Daily Archives: March 18, 2022

It doesnt get much bigger than this for New Zealand and England as they prepare for a must-win match at Eden Park in the ICC Womens Cricket World Cup.

MATCH CENTRE | STANDINGS

Eight group stage points may well be required to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in New Zealand, and both the tournament hosts and Sundays opponents England know that they need to win this and their remaining matches in order to make that eight-point target.

It was a fixture against the White Ferns that sent England through to the last four of the 2017 Cricket World Cup, a tournament that they went on to win of course, and victory in Auckland would go a long way to putting them into the semis again five years on, with winnable fixtures against Bangladesh and Pakistan to come.

And Englands recent record against New Zealand is good too, with a 4-1 series win coming the last time these sides squared off in English conditions last summer.

Losses at the start of the tournament to Australia, West Indies and South Africa have put huge pressure on England to win all of their remaining games in the group stage if they want to have a chance to defend their trophy. And veteran bowler Anya Shrubsole says that the scenario has given the side an extra element of motivation.

I think we want to win every game of cricket that we play - we're here representing England, and we take a huge amount of pride in that and we're here to win every game that we play, Shrubsole said.

But I guess we're motivated by wanting to put some things right that we feel like we haven't achieved in this tournament so far, and everyone will individually have their own, I guess, their own motivations.

New Zealand have suffered defeats to the same three opponents as England, with losses to West Indies, Australia and South Africa setting up this head-to-head clash at Eden Park.

And the two-wicket last-over loss to the Proteas last time out was particularly frustrating for the White Ferns, with captain Sophie Devine saying her team just need to sharpen up for the final group stage matches.

I think we've played good cricket probably 70 - 80% of the time, Devine said. It's just that final 20%.

We know World Cup pressure is on, we know that every ball something's on the line. So we're really close, two more runs and we win that game.

We'll look at the positives to move forward quickly, and it's about resetting and looking forward because it's another really exciting opportunity to play at home in front of hopefully a really big crowd at Eden Park.

THE TEAMS

England Squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Freya Davies, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Amy Jones, Emma Lamb, Nat Sciver (vc), Anya Shrubsole, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Danni Wyatt. Travelling Reserves:Lauren Bell, Mady Villiers

New Zealand Squad: Sophie Devine (c), Amy Satterthwaite (vc), Suzie Bates, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Melie Kerr, Frankie Mackay, Rosemary Mair, Katey Martin, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu. Travelling Reserve: Molly Penfold

Video CWC22, WCWC Feature 09 Mar 22 03:09

Introducing White Ferns legend Amy Satterthwaite | CWC22

KEY PLAYERS

Sophie Devine -Devine's experience with bat and ball is invaluable, but it is perhaps her tactical nous that is her most underrated asset of all. The White Ferns skipper always sets good fields and generally rotates her bowlers well to ensure batters don't become too comfortable. Devine can also turn a game with bat or ball and will be crucial to the fortunes of the home nation.

Tammy Beaumont -The England opener always seems to save herself for the big occasion, so expect to see the 30-year-old score plenty of runs in New Zealand. Beaumont topped the scoring charts at the 2017 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup with a whopping 410 runs.

Video cwc19 13 Mar 22 03:10

Tammy Beaumont Englands force to reckon with | CWC22

CWC22 DREAM11 FANTASY WATCH

Captaincy Pick Amelia Kerr

New Zealands all-rounder came into the World Cup in terrific form and offers genuine quality with both bat and ball. She was in power-hitting mode against Bangladesh, blasting an unbeaten 47* from 37 balls to help the tournament hosts to victory, hit a superb 50 against India, and racked up 42 against South Africa too. And the spinner has also picked up eight wickets so far at the tournament, and has the quality to do serious damage to England batting line-up.

Video CWC22, WCWC Feature 12 Mar 22 03:05

Amelia Kerr rising star of the White Ferns | CWC22

Must have Natalie Sciver

So often considered a generational talent in English cricket, Natalie Scivers international record has been good but not as great as her potential could see her reach. But if she clicks then the 29-year-old could be one of the dominant batters at the tournament, and her outstanding century in the loss to Australia hinted that shes at the top of her game at precisely the right moment for England.

THE VENUE

Video cwc19 18 Mar 22 03:18

A stadium steeped in history | Eden Park | CWC22

The giant Eden Park in Auckland is New Zealands largest stadium and a regular host of international cricket and rugby matches.

This is the second match to be hosted at Eden Park during the tournament, following a day after the India v Australia clash.

