Daily Archives: June 9, 2023

The driver of a heavy truck is off the road for a month after lying about work times in his log book. Photo / 123RF

A truck driver will be off the road for a month from today, and his wallet $700 lighter after he made multiple false entries in his logbook.

Sentencing went ahead in the Nelson District Court yesterday, in the absence of driver Balwant Singh who drove almost the length of New Zealand last year within 22 hours without a proper break.

Between July 8 and 9, Singh drove from Picton to Canterbury and back again before crossing Cook Strait and driving to Auckland. He travelled 1458 kilometres in that time.

He was charged with making a false statement in his logbook and for failing to have 10 hours of continuous rest in a workday.

Each charge carried a maximum penalty of a $2000 fine and disqualification.

The law states that truck drivers can work for a maximum of 13 hours in one work day in a 24-hour period and are then required to take a break of at least 10 hours, as well as half-hour breaks every five-and-a-half hours.

Work times and rest breaks have to be recorded in a logbook.

Singh, 48, blamed a faulty watch for not keeping accurate work and rest times.

His poor record-keeping was discovered on July 13, 2022, when Singh was driving a large truck laden with timber north out of Nelson, bound for Auckland.

He was stopped by police at a routine check on State Highway 6 near Hira and was asked to hand over his logbook.

Police said it appeared compliant but contained entries that were unlikely to be physically achievable.

An investigation began into his movements, including analysis of logbook entries matched against the vehicles fuel and GPS records.

The police found multiple false statements had been recorded in Singhs logbook.

On July 8 last year, he recorded a 13-hour work day as having started at Picton at 3am before he drove south to Sockburn and Rakaia in Canterbury, and returned to Picton at 5 pm.

Singh recorded the 10-hour period between 5pm on July 8 and 3am the following day as rest, but police noted the start and finish times in the log book were inconsistent with records obtained using GPS reports and police Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) sightings.

Police use the ANPR cameras to record the number plates of vehicles passing by, mainly from mobile, highway patrol vehicles, but they also operated a small number of roadside cameras.

The technology was also used by Waka Kotahi and some local authorities, and third-party operators provided the police access to Number Plate Information (NPI) data from private companies which owned and operated ANPR networks.

The police summary of facts said Singh falsely recorded a rest break between 11.23pm on July 8 and 3 am the next morning.

The record of starting work at Ferry, Wellington at 3am was also false, police said.

The records revealed Singh had instead resumed work and driven off the ferry at 11.23pm when it docked in Wellington. He then drove to Plimmerton and stopped for a short time to refuel before driving north to Auckland.

Singh told police he drove off the ferry to Plimmerton where he took a 10-hour break, according to his watch, and that there had been nowhere to park at the ferry terminal.

He recorded a half-hour rest in Taupo at 8am but this too was false, police said.

The false entries disguised the fact that in a cumulative work day, he had only had a six-hour break which included waiting for the ferry and sailing time.

That meant he had been behind the wheel for at least 22 hours before taking a break, police said.

Driving the vehicle during a rest period is work time and cannot be counted as rest, police said.

Singh was disqualified from driving for the mandatory period of one month and fined $700 on all charges plus court costs.

Read more:

He drove almost the length of New Zealand: Truck driver disqualified ... - New Zealand Herald

Ireland: Borrisokane

This 116sq m (1,249sq ft) four-bedroom cottage, a five-minute drive to the village of Borrisokane, Co Tipperary, is beautiful inside. Details such as a half door, a stove set in an old-style hearth and a simple all-white palette offer pared-back yet charming interiors. It is on a 0.35-hectare site with mature gardens and a detached shed, currently used as a games room.

Price 199,950

Agent realestatealliance.ie

NORWAY: DEGERNES

This fishermans cottage is just 71sq m (764sq ft) but has a shared boat mooring on the water. The property, built in 2013, is on one level and has two bedrooms and a thatched roof. Its scenic location offers hiking trails in addition to water sports, fishing and swimming. It has a large, roofed log store and is well maintained.

