Category Archives: New Zealand

Connor Garden-Bachop, right, following a game against the Rebels earlier this season. Photo /Getty Images

Highlanders and Mori All Blacks player Connor Garden-Bachop has died. He was 25.

The Highlanders confirmed his death to the Herald. Garden-Bachop, son of former All Black Stephen Bachop and Black Fern Sue Garden-Bachop, was part of the Highlanders Super Rugby Pacific squad this season.

He died following a medical event, a statement from New Zealand Rugby, the New Zealand Mori Rugby Board, Highlanders, Wellington Rugby and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association said.

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

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

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

Police were called to the scene of a sudden death in Fendalton, Christchurch around 5.55pm yesterday. In a statement, police said: The death is not being treated as suspicious and will be referred to the Coroner.

Garden-Bachop posted on Instagram three days ago thanking the Highlanders after playing at the franchise. He made his debut for the Highlanders in 2021 and made seven appearances for the side this season, playing in the sides final regular season defeat to the Hurricanes earlier this month.

Thank you @highlandersteam for an unforgettable five years. Thank you to everyone in the south for making me feel at home, and thank you to the boys I have been honoured to share the field with, its been a pleasure, I will miss you all. Till next time, he said.

Garden-Bachop attended Scots College in Wellington and made his provincial debut for Wellington against Canterbury in 2018, playing alongside his brother Jackson in a Ranfurly Shield challenge win over Hawkes Bay in 2022 before winning the NPC title later that season. His Super Rugby debut came in 2021 against the Crusaders.

His father played five tests for the All Blacks in 1994 having earlier represented Manu Samoa at the 1991 Rugby World Cup. As well as playing for the Black Ferns, his mother represented New Zealand in touch rugby, basketball and hockey.

The joint statement from the rugby organisations paid tribute to Garden-Bachop, saying:

Paiahaha Paiahaha

Kei te tangi te ao whutupro

Kua hinga ttahi o ng tama

O te papa takaro.

E te rangatira

E Connor

Kei te tangi te ao whutupro

Takoto e moe e Hika

Attention Attention

The house of rugby laments

The passing of one of its sons

Who graced the playing fields

O Chiefly one

Connor

The rugby world weeps for you

Rest now in peace our friend

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Connor Garden-Bachop dies after medical event: Tributes flow for Highlanders and Mori All Blacks player - New Zealand Herald

Air New Zealand is boosting capacity into Japan in summer with 30,000 more seats on its Auckland-Tokyo route, as more leased planes boost its long-haul fleet.

The announcement coincides with a trade and tourism push into Japan, led by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Air New Zealand chief executive Greg Foran and company chairwoman Dame Therese Walsh are part of the delegation.

Foran says the increase in capacity reflects the demand the airline is seeing and will boost economic growth in tourism for New Zealand.

Japan is an incredibly important visitor market for the New Zealand tourism industry, so additional seats over our busiest season means more inbound travel from Japan.

Adding the 777 to more of our Tokyo services means that there are more seats available in premium cabins and that customers may experience our newly refreshed aircraft, which includes new seat covers and updated soft products like pillows and blankets.

With 342 seats, including 44 Business Premier and 54 Premium Economy, it offers more capacity and options to book premium cabins.

The airline and tourism businesses here will hope the extra capacity will stimulate what has been a sluggish recovery in the number of Japanese visitors coming here since borders opened.

Already subdued before the pandemic, the Japanese outbound market has suffered from nervousness about travelling, but also the low value of the yen compared with other currencies. Last year there were 51,000 visitor arrivals, half the pre-Covid figure.

But the number of Kiwis visiting Japan has surged post pandemic, largely due to lower on-ground costs, and the increased capacity will further boost that market.

Air New Zealand says the announcement is part of an increase in capacity to key destinations in Asia, with the airline adding a total of 55,000 seats across Singapore, Tokyo, and Taipei between November 2024 and March 2025.

The increase includes a higher proportion of premium seats, giving customers more opportunities to travel with extra space and comfort.

While the airlines 14-strong Boeing 787 fleet has been depleted by ongoing Rolls-Royce engine maintenance issues, it is understood it will have three leased Cathay Pacific Boeing 777s in its fleet by the end of the year.

Asia capacity increases for November-March include:

Foran said premium cabins were incredibly popular with customers travelling to and from destinations like Singapore, Tokyo, and Taipei.

