Daily Archives: June 18, 2024

New Zealand universities have made it to the top for sustainability stewardship in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024. The universities approach to sustainability and equality has been declared as world-leading by Times Higher Education (THE) in its recent Impact Rankings (2024). The stewardship rankings saw New Zealand score an average of 85.3 to come out ahead of Australia (84.4) and Hong Kong (81.9). All eight New Zealand universities participated in the rankings.

Currently in its sixth year, the Impact Rankings is the only ranking system in the world that measures universities contributions to theUnited Nations Sustainability Goals(UN SDGs). The Rankings assess the commitment made by universities to sustainability across four broad areas: research, stewardship, outreach,and teaching.

In topping the table for sustainability stewardship, New Zealands universities have scored well against indicators such as tracking food waste and having sustainable food choices on campus (SDG 2), the proportion of senior female academics (SDG 5), having water reuse policies and measurements (SDG 6), ensuring energy efficiency with renovations of buildings (SDG 7),and guaranteeing a living wage (SDG 8).The universities also scored high forcontributing to policies addressing poverty (SDG 1), collaborating with health institutions (SDG 3), providing programmes for the local community to learn about energy efficiency (SDG 7), participating in cooperative planning for climate change disasters (SDG 13),and providing expert advice to government (SDG 16).

ENZs acting chief executive Linda Sissons, said, New Zealands education systemis guided by Kaitiakitanga(the Mori concept of guardianship). This principle instilsa deep sense of connection to our land and a commitment to ensuring its health and vitality for future generations.

"Kaitiakitangainforms the approach taken by our universities to resource management, conservation, and sustainable development that all contribute to the UNs SDGs particularlyin the areas of food security, bioenergy, sustainable urban development, and climate change, added Sissons.

In this year's Impact Rankings,a record 2,152 universities from 125 countries/regions were evaluated. Progress is measured for each of the individual 17 SDGs, and across the goals as a whole.

Impact of Indian universities

Among the Indian universities, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham secured 81strank, scoring in areas such as quality education (4), good health and well-being (3), gender equality (5), and partnerships for the goals (17). In the 101-200 band, four Indian higher education institutions, namely, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Lovely Professional University (LPU), Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) and Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences have been ranked. Among the IITs, IIT Gandhinagar is in the 301-400thband category while Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences is in the 201-300th band category and Amity University has bagged a position in the 401-66 band category.

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Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024: New Zealand tops globally in university sustainability stewardship ... - Education Times

Summary

An incident yesterday on an Air New Zealand A320 flight will bring back the spotlight to inflight turbulence following the recent severe episodes on Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways flights. While this incident was nowhere near as severe as those two, it did result in two people heading for hospital when the plane landed.

When the turbulence struck, the Air New Zealand aircraft was on a domestic flight from New Zealand's capital, Wellington, to the South Island tourist mecca of Queenstown. The incident occurred about 15 minutes into the flight while the crew was doing a cabin service with a passenger scalded by hot coffee and a flight attendant suffering moderate injuries, reportedly from hitting the cabin ceiling.

Photo:Jordan Tan | Shutterstock

Simple Flying contacted Air New Zealand today, and the airline sent us a statement from Chief Operational and Safety Officer Captain David Morgan. He said that a customer and crew member were injured during turbulence on NZ607 from Wellington to Queenstown on Sunday, adding:

"The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is our number one priority, and our crew are trained to respond to these situations. Our operating procedures outline our onboard response to different levels of turbulence, including detailing when passengers and crew are required to take their seats during the flight.

"From time to time, clear-air turbulence can occur where rough air is not visible to the flight crew. We're always reviewing our operating procedures in line with both regulation and international best practice to ensure the safety of our customers and crew is prioritised."

Today, Queenstown news outlet Crux reported that the flight was met in Queenstown by two ambulances, and both patients were transported to Lakes District Hospital in moderate condition. A passenger told Crux that a crew member said the turbulence was more powerful than anything she had ever experienced anywhere in the world, adding:

"The flight attendants were bringing the coffee/tea out and the full coffee pot poured over a lady passenger. She received burns and a paramedic attended to her. Then much later when we arrived in Queenstown the lady got sent to the hospital in an ambulance. One of the cabin crew told us she was standing and went up and hit the ceiling. It wasn't super long but intense."