Video cwc19 18 Mar 22 02:45

Eden Park rooftop tour with Sonia Gray | CWC22

TOURNAMENT FORMAT

All eight teams at the tournament will play each other across seven rounds in a league format.

The top four teams in the standings after the conclusion of the Group Stage will qualify for the semi-finals, which will be held in the final week of March.

REMAINING FIXTURES

Englands remaining tournament fixtures:

20 March v New Zealand24 March v Pakistan27 March v Bangladesh

New Zealands remaining tournament fixtures:

20 March v England26 March v Pakistan

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Must-win World Cup clash awaits for New Zealand and England - International Cricket Council

Amid the massive success of The Kashmir Files, the movie based on the true stories of the Kashmiri Hindu Genocide, the censor board of New Zealand has decided to re-evaluate the film and its release in the country. This is after some communal groups in the country pressurized the New Zealand Censor board to ban the film.

On Friday, Director Vivek Ranjan Agnohotri called for urgent attention of the Indians in the country and asked them to stand united against the radicals. Some communal groups are trying to put pressure on New Zealand Censor to ban The Kashmir Files. I request all Indians to be united and oppose this undemocratic tactic by radicals with utmost humility and release this film about HUMANITY and HUMAN RIGHTS, he tweeted.

The statement shared by Agnihotri read that the Muslim communities in New Zealand had a problem with the film and that they were planning to protest against its release. We have a problem releasing this film in New Zealand. The Muslims have taken the issue to censor board officials and also the External Affairs Ministry, the authorities in New Zealand said.

It also stated that the Muslim communities had issued threats to the board saying that they would protest in front of the theatres if released. The Director also shared a screenshot of the email which read that the film had raised concerns with the public, the NZ Police, Department of Internal Affairs and many others. Reportedly, the advertisements for the film have also been requested removal.

Vivek Agnihotris gut-wrenching movie The Kashmir Files has become one of the biggest blockbuster movies of recent times. The movie starring Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumar, Pallavi Joshi, Mithun Chakraborty, Mrunal Kulkarni, and others has managed to earn Rs 106 crores in seven days. Agnihotri shared the tweet and expressed his happiness over entering the 100 crore club.

The movie had impressed the box office by making the business of around Rs 4.25 crores on the very first day of its public screening. Interestingly, the movie which was initially released across just 650-700 screens has also seen an increase in screens and shows to accommodate the audiences demand.

The film is inspired by the true stories of Kashmiri Pandits. It takes viewers back to 1989, when conflict erupted in Kashmir due to rising Islamic Jihad, forcing the great majority of Hindus to flee the valley. According to estimates, roughly 100,000 of the valleys total 140,000 Kashmiri Pandit inhabitants migrated between February and March 1990. More of them fled in the years that followed until just about 3,000 families remained in the valley by 2011. The movie based on video interviews with first-generation Kashmiri Pandit victims of the Kashmir Genocide was released in India on March 11 and is open to watch in theatres.

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New Zealand to re-evaluate release of The Kashmir Files after communal groups pressurise the Censor Board to ban the film - OpIndia

News that a New Zealand army veteran is already in Ukraine helping train civilian fighters, and more are planning to travel to the war zone, raises important questions about what is lawful and what the risks of such actions might be.

As the number of volunteers for the International Legion for the Defense of Ukraine rises to a reported 20,000 from over 50 countries, how does New Zealand respond?

Firstly, there is a difference between foreign enlistment, where someone joins another countrys armed forces, and what is often called foreign fighting, where someone takes up arms as an individual or volunteer in a group.

Foreign enlistment generally poses little problem. Its lawfulness depends on the domestic law of the persons home country (does it allow citizens to fight for another countrys armed forces?) and the law of the destination country for instance, does it allow non-citizens to enlist?

New Zealand does not generally prevent people joining another countrys military. In Ukraine, a 2016 presidential decree made it possible for non-Ukrainian citizens to enlist in Ukraines armed forces, and in February this year it was announced the International Legion will form part of the nations armed forces.

In contrast to foreign enlistment, application of the law to foreign fighting both internationally and domestically has always been guided by the nature and context of the conflict, and has varied depending on what was at stake in different political moments in history.

In New Zealand, mercenary activities are prohibited but the laws definition of a mercenary is relatively limited. Criteria include that a person must be motivated by private gain and be paid substantially more than local soldiers.

New Zealands terrorism suppression laws are also relevant to foreign fighting, but these only apply if the person engages in terrorism.

Apart from these two categories, there is no specific law governing foreign fighting, and therefore nothing that prevents someone from volunteering to fight in Ukraine.

Read more: What does it mean to be 'neutral' over Ukraine and what responsibilities come with it?