Its a terrific way to support our tourism economy as Aotearoa welcomes back more tourists from Asia. Tourism has been a little slower to return from Asia than we had expected, but were now seeing that pick up, so more premium seats means more options for customers, he said.

Luxon, a former Air New Zealand boss, said: New Zealand and Japan have long-standing connections, particularly when it comes to our tourism sector. Pre-Covid we welcomed over 100,000 visitors from Japan every year, so its great to see air travel capacity increasing again, providing an important boost to New Zealands economy.

Grant Bradley has been working at the Herald since 1993. He is the Business Heralds deputy editor and covers aviation and tourism.

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Air New Zealand increasing flights to Japan in big push into Asia - New Zealand Herald

The Beths are finishing their Expert in a Dying Field album cycle in style with a homecoming tour.

The power-pop band will perform in Aotearoa for the first time in almost two years this September, stopping in Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington (see full dates below).

Its been way too long! Nearly 2 years?? Here are a handful of Aotearoa shows to finish Expert in a Dying Fields journey amongst friends and whanau, the band wrote on social media today.

The tour announcement follows a big night for The Beths: they were winners at the 2024 Aotearoa Music Awards in Auckland on Thursday night, taking home the awards for Album of the Year and Best Group. Its the bands second Album of the Year win and third Best Group triumph.

The Beths Elizabeth Stokes shared, We are constantly inspired by the amount of incredible, world-class work being made by artists from our small but mighty piece of the world. Congratulations to everyone! Thanks Ben and Tristan for representing with grace and poise. I wish Jono and I were there to celebrate. Proud to be a Beth today!

Expert in a Dying Field has been their most successful album to date, earning the band a nomination for the 2023 APRA Silver Scroll Award. The album cycle has seen the Auckland four-piece tour consistently across North America, Australia, the UK, and Europe, including supporting the likes of The National, Death Cab for Cutie, and The Postal Service.

At the 2023 Panhead Rolling Stone Aotearoa Awards, the band won the prestigious Rolling Stone Global Award, seeing off strong competition from Six60, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, BENEE, and more acclaimed Kiwi artists.

Tickets to The Beths Aotearoa tour go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, June 5h at 10am NZST via the bands official website. Fans can also sign up for the pre-sale here.

Tickets available via thebeths.com

Friday, September 20th Hollywood Avondale, Auckland

Friday, September 27th The Church, Christchurch

Saturday, September 28th Meow Nui, Wellington

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The Beths Announce 2024 New Zealand Tour - Rolling Stone Australia

New Zealand's Health Information Standards Organisation is now developingnew standards for interoperable health information exchange in the country.

In an update on the progress of the Hira programme, Te Whatu Ora disclosed that HISO is working on the NZ Core Data for Interoperability (NZCDI). Patterned after the United States' Core Data for Interoperability standards, it will be the "standard for the most commonly shared health data in clinical workflows and consumer access to data."

WHY IT MATTERS

New Zealand is enabling full interoperability across its digital health ecosystem. In 2020, HISO released the Interoperability Roadmap, which serves as its guide to achieving that goal. Its key deliverable is the localversion of the International Patient Summary. An adaptation of the ISO and HL7 International Patient Summary standards, the HISO IPSis primarily a standard for the makeup and exchange of core personal health information.

This foundational standard is at the core of the New Zealand Patient Summary (NZPS), now liveon My Health Record, which enables consumers' access to essential health information, such as laboratory results, community-dispensed medicines, and immunisation records. It can be accessed via a website or clinical applications.

THE LARGER CONTEXT

The first stage of the Hira implementation is about to close next month, June. So far, the programme has fulfilled its target of rollingout My Health Record during this period. Launched in February, the platform replaced My Covid Record, allowing people to access and view more health information beyond vaccination records, including their and their children's National Health Index details.

After introducing the NZPS, the Hira team is now developing the NZPS Clinical View to provide hospitals with secure access to patients' health information anytime, anywhere.

An applicationprogramming interfacewill be released soon to allow direct integration of the NZPS with more clinical applications, including clinical portals and practice management systems.

This API will be added to the upcoming Health New Zealand Digital Services Hub, which will replace the existing Hira Marketplace next month. It will provide more services, including a developer portal with API testing capabilities and identity and access protections.

In other related news,Te Whatu Ora has recently released the draft of the first API standards for the New Zealand health sector. It covers guidance and expectations for API design and development and API security. A technical standards committee under HISO has been set up to provide feedback on it.