RNZ reported the scalded passenger, who wished to remain anonymous, said it was about 15 minutes into the flight when the plane jolted, and cabin crew hit the deck during tea service. She suffered burns to her arms, abdomen and back and described her ordeal this way:

"I was able to get a bottle of cold water and start dousing myself and I was able to speak to the hostess who was still lying on the floor and saying, 'Is it alright if I get water everywhere because that's what I will be doing' and she said 'Go for it'. Lucky for me a paramedic was sitting in the row behind and he helped me for the rest of the flight."

On Sunday, Air New Zealand flight NZ607 departed from Wellington International Airport (WLG) at 14:02 and, after a 1:10-hour flight, landed at Queenstown Airport (ZQN) eight minutes early at 15:12. The flight was operated with a 2015 Airbus A320-200, registration ZK-OXH and MSN 06471, which was seemingly unaffected by the mid-air incident as it flew another three sectors for the day.

Coming so soon after the horrific experiences on the Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways flights, this incident will spur more discussion around air safety and movement around the cabin during the flight.

Have you encountered severe turbulence? Let us know in the comments.

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Air New Zealand Airbus A320 Hit By Turbulence Leaving Two Injured - Simple Flying

WELLINGTON: A passenger and a crew member on board an Air New Zealand flight from Wellington to Queenstown were injured after the plane was hit by severe turbulence on Sunday (June 16).

The passenger suffered burns after a pot of hot coffee on a service trolley spilled on her when turbulence hit flight NZ607, while the crew member reportedly hit the ceiling.

Radio New Zealand reported that the passenger, who was identified only by her first name Suze, said they were told to expect some bumps on the flight.

About 15 minutes into the flight, the plane jolted a little during drink service, followed by a massive jolt.

The trolley moved about in the aisle amid the turbulence and the coffee pot lids came off, spilling hot coffee on her abdomen and back.

Suze, who had her seatbelt on, described the flight as really rough.

The frequent flyer managed to get a bottle of cold water and poured it on herself. A paramedic who was sitting behind her also attended to her injuries.

Two ambulances were dispatched to Queenstown Airport, reported New Zealand media outlet Crux.

Another passenger told Crux that a cabin crew member said she hit the ceiling.

The airline said in a statement to Crux that a customer and (a) crew member were injured during turbulence on NZ607 from Wellington to Queenstown on Sunday. The statement did not provide details of the injuries.

In a statement to the Herald, Air New Zealands chief operational integrity and safety officer, Captain David Morgan, said the crew are trained to respond to these situations.

From time to time, clear-air turbulence can occur where rough air is not visible to the flight crew, he said.

Were always reviewing our operating procedures in line with both regulation and international best practice to ensure the safety of our customers and crew is prioritised.

On May 21, one passenger died of a suspected heart attack and dozens were injured after Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 encountered severe turbulence over the Irrawaddy Basin.

The flight, which was travelling from Londons Heathrow Airport to Singapore, made an emergency landing at Thailands Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The airline has sent out offers of compensation to the passengers, with those who suffered minor injuries being offered US$10,000 (S$13,500).

SIA is in discussions with those who have more serious injuries about compensation offers that would meet their specific circumstances. - The Straits Times/ANN

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Two injured after Air New Zealand flight encounters severe turbulence - The Star Online

Tarouba, Trinidad: New Zealand will require some time to regroup after their shock early exit from the T20 World Cup, said skipper Kane Williamson, who was non-committal regarding his return for the 2026 edition of the marquee event.

An all-format player who is considered one of the greats of modern day cricket, Williamson has been the BlackCaps batting mainstay for over a decade.

New Zealand reached three finals with Williamson in the side -- the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cups, the 2021 T20 World Cup and the inaugural World Test Championship final, which they won. Williamson led the BlackCaps in three of those four tournaments.