This is in line with international legal provisions, which likewise do not explicitly prohibit foreign fighting in a general way, and different countries laws vary in their permissiveness.

Even if New Zealand has not taken stronger legislative steps to prevent volunteer fighting more generally, its government is certainly not encouraging it. New Zealand has advised against travel to Ukraine, and may not be able to provide consular assistance to citizens who choose to fight there.

Under the laws of war, someone fighting in Ukraine can be targeted by the other side. If they act only as a medic or first responder, they remain protected from direct targeting, but are nevertheless put at great risk of incidental harm.

Russia has also reportedly threatened to treat foreigners fighting in Ukraine as mercenaries and to refuse them prisoner of war status. Even if this is legally wrong, captured foreigners risk prosecution or worse by Russia.

Read more: Boycotting Russian products might feel right, but can individual consumers really make a difference?

War can also attract all sorts. There have been volunteers fighting on both sides in Ukraine since 2014, with both also claiming a heritage to the international brigades of the Spanish Civil War. Some of those foreign volunteer fighters in Ukraine have reportedly held right-wing extremist views.

There are also concerns that the experience of war may see volunteers bring violence back to their home country, as well as suffering long-term injury or other trauma.

Crucially, anyone fighting in Ukraine must follow international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions. This requires respect for and protection of civilian populations, places such as hospitals, cultural property, neutral humanitarian workers and others protected by the laws of war (such as captured soldiers).

People fighting without adequate military training including in the rules of war is a major concern. Despite good intentions or bravery, war crimes can be committed. Civilians, who are already bearing the brunt of the conflict, or other people protected by the laws of war, may end up being harmed.

In other words, foreign volunteer fighting can escalate and complicate a situation, and they could be prosecuted for the commission of war crimes upon their return to New Zealand. Because of its commitment to the Geneva Conventions, New Zealand is obliged to ensure respect for the laws of war in whatever feasible way it can.

New Zealand Defence Force soldiers are trained in the laws of war, so former military personnel volunteering may be of less concern. The same may apply where people are fighting as part of state armed forces, where command and control structures will be in place.

Read more: Beyond sanctions: 5 more ways New Zealand can help support Ukraine and punish Russia

However, as Australias Brereton Report showed, even highly trained soldiers can become involved in alleged crimes amidst the heat and tragedy of war.

Thinkers like writer George Orwell and philosopher Simone Weil, who were both volunteer fighters in the Spanish Civil War, warned about the way war sees even those on the good side committing violence and abuse.

All these factors should give governments pause for thought. Even if we feel solidarity with a cause, we may feel torn by the idea of individuals taking up arms on their own prerogative, especially when there are other, non-violent alternatives.

The rest is here:

There is little to stop New Zealanders leaving to fight in Ukraine but few legal protections if they do - The Conversation

Supplied

When youre in a relationship with someone from a different culture, its about give and take.

Lance McGregor is an industrial designer originally from Lower Hutt who spent 20 years in London and New York designing lighting and fragrance bottles for everyone from Beyonc and Calvin Klein. He met his American wife Melissa, an HR consultant, in Manhattan in 2002. The couple, their daughters Dylan, 12, and Quinn, 9, and 8-year-old son Hunter, moved back to Wellington in 2020.

Melissa: I was born in New Jersey, went to university in New York then moved there for work, so that was my whole world.

Id been single for seven months when I met Lance. Id moved into my own apartment in the East Village and was living my best single girl life.

One night I was having cocktails with my Kiwi friend Catherine who asked if her friend Lance could join us. I was like, what do I care? Lance walked into the bar and it was an immediate wow! He was the hottest guy I had ever seen in my life! He was also super cool, a designer with a cute Kiwi accent. He was so creative compared to my life in the corporate world.

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I invited him to a party at my apartment but thought he wouldnt come because he was way too cool for me. But he turned up and stayed to help me clean up. Hed earmarked a Tiffany & Co catalogue I had and said, these are all the things I want to buy you from Tiffany!

Because Lance had just arrived in New York, he only had a pay-as-you-go phone so I couldnt call him and never heard from him.

In April 2003 Catherine told me it was his birthday so I called and left a message but again never heard from him. Two months later I saw Lance at a party, we started chatting and there was definitely chemistry. I made up a fake after-party so we could keep talking and then had to run around telling all my friends to come back to my place!

We finally kissed that night and had our first date a few days later. Weve been together ever since.

Of course I was attracted to his looks but Lance also has amazing style and taste hes decorated all our homes. Id also never been treated so nicely by someone. Seventeen years later, every day I still learn something new from Lance. He truly expands my world.