Price 2.4m NOK/203,104

Agent privatmegleren.no

NEW ZEALAND: QUEENSTOWN

This two-bedroom eco-friendly apartment in the secluded Sherwood Hotel a hostelry that promotes sustainable practices and wellbeing. With views to the mountains and lake, the unit, which the new owner will have for 21 days of the year, is close enough to the central business district yet offers much seclusion.

Price $330,000NZD/187,116

Agent sothebysrealty.com

SWEDEN: VARMLAND

Dating from 1809, this lovely five-bedroom house of 160sq m (1,722sq ft) sits on almost two acres. It is on the border between Norway and Sweden. Local facilities include a ski stadium, a golf course and an abundance of hiking trails, along with beaches and water-based activities. Gardens have old apple trees, a volleyball court, a large barn and a stable.

Price 2.4m NOK/203.104

Agent finn.no

SOUTH AFRICA: WESTERN CAPE

This three-bedroom house on a quarter of an acre extends to 314sq m (3,380sq ft) and is in the sought-after suburb of The Island in Sedgefield on the Garden Route. Each of the bedrooms has large picture windows with lovely views and natural light. Gardens have an irrigation system and parking for three cars.

Price 4.15m ZAR/201.104

Agent sothebysrealty.com

Read more from the original source:

What will 200000 buy in Norway, Sweden, South Africa, New ... - The Irish Times

Rikoriko Cave, in the Poor Knights group, is the world's largest sea cave. Photo / Dive! Tututaka

New Zealand is awash with amazing coastal experiences, writes Zoe Ingham. To mark World Oceans day and the deep blue surrounding our motu, heres just a few of our favourites :

Northland's Bay of Islands is made up of 144 islands, snuggled together between the Purerua Peninsula and Cape Brett, forming a peaceful pacific paradise. Summer is synonymous with the region, and its cheery climate and subtropical beauty lends itself to a long menu of marine activities.

You could do worse than spend the day sailing in these picturesque parts. There are plenty of islands offering good anchorage and opportunities to park up for the day and watch marine life, go diving, and throw a line out.

From multi-day sailing courses to sunset charters and overnight stays, there are sailing options to suit anyone - sturdy sea legs or not. For those looking to expand their skills and take up sailing as a hobby, Great Escape's sailing courses offer internationally recognised qualifications. Or, for those who already know their way around a yacht, there's the option to take your own chartered trip around the islands.

If you'd rather sit back and let someone else do all the work, try a sunset charter with Paihia company Eco Cruz. Hop aboard the Manawanui, a 22-metre ketch, and soak up the glorious Far North coastal region. This is a two-night sailing adventure, so there are opportunities to see marine life, snorkel or kayak. Some trips only operate during summer months, so check ahead of time.

Northland's Poor Knights islands serve up some of the best dive spots in the world. The islands, including Sugarloaf Rock and High Peak Rocks (Pinnacles), are protected nature reserves and their unique ecosystem contributes to unforgettable diving for those who take the plunge.

The reserve is around 22 kilometres off the east coast of Northland. Rikoriko Cave is one of the largest sea caves in the world and just one of the major attractions at the Poor Knights.

With underwater caves, arches, tunnels and sheer cliffs you'll find plenty of spots to explore beneath the waves. Fish, shellfish, urchins and anemones huddle in sponge gardens and gorgonian fields, while black coral can be found in the deeper waters. Visit during warmer months if you want to see stingrays cruising archway waters.

To enjoy an unforgettable Poor Knights experience, try Dive! Tutukaka's day trips. The award-winning company offers an array of diving tour options, and they also cater for non-divers, with kayaks and masks and snorkels available on board. Enjoy a day of diving then hop back on for a hot shower and a warming hot chocolate.

Stretching along the east coast of the Auckland and Waikato regions, the Hauraki Gulf is rich in locations to kick off a day of kayaking.