"When asked if he'd return for the 2026 edition, Williamson said: "Oh, I don't know." New Zealand's campaign ended with a facile seven-wicket win over minnows Papua New Guinea. They finished outside of the semifinals for the first time in 10 years. Pace spearhead Trent Boult has already confirmed that the ongoing T20 World Cup was his last.

"There's a bit of time between now and then, so it's regrouping as a side. And yeah, we've sort of got red ball cricket over the next year basically.

"So yeah, it's back into some international other formats and yeah, see where things land," he added.

On New Zealand's short campaign at the T20 Word Cup, the 34-year-old said "I think no matter what happens, you're always want to do more.

"But it's been really unique, a unique experience for all the guys. The conditions have been challenging I think for batters all around, but it's just about trying to find a way." New Zealand were the last team to kickstart their campaign. They were out of contention for the Super Eights within the space of four days, courtesy back-to-back losses to Afghanistan and West Indies.

"It took a long time to start, and then in a matter of days, we were sort of not in contention, which was frustrating. We wanted to start the campaign strong, and we weren't able to do that," Williamson said.

"We played against a couple of very strong sides who are very well equipped in these conditions and unfortunately it was the difference in our first two games and then some decent cricket in the last two, so all in all frustrating.

"But I think the learnings for certainly players that come back, perhaps to this part of the world or in some of these conditions, theyve been somewhat challenging and so some good experiences to have going forward," he added.

Published 18 June 2024, 08:25 IST

Originally posted here:

Williamson uncertain about his future in T20Is following New Zealand's World Cup exit - Deccan Herald

Statement from NZR, the New Zealand Mori Rugby Board, Highlanders, Wellington Rugby and New Zealand Rugby Players Association on Connor Garden-Bachop, 18 June 2024

On behalf of the entire rugby community, the Highlanders, Wellington Rugby, New Zealand Rugby, the New Zealand Mori Rugby Board and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association would like to extend our deepest thoughts and love to the Garden-Bachop family.

Connor passed away on Monday following a medical event, and rugbys collective focus at this time is on supporting his family. All of rugby walks alongside the Garden-Bachop family at this time and we are collectively united in our grief.

Connor was a fantastic young player, an exciting New Zealand age-grade representative and a proud Mori All Black. Wherever he played, he was a committed and popular teammate with infectious energy and someone who could light up the room.

Most importantly, he was a loving father to his twin girls, a brother, a son and immeasurably loved by all those who knew him.

NZR, the New Zealand Mori Rugby Board, the Highlanders, Wellington Rugby and the Players Association are providing support and we ask that the privacy of the Garden-Bachop familyisrespected.

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Statement on the passing of Connor Garden-Bachop - New Zealand Rugby

I Carried This tells the stories of five of the estimated 100,000 New Zealand women who were made to give up their babies in the 1950s and 60s.

On a crisp June Wellington night, I call my 18-year-old daughter for a chat. I tell her Ive watched a powerful play based on the true stories of five unwed women who fell pregnant in the 1950s and 1960s and had their babies taken off them when they were forced to give them up for adoption. What do you mean? she asks me from her university hall. Thats not possible?

Yes, it does sound almost unbelievable when you look back on it, that women who fell pregnant without a husband or the promise of a husband in the pre-pill and pre-DPB area generally werent allowed to keep their babies. Instead, they were typically banished to farms, to homes for unwed mothers, or to stay with relatives in the country, and they often had to give birth in secret away from their own families.

An estimated 100,000 New Zealand women adopted their babies out during this forced adoption era. They usually lost their babies to a married couple because there wasnt an option B, unless the man who impregnated the woman agreed to put a ring on her finger.

Wellington playwright Nicola Paulings documentary theatre work, I Carried This, is a play that really leaves you sitting on the edge of your seat. She rightly thinks our government should follow Australia and issue these women a big apology for human rights violations and the actors call for this at the end of the one-hour work. More than a decade ago, Australias then prime minister Julia Gillard apologised to birth mothers, fathers and the babies who were handed over to married couples in Australias forced adoption era. The Australian government has also financially compensated those birth mothers whose babies were whisked off them often while their breast milk was just letting down, while the fathers the men who got these women pregnant often continued their lives as though nothing had happened.