Dating someone from another culture wasnt an issue because Id always wanted to live abroad. Wed been talking about moving to New Zealand for a few years but then Covid hit and it seemed like the perfect time.

I do love it here but Im from a huge Italian family and miss them a lot. Lance isnt keen to move back to the United States so we might have to do the back and forth thing. But we both want to retire in New Zealand.

Lance is an incredible father whod do anything for our family. We have a lot of fun together. Im definitely a better person for being with him.

Lance: I had been single for two years when I met Melissa and hadnt actually been in New York that long. It was an obvious attraction because Melissa is the complete package. Id always loved the dark hair/Italian look and Melissa is part Sicilian so she was my dream girl.

Melissa always looked so put-together she wore beautiful dresses and high heels and had a real elegance about her. She also has a magnetic personality that everyone flocks to. Shes bubbly and outgoing, the exact opposite of my introverted personality. Melissa has a zest for life that I admire, which does rub off on me.

The reason I never called Melissa back after we met was because I was too nervous. I was completely captivated by her and thought she was totally out of my league. We come from such different worlds - I grew up in the Hutt and she was this cool New York woman. It took me a long time to summon the gumption to call her.

Wed been together two years when I decided to propose. We were coming to New Zealand for a holiday so she could meet my family and I could show her how beautiful this country is.

Melissa is a huge fan of Audrey Hepburn and Breakfast at Tiffanys, so the night before we flew out I went to Tiffanys and picked out a ring. But my account didnt cover the cost so I had to get money transferred from another account.

I rang the bank and even the salesperson got on the phone and eventually they transferred some over so I could buy the ring. The irony is that in 2017, I was invited to design an engagement ring box for Tiffany, which was like coming full circle.

We were in Cathedral Cove in the Coromandel, lying on the beach, when I pulled the ring out and proposed. Thankfully, Melissa said yes.

Were actually very different - Im extremely tidy and need a clean, clear space for my brain to work properly. But with Melissa it sometimes looks as though a tornado has hit the house! Im also organised and Melissa is a bit more fluid in her approach to life.

A key to our relationship is giving each other space. We do lots of things together but we also have our own interests. Because we work in different industries, we always have lots to talk about.

I love the United States, but dont want to live there again. But when youre in a relationship with someone from a different culture, its about give and take and trying to combine those two worlds and do whats best for the whole family.

Read more:

Married in New York, retiring in New Zealand: The couple with opposite personalities and cultures - Stuff

For much of the past two years, New Zealand has weathered the pandemic by stopping Covid-19 at its borders, which closed to almost everyone but New Zealand citizens and permanent residents on 19 March 2020.

Until recently anyone entering the country went into managed hotel isolation. With a million New Zealanders living overseas, and not enough capacity within the hotel quarantine system to accommodate everyone who wanted or needed a space, our border controls have caused misery for many people. The absence of tourists, backpackers and foreign students has been difficult for many industries. With family in the UK and Australia, Ive found it tough.

But controlling the entry of the virus into the country has been key to our success. It enabled us to embrace a go hard and early elimination strategy, stamping out any cases that leaked through the border.

Thats meant that life inside most of New Zealand has been pretty normal. Its been surreal and upsetting watching wave after wave of deaths overseas while our kids were at school, and we were safely going to restaurants and holding sporting events and concerts. And I mean safe even for the most vulnerable who in countries like the UK have had to isolate.

Weve had no need for refrigerated morgues outside hospitals. People having babies, heart attacks or strokes have been able to safely access medical care. In fact, while countries like the UK had two years of excess deaths, in 2020 we had the opposite fewer people died than expected.

The elimination strategy has been incredibly popular within New Zealand. Most people have backed the governments efforts to keep Covid-19 out, despite smear attacks on experts like me and almost daily assaults from opinionated pundits.

We saved thousands of lives and bought time for safe and effective vaccines to be developed and rolled out. Aiming for elimination also bought time for the medical profession globally to better understand how to treat Covid-19 patients and for the development of safe and effective antiviral treatments, though these arent available in New Zealand yet.

Our efforts helped the world understand more about how the virus spreads. Our ability to investigate and genome sequence every case showed how the virus transmitted on international and domestic flights and even through the act of briefly opening hotel room doors that were more than two metres apart.

Our elimination strategy ended when Delta made it through our border controls in August last year. Until then wed had fewer than 1,000 confirmed community cases and just 26 deaths. We switched to trying to minimise the spread of Covid-19 using vaccine and mask mandates and vaccine passes.