Meanwhile, the Hira team is expectingto onboard by end-Maythe first subscriber to the National Event Management Service, which provides near real-time notification of death events.

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New Zealand coming up with national HIE standards - Healthcare IT News

Photo Credit: OFC Media

Tahitian club AS Tefana travelled to Auckland in May to provide international travelling experience for their talented youth.

In previous years, Tefana has sent their youth development squads to France for a tour but in 2024 they visited Aotearoa New Zealand playing two friendly matches while taking in the sights that Auckland has to offer.

The tour is structured around exposing youth players to different football environments and styles of play. The Tefana U-13 side tested themselves against Papakura City FC and one of the strongest clubs in the country, Eastern Suburbs.

Benchmarking against clubs and players from other countries is crucial for youth football players for several reasons. It enhances skill and technique development through exposure to different playing styles and high-level competition. It builds confidence and fosters resilience and adaptability, while promoting cultural exchange and team bonding, OFC Player Development Officer Phill Parker explained.

After a 5-0 victory against Papakura, AS Tefana found it far more difficult against Eastern Suburbs, going down 5-0 in cold and wet conditions at Ngahue Reserve. Despite the defeat, it was a valuable learning exercise for all involved, and a good performance benchmark against a successful international club.

While the focus is football, it provides scouting and career opportunities, offering visibility to scouts for potential scholarships or contracts. Parker says to share experience and knowledge is an important step for AS Tefana to grow and get better.

International benchmarking is vital for the holistic development of youth soccer players, enhancing their technical, mental and social skills while providing invaluable global exposure, said Parker.

On the field and off the field, all objectives of the tour were met and exceeded expectations. Players, staff and club were exposed to diverse playing styles against high-level opposition while gaining a cultural understanding of Aotearoa New Zealand.

International tours offer multifaceted benefits, including improved skills, cultural enrichment and enhanced career opportunities. Parker believes other countries should consider such tours, to foster holistic development and global integration of their youth football players.

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AS Tefana expose youth to New Zealand football - Oceania Football Confederation

In the stillness of a Queenstown autumn morning, the first tendrils of light dance across the snow-dusted peaks of the Remarkables. Im drawn to the window of my hotel room. The hushed world outside is painted in hues of rose and gold. The TSS Earnslaw, a steamship that has been running since 1912, has just departed the harbour and is gliding across Lake Wakatipu on its first voyage of the morning. Low-hanging clouds add a moody drama to the scene Im eating up. I have no doubt the very heavens have bestowed their benediction upon this corner of New Zealand. How can we be in the throes of what guidebooks call low season?

This is my second trip to Aotearoa during Autumn, and Im convinced it doesnt get any better. Ive travelled from Thailand, where the sweltering heat and humidity cling to the skin like a second layer this time of year. The shockingly crisp (and clean) air and cool weather of New Zealands South Island is the antidote to a Southeast Asian summer.

Truthfully, an escape to colder weather is almost always my motivator for travel come April, but Ive found that a trip to New Zealand during its shoulder season offers so much more than an opportunity to don a pair of boots.

As the summer crowds disperse, every encounter with the soul-stirring landscapes that define New Zealand feels more profoundmore intimate. From the rugged coastlines of the North to the jagged mountains in the South, vibrant and untamed nature puts on a show that even the most seasoned traveller cant resist.

And then, of course, theres the foodfresh, seasonal, hyper-local and bursting with flavour. At the Walter Peak High Country Farm, I ate a carrot pulled straight from the ground and a cucumber right off the vine, both impossibly flavourful with the lands nutrients. Every meal is a celebration of the land and its bounty.

My visit not-so-accidentally coincides with the wine harvest. While you can absolutely immerse yourself in New Zealands wine culture at any time of the year, there is something decidedly wonderful about touring a vineyard while the vines are heavy with fruit and the air heady with the aroma of ripening grapes.

I arrive at Gibbston Valley Winery, pioneers of the Central Otago wine region, via helicopter, after a scenic tour of Queenstown. Still buzzing from the utterly humbling ride through vistas that defy descriptiona patchwork of rivers, and snow-capped peaks stretching as far as the eye can seewe head straight into the countrys largest wine cave.

Our guide waxes about this seasons rich harvest, his stories weigh heavier with every sip of the vineyards velvety Pinot Noir. Here, the grapes ripen slowly under the watchful gaze of snow-capped peaks, but each region of the country offers a unique expression of New Zealands burgeoning wine culture. Later in my trip, Ill sip an Albarino that absolutely sings while basking in the gentle Autumnal sun with views of the Hauraki Gulf at Casita Miro, a family-run vineyard on the verdant island of Waiheke.