In Paulings play, we see the stories of five birth mothers cleverly acted out by three actors Pauling, 78-year-old Hilary Norris, and Mycah Keall who show how the story of adoption changes over a womans lifetime. Just like childbirth, no single story is the same.

Based on Paulings interviews with birth mothers in their senior years, theres an overwhelming theme of loss for the five women the play is based on. Patricia can only handle it by meeting her daughter once and then wanting nothing to do with her. Mary never knew shed even had sex and realises, at age 80, that her illegitimate pregnancy came from what we today call date rape. One of the most heartbreaking stories is shown at the plays end when we meet Jane, who is not allowed to see her son after his birth and tries to contact social workers to say she wants to keep her baby, only to be told its too late and he has been adopted out. Jane spends 47 years searching for him but finds its too late because he has died from suicide.

Norris delivers a moving performance when she acts as the older Jane and says: Women made a terrible mistake we made a mistake and had to pay the penalty. Had to be quiet, had to shut up, couldnt speak out. Oh, we had to control lives for everybody around us. We had to keep lives as normal as it could be for everybody, like the husbands, who were better off not knowing, the children who were never told. But we carried this. We went for decades walking with shame or grief or guilt or loss, but we carried it quietly.

I Carried This is about misogyny and female control. Its telling when a male doctor tells one of the women she must breastfeed the baby she is about to lose while she is in hospital and he also lies that she will see her baby again. She never does.

The birth mothers often spent their lives hoping to reconnect with the child they lost. If they did, it was often complicated. As one puts it, she was searching for the baby she gave away and didnt recognise the adult child she later met.

Their babies were born in the illegal abortion era and there are stories we dont see in this play: the pregnant women who had to go across to Australia in the late 1960s to get an abortion or have a back street one here; we only get a glimpse of what adoption is like for a child, who often struggles with a lifetime of feelings of rejection and loss of identity.

While weve progressed since then, I Carried This also reminds us that womens reproductive lives continue to be ruled by the patriarchy. Women in some parts of the world are banned from getting a legal abortion and, everywhere, contraception still remains a womans responsibility.

I Carried This (written by Nicola Pauling and directed by Jacqueline Coats) is on at Hannah Playhouse until Sunday, June 16.

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A powerful reminder of New Zealand's dark era of forced adoption - The Spinoff

Lockie Ferguson returned extraordinary bowling figures of three wickets for zero runs as New Zealand ended their T20 World Cup campaign with a convincing win over Papua New Guinea.

Fast bowler Ferguson struck with his very first ball, claiming the wicket of Assad Vala (6), and returned to dismiss Charles Amini (17) and Chad Soper (1) while completing four maiden overs.

Tim Southee (2-11), Trent Boult (2-14) and Ish Sodhi (2-29) pitched in with two wickets apiece as Papua New Guinea were ultimately bowled out for 78 when batting first.

In reply, Finn Allen fell second ball, but opening partner Devon Conway (35), along with captain Kane Williamson (18no) and Daryl Mitchell (19no) saw New Zealand to a comfortable seven-wicket win with 7.4 overs to spare.

It means the Black Caps at least end their tournament on a positive note, having already been knocked out due to group-stage defeats to Afghanistan and West Indies in their opening two games.

As for Papua New Guinea, they sign off from the World Cup with a disappointing four defeats in four.

The Super 8s stage of the Men's T20 World Cup gets under way on Wednesday when the USA face South Africa in Antigua, live on Sky Sports Cricket from 3pm (first ball 3.30pm).

England's Super 8s opener takes place against co-hosts the West Indies later the same day in St Lucia, live on Sky Sports Cricket at 1am (first ball 1.30am) in the early hours of Thursday morning.

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England are in Group 2 for the eight-team second stage of the tournament, alongside the West Indies, USA and South Africa.

Making up Group 1 are Afghanistan and India, as well as Australia and Bangladesh, who face each other on Thursday.

The top two teams from each group progress through to the semi-finals.

Watch every match from the T20 World Cup, including the final in Barbados on Saturday June 29, live on Sky Sports.