Again, we were successful, and by early December, thanks to our high vaccination rates, we were looking forward to a summer of festivities and festivals, at least for the vaccinated. Our Delta outbreak had peaked at about 200 confirmed cases a day, massive by New Zealand standards. Sadly, another 25 people had died.

But by then Omicron had evolved. Soon, managed isolation hotels were straining under the number of cases arriving daily. The government ditched its famous go hard and early four-level alert system for the so-called traffic light system, swapping lockdowns for masks and vaccines. We knew it was only a matter of time before Omicron entered New Zealand. And it did, both the BA.1 and BA.2 versions. Again, border controls bought us time to encourage more people to get vaccinated and boosted and to start vaccinating five- to 11-year-olds.

Omicrons entry coincided with schools and universities going back after the Christmas break, and cases started to skyrocket. It didnt take long for them to completely overwhelm our PCR testing and contact tracing systems. Now were using rapid antigen tests and are reliant on people reporting their results to count cases.

By international standards, mask-wearing is high, but most people dont have access to high-quality ones. Weve gone from a country where most people didnt know anyone with Covid-19 to everyone knowing someone. Were at about 20,000 confirmed cases a day. The real number is likely to be much higher. Ive been surprised how quickly people have adapted to the increase. Relatively speaking, death rates are still low, but its early days.

New Zealand is trying to balance limiting the spread of the virus so that our healthcare system still functions, with having enough people working so that transport chains and critical infrastructure dont collapse under the strain of people needing to isolate. Weve joined the rest of the world

Weve even had our own version of the Canadian truckers protest outside parliament. Our 23-day, super-spreader freedom camp ended with protesters who believe Covid-19 symptoms are a result of government radiation ray weapons setting fire to tents and the childrens playground outside parliament.

Our borders are beginning to open, and like the rest of the world, New Zealand is now leaning on individual choice rather than collective action. While some remain cautious and in self-imposed forms of lockdown, others are living as though Covid-19 isnt in the community through choice or necessity. That means the burden is not falling equitably.

New Zealands colonial past and systemic racism that continues to this day means the burden is disproportionately felt by Mori and Pacific Islander communities. Its a pattern weve seen repeated around the world, with the poor, immunocompromised, and ethnic minorities hardest hit. Its a situation we should find utterly repugnant. It worries me how much the world is ignoring potential long-term impacts of even mild infection on organs including the brain, heart and testicles.

Moving forward, New Zealand desperately needs to set up the kinds of studies the UK has excelled at but is now abandoning like REACT-1, ZOE, and the ONS prevalence survey, so we can keep track of how Covid is playing out nationwide. Weve established a good sewage surveillance system but its not enough, especially with winter on its way here.

The irony is, New Zealands early response to the pandemic showed that if the world had focused on collective rather than individual action, and protecting health before the economy, we may have prevented Covid-19 following diseases like HIV in becoming endemic. Just because it is becoming endemic doesnt mean we should do nothing. At the very least, we need global cooperation to monitor for the emergence of new variants and counter misinformation and disinformation that persuades people and governments to reject vital public health measures. We also need action to ensure equitable access to effective antivirals and vaccines.

In the meantime, Ill keep wearing a mask, get vaccinated again if thats needed, and play my part to protect myself and my community from this awful disease.

Dr SiouxsieWilesMNZM is a microbiologist and associate professor at the University of Auckland and was 2021s New Zealander of the Year

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New Zealand divided over how to handle 20,000 daily Covid cases after years of barely any - iNews

There were tn Covid-related deaths in New Zealand on Thursday, and 19,566 new cases.Video / NZ Herald

The risks of long Covid and suffering serious complications from the virus mean Omicron must not be taken lightly. By Nicky Pellegrino

As a wave of Omicron sweeps across New Zealand, there are a lot of unknowns. Even once the present outbreak subsides, no one can say for sure how many of those infected will go on to suffer the lasting effects of long Covid.

Auckland cardiologist Harvey White has already warned that the health system will be under strain from longer-term complications, including cardiovascular disease. And immunologist Anna Brooks is equally concerned that we should be taking this latest variant of Covid-19 very seriously.

At the University of Auckland, she is busy collaborating with international researchers to find out more about long Covid, the post-viral condition that leaves 10-30 per cent of sufferers with ongoing symptoms that include extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, brain fog, dizziness, pain in muscles and joints and a higher risk of heart attack and stroke.

Working closely with New Zealand's long-Covid sufferers, Brooks has been collecting blood samples from the group.

"I've now got over 80 participants, ranging from people who know they've had Covid to some that were in the early waves and didn't get diagnosed. Since then, we have started collecting samples from the Delta wave and will likely see cases in due course, too, from Omicron, which is going to be our biggest wave."