But the true essence of New Zealand during off-season doesnt just lie in its vineyards; for me, its discovered in moments immersed in natures embracesoaking in natural hot springs beneath star-studded skies in Queenstown or a quiet walk through ancient forests in Northland ablaze with the colours of fall. As the days grow shorter and the air crisper, New Zealands charm only deepens, inviting everyone to slow down and savour the moment (and the wine).

Heres a T+L-approved list of activities that encapsulate the essence of New Zealand during these off-peak months:

Delve into the heart of New Zealands scenic landscapes aboard the iconic TranzAlpine train. Departing from Christchurch, this rail journey traverses the rugged terrain of the Southern Alps, treating passengers to panoramic views of snow-capped peaks, winding gorges, and verdant valleys. Whether youre riding in winter or spring, the journey promises a visual feast.

Just like its more well-known equivalent in the northern hemisphere, the southern lights, or Aurora Australis, is a natural light display caused by the collision of charged particles with the Earths magnetic field. During winter evenings, when darkness prevails, lucky observers can witness the ethereal dance of vibrant colours in places with little light pollution like Stewart Island and the Catlins.

Five of the 17 Dark Sky Reserves in the world are in New Zealand. These are certified areas that preserve and protect the night through responsible lighting policies and public education. New Zealand boasts Dark Sky Reserves in both the North and South Islands, making it home to some of the most accessible night sky observatories in the world. These reserves provide pristine conditions for stargazing and observing celestial events, attracting astronomers, enthusiasts and wanderlust travelers alike.

Trust us, soaking in a hot bath hits differently when youre surrounded by snow-capped peaks. From the renowned thermal pools of Hanmer Springs to the geothermal gems of Rotorua, these rejuvenating sanctuaries around the country offer respite from the chilland perhaps some recovery from all of the adventuring.

Wed be remiss without mentioning the world-class skiing on offer during New Zealands winter season. Traverse the snow-clad peaks of Queenstowns Remarkables or Wanakas Treble Cone, where meticulously groomed runs cater to all skill levels. Whether carving fresh tracks through powdery snow or honing your technique with an instructor, the countrys premier ski resorts provide an unparalleled alpine experience.

In New Zealands off-season, nature enthusiasts can still revel in remarkable wildlife encounters. June and July mark the annual migration of humpback whales in Kaikura. Board specialized whale-watching vessels to witness these majestic creatures breaching and playing in their natural habitat. Expert guides provide insights into their behaviors as you navigate the oceans expanse.

Beyond humpbacks, the off-season reveals a spectrum of marine life along the coastlines, including seals, dolphins, and albatross. Inland, hiking trails wind through national parks, providing glimpses of native bird species like kiwis and keas.

The cooler seasons are a great time to discover the flavours of traditional Mori cuisine, known as kai. With a profound connection to the land, this highly seasonal cuisine shifts towards heartier fare in the winter. Communal feasts are cooked in earth ovens (hng), infusing meats and root vegetables with a depth of flavour. Spring brings an abundance of fresh produce, celebrated best in regions like Rotorua, where cultural centres such as Te Puia offer immersive culinary experiences.

There is a growing trend of restaurants integrating traditional ingredients into their menus throughout New Zealand, showcasing the rich heritage of Mori gastronomy. Seasonal delicacies, such as Bluff oysters in the south and the sweet, tender kmara (sweet potato) harvested in the north, further highlight the diverse and fresh offerings available throughout the year.

VisitNewZealand.comfor more winter and spring holiday ideas.

Travelling from Southeast Asia to New Zealand is straightforward with Qantas, which offers multiple flights per day from major cities like Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta and Manila. The airline provides seamless connections via Australian cities to key New Zealand destinations, including Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown, facilitating easy access to the countrys diverse destinations.

All Qantas international fares include checked baggage allowance, food and beverages and inflight entertainment as standard with every booking.

http://www.qantas.com

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Why Shoulder Season Might Be the Best Season to Visit New Zealand - Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia

Think of Tourettes and you might think of involuntary swearing, gestures or noises, often portrayed in pop culture as something to be made fun of. In reality, only 10 per cent of people with Tourettes have the swearing tic, coprolalia. In New Zealand, one in 100 young people live with the neurological disorder and the stigma that comes with it. Here an Auckland-based father and son both living with Tourettes explain what its really like, and what needs to change about the way its perceived in New Zealand.

