Daily Archives: September 2, 2022

New Zealand has had its warmest and wettest winter on record, with one meteorologist describing it as mother natures way of expressing she has a fever.

For the three months to the end of August 2022, the average temperature was 9.8C, according to New Zealands National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa).

That figure was 1.4C above the 1981-2010 average from Niwas seven-station temperature series, which began in 1909, surpassing last years winter record of 1.3C.

It is the third consecutive year the temperature record has been broken and climate change was having a significant impact, said Ben Noll, a Niwa meteorologist.

The warmth is here to stay, he said. We are not seeing anything at least in the next couple of seasons that will suggest were going to be seeing cooler than average temperatures.

It was not just the winter season in which temperatures were consistently high, he said.

We feel like a broken record but this is mother natures way of expressing she has a fever she is running a higher temperature and it is pretty concerning to see that, successively, season after season.

This years winter was also the first on record where the temperature rise exceeded 1.2C for all three months of the season, relative to the long-term average.

Of the 10 warmest winters on record, six have occurred since 2013. This year, 50 locations experienced record temperatures and another 33 experienced near-record temperatures.

The warmth was really overwhelming it was certainly widespread in terms of the season as a whole, said Nava Fedaeff, another Niwa forecaster.

Wairoa, on the east coast of the North Island, recorded the highest temperature of the winter, with 24.3C on 20 August, while the lowest was in Aoraki/Mount Cook on 17 July at -11.6C.

It was also the wettest winter since records began in 1971, which was probably not a surprise to anyone, Fedaeff said.

We had extreme rainfall. There were really few places in the country that didnt receive some of that rainfall.

Noll added the atmospheric river that swept over the country was unusual for winter. It was the strongest on record for August and second strongest for winter since at least 1959.

The characteristics of this event were more typical of what we expect in January, February or March, he said.

A state of emergency was called in Nelson, Tasman, the West Coast and Marlborough after the torrential downpours, with Nelson in particular affected by severe flooding as the Maitai River burst its banks.

The river flows well exceeded the previous record, Noll said.

The record-breaking warmth did not stop at land-based temperatures, with sea surface temperatures also exceeding previous records after a third straight year of La Nia conditions.

Marine heatwave conditions in the eastern Tasman Sea and the Coral Sea not only contributed to warmer temperatures on land but also provided extra moisture to low-pressure systems approaching the country.

You can really see how New Zealands weather was connected to the tropics, Noll said. That resulted in atmospheric rivers and heavy rainfall throughout the season and some of that is [now] spilling over into the spring.

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New Zealand reports warmest and wettest winter on record - The Guardian

Stuff

Tell us why you consider Christchurch or Wellington to be New Zealand's second city.

WRITE ON STUFF:The answer to which city is New Zealand's second cityis simple, right? It's Wellington.

But wait, maybe it's not that simple.

Does Christchurch take the crown?

On FridayStuff'sYeah, Nah pollasked readers if they consider Wellington or Christchurch to beNew Zealand'ssecond city.Thousands responded, but the votes were split very evenly.

READ MORE:* Yeah, Nah: Is Wellington (or Christchurch) NZ's second city?* Down to the final bite - Wellington On a Plate finalists announced* Christchurch is New Zealand's second city, deal with it

The populataions of both cities are similar, but is it fair to include the populations ofHutt City, Upper Hutt, Porirua and the Kpiti Coast in Wellington's population as a whole, or are those separate?

Without the inclusion of these areas Christchurch has a larger population.

But is population alone enough to decide New Zealand's second city, or should otherfactors such as infrastructure growth, employment opportunities, attractions, and housing be factored in?

We want you to share your thoughts. The best pieces will be published on Stuff Nation.

Do think Wellington or Christchurch deserves the title of New Zealand's second city and why?

Do you think population is the most important deciding factor? Why/ why not?

Have you lived in both cities before? Which did you enjoy more and how dothey compare?

What are hotspots that you think give your chosen city theedge?

We're looking for submissions of between 400 and 800 words to be published in Stuff Nation. To share your thoughts on which city takes the cake,email:stuffnation@stuff.co.nz.

Continued here:

Is Wellington or Christchurch New Zealand's second city and why? - Stuff

Media Credit: Photo Illustration by Jordyn Bailer | Assistant Photo Editor

Richards is the latest coaching staff addition under Head Coach Chrissy Schoonmaker, who was namedA-10 Coach of the Year last spring, guiding softball to a championship bid.