Her plan is to analyse the blood, examining immune cells and various inflammatory proteins, and hopefully help identify the signals of long Covid so that a diagnostic blood test can be developed, as well as therapies.

"We know there is a disruption of the immune system," says Brooks. "And we know that this virus attacks right throughout the body. The lungs and upper airways are just its gateway; it damages and inflames the blood vessels and affects blood flow and the clotting system."

Flurries of micro-clots have been found in the blood of those suffering from long Covid.

"Your blood feeds every part of your body, every system. So, when that is affected, it is going to cause all sorts of problems. If blood isn't circulating properly and is trafficking inflammatory proteins, that may relate to why people feel fatigued, for instance."

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Low levels of antibodies called IgM and IgG3 have also been identified in those with long Covid. The theory is that these imbalances in the immune system and the blood-clotting system are intertwined, and behind a confusingly wide range of symptoms.

Even if only a tiny percentage of those who catch Omicron go on to develop long Covid once the initial acute infection has passed, that still translates to a large number of sufferers.

The US is seeing a rise in the number of children diagnosed with post-Covid conditions. And a recent large-scale study with adults in the US showed that those who had tested positive for Covid were 55 per cent more likely to go on to suffer a major adverse cardiovascular event, including heart attack and stroke. These heightened risks were seen even in those who had mild to moderate Covid-19 symptoms initially.

Long Covid is debilitating and can be long-lasting, warns Brooks. "There are people in this country who have had it for two years and they are getting sicker, not better. Some may never recover."

She reports that sufferers in New Zealand have been dismissed by their doctors, told their problem is anxiety and even informed they can't possibly have long Covid, as there isn't any in this country.

Since we don't know how much protection the existing vaccinations give from developing long Covid after an infection with Omicron, Brooks says it is important to do everything possible to avoid catching the virus.

"It would be great if we come out of this in three months' time and we don't have lingering long Covid. I'd be the first to say it's amazing. But we absolutely don't know yet. So, wear a mask, socially distance, get vaccinated, don't actively choose to get infected, do whatever you can to support your immune system."

For those who do catch Omicron despite their best efforts, Brooks' advice is to take it easy.

"We haven't identified the key triggers of long Covid, and we don't yet know why the lingering inflammation and damage resolves for some people and not others. So, it's about rest and listening to your body, rather than trying to soldier on."

Read more:

Long Covid: What New Zealand researchers say about the risk - New Zealand Herald

A 77-year-old woman who was stuck in Australia because of border restrictions says she feels hurt at her pension being stopped and receiving a demand to repay more than $11,000.

(File image) Photo: 123RF

Rae and her Australian partner had flown there last July because he needed surgery, but their flight home to Christchurch was cancelled in December.

Two further flights were cancelled in January, meaning she missed her granddaughter's wedding in February, her great-grandchild's first birthday and a cousin dying.

Rae, who requested her full name not be published, said it was the final straw to find the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) had stopped her pension and was demanding repayment.

Under current rules, pensioners have their payments stopped after they have been overseas for 26 weeks and after 30 weeks they have to pay the six months of superannuation back.

She wrote three letters and made several phone calls to MSD from Australia and has been trying again since arriving back in New Zealand a week ago.

"They send stuff or papers to my address in Christchurch, although they know my address. I've had two addresses in Australia, and I've got one here in front of me that they asked the same things. I had never even heard of the Integrity Intervention Center.

"I tried to be a responsible New Zealander. I've been the best ambassador to New Zealand in many circumstances and I've travelled very, very widely. And now I'm just appalled, I don't feel welcome in my own country."

She informed MSD of the trip and later explained the delays to her return.

"We were going to get on a plane to come home on the 10th of December and it was just overnight cancelled.

"With the credit from that, we bought tickets for the 17th of January and then for the 20th of January. Of course I missed Christmases, missed birthdays, my cousin died about a week before I would have got home.

"I just feel it was the last straw then to receive a demand - 'your pension is stopped and you owe us $11,000-plus'."

Having struggled to get in touch with MSD and provide what they needed, she believed they needed to have more empathy for older people and those who were already traumatised by not being able to get home.

She is also worried about the scale of the problem and how others are faring.

"I'm not a wealthy person, but I can manage. I've heard of people all over Australia, it's just a joke - they have no income at all. It was just stopped."

Ministry of Social Development spokesperson George Van Ooyen said MSD is not permitted by legislation to pay super to those who are out of New Zealand for more than six months, and if they are away for more than 30 weeks, they automatically have to repay the six months superannuation.

