Category Archives: New Zealand

Former Fiji coach Vern Cotter is the latest to be linked with the Blues' head coaching job. Photo / Photosport

OPINION

The struggles the Blues have had to appoint a head coach Vern Cotter their latest target after fumbling the bag on at least two others speaks to a dearth of head coaches in New Zealand willing and ready to step up to Super Rugby level.

This comes after the Crusaders appointed what appears to be a transitional coach in Rob Penney until they have a young candidate ready in a couple of years, while Clark Laidlaw became a wanted man between the Blues and Hurricanes before going with the latter.

Laidlaw comes with a strong reputation after transforming the All Blacks Sevens both in performance and culture back to the top of the game. But his 15s head coaching experience is minimal and while he might be a success, he didnt scream an obvious candidate until the Herald heard whispers he was in.

It could be theres a holding pattern until the next wave of head coaches come through, or there is a serious dearth that could only get worse. While the jury is out on their appointments, the fact none of the three franchises had clear successors in mind speaks to either a lack of confidence in succession planning, timing reasons (half a cycle too early for the likes of Tamati Ellison at the Crusaders), or a lack of contenders ready to pick from.

Tellingly, none of the three come direct from coaching at NPC level, a suggestion that the gap between Super Rugby level and the tier below has widened more than had been realised, and coaches now need some form of overseas or international experience to justify the head coaching role or to have some Super Rugby assistant coaching experience to bridge that gap.

When those coaches do have those experiences, coaching overseas particularly in Japan presents a more compelling option and lifestyle than taking on a Super Rugby head coaching job.

While Scott Robertson has shown theres a pathway to the All Blacks coaching job now, the next candidate for that job will likely have to wait a long while, if at all, to take that job straight from Super Rugby level.

Jamie Joseph and Tony Brown have yet to confirm where theyre off to next, but theyve been-there-done-that at Super level. So too, Dave Rennie, Todd Blackadder and Robbie Deans who are all in the Japanese system, have already ticked the Super Rugby box, and dont see the need to return to franchise rugby or reset a potential path in international coaching.

Milton Haig has also had success in Japan but hasnt been mentioned in conversations around potential candidates, while the likes of former Otago coach Ben Herring are also in Japan.

So what of NPC coaches and those below at club and school level? Worryingly, the NPC pathway to develop coaches appears more of a revolving door with few coaches sticking around for more than a couple of years at each side.

Even a commitment to coach this year may not be enough, with Hawkes Bay losing Josh Syms last month as he moved to Zebre as forwards coach.

Super Rugby in New Zealand is chockful of assistants especially younger ones learning their craft as they transition out of professional rugby both here and overseas. Whether theyre ready to step up in time to head coaches and fill this seeming gap in the market will explain whether theres a coaching shortage, or if its just a perfect storm of three Super Rugby jobs becoming available at a time when the next breed is not quite ready.

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Elliott Smith: Why NZ has a Super Rugby coaching problem - New Zealand Herald

Friday, 9 June 2023, 9:41 am Press Release: Hospitality New Zealand

One of the driving forces behind Australias biggest hospitality and accommodation empire will open Hospitality New Zealands #HNZ23 conference and trade show in Auckland later this month.

Sam Egerton is General Manager of New Projects for Merivale Group, which owns 104 restaurants, pubs, bars and hotels across Australia, most of them in Greater Sydney.

He heads a programme of speakers and sessions designed to inform, educate and entertain operators from across the hospitality sector.

#HNZ23 Hospitality Conferences theme is For Industry, By Industry, and will feature motivational and subject speakers, expert sessions and panels that cover consumer trends, compliance, Chat GPT, and the serious workforce issues that are confronting the industry.

Hospitality NZ Chief Executive Julie White says shes delighted they have been able to attract Sam Egerton to open the conference.

It doesnt get any bigger than Merivale in hospitality in our part of the world. Theyve built an amazing business and theyve done that by being true innovators.

Hearing from one of the guys at the forefront of that about how theyve gone about it and how they see the future will be a real treat for conference delegates.

Tickets for the two-day event, which offers a huge selection of hospitality and accommodation trade exhibitors and networking opportunities, are now available. It will be held at the Pullman Hotel on June 27-28.