A former coach for New Zealands national baseball team joined softball as an assistant coach for the upcoming season last month.

Kris Richards who coached for the Baseball New Zealand national team for more than five years will bring extensive experience from the baseball diamond to the softball squad as part ofHead Coach Chrissy Schoonmakers staff. Richards served as a hitting coach for New Zealands U-15 and U-23 programs and managed the U-18 team before overseeing coach and player development from Baseball New Zealands administration.

Its an honor to take on this role and represent such a respected institution, Richards said in a release. I want to thank Coach Schoonmaker for giving me the opportunity to be a part of her experienced coaching staff. I am eager to get out on the diamond, meet the players and compete for an A-10 Championship.

Richards joins recent graduate Sierra Lange as the latest coaching staff addition under Schoonmaker, who was namedA-10 Coach of the Year last spring, guiding softball to an A-10 leading 36 wins and a championship bid.

We are thrilled to welcome Kris Richards to GW, to the softball program and to our coaching staff, Schoonmaker said in therelease. Kris has a passion for player development, a love of coaching and a deep knowledge of the game which will make an immediate impact.

Richards joined New Zealands national baseball organization in 2017, when he started as the U-15 hitting coach a position that earned himInternational Coach of the Year honors from international baseball agency Baseball Jobs Overseas.

He served as a regional development officer of the Wellington region of New Zealand the same year, where he oversaw administrative functions, like scheduling in-season games, coordinating coach and player development clinics, developing budgets and coaching elite players.

Richards got his first national coaching gig in the Czech Republic from 2015 to 2016 before heading to the Down Under, serving as hitting coach for theU-23 national team while also managing the Kotlka Praha baseball club in Prague, which he guided to its first-ever league title.

Richards played in the Baltimore Orioles minor league system for three seasons as an infielder and pitcher before Tommy John surgery gave way to his coaching career.

Kris has a wealth of experience at both the professional and international levels from his time in MLB and with Baseball New Zealand, and his offensive expertise will be a game changer for us, Schoonmaker said in the release. Kriss energy is infectious, and he will be an asset to our team culture and out on the recruiting trail. We look forward to seeing the lasting impact he has on our student-athletes.

This article appeared in the September 1, 2022 issue of the Hatchet.

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Softball taps former New Zealand national team coach - GW Hatchet

The Lord of the Rings movies showcased the best of New Zealands stunning countryside.

Now, new Amazon TV show The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has gone back to the country for a blockbuster of a prequel.

There are very high expectations. The show is the most expensive ever made, and will inevitably be compared to Game of Thrones as well as the new Thrones spinoff, House of the Dragon, which has just come out on HBO and Sky.

Here is everything you need to know about how it fits in.

The Rings of Power tells the story of the forging of the rings of the same name, the ascension of the dark lord Sauron, and the final alliance between humans and elves in the Second Age.

This means it is set thousands of years before the events of the Lord of the Rings books and films, long before the likes of Bilbo, Frodo and Sam graced Middle-earth.

However, thanks to the immortality of elves, there will be some characters you may recognise, including Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) and Elrond (Robert Aramayo).

Amazon Primes official synopsis for the show reads: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power brings to screens for the very first time the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earths history.

This epic drama is set thousands of years before the events of JRR Tolkiens The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and will take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and one of the greatest villains that ever flowed from Tolkiens pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness.

Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared reemergence of evil to Middle-earth.

From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the majestic forests of the elf-capital of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Nmenor, to the farthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will come to Amazon Prime in the early hours Friday 2 September in the UK, while US viewers can see them on Thursday night there.

The first two episodes will drop at 2am UK time. New episodes will then be released individually every Friday at the same time.

There are eight episodes in the first series relatively short for a modern TV show. The final episode of season one will air on Friday 14 October.

Like the movies before, much of this series was filmed in New Zealand.

The films gave the countrys tourism an enormous boost, and it reportedly saw a jump in visitors from 1.7 to 2.4 million between 2000 and 2006.

In 2012 one per cent of visitors cited The Lord of the Rings as a reason they travelled to New Zealand, which was worth NZ$33m

It was mostly filmed between February 2020 August 2021 in Auckland, New Zealand. The set was beset with difficulty due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

They mostly used Kumeu Film Studios and Auckland Film Studios, and they headed to Hauraki Gulf/Tkapa Moana in the north.