He said there may be exceptions if people apply for pension portability, and there are some narrow grounds provided for in legislation on which repayment can be waived. This is available to people whose absence from New Zealand was solely linked to the closure of the travel bubble with Australia.

"We're currently working with Rae to see if she's eligible for this. The assessment relies on there being evidence that when she went overseas, being stranded was something she could not have reasonably foreseen before she left, and was something beyond her control.

"We are waiting on further information from Rae before we can proceed with this review."

Van Ooyen said MSD had approved the "vast majority" of applications by superannuitants stranded in Australia for payments to continue beyond 26 weeks.

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Pensioner told to repay $11300 after restrictions delayed return to New Zealand - RNZ

HAMILTON: South Africa notched a two-wicket win over New Zealand on Thursday to virtually guarantee themselves a spot in the Womens Cricket World Cup semi-finals and leave the hosts in danger of elimination.

South Africa emerged victorious from a tight, low-scoring contest and are the only team to match tournament favourite Australias record of four wins from four matches.

It was a third loss in five games for New Zealand, who are in a precarious position after blowing their chance to set a big total and put the match beyond South Africa.

New Zealand now face a must-win clash against holders England in Auckland on Sunday.

South Africa bowled the home side out for 228 in 47.5 overs in Hamilton, then chased down the total with three balls to spare.

South Africas quick bowlers nullified New Zealands potent batting line-up before Laura Wolvaardt scored 67, her third successive half century at the tournament, backed by South African skipper Sune Luus 51.

Captain Sophie Devine was again the standout for New Zealand, notching an imperious 93 that should have been the impetus for the home team to set an imposing target.

But Amelia Kerr and Maddy Green were the only other batters to offer any resistance to South Africas attack with 42 and 30 respectively.

Devine fell just short of her seventh ODI century when Ayabonga Khaka dismissed her with a perfectly placed yorker.

Despite her departure New Zealand were in a strong position with wickets in hand at 198-5 heading into the final 10 overs.

They were unable to capitalise and Devines wicket was among six to fall for just 30 runs as South Africas bowlers ran rampant.

Khaka finished with figures of 3-31, Shabnim Ismail snared 3-27 and Marizanne Kapp took two wickets in successive balls on her way to 2-44.

Chasing 229, South Africa were 105-2 at the halfway mark with Wolvaardt anchoring the innings and Luus providing support.

They also suffered a late collapse but Kapp steered them home with an unbeaten 34.

South Africa next play Australia in Wellington on Tuesday in a clash between the top two sides in the table.

Summarised scores:

South Africa beat New Zealand by two wickets.

New Zealand: 228 all out in 47.5 overs (S. Devine 93, A. Kerr 42, M. Green 30; S. Ismail 3-27, A. Khaka 3-31); South Africa: 229-8 in 49.3 overs (L. Wolvaardt 67, S. Luus 51, M. Kapp 36; A. Kerr 3-50).

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2022

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Endangered birds, young kiwi and the country's only gorillas can be seen inside these animal sanctuaries.

Joseph Johnson/Stuff

Orana Wildlife Park is home to two Sumatran tigers.

Not so much gorillas in the mist as gorillas in Christchurch. This wildlife park, set in 80ha just 15 minutes drive of Christchurch Airport, is the place to go to eyeball white rhino, tigers, cheetah, giraffes, lions and New Zealands only gorillas. Orana means place of refuge and thats exactly what many of these endangered species have at this magical park.

READ MORE:* Three of the best luxury lodges in Coromandel* Three of the best things to do in Whangrei* Three of Auckland's best farmers' markets

Tara Swan/Supplied

Baby kiwi chick MB107 was born with a unique patch of white feathers on its head.

Drive to Masterton and keep going north until you reach Pkaha National Wildlife Centre, 942ha of densely-clad forest and the largest remaining piece of native bush in the Wairarapa. This unfenced sanctuary is home to wild kkako and kk, as well as a nocturnal house for young kiwi. Inside Pkahas aviaries, endangered birds are bred for release throughout Aotearoa.

Jericho Rock-Archer/Stuff

A kk at Zealandia.

If youre in Wellington, theres probably no better place to have a Jurassic Park moment than at Zealandia. This 225ha of lush greenery, a 10-minute drive from the CBD, is home to more than 40 species of birds, secured by an 8.6km predator-proof fence. No wonder Time Magazine called it one of the 100 greatest places in the world.

Staying safe: New Zealand is currently under Covid-19 restrictions. Face coverings are mandatory on all flights and public transport. Proof of vaccination and vaccine exemption may be required in some venues under the traffic light system. Follow the instructions at covid19.govt.nz.