When Chris Henderson was 9 years old, a GP prescribed him harsh antipsychotic medication and told him to stare into a mirror to see how crazy he looked.

It was 1987 and Henderson had just been diagnosed with Tourettes syndrome. Hed been experiencing some of the signs since he was as young as 3 or 4 years old, such as eye rolling and motor tics.

When youre 9 and youve got a doctor telling you that, and youve got a mum and a dad and a sister that care and you dont know what to do except stare in a mirror, you kind of have to figure it out yourself, he tells the NZ Herald.

Now 46, hes the founder and CEO of Pita Pit New Zealand and a father of three. But ever since his diagnosis, Henderson says, its still always felt like I couldnt talk about it, because of those early years.

Growing up, his friends knew he wasnt weird or odd for having Tourettes, but during his intermediate and high school years, the bullying became really hard.

His tics havent gone away or changed over time. Im probably able to manage them slightly better as an adult, Henderson says.

The same triggers are nervousness and anxiety, pressure, tiredness. And so when I feel any of those symptoms, my tics flare up a little bit. When Im relaxed and in a really pure place of happiness and contentment, they tend to subside.

After his own horrific experience being medicated with haloperidol - which is also used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder - he says, Theres not a direct medical fix, in my opinion, for Tourettes.

What does help is general wellbeing; a balanced diet, exercise, and support from family and friends.

Two of Hendersons three children, including son Ryder, 11, also have Tourettes. Asked whether his own experience has helped him parent his sons living with the condition, he says its actually the other way around.

To tell the truth, my kids talk about it better than I do. They really do, he shares. But for me, I still feel uncomfortable about raising it with them, because of the traumas I had when I was Ryders age.

So the beautiful thing about it is we just chat about it. We just chat. Oh, Dad, this is my tic today. My other son will come home and go, Dad, I had this tic today that was so weird or funny.

Its just a part of the brain thats wired a bit differently. Ryders just a normal kid, Im a normal father, business owner, husband, sportsman.

Henderson says its important that theres more research into the disorder, which isnt widely understood, as well as better awareness from the public and Government around just how many young people live with the symptoms today.

What needs to change for people living with Tourettes is just the normalcy of it all, just to debunk the myth that its wrong or weird.

I want people to know its okay. When you see someone with it, try and understand what it is and just dont raise it with them, just talk to them as a person.

Like his dad, 11-year-old Ryder remembers having Tourettes since before his preschool days. But for the intermediate school student, its completely normal.

When I get excited, nervous or anxious about something coming up or happening like a cross-country race or going on a trip somewhere new, my tics get bigger and some of them can give me pain, like in my neck, he explains.

Ryder takes medication for ADHD, which can make his tics worse and in turn, this can make it difficult for him to focus at school.

Going to this new school, Ive had some people being mean about my Tourettes and stuff, he says.

Dad Chris came to his school to do a presentation about Tourettes for his classmates, and Ryder says the kids are a lot nicer to him now they understand it better.

Most people just ask me why I make funny movements and once I tell them I have Tourettes, they are cool about it.

Having a family that understands Tourettes makes all the difference. It makes me feel way better not being alone. It makes me feel like I can tic in a safe space without trying to hide it.

He wants Kiwi kids his age to know that Tourettes is completely normal, and that if they ever see anyone with Tourettes getting bullied, they have to stop it.

I cant help it. You cant tell someone to stop because it is just the way our brains are.

Its Tourettes Awareness Month in New Zealand until June 15, and the Tourettes Association of New Zealand (TANZ) is looking to raise awareness and funds through its Swear to Make a Difference campaign.

The associations general manager Emma Henderson explains that the campaign is not designed to make light of peoples tics, but rather to draw attention to the fact that 90 per cent of those with Tourettes do not have coprolalia.

She is also Chris Hendersons sister, and knows all too well that the disorder is misunderstood by many.

We just want people to accept those that have Tourettes in their community and talk to people with Tourettes, find out what its like to live with and know that it is difficult, but were not your punchline, she tells the NZ Herald.

It is a spectrum and while some tics are manageable for those living with it, it can range through to a debilitating syndrome that really has a direct impact on peoples lives.

TANZ is the only charity in the country that supports those living with the disorder, providing resources and advocacy and running Camp Twitch for young Kiwis with Tourettes and their families, all without government funding.

