacific persontoMa¯ori.

“Mypalagifamilyarealldown there —theyare abigfarming familyandsoI’mconnectedto thatworldtoo.Itis abitofan anomaly.

“Youdon’tgetmanyPacific Islandkidswhogoto afarmin Stratfordintheschoolholidays andgettohavethatexperience.”

Thatpartofherchildhood helpedtoshapeherintowhoshe isnow,Sepulonisaid. TheonlyotherPacificpeople— baroneortwo —atthetimewere relatives.

“Iwasveryproudtobe Samoan-Tongan. Ihavetosay, though,that Ireallygot achance toreconnectwhen Imovedto Auckland,becausewedidn’thave abigcommunitydownin Waitara.”

Sepulonisaysshehasnot changedmuchovertheyearsand hasalwaysbeenpassionateabout issuestodowithsocialjusticeand theinjusticespeopleface. Onhernewrole,she acknowledgedtheexpectation, prideandexcitementmanywithin thePacificcommunity —both hereandintheislands —were feeling.

Shehadbeenfieldingcalls fromrelativescallingfor asudden familyreunionandevena heartfeltmessagefromherfamily villagechurchinSamoa.“It’s lovelytohaveallofthatsupport notonlyinAotearoabutinthe homelands.”

"Ifyourparents don’thavemoney totakeyoutoa swimschool,I don’tknowwhat youdo."

SirBobHarvey

Guardssay smallerwaveslooksafe butthey’renot. PHOTO /DEANPURCELL

CarmelSepulonisaysshe’s proudofwhathermixed heritagebringstothe table inGovernment.

PHOTO /MICHAELCRAIG

CarmelSepulonichosetowearaSamoanmattoherswearing-inceremony withDameCindyKiroandChrisHipkins. PHOTO /MARKMITCHELL

$30k-a-week gambling denfolds

Astand-overrobberybyanarmed triotargeting aNorthShorepoker game hasbroughtthemurkyworld of undergroundgamblingintothe spotlight. GeorgeBlock investigates the high stakesworldof illicit pokerinAuckland.

Itwas alittlepastmidnight whenthreegun-totingmen burstinto aNorthcotePoint homeandbroughtanabrupt halttothehigh-stakespokergame inside.

Aboutanhourlaterthey escapedwithtensofthousandsof dollarstakenatgunpointfromthe pokerplayers,alongwiththeir phonesandotherbelongings.

Thetrioremainatlargethree weeksonfromtheJanuary7 robbery,evadingofficersduringa manhuntanddisappearinginto WestAucklandafterabandoning theircar.

Policesaytheinvestigationis ongoingandthey’vetaken statementsfromthoseatthehouse atthetimeoftheraid.

InternalAffairs,whichregulates andprosecutesgamblingoffences, confirmedithasstaffassisting policewiththeOnewaRdinquiry.

Sourcessuspecttheraidwas eitheranamazingcoincidence givenittargeted ahigh-stakes gamewithanuncommonlylarge amountofcashonhand,ormore likelyaninsidejobby atipsterwho stoodtotake acutofthecash.

Eitherway,itbroughtdownthe curtainon acolourfultwoyearsfor oneofAuckland’sbest-known gamblingdens.

Overthepasttwoyears,sources claimthe1920sOnewaRd bungalowjustnorthofAuckland’s HarbourBridgebecame awellknowngamblingden,nettingtens ofthousands aweekfromillicit pokergames.

InNewZealand,privatepoker gameswhereplayersgamblefor casharelegal.

Outsideofcasinos,theGambling Actgenerallyprohibitscommercial organisersmaking aprofitfrom runninggamesbytaking astakeof eachhand.

Butthatiswhattheoperatorsof OnewaRdwereallegedtobedoing.

Theywerenonetoosubtleabout it.

Thebungalowbristledwith CCTVcameras,menand glamorouslydressedyoungwomen cameandwentatallhoursand largenumbersofcars,including topEuropeanmarques,wereoften parkedoutside.

Securitywaslaxatbest.

Neighboursknewallaboutthe gamesandregardedthemwith amusementandcuriosity.

Itwasoneof anumberofsuch gamesacrossAucklandtohave

sprungupsinceCovid-19forceda temporaryclosureofSkyCity’s pokerrooms.

Theybecamesophisticated operations,nettingtensof thousandsofdollarsinprofitper weekandpayingformerSkyCity stafferstoactasprofessional dealers.

Alsoonstaffwerecleanersand fixerswhoactedasagentsto recruitnewplayers,oftentargeting gamblersatthedowntowncasino.

Clienteleareoftencashed-up youngmenofChineseorigin, amongwhompokeris ahugely popularpastime.

SincetheOnewaRdraid,the WeekendHerald hasspokento severalsourceswhowereinvolved intheunderworldofillicit gamblinginAuckland.

Theyincludepeopleemployed bytheoperators,suchasdealers andcleaners,alongwithplayers.

Somedescribe adarkersideto thepokergames,sayingsomeran alongside atradeincocaineand methamphetamineandwith regularvisitsbypatched motorcyclegangmembers.Credit isreadilygiven.

Therehavebeenregulargames atpropertiesacrossthecity, includingathomesinKaraka, Epsom,Newmarket,Takapuna, EastTamakiandWestAuckland, the WeekendHerald hasbeentold.

Theyrangefromsmaller operationsstartedbygenuine pokerenthusiaststogamesrunby andforfigureslinkedtothe Chineseorganisedcrimescene.

Whileundergroundgamblingin NewZealandisnotnew,theillicit Aucklandpokerscenebeganto growafterthefirstlockdownin 2020,accordingtoonewell-placed source.

SkyCitycloseditspokerrooms andlaidoffspecialistdealers.

“Theyclosedthecasinoat SkyCityandtherewasthisbigurge forpeoplewhowantedtoplay,”a sourcesaid.

Thatmeantanunmetdemand forhigh-stakesgameswas combinedwith areadypoolof skilledpokerdealersinneedof quickcash.

Combinedwith afeworganisers keentomake aquickprofit,there werealltheingredientsfora flourishingundergroundscene.

Peoplestartedtoorganise gamesandinitiallyjusttook enoughcommissiontocovercosts —paydealersandbuyfoodand

drinkforguestsduringall-night sessions.

Keytofor-profitpokergamesis theconceptofthe“rake”,meaning thescaledcommissiontakenby organisersoutofthepotineach pokerhand.

Rakesstartedlow,sometimes cappedatabout$5perhand,but roseasgamesbecamemore popularandexpensesincreased.

By2021SkyCityhadstartedto bringbackpokergamesbuta shortageofstaffmeantitwas unabletomeetdemand, asource said.

“Alltheircorepokerpeople weregone,”theysaid.

DuringAuckland’s107-day lockdown,thegames,including thoseatOnewaRd,movedonline.

Thedealerandplayerswerestill realpeoplebuttheyused amobile apptofacilitategames,leadingto fasterplayandallowingseveral gamestooperateatonce.

Asourcesaidevenwith alow rakethisallowedorganisersto makemoneyatanevenhigherrate, albeitwith alessconvivial atmosphere.

Thein-persongamesreturned lastyear.

BythispointOnewaRdwas making aminimumof$30,000per week,everyweek, asource claimed.Earningsanddebtswere talliedupinspreadsheets.

Itemployedcleaners,sweepers anddealers,whowerewell compensated.Hostsalsoenlisted agentstoheadoutandfindnew players,oftenatthedowntown casino.

Theagentsreportedlydidmost oftheworkfindingplayersbut

receivedonlyhalftherake.

Sourcessaidtheatmosphereat OnewaRdwasrelaxedandcasual, withgamesgenerallynotstarting until9pmandrunningallnight.

“Theyreallytooktheballoffany processorstructureorsecurity,”a sourcesaid.

“Itwasjustsolax.”

Newplayerswerewelcomebut hadtoputdowncash.Familiar facesgotcredit.

TheFridaynightOnewaRd gamethatwasrobbedwas different,sourcessaid.

Itwasdeliberatelyplannedasa biggamewhereplayerswould bringcashsoeveryonecouldget paidtheirwinningsonthenight. Someattendeesbroughtasmuch as$15,000.

As aresult,thosefamiliarwith the scene believe the stand-over waseitheranincredible coincidenceoraninsidejob.

Thoseinsidetheproperty,who havenowgivenstatementsto police,endured alengthyordealas thearmedtriostrippedthemone byoneoftheircashandvaluables.

“Theseguyswerereallyshaken byit,” asourcesaid. Policesaidnoarrestshavebeen made.

“Ourinvestigationscontinue, andwehavespokentothose presentatthetime,andreviewed CCTVfootageofthenight.”

TheOnewaRdgamescameto anendaftertherobbery.Its organiserandmainhosthasnot respondedtorepeatedrequestsfor

Traindon’tstopthereanymoreforElton

AmyWiggins

Aucklandcouncillorshave slammedtheirowntransport agencyoverthedecisiontocut trainservicestothisweekend’s EltonJohnconcertsatMtSmart Stadium,sayingthedecisionto encourage40,000patronstodrive is“embarrassingforthecity”.

Therecommendationfrom AucklandTransport(AT)on Facebookthatpeopledrivetothe twoconcertshasbeenheavily criticisedby ahandfulofcouncillorswhohavesaiditputspeoplein dangerandsentmixedmessages.

NorthShorecouncillorRichard Hillssaidthesituationwas “monumentallyfrustrating,disappointingandembarrassingforthe city”.

“Ofcourse,therearelowpassengernumbersifyoudon’ttake intoconsiderationthat40,000 peoplehavetogettoandfroma concert,”Hillssaid.

Whiletherailnetworkrebuild meantPenrosetrainstationwas alreadyclosed,AucklandTransportannouncedthisweekthatto “takeadvantageofthegenerally lowpassengernumbersoverthe longweekend,Auckland’srailnetworkwillbeclosed,meaningno trainswillberunningonSaturday”.

AucklandTransportsaid255 freecarparkswouldbeavailable attwolocalbusinessesfrom4pm onthedayoftheconcerts —with thefirstonelastnightandthe secondonetakingplacetonight— andwouldbeon afirst-come,firstservedbasis.