A first this year is a dedicated workforce summit, on day 2, where the industry, including officials from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, will explore and discuss key workforce issues and intergenerational comms.

Panels include Consumer Food & Beverage Trends, Sustainability in the industry, and the Educational Landscape, while breakout sessions include Compliance Trends in Gaming, growth mindsets and Courageous Conversations for Leaders.

A trade show with 60+ hospitality and accommodation industry suppliers will allow exhibitors to showcase the latest in sector developments and technology.

Also part of the event are the 25th Lion Hospitality New Zealand Awards for Excellence. These celebrate the success, achievements and resilience of people in 20 categories from across the sector.

The Leader of the Year Peoples Award categories will be announced at a social event on the 27th of June, the evening of Day 1. These include Leader of the Year in Hospitality, Accommodation, Future Leader of the Year, Chef of the Year, and Supplier of the Year.

The conference will conclude with a gala dinner on the 28th where the winners of the Awards for Excellence will be announced, followed by the overall Supreme winner. The Peoples Choice Award, chosen from the finalists list, will also be announced then.

Sam will be talking about new openings, nuggets of gold, consumer trends, driving guest experiences, and technology advancements.

He is originally from Christchurch. He moved to Sydney in the mid-2000s and has been working for the Merivale Group for the past 12 years. He has been Merivales Bars Manager, during which time he fine-tuned the art of bar backing in their venues. As General Manager of the New Projects Team, he builds new teams and venues across the country. Most recently he oversaw the re-opening of Allianz Stadium and took the helm of the Sydney Cricket Ground, integrating Merivales approach to quality products, and delivering exceptional guest experiences into the stadium world.

Other speakers at the HNZ23 Hospitality and Accommodation Conference are:

Kevin Biggar: A motivational speaker, he will be the first speaker. He talks about how people can take on demanding challenges in their life and business, and how to improve teamwork, lift mental toughness, boost performance, and get the most out of themselves and their team.

Melissa Muirhead: The founder of The Great Work Lab, which works with businesses on culture and leadership, will wind up day 1. She has spent more than 20 years in corporate roles in New Zealand and overseas and is a trained and experienced Executive Coach.

Ashley Fell: The social researcher, TEDx speaker, and Head of Communications at the internationally recognised McCrindle will kick off day 2. As a trends analyst and media commentator, she advises on how to achieve cut-through in message-saturated times. She is an expert in how to communicate across generational barriers.

Dan Te Whenua Walker: Dan Te Whenua Walker is the Global Co-Chair of Indigenous at Microsoft and an experienced leader in business and relationship development with an extensive background in the IT and tech sector. He has a particular passion for how tech can be utilised for Mori and Pasifika economic development. Dan will be a highlight feature in the afternoon of Day 2.

Check out the programme here

Get your tickets here

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Hospitality Innovator To Open Hospitality New Zealand Conference - Scoop

Getting Lost is being played all over the world and not always in the way its creator envisioned.

Cat Macnaughtan is used to hearing from her fans. They write her messages, send her ideas and share photos of themselves. Often, those snaps are taken in far-flung places. The photo that I typically get is a bunch of middle-aged women dressed horrendously in op shop clothes in the middle of nowhere on a slide, she says.

She loves getting those snaps of people in random places, because she sent them there. Thanks to Macnaughtans popular card game Getting Lost, tens of thousands of people have taken her advice to Take the next left, Follow a white car, and, Head to the highest place you can see. Users shuffle the deck, draw cards at random and let fate determine their next move.

People follow the prompts on her cards when walking, cycling and driving to have an adventure they wouldnt otherwise have. Some use them to entertain the kids on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Others pop in a marriage card to help them decide where and when to propose.

We live a very pre-ordained life. Were driven by algorithms no matter where we go. Not having a plan does freak some people out, says Macnaughtan. This game will never be for them.

Instead, Macnaughtons typical players are mums, kids and families who want to embark on a cheap and cheerful trip. Her card games offer impromptu opportunities to go off the beaten track and discover parts of the world players havent yet been before. Sometimes, its a dusty, overgrown street. Other times, its a secluded beach with dolphins playing in the surf.