In fact, with more than 50 islands spread across the 1.2 million hectares of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, a day won't nearly be enough time to spend on the water.

There's more to Waiheke than wine, so have a paddle then a pinot after kayaking out on Waiheke waters. Kayak Waiheke offers trips from Matiatia Bay, conveniently located near the ferry to and from Auckland. Enjoy cruising around the coastline on a half-day guided tour or a three-hour guided sunset and moonlight adventure.

Another great option to explore Auckland's waterways is a day trip kayaking to Rangitoto Island. Book a trip with Auckland Sea Kayaks and paddle across the Waitemat Harbour, where you might be lucky enough to spy little blue penguins or Cook's petrels. Then enjoy a one-hour trek up to the summit of Rangitoto followed by a hearty lunch before kayaking back to St Heliers Bay.

With its consistently good conditions, the east coast beaches of Gisborne serve up some of the best surf in the world. Pack the wetsuit and become one of the first people to see the sunrise each day, and feel pretty smug while enjoying dawn surfing.

There's something for surfers of all levels at Gisborne's beaches. If you're a beginner, try Waikanae Beach or northern Makorori for small swells. Experienced surfers can take on the barrels and hollows of Wainui Beach. It can be a tough paddle, with powerful waves hitting this beach, so this is certainly one for those who are confident on the board. Whether you're just starting out or in need of a quick refresher, it's worth booking a lesson with Surfing with Sarah before you dive in.

Whale watching has to feature on most people's bucket lists and you'll be hard-pressed to find a spot more suited to ticking off this activity than Kaikura.

Whales tend to like hanging out in Kaikura waters because of the submarine landscape. It's a favourable environment for the mammals with the continental shelf dropping into extremely deep underwater canyons, as well as a warm northern current meeting the colder southern current, causing nutrients to be carried upward.

Whale Watch Kaikura offers year-round trips where, depending on the season, there's the opportunity to spot a number of different whale species. The appearance of a giant sperm whale, which can stretch to 20 metres in length, is always a highlight for those lucky enough to spot one.

Kaikura is one of the only places in the world where sperm whales are frequently spotted. Orca tend to hang out in visible spots from December to March, while humpback whales favour the winter and are mostly seen in June and July.

The tours also include possible sightings of dusky and Hector's dolphins, New Zealand fur seals, and many sea birds, including the royal albatross. It's really an extravaganza of nature and a day out that you won't forget.

For a unique break, head south to Stewart Island and soak up the unspoilt beauty on a cruise around our third largest island.

Stewart Island is a nature lover's wonderland, with kiwis outnumbering humans - an estimated 20,000 of our feathered friends call the island home. Blue and yellow-eyed penguins roam around its rugged edges, while Ulva Island bird sanctuary is a safe haven for saddleback, yellowhead and more.

A cruise with Heritage Expeditions makes for a memorable adventure. With its 700 kilometres of coastline versus 25 kilometres of road, Stewart Island is a destination best explored by yacht or boat. Climb aboard the Heritage Explorer and voyage around historic spots, wildlife habitats and hidden coves. A bonus to make this trip even more special is the opportunity to experience the Aurora Australis.

There's off the beaten track and then there are the Chatham Islands. It would be hard to find a fishing spot more remote than here. With its cold, clear waters the islands boast world-class fishing and are the perfect habitat for fish such as blue cod, hapuka, kingfish, terakihi and blue moki.

It's about a two-hour flight from Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch to get to the Chatham Islands, 800 kilometres east of New Zealand. As it's quite an isolated region, an easy way to explore the islands is with a company like Owenga Charters, who will take you to the finest fishing spots. Drop anchor and experience the traditional "Chatham Islands way" of fishing using hand lines, before taking home your share of the catch for the freshest dinner.