Coastal city Piha will be featured, with its craggy landscape, as will the Coromandel Peninsula, which is known for its beaches and forested areas.

Fiordland national park and the Rangitikei District are also rumoured to be featured in the series.

Executive producers Patrick McKay and John D Payne said they had been looking for somewhere majestic, with pristine coasts, forests, and mountains.

The second series, however, will be filmed in the UK. It is thought this will be cheaper and make Europe more accessible.

Executive producer Lindsey Weber admitted leaving the country after wrapping was a hard departure.

Last year, sources were reported as saying Bray Film Studios and Bovingdon Airfield will be selected as locations, while others are likely to be announced as well.

It features the following actors:

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Filming locations in New Zealand for the Lord of the Rings prequel TV series - iNews

Friday, 2 September 2022, 11:44 amPress Release: Round the Bays

Kiwis favourite fun run helps raise awareness of sunsafety

Round the Bays is pleased to announce thatMelanoma New Zealand will be the official charity for2023.

The iconic Auckland event is a Kiwi fave and isexpected to attract more than 30,000 participants afitting time to encourage everyone to be sun-safe whengetting out and having fun, Vanessa Fleming, Round the Baysevent manager, says.

Supersaver entries are now onsale for Round the Bays, which will be held on Sunday, March5, 2023.

This year participants can choose to do ittheir way - either being a part of the fun atmosphere andstunning scenery of Tmaki Drive, or from wherever they areusing the Round the Bays virtual app.

Round the Bayshas also launched the first-ever Under Armour Elite Categoryfor 2023, for those who can complete 8.4km in under 36minutes, and take a spot in the Round the Bays Hall ofFame.

Round the Bays has been instrumental in raisingmore than $3.32 million in the past 20 years alone, throughparticipant sponsorship peer-to-peer fundraising anddonations from the event organisers Stuff Events. As theofficial charity Melanoma New Zealand will receive $50,000in cash plus a $50,000 Stuff media package.

We areso grateful for the opportunity to be part of this iconicevent not only to have amazing participants raisingimportant funds to support what we do, but also to provideus with a platform to share our life-saving messages aboutmelanoma prevention and the importance of earlydetection, Melanoma New Zealand chief executive AndreaNewland says.

New Zealand has the worst rate ofmelanoma in the world. Each year, more than 6000 people arediagnosed with melanoma in New Zealand, and around 300people will die from it, so turning around these terriblestatistics is crucial.

We appreciate every dollarraised for our cause, and look forward to seeing everyonegetting out there on the course or taking part virtually,being sunsmart and having funIt has never been easier totake part in Round the Bays and now you can do it your way be it the traditional route in Tmaki Makaurau Aucklandor from anywhere in the country, or even theworld.

Registrations are now open for the 51stRound the Bays. Tmaki Drive will become a sea ofentertainment and fanfare on Sunday, March 5, 2023,culminating at the finish line at Vellenoweth Green at StHeliers. Or participants can do the virtual app version fromanywhere in the world, between March 5 and March 12,2023.

The iconic event was first held in 1972, andfive decades on, thousands of Kiwis look forward to poundingthe pavement to earn the all-important finishersmedal.

The first Round the Bays had 792 registeredparticipants. In the early days, entry fees were paid ascheques in the mail, and bib numbers werehandwritten.

It has now grown to be New Zealandsmost sought-after fun-run for individuals, whnau andworkmates, with participants choosing to walk, jog orrun.

People who took part as kids with theirparents are now bringing their kids. Its been a drawcardteam-building event year after year, and for some it is areason to get into their favourite fancy dress, Flemingsays.

We are excited to welcome everyone to thestart line at downtown Auckland - or from around the world to make 2023 the best year yet.

Supersaver entries open until midnight October5, 2022

To enter, head to:roundthebays.co.nz

Scoop Media

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Round The Bays 2023 To Support Melanoma New Zealand | Scoop News - Scoop

Friday, 2 September 2022, 11:17 amPress Release: Go With Tourism

Go with Tourism an initiative that specialises ingrowing New Zealand's tourism and hospitality workforce has been awarded $2 million from the International Visitorand Conservation Levy (IVL) to continue their efforts intackling the industrys current skills shortage.

Thefunding was announced this morning by Tourism MinisterStuart Nash.