It takes the destination out of the equation, she says. Lets make the journey, and the path, the fun part. It also harks back to a childhood instinct to explore. When we were kids we made up crazy games that led us to crazy places, because we wanted to explore, we wanted to adventure. Somewhere, weve lost that.

Getting lost, safely, is entirely the point. Her game, Macnaughtan says, is the antidote for those who are sick of, or dont want to follow, the typical travel trends and visit the Instagram-famous spots. Theres a time and a place for TripAdvisor and for Google, she says. This allows you to follow directions but be out of control.

Sometimes, like the family who found a giant restaurant-sized KFC bucket in the middle of a random field, the places her fans end up arent so glamorous. Other times, like a sunset proposal on a grassy hill, theyre gloriously impromptu. Macnaughtan loves hearing about the strange places her fans end up. Its play, its adventure, its fun, she says. Weve had 30 proposals. Its not Instagram-perfect, but its flippin epic.

Recently, Macnaughtons card game ticked over 100,000 sales (packs of cards cost between $17.95-$25.95 and feature local scenery on the back.) Shes running her $1 million business from her kitchen table with two part-time staff on board to help out. This week, she left full-time employment as a strategist to focus on Getting Lost full-time.

Macnaughtans kept as firm a grip on her business as she can, tracking growth and choosing opportunities carefully. Shes in 200 New Zealand stores and a recent expansion to Australia has paid off, becoming her biggest market.

When the American chain store Kohls called her, she thought long and hard about the offer, then turned it down. It was horrendous timing, [we were] so not ready, she says. It would have been the death of our business had it gone ahead theres no way we could have powered up to do that.

But some things remain out of her control. Recently, she noticed an escalation of orders coming from America. She doesnt promote Getting Lost or advertise there, but occasionally Getting Losts posts go viral. Sitting in a cafe, she jumped online to see what was happening. We had all these posts, people tagging people and saying, Lets get stoned and play this.

Her game had been discovered by American teens who wanted to smoke weed and get lost. Wary of what could go wrong in such a litigious country, she began to freak out. We have a whole bunch of young people in America getting stoned and playing our games. Are they driving into lakes? Are they driving off cliffs? What are they doing?

Some even messaged her directly. People were like, Can you make a Getting Stoned edition? Im like, We absolutely cannot.'

Macnaughtan started Getting Lost after an audience built around her 2014 travel blog, which detailed her familys adventures finding hidden, undiscovered places. On weekends theyd climb over fences, climb down cliffs and find secluded, unheralded spots, then photograph and write about them.

One day, a reader asked if she knew any good spots to visit in Waiouru. Shed just moved there with her husband and children and wanted more options than just the Army Museum. There is nothing that Google can tell you. TripAdvisor is probably going to be the local dairy and maybe a local cafe. Its not going to tell you anything, she says.

But it put a thought in the back of Macnaughtans mind. She didnt know Waiouru well, but based on her own adventures, she knew it must be full of possibility. Instinctively, I knew there must be watering holes, there must be a hill you can roll down with a field of wildflowers, there must be so many amazing places, she says. I cant tell you. No one can tell you. But you need a mechanism to be able to confidently explore and discover them.

She wrote up some directions, found a printer, cut up some cards and a game was born. Now, Getting Lost has fans all over the country and around the world. People take her cards with them when they travel to help them explore more than just the usual tourist spots. There are around 30 different editions now, for road trips, date nights, camping, walking the dog, heading into the bush and office parties. During lockdowns, she made an at-home edition.

She could move it all onto an app, and it is something she tried. But a developer took her money and never did the job, and she took it as a sign. Getting Lost isnt about staring at a phone screen. Its about a real-world experience, prompted by her cards. Shes worried an app would corrupt that. Were telling people to go left, go right, turn down this road, do that you could really easily lead someone into danger if someone hacked into your app.

Shes got more than enough ideas for new packs to keep her busy. While Getting Stoned, wont be one of them, Macnaughtan is finding that Getting Losts growth is impacting on her own adventuring. Shes struggling to find time to get lost herself. I dont have time to sleep, she says, let alone adventure that much.

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The New Zealand travel card game being adopted by stoned ... - The Spinoff

Dan Mullan/Getty Images

New Zealand's David Nyika competes at the Tokyo Olympics, a competition overseen by the IOC.

The president of Boxing New Zealand has welcomed the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) stunning decision to terminate the Olympic status of the International Boxing Association (IBA), the sport's disgraced governing body.

After a series of scandals involving governance, finance, refereeing and ethics, the IBA was stripped of its involvement in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and the qualification process for the next year's Paris Games.

Boxing was subsequently not included on the initial programme for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, putting the sport's long-term Olympic future in doubt.

The IOC appears to have finally lost patience with the IBA and its Russian president Umar Kremlev, with its 15-member executive board recommending withdrawing recognition of the beleaguered organisation at a special meeting on June 22.

In a statement, it said the IBA "has failed to fulfil the conditions set by the IOC ... for lifting the suspension of the IBA's recognition."

Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP

IBA President Umar Kremlev threatened "retaliatory measures" over the IOC's "purely political" decision.

That decision was music to the ears of Boxing New Zealand boss Steve Hartley, who has been an outspoken critic of the IBA and Kremlev, head of the organisation since 2020.

"The IBA has failed the sport of Olympic boxing and now there will be opportunity for the sport to be operated in a corruption free environment and in a competent manner," Hartley said in a statement.

New Zealand was one of four countries that was last month suspended by the IBA previously known as AIBA over its ties with the breakaway World Boxing organisation, launched in April with the goal of securing the sport's long-term future at the Games.

It followed an 11-nation boycott of the women's world championships in New Delhi, India in March and the men's tournament in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, last month when Kremlev lifted a ban on Russian and Belarusian boxers competing under their flags in defiance of the IOC's guidance.

As a result of the suspension, Kiwi boxers competing at last month's Youth and Junior Men's and Women's Oceania Boxing Championships in Apia, Samoa were forced to turn their singlets inside out to hide the silver fern, which the IBA considered a symbol of the suspended national federation.

Hartley told insidethegames it was the "the worst insult the IBA could put on our country and the mana of our athletes" and suggested that Boxing New Zealand had no future in the governing body.

So he was understandably delighted after the IOC's ruling and called on national federations to get behind the recently formed World Boxing of which USA Boxing and SwissBoxing are the only two current members and its bid to preserve the sport's Olympic status.

"World Boxing is up and running with recognition in Swiss law and is well placed to lead boxing into the Olympic future," Hartley said.

"The main focus for Boxing New Zealand at present is assisting our athletes to work towards qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics and continue Boxing New Zealand's success at previous Olympic events.

"Boxing New Zealand chairman Keith Walker and myself will continue to support the World Boxing movement and the efforts to secure boxing for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles."

The IOC oversaw the boxing competitions itself in Tokyo and will do so again in Paris. With the IBA now out of the picture, boxing is expected to be restored to the programme in Los Angeles in five years' time.

However, Kremlev is not about to go quietly, labelling the IOC's decision "truly abhorrent and purely political" and threatening to take "retaliatory measures".

"Now, we are left with no chance but to demand a fair assessment from a competent court," Kremlev said in a statement.

Read more from the original source:

Boxing New Zealand welcomes IOC's decision to terminate 'corrupt ... - Stuff

Alex Casey talks to director Scott Walker and Wt Workshops Sir Richard Taylor about The Tank, a locally made horror that brings an everyday nightmare to life.

Many New Zealanders who grew up in certain regions, or during a certain time period, have a scary water tank that haunts their memory. For Scott Walker, the origin of his tank phobia is relatively recent. At the start of the pandemic, the writer and director found himself stuck in Aotearoa with his family after what was supposed to be a quick Christmas trip home from the United States. Forced by visa issues to move between houses for 18 months, a stay at a friends house built on a large old water tank spawned a brand new nightmare.

When the taps began running low one day, Walker found himself climbing into the unnerving darkness of the water tank to make some repairs. After that day, the nightmares began plaguing him, night after sleepless night. They involved a fluid creature, jet black and goopy, oozing out of the taps of the house. Once released from the drains, it would take its monstrous final form, and would proceed to eat him and his whole family.

That became the script, Walker says, rather cheerily, over Zoom. And then I sent it to Richard [Taylor] and said Ive had these horrible nightmares, and Ive written the script, would you please read it and tell me what you think? Having worked together on previous projects, the Wt Workshop founder was more than happy to take a look especially given he had his own cursed experience with a creaky corrugated water tank looming behind his childhood home.

One day the water started tasting foul, and Dad wanted to investigate, Taylor recalls. He lowered me through a very, very small opening and the top of the tank and then let go. With his Dads body blocking the only source of light, a young Taylor splashed around in the darkness. This was a long way before waterproof torches, so I am swimming around in this freezing cold water, trying to grab some rancid possum or some decomposing goat.

It turned out to just be a black bird, but the incident has stuck with Taylor for nearly a quarter of a century. When he received Walkers script for The Tank, he read it cover to cover. I had a connection to the sort of nightmare that Scott was describing, he says. It was also the brief description of the very plausible creature that had him hooked. I found it amazingly compelling, and immediately had a desire to build it with our team [at Wt].

From there came an extraordinary exchange of creature ideas, says Taylor, shared everywhere from the back of napkins in Thai restaurants to late night texts containing photos of hagfish. Would a creature in a water tank have eyes or no eyes? Slime or no slime? How would it hunt? How would it walk? Whatever it had, there had to be a reason behind it, explains Walker, who produced pages and pages of notes and reference photographs fleshing out the ecological plausibility of the monster.

Beyond ecology, there was another factor that limited what the creature could do. Walker was adamant he wanted to use practical effects in the film, committing to a style of old school creature feature instead of turning to big budget CGI scares. The main thing was actually being able to have a physical creature in the room, rather than something imaginary, he says. If you can create a great creature that actually looks like its alive and its slimy and its scary, you get a terrific performance because the other actors have something to respond to.

After finding contortionist Regina Hegemannto embody the creature, the Wt team got to work designing a full, wearable suit. In fight scenes we didnt want to see someones bare foot the creature had to be the creature the whole way through, says Walker. The result was a 3D printed suit, which Taylor posits might be one of the first of its kind in the world. We made a 3D core of her, and then 3D printed the moulds from which we ran the silicone, says Taylor. She had to be in silicone, not foam, because of the water content.

The result is a drooling, nostril-flaring, teeth-baring aquatic monster that tears people limb from limb, sprints across the forest floor on all fours and scratches at doors with sharp, knife-like fingers. For Taylor, the creature is in keeping with a wider return to practical effects. We have definitely seen a swing back the other way, he says. For about 10 years, our animatronics department almost fell fallow. We could barely pull the work together and we were starting to do more location based experiences, just to try and keep our robotics and animatronics alive.

But in the last year, Taylor says Wt has done more animatronic work than in the past decade. Young directors are coming back to the idea of using practical effects, he says. If the creature is in the world, that director is having an immediate and connected relationship with the scene, with the creature, with the actors, and they are able to manipulate, to the micro level, the different components of their film. He also believes that audience perception is evolving, and that people can subtly sense the differences in performance in CGI-heavy scenes.

Representing another wider trend, The Tank also joins a glut of horror movies produced in Aotearoa since the pandemic alongside Pearl, M3GAN and Evil Dead Rise. Walker says the trend reflects the psychological impact of the last few years. Its all about providing escapism, and I think that need has only enhanced due to Covid, he says. Horror gives us something thats totally made up to be afraid of, after a lot of people experienced very real fear of what we all thought Covid was going to do and was going to become.

Taylor has his own theory as to why the horror boom. Peter Jackson started his career in splatter horror, and there was a misconception that he was what was called back then a gore-meister, he says. But if you watch his early films, its entirely evident that they were vehicles to grander films yet to be made. With horror, there is the potential for very low budget films to reach genre level fandom. I dont really believe theres any other form of filmmaking that has the potential, relative to budgets spent, to reach a core fan group like that.

Regardless of whether its psychological, economic, or both, Taylor says it is heartening to see a return to lower budget genre filmmaking in Aotearoa. New Zealand has always made highly impactful, low cost horror, he says. And you know, New Zealand deserves to have this new wave of horror coming out because we, as a country, are just really good at it.

The Tank opens in cinemas nationwide today.

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How a spooky old water tank inspired New Zealand's latest creature ... - The Spinoff

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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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