Daily Archives: January 27, 2022

Dear New Zealand,

Kia ora!

I guess by now you have received Omicron, the unwanted visitor that we in Australia hosted over the Christmas season (and beyond the guest that stayed all summer!).

No doubt you have been busy preparing for this guest extending your isolation requirements, promoting booster shots and tightening restrictions. But a crucial form of preparation is the one you do in your head.

Going from having very few Covid cases to thousands of cases a day in the community is a mental shift that is hard to prepare for but having just had a summer of Omicron, Im writing to tell you what may await.

Im not writing to instruct you just to offer some solidarity, the advice I wish Id been given, a glimpse from the immediate future.

The first thing that happens is that you start to know people who become contacts. They get pinged after checking in somewhere where there was a Covid case and suddenly dinner plans or a weekend away is cancelled. Then its your turn. Youll probably get an alert from somewhere unmemorable like the time you ducked into the supermarket for a carton of milk. And then quite dramatically, a week after the first ping your phone will go nuts with contact alerts. At least thats what happened early on in Sydney.

Hopefully youll be able get tested if you get pinged, but if you are unlucky, youll be in a situation where its difficult to get tested. This is the first mental challenge: the possibility of exposure to the virus and then the inability to get tested and know if you have it or not. In Australia, when Omicron arrived, the politicians mantra was personal responsibility. This can add to the mental load of dealing with the outbreak. How can you take personal responsibility if you cant get tested? How to keep yourself sane, and others safe, if the state is unprepared? This virus is wildly infectious and personal responsibility is not going to cut it.

The next challenge is how to carry on your daily life when you and everyone you know is getting pinged. In Australia the settings for isolation were in flux. But you should be prepared to exit society for a period of time due to health orders. For us, this meant the possibility of missing Christmas or being unable to travel in the summer holidays to visit friends and family in parts of the country that were previously off limits. You may have dropped your guard and are just wanting to return to normal after almost two years of the pandemic. We understand the pain of uncertainty over here. After long lockdowns in Melbourne and Sydney, and children denied almost two full years of education, we crave certainty more than ever. But sadly this summer has not provided it.

This phase of the virus is far from normal. Its hard. Your friends and family will all have different levels of comfort being in the community around this time. Do not be surprised if your social life evaporates. People will go into self-imposed lockdown, preferring to wait out the Omicron wave in their homes rather than risk catching the virus. Be understanding and without judgment if somebody has a different capacity for risk than yourself. Keeping sane in this Omicron summer was different for everyone. Some people felt more secure withdrawing and keeping socialising to a minimum, others cancelled holidays and trips away. I moved the bulk of my socialising outside. It didnt feel quite normal but what does?

This summer we occupied the strange twilight world of not-quite-lockdowns: takeaway food and picnics in the park, food shortages and cafe closures, empty supermarket shelves and scary headlines about case numbers and overstretched ICUs. But there was also the beach, and hot nights in Melbourne drinking in outdoor bars. It was all a bit surreal, to be honest.

The third mental challenge is actually knowing people who have it.

Like us, youve probably gone from being able to name many of your countrys Covid cases (we had barbecue guy, the Sydney removalists and the limo driver) to people you know testing positive for Covid. Six months ago this would have been very dramatic but Omicron is not particularly exclusive and at its peak, many thousands of people a day catch it. But the first case among your circle can cause alarm. Will they be OK? What should you do to help? Have you caught it from them?

The best thing to do here is not to freak out and help them through their illness by getting them groceries and helping them (via phone/text) monitor their symptoms. At the start of January, a wedding I attended turned out to be a super-spreader event. We all thankfully recovered. Much of the stress of this week while sick was being unable to secure a Covid test. Hopefully your government has used the extra time theyve had to ensure that everyone who needs a test has one.

The next mental challenge is when cases really begin to multiply and you see the effects of isolation and illness on broader society. Who really holds our society together? Omicron will tell you. Its our hospital staff and paramedics, and people who work in supply chains, warehouses, abattoirs, on the docks, in restaurants, cafes and supermarkets. One day your town will be business as usual, and the next, after a wave has swept through, shops and cafes will be shut, supermarket shelves will be empty or sparse, local flights will be cancelled and you wont be able to get an Uber for love or money. This is alarming because the disruptions allow you to actually see Omicron, and the havoc it creates. Just keep calm, dont stockpile more than you need, and adapt to the new circumstances. It lasts no longer than a few weeks.