World Ocean Day takes place on June 8 every year. For more information on how to take action or find events, go to worldoceanday.org

This story was produced with support from newzealand.com

Continue reading here:

Where to find New Zealand's best sea experiences on World ... - New Zealand Herald

Burnt chicken carcass. 23051827/23051828

Rarotonga residents last month raised alarm after witnessing chickens dropping dead with one reporting 25 dead chickens that fell from a tree next to their house.

Ministry of Agriculture which carried out preliminary investigation and preserved a dead chicken as a sample is hoping to solve the mystery behind these deaths when a team from New Zealands Ministry of Primary Industries arrive here on the island for further investigation.

Tupapa resident Rod Browne, who earlier witnessed chickens falling from the tree, wobbling around and dying later, yesterday said another two chickens suffered the same fate this week.

Browne earlier said staff from the Ministry of Agriculture took a dead chicken as a sample and advised them to destroy the rest with fire.

The Ministry of Agriculture had earlier stated that they reached out to New Secretary of Agriculture Temarama Anguna-Kamana earlier said: We have not received a formal complaint but we have reached out to our colleagues at NZ Ministry of Primary Industries Animal Health for support in identifying the cause.

Anguna-Kamana said they would need the dead birds to be taken to the Ministry to be stored so when the team from New Zealand arrives, they can examine the birds.

We are unable to speculate the cause of death until investigated.

See the article here:

New Zealand specialists to probe sudden chicken deaths - Cook Islands News

When Qantas flight QF3 takes off from Auckland bound for New York on June 14, rivalry with Air New Zealand is being taken to a new frontier.

The two carriers will go head to head on one of the worlds longest flight rare among airlines which usually have the very longest routes to themselves.

While they compete on the Tasman, the three-times-a-week New York flights take that to a whole new level. But both are confident theres room for both with the US market running especially strong amid the strong rebound for travel.

Qantas New York announcement came shortly before Air NZ started its flagship route in September last year. While the Kiwi carrier has had a nine-month headstart, Qantas has since raised the stakes. It has announced it will add a fourth weekly flight from the end of October further turning up the heat on the route as it builds its international network back to 100 per cent of pre-Covid capacity by March next year.

Air New Zealand is flying around 91 per cent of its pre-Covid international capacity and will soon add an eighth Boeing 777-300 but quitting its fleet of the older, less efficient 777-200s has affected its ability to meet surging demand.

Both airlines are enjoying record yields (profitability per seat) and instead of grim updates about slashing routes and staff numbers as during the first year of the pandemic, market updates are now positive with earnings upgrades coming thick and fast.

But the pandemic resulted in both airlines changing their North American plans. Air NZ had planned to launch New York flights in 2020 but had to put the brakes on and delay them for two years. Qantas rethought its North American strategy.

The airline had seen Air New Zealand tap into its customer base and flying them through Auckland to the US (the first booking for its non-stop Chicago service came from Australia) and its new New York service will help stem that loss of business.

Before Covid 19, Qantas used Los Angeles as its stopover to New York, but identified significant advantages to switching to Auckland as a stopover for flights that originate and end in Sydney.

Chief executive Alan Joyce said Auckland offered more connecting opportunities for Qantas than Los Angeles.

It allows for connections from more Australian cities such as Melbourne and Brisbane to connect to the flight in Auckland.

He also said that Qantas was not allowed to sell seats for the Los Angeles-New York domestic leg, but the airline had rights to sell tickets for Auckland-New York flights.

This in turn also allows dual destination inbound tourists who want to visit Australia and New Zealand.

The new Qantas flights come just as former Air NZ executive Cam Wallace moves into a new job, heading the Australian carriers international airline. It pits him directly against his employer of 20 years and where he was a contender for the top job. Air NZ chief executive Greg Foran like all airline bosses says he welcomes competition. Hes on good terms with Joyce and his successor Vanessa Hudson and has been in contact with Wallace.

I think itll go absolutely fine. Weve spoken as I do with Alan and Vanessa. Were used to competition and here at Air New Zealand and hell know a little bit about us, but its also been three years since hes been with us, Foran told the Herald at the Trenz event in Christchurch.