In his speech, Minister Nash emphasisedthe connection between delivering a world-class visitorexperience and mounting pressure on tourism and hospitalityworkers to meet growing tourist demand.

Like anyindustry, success depends on those working within it. Thismeans investing in our people and deepening the talent pool.This investment [in Go with Tourism] will be vital inbuilding the tourism workforce back up.

The $2million investment will cover a 12-month period from October2022. It enables Go with Tourism to expand upon currentworkstreams that connect jobseekers with employers, promotestudy and career opportunities to youth, and challengeindustry perceptions.

Go with Tourism ProgrammeDirector, Heidi Gillingham, says that attracting workersinto tourism and hospitality is the top priority for theyear ahead. The next 12 months worth of talentattraction is what we have been gearing up for since welaunched in 2019. We have built a good reputation, partneredwith thousands of businesses and established ourselves inclassrooms around New Zealand; now, with this funding, theindustry can be assured that a dedicated and well-preparedteam will lead the way in tackling workforce challenges anddoing our utmost to fill tourism and hospitality roles inboth the short and long term.

Thank you to theGovernment for continuing to support our greatwork.

Go with Tourism was developed by Ttaki AucklandUnlimiteds legacy organisation Auckland Tourism,Events & Economic Development (ATEED) to address skillsshortages in the Auckland region. Four months afterlaunching in April 2019, the Government announced theinitiative would receive $5.2 million from the IVL to expandthe programme nationwide.

Covid-19 forced Go withTourism to temporarily pivot its strategy to redeployingdisplaced tourism and hospitality workers into other jobs;however, by July 2020, the team returned to their originalmandate and has since achieved wins suchas:

With funding confirmed, Go withTourism can continue to offer their services, free ofcharge, to best assist employers, educators, students andjobseekers nationwide. The team also look forward toproviding their clientele with new and improvedopportunities for recruitment or training.

Werein strategy mode, says Gillingham. We know exactlywhat we want to achieve in the next 12 months and wereexploring fresh, innovative ideas and new collaborations toensure we meet these goals.

To connect with Go withTourism, or for more information, please visit gowithtourism.co.nz

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Go With Tourism Awarded $2 Million To Build New Zealand's Tourism Workforce | Scoop News - Scoop

123RF

Most countries no longer require passengers to wear face masks on flights.

New Zealand is now one of the few remaining countries to require face masks on flights but a move to the green light level could see that rule scrapped.

Australias national cabinet has just agreed to remove the mask mandate for passengers on domestic flights from September 9.

Asked whether the Government would follow Australia's lead and drop mandatory mask wearing on flights, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said: "Over the next few weeks, we're reviewing our settings... so looking at the way the traffic light system is working for us now and what we might need to do in the future.

We expect to share the details of that once we've received all of the final public health advice in the coming couple of weeks".

READ MORE:* Covid-19: Why are face masks necessary on flights?* Air NZ's Koru Hour is back: Is it safe to take your mask off to eat and drink? * Covid-19: How the updated traffic light system works

Australias move comes after Singapore Airlines last week announced passengers would no longer be required to wear face masks on flights, unless travelling to a destination where mask-wearing is mandated.

Most US airlines have dropped masking requirements since a federal judge struck down the travel mask mandate in April, while the European Union abolished its mandatory face mask requirement on flights and at airports in May.

In New Zealand, face masks have been mandatory for passengers aged 12 and over on all domestic flights since November 2020.

Face masks are also compulsory on all international flights to New Zealand.

When the Covid-19 Protection Framework, or traffic light system, was introduced in December 2021, face masks on domestic flights were compulsory under all settings red, orange and green. Under green, flights were the only scenario in which masks were required.

However, that requirement was removed from green when the Government made changes to the traffic light system in March.

The updated rules mean that if the Government decides to move to the green light setting in two weeks time, face masks will no longer be mandatory on flights though airlines may choose to enforce their own face mask policies.

Passengers may also choose to continue to wear them. While the aviation industry says the risk of contracting Covid-19 onboard a plane is low because of the way air is filtered, health experts still recommend wearing face masks because these filtration systems cant be relied on the whole time like when boarding and disembarking the plane.

A Harvard University study found the risk of transmission on an aircraft could be reduced to very low levels through a layered approach, with face masks considered the most essential layer.

On the governments Unite Against Covid-19 website, the Life at Green section says face masks are useful in poorly ventilated indoor areas and when you are around people you do not know.