The next challenge is when you wake up with a scratchy throat and a dry cough. After playing dodgeball with the virus for all these years, suddenly you think you might have it. But unless you have an underlying health issue, for the majority of vaccinated people this is also no cause for alarm. Stay home unless youre going out for a test, and look after yourself. For many people, the worst passes within a week. But as we are seeing in Australia, hospitalisations and deaths do rise with the increase in cases. The reality is not everyone recovers quickly.

So be calm, kind and try not to panic. This too shall pass.

Read the original:

A letter to New Zealand, from Covid-ravaged Australia - The Guardian

ISSAUAH, WA The New Zealand apple and pear season is approaching harvest and growers have good reasons to be positive and optimistic about the coming season.

We touched base with Luis Gonzalez who manages VanguardsBB #:300298 New Zealand procurement and sales for an update on the fast approaching 2022 apple and pear season.

The 2021 season will certainly be remembered as a most challenging one, as it was for most of the global produce industry with the many transportation disruptions and market closures due to Covid-19. As the New Zealand team moves closer to the start of harvest for 2022, the outlook and projections are positive and exciting.

The overall growing season was very good with no major inclement events that could compromise the quality and condition of the fruit. We expect great quality and condition to be the theme of the 2022 New Zealand apple and pear season.

The spring was hotter than normal with fair amounts of rains to counter any of the potential negative effects of the heat. Recent weather has been hot and dry, but starting mid-January, we saw milder weather and rain that should allow trees to catch a break from the heat, stabilize, and recuperate. Sizing is expected to be one size larger than in 2021 across all varieties.

Official numbers are not yet released, but the industry should have no issues achieving 23mm cartons of apples packed in 2022.

The labor situation has certainly improved since 2021. While there is still a shortage of seasonal workers that are relied upon for harvest labor, temporary workers coming from neighboring islands have managed to fill this gap. Labor costs have increased by approximately 10%. Cost for freight has increased and customers should expect to pay between $1.50 to $3.00 per carton more in 2022 than last year.

The outlook regarding transportation is also favorable as we do not foresee the same grave challenges this year that was faced last year.

Pear harvest is scheduled to start during week 4 and apples weeks 6-7. Most packers will start running Galas during week 8, but with peak volumes around week 9-10 depending on further developments in the orchards.

Aside from the increased costs, the overall outlook for 2022 is very positive. We are eagerly watching market behavior, demand patterns, vessel schedules, container availability, and the constantly changing Covid environment.

About Vanguard

Founded in 1991, Vanguard is a leading global vertically-integrated fresh fruit growing, packing, marketing, and sales organization headquartered in Issaquah, Washington, USA, with branch officesin Wapato, Washington; Bakersfield, California; Lima, Peru; Ica, Peru: Santiago, Chile; Stellenbosch, South Africa; Shanghai, China; Taipei, Taiwan; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Jakarta, Indonesia; andMadrid, Spain.www.vanguardfresh.com

See original here:

Vanguard updates New Zealand apple and pear crops Produce Blue Book - Produce Blue Book

People stuck on either side of the Tasman between the "two most locked-down places in the world" say they have no idea when they will be able to return home.

Passengers wearing masks arrive from New Zealand at Sydney International Airport on 16 October, 2020, during the operation of the trans-Tasman bubble. Photo: AFP / David Gray

Cancelled flights and managed isolation have stranded an unknown number of people on either side of the Tasman.

In Nelson, Australian academic Peta Wellstead has been unable to get back to Perth since the middle of last year.

The planned reopening of Western Australia's border to the rest of the world on 5 February was delayed last week by Premier Mark McGowan, who pointed to escalating health risks posed by the Omicron variant.

Wellstead has been trying to get home since she started what was supposed to be a six-week trip to New Zealand in July.

She was moving back there after a decade in New Zealand, had sold her house in Nelson and bought a new one in Perth. But she made an ill-fated trip back to tie up loose ends, sell her car, and see friends before falling ill - and then the border closed again.

Australian academic Peta Wellstead has been unable to get back to Perth from New Zealand since mid-2021. Photo: Supplied

The 64-year-old has been paying $180 a night for a serviced apartment since September, as she waited for flights to restart and an easing of restrictions.