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Three of New Zealand's best wildlife parks - Stuff

Dileepa Fonseka is a Stuff writer on business and politics.

OPINION: Norman Kirk once said people need somewhere to live, someone to love, food and clothing.

But if they cant afford their rent or groceries, their clothes from ASOS are sitting in a warehouse waiting to be shipped, and their loved ones havent been able to get through the border in a year, then they are unlikely to be happy about it.

Those four needs were part of a no-frills vision of political desires during a much simpler time, but there are increasing signs we should add another need to that list: the need to play a meaningful part in the wider world.

Enough column inches have been written about the recent One News/Kantar poll to fill a mega container ship waiting off the coast of Long Beach, but another part of the poll has received significantly less attention: a major sea change in how New Zealanders feel about letting people through the border.

READ MORE:* Monitor economy Q&A: Mitchell Pham, tech industry entrepreneur* When great powers fail, NZ and other states must organise to protect their interests* A brief history of economic self sufficiency in New Zealand* Coronavirus reignites debate on 'the good and the bad' of globalisation

One News reported 75 per cent of New Zealanders want the borders open to tourists and visitors (provided they are vaccinated) - a big philosophical shift.

Before the pandemic, and even before Labour came to power, a real move against globalisation was taking place, and New Zealand was no exception.

The United States voted for Trump, the United Kingdom voted for Brexit, and in New Zealand we voted for the promise of restricting tourism, protecting workers from global capitalism and lowering house prices by locking foreign buyers out.

John Raoux/AP

A wave of anti-globalisation sentiment was sweeping the globe in the years before the pandemic.

As former Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters put it on the day he signed on to support Labours first term: "Far too many New Zealanders have come to view today's capitalism, not as their friend, but as their foe."

The currents of anti-globalisation were running so strong back in those days that then-Treasury Secretary Gabriel Makhlouf made a point of defending globalisation at a public lecture at the University of Canterbury in 2017, shortly before the new Government came to power.

"If an economy shuts in on itself, it also shuts down opportunities to raise living standards,

"And the smaller the economy, the fewer the opportunities to improve those living standards."

He said New Zealand had a choice: "The big question is, how should New Zealand respond put up barriers or build bridges?

The pandemic was the perfect opportunity to put up barriers, a regime of controls soon to be summarised by epithets like Fortress New Zealand or the nice, kind hermit kingdom.

NZ PARLIAMENT

Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr discusses the level of concern about inflation in February.

With the borders closed, and international travel severely restricted, the country did not have much choice but to look within its own borders for opportunities to grow the economy and provide the things we needed.

So, wages went up, people got promotions, but then they began to experience the other side of that equation.

Yes your wages might have gone up, but now you had to do the work of two people, because if you didnt do it then no one else would.

Two years on, a survey of 900 workers by Frog Recruitment finds 68 per cent of workers are feeling burnt out.

Sydney Sims/Unsplash

Salaries have gone up, but people are also feeling the stress of burnout from working harder.

To make matters worse, the price of everything has gone up, eclipsing these hard-won salary gains.

The sectors where prices have gone up the most have been protected from globalisation too.

A recent Commerce Commission study shows the grocery sector has effectively managed to lock out global competitors from entering the marketplace through land covenants.

And in the building materials sector, New Zealand-specific standards limit the importation of foreign materials that are regarded as high-quality in other markets like the United States.

While global supply chain issues have taken centre-stage recently, not all the blame falls on globalisation: a record number of ships passed through the Suez Canal last year, and global manufacturing output was up 11 per cent (a record high).

One of the largest bottlenecks has been nation states and their lack of landside infrastructure to handle these increased loads. This is not a function of globalisation, it is a function of Governments who are too miserly to build a railway or a road.

Suez Canal Authority

A record number of ships passed through the Suez Canal, despite the Ever Given incident.

One poll question in isolation doesnt make a trend, but you can see it in the way other debates are taking shape.

You can trace the shift in sentiment back to John Keys opinion piece on the need for the country to open up, you can even see it in support for Christopher Luxon, a former chief executive of Air New Zealand who is unlikely to be in favour of shutting borders.

As for the TikTok generation, after seeing the world on their phones for two years, many now just really, really want to get out of here.

Unfortunately right now we have little say around how globalisation evolves we have little influence over Chinas zero-Covid strategy that is locking down ports, or Russias war in Ukraine.

The public is getting a greater appreciation for globalisation right at the point when they have the least choice about it.

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Inflation backlash shows Fortress New Zealand is not a sustainable strategy - Stuff