Stream Sky Sports live with no contract on a Month or Day membership on NOW. Instant access to live action from the Premier League and EFL, plus darts, cricket, F1, tennis, golf and so much more.

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T20 World Cup: Lockie Ferguson takes three for zero as New Zealand bow out with victory over Papua New Guinea - Sky Sports

A Rose of Tralee contestant has been found dead in New Zealand after her family reported her missing last week.

Monica Reid was last seen in Matipo Road, Te Atat in West Auckland on Friday afternoon.

Police had issued an appeal and a major search and rescue operation was also launched.

Officers have since confirmed Monicas body has been found in an update

North Shore, Rodney & West Auckland Police confirmed the 26-year-old woman reported missing has been located deceased.

They added that her death is not being treated as suspicious and will be referred to the coroner.

Ms Reid was this years Auckland Rose and took part in the New Zealand competition last month to choose a representative to travel to Ireland for the International Rose of Tralee pageant in August, but was not selected as the overall winner.

Several people paid tribute on social media and sent their condolences to her heartbroken family and friends.

One person shared: Losing such a joy from the world today. Monica Reid you were such a bright person. There was a time when I didnt appreciate it.

Another said: Monica was one of the kindest, most caring, loveliest person I know. She made this world a brighter place, and it is duller without her in it.

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Rose of Tralee contestant found dead in New Zealand - The Irish News

PORT OF SPAIN, (Reuters) Pace bowler Lockie Ferguson grabbed three wickets as he bowled four maiden overs in New Zealands thumping victory over Papua New Guinea in the final match for both teams at the T20 World Cup yesterday.

Papua New Guinea were dismissed for a paltry total of 78, which was never enough to challenge New Zealand who won by seven wickets with 46 balls to spare at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

Trent Boult captured two for 14 in his final World Cup and admitted he had felt a few emotions over the last few days. Boult, 34 announced last Friday that he would not take part in another global tournament.

Sporadic rain delayed the start of play by 65 minutes and New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, whose team will be going home early after losing to Afghanistan and West Indies in Group C, had no hesitation in electing to field.

Papua New Guinea struggled from the start and only leg-spinner Ish Sodhi, playing his first match of the tournament, was relatively expensive. Sodhi took two for 29 from his 3.4 overs

New Zealand lost Finn Allen caught behind for a duck off the second ball of the innings and conditions remained difficult for the batters who all struggled with their timing. But Papua New Guineas total was never going to be enough and opener Devon Conway played a series of fluent drives to reach 35 from 32 deliveries and set up the New Zealand victory.

Chasing was a bit of a grind but we got across the line, said Williamson. At any tournament you want to start strong, Adapting faster would have been important.

Ferguson added it had been a tough wicket to bat on. Theres not many games you bowl seam up all the way through. Its sad to be leaving, we had high hopes coming in.

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Ferguson takes three wickets in four maiden overs in New Zealand win - Stabroek News

WELLINGTON - New Zealand will increase its contribution to North Korea sanctions monitoring, out of Japan, New Zealands Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Tuesday.

Luxon said in a statement the government had committed to send New Zealand Defence Force ships for the first time and increase the frequency of deployments of aircraft, to support sanctions monitoring until September 2026.

This increase reflects the importance New Zealand places on collective security efforts that support peace and stability and the international rules-based system in the Indo-Pacific region, Luxon said.

The New Zealand government has been trying to step up international engagement both diplomatically and in its military contributions and earlier this month announced it would deploy more soldiers to the United Nations mission in South Korea.

However, recent government reports have noted the defence force faces significant challenges due to high levels of attrition following the pandemic and aging equipment. The New Zealand government has allocated less capital spending in the coming year but says it would like to increase spending following the release of the Defence Capability Report.

The report will lay out plans for new military spending over the coming years.

Minister of Defence Judith Collins told a parliamentary committee on Tuesday that she had received a draft copy of the report but hoped that the report could go to government ministers for approval in September or October. REUTERS

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New Zealand will increase its military contribution to North Korea sanctions monitoring - The Straits Times