"I have pretty much given up, as lots of New Zealanders have. I am probably going to fly to Sydney and then onto Germany to spend time with my son and his wife. I can go to Germany where I am not a citizen or a resident, but I cannot travel to my home in Perth. WA and NZ are now the only jurisdictions in the world who are locking out, and continue to lock out, their own citizens and residents."

Thousands of New Zealanders and Australians were stranded on the wrong side of the Tasman, she said.

"It's not actually even about me. I mean, I'm okay, I'm coping. I mean it's been pretty stressful and quite a lot of tears, but there are people in real hardship."

Among those is Ken Hill, aged 78, who is with his wife Jackie in Queensland. The couple, from Hokitika, have spoken of the mental anguish of being stuck away from home for eight months.

New Zealand's international border re-opening plan will allow fully-vaccinated New Zealand citizens and residents in Australia to return first, followed by those based elsewhere in the world. Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook

They went to see their grandchildren in Melbourne during the trans-Tasman bubble and took a holiday in Queensland, before a series of flight cancellations grounded them.

"The anxiety and depression at the moment is unbelievable," said Ken. "Mentally, I'm buggered. I am, honestly. Because you just remember things that you did in New Zealand when you were a kid and you can't get back to enjoy it.

"I just feel the government when they had the [MIQ] lobby, they should have let a few of us oldies get back in, otherwise the computer whiz kids can get in before us. It's in the lap of the Gods, I suppose. It's just you think 'well, are they really looking after New Zealanders or not?' They're not."

Anxieties include if they fall ill without Medicare and their pension - they managed to get it reinstated after it was stopped for a month, but their daughter told them a fortnight ago that more superannuation paperwork has now arrived at home, that he knows they will struggle to return without access to computers.

Cabinet will decide in two weeks the date New Zealanders stuck overseas can bypass managed isolation (MIQ) and instead isolate at home.

The re-opening plan will allow fully-vaccinated New Zealand citizens and residents in Australia to return first, followed by those based elsewhere in the world.

Tourists or migrants were due to get the green light to enter without managed isolation from the end of April, but now the MIQ website simply says "this step will be reviewed in 2022."

Original post:

Stranded Australians and New Zealanders anxious about when they can return home - RNZ

WELLINGTON/SYDNEY, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Life-saving water supplies from a New Zealand navy ship were distributed across Tonga's main island on Friday, as other countries battled the logistics of delivering aid to one of the world's remotest communities.

Six days after the South Pacific archipelago was devastated by a volcanic eruption and tsunami that deposited a blanket of ash and polluted its water sources, the HMNZS Aotearoa docked in the capital, Nukualofa.

The ship carried 250,000 litres of water and desalination equipment able to produce 70,000 litres more per day, New Zealand's High Commission said.

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"Trucks ... have begun collecting and delivering water supplies from Aotearoa," the Commission said on its Facebook page.

The first flights from Australia and New Zealand landed on Thursday with some water as well as shelter, communication equipment and generators. read more

On Thursday, an Australian flight was forced to return to base because of a positive COVID-19 case onboard, while on Friday technical problems delayed one of two Japanese C-130 transporters carrying 5,000 litres of drinking water, Japan's Self-Defence Forces said.

Underlining the complexity of mounting a contactless international aid operation to one of the few countries free of COVID-19, the Australian plane was turned around mid-flight after PCR tests showed a positive result, an Australian defence spokeswoman told Reuters.

All crew had earlier returned negative rapid antigen tests, she said. The supplies were moved to another flight that took off on Friday.

The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano eruption last Saturday triggered a tsunami that destroyed villages and resorts and knocked out communications for the nation of about 105,000 people. Three people have been reported killed, authorities said.

The salt water from the tsunami spoiled most sources of water and Tongans have been struggling to find clean water as they clear away the ash.

"We are cleaning the ash and have been since Monday," said Branko Sugar, 61, who runs a bottle shop and fishing charter business from Nuku'alofa.

"Everything is so dusty, and we are running out of water," he said over a patchy telephone line. "We only have the tap water, and it's been contaminated. We... can hardly breathe for all the dust."