Qantas is a great competitor, we look forward to competing.

An Air NZ spokeswoman this week said bookings on the New York route remain solid, particularly in the premium cab.

New York is not only a popular destination for Kiwis and Australians, but its also a very large catchment area for passengers wanting to travel downunder, so theres enough room for other airlines to compete in this market.'

At 14,207km the route is the fifth longest flight in the world currently operating and comes with big operational challenges, especially into the strong jetstream winds when flying westbound. Since launch, Air NZ has operated more than 100 flights, which as the airline planned for, included three gas and gos, (touching down in Nadi to top up fuel) and two flights with bags offloaded for payload management.

Qantas says it has learned from Air NZs experience on the route. The Australian airline has been planning the route for two years and has been working with its rival on some operational parts of the flight, particularly in relation to safety.

The doubling of flights has been welcomed by Tourism New Zealand.

Its chief executive, Rene de Monchy, said the ability to take a direct flight from New York meant the opening up of the east coast of the US, a priority market of big-spending visitors who tend to stay longer in this country than others.

Its where theres a lot of, you know, high value, high-quality visitors in that part of the state, he said.

Air New Zealand had led the charge and now the Qantas flights were very welcome.

What it allows you to do is to promote to that region and say its a single flight and you can come here and explore New Zealand.

While numbers from the New York area had surged, they so far reflected the relatively low capacity of just three flights a week.

In the six months from September to March, there were about 200,000 total arrivals from the US and of that under 9000 came from New York.

But it does mean that you could set that up for future potential as well and really make it much easier for people who live in that New York State and New York City area to make a decision to come to New Zealand.

He said he was hopeful that Qantas, by more than doubling capacity by the end of the year, would result in a proportionate increase in arrivals.

It enables you to promote New Zealand as a destination to a different audience.

Hes hopeful that competition would lead to a reduction in airfares.

Competition is good for consumers and price. Having said that, six or seven times a week is still not that much capacity and I think there will probably be pretty strong demand in both directions for a period of time.

While Tourism NZ preferred tourists to come to this country only and spend all their holiday money here dual destination visitors would be a positive spinoff from the Qantas services.

We know that from lots of different parts of the world, they do like to go to Australia and New Zealand.

Chris Hunter, general manager NZ of Helloworld, believes theres enough demand to support both airlines.

In terms of the market capacity versus demand balance, I believe there is enough market demand to support both airlines well.

However, its not only Auckland-New York that has attracted more capacity, and downward pressure on pricing. This coming summer, United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta (all three are global aviation giants in terms of revenue, assets value and market capitalisation) are flying more between Auckland and the US west coast and looking to also compete aggressively with a one-stop traffic option to the eastern seaboard.

This should see pricing come under pressure across all cabin types and I would expect airfare benefits for both leisure and corporate travelers with lower pricing.

General manager of leisure brands at Flight Centre NZ, Heidi Walker said the arrival of Qantas on the route should bring air fares down as competition intensified.

Flight Centre analysis shows that on average, from June through to August, Qantas is offering a more competitive fare. In June, a return sale airfare from Qantas is about 31 per cent cheaper compared to Air New Zealand.

Airfares increase in July for the school holidays and Northern Hemisphere summer but during this period, Qantas remains cheaper, on average.

A snapshot of prices on airlines websites is just that: It doesnt take into account whether they are down to selling the last few seats on any given day - always the more expensive option. But a sample taken earlier this week showed that a return trip in Economy on Air NZ at the end of June costs $3834, while in Business it is $17,054.

On Qantas around the same time an Economy trip is significantly less at $2918 and closes in Business at $16,828, where last week cheaper saver fares had sold out.

New Zealand travellers typically book long-haul flights three months out and at the end of August Air NZ Economy return is $2368 while Business stays at more $17,054. Qantas is offering Economy fares from $2143 and at the front of the plane is much less pricey; Business is at $12,733.