Afurther506free,non-time limitedcarparkingwouldbeavailableonstreetsthatwerewithina 2kmwalkfromMtSmartStadium. Hillssaidonebusevery10 minutesfromthecitywasnot enoughtogeteveryonethereand hehopedAucklandTransporthad askedeverycoachcompany,party buscompanyandeverypossible driverthatwantedtoworkextra

hassuggestedtheytravel by privatecar.

hourstoarrangeasmanybusesas possible. Healsoquestionedwhythey couldnothavedelayedthefull shutdownoftherailnetworkuntil tomorrow.

FellowNorthShorecouncillor ChrisDarbysaidtheadviceto drivetotheconcertwouldput peopleindanger.

“If10,000-15,000carsconverge onMtSmart,driversriskfinding themselvesinheatedcontestfor theveryfewavailablecarparks. Thatnumberofcarscombined withtoday’sweathermakesfora dangerouslocalroadenvironment for30,000pluspedestrianconcert-

goers,”Darbysaid.

“Itdoesseemabsurdfora transportagencythatisdesperatelytryingtomovemorepeople towardspublictransport,walking andcycling.Therewillbenowhere toparkforatleast30,000people— theymayaswellwalkfromPapatoetoe.”

Darbysaidhewouldhave expected acomprehensivetravel plantohavebeendevelopedbythe promoter,AucklandStadiumsand AucklandTransportbuthecould notseeanyevidenceofthat.

AcouncillorfortheManurewaPapakuraWard,whichishometo MtSmartStadium,AngelaDalton,

agreedthesituationwasunacceptable.

“Weseehowthebusesareput onforEdenParksowhynotforMt Smart?Thisshouldn’tbe happening,”shesaid.

“ThelogisticsaroundMtSmart arechallengingatthebestoftimes andthisisprobablytheworstof timeswithnotrainsalso.They shouldbegearingupthosebuses, theyshouldhavebeenwellpreparedbeforehand.”

ShesaidAucklandTransport shouldbepromotingpublictransportandthiswassendingthe oppositemessage.

Manurewa-Papakuraward’s

othercouncillor,DanielNewman, describeditasdiabolicalandsaida fewhundredcarparkswasan inadequateresponsetoconsumer demandwhen40,000peoplewere expectedateachshow.

“It’s abitofanexercisein shoulder-shrugging,whichisjust disgraceful,”hesaid.

“It’simpossibletosaveAucklandTransportfromtheirown incompetenceintheeyesofthe peopleofAucklandwhenwehave situationslikethisoccurring.It wouldn’thavehappenedanywhere elseintheworld.”

DrTimothyWelch,fromAucklandUniversity’sSchoolofArchitectureandPlanning,saiditdid notbodewellforgettingpublic transportusebacktopre-Covid levels.

“AucklandTransporturging EltonJohnconcertgoerstodriveor walktoMtSmartStadiumshows thatATdoesn’thaveenough poweroveritsowntransportnetworkasKiwiRailistheoneclosing linesandbusesarecontracted.”

Anotheroddity,hesays,isAT encouragingpeopletodriveconsideringitscommitmenttocarbon reductionandthefactthatfor manyconcert-goers,thismightbe theonlytimetheyusepublic transportation.

AucklandTransport’swebsite showsbusesleavingfromthe cornerofQuayandGorestreets every10minutes,busesshuttling peoplebetweenOta¯huhuandPenroseStationseveryfiveminutes andOnehungaandNewmarketrail replacementbusesoperatingata 20-minutefrequencyuntil11pm and a30-minutefrequencyafter that,onbothconcertdays.

Today,SouthernLinerailreplacementbuseswillrunevery20 minuteswithbusesfortheEastern Line,travellingbetweenBritomart andManukauviaOta¯huhu,will runeveryhour. BuseswillrunfromO’RorkeRd foraslongasnecessaryafterthe concert.

comment.

ADepartmentofInternal Affairs(DIA)spokesperson confirmeditsstaffwerehelping policewiththeinquiry.

Thespokespersonalsosaida casewasbeforethecourts involving aLowerHuttmanwho allegedlyrananillegalgambling operation.Healsofacesmoney launderingcharges.

“Thedepartmentencourages peoplewithinformationregarding illegalgamblingtoreportthis promptlytoensurethatwecanact wherethereissufficientevidence.”

ASkyCityspokespersonsaid thecompanywouldhavezero toleranceforanystaffworkingin illegalpokerhouses.

“Allourcarddealersundergo trainingthatunderlinesthe importanceofworkingonlyin licensedcasinos,”thecompany said.

“Sadly,illegalunderground pokergameshavealwaysbeen aroundinsomeshapeorform,so wewelcomeanymovetoshutthem downbecausetheyclearlyput peopleatrisk.

“Weprovide asafeand welcomingenvironmentforpeople toenjoythemselvesatourcasinos, andwemonitorourcustomers’ wellbeinginaccordancewithour hostresponsibilityprogramme.”

Pokerforcashstakesplayed outsideNewZealand’slimited numberofcasinoscanbeclassified aseitherprivategambling,orclass 1, 2or3gambling,dependingon circumstancesandstakes.

(UndertheGamblingAct2003 nonewcasinovenuelicencesareto beissued).

Privategamblingcovers agroup offriendsgatheringat aprivate homefor apokernight. Allstakesmustbegiventothe winners,itmustbeprimarilya socialeventandnoonecanearna commission,rewardorcollect admissionforconductingthe gambling.

Therecanalsobenodeductions from aplayer’swinnings.

Class 1gamblingcoverslowstakespoker(lessthan$500prize moneyperevent)andsimilarly,no onecanprofitorbepaidfor conductingthegambling.

Ifitisconductedby asociety thenproceedsmustgoto acharity orfor“purposesbeneficialtothe community”,theDIAsaid.

Class 2gamblingcoversgames with aprizelimitnotexceeding $5000and aturnoverunder$25,000 perevent.Class 3gamblingcovers gameswithprizesover$5000per event.

BothClass 2and 3gambling mustbetoraisemoneyforan “authorisedpurpose”(charitiesor otherpurposesbeneficialtothe community),theDIAsaid.

Asocietyandnotanindividual mustconductthegamblingandno onecanreceivecommissions, rewardsorwages.

Class 3gamblingrequiresa licence.

ADIAspokespersonsaidthere wasnorecordoftheOnewaRd homeorthenameusedforthe pokereveningsbeingassociated with aClass 3licence. “Anyinformationonvenues thatmaybeoperatingillegalpoker gamesiswelcomedbyInternal Affairs,”thespokespersonsaid.

Henwood takestoTwitter torevealhiscancerbattle

ComedianDaiHenwood hasrevealedhisbattle withstagefourcancer.

In aTwiiterpostthe 44-year-oldsaidinApril 2020hewasdiagnosed withcancerinhisbowel, liverand“nowinhis lungs.”

”SincethenI’vehad somuchchemotherapy, somanysurgeries,radiotherapy,everything,but

rightnowI’min abreak oftreatmentfor afew monthsandgettingstuck intosomeawesomework opportunities,”Henwood said.

Henwoodsaidhisillnesswas ahugepartof hislifethathehadbeen “hiding”. ”Iloveyouall,peace,” hesignedonthesocial mediapost.

DaiHenwood

Carjacking:Fourarrests afterpolicechasedrama

Policehavearrestedthreemore menafterinnocentmotoristswere injuredinanallegedarmed carjackinginthemiddleofa highwaynearPalmerstonNorth.

Fourmen,agedbetween19and 20,arenowincustodyafterarmed policespentthemorningscouring thestreetslookingforthem.

Manawatu¯ActingAreaCommanderInspectorPhillipWard saiditwas afast-moving,dangeroussituationandpolicewere gratefulnoonewasseriouslyhurt.

Policewerealertedto aperson ofinterestspeedingonStateHighway57atAokauterejustafter7am yesterday.

Wardsaidthevehicledidnot stopwhensignalledbypolice,who didnotpursuethevehicle.

Anotherpoliceunitthensaw thevehicleabout10minuteslater androadspikesweredeployedas thevehiclespedtowardsAshhurst.

Wardsaidofficersfollowedthe vehicleatthelegalspeedlimit.

At7.35am,thespikedvehicle stoppedonStateHighway3,near HackettsRd.Thepolicewhowere followingwerestillabout akilometreawayatthetime.

“Policebeganreceivingreports

thattheoccupants,oneofwhom appearedtobearmed,hadstopped trafficonthehighwayandhad takentwovehiclesfrominnocent motorists,”Wardsaid. “Thevictimswhohadtheir vehiclestakenwereshaken,and onehasbeentreatedfor ahead wound.Giventheimmediate threattothepublic, apursuitwas thenauthorised.”

Policechasedoneofthevehicles throughPalmerstonNorth.The otherstolenvehiclewasdriven towardsBunnythorpe. Residentsreportedpolicecars “screaming”backandforthpast theirhomes.

“Anundercovercophadgone flyingpastandthenabout aminute latertwomarkedpolicecarswent pastbothgoingseparateways.” Ashorttimelater,thewanted vehiclecrashedasitheadedsouth. Wardsaidpolicerecovereda firearmandarrested a19-year-old manatthescene. PoliceandtheArmedOffenders Squadthenwentaboutfindingthe otherpeopleinvolved. Allfourmenareexpectedto appearinPalmerstonNorthDistrictCourttoday. —NZHerald

SourcessaytheillicitAuckland pokerscenebega

PHOTO /123RF

ThehomeinOnewaRd,hosttoundergroundpokergames,wasraidedbyan armedtrioon January7.

PHOTO /GEORGEBLOCK

PHOTO /GETTYIMAGES

Residentsinflood-prone areasofwestAuckland werelastnightbeing askedtopreparetoevacuateasbadweathercausedpower cutsandcarcrashesacrossTa¯maki Makaurau,with aseverethunderstormwatchinplaceforthenorth ofthecountry.

AucklandEmergencyManagementsaidyesterdaythesevere weatheracrossthecitywas worseninganditwastryingto assesswhatactionwasneeded.

Itaskedpeopletocheckon neighbours,friendsandfamily membersbutnottoputthemselves indangertodoso.

Aucklandershavefaceda chaoticcommuteaheadofthelong weekendforthecity’sanniversary withsomeferriescancelled,and crashesonthenorthwesternand southwesternmotorways.

Thenorth,andnorthwest,areas ofAucklandhavebeenparticularly hitbytheweather,policesaidina statement.

Risingfloodwatershadleft streetsandhomesswampedin Ranuibylateyesterdayafternoon witheveryfiretruckinthecity respondingtoemergencycallouts.

Yesterdayeveningfloodingon StateHighwayOnenorthofthe HarbourBridgeleftlanesblocked inbothdirectionsbetweenNorthcoteandEsmonderoads.

Queuesofcarsweregridlocked withmotoriststoldlastnightto expectdelaysorconsideran alternativeroute.

Significantfloodingimpacted severalotherareasacrossTa¯maki Makaurau,includingpartsofTaupaki,Albany,NewLynn,Henderson,andKumeu¯.

Thepublicwasbeingadvised nottotraveltoWestCoastbeaches duetotheseaconditions.

AucklandFireandEmergency saidyesterdayafternoonthat everyfiretruckinAucklandwas respondingtoemergencycallsdue tothebadweatherandtheyhad respondedtomorethan400emergencycallsyesterday.

Itsaiditwasgivingpriorityto peopleindangerandurgedpeople tocall111onlyiflifeorsafetyisat riskandthevolumeofcallswas causingdelaysinansweringthem.

Anamberalertwasinplacefor theHarbourBridgeyesterday morningandAucklandferrieswere severelydisruptedafter acruise shiplostitsspring —therope whichattachesittothewharf.

APortsofAuckland spokespersonconfirmedtheship hadtouseitsenginetoreattach itself.

TheshipwastheNoordam, whicharrivedinAucklandyester-

Inbrief

Children’srightsqueried NewZealandisbeingcalledouton itschildren’srightsrecord.TheUN isadvisingallcountriestomake theageofcriminalresponsibilityat least14 —inNewZealand,it’s10. TheCommitteeontheRightsof theChildmetyesterdayand describedNewZealand’s approachasoffence-basedrather thanchild-centred.Amnesty InternationalCampaignsdirector LisaWoodsaysyouthcrimeis causedbytraumaand alackof mentalhealthsupport.

Housefiresuspicious Alargeblazethatrippedthrougha houseinPalmerstonNorthisbeing treatedassuspicious.Theincident onRaleighStwasreportedat 8.48pmonThursday,accordingto FireandEmergencyNZ.A spokespersonsaidtheincident wasbeingtreatedassuspicious and afireinvestigationofficerwas dispatchedtothescene.

Newvaccineindemand TeWhatuOrasayshundredsof peoplehavemadeappointmentto getthenewmpoxvaccine.Itsays 738vaccineconsultationshave beenbookedsincerolloutkicked off11daysago.NewZealand currentlyhasenoughmonkeypox vaccinesfor20,000people.Only thoseathighriskofpickingupthe viraldiseaseareeligible —suchas menwithmultiplesexualpartners.

Wagehikeopposed

Oppositionpartiesare unimpressedatsuggestionsto hiketheminimumwage —asa Government’sdecisionlooms. Unionssaylow-earnersare strugglingintheseinflationary times,butbusinessgroupsand Oppositionpartiessayanyhike wouldworseninflation.Act’sDavid SeymoursaysanMBIEreport shows3-4percentofearnersare ontheminimumwage.Heclaims they’remostlyyouthlivingathome —orpeoplelivingwith ahighincomeearnerandsupplementing their income.

dayandberthedatPrincesWharf.

Thespokespersonsaidthere weresignificantgustsofwindas theboatwasreattached.Itmeant ferrieswereheldinWaitemata¯ Harbouruntilthesituationwas resolved.

Ferrieshadalreadybeen disruptedbypoorweatherwhich hashittheregion,causingthe cancellationofsomeservices.

Aseverethunderstormwatch wasissuedforAucklandand Northlandwithbandsofheavyrain andthunderstormsmovingacross Northlandthroughoutyesterday andAucklandnorthofabout Albanyuntilyesterdayevening.

Someofthosethunderstorms weretippedtoproducedownpours of25to40millimetresanhour, MetServicesaid.

Orangeheavyrainwarnings wereinplaceforNorthland,Auckland,CoromandelPeninsula,Bayof

PlentywestofWhakata¯neand MountTaranaki.

MetServicesaidwindsgusting 80km/hwerealsoexpectedinAucklandoverthecomingdays.

Vector’spoweroutagemap indicatedcutsinGlenEden,from WestCoastRdextendingsouthto Taiwini,andmorethan1000homes werewithoutpowerinNorthland justbeforenoonyesterday.

Theheavyrainhasalsomeant blackflagalertswereissuedat

someAucklandbeaches,dueto wastewateroverflows.

The“veryhighrisk”warning wassettobeinplaceuntil tomorrowmorning,whenitdrops tothered“highrisk”alert.

EighteenAucklandbeaches weredeemed averyhighriskfor swimmersbyyesterdayafternoon.

Thesubtropicallowalso broughtheavyraintoNorthland andCoromandelandbymidafternoonyesterdaytheCoromandelrangeshadbeenhitbyupto 150mmofrain —thelatestdeluge ofthearea’ssoddensummer.

PartofStateHighway25Ain Coromandel,whichwasalready damagedbyheavyrainearlierthis month,wasclosedbetweenKopu andHikuai.

Theroadisoneofthekeyroads forholidaymakersandlocals travellingaroundCoromandel.

WakaKotahisaidtheaffected

Robertsonrunningaslist MP at election

ThomasCoughlan

FinanceMinisterGrantRobertson willvacatehisWellingtonCentral electorateatthe2023electionand runonthepartylist. RobertsonwillstayasFinance Ministerandcontesttheelection, butas alistMP.

In amessageonFacebookhe saidhewantedtoremainFinance Ministeraftertheelection.

“Ihavegiven ahugeamountof thoughttothisdecision,”hesaid.

“As Icontemplatedthisyear’s election IthoughtabouttwopreviousMinistersofFinance.Sir MichaelCullenwas alistMPwhile MinisterofFinanceandSirBill Englishbecame alistMPaftersix yearsasMinisterofFinance.There is areasonforthat.BeingMinister ofFinanceis ahugejob,anddoes oftendrawyouawayfromelectorateresponsibilities.

“Iamparticularlyconsciousof thatnowasthecountryentersa challengingeconomicperiod. Thosechallengesarelikelytolast forsometime.

“Post-election Iwanttocontinue asMinisterofFinance,anddevote

myselftothatrole,withoutfeelingI amnotgivingmyfullattentionto thepeopleofWellingtonCentral.”

Robertsonsaidhewas“very proudofwhatwehaveachieved here —particularlyinthedevelopmentofaffordablehousing, startingthemuch-neededtransport improvements,protectionofthe TownBelt,recognitionofourinner cityresidents,oursupportforarts andartists,andoursupportfor thosewhofalloutsidethemargins ofoursociety”.

Hesaidthedecisionmaycome as a“shock”tosupporters.

“Iamsorryfordoingthat,butI reallybelievethatthisistheright decisionforme,forthepartyand forWellingtonCentral. Ihave absolutelynodoubtthattherewill be anumberofpeopleinterestedin theLabournomination,andthatwe willselect aterrificcandidate,who willbevictoriousinOctober.Andof

course IamstilltheMPfor WellingtonCentraluntiltheelection”.

“Aswehavebeenfarewelling Jacindainrecentdays Iknowthere hasbeen amixtureofemotions. Gratitudeforherwork,sadnessat herleavingtherole,butexcitement about anewleadershipteamand theopportunityaheadatthiselection.

“IgenuinelybelievethatLabour isontherighttracktowinthe electionanditissoimportantthat wedoforthefutureofAotearoa NewZealand.Wehavemadesuch greatprogresstowardscreatinga fairer,moreinclusiveandprosperouscountry.Ifyouagree,then pleasegetinvolvedinthecampaign thisyear.Formypart, Iwill continuetogivethisworkmyall.”

Labour’sWellingtonCentral electoratecommitteewillmeetto select anewcandidate.

stretchofroadwascloseduntil furthernoticedueto“furtherroad movementinwetconditions”.

ThamesValleyCivilDefence controllerGarryTowlersaidthe arterialTapuCoroglenand309 roads —whichlinkthewestcoast totheeastcoast —werealso closed.

“Ontopofallofthis,withallthis rainwhichwe’renowgettingto almost ametresofarthisyear,is thattheThamesCoastRdandthe roadbetweenCoromandeland Whitiangaarenowundertraffic managementduetoslipsthatare startingtocomedown.”

Crewshadnothadenoughtime torepairtheroadsinbetweenthe threestormeventssofarthisyear, hesaid.

“We’refacingtotalsaturation andthecatchmentsjustcan’tcope, andofcoursebeing averyhillypart ofthecountry,we’vejustgoing

theseongoingslipsandissueswith surfaceflooding.”

NiwameteorologistBenNoll saiditmaynottakemuchrainthis weekendtoseeissuesthatarose duringCycloneHaleexacerbatedin areassuchastheCoromandel.

Nollsaidsomeplacesmaysee upto100mmofrain.

Thisafternoonmaybringa slightwindowofreprievebefore therainreturnstomorrow,hesaid.

Whileitwasdrearyforthe northernpartofthecountry, Christchurchenjoyedplentyof sunshineandwasthehottestplace inNewZealandyesterdayas temperatureshit30C.

AftertwowarmdaysinChristchurch,MetServicemeteorologist LewisFerrissaidtemperatures wereexpectedtodropsubstantially as asoutherlyfrontcamethrough lastnight. —RNZ

Thiefliedtoemployers abouthisfather’sdeath

Amanwhostole$3800fromhis employertoldpoliceheneededthe cashtopayforhisfather’sfuneral whenhisfatherwasstillalive.

MayzonTangaroaNgatiKaura, 24,courier,ofBluff,yesterday appearedforsentencebeforeJudge CatrionaDoyleintheInvercargill DistrictCourt.Hehadpleaded guiltytocausing alossof$3800to RakiuraShippingLtd,three chargesoftheftamountingto$2470 andstealing aquadbike.

Theoffendinghappened betweenDecember6,2021,and February11,2022,whenNgati Kaurawasemployedas ayard managerattheshippingcompany.

Thesummaryoffactssaysa customerarranged ashippingchartertotransportsuppliestotheTiti Islandsforthemuttonbirdseason.

Insteadofsupplyingthecus-

tomerwiththebusinessbankaccount,NgatiKauragavehimhis owntodepositthe$3800.

“Inexplanation,hesaidthathe hadspentthemoneyandneededit tohelphisfamilywithhisfather’s funeralexpenses,andtotransport thebodybacktotheNorthIsland,” thesummarystates.“However, policeareawarethathisfatheris stillalive.”

Thetheftoftheothermoney tookplacewhenNgatiKaurawas handedcashbycustomers.

Thebikewassupposedtobe storedatRakiuraShippingduring theChristmasbreak.NgatiKaura soldittoanassociatefor$200and toldtheownerithadbeenstolen.

NgatiKaurawassentencedto 250hours’communityworkand orderedtopayreparationof$6270. —OtagoDailyTimes

Ra¯huiafterbodyfound Iwikaitiakihaveblessedthesite where abodywasfoundnear Ka¯pitiIslandonWednesday.The policemaritimeunitandnational divesquadrecoveredthebody after apersonfishinginthearea foundit.Iwiconducted ablessing and ara¯huihasbeenplacedon Ka¯pitiIslandforsevendays.

Riseinaggression

TheNZSecurityAssociationsays there’sbeen ariseinaggressive behaviouragainstitsworkers. Yesterday,policewerecalledtoa LowerHuttbusiness,wherea personhadrefusedtoleave astore andallegedlyassaulted asecurity guard.Theywerepeppersprayed bypoliceafterresistingarrest. AssociationspokesmanGary Morrisonsayssincethepandemic, andcost-of-livingcrisis,issues havegrown.

Protestoverforestry

Analmost9000-strongpetition callingforland-useregulationin Tairawhiti —hasbeenpresented to Gisborne District Council. Loggingdebrisleftbyrecent stormshascontinuedtowash throughwaterways.It’saskingfor aministerialgrouptosupporta regional“JustTransition”plan— formovingto alowcarbonfuture. MayorRehetteStoltzsayscouncil agrees anewapproachisneeded forsustainablelanduse,including forestry.

Rubbishcollections hit

Thecompanythatcollects WellingtonCity’srubbishand recyclingisoperatingwithhalfthe numberoftruckdriversitneeds. WellingtonCityCouncilhas warnedresidentsthatkerbside collectionsmaytakelongerthan usual.ContractorEnviroWasteis down13driversdueto resignationsandsickness.

"We’refacingtotal saturationandthe catchmentsjust can’tcope."

GarryTowler,ThamesValleyCivil Defencecontroller

GrantRobertsonsaidhewantedto concentrateonthefinanceportfolio.

Howarm Ukrainemay endthewar

ThewarinUkrainehasdealt asevereblowtooneKiwi family,withtheparentsof volunteerAndrew Bagshawspeakingproudlythrough theirgriefabouthiseffortstohelp peopleontheothersideofthe world.

Bagshaw,47,waskilledwhile tryingtoevacuateandassist civiliansindangerousareasof fighting.Hisparents,doctorsPhil andSueBagshaw,hopedhisdeath wouldnotbeinvain.

Aboutthewar,theysaidthe outsideworldneededtohelpthe Ukrainiansto“ridtheirhomeland ofanaggressor”.

“Theworldneedstobestrong andstandwithUkraine,giving themthemilitarysupport,they neednowand,helptorebuildtheir shatteredcountryafterthewar.”

Westerncountriesdokeep showingthattheyunderstandthe stakesatplay,thattheycan’tletan aggressiveRussiakeepthepartsof Ukraineithasgainedoverthepast year.

AhumiliatedRussia,forcedto pullbacktopre-warterritoryina peacedeal,wouldlikelybedifficult enoughfortheWesttohandle.

Moscowcouldturntomethods suchassabotageoperationsand cyberattackstogainrevenge.

Thisweekmarked akey momentinthewar,inwhichitwas madeclearthatUkrainewouldbe suppliedwithimportantweapons inthecomingmonths.

Themosthopefuloutcome wouldbethatMoscowbecomes convincedthatUkraine’ssuppliers areinitforthelonghaulandthat theconflictisfutile.Butitmight takemoreterritorygainsbyKyiv forRussiatoseekanexit.

Neithersideisatpresentnearto wantingpeacetalkstoendit.

BoththeUnitedStatesand Germany,after awobblyfewdays oftalksandmixedmessages, agreedtosend31M1Abramsand 14Leopard 2battletanksto Ukraineinsignificantreversals.

Germanywillalsoallowseveral other countries to send their LeopardsandBritainissending14 Challenger2s.Infantryfighting vehicleshadpreviouslybeen pledged.

There’s amajorproblem:Itwill still take an estimated two months fortheweaponrytomakea practicaldifferenceonthe battlefieldbecauseofdeliveryand trainingforUkrainianstooperate thetanks.TheUSM1Abramswill takeevenlongertoarriveandthey alsouselargeamountsoffuel.

There’salsothequestionofhow muchworsetheRussianretaliation againstUkrainemaygetforusing

ADog’sLife

Joe Bennett

Something’shappenedwith humble.

‘Iamabsolutelyhumbled andhonoured,’saidournice newprimeministerwhenhegot thejob.Really?Let’sbeginwith humblepie.

Aseveryschoolboyprobably doesn’tknow,toeathumblepieis togrovel.Itistoadmitone’s fallibilityandseekforgiveness. Andithasnothingtodowith humble.

Humblepiebeganasumblepie, withumblesbeingtheless culinarilyattractivepartsof adeer —theentrailsandorgans.So servantsandtheirilkateumblepie whiletheirlordsandmastersate thevenison.Itisunderstandable, then,howthewordacquiredan etymologicallyunjustified. Thetruehumblederivesfrom theLatinhumilismeaninglowly.

Anditretainsexactlythatmeaning inEnglishwhenwetalkofsomeone ofhumbleorigins;theycomefrom lowlystock,andhaveno advantagesofbirth, Anextensionofthatideaisthe secondmeaningofhumble,which ismodest.Humblepeopledon’t thinkespeciallywellofthemselves, don’tputthemselvesabovetheir rightfulstation.Indeedtheytendto

outsidehelp.

Therehavepreviouslybeen devastatingmissilestrikescarried outonUkrainiancities.ButNato countriesappeartoseeMoscow’s warningsagainstescalationas bluffing.AndKyivhasthemoral justificationthatitisdefendingits ownterritoryagainstaninvader.

Theunmistakabletrendinthe West’ssupportforUkraineisof strategictaboosbeingbrokenand cautioneasingwithUkrainian militarysuccesseslastyear.

Overthepast11months, Ukraine’sallieshaveovercome theirreluctancetosupplymobile rocketsystems,Patriotairdefence batteries,andhigh-techtanks.

Nowtherearereportsoftalks beingrevivedonwhethertosend F-16fighterjetstoKyiv.Ukraine wantsthoseandlonger-range missiles.

Thefactthewarhasn’twidened territoriallybeyondUkraineowes somethingtodisciplineonRussian PresidentVladimirPutin’spart, amidthebrutality.

Hedoesn’twantNatocountries directlyinvolvedinthefighting— anymorethantheywanttosend combattroops.

Russiaisstuckin astalemate againstonecountry.Itcan’tfight conventionallyagainstseveralat onceandisisolatedpoliticallyand economicallyfrommajorpowers.

Tanks,whichoffermobile firepowerandarmoured protection,areimportantfor Ukrainetothwartanyupcoming Russianoffensiveandtolaunch advancesofitsown.

Acombinationofadvantageous supplies,infantry,artillery, training,strategicapproaches,and resolvefromtheUkrainianscould bedecisive,eventhoughRussiahas tensofthousandsofunfortunate troopstothrowintothewar.

CNNreportsthattheUShas beenurgingUkrainetofocusonthe southratherthantheeast,making useofthenewvehiclestoretake territoryandperhapsbringwarendingtalksintosight.That outcomeiscertainlytobehoped for.

—NZHerald

LETTERS

Slowdownanddrivecarefullyinthewet

Andsoitcontinues.After ahorror yearonNorthland’sroadsin2022 (38died,thehighestannualroad tollit’shadin22years)itseems manypeoplehavecontinuedto ignoretheroadsafetyrules.

We’venowhadfivedeathson Northland’ssofarin2023.FIVE!

That’sfamiliesnotseeingtheir lovedonesandfriendsandwilllead tosomuchanguishforsomany peopleastheripplesofthetragediesextendout.

Oneoftheproblems,as Iseeit, isthatmanymotoristsinNorthlandjustdon’tslowdownwhenit rains.

It’sbasicphysics —yourcars losetractionontheroadswhen theyarewetsoit’sbesttoslow downinordertohavetheabilityto stopquicklyifneeded.Continuing atthesamespeedswhentheroads arewetis arecipefor acrash ayou willnotbeabletostopasquicklyas whentheroadisdry. Soplease,please,whenit’swet driveat10-20kmhslowerthanyou wouldnormallydo(dependingon howheavytherainisandhowwet theroadis)andthatwillensure thatyouaremorelikelytostopin timeinanemergency.

IanJohnson Northland

ElNinotemporary Generally,“Majorweathershifton thehorizon”(Advocate,January 18)isanexcellentandcandid accountofLaNinaandElNino eventsaffectingourweatherpatterns.Althoughthetwomaps showing“differencefromnormal summerrainfallfrom1973to2022”, isnot avalidcomparison.1973was during acoolperiodwhenthe climatescarewasthatwemightbe returningtoaniceage.

SinceLaNinais aglobalcooling event(exceptinthesouthwest Pacificwhereitbringswarmer

Northland’s roadscanbe treacherous whenthey arewet,and areader urges motoriststo slow down whenit rains.

conditionsaswehavejustexperienced),theanticipatedElNinowill certainlyresultinhigheraverage globaltemperatures,asusual.

But,astothepotentialforthe “symbolicwarmingthresholdof 1.5Ctobecrossedsoonerthan predicted”,ElNinophasesarealso temporaryevents(commonlyone tothreeyears)andaverageglobal temperaturescanbeexpectedto fallagain.

Itissomethingwehaveseen afterpaststrongElNinoevents(eg 1998and2015-2016).

TheLaNinaandElNinoevents needtobeviewedastemporary

GUIDELINES

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■ Lettersshouldnotexceed200words.

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■ Ifpossible,pleaseemail.

■ Nonomsdeplume.

■ Letterswillbepublishedwithnamesand suburb/city.

■ Includefullname,addressandcontact detailsforourrecordsonly.

■ Localletterwritersgivenpreference.

■ Rejectedlettersarenotnormally acknowledged.

■ Lettersmaybeedited,abridged,orrejected attheEditor’sdiscretion.

■ TheEditor’sdecisiononpublicationisfinal. Emaileditor@northernadvocate.co.nz orwritetotheEditor, NorthernAdvocate,88RobertSt,Whangarei 0110

coolandwarmphases superimposedon amodest warmingtrend(about1Csofar), commencingattheendof acolder periodabout1850. TonyClimie ParuaBay

Imustcongratulatehimonhishair. When Iwashisage,minewas already amemory.)

Chippyhasachievedtheaimof everyoneinpolitics,whetherthey admititornot.He’smountedthe throne,becomenumberone, ensuredhisnameatleasta mentioninthehistorybooks,and thusachieved aformof immortality,andweallseek immortalityinonewayoranother. Hehasgoodreasontobeproud. Hecameofhumbleorigins —Hutt Valley,stateeducation,nohintofa silverspoon —andhispeershave elevatedhimtothetopjob.Hehas beenhonoured,ashe acknowledged.Yethealsoclaimed tohavebeenhumbled,and humbled,aswehaveseen,means loweredinstatus,beatendown, humiliated,whichistheoppositeof whathadjusthappened.Whaton earthcanhehavemeant?

dotheopposite.Humilityishaving arealisticestimateofone’sown importanceorinfluenceortalents. It’sanattractivequality (Incontrast,istheironicuseof humble.Whenanyonebegins‘in myhumbleopinion’theydon’t meanit.Theythinkthey’reright. They’rejustpre-empting acharge ofarrogance.Thisisfalsehumility. Trickything,language.)

DirectlyfromtheLatincomes

theverbhumiliate.Tohumiliate someoneistolowertheirstatus, cutthemdowntosize,to embarrassandreducethem. SimilarlyfromtheEnglishcomes theverbtohumble,anditmeans prettymuchthesamething.“The Crusadershumbledthe Highlandersin a10-tryromp,” readstheusualheadline.To humbleisn’tquiteasfierceasto humiliate,butit’sprettydarn

close. Withallthatinmindletusnow returntothewordsofourjaunty newprimeminister.(Theyusedto sayyouknewyouweregettingold whenpolicemenlookedyoung. Whataboutwhenprimeministers lookfreshoutofschool?His nickname,Chippy,seemsbang-on. Heremindsme alittle,andinan entirelyagreeableway,ofAlfredE Neuman.Andas aformerredhead,

Wellnow,heisn’tthefirsttodo this.Peoplereceivingawardsare oftenheardtosaytheyare humbled.Thereasoning, Isuggest, goessomewhatlikethis. Theyhaveheardofpeople visiting apaediatricward,say,and seeinglittlechildrenwithcanceror disabilitiescheerfullymakingthe mostofthelittlethey’vegotandthe visitorssaying,rightly,thatthey feelhumbled.Inotherwords,the visitorsrealisetheirownlowmoral statuswhencomparedwiththe courageanddeterminationofthe afflictedchildren.It’s alegitimate useofhumbled. Ajust-appointedprimeminister, or ajust-awardedactress,however,

doesnotfeeloflowlymoralstatus. Theyfeelexalted,elevated.Atthe sametimetheyareaware,and admirablyso,thatthoughthey havetherighttocrow,andindeed arecrowinginternally,itis unseemlytobeseento crow.Nobodylikesa boaster.Toboast,as Trumpdoeswithout failandwithout justice,istoput yourselfupandyour audiencedown. Sothespeaker fumblesfor awayto avoidlookingsmugand reachesfor aformulathat theyhaveheardbefore.They saytheyarehumbled.Theyaren’t. Theyjustwanttoappearmodest. Theintentioniswise,butthe Englishisplainwrong. Iwishthenewprimeminister well. Ihopetherolehealways soughtprovestobeallhehoped. But Ialsohopehetakes alittle morecarewithhiswords.

"Theunmistakabletrendin theWest’ssupportfor Ukraineisofstrategictaboos beingbrokenandcaution easingwithUkrainian militarysuccesse

OurnewhumbledPMmaybemincinghiswords

"Hehasgoodreasontobe proud.Hecameofhumble origins —HuttValley, state education,nohintofa silverspoon —andhis peershaveelevatedhimto thetopjob."

MywishesfortheNew Year?Well,worldpeace, ofcourse.Andserious globalactiononthe climatecrisis.ButI’vealsogota wishforsomethingclosertohome.

ThisisanelectionyearinNew Zealand.Thepartieswillsoonbe unveilingtheirmanifestos.AndI worrythatthemanifestoswillall betoosimilar.

Ithinkweneedsomeserious politicaldifferencesinAotearoa NZ.

Now,youmightthinkthisis silly.Aren’twesufferingan outpouringofextremism —antivaxxers,conspiracytheorists,the woke,purveyorsofalternative facts,anti-socialmediatrolls,and soon?Yesweare,butsofarallfive majorpoliticalpartieshavebeen staunchonnotpanderingtothe extremists.Andtheyallbasically agreeonmanybigissues:climate, treatyclaims,abortion,civilrights, guncontrol,sexism,racism,foreign policy,separationofchurchand state.

Inotherwords,wearenot becominglikethe(Dis-)United StatesofAmerica,thankgoodness. Butdoourpartiesagreetoomuch?

Inoursystem,electoralpolitics isreally agame.Andthe prizeofthisgame? Enormous.Whoever winstheNovember electionwillthereby automaticallywin therighttodo whatevertheywish forthenextthree yearswiththe40per centofthenational incomethatwill —with noeffortontheirpart— passintotheirhandsastax revenues.

That’s$2ofeveryfiveearnedby householdstaxedawaytospend: about$150billion,thisyear.

Ofcourse,thepartiesintheir electionmanifestoswilleachloudly andsincerelyclaimthattheir proposedprogrammeswould delivermorevaluetothecitizenry thanwhattheirrivalsareoffering.

Butwhether aproposedpublicly fundedprogrammeisbeneficialin itselfisonlythefirstquestionthat needstobetickedoff.

Thesecondtest —whichno partiesevergonear —istoask whetherthebenefitsofProgramme Xwillbegreaterthanthebenefits we,thetaxpayers,couldgenerateif wewereallowedtospendthe X-moneyourselves.

Howmuchofthe40 percentofourGDP, takenbycentral governmentevery year,isthereby spentmore effectivelyand usefullythanwe couldachieveonour own?Mostofit. Wecananddoargue aboutthedetails,butwe wanttheGovernmentto provideforschools,hospitals, police,andvariousotherimportant services.That’sabouttwo-thirdsof thetotal,or27percentofGDP.

Fine.It’sthelastthirdthatis problematic.

Thisis$50bofdirectcash transfersoftaxmoneyto individualsnowcalledsocial welfarebenefits,and,increasingly, similarhandoutstobusiness.

Theoriginshereareinthepostwarwelfarestate,setupafterfour miserabledecadesofworldwars andtheGreatDepressionasan insuranceschemetorescuepeople fromunexpectedhardshipand homelessness.

Asprosperityincreasedand unemploymentdriedup,the welfarestatewassupposedto witheraway.

Instead,withthequiet acquiescenceofsuccessive governments,ithasbecome bloatedandentrenched:not insuranceagainstoccasional misfortune,but awayoflifefor manybeneficiariesandcompanies. Becausemostofthetransfers aretargetedat aspecificproblem,a beneficiaryhasanincentivetonot

solvethatproblemthemselves, becausetheywouldtherebylose themoney.Thisiscalledthe “povertytrap”.

Andanotherproblemwith micro-managedtargetedbenefitsis that —forvariousreasons —they don’tevengetto alargeproportion ofthepeoplesufferinggenuine difficulties.

Sohowcouldwegetthatlast $50bdirectlyintothehandsofthe populace?

Wecouldcutincometaxesor

theGST,butthatwouldofcourse benefitmostthepeoplewhoearn andspendthemost.

Isthere awayofredistributingit suchthat —withoutnecessarily favouringthepoor —itatleast treatsthemequallywitheverybody else?

Yes,thereis,anditisan excellentidea.

It’susuallycalled aUBI— UniversalBasicIncome.

Thishastwokey characteristics:universality,

meaningeveryonegetsit,withno targetingoradministrativefuss.It isalso“basic”andnotinitself enoughtolivecomfortablyon,but itprovidesinsuranceagainst suddenmisfortune,or astakefor savings,orfeedmoneyfor enterprise.

Sovasthasbecomeourwelfare statethatthemoneynowspenton targetedtransferpaymentswould easilyfinance amonthly,tax-free UBIof$1000foreverysingleadult NewZealandresident.

Wouldn’tyoulikethat?

SomylittleNewYear’swishis thatoneofourpoliticalparties— orperhaps anewone —willhave theboldnessandimaginationto breakawayfromthecosypolitical cartel,towindupthewelfarestate, andempowerusthecitizensto choosebetterlivesforourselvesin thesetrickytimes.

"Sovasthas becomeour welfarestatethat themoneynow

IsraelandGaza fighterstrade fireinresponse

Gazamilitantsfired rocketsandIsrael carriedoutairstrikes yesterday as tensionssoared followinganIsraeli raidintheoccupied WestBankthat killedninePalestinians,includingat leastsevenmilitantsanda 61-year-old woman.

It wasthedeadliestsingle raidin the territoryinovertwo decades.The flare-upinviolenceposes an early test forIsraeliPrimeMinister BenjaminNetanyahu’sfar-right Governmentand casts ashadowonUS Secretary ofState AntonyBlinken’s expectedtriptothe regionnextweek.

Palestinianmilitantsfiredfive rockets at Israel,themilitarysaid. Three were intercepted,one fellinan openarea andanother fell shortinside Gaza.

Israel carried outa seriesof airstrikes at what itsaid were militant targets.

Yesterday’sdeadlyraidinthe Jenin refugee camp waslikelytoreverberatetodayasPalestinians gatherfor weeklyMuslimprayersthat areoften followedbyprotests.

Raisingthestakes,thePalestinian Authoritysaidit wouldhalttheties thatitssecurity forces maintainwith Israelin asharedeffort to contain Islamicmilitants.

ThePAalready haslimitedcontrol overscatteredenclavesinthe West Bank, andalmostnone overmilitant strongholdslikethe Jenin camp.

Buttheannouncementcouldpave the wayforIsrael to stepupoperationsitsays areneeded to prevent attacks.

Hamas,theIslamicmilitant group thatcontrolsGaza,hadearlierthreatenedrevengeforthe raid.

PalestinianPresident Mahmoud Abbasdeclaredthreedaysofmourning, andinthe refugeecamp,residentsduga massgrave forthedead.

BarbaraLeaf, the topUSdiplomat fortheMiddle East,saidthe administration wasdeeplyconcernedabout thesituationandthatcivilian casualtiesreportedinJenin were “quiteregrettable”.

ButshealsosaidthePalestinian announcement tosuspendsecurity tieswas amistake.

“Obviously,wedon’t thinkthisis

Tensions flareafter deadlyraid

NorthernAdvocate

Inbrief

USsanctions Paraguayans

TheUnited Statesissuedsanctions against Paraguay’sformerPresident HoracioCartesJaraandcurrentVice PresidentHugoVelazquezMoreno yesterday, unveiling explosive accusationsthattheyparticipatedin widespreadschemesofcorruption andhave tiestomembersofa terroristorganization.Cartesand Velazquezhavebeeninvolved “in systemic corruptionthathas undermineddemocraticinstitutionsin Paraguay” andhave tiestomembers ofHezbollah,whichtheUnited States designatesasaterroristorganisation, the TreasuryDepartment said. Both Cartesand Velazquezwereincluded on aUScorruptionlistlast year,but nowthe accusationsagainstthem have beenexpanded. Treasuryalso issuedsanctionsagainst four companiesownedorcontrolledby Cartes.

Killermayfacedeath penalty

AnIslamic extremistwhokilledeight peoplewith aspeedingtruckin a2017 rampageonapopularNew YorkCity bikepathwas convicted yesterdayof federalcrimesand could face the death penalty.Prosecutorssaid SayfulloSaipov’s Halloween rampage wasinspired by his reverenceforthe IslamicState militantgroup.Saipov, 34,was foundguiltyof28 countsof crimesthatincludemurderinaidof racketeeringandsupporting aforeign terroristorganisation.Jurorswill return to courtnoearlierthan February6tohearmoreevidenceto helpthemdecidewhetherheshould be executed orspendthe restofhis lifeinprison.The vehicle attackkilled awomanvisitingfrom Belgiumwith her family,fivefriendsfromArgentina andtwoAmericans.

therightsteptotakeatthismoment,” shetold reporters,sayingthePalestinian vowto bring thematter to the UNandtheInternationalCriminal Courtwasproblematic.

“We wantto see them move back intheotherdirection,” shesaid, adding: “Theyneed to engagewith eachother.”

Therehavebeennoseriouspeace talks betweenIsrael andthe Palestiniansin well overadecade.

Thegunbattlethatleftninedead and 20 woundederupted when Israel’s military conducted araredaytimeoperationinthe Jenin campthat

itsaid wasmeant to preventanimminent attackonIsraelis.Thecamp, wherethePalestinianIslamic Jihad militantgrouphasa major foothold, hasbeen afocusofnear-nightlyIsraeli arrestraids.

Tensions have soaredsinceIsrael steppedupraidsinthe WestBanklast year,followingaseriesofPalestinian attacks.

Israel’s newNationalSecurity Minister, far-rightpoliticianItamar BenGvir,whoseekstograntlegalimmunitytoIsraelisoldiers whoshoot Palestinians,posted avideoofhimself beamingtriumphantlyandcongratu-

latingsecurityforces. The raidleft atrail ofdestruction in Jenin. Atwo-storeybuilding,apparentlytheoperation’s target,wasa charredwreck.Themilitarysaiditenteredthebuilding to detonate explosives.

Palestinian HealthMinister May Al-Kailasaidparamedicsstruggled to reachthe woundedduringthefighting, whileAkramRajoub, thegovernorof Jenin,saidthemilitary preventedemergency workersfrom evacuatingthem. Bothaccusedthemilitaryoffiring teargas at thepaediatric ward ofa

hospital, causingchildren to choke. Videoatthehospital showedwomen carryingchildrenintoa corridor.

TheIsraeli rightsgroupB’Tselem said yesterdaymarkedthesingle bloodiest WestBankincursionsince 2002,attheheightofanintense wave ofviolenceknownastheSecond Intifada,orPalestinianuprising, whichleftscarsstillvisiblein Jenin.

“Weask thattheinternational communityhelpthePalestinians againstthisextremist right-wingGovernmentandprotectour citizens,” saidRajoub.

UNMiddle Eastenvoy Tor

Wenneslandsaidhe was“deeply alarmed and saddened”bytheviolence. Condemnationscamefromthe OrganisationofIslamic Co-operation andTurkey, which recentlyreestablishedfulldiplomatictieswith Israel,as wellasfromneighbouring Jordan.

SaudiArabiacriticisedthe raid, sayingit rejectedthe “serious violationsofinternationallawbythe Israelioccupationforces”.

Qatar, KuwaitandOman added condemnations.

Sofarthis year,30Palestinians have beenkilled. AP

Russianstrikeskill at least11civilians

Russiafiredmoremissilesandselfexplodingdronesatnearly adozen Ukraineprovincesyesterday,causing thefirst war-relateddeathin Kyiv this yearandkilling at least11people overall, Ukrainianauthoritiessaid.

Theattacks adhered to Russia’s recentpatternofstrikingpowerplants andother criticalinfrastructure about everytwoweeks. However, the latestonslaughtcameafter Germany andthe UnitedStatespromisedon Thursdaytosendhigh-techbattle tanks to Ukraine,green-lightingother alliestodothesame.

OfFive firedMemphispoliceofficers were charged yesterdaywith murder andothercrimesinthekillingofTyre Nichols,ablackmotorist whodied threedays after aconfrontationwith theUSofficersduring atrafficstop.

ShelbyCountyDistrictAttorney SteveMulroy saidalthoughthe officers eachplayeddifferent rolesin thekilling, “they areall responsible”.

Theofficers eachfacecharges of

second-degreemurder,aggravated assault,aggravatedkidnapping, officialmisconduct andofficialoppression.

Videoofthe January7 trafficstop wastobereleased to thepublic, Mulroy said.

TheNicholsfamilyandtheir lawyerssaythe footageshows officers savagely beatingthe 29-year-old FedExworkerforthreeminutes in an

geassaultthatthelegal teamlikened to theinfamous1991policebeatingof LosAngelesmotoristRodneyKing.

Askedaboutthekidnapping charges,thedistrictattorney said:“If it wasalegaldetention to beginwith, itcertainlybecameillegal at acertain pointand wasanunlawfuldetention.”

DavidRausch,directorofthe TennesseeBureau ofInvestigation,said

Millionairehappytopay

What would yougive to have thebody of ateenageragain?Bryan Johnson,a Silicon Valleytechmogul,thinksit canbedoneforaboutUS$2million ($3.08m) ayear.

Johnson, 45,isatthe fore of awar onageingin whichbillionaires and celebritiestry to turnbacktime.

He is employing30doctorsand expertsin what he calls “Operation

Blueprint”.The goal is to reversebiologyandmakeeachofhis 78 organs— includinghis brain,heart, lungsand kidneys —medically18yearsold. Johnson, whoisworth hundreds ofmillionsofdollars,detailedhisregimen for BloombergBusinessweek

Itincludes puttingon gogglesto blockbluelighttwo hoursbeforebed, which is at thesametime everynight.

He wakesat5am foranhour-long workout,takesdozensof supplementsincludingcreatine,and rinses histeethwith teatreeoil.On avegan diet,heeats1977 caloriesaday,includingalmondmilk,flaxseed,berries,andblendedvegetables.

He recaptures hisyouthfulskin withseventypesofcream,alongwith acidpeelsandlaser therapy,andhas

hesawthevideoand foundit“absolutelyappalling”.

“Letmebeclear: What happened heredoesnot at all reflectproper policing. Thiswaswrong.Thiswas criminal,” Rauschsaid. Courtrecords showedallfive formerofficers —Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, DesmondMills Jnr, Emmitt MartinIIIand JustinSmith— were takenintocustody. AP

Ukraine’sState EmergencyServicesaidthat in additiontothedeadat least11people werewounded.

Kyiv MayorVitali Klitschkosaidit wasthe city’s first suchdeathsince NewYear’sEve.The Kyiv city administrationsaid 15 cruisemissiles were shotdown.

The regionalprosecutor’sofficein Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhiaprovincesaid

$3mayearto

“fat scaffolding”injectedintohis face. Itallappearstobeworkingandhe nowclaims to have thefitnesslevel andlung capacityofan18-year-old, andthe skinof amanaged28. Hisgumshaverespondedparticularly well,andareequivalent to those of a17-year-old.Hisheart, although lagging abit,iscurrently aged 37. Onhissite, Johnsonallegeshis

threepeople were killedandseven injuredin astrikeonanenergyfacility. Valerii Zaluzhnyi,thecommanderofUkraine’sarmed forces,saidof 55 missiles, 47were intercepted.

Self-explodingdronessweptin overnightbeforethemissilestrikes.

As air raidsirensechoedacrossthe country, civiliansfled tosubway stations, undergroundparkinglots andbasements to seek shelter.

Russiahasstruckenergyfacilities since early October,tohamper Ukrainian forces and keep civiliansin thecoldanddarkthiswinter.

UkrainianEnergyMinister Herman Halushchenkosaidsome sites were hit,causingpoweroutages.

French ForeignMinisterCatherine Colonna,inUkraine’sportcityof Odesa,said yesterday’sattacks went beyond retaliation overthe tanks.

“Whatwesaw thismorning thatisnotmakingwar.Itismaking warcrimes.” AP

Afghansface severe hunger

Malnutrition ratesinAfghanistanare at record highswithhalfthe country enduringsevere hungerthroughout the year,aspokesman forthe World Food Programmesaid.The Taliban takeoverinAugust2021drove millions intopovertyandhungerafterforeign aidstopped almost overnight.“Halfof Afghanistanendures severe hunger throughoutthe year,regardlessofthe season,andmalnutrition ratesare ata record high forAfghanistan,” said PhillipeKropf,aspokesman fortheUN food agencyinKabul. “Thereare sevenmillionchildren[undertheage of 5] andmotherswhoare malnourished,in acountrywitha populationof40million.”

Columbiatragedyremembered

Nasamarked the20thanniversaryof thespace shuttleColumbiatragedy withsombreceremoniesand remembrances duringitsannual tributetofallenastronauts.Morethan 100 people gathered at Kennedy Space Centretoremembernotonly Columbia’s crewofseven,butthe18 otherastronautskilledinthelineof duty.Columbia wasdestroyed during reentryonFebruary1,2003,17years afterthelossofshuttleChallenger whichkilledallsevenaboard, including teacherChristaMcAuliffe. Ancienttombsunveiled Egypthave unveileddozensofnew archaeologicaldiscoveries,including twoancient tombs, at aPharaonic necropolisjustoutsideCairo. The artefacts,unearthedduring ayearlong excavation,werefound beneath anancientstoneenclosurenearthe Saqqarapyramidsanddate back to thefifthandsixthdynastiesoftheOld Kingdom,spanningfrom roughly 2500 BC to 2100BC,the excavation team said.TheSaqqarasiteispartofa sprawlingnecropolis at Egypt’s ancientcapitalofMemphisthat includesthe famedGizaPyramids.

become teen again

overall paceofageinghasslowedby 24per cent, andclaimshis“5.1years epigeneticagereversal” as aworld record.HehasalsolaunchedtheRejuvenationOlympics,which 1750 youthseekershave signedup for.

Itmeasuresthe percentagethat participantshavereducedtheir chronologicalage,according to medicaltests. Johnsonisinfirstplace.

Hismissionbeganafterhesoldhis payments-processingcompanyfor $800m. Suddenly, he felt“helpless to stop myselffrom overeatingtosoothe thepainsoflife”.

He added:“Now,I feel happier, morealive andfulfilledthananytime of my life. Iamnicer to thosearound me,nolongerirritableand my mind is clear.”

Johnson’sbodyfat is down to 5per cent,andhisjaw is nowchiselled. At homein Venice,California,he is subjectedtoadailylitanyofblood testsandcolonoscopies.

Expertssaysomepeople “winthe geneticlottery” at birthandthose withlong-livedparentsaremore likelytoreach ripeoldages. TelegraphGroup Ltd

APalestinianprotests againstanIsraelimilitaryraidinthe WestBankcityofJenin. Photo/AP

Former policeofficers(fromleft) Tadarrius Bean, DemetriusHaley, EmmittMartinIII, DesmondMillsJnrandJustin Smith.

Photo/AP

Opinion Sport

Crunchtime coming forABs’coach

NZRUsettoannouncepotentially divisivepre-WorldCupprocess

Rugby LiamNapier

Adecisiononthetimingto appointthenextAll Blackscoachisimminent, withallindications pointingtowards apotentiallydivisivepre-WorldCupcontestable processensuing.

The Herald understandsNew ZealandRugbymanagement,includingchiefexecutiveMarkRobinson,headofprofessionalrugby ChrisLendrumandsoon-to-beinstalledchairwomanDamePatsy Reddy,arepreparingtodelivera recommendationthatwillthenbe putforwardforinternalfeedback.

Anannouncementonwhenthe nextAllBlacksheadcoachwillbe appointedis,therefore,expectedto beweeksratherthanmonthsaway.

ThefirstNZRugbyboardmeetingoftheyearisscheduledfor February23but adecisiononthe timingoftheappointmentprocess isexpectedbeforethen. Asthedecisiononthenext coachlooms,theAllBlacksheld theirfirstcampoftheyearin

Rybakina’s rapidrise continues

Tennis HowardFendrich

Whatallseemedsodifferent,so daunting,even,abouttryingtowin aGrandSlamtitletoElena Rybakina alittlemorethansix monthsagoisnowcomingrather naturally.

Andifshecanwinonemore match,shewilladd achampionship attheAustralianOpentotheone shecollectedatWimbledon.

Christchurchthisweekbefore playersrejoinedtheirSuperRugby franchises.

Approachedbythe Herald for commentonanexpectedpre-World Cupappointment,AllBlackscoach IanFosterofferedhisview.

“WinningWorldCupsisincrediblyhard,”Fostersaid.“Thereality ismyonlyfocus,andtheonlyfocus Iwanttohavein2023,ison preparingtheAllBlackstogointoa verytoughWorldCupinFrance withthegoalofwinningit.Anythingelseformeisjust adistraction.”

LastDecember,followingthe finalboardoftheyearmeeting, RobinsonindicatedNZRugbywas stronglyconsideringbreaking traditionbymovingtoappointthe nextAllBlackscoachbeforethe WorldCupinFrance,whichstarts inearlySeptember.

“Weacknowledgethatispartof thedeliberationwe’regoing through;recognisingthepastand rationaleforpreviousprocessesof appointmentsversuswhat’s happeningintheinternationalenvironmentandlessonsfromthe

lastappointmentprocess,”Robinsonsaidatthetime. Severalsourcestoldthe Herald nothingsincehasalteredthatview whichonlystrengthenstheexpectationNZRugbywillcontinue downthatpath.

Such atimelinethreatensto causeructionswithintheAll BlacksandunsettleFoster,who willhavetocontendwithhisjob

beingadvertisedin aWorldCup year,andcreatefurtheruncertaintyforthemajorityofhiswider managementteamtoo.

SeniorAllBlacks,thosewho steadfastlybackedFosteramid feverishpressurelastyear,could alsobeputoffside. WhileFostercouldapplyto retainhisrolebeyondthisyear,an earlyappointmentwould

effectivelyremovetheWorldCup resultfromtheequationandbe stackedagainsttheincumbent.

Theargumentforgoingearlyis largelytoensurethebest candidatesareavailableafterFosterandsix-timeCrusaderswinning mentorScottRobertsonwerethe only applicants following the All Blacks’WorldCupsemifinaldefeat in2019.

Devineinjuryintervenes

SuperRugbyfranchises,the BluesandCrusadersinparticular, areunderstoodtobepressuringNZ Rugbyforclarityinordertolockin potentialheadcoachingsuccession plans.

OtherthanFoster,former HighlandersturnedJapancoach JamieJosephandRobertsonare theleadingcandidatestoguidethe AllBlacksbeyondtheWorldCup. BluescoachLeonMacDonald,and HurricanescoachJasonHolland, havepreviouslybeenincludedon Robertson’scoachingticket.

TheexperiencedJoeSchmidt couldalsobeinterestedinstepping upfromtheAllBlacksassistant roleheassumedfollowingBrad MooarandJohnPlumtree’sexits mid-lastyear —although apostWorldCupprocessisexpectedto sitmorecomfortablywiththose ensconcedintheAllBlacks camp.

Robertson,inaninterviewwith the Herald aheadofhisseventhand finalseasonwiththeCrusaders, shiedawayfromspecifically discussingtheAllBlackshead coachpositionuntil adecisionon thetimingismadepublic.

“I’velearntoverthelastfew yearstodealwithanydecisionsor opportunitiesatthetime,”Robertsonsaid. —NZHerald

Cricket: WhiteFernscaptain SophieDevineisin araceagainst timetobefitfor thestartofthe T20WorldCupin SouthAfricadue to abrokenfoot. The33-year-old suffered astress fractureinher rightfootduring theSuperSmash season,whichsaw hermissfour gamesfortheWellingtonBlaze.

Sophie Devine.

BreakersbiteBullets

Basketball: TheNewZealand BreakershavebeatentheBrisbane Bullets99-71intheAustralianNBL tokeepalivetheirhopesofan automaticsemi-finalspot.The Breakershadlostfourstraight beforebeatingtopofthetable SydneyKingslastweekendand Thursdaynight'swinkeepsthem third.

Foxshakesoffrust

Golf: RyanFoxhasshakenoffrust anddriverissuesin asolidstartto hissecondtournamentoftheyear astheDubai DesertClassicgot offto awetfirst day.Foxheldhis ownwith athreeunderstartin16 holesbeforeplay wassuspended duetofadinglight. Foxwastwoshots backoftheleader, Belgium’sThomasPieters,in atie foreighth.

Mooarworkforcoach

Rugby: FormerAllBlacksassistant coachBradMooarhasfound anew gigafterbeingdiscardedfromIan Foster’s coaching team last year. MooarhasjoinedScotlandfortheir upcomingSixNationscampaignin aconsultancyrole,with afocuson attack.The48-year-oldspenttwo yearsasassistantcoachunder Foster.

AucklandFCwraps up

Football:AucklandCityFC’s trainingcampatFutbolSalou SportsComplexinSalou, Catalonia,concludedwith afinal trainingsessionattheimpressive facility.CoachAlbertRiera yesterdaydeclaredpreparations fortheFIFAClubWorldCupin Morocco asuccessaftertwo narrow1-0defeatstoRedusFC ReddisandKoreanchampions JoenbukMotors,and ahighly creditable1-1drawwithFC Barcelona BatCiutatEsportiva JoanGamper.

Lowertackles

ElenaRybakina

Rybakina, a23-year-oldwho representsKazakhstan,reached hersecond finalin aspan ofthreemajor tournaments bybeating Victoria Azarenka7-6 (4),6-3atMelbournePark onThursday, signalinga rapidrise towardthetop oftennis.

“Everythingwasnewat Wimbledon,”Rybakinasaidafter hittingnineacesinthesemifinals toraisehertournament-leading totalto44.

“Now Imoreorlessunderstand whattoexpect.”

ThatcouldcomeinhandySaturday,whenshewillfaceNo 5seed ArynaSabalenkaofBelarus. SabalenkareachedherfirstGrand Slamtitlematchatage24by beatingunseededMagdaLinette 7-6(1),6-2inThursday’ssecond semifinal.

Rybakinamightbeseededjust 22ndinMelbourne,andrankedjust 25th,butthosenumbersarerather misleadingandnotindicativeatall ofhertalentandform.Shedidnot gettheusualbumpfromhertitle lastJulyatWimbledon,wherezero rankingspointswereawarded aftertheAllEnglandClubbanned playersfromRussiaandBelarus becauseoftheinvasionofUkraine.

RybakinawasborninMoscow; sheswitchedtoKazakhstanin2018, whenthatcountryofferedtofund hercareer. —AP

Roll upforKensington’scentenarybowlingbash

Bowls

Recognisingthemahiputinby forefathersinestablishingthe KensingtonBowlingClubwillbeat theforefrontofitsupcomingcentenarycelebrations.

Atwo-daybowlstournament withformermembersand adinner attheclub,onHuapaiSt,arepartof thecelebrationsontheweekendof March 4and5.SouthIsland-based BowlsNewZealandpresidentAnn Wrightwillalsoattend. Theclubhasaround190members.

“Thecentenarycelebrationisin recognitionofourforefathers’hard

workthatthey’veputinto establishingthisclub.Youthinkof theolddaysofpicksandshovels, establishinggreenswas alot harderphysicallythantheywould benow.Theyhaven’tgotmechanicaldiggerslikewehavenow,”club trusteeGeorgeLyddiardsaid.

Hestartedplayingattheclubin the1993/94seasonandhasrepresentedNorthland.

Themosthigh-profilebowls playeratnotjusttheclubbut arguablyinNewZealandandinternationally,AnnMuir,saidthe centenarycelebrationwasabout recognisingsuccessaswellasthe pastandthepresent.

Therewasnolimittoplaying lawnbowls,shesaid.

“We’vegotsomebodywho’s turning90andshe’sstillplaying bowls.Youcanbein awheelchair andplaybowls.Youcanhavea limbremovedanduseanarm.We oftenhavelittlekidsplayingout therewiththeindoorbowls.It’s like agameofbilliardorsnooker,” the76-year-oldsaid.

Theclub,shesaid,was apartof thecommunityandwas asafehub wherepeoplecouldevencomeand socialise,notjustplaylawnbowls. Ortheycanplayindoorbowls, pool,darts,tabletennisorenjoy watchingthehappyfeet.

MuiriscoachingtheNewZealandBlindBowlingTeamtothe WorldBlindBowlsChampionships inBrisbaneinMarch. SherepresentedNewZealand womeninlawnbowlsatthe1994 CommonwealthGamesinVictoria, Canada,wheretheteamwon bronzeinthefours,andattheAsia Pacificmeetthepreviousyear, winninggoldoverall.

MuircoachedtheNewZealand lawnbowlsteamtothe2006CommonwealthGamesinMelbourne andshehasbeenBowlsNew Zealandpresident, anationalselectorandtheconvenorofselectors.

Thefirstmeetingtoformthe

KensingtonBowlingClubwasheld inAugust1921andfourproperties onwhichtoconstruct alawnbowls greenwereexplored. Theclub’sfirstcommitteedecidedtobuyfor£400theFinch propertyonHuapaiSt,whichis nowtheclub’sbottomgreen, through amixtureoffundraisers, personalloansfrommembersand interest-free£5debentures.

In2000,theWhanga¯reiWomen’s BowlingClub(formerlyMarsden Women’sBowlingClub)closed theirgreens,soldtheirpropertyat nearbyPrincessStandmovedto KensingtonMen’sBowlingClub.A fullmergerwascompletedin2010.

Meaningfulgesturetothank ourkeysponsor

Rugby: Thelegaltackleheightis settobeloweredacrossallelite rugbyglobally.Thechiefexecutive ofWorldRugby,AlanGilpin, confirmedyesterdayitplannedto followEngland’sRugbyFootball Union’s(RFU)lead.Healsosaid the“likelihood”wasthatthelegal tackleheightintheinternational andprofessionalclubgame,which currentlyliesatshoulderlevel, wouldnotbeloweredasfarasthe waist.

Mbappe´Sundaysoiree

Football: KylianMbappe´canclose infurtheronParisSaint-Germain’s all-timescoringrecordwhenhis team hosts Reims tomorrow. Mbappe´‘stallyof 196goalsforPSG meansheisonly fourbehind EdinsonCavani’s recordforthe club.TheWorld Cup’stopscoreris inclinicalform afternettingfive goalsin aFrenchCupwinon Monday.

Warriors halfarrives

Asmostpeopleareaware,sponsorshipinsportiscriticalandatSport Northland,itisnodifferent.

Toruntheevents,activitiesand facilitiesthatwedotoencourage Northlanderstomovemore,sponsorshipissoimportant.

Opinion BrentEastwood "Thekorowaiis symbolicofthe arohaandmanaaki bothorganisations haveforeach other

Qualityandenduringcorporate sponsorsarefewandfarbetween, butSportNorthlandisfortunateto have afewinthiscategory.Topof thatlisthasbeenthelikesofASB, TopEnergyandPacificMotor Group,allsignificantlong-term sponsorsofthetrustovermany decades.ASB’ssponsorshipof SportNorthland,inparticular,has been aphenomenalpartnership thathasenduredfor30years.

Beginningin1992whenASBwas signedupasthetrust’smajor sponsor,thepartnershipinitially focusedonnamingrightsofthe newlyestablishedASBCoaching TeamandtheASBNorthland SecondarySchoolsSportsAwards.

Othersponsorshipmilestones includednamingrightstothe newlyredevelopedASBLeisure Centrein2002andtheASBNorthlandSportsHousein2010(both

situatedatKensingtonParkin Whanga¯rei),aswellastheASB KerikeriHalfMarathonandASB NorthlandSecondarySchools SportsEventprogrammein2015.

In2017,theSportNorthland/ ASBpartnershipwasnameda finalistintheCommercialPartnershipcategoryattheNZSportand RecreationAwards.

LastyearASBannouncedthis sponsorshipwillnotbecontinuing, after areviewbyASBoftheir sponsorshipcommitmentsaround thecountryhighlighted adesireto widenitsspreadofcommunity investmentstoregionswhereit doesnotcurrentlyhave apresence, orwhereitsinvestmentislight. Tomarktheoccasionandthank

ASBforthefantasticpartnership andcontributiontothesportand recreationsectorinNorthlandover somanyyears,SportNorthland presented ataongatotheASBteam inceremoniesrecentlyatboththe ASBHeadOfficeinAucklandand theASBRegionalCentrein Whanga¯rei.

Aframedkorowai(traditional wovenMa¯oricloak)waspresented toASBtosignifytheenduring relationshipbetweenthetwo organisations.Thekorowaiissymbolicofthearohaandmanaakiboth organisationshaveforeachother, theirpeopleandcommunities,and theenvironment.

SportNorthland’slongstanding associationwithASBisanamazing exampleof apartnershipthathas literallyresultedinthousandsof Northlandersbecomingactive throughcost-effectiveparticipation insportandrecreationevents, facilitiesandactivities.

WethankASBfortheoutstandingsupporttheyprovidedoverthe yearstoSportNorthland,which alsobenefitedthewidersport sectorinNorthland.

Ngamihinuiki akoemote tautokonui iroto ingataumahaki tetakarokiTeTaitokerau.

It’sbeenmorethan12monthssince theWarriorsannouncedthe signingofCronullahalfLuke Metcalf,buttheyounghalfhas finallyarrivedandisreadytofight forfirstgrademinutes.

Metcalfsignedwiththe Warriorsinlate2021,buthadtosee outthefinalyearofhiscontract withtheCronullaSharks.

Thereweresuggestionsthe Warriorswerehopefulofgetting himtotheclubearlier,however, Metcalfsawouthisyearinlimbo, spendingmostofitinreservegrade asestablishedhalvesMattMoylan andNichoHynesrantheshowin firstgrade.

Metcalfhashad awealthof knowledgetotapintoduringhis timeintheNRLtodate.

BeforejoiningtheSharks,he developedthroughtheManlySea Eagles’juniorrankswhenDaly Cherry-EvansandTrent Hodgkinsonwerepairedinthe halvesatthetoplevel. HisarrivaltotheWarriorshas beenpartof acompleteoverhaulof thehalvesattheclub. OfthehalvesintheWarriors’ firstteamsquadatthestartof2022, onlyShaunJohnsonremains. —NZHerald

KensingtonBowlingClublifemembersAnnMuir(left) andGeorgeLyddiard willbepartof theclub’scentenarycelebrations.

PHOTO /MICHAELCUNNINGHAM

"TheonlyfocusI wanttohavein 2023ison preparingtheAll Blackstogointoa verytoughWorld CupinFrancewith thegoalofwinning it.Anythingelse formeisjusta distraction."

IanFoster