URGENT ASSISTANCE NEEDED

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center has said the force of the eruption was estimated to be equivalent to 5-10 megatons of TNT, or more than 500 times that of the nuclear bomb the United States dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima at the end of World War Two.

Astronaut Kayla Barron said she could see the volcanic ash in the atmosphere from the International Space Station.

"I opened the window shutter to see if we could see any effects of the eruption, and saw this dramatic, high-altitude plume blocking out the sun," Barron said on Facebook.

NASA released photographs showing a huge grey smudge over the blue Pacific.

United Nations spokesperson Stphane Dujarric told a briefing Tonga had asked for urgent assistance.

"We remain seriously concerned about access to safe water for 50,000 people ... Water quality testing continues, and most people are relying on bottled water," he said, speaking before the Aotearoa arrived.

Dujarric said there were reports of fuel shortages, while some 60,000 Tongans have been affected by damage to crops, livestock and fisheries due to ashfall, saltwater intrusion and the potential for acid rain.

Many have turned to social media to post images of the destruction by the tsunami and give accounts of their shock after the massive explosion, while tales of incredible escapes from the disaster have also emerged.

Sea-borne assistance was also en route for the archipelago.

Australia's HMAS Adelaide was due in Tonga next week after leaving Brisbane.

Reliance, a repair ship due to reconnect the undersea cable that links Tonga to international telecoms networks, left its Port Moresby mooring and was expected in Tonga on Jan. 30, according to Refinitiv data on shipping movements.

The Reliance's operator, SubCom, did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for confirmation.

Telephone links between Tonga and the outside world were reconnected late on Wednesday, although restoring full internet services is expected to take a month or more.

Tesla (TSLA.O) Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk asked in a post on Twitter if Tongans would like help from his Starlink project, which provides internet connection through satellites.

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Reporting by Praveen Menon, Kirsty Needham and Tom Westbrook; Writing by Michael Perry, Robert Birsel; Editing by Richard Pullin, John Stonestreet and Janet Lawrence

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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New Zealand water ship unloads in Tonga as other aid trickles in - Reuters

Local media has again erupted after Benedict Cumberbatch revealed that he loved his 2020 stay in New Zealand. But something stinks about his story.

This week Benedict Cumberbatch made the mistake of mentioning, for about the three thousandth time, that he loved being in New Zealand while filming Jane Campions The Power of the Dog in 2020. Spending over five months here, including during the first Covid-19 lockdown, Sir Cumbers has been extremely generous in his praise of our country, gushing to various media outlets about this welcoming place that he loved and considered a new home.

But theres one crucial detail missing in the latest round of crooning Cumberbatch coverage: the notoriously yum-smelling actor chose to absolutely stink himself up while he was here. To fully embody The Power of the Dogs brooding ranch owner Phil Burbank, Cumberbatch stopped showering in preparation for filming. He told Esquire that he craved a layer of stink on the character, saying: I wanted people in the room to know what I smelt like.

It didnt stop at bathing, either. Phil Burbank goes hard on the durries, so Cumberbatch went hard on the durries. I gave myself nicotine poisoning three times, the Esquire article also revealed, when you have to smoke a lot, it genuinely is horrible. This, combined with the fact that he asked wardrobe to stop laundering his costumes, creates quite the tang in the minds nose. The minute I put those clothes on, I was [Phil]. I could smell him, Cumberbatch said, .

Given that this is not even the first time that a stinky actor has plagued our pristine shores, The Spinoff has crunched the data and done the relevant contact tracing to try and stop the stench. Here are the locations of stink-terest visited by a possibly ponging Benedict Cumberbatch while he was in Aotearoa, a place that he allegedly loved, nearly two years ago.

Ponsonby Social Club, Auckland

If you were in Ponsonby Social Club on Saturday June 20, 2020, you are a close contact of the Cumberstench. As reported by Newshub, Benedict Cumberbatch and co-stars Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons were said to enjoy top shelf stuff at the Ponsonby Road hotspot, including some Japanese whiskey and tequila. Sounds like some pretty pungent liquor. Sounds like somebody trying to cover their tracks. Sounds like the exact kind of stinker who would move into a more private area (smell-proof chamber?) as the night progressed.