Walker said travellers often made their choice based on which loyalty scheme they belong to. Air NZs has about 3.5 million members while Qantas has about 15 million.

Air New Zealand has got such a huge loyalty base here.

With two quality airlines competing, it was possible some customers would cross over to a new one.

There are going to be some decisions that are made on price. There might be some people who havent travelled with Qantas before, that [usually] travel with Air New Zealand and vice versa, she says.

In the first five months of this year, bookings to New York through Flight Centre had doubled compared to the same time last year, reflecting border openings and the non-stop service. In spite of the unfavourable exchange rate, families are flocking to New York.

Were also seeing families staying longer with the average booking just under two weeks, an increase of 13 per cent. With airfares still tracking above pre-Covid levels, our travellers are under the opinion if youre going to invest in airfares, you might as well stay for a reasonable period of time, said Walker.

Qantas brought Boeing 787 Dreamliners into its fleet after many other airlines but always had in mind ultra-long range (ULR) flying, its Perth-London flight being its longest and its Melbourne-Dallas fight also slightly longer than Auckland-New York. Its planes have 236 seats while the aircraft Air NZ uses on its longest flights have 275.

In Business class the airlines offer a much different hard product - seats and other parts of the interior.

Air NZs outdated herringbone layout offers little privacy and means passengers have to twist to see out of windows. It will be replaced late next year when the airline gets new Dreamliners and will remodel the 14 planes in its fleet.

Qantas Business class seats are more conventional, roomier and offer more privacy.

The seats in its Dreamliner Business class are almost identical to those on the A330s the airline operates across the Tasman.

Its Dreamliners are premium-rich, with 42 seats in Business class (where airlines enjoy the highest yields) compared to 27 in Business class on Air NZs long-range planes.

When Air New Zealand unveiled planned new seats and interiors last year it acknowledged there had been some harsh feedback about existing cabins which left crew to do the heavy lifting and ceded an advantage to competitors.

Helloworlds Hunter says airline product is worthy of careful consumer consideration.

It should be noted that the newer version of the aircraft that Air New Zealand has on order due to arrive in 2024 would be a better fit for the route, as they have fewer seats overall [227] and have been optimised for ultra-long-range flying.

For Economy and Premium Economy there will be an option of paying between $400 and $600 for a three-hour spell in its six-berth Skynest sleeping pod.

Hunter says Qantas has seriously committed to the New Zealand market with the soon-to-be four-times weekly New York service through the Auckland hub using new 787 Dreamliners.

This includes connectivity in Auckland for Australian-based guests on to the Auckland-New York service and new onboard products including Rebecca Vallance-designed pyjamas and new onboard menus, launched in Sydney on Wednesday. Air New Zealand has also introduced fresh new amenity kits with skincare products from Aotea.

Air NZ offers Wi-Fi on its New York flights, Qantas doesnt.

But the Australian airline offers a more generous complimentary baggage allowance, except in Business. Qantas allows one bag at 32kg in Economy, two bags up to 32kg in Premium Economy and Business (although high-tier frequent fliers are allowed more). Air NZ allows one 23kg bag in Economy, two bags up to 23kg in Premium Economy and three bags up to 23kg in Business.

Qantas is upgrading its Auckland lounge and expanding it by 40 per cent. While in Auckland Air NZ has the home-ground advantage now with its lounge in Auckland, it is a different story at New Yorks JFK Airport.

Qantas Business class passengers and elite flyers will have the choice of three new lounges in Terminal 8, operated by Oneworld partners American Airlines and British Airways. Air New Zealand uses Terminal 1 at JFK where eligible passengers can use the lounge of Star Alliance partner Lufthansa which Australia-based Executive Traveller describes as decidedly average in food, drink and dcor.

Qantas QF3/QF4 (from June 14)

Air New Zealand NZ1/NZ2

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Qantas v Air New Zealand to New York: Is there room for both? - New Zealand Herald