The cause of Tourettes is uncertain, though research suggests genetics and environmental factors have a part to play, according to TANZ.

To find out more about Tourettes and the Swear to Make a Difference campaign, you can visit the TANZ website here. You can donate to TANZ here.

If you think you or someone you know may have Tourettes syndrome, the first step is to visit your GP, who can refer you to a specialist for diagnosis.

Bethany Reitsma is an Auckland-based journalist covering lifestyle and entertainment stories who joined the Herald in 2019. She specialises in telling Kiwis real-life stories, money-saving hacks and anything even remotely related to coffee.

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Kiwi father and son reveal what having Tourette's is really like - New Zealand Herald

That was fast just a couple of weeks after it was revealed that Aussie and New Zealand Pokemon fans would be able to shop at the official Pokemon Centre Online web store, the virtual doors have now been opened in a soft launch.

The range available on the website seems to be more or less the same as the US, Canada and UK counterparts at this stage, with no fun exclusives, but given this is a soft launch that could very well change. Along with more localised postage, hopefully, as right now it all seems to be forwarded on through a global carrier at some eye-watering shipping prices. Products available to be shipped to Australia and NZ include the incredible POKMON KOGEI Pikachu plush, Squishmallows, Pokemon Centre-exclusive TCG boxes, figures, apparel and heaps more.

You can navigate straight to the AU-friendly version of the store right here.

A message that appears when you first head to the site from Australia reads:

Were excited to welcome you in with the best possible experience, but this site is still in its early stages, and you may see a few hiccups. With that note of caution, please have fun browsing our current selection and be sure to check backwell be working hard to add new product lines continually!

Please keep in mind that the items on this site can be delivered only to addresses in Australia. If you have any questions, please contact our Customer Service teamor view ourFAQ section.

In that FAQ section is a heap of info on availability of products, purchasing and shipping. Currently, things like pre-orders and promotional items are not available to ANZ customers, and shipping takes a couple of weeks on average which suggests its coming from overseas, but these are things wed expect to shift and change as the hard launch of the local arm of the Pokemon Centre Online happens at some point in the future.

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The Pokemon Centre Online Is Now Open In Australia And New Zealand With A Soft Launch - Press Start Australia

The campaign for the freedom of the socialist Bogdan Syrotiuk from his imprisonment by the Ukrainian regime continues to gain support in Australia and New Zealand. Bogdan has been the victim of a political frame-up. He was jailed in late April on the bogus charge of high treason and is threatened with life in prison.

David North, the chairperson of the WSWS International Editorial Board, explained in a statement of May 17 that the real reason for his arrest is that Bogdan called for the unity of the Russian, Ukrainian and international working class on a socialist program against imperialist barbarism, including the US/NATO war against Russia.

We urge all readers to sign the ICFIs online petition here and send in statements demanding his immediate release.

****

Mick Hall, a New Zealand-based journalist who was the victim of a hysterical McCarthyite campaign

Last year, Hall was pushed to resign from Radio New Zealand because he refused to conform to the medias pro-NATO propaganda on the war in Ukraine. The WSWS received the following statement in defence of Bogdan from him.

The imprisonment of socialist organiser Bogdan Syrotiuk is an affront of democratic rights and one of several worrying examples of political repression against young people campaigning for a genuine peace across the world, whether it be in Palestine, Ukraine or other places where Western imperialism runs riot.

Accusations against the 25-year-old political activist of spreading Russian propaganda and acting as a Kremlin agent, are both spurious and predictable.

Falsely conflating a correct appraisal of the Ukrainian proxy war with ideological support for the Kremlin has been a crude means of suppressing dissent and punishing those who have articulated it since the invasion on February 24, 2022. It has now been used to criminalise and incarcerate Bogdan.

The conflict makes young working-class Ukrainians like himself cannon-fodder to forward the geopolitical interests of Western elites. Bogdans voice was a threat to those interests and the increasingly tenuous position of the Zelensky regime, which now has no semblance of democratic legitimacy. Zelensky has banned opposition parties and jailed his opponents, while his neo-Nazi allies have murdered others. It is now a classic vassal state of the United States.

He has courageously made appeals to unite against those political elites pushing this obscene war, one that may yet end in nuclear annihilation, as NATO pushes for further escalation. The very least we can do is draw attention to his plight and demand his release.

He tweeted the April 30 statement calling for Bogdans release.

Bogdan Syrotiuk, has been framed, arrested and incarcerated. His arrest is unlawful, oppressive and draconