Daily Archives: December 19, 2021

Dr Apo Aporosa says the Australian regulators are taking a narrow view of kava use. Photo / Todd Henry

Moves across the ditch to tighten rules around kava could extend to Aotearoa, leaving a bitter taste for kava advocates here who have accused the Australian authorities of taking a paternalistic, narrow view of the popular drink.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is seeking submissions on proposed changes to the food standard regulating kava use across both New Zealand and Australia.

The proposal went online earlier month and submissions are open until Thursday.

The stated aim is: "To support a Federal Government pilot program which will allow commercial importation of kava into Australia to build stronger cultural and economic ties with Pacific Island nations".

Australia has historically had stronger controls on the Pacific drink than New Zealand, but relaxed rules around importation in 2019 to allow for individuals to bring up to 4kg in their luggage when entering the country.

This year the country moved to allow commercial importation and is now proposing changes that would more tightly control its sale.

The two main changes would effectively ban takeaway kava and tighten existing regulations on how it is prepared.

FSANZ further states that the proposed changes are designed to keep kava firmly for use in traditional ceremonies, a bone of contention for those who say that authorities are not taking into consideration the diversity of kava culture in the Pacific.

"We need to remember that not all Pacific people are the same," Dr Apo Aporosa from the University of Waikato told the Herald.

"For instance, niVanuatu have different cultural practices to Fijians, and Fijians different practices to Samoans. This equally applies to the kava culture. So what is traditional in one place may not be reflected the same in another."

29 Mar, 2021 10:43 PMQuick Read

18 Jan, 2017 03:00 AMQuick Read

The proposed ban on takeaway kava has the potential to affect the small number of outlets that offer it in New Zealand.

'Anau and Todd Henry of Four Shells Kava in Auckland point out that kava culture differs across the Pacific and has changed over time.

"3000 years ago in northern Vanuatu, the original form of kava preparation was done by adding water to chewed kava pulp," the couple said in a statement.

"However, if you got to Port Vila today you will see that the most common way for people to have kava is in takeaway plastic bottles from the many kava bars located around the city.

"There are numerous ways that kava is consumed across the Pacific, but to us the essence of the kava tradition is about mutual respect, inclusivity, and civility, not necessarily the vessels in which the kava is consumed from.

"If kava was required to only be consumed in its 'traditional' form, how far back should it go? And who gets to dictate which kava tradition is observed?"

Aporosa said that he travelled to Australia in June and presented latest research on the health effects of kava to a group that included senior health officials.

He said he did so to counteract "a number of misunderstandings and misinformation" being relied on by Australian authorities, but those same authorities appear to have fallen back on that old material in presenting the submission that underpins these new proposals.

He also questioned why the process was not being run by members of the Pacific community.

"It feels like we are being treated like ignorant natives, incapable of speaking for ourselves and our cultural substance and practice," Aporosa told the Herald.

He said that some in the Australian government appear to hold "imperialistic ideas" about kava.

Aporosa said he completely refuted the inference in the supporting document to the proposal that kava was addictive and had adverse effects on liver function, citing his own his research.

He questioned the role of the "aesthetics of modernity" and said it contributes to negative attitudes towards kava.

Aporosa said the mixing by hand and communal nature of the kava experience is often seen by non-Pacific people as primitive and undeveloped, whereas slickly packaged alcohol tends to be viewed as acceptable, despite the huge socio-cultural impacts of alcohol on all parts of society.

He pointed to the increasing use of kava by Mori in New Zealand as an alternative to alcohol, with kava facilitating quality korero - often with other ethnicities in inclusive spaces - and questioned whether this had been taken into account by health bosses across the ditch.

He said there is no reason why non-Pacific people should not be using kava, which he says can "provide relational spaces that promotes positive mental health", as long people respect kava, its use, and those they are consuming kava with.

A 2019 study from Australia ranked the harm caused by 22 commonly-used substances, both legal and illicit. That study awarded kava three "harm points".

That same study awarded alcohol 77 points - the highest of any substance.

Referring to the ban on sending kava to friends and family in Australia, Aporosa said: "I can post a box of 12 40oz bottles of Jack Daniels - enough to kill - into Australia from NZ, but cannot send 100 grams of safe kava."

"The entire situation is ludicrous, beyond ridiculous, health bureaucracy gone mad."

Aporosa said he was not "overly concerned" that NZ would implement those changes if the FSANZ proposal was carried, that decision makers in NZ are "vastly more informed and reasoned about kava".

Asked why the changes were needed in New Zealand, an Australian spokesperson for FSANZ said: "The Code requirements for kava are identical for Australia and New Zealand. Enforcement of the Code is the responsibility of food enforcement agencies in Australia, and the Ministry for Primary Industries in New Zealand.

"The proposal has been prepared to ensure it continues to meet its intent to support traditional use, and protect public health and safety."

But Vince Arbuckle, deputy director-general of New Zealand Food Safety, told the Herald that he was unable to confirm whether or not the changes will be implemented in New Zealand and encouraged any interested parties to make a submission to FSANZ.

'Anau and Todd Henry at Four Shells said that they don't expect that the general public will be troubled by any potential change, but said it could have "long-term negative effects" on kava drinkers.

"What everyone should worry about is that Australia can influence laws in New Zealand that relate to established cultural practices like kava drinking," they added.

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Proposal to tighten regulations on sale of kava in New Zealand - New Zealand Herald

Monday, 20 December 2021, 10:29 amPress Release: New Zealand Infrastructure Commission

New Te Waihanga research shows New Zealand gets lessvalue from its infrastructure spending than most otherhigh-income countries.

"We spend about the same amountas other wealthy countries, but weve found we could getmore value from what we spend," says New ZealandInfrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga Director of EconomicsPeter Nunns.

"To solve our infrastructure challenges,well need to build more efficiently as well as buildingmore."

The new research has found that in recentdecades our network infrastructure spending has been aboutaverage for a high-income country, and that what we spend iton is similar as well. However, the value that we get forwhat we spend is not so good - our efficiency ratingof building infrastructure lies in the bottom 10% ofhigh-income countries.

The research builds on the draftNew Zealand Infrastructure Strategy developed by TeWaihanga, which highlights key factors that underpin qualityinfrastructure investment: good decision-making, an enablingplanning system, and the raw materials and workforce neededto build the infrastructure. Te Waihanga are already awareof problems in our infrastructure consenting system and theavailability of raw materials.

"The costs to consentand build infrastructure are rising. Weve recentlypublished other research showing that consenting costs forinfrastructure projects are increasing, and availability ofkey materials like aggregates is increasingly constrained,"Nunns says. "This makes it difficult to deliverinfrastructure efficiently. We need to address these typesof systemic issues to get good value from infrastructureinvestment."

"Successive Governments have invested ininfrastructure, but they could have got more from what theyspent. To do better, we need to better understand costperformance and look for areas we can improve."

Readthe new infrastructure efficiency research: ResearchInsights December2021.

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New Zealand Builds Infrastructure Less Efficiently Than Other Countries - Scoop

Sunday marks the 80th anniversary of New Zealand's worst naval tragedy, the sinking of HMS Neptune during the World War II.

The HMS Neptune. Photo: Supplied / National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy

Of the 764 men who lost their lives on 19 December 1941, 150 were New Zealanders.

The ship went down after sailing into an uncharted deep-water enemy minefield in the Mediterranean off the coast of Libya.

Some of the New Zealand crew sent Christmas messages home which were recorded by Arch Curry for the NZBS just a month before the sinking.

The light-cruiser HMS Neptune was part of a group of seven allied warships that headed out from Malta to intercept an Italian supply convoy.

In the early hours of the morning Neptune struck the first of four mines that would lead to its loss.

National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy researcher Michael Wynd said the ship, on realising it was in a minefield, tried to manoeuvre its way out.

''She was trying to go ahead and try and work her way out of this minefield but she then detonated two more mines which blew off her stern.''

Some of the other Royal Navy ships came to her aid but they were also damaged and had to try and return to Malta.

''With all three cruisers damaged and one destroyer with out a stern and the risk of enemy air attacks they had to basically try and get back to Malta as fast as they could. However, about 4am Neptune struck a fourth mine.''

Wynd said that put the ship into its final death-throes.

''She was seen to slowly roll over and sink at about 4.05am. Nothing further was seen of the ship and it was not known where she actually exactly had sank.''

The light-cruiser HMS Neptune was part of a group of seven allied warships that headed out from Malta to intercept an Italian supply convoy. Photo: Supplied / National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy

Out of the crew of 764, 16 survived including the captain, but all but one succumbed to exposure, starvation and dehydration.

The one able seaman who survived was rescued by the Italian Navy and taken as a prisoner of war.

''I would suspect that the majority of the losses occurred probably during the second and third mines detonated. Obviously that would have killed a lot of men in the engine room, in the rear part of the ship. The fourth mine then would have accounted for casualties and of course they were also busy at the time trying to save the ship as well.

''By the time it rolled over they wouldn't have had a chance to get out.''

John Campbell's uncle, Vern Campbell, was 21 and from Dunedin, and served on the Neptune.

''The news didn't come back that quick. Reading between the lines in some of the letters it was obviously a lot of correspondence with the Defence Force to find out the actual where did it go and what happened to it. I don't think the word got out that quick which for a parent would have been really tough.''

An exhibition planned at the Navy Museum at Devonport on HMS Neptune, due to open this weekend, has been delayed due to Covid-19 restrictions until later in January.

More here:

80th anniversary of New Zealand's worst naval tragedy, the HMS Neptune - RNZ

Aotearoa's touring circuit is about to burst into action once more in 2022, with local lineups already packing out venues and a massive wave of international artists set to hit our shores soon. Riding the crest of that wave will be Perth psych-surf stars Great Gable, who've unveiled brand new dates for their keenly awaited New Zealand tour, initially announced back in July just before Delta's arrival popped the Trans-Tasman bubble. Fresh signees to Matt Corby's new imprint Rainbow Valley Records, listen up to Great Gable's 2021 singles 'Hazy' and 'Another Day' below and note Dunedin's event has moved to Dive all UTR ticket holders have been emailed direct with details (check your promotions and spam folders)...

"Your current tickets are automatically valid for the new date if you can make it, no action is needed on your end, & well see you soon! If youre unable to attend the new date, you can request a refund by Fri 14th of January, 2022. Thank you so much for your support, we look forward to seeing you in June. Big love, GG xx"

Great Gable NZ Tour

Thursday 9th June - Yonder, Queenstown*Friday 10th June - Dive, Dunedin*Saturday 11th June - The Loons, Lyttelton*Thursday 16th June - The Tuning Fork, Auckland [licenced + all ages]Friday 17th June - Yot Club, Raglan*Saturday 18th June - Totara St, Mt MaunganuiSaturday 25th June - Meow, Wellington

*Select tickets on sale HERE via UTR

Press release:

Off the back of a solid 2020 which saw them release their debut album Tracing Faces, hit #4 in the ARIA Vinyl Charts, spend weeks in the Top 10 most played songs on triple j and broadcast their first Live At The Wireless, Great Gable are heading over the ditch for a massive run of shows across New Zealand.

Continue reading here:

Great Gable Announce New Dates For New Zealand Tour - Undertheradar

IPL 2022 auction is the next big thing that Indian cricket fans are excited about. Two new teams are going to be part of IPL 2022, making it a 10-team tournament this time. Recently, the 8 teams announced their retention lists during which they retained a total of 27 players.

There are many New Zealand players who are part of the Indian Premier League. Players like Kane Williamson, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult, and Kyle Jamieson played an important role for their respective teams during IPL 2021. Some Kiwi players will be in the limelight during IPL 2022 auction. In this listicle, we take a glance at 5 New Zealand players who can fetch the highest bid during IPL 2021 auction.

IPL 2022 Auction | IPL 2022 Teams | IPL News and Updates | IPL 2022 Schedule | ICC Teams Rankings | ICC Players Rankings

Lockie Ferguson is the first player on this list. The right-arm pacer gave an astonishing bowling show for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2021. In 8 games, he scalped 13 wickets at an average of 17.23 and an economy rate of 7.46. With his impressive bowling performance, he can definitely attract bidders in IPL 2022 auction and earn a big amount.

Also Read: IPL 2022 Auction: 5 England Players Who Can Fetch The Highest Bid

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IPL 2022 Auction: 5 New Zealand Players Who Can Fetch The Highest Bid - Cricket Addictor

In a world first, it has been found leopard seals in New Zealand have been feeding on sharks.

While leopard seals are apex predators who have been known to feast on penguins and other seals, this is the first time researchers have found evidence that sharks are also on the menu.

The researchers, from groups, institutes and universities throughout New Zealand and Australia, sorted through more than 100 leopard seal poos to compile the evidence.

KIRSTY MOFFATT/Supplied

A leopard seal was found with a shark spine lodged in its face.

Dr Krista van der Linde from LeopardSeals.org, the senior author of the study, said the find was next level incredible.

READ MORE:* Increased seal sightings around mainland New Zealand indicate population is rising* Another leopard seal joins local legend Owha in Auckland harbour* Ben the orca who was stranded, run over by boat, now thriving 24 years on

The group looked at the remains left in the poo and, using DNA sequencing, were able to identify remains from a shark.

We were blown away to find sharks were on the menu, but then we also found that elephant fish and ghost sharks were being hunted by the leopard seals, van der Linde said.

These fish have large spines which help protect them from predators and sure enough there were wounds on the leopard seals, sometimes even big spines embedded in their faces one leopard seal had at least 14 such wounds.

Dr Ingrid Visser, the co-founder of LeopardSeals.org and a co-author on the study, said she had studied orcas for 30 years and had seen them eat sharks regularly.

Bejon Haswell/Stuff

A leopard seal lies in the sun on the concrete at the Timaru Yacht club. (File photo)

However, it was surprising that leopard seals were doing this too.

To know there is another marine mammal also munching on sharks, well, that has implications for the whole food web and our understanding of how it all is interlinked.

The high level of shark remains they found in the poo meant sharks may be an important part of the leopard seals diet, van der Linde added.

Supplied

Its possible sharks are an important part of the leopard seals diet, researchers say. (File photo)

Leopard seals are a protected species, mostly found in sub-Arctic and Antarctic areas.

They are sometimes seen around New Zealand, including the top of the South Island and at Auckland's Westhaven Marina.

Advice from the Department of Conservation for anyone who sees a leopard seal basking or swimming in the sea is to let it be and keep their distance.

However, if it is a situation that poses a threat to the public or the animal is at risk, people should contact DOC on the 24-hour emergency number, 0800 DOC HOT (0800 36 24 68).

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New Zealand leopard seals discovered eating sharks for the first time - Stuff.co.nz

A cast of hundreds. A budget of millions and takings into the billions. The Lord of the Rings trilogy captivated the world back in 2001.

And it all started with the mind, and the pen, of one man: JRR Tolkien.

An academic, philologist and First World War veteran, Tolkien is the father of high fantasy literature.

But though efforts had been made to adapt the tale of Frodo and the one ring, none had been successful. Stanley Kubrick reportedly dubbed Tolkiens magnum opus unfilmable.

Why was Lord of the Rings filmed in New Zealand?

It was not until New Zealand native Peter Jackson took the reins that the Fellowships journey to the screen took a turn for the better.

Jackson shot his trilogy all at once in the highlands amid snow-capped peaks and wild moors.

There is a decidedly Scottish flavour to the films - the idyllic village of Hobbiton is just an hours drive from a place called Hamilton. Yet the production could not have been further from these shores.