The rest is here:

Australia is getting rid of face masks on flights. Will New Zealand do the same? - Stuff

The Australian company will sell the assets to investment management firm Charter Hall for approximately $80.94 million.

Ampol has announced it will sell 49% of its New Zealand-based properties of its Z Energy subsidiary for roughly $80.94 million. The company confirmed that it found a buyer in management firm Charter Hall Retail REIT for the 51 properties across the country.

According to a recent report by Reuters, the fuel retailer has stated that the assets would be transferred to an unlisted property vehicle. While Charter Hall will obtain 49% ownership, Z will still hold 51% of the property as well as strategic and operational control of locations. In addition, the brand will lease all sites back under long-term triple net lease arrangements.

Ampol has confirmed the deal to be part of its partnership with Charter Hall in Australia, as well as being in line with its strategy to maximise opportunities for its core freehold sites. The company also announced that this transaction is expected to deliver about $75.25 million in net proceeds.

Z Energy was founded in 2011, after Infratil Limited and Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation bought the Aotearoa fuel business. By 2016, the brand became the wholesale fuel supplier to the network of Caltex-branded service stations. Last year, Z entered a scheme of arrangement with Ampol Limited and, since May of 2022, it has become a wholly owned subsidiary of Ampol Group until now.

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Ampol to sell 49% of its Z Energy properties in New Zealand - PetrolPlaza.com

3:27 PM11 hours agoStay with us to follow this game!3:22 PM11 hours agoWhere to watch the game?

We remind you that the game will be behind closed doors and will not be broadcast on television.If you want to follow it online, VAVEL is your best option.

The New Zealand team arrives at this match looking to take advantage of one of the last FIFA dates before the 2023 World Cup, where the team will host, to continue maintaining the good rhythm. Being the host of the World Cup, the New Zealand team did not take part in the OFC tie so the team has traveled to many parts of the world to face different rivals in preparation. On this occasion, the New Zealanders are presented with the aim of measuring themselves against Mexico on behalf of CONCACAF. This generation of New Zealand soccer players features great players like Hannah Wilkinson, Annalie Longo, Meikayla Moore and Betsy Hassett.

The Mexican team appears for this match, after not getting its ticket to the 2023 FIFA World Cup, however the team continues with its preparation for future competitions such as the Women's Gold Cup in 2024 and continue preparing the future representatives of Mexico in the category. For these games, the Mexican team will have Miguel ngel Gamero as interim coach for these friendlies against New Zealand and Angel City FC. Despite this appointment, the news around the women's representative continues with questions about some calls and the withdrawal of some players at the request of some clubs.

Good dayto all VAVEL readers! Welcome to the live broadcast of the Mexico vs. New Zealand match, corresponding to the 2022 Women's Friendly. The match will take place at the Dignity Health Sports Park, at 7:00 p.m.

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Mexico vs New Zealand: Live Stream, Score Updates and How to Watch 2022 Friendly Women's Game - VAVEL.com

Kuldeep Yadav is part of the India A squad. Photo: BCCI

The first unofficial Test match will be played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium from September 1 to 4 while the 2nd game will be played in Hubli from September 8 to 11. The third game will be played in Bengaluru from September 15 to 18. After the red-ball matches, the List A matches will be played in Chennai on September 22, 25 and 27. The BCCI will be announcing the white-ball squad soon.

Some of the capped players like Shreyas Iyer, Shardul Thakur, Prithvi Shaw, Hanuma Vihari and Ajinkya Rahane aren't part of India A squad. They will be in action in the Duleep Trophy, which will kick off on September 8.

Telecast and live streaming details

Squads

India A: Priyank Panchal (Captain), Abhimanyu Easwaran, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Tilak Varma, KS Bharat (wk), Upendra Yadav (wk), Kuldeep Yadav, Saurabh Kumar, Rahul Chahar, Prasidh Krishna, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar, Yash Dayal, Arzan Nagwaswalla

New Zealand A: Tom Bruce, Robbie O'Donnell, Chad Bowes, Joe Carter, Mark Chapman, Dane Cleaver, Jacob Duffy, Matt Fisher, Cameron Fletcher, Ben Lister, Rachin Ravindra, Michael Rippon, Sean Solia, Logan van Beek, Joe Walker

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India A vs New Zealand live telecast: When and where to watch IND A vs NZ A live in India? - Times Now