Category Archives: New Zealand

Erling Haaland is the hottest name in world football right now.

Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring against Manchester United. (Source: Associated Press)

The burly Norwegian striker has taken the Premier League by storm, scoring an incredible 15 goals in his first nine league games for Manchester City, as well as a further five in three Champions League games.

The 22-year-old's already demolished some long-standing records and is on track to score the most goals in a Premier League season. Some believe he could go on to be one of, if not the greatest striker of all time.

Yet just three years ago, he was walking off the pitch frustrated after a 2-0 defeat to surprise package New Zealand, a result that essentially knocked Norway out of the 2019 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Poland.

Norway had come into the tournament on a hot streak, having defeated defending champions England in qualifying.

New Zealands coach Des Buckingham told 1News Norway had some quality players, but Haaland was the standout.

Hed moved from Molde, where he was under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the time, and signed for Red Bull Salzburg for about 8 or 10 million euros, which for an 18 or 19-year-old at the time is a big move. We knew they would be a very tough challenge.

George Stanger from New Zealand U20 fights for the ball with Erling Haland from Norway U20. (Source: Photosport)

But Buckingham said his side were focussed on their own game and how they wanted to play, rather than the resume of opposition players.

It was a mindset shift. It wasnt about worrying about the opposition, it was we have the players and this is about us.

Buckingham described the match as a game of chess.

They had some real qualities but we stuck true to what we said we were going to. The players in terms of the gameplan and showing what they could do were fantastic.

In the first half, Haaland got in behind the Kiwi defence, racing away with the ball from the halfway line and finding himself in a one-on-one with goalkeeper Michael Woud.

But rather than shoot, he tried to square the ball to his teammate in the centre of the box. The pass was mistimed and failed to find its target. New Zealand survived.

I remember after the game one of our members of staff said the boy that played up top is valued at around 20 million pounds, and we all kinda laughed because he was stuck in our centre backs pocket all game, Nando Pjaniker

The game remained level until deep in the second half when Kiwi midfielder Gianni Stensness (now a full Australian international) broke the deadlock with a long-range rocket into the top corner.

Sitting on the bench was teammate Matt Conroy, who said he was shocked by the goal.

Id never seen that from him beforeit was kind of like delirium.

Buckingham described it as one of the goals of the tournament.

Rather than sit back, New Zealand continued to press on and were rewarded in the dying minutes as a cross from Elijah Just was deflected into the net by a Norwegian defender.

The 2-0 victory for the Kiwis saw them through to the round of 16, having already demolished Honduras 5-0 in the opening game. It was the first time New Zealand had won two games at a single under-20 World Cup.

Erling Haaland of Norway looks dejected after defeat in the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup group C match between Norway and New Zealand. (Source: Getty)

Their efforts meant Norway were on the precipice of being knocked out, having also lost to Uruguay in the opening game.

Despite being one of the biggest prospects at the tournament, Haaland had failed to score in both games. Members of that New Zealand side admit they didnt see him becoming the player he is today.

Id be lying if I sat here and said hed be doing what he is now, Conroy said.

I remember after the game one of our members of staff said the boy that played up top is valued at around 20 million pounds, and we all kinda laughed because he was stuck in our centre backs pocket all game, Nando Pjaniker.

But in the final group game a dead rubber against Honduras Haaland made sure he didnt go home quietly, scoring an incredible nine goals in a 12-0 win. While the victory wasnt enough to see Norway through to the next round, his efforts won him the tournaments golden boot, with the next top scorer only managing four goals in over double the games.

He put the world on notice, Conroy recalled of Haalands feat against Honduras.

I like to think the game that made him was our game [against Norway]. We pushed him to have a game like that and show the world what hes really about.

While Haaland and Norways tournament was over, New Zealands journey was in full swing.

The team had been playing high-paced, high-pressing football and dominating possession, something that had not been seen before by a New Zealand side.

I dont want to come to this World Cup and try not to lose games. I feel that we have the players to do something special.

Buckingham said it was all part of a plan designed when he first got the job in 2018.

"I arrived with pretty much a blank slate and a blank canvas.

"Rather than holding camps, which we didnt have the resource to do, I got around the country. I think of the 365 days leading into that World Cup, I spent 210 days away from my home visiting clubs and visiting players because the feel was to go and see them in their environments where you can actually see them behave a lot more naturally than they might if they arrived into a camp."

Buckingham said he went to each National League club and spent four or five days attending trainings, team meetings, and getting to know the players at a deeper level.

Prior to the tournament, Buckingham invited Christian Penny from High Performance Sport New Zealand to run a four-day camp with the squad to try and develop a culture and meaning around what it meant to wear the fern.

Buckingham said up until that point players were proud to wear the fern, but didn't have much of a sense about what that really meant.

Over the week, work was done to intertwine football with New Zealand-specific culture.

This included a whakatau - a welcome ceremony - and a pepeha session, where players introduced themselves to the rest of the squad, revealing where they came from and what was important to them.

Buckingham said this work "had the biggest impact I've ever seen in a sporting world".

"It brought together 21 young men from nine different environments so close together with a shared purpose so quickly.

"Off the field it was something no other country could replicate and on the field...we wanted to change the way that New Zealand football played on the world stage.

In the 17 games at the Under-20 World Cup [before this tournament], New Zealand had only won two. They were always a team that at under-20s level were out-possessed, out-passed, out-shot.

I said to them I dont want to come to this World Cup and try not to lose games. I feel that we have the players to do something special and change not just the mindset of how we approach these tournaments, but we can go on and can beat these nations.

Gianni Stensness from New Zealand U20 celebrates with team mates after scoring against Norway. (Source: Photosport)

The plan worked. Two wins and two clean sheets from their opening two games at the tournament saw them through to the round-of-16 with a game in hand.

It allowed the squad to be rotated for the final group game against Uruguay, allowing players like Conroy and goalkeeper Cameron Brown the opportunity to start for the first time in the tournament.

Uruguay were top of the group, having also defeated Norway and Honduras, and their squad featured current Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez and Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo.

A household name for global football fans in 2022 following his NZ$130 million to Anfield, Nunez was still plying his trade for Penarol in his home country at the time of the Under-20 World Cup in 2019.

However, he was quickly showcasing his talent to the world, and his opposition, scoring a brilliant volley against Norway in Uruguay's opening game to lead his side to victory.

He proved to be decisive against New Zealand too.

With the two teams evenly matched, it was Nunez who broke the deadlock late in the first half, latching onto a whipped cross into the middle of the box and smashing the ball past a helpless Brown and into the top corner.

"Hes that out-and-out striker with that instinct. Even then, he knew where to be. [For the goal] the ball was cut back and he was in the perfect spot and leathered it top corner," Brown said, "You could see he was a good player."

Despite the setback, New Zealand remained in the game, with Joe Bell nearly equalising in the second half, his shot from the left side of the box sailing the wrong side of the post.

Uruguay sealed the game with a goal in injury time, taking a 2-0 win and topping the group.

The result left the New Zealand players feeling disappointed, although Brown said that showed how much belief the side had in their abilities, and the amount of talent coming through the ranks in New Zealand.

"To be disappointed with a loss against Uruguay really shows the standard of players here in New Zealand. To look back on it its pretty cool, its definitely one of the highlights of my career so far," Brown told 1News.

The two teams mingled in the changing sheds after the game, with some players swapping shirts. Conroy arrived late and got whistled over to a corner of the room "by a player talking with a bit of broken English".

"[He was] calling out my number to swap shirts," Conroy recalled.

"It was Darwin Nunez so I've got his Uruguay shirt at home which is quite cool."

It's an unreal thing to bring up around your mates because they all get a buzz off it.

A grinning Conroy said it had since become a popular story to tell his friends.

"It's an unreal thing to bring up around your mates because they all get a buzz off it. For me I think it highlights the opportunities you get playing at those tournaments.

"When I did that there was no way I could even fathom that Id be sitting down and watching the opening day of the Premier League season and hes just been signed by Liverpool. Its a cool moment and shows the hard work you put into it can pay off by having the shirt, let alone sharing a pitch with someone thats doing it at the highest level week in week out."

New Zealand faced Colombia in the round of 16, where their tournament ended in a heartbreaking penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw.

All Whites team huddle before their World Cup playoff against Costa Rica. (Source: Photosport)

While unable to become the first New Zealand under-20 side to make the quarterfinals of a World Cup, the players and staff look back on the tournament fondly, and hope their style of football can be translated to the senior side in years to come.

"I think for New Zealand were in a really positive place at the moment in our football. That tournament did flip a switch in many peoples minds that we can compete on the big stage. Theres players playing Premier League, Champions League, Serie A, its a really positive time," Conroy said.

"Even at grassroots level, clubs are starting to put an emphasis on development and developing players in this country. I think people are starting to fall in love with football a little bit more."

Buckingham said it wasn't just a one-off performance, but something that should now be expected by New Zealand football fans.

"We have good players. It was about building a framework around them and allow them to fill it and showcase what they could do.

"I think its quite exciting, especially this crop of young players surrounded some really good seniors. Its exciting now and I think for the next four to six years its a really good time for this group to really go and show what they can do. We have the players to do that and itll be good to see where they can go."

Continue reading here:

David vs Goliath: When New Zealand took on Haaland, and won - 1News

South African born New Zealand pastor Sean Schutte died on Thursday morning after his car collided with a train.

New Zealand-based pastor Sean Schutte, aSouth African, died on Thursday morning after his car collided with a train.

Schutte was a co-pastor at Matamata Baptist Church at the time of his death.

The church confirmed his death to News24, but said it could not comment any further.

Church Online New Zealand announced the news on Thursday morning.

"We will be praying for Matamata Baptist Church, who lost their co-pastor, Sean Schutte, today in a tragic accident. We will pray too for the family," it said in a Facebook post.

READ |Woman killed, another person injured in 4-car collision in Durban

According to New Zealand news website,Stuff, the KiwiRail train collided with his vehicle.

A congregant said the church was focused on supporting his wife and daughter in New Zealand and was assisting to inform his family in Johannesburg.

According to his Facebook profile, Schutte went to Pretoria Boys High School.

KiwiRail executive general manager of operations, Paul Ashton, told Stuff the driver of the train was receiving counselling.

News24 reached out to KiwiRail for comment. Their response will be added once received.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred

In times of uncertainty you need journalism you can trust. For 14 free days, you can have access to a world of in-depth analyses, investigative journalism, top opinions and a range of features. Journalism strengthens democracy. Invest in the future today. Thereafter you will be billed R75 per month. You can cancel anytime and if you cancel within 14 days you won't be billed.

View original post here:

SA-born New Zealand pastor dies after car collides with train - News24

President of the New Zealand Central Sikh Association, Daljit Singh, said the Sikh community was very offended when Immigration NZ officials refused to follow religious protocol. Photo / NZME

Immigration New Zealand has apologised for offending the country's Sikh community during a raid on a Hamilton temple, blaming health and safety requirements for the religious transgression.

The NZ Central Sikh Association said immigration officials refused to follow religious protocols when they allegedly forcefully entered the Gurudwara Mata Sahib Kaur Ji temple on Monday.

New Zealand Central Sikh Association represents 70,000 Sikhs in this country.

Immigration NZ staff entered the temple without removing their shoes or covering their heads, having advised temple officials they would needed to keep their shoes on as per standard health and safety requirements.

NZ Central Sikh Association president Daljit Singh said he was visiting another Sikh temple when he received a call from a temple secretary about the offensive faux pas.

Singh said he immediately rang Immigration NZ and the Immigration Minister.

"I told them the community is upset by the officials' actions. We are New Zealand citizens ... It is God's place.

"We received an apology letter. They came to the same place [yesterday]. They will follow the protocol from now on. We are satisfied with this response," he said.

Singh said Immigration NZ chief executive Carolyn Tremain visited the temple this week to apologise for not following religious protocols when executing a search warrant.

He added that the immigration officials did not find anything at the temple during their search.

In a statement to the Herald on Sunday, Immigration NZ said it was "deeply sorry" but did not indicate the health and safety procedures would change in future.

Karen Bishop, Immigration NZ's general manager verification and compliance, said: "I have spoken with the president of the New Zealand Central Sikh Association to apologise for any offence caused.

"We are deeply sorry for any offence caused during the execution of a search warrant at an address in Hamilton on Monday," she said.

"I have also met with temple officials today to discuss how our compliance teams can engage more effectively with the Sikh community in the future."

It remains unclear what the purpose of the search warrant was and Immigration NZ refused to comment further as investigations were ongoing.

- additional reporting Raphael Franks

Excerpt from:

'It is God's place': Immigration NZ apologises for offending Sikh community - New Zealand Herald

The disaster engulfing prime minister Liz Truss is a very British kind of political crisis. But MPs here should be watching closely, writes Henry Cooke.

Prime minister Liz Truss is in office but not in power.

Just five weeks after triumphantly entering Number 10 she has been forced into another humiliating backdown on one of her signature policies, and had to fire her best friend in politics the chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng. Her party, the oldest in the world, faces polling so bad that an election tomorrow could see it tossed into the dustbin of history. The members of her caucus that arent openly denouncing her fill journalists phones with news of plots to replace her or well-worded putdowns.

Truss was never going to have much of a political honeymoon. She came to power as the country stared down a very scary winter of spiraling energy prices and possible rationing, her party very bruised by the events that sent Boris Johnson packing.

But to win the vote to replace him, Truss had promised a radical plan of major tax cuts, with no spending cuts to pay for them. This plan, combined with a huge chunk of new spending to subsidise energy bills, was put together into a mini-budget that also contained a surprise abolition of the 45% top tax rate.

Voters hated it, but the free market Truss wanted to woo seemed to hate it even more, selling off the pound and more importantly, UK government bonds, or gilts. This started a somewhat complex process that ended up playing havoc not just with mortgages but also with pensions, necessitating the Bank of England stepping to attempt to calm the chaos something it has still not quite managed.

Over a few hours yesterday Truss looked to calm things down by announcing a second tax u-turn this one on a plan to keep corporation tax low and fired Kwarteng. If you need it in New Zealand terms, this would be a bit like Jacinda Ardern firing Grant Robertson and cancelling fair pay agreements, all in one day.

To a certain extent, this is a typically British kind of crisis, one where the country is forced to confront yet again that it no longer has the power to create its own weather. But there are lessons for New Zealand politicians too.

Boris Johnson won the Tories a smashing majority in the 2019 election promising voters two big things: Getting Brexit done and an end to austerity, with government spending used to advance areas that had been left behind as the country deindustrialised. This combination of right wing culture politics with economic policy more at home with Labour was immensely popular, and seemed set to provide Johnson with many years in power.

But like in New Zealand, voters dont actually get to vote for one single prime ministerial vision or mandate, they vote for a party. And that party threw out Johnson and carried out a leadership contest to replace him. Truss won this contest not by appealing to her fellow MPs a large majority of them preferred the more cautious Rishi Sunak but by winning over the party membership, an utterly unrepresentative group of 80 or so thousand people who very much like the ideas of lower taxes.

Now the country appears stuck with an economic programme they dont feel they voted for, with no election in sight until 2024, as the UK has five year electoral terms.

There are guard rails that stop this kind of thing happening in New Zealand.

On leadership itself, National elects its leader from the caucus and only the caucus, while Labour now only hands things over to the wider party if a leader cant win a two thirds majority in caucus. This means most of the time the people who are deciding who should lead a major party (including when that person is also going to be prime minister) will be experienced politicians who know the person and their flaws well, and can see the problem with promising things vastly different to what voters want. (There is a strong argument that this is anti-democratic in itself, but that argument works a lot better when parties have actual mass membership, which is not really the case in New Zealand.)

We also have three year electoral terms, meaning the chances of the public being stuck with a huge change in mandate it didnt vote for over several years is very low. Unfortunately, there is quite a push from some politicians to change this.

Truss has been forced into these backdowns not just from voter rage, but from the way that rage has fed into her own MPs, all of which have seats full of angry voters that they could toss them out at the next election. These MPs have threatened to not vote for major parts of her plan, and always hold the potential to force a no confidence vote, which would see an election held far sooner than 2024.

This is a fairly alien situation in New Zealand, where extremely strong party whipping and MMP means MPs almost never rebel from their parties. Weve seen some slight moves away from this with the Louisa Wall and Gaurav Sharma dramas, but nothing like the kind of open rebellion which would really endanger any actual policies, let alone the confidence of the house in the Labour government.

And yet. There is an election nearing, one where a whole host of Labour MPs are likely to lose their seats, even if the party scrapes out a win, just because the tide went so high in 2020. These MPs may be on the lookout for ways to differentiate themselves from the pack or might just be sick of defending the Three Waters policy to every single person they meet on the streets of their electorate. One backbencher by themselves has basically no power just look at Sharma but if a few of them band together around a single issue things could get much dicier.

Do I think this is likely? Not quite. But it is something for Ardern and other party leaders to keep a close eye on.

The most controversial part of Truss mini-budget, the thing that roiled voters up and dominated headlines for days, also happened to be one of the smallest and least important policies: the scrapping of the top tax rate of 45%.

This top tax rate is only paid by people who earn more than 150,000 (NZ$302,000) literally less than 1% of the UK. As it is paid by so few people, the actual amount of money that it cost to get rid of was pretty small just 2b, compared to the tens of billions of pounds involved in the other cuts.

But it was the principle of the thing. Everyone was getting ready to tighten their belts for a very tough winter, interest rates were heading up (partially as a result of Truss budget), and the thing the government appeared to be focused on was tax cuts for the rich and a removal of the cap on bankers bonuses. It was the kind of stuff Labour strategists could have only dreamed of under Johnson, who would have seen the political nightmare of such a strategy a mile away.

New Zealand also has a top tax rate 39% that only about 1% of the country pays, introduced by Robertson in a clear attempt to bait National into promising to abolish it. National have taken the bait and promised to get rid of it, despite the easy Labour taunt that this would give thousands and thousands of dollars to some of the richest New Zealanders, including Christopher Luxon himself if prime minister.

It might not go off in Luxons face quite so spectacularly, but if National do retain this policy it will remain a potent weapon in Labours hands. Arent we supposed to all have tall poppy syndrome?

Follow our politics podcast Gone By Lunchtime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast provider.

Read more from the original source:

Three lessons for New Zealand politicians from the UK's Trusstastrophe - The Spinoff

"I contend that republican reform can be designed for New Zealand without engaging with these fatter legislative models especially when the republican model is grounded in the reality of current arrangements and practice," Dr Knight wrote.

"Minimal change and much continuity obviates the need for extensive revision of constitutional rules and seeks to avoid the dangers of inadvertently upsetting the operation and practice of existing offices and institutions. "

This minimalist approach is also supported by the New Zealand Republic campaign.

NZ Republic chair Lewis Holden told AM we would follow similar parliamentary systems around the world where the Governor-General takes office and becomes the head of state - with the aim of keeping politicians away from the role.

The campaign's position is that while the transition to an independent head of state won't change the status of the Treaty, an additional clause clarifying this and stating that the Crown is the "Government and People of New Zealand" should be in any legislation establishing a republic; further protecting the Mori-Government relationship.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi is often cited as a constitutional issue for Aotearoa New Zealand because our treaty is entangled with the Crown.

Many experts have reassured the government obligations to compensate Mori under Te Tiriti o Waitangi wouldn't change, but there is currently no legal or constitutional certainty the Treaty will be safeguarded if New Zealand does become a republic.

Auckland University law Professor Janet McLean said some people believe replacing the Queen with a Kiwi won't actually decolonise New Zealand.

"There's a big question about whether you reimagine the Crown-Maori relationship in a more radical way or whether you just do something not as radical and carry on," Prof McLean said.

Mori opinion on a republic is divided.

Mori Crown Relations Te Arawhiti Minister Kelvin Davis said in a statement to Newshub his priority is that the Te Tiriti o Waitangi is upheld.

"It is not a priority for me to look into becoming a republic. If we continue to be governed as we are or become a republic, my priority is for Aotearoa to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi," Davis said.

"If changes to our country mean sacrificing Te Tiriti, then this is something I would not support."

See the article here:

Soft republicanism or constitution overhaul?: What could happen to New Zealand if we became a republic - Newshub

PALMERSTON NORTH More than a dozen calves wait at a research farm in New Zealand to be fed Kowbucha, a punnily named probiotic that studies show reduces burps or methane emissions.

The Kowbucha powder is blended into a milk-like drink fed to the calves at the Massey University farm in Palmerston North.

The regular feeds are part of a series of trials being carried out by New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra since 2021 to gauge how effective the probiotic is in reducing methane emissions. New Zealand has pledged to cut biogenic methane emissions by 10 per cent on 2017 levels by 2030 and by up to 47 per cent by 2050.

The "true eureka moment" came when early trials suggested that calves emit up to 20 per cent less methane when they receive the probiotic supplement, said Dr Shalome Bassett, principal scientist at Fonterra Research and Development Centre.

"Probiotics are great because they're a really natural solution," Dr Bassett told Reuters. "Whatever we do, it has to be something that's easy for the farmer to use, has to be cost effective, and we have to ensure that it's good for the cow and doesn't have any effect on the milk."

Ongoing trials have shown similar, promising results, she said. If that continues, Fonterra hopes to have Kowbucha sachets in stores by the end of 2024, Dr Bassett said, before farmers have to start paying for animal burps.

Fonterra said it did not yet have any pricing information for the sachets.

Some feed additives available abroad have proved to be more efficient. Royal DSM's Bovaer feed additive can reduce methane emissions by 30 per cent in dairy cows and by more in beef cattle.

Fonterra said Kowbucha likely provides an easier solution generally as farmers only have to feed it to calves when they are being reared, given it is expected to have a lasting impact.

New Zealand will in 2025 become the first country to price agricultural emissions, including methane emissions from burping cows and sheep, whose digestive systems produce methane when breaking down vegetation. Agricultural emissions account for around half of the country's greenhouse gas emissions.

Ahead of that, farmers, businesses and scientists are working on ways to cut emissions without reducing herd number, given agricultural products make up more than 75 per cent of the country's goods exports.

As well as the early optimism around Kowbucha, AgResearch scientists said in December they had successfully bred low-methane producing sheep, while a product called EcoPond that almost eradicates methane in farm sewage has been on sale since late 2021.

New Zealand is also considering whether supplements that have had success abroad can be adapted locally. Much of the science overseas focuses on altering barn animals' food and is harder to implement in a country where animals largely live outdoors and eat grass.

"The easiest way to reduce emissions is to reduce production or have less animals basically, so that's a real challenge when we're trying to also produce food and keep our export returns at the level that we want them," said ANZ agricultural economist Susan Kilsby.

Ahead of 2025, the government has released a proposal where biogenic methane and long-lived gases will be priced separately but those prices will be set by the government.

While pricing farm emissions is not universally popular, many believe it is the push farmers need to reduce them.

Mr Mike Manning, general manager of innovation and strategy at agricultural cooperative Ravensdown, said farmers have been slow to adopt its EcoPond technology without financial incentives.

The system cuts up to 99 per cent of the methane emitted from the manure-sludge left behind in a dairy shed after milking.

"People go 'well, I might wait until I have a price of methane then I have a financial driver'," Mr Manning added.

New Zealand's government said in May it would spend NZ$380 million ($303 million) on research over four years to counter agricultural emissions.

The cash injection may accelerate research and get some emerging technologies into the hands of farmers and growers "much earlier" said Dr Sinead Leahy, principal science advisor at government-funded Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre.

A lot of research is already under way.

After discovering that some sheep naturally produce less methane than others, AgResearch headquartered in Hamilton bred sheep with this inheritable trait with one another and found that the lowest emitting sheep produced close to 13 per cent less methane than the highest emitters.

If such breeding were to be carried out on a national level, it could reduce New Zealand's methane emissions by up to 1 per cent, said AgResearch.

The dairy industry is now looking at how to apply that research to cows, Dr Leahy said.

For Fonterra, research also remains key as it aims to cap farm emissions at 2015 levels. In addition to Kowbucha, it is also trialling other feed additives and seaweed.

"It's definitely important for us to be leading in this space. Our farmers need a solution and New Zealand needs a solution," said Dr Bassett. REUTERS

Read the rest here:

On New Zealand farm, scientists reduce cow burps to save the world - TODAY

A stately mansion in New Zealand that featured in two Lord of the Rings films hit the market earlier this month with a US$5.2 million price guide.

The 27-acre estate, called Fernside, comprises a grand main residence, a guest cottage and storybook grounds, including a picturesque lake. It played a pivotal role in two of the franchises films: The Fellowship of the Ring and The Return of the King.

More:Londons Most Expensive Home, a 20-Bedroom Megamansion, Is Back on the Market for 200 Million

Director Peter Jackson used Fernside in South Wairarapa on the North Island for several key scenes due to the whimsical grounds and his personal connection with the region. In fact, the Oscar-winning filmmaker lives just down the road.

The lake was transformed into Silverlode River where Cate Blanchetts character Galadriel farewells the hobbits and is also the fateful place where Smeagol, played by Andy Serkis, discovers the precious ring. During filming more than two decades ago, some of the cast members, including Orlando Bloom and Elijah Wood, reportedly even stayed at the homestead.

The sellers, a private family who didnt own the property at the time of filming, have revived the significant estate since purchasing it in 2007 for NZ$5.06 million (at the time US$3.84 million), according to CoreLogic NZ.

The work done to the home included restoring the original gardens, adding bridges and jetties around the lake and painting the house, as well as fixing up the derelict cottage. Built for a wool baron in the mid-19th century, the main house was later destroyed by fire. The property was entirely rebuilt in the 1920s for Charles Elgar, chairman of the New Zealand Red Cross during World War I. By 1945, the property was sold to the U.S. embassy and used as the ambassadors residence for 10 years, according to the listing agent and public information about the property.

More:A Historic English Country Estate Still Has Most of Its 900-Year-Old Moat

The neo-Georgianstyle homestead features a drawing room with sunroom and terrace, formal lounge and dining rooms, as well as a grand kitchen with scullery. Upstairs there are five bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms plus three more bedrooms in the original staff quarters.

The next owners could use the property, listed with PQ Property Intelligence, an affiliate of Forbes Global Properties, for many different purposes, said PQ managing director Anthony Morsinkhof.

This is one of the most significant properties in New Zealand. Its gardens are mind-bogglingly beautiful, the photos just dont do it justice. I havent seen anything like it, and I sell a lot of real estate, he said.

Mr. Morsinkhof said the unique property is perfectly suited for an events or hospitality business.

The bedrooms are grand and beautifully fitted out, its already got a commercial kitchen so it could easily be turned into luxury accommodation or a healthcare retreat, he added. And its ideally located in one of the most up-and-coming areas in New Zealand for tourism.

Several themed gardens include an entrance courtyard with fountain, rose beds, box hedging, a tennis court garden, scented walk, daffodil paddock, bluebell glade, green houses and sunken garden. There is also a woodland, large main lawn, goldfish pond and the silver screen-worthy lake.

The meticulous restoration put Fernside on the map as a garden of national significance. The private orchard produces varieties of apples, pears, peaches, plums, figs, avocados and an array of citrus trees. The gourmet garden also produces walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, mulberries, strawberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, gooseberries, raspberries, boysenberriesand, of coursekiwifruit.

While the owners have entertained weddings, society events and even Lord of the Rings tours at their property, they said its future potential depends on the motivations of the next owners.

More:Six Cities, Six Continents: Inside Iconic Home Styles Around the World

The Wairarapa region is predominantly rural, but dotted with several towns including Masterton just 30 minutes from Fernside with an airport catering to private aircraft. Wellington International Airport is approximately one and a half hours away by car.

Youve got everything at your fingertips; the mountains, beautiful rivers and amazing beaches, as well as upmarket restaurants and boutique shopping, Mr. Morsinkhof said.

I often refer to it as the Hamptons of New Zealand. There are a lot of high end properties in the area, and it attracts Wellingtonians looking for second lifestyle homes. A lot of film industry people call the area home too; [Mr.] Jackson has a place nearby, so does James Cameron, Richard Taylor and Tania Rodger from Weta Workshop (design studio). So theres already significant international money in the region.

Read the rest here:

Its Not a Hobbits Home, but This New Zealand Property Starred in Lord of The Rings - Mansion Global

By Geoffrey Miller for The Democracy Project*

India's external affairs minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern last week. Photo: Supplied / Twitter / DrSJaishankar

Opinion - New Zealand's relationship with India is not in good health.

That's the underlying message from a rare visit to New Zealand by India's external affairs minister, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

Jaishankar met with his New Zealand counterpart, Nanaia Mahuta, last Thursday - but only for an hour.

At a press conference with Mahuta in Auckland, Jaishankar was publicly critical of New Zealand's unwillingness to renew visas for Indian students who had left New Zealand during the Covid-19 pandemic and called for 'fairer and more sympathetic treatment'.

Mahuta's response to the criticism was to pass the buck to Michael Wood, New Zealand's immigration minister, who was conveniently not present, and to point to hardships suffered by New Zealand students themselves.

Jaishankar reiterated his criticism at other engagements during his trip and on Twitter, and the comments dominated Indian media coverage of his five-day visit to Auckland and Wellington.

Despite the usual pleasantries, there was a sense that India had lost patience with New Zealand - a sentiment that was underlined by Jaishankar's later observation in Wellington of 'there is a larger world out there'.

Even more troubling from New Zealand's perspective was the extraordinary admission by Mahuta that a free trade agreement was 'not a priority for New Zealand or India'.

Instead, Mahuta could only point to potential economic cooperation in 'niche areas' such as digital services and 'green business' - a seemingly underwhelming approach that was endorsed by Jaishankar.

It is a far cry from the bold and ambitious India strategy that was launched by New Zealand to much fanfare in February 2020, when the then foreign affairs minister Winston Peters travelled to India.

The strategy, called 'Investing in the relationship', listed a free trade agreement as one of the major goals.

But the underlying theme of the blueprint was the need for a more long-term, sustained commitment by New Zealand to forging ties with the much larger India.

To this end, the plan called for 'more frequent high-level government engagements to build the trade, economic, political and security aspects of the relationship'.

Of course, the timing of the launch of the strategy turned out to be unfortunate. Within weeks of Peters' visit to New Delhi, most of the world had entered some form of lockdown to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

But the overarching principle - that New Zealand needs to put far more time and effort into the India relationship, without necessarily expecting an immediate pay-off - still holds true.

Trade figures demonstrate the difficulties New Zealand's relationship with India is facing.

While New Zealand's exports to India were approaching NZ$2 billion annually in 2017, they have since collapsed to under NZ$800 million.

The impact of Covid-19 - which stopped Indian tourists and students coming to New Zealand - explains much of this slide, but by no means all of it. The initial decline actually began in 2018.

In fact, the deterioration has been so dramatic that India now ranks only 15th place in the list of New Zealand's biggest trading partners.

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stands next to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the RCEP summit in Bangkok in 2019. Photo: RNZ

As recently as 2016, India was New Zealand's 10th biggest trading partner.

For comparison, New Zealand now sells less to India than it does to the United Arab Emirates.

Moreover, Jaishankar's forthright criticisms of New Zealand's handling of visas suggest that India is in no rush to encourage its citizens to head back to New Zealand now that the Covid-19 pandemic has eased.

Despite the warning signs, New Zealand's Labour Government has shown only limited interest in nurturing the relationship with India, even allowing for Covid-19 travel disruption.

To his credit, New Zealand's trade minister, Damien O'Connor, did at least fly to India last month, albeit only for a brief two-day visit.

But last week's visit by Jaishankar would have been an opportune moment for Jacinda Ardern to signal an intention to visit India herself - as she did with China in August.

But neither Ardern, nor Mahuta gave any hint that a visit to New Delhi is on the horizon.

Even when India's external affairs minister was in New Zealand, Ardern fitted in only a sideline meeting with him at an Indian community event in Auckland.

To find a contrast with New Zealand's experience, one only needs to look to Australia, which hosted Jaishankar this week.

A press conference between Jaishankar and Penny Wong, Australia's foreign minister, seemed particularly warm.

Wong was keen to point out that she had already met her Indian counterpart some seven times since she became foreign minister in May.

And from the Indian side, there was no parallel in Canberra to the criticisms Jaishankar had expressed about New Zealand's government while in Wellington and Auckland.

The Australia-India relationship has undoubtedly blossomed since the revival of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (or Quad for short, an arrangement that also includes Japan and the United States) in 2017, but there is more to it than just that.

Australia and India entered into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2020.

And this year, they signed a free trade deal with India that will eliminate tariffs on over 85 per cent of Australian exports.

The deal is not perfect - it includes wine and sheepmeat, but it completely excludes dairy.

Nevertheless, India is already Australia's seventh-biggest trading partner - and growing.

The current strength of India's relationship with Australia - and the relative weakness of ties with New Zealand - seems all the more remarkable when the current geopolitical faultline of Ukraine is brought into the equation.

Australia is one of Ukraine's biggest supporters - and one of the top 10 donors of military aid.

By contrast, India has a very different position on the war.

New Delhi has steadfastly avoided joining the Western-led coalition which is backing Kyiv.

Indeed, in Canberra, Jaishankar was quizzed by media on India's ongoing ties with Russia and its abstention in key UN votes criticising Moscow.

But the differences have not seemed to harm relations between Australia and India.

Instead, the two countries have effectively agreed to disagree on Ukraine and to work on shared interests in other areas.

In a time of extreme geopolitical polarisation, this is an achievement in itself.

While New Zealand has backed the West on Ukraine, it has done so in a more measured way than Australia - which in theory should make it easier to find common ground with India.

In Wellington, Jaishankar https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/jaishankar-inaugurates-new-indian-high-commission-chancery-in-wellington/article65988028.ece said New Zealand's relationship with India was 'due for refresh'].

He is not wrong.

But a reset will take time - and it will need leadership.

* Geoffrey Miller is the Democracy Project's international analyst and writes on current New Zealand foreign policy and related geopolitical issues. He has lived in Germany and the Middle East and is a learner of Arabic and Russian.

Originally posted here:

Opinion: New Zealand's relationship with India is in trouble - RNZ

Everything you need to know New Zealand v Lebanon

New Zealand head into this World Cup with the strongest squad they have had in years. The Kiwis will be looking to claim their first World Cup success since 2008 this autumn.

Michael Maguires have one of the strongest spines in the tournament, featuring the likes of NRL superstars Joey Manu, Dylan Brown, Jahrome Hughes and Brandon Smith.

Lebanon have two superstar half-backs of their own though in the shape of Adam Doueihi and Mitchell Moses, with the latter playing in the NRL Grand Final for Parramatta.

The Cedars will be coached by Argentina rugby union coach Michael Cheika at this World Cup. Cheika was born in Australia to Lebanese parents. They will be hoping to make it out of the groups.

Heres everything you need to know about the match

New Zealand 19-man squad: 1 Joey Manu, 2 Ronaldo Mulitalo, 3 Marata Niukore, 4 Peta Hiku, 5 Jordan Rapana, 6 Dylan Brown, 7 Jahrome Hughes, 8 Jesse Bromwich, 9 Brandon Smith, 10 James Fisher-Harris, 11 Isaiah Papalii, 12 Kenny Bromwich, 13 Joe Tapine, 14 Kieran Foran, 15 Moses Leota, 16 Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 17 Briton Nikora, 19 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 21 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.

Lebanon 19-man squad:1 Jacob Kiraz, 2 Josh Mansour, 4 Brad Morkos, 5 Abbas Miski, 6 Adam Doueihi, 7 Mitchell Moses, 8 Kayne Kalache, 9 Michael Tannous, 10 Hanna El Nachar, 11 Elie El Zakhem, 12 Charbel Tasipale, 13 James Roumanos, 14 Anthony Layoun, 15, Andrew Kazzi, 16 Reece Robinson, 17 Jalal Bazzaz, 19 Khalil Rahme, 20 Jaxson Rahme, 21 Josh Maree.

New Zealand captain Jesse Bromwich said: Anything but the final is a bit of a failure. Im really excited by what the squad can do. Its been a long time since New Zealand had a squad like this. For me, its not just the one-to-17, its the depth of the whole squad.

Lebanon coach Michael Cheika, who has welcomed former London Broncos boss Tony Rea onto his backroom staff, said: Weve a really good base of knowledge from some coaches that have been involved at the top end of the game.

BBC Red Button TV, 7:05pm | BBC iPlayer

Every game across the mens, womens and wheelchair World Cup tournaments is being broadcast by the BBC.

The match will also be available to view on the BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport mobile app.

LIST:How to watch every Rugby League World Cup game on the BBC

New Zealand are second favourites behind reigning champions Australia to win the World Cup according to Planet Sport Bet, who have them priced at 10/3 to lift the trophy.

As a result, the Kiwis are understandably massive favourites heading into their opening World Cup match against Lebanon at 1/200.

If you fancy an outside bet, Lebanon are priced at 20/1 to cause an upset in Warrington.

I think New Zealand will win the tournament this time around. The Kiwis thumped Leeds 74-0 last weekend, so they head into the World Cup in strong form. I reckon theyll win by at least 30 against Lebanon.

Jamaica v Ireland: Team news, how to watch on TV & predictions

Scotland v Italy: Team news, how to watch on TV & predictions

England v Samoa: Team news, how to watch on TV & predictions

FOLLOW:Keep up with all the latest on the Love Rugby League mobile app and podcast

Original post:

RLWC2021 New Zealand v Lebanon: Team news, how to watch on TV & predictions - Love Rugby League

Australia and New Zealand set to reaffirm defence relationship to protect security in the region. Image: Aleksandar Mijatovic/Shutterstock.com

New Zealands Minister of Defence Peeni Henare departs for Australia on Sunday, October 16 to meet with the countrys Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Richard Marles to discuss defence cooperation and security in the region.

The annual meeting will take place in Victoria ahead of both Ministers travelling to Tonga to attend the South Pacific Defence Ministers meeting, the New Zealand government said.

Peeni Henare said about the meeting: I met with Minister Marles at the Shangri-La Dialogue earlier this year and we agreed we needed to sit down and have a more in-depth discussion, and this is a good opportunity to do just that.

Australia is our only formal defence ally and our two countries have a proud history of working together. This will be a chance for the two of us to discuss matters relating to our region and how our two countries can further strengthen our bilateral defence relationship and cooperation.

Henare travels to Tonga on Monday, October 17 and will return to New Zealand on October 20.

The news comes after the New Zealand government added new sanctions and trade bans on Russia and Belarus in response to Putins attempts to illegally annex parts of Ukraine.

Sanctions targeted 51 oligarchs including New Zealand-linked Alexander Abramov and 24 Russian-backed office holders in annexed areas of Ukraine.

The new bans were on exports and imports of luxury goods like NZ wine and seafood and Russian vodka and caviar, as well as strategically important products like oil, gas and related production equipment.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article, do remember to come back and checkThe Euro Weekly Newswebsite for all your up-to-date local and international news stories and remember, you can also follow us onFacebookandInstagram.

Read more:

Australia and New Zealand set to reaffirm defence relationship to protect security in the region - Euro Weekly News