Glasgow-born actor Billy Boyd, who played mischievous hobbit Pippin, says: Its sort of like the movies are another layer to New Zealand.

The Mori culture is so amazing, obviously the scenery is maybe the greatest in the world, the people are amazing, and then on top of that you have the legacy of The Lord of the Rings films.

That people now call New Zealand Middle-earth is wonderful.

And Outlander star Graham McTavish, who played dwarf Dwalin in the The Hobbit trilogy, adds: I took a photo that I sent to some friends, dwarves on vacation and they refused to believe that this was an actual photograph that I hadnt photo-shopped it.

What was the economic impact on New Zealand?

Reflecting on the gargantuan success of Jacksons trilogy two decades later, New Zealand tourism chiefs reveal its economic impact.

The movie business on North and South islands is now worth 2.5billion annually.

Around 18 per cent of all visitors cite the trilogy (and Jacksons Hobbit films) as the reason they came.

In terms of tourism bucks alone, Tourism New Zealand conservatively estimates that travellers who visited the islands just to see Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit locations have brought in $620million since December 19, 2001.

Thats roughly 1.3million of tourism revenue every single month for 20 years from Tolkien fans alone. Not bad for a nation of just five million people.

Russell Alexander is CEO of Hobbiton, a pilgrimage destination for fans. Speaking ahead of a 20th anniversary screening of Fellowship in the heart of the village, he says: Theres such diverse scenery and landscapes here in New Zealand. It ties back to how Tolkein describes things in the books.

From here, I can go a couple hours south and go skiing in the mountains, or 45 minutes to Mount Manganui and I could be surfing.

New Zealand has contrasting scenery, its all relatively accessible, and it fits into everything Tolkein described.

It is a description which could very well apply to Scotland too.

Jared Connon, junior location manager on the films, says: Middle-earth is wonderful and fantastic and very broad-ranging, going from the Black Gate to the Shire to Rohan.

Those looks are firmly placed in peoples mind that thats what Middle-earth looks like. New Zealand is definitely the look of Middle-earth."

Connon adds: I was in Hobbiton on the weekend and people asked if I get emotional being back here, and I do. Its part of the fabric of who I am.

It was a no-brainer for Jackson to shoot at home. As cinema-goers the world over discovered 20 years ago, those vistas are breathtaking. In equal parts fantastical and real.

Is Amazon Studios filming The Lord of the Rings in Scotland?

But what if Jackson had scouted locations further afield? What if our own highlands and wild heather had lured production here to Scotland?

It is far from a fanciful idea. Two decades on, Amazon Studios is working on what is reportedly the biggest-budget TV series in history: The Lord of the Rings.

The streaming platform bought the rights alone for 190million.

It is big budget and, as New Zealands success showed, big business.

But now, with season two in the works, a trip to Tolkiens native Britain - welcomed by his estate - has been confirmed and Scotland could play a leading role.

Amazon Studios would not this weekend be drawn on whether Scotland will feature.

However, a film studio in Leith has been mooted as one site, along with backdrops in the Highlands or Hebrides - scenery already celebrated in another fantasy hit, Outlander.

And last night, a spokesman for VisitScotland added: Our surveys show visitors cite productions shot in Scotland, such as Highlander, Skyfall and Braveheart, as inspiration for their travel plans, often many years after the films release.

With the rise of streaming services making new, and old, productions more widely accessible, there are far greater opportunities to engage with this captive audience which could in turn benefit Scottish tourism.

Scotland could be entering a new age of Tolkien Tourism, with all the cultural and economic boons that come with it.

Its a dangerous business adapting books for the screen, big or small. You step onto the road, and if you dont keep your feet, theres no knowing where you might be swept off to.

Just look at New Zealand.

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Lord of the Rings economic legacy could herald new age of Tolkien tourism for Scotland - The Scotsman

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The shortest route for the Sydney-Valparaiso cable runs just south of New Zealand, making Invercargill a possible landing point.

The Chilean government has selected a company chaired by the chief executive of New Zealand founded company Hawaiki as its partner for a proposed subsea internet cable that would be designed to connect Chile, Australia and New Zealand.

The proposed Humboldt cable, which would cost hundreds of millions of dollars, could also potentially enable the first ultrafast broadband connection to Antarctica, which currently relies on satellite communications.

H2 chairman and Hawaiki chief executive Remi Galasso said the project was a fantastic opportunity for New Zealand which is perfectly located to become the gateway to South America.

Chilean telecommunications and transport minister Gloria Hutt said in a statement issued overnight on Friday, New Zealand time, that the cable was one of Chiles most ambitious projects in recent decades.

READ MORE:* Huge subsea internet cable will 'boost South Island's digital economy'* Fibre-optic cable to Antarctica would be 'amazing for science'* Internet cable connecting NZ, Chile and Australia could create data centre industry in Southland* $445m NZ internet cable opens for traffic

Chilean government infrastructure fund Fondo de Infraestructura said the 14,810 kilometre cable would run between Valparaiso in Chile and Sydney, where it would connect with other cable systems to Asia.

It would include several branches to allow for the possible connection of other countries and territories, such as Juan Fernandez also known as Robinson Crusoe Island and Isla de Pascua (Easter Island), as well as New Zealand, it said.

Fondo de Infraestructura said that Desarrollo Pais, a company majority-owned by the Chilean government, and Singaporean-based H2 would jointly promote the Humboldt Cable and make the investment based on the market response.

H2 had contracted Hawaiki to finalise the system design, launch the contracting process, and contact potential key customers, it said.

Hawaiki Cable chief executive Remi Galasso says the combination of Hawaiki Nui (shown above) and the Humboldt Cable would open a new route connecting south-east Asia, Australasia and South America.

French-born Galasso founded Hawaiki, which broke the Southern Cross Cables near monopoly on subsea communications to and from New Zealand in 2018.

Hawaiki, which is in the process of being acquired by Singaporean shipping company BW Group, separately announced plans last month to lay one of the worlds longest and highest-capacity subsea internet cables to connect the South Island to the United States, Australia and Asia.

That 22,000km Hawaiki Nui cable would link Invercargill, Dunedin and Christchurch with Los Angeles, Singapore and Jakarta, with connections also running to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Darwin, Batam in Indonesia and Hawaii.

One of its goals is to connect a huge data centre that Datagrid another company jointly founded by Galasso intends to build near Invercargill, so it could be used to store data generated by internet services in Australia.

Galasso could not confirm whether the Humboldt cable was likely to run to Auckland, near where Hawaikis existing trans-Pacific cable comes ashore, or to Invercargill to connect directly with Hawaiki Nui.

Antarctica NZ/Supplied

The Chilean cable venture raises the prospect that Antarctic bases could soon be connected by fibre, rather than less-than-ideal satellite links.

He has in the past pointed out advantages of the southern route, noting it would be the most direct between Chile and Australia, and one that would shorten a link to Antarctica.

Galasso said the Humboldt Cable was the missing part of what we call the great southern route, going all along from Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand and Chile.

If the cable between Chile and Australia was routed via Invercargill, it would be technically possible to connect Antarctic bases, given that a cable branch to New Zealands Scott Base would only be about 1700km long, he said.

The international scientific community in Antarctica is suffering from very poor connectivity because of their extreme distance to satellite geosynchronous orbit, he said.

They can't properly access satellites in orbit around the equator which is a major issue for their scientific researches that require large volumes of data. An optical fibre connection would be a game changer for those bases.

Antarctica New Zealand spokeswoman Megan Nicholl has previously said it would be amazing to have fibre into Antarctica because of what it could mean for our science.

The Chilean Government initially contemplated building an internet cable between South America and Asia with Chinese support, before amending that plan last year, reportedly in the wake of lobbing by former US Secretary of State Mike Pompei against that plan.

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Cable that could connect NZ to South America and Antarctica moves closer - Stuff.co.nz