Summerlee Luxury Retreat, Hawkes Bay

In one of the most impressive examples of investigative journalism of the last decade, an eagle-eyed Hawkes Bay Times reporter spotted a bookshelf in the background of Benedicts Zoom call that looked a lot like the bookshelf in Summerlee Luxury Retreat in the Hawkes Bay. According to their website, Summerlee Luxury Retreat boasts plenty of places to bathe, including a pool, a spa and seven bathrooms.

But, using the power of important journalistic tool of red circles, I would like to draw your attention to ANOTHER crucial detail that suggests NONE of those facilities were utilised by the Batch.

Do you see? His nostrils are flaring. His mouth is upturned in disgust. All my modeling points to one possible scenario: Cumberbatch is smelling himself in this moment. Given that Summerlee is within easy reach of New Zealands largest gannet colony, and that gannets are famously New Zealands stinkiest bird, you have to once again ask coincidence or cover-up?

Unnamed Sushi restaurant, New Zealand

Cumberbatch has repeatedly shared an anecdote about director Jane Campion inviting him out to a sumptuous sushi lunch while he was, as The Spinoff understands, in a state of peak stench. I was literally emanating I had a biohazard zone around me, he told USA Today. It was not a good time to cuddle up to Cumberbatch and take a selfie. Retelling the story again on Late Night with Seth Meyers, he recalled walking five feet in front of the director, and that his malodorous musk caused selfie hunters to run in the opposite direction.

To be safe, anyone who went to any sushi restaurant in New Zealand in 2020 should probably have a shower.

Uptown Bounce, Auckland

The Spinoff has spoken to an anonymous source who spotted Cumberbatch at popular Auckland trampoline park Uptown Bounce in July, 2020. Most memorable thing from him being there was that he was wearing trackpants but they seemed like the most expensive/luxurious trackpants in the world, they said, and he stunk.

Anyone who has been on or near a trampoline in the last two years is being asked to spray themselves with Impulse and/or Lynx Africa.

Camberley Dairy, Hastings

As reported by Hawkes Bay Today, the go-to publication for all things Cumber and Batch, a dubious source claimed to have seen the star at the Camberley Dairy. Pretty sure he shoplifted a bag of Burger Rings, they recalled. The Spinoff has no further comment to make without a lawyer present, apart from that Burger Rings are one of the top three chips, and that anyone who has come into contact with Burger Rings in the last two years is deemed a legend.

Mudbrick Vineyard, Waiheke Island

Sometimes I forget that I work at a bougie winery, said Haylee Oliver, assistant vineyard manager at Mudbrick Vineyard, but today I was cruising by the winery restaurant on my tractor and saw Benedict Cumberbatch sitting there. The key words cruising and tractor suggest that the exposure event was both fleeting in duration and physically distanced, so Waiheke residents are advised to self-monitor for any alarming aromas.

Craggy Range, Hawkes Bay

Saw him at Craggy Range for lunch! I fangirld out BIG TIME! Nic Olsen told The Hawkes Bay Today. He wasnt keen on a selfie. Theres no mention of what he smelled like during his visit, but the selfie rejection suggests it was most likely because of the fumes. I would also like to point out another chilling detail from my very own Craggy Range reporting from 2019.

See the caption on this rump shot from my own trip? Oh misty eye of the mountain below is of course a lyric from the song I See Fire by Ed Sheeran, which was of course commissioned for the soundtrack for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug in 2013, which of course stars Cumberbatch as the titular Smaug. Coincidence? Almost certainly. Interesting? Barely. More to come on this story as it develops.

Did you smell Benedict Cumberbatch in 2020? Get in touch alex@thespinoff.co.nz

This article has been updated to reflect the fact that Benedict Cumberbatch was spotted, and possibly smelt, at both Craggy Range and Mudbrick Vineyards.

Read the original here:

Benedict Cumberbatch loved New Zealand he also stank it out - The Spinoff

New Zealand ranks at the top of the world on many measures. Photo / Michael Craig

New Zealand has been ranked as the best country in the world for financial freedom, based on measures including stability, tax, fighting corruption and the transparency of our financial systems.

And we are also No 1 when it comes to safety and security in east Asia and the Pacific, according to a report out this year which studied 187 countries and how attractive they are to extremely wealthy people.

GS Global Partners' world citizenship report ranked New Zealand ahead of Denmark, Singapore, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Hong Kong, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Germany for its financial freedom, non-corruption and transparency.

The report studied people who sought second citizenship, often to enhance their own lives or wealth.

"The financial freedom motivator measures the ability of a jurisdiction to provide a favourable and stable regulatory climate for the establishment and functioning of businesses, as well as the holding of personal and business assets," the report said.

Tax efficiency for people and businesses were a key motivator for wealthy people who sought out places that offered them the best opportunities, the report said.

They wanted countries "without excessive government oversight and corruption", it said in what could have been a nod to the story of billionaires like New Zealand citizen Peter Thiel.

New Zealand beats Japan, Australia, Singapore and Taiwan when it comes to safety and security in this part of the world too.

Across a number of other measures, New Zealand was ranked as the best English-speaking country globally, heading off the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom.

Although our borders are shut, that might just be why so many thousands are scrambling to get here.

29 Jul, 2021 01:48 AMQuick Read

5 Oct, 2021 09:09 PMQuick Read

New Zealand is the fifth best country in the world to live in based on economic, financial, lifestyle, mobility and safety measures, only headed off by European powerhouses Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway.

Overall, we ranked sixth, ahead of the Netherlands, Japan, Singapore, Germany, Canada, Austria, Ireland, Belgium, France and the United States.

Five key factors or measures put us in that sixth place:

Safety and security: the ability to enjoy greater social safety and security for oneself and family and as a safety-net against being trapped in a dangerous territory;

Economic opportunity: our ability to access major business hubs and increased access to better employment prospects and wider business opportunities;

Quality of life: accessing territories with higher social and institutional stability and higher standards of education and healthcare;

Global mobility: our freedom to travel for leisure and lifestyle and our ability to buy insurance to compensate and help with medical or safety emergencies;

Financial freedom: geographical diversification, protecting assets from government overreach or corruption and facilitating wealth structure in a tax-efficient manner.

New Zealand ranks second in the world behind Iceland for safety and security, 15th for economic opportunity, 17th for quality of life and seventh for global mobility.

Last July, the Herald reported how New Zealand was named among five countries likely to survive a global society collapse.

Researchers say it comes as no surprise, with billionaires reported to be buying land for bunkers in New Zealand in preparation for an apocalypse.

This country was found to have the greatest potential to survive a collapse somewhat unscathed because of its geothermal and hydroelectric energy, abundant agricultural land and low population density.

Other places ranked highly to survive are Iceland, the UK, Tasmania and Ireland.

The CS Global Partners' report studied people with multiple citizenships who look for the best opportunities in the world "otherwise unattainable in one's birth country or country of origin".

"As many parts of the globe progressively recover from Covid-19, individuals are relinquishing hope in the ability of governments to manage crises of various nature, including pandemics, climate change and wealth inequality. Consequently, mass affluent markets are assessing in which countries it is most profitable to become global citizens, in order to attain their needs," the report said.

CS Global Partners specialises in residence and citizenship by investment. It said the report gave a data-based overview of almost every country on the globe based on five key motivators.

New Zealand has also been named as one of the world's most welcoming countries and the greatest country on earth for the seventh year in the Telegraph travel awards.

Continue reading here:

New Zealand ranked top country for financial freedom - New Zealand Herald

John Kirk-Anderson/Stuff

Blackjack Gary Lawson is still in contention to represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games in July.

A date has been set for mediation with Blackjacks bowler Gary Lawson nearly seven months after serious conduct allegations and complaints were made against him.

Lawson is still in contention to represent New Zealand at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games in July.

The complaints followed a Stuff story in July 2021, that uncovered allegations regarding Lawsons conduct, including the alleged use of homophobic slurs, sexist remarks, verbal abuse and threatening behaviour, as recent as May 2021 and spanning 25 years.

Derek Flynn/Stuff

Gary Lawson was suspended from bowls in December for one month following his use of profane and indecent language towards an opposition player (file)

The investigation also uncovered allegations of a normalised culture within bowls, where Bowls New Zealand, Bowls Canterbury and bowling clubs knew of Lawsons alleged conduct, and allowed him to continue to play.

Several bowls community members feared speaking up because of perceived repercussions, including the likelihood of being threatened again, and the damage they believe it might do to their chances of representing New Zealand.

READ MORE:* Allegations of homophobia and sexism in the world of elite bowls * Gary Lawson stood down from bowls for 'indecent language' on the green* Bowls NZ starts Gary Lawson investigation; Grant Robertson and Sport NZ urge community to speak up following allegations

Bowls Canterbury has organised the mediation, which will take place in the middle of February, general manager Lorraine McLeod confirmed.

Stuff understands the process will occur across two days and will address more recent allegations regarding his conduct. If a resolution is not achieved, the complaints may go in front of a judicial panel appointed by Bowls Canterbury, which Stuff understands includes Christchurch lawyer Ian Hunt, educator Gillian Heald and police officer Maurice Phiskie.

The delay in addressing the complaints was in part due to Covid-19 restrictions, Lawsons Auckland-based lawyers told Stuff in October. They said at the time Lawson was committed to resolving matters and has not done anything to delay matters.

Questions put to Lawson by Stuff regarding the mediation went unanswered.

John McCombe

Gary Lawson, left, Andrew Todd, Richard Girven and Russell Meyer, won gold at the World Bowls Championships in 2008.

But another complaint against Lawson has been dealt with quicker. Following a formal complaint about his use of profane and indecent language towards an opposition player at an event in October 2021, he was suspended from the sport for a month.

His suspension was lifted before the national bowls championships held in Christchurch in early January. He placed second in the pairs and was knocked out in the round of 32 in the singles.

In December, and at the time of Lawsons most recent suspension, Bowls New Zealand said in a statement that bowls prides itself as an inclusive sport and community, one that is based upon clear values whereby we respect each other and those within our community.

The use of profane, indecent or improper language on a bowling green is therefore not acceptable, the statement said.

According to the Bowls New Zealand disciplinary guidebook, use of any profane, indecent or improper language; verbal abuse, including but not limited to . religion, colour, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation; engaging in offensive or insulting behaviour, and disrespecting the authority of match officials all carry a maximum suspension of 52 weeks.

Threatening actions or words towards club, centre, Bowls NZ officials or representatives carries a maximum 260-week suspension.

It was not the first time the 14-time New Zealand champion and world champion has been suspended from the sport. In 2010 he was found guilty of match fixing at a tournament in 2009, and was suspended for six months. He was invited to rejoin the Blackjacks in 2011, but did not return until 2019, following the appointment of new Bowls New Zealand administration.

Lawson was named as one of 46 within the wider Blackjacks squad vying for a spot on the Commonwealth Games team in July 2021. The final squad is due to be announced in May.

More here:

Complaints against New Zealand bowls great Gary Lawson go to mediation - Stuff.co.nz

Fears are growing among rail travellers that two of New Zealand's iconic long-distance train services have been permanently axed.

New Zealand has been closed to almost all international tourists since March 2020.

As a result, the inter-city Northern Explorer and Coastal Pacific trains have been suspended due to lack of visitors.

The Northern Explorer is the only rail service between the capital, Wellington, and biggest city Auckland. It was formerly known as The Overlander.

The South Islands Coastal Pacific connects Christchurch, the biggest city, with Picton the port for ferries from Wellington on North Island. It allowed a rail-sea-rail journey between Auckland and Christchurch.

Both were suspended in August 2021 due to lack of visitors. But last month the state operator, KiwiRail, announced: We have tried everything in our means to stay on track since Covid-19 rocked the world in 2020.

With mixed emotions, we have paused our Northern Explorer and Coastal Pacific services while we look towards a new future.

The operator, which markets the trains under the name Great Journeys of New Zealand, says it is planning a restart in July 2022. But it says: Our new vision is to create multi-day experiences that showcase the best of New Zealand, both on and off the track.

A multi-day experience will allow passengers to truly unwind and experience our relaxed New Zealand nature at the gentle pace it deserves.

Staying overnight in rural towns and dazzling cities, visiting world-famous activities and charming local attractions, our dream is to showcase the best of New Zealand beyond the beaten track.

These are the dreams we are currently researching.

The statement appears to indicate an end to both trains as standard, inter-city services.

Mark Smith, the international rail guru known as The Man in Seat Sixty-One, said: It will be the end of normal train service between New Zealands major cities Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

He said the rolling stock will be used for rarefied multi-day tourist-only 'land cruises.

A petition aimed at Michael Wood, the transport minister, has attracted more than 500 signatures.

It says: We call on the government and KiwiRail to commit to maintaining existing inter-city passenger rail services.

Furthermore, we ask for a comprehensive national strategy for future passenger rail services built around concern for climate action and economic development.

KiwiRail says: Our vision is to expand our experiences, so our passengers can see and do more in the regions we travel to and through.

While both the Coastal Pacific and Northern Explorer train routes are acclaimed scenic spectacles, they are both long journeys deserving of more than a single-day experience.

Prior to closure, the Northern Explorer covered the 423 miles between Auckland and Wellington in around 10 hours 45 minutes.

The 215-mile journey from Christchurch to Picton on the Coastal Pacific was scheduled to take five hours.

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Could two of New Zealands most iconic trains hit the buffers? - The Independent

There are two original glass plate negatives of a photo of the artist Charles Goldie, but Webb's auction house is not selling them - it's selling the NFT of each photo, a unique digital code.

"But here's the interesting thing, if you buy the NFT, you get the plate with it," head of art at Webb's auction house Charles Ninow says.

"We are taking something made on a specific day and specific time and is really important to New Zealand's history and in a way we are making it immortal."

Webb's is New Zealand's first major auction house to do this, but it's nothing compared to the NFT craze sweeping the virtual world.

Last year, digital artist Beeple could not believe the price an NFT went for.

"$69 million - I think it means digital art is here to stay;" he said.

Unique digital avatars are also fetching huge sums, with a Cryptopunk selling for US$10 million.

There's celebrity endorsement with Paris Hilton and Jimmy Fallon using Bored Ape avatars, while All Blacks Ardie and Julian Savea have Party Bears.

"Yes, there is an incredible amount of money being thrown around in the industry and it's definitely in a bubble of sorts," co-founder of New Zealand NFT maker Fluf World Alex Smeele says.

If someone buys a bunny avatar they can get access to a metaverse, or virtual world, where you can perhaps socialise with rapper Snoop Dogg.

"When it comes to NFT digital art and the metaverse as well, there is a lot of opportunities to actually redefine yourself and really express yourself as you feel and that's a really empowering experience," Smeele says.

That's a real-world away from when Goldie was snapped in his studio.

A price guide for this Friday's auction is $5000 to $8000 per NFT and there's a twist involving

the glass negative and a hammer.

"Perhaps you might want to make it permanently digital. Smash it? Smash it," Ninow says.

Welcome to a world where the digital means more than the physical.

See more here:

New Zealand auction house becomes the first to auction NFTs - Newshub

Mahuta said she's concerned about the continuing and unprecedented build-up of Russian military forces on its border with Ukraine.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) issued a warning on Wednesday that said the situation was "highly volatile" and that Kiwis in Ukraine should consider leaving.

"New Zealanders whose presence in Ukraine is not essential, should consider leaving by commercial means if it is safe to do so," the Ministry said.

"New Zealand's ability to provide consular assistance to New Zealanders in Ukraine is very limited.

"There have been reports of increased Russian military activity near Ukraine's border with Russia and in Crimea.

"Security conditions at the border may change at short notice. New Zealanders in these areas are advised to regularly monitor local and international media."

The ministry does not have an embassy in Ukraine but New Zealand does have an honorary consul in the country.

Russia has amassed 100,000 troops near Ukraine but continues to deny planning military action against the country they share a border with.

The Russian Embassy of New Zealand told Newshub on Wednesday that Russian troops are following international law and have no plans to invade Ukraine.

"In light of the ongoing speculations around the situation on the Russian-Ukrainian border the Embassy would like to remind that the Russian troops are carrying out maneuvers strictly in the national territory in full compliance with international rules, and, as was repeatedly confirmed, have no intention to invade anyone," the Russian Embassy of New Zealand said.

"The case thus remains totally within the framework of Russian internal affairs. The Embassy therefore calls upon all responsible governments to act in a manner consistent with international law, i.e. not to interfere with internal affairs of sovereign states"

In reaction to this, the US put about 8,500 troops on alert to be ready to deploy to Europe if needed.

"What's happening now is getting them ready on a shorter tether," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.

"Today, we're not talking about deployment orders. We have no deployment orders to speak to."

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New Zealand calls on Russia to ease tension with Ukraine, reduce 'risk of a severe miscalculation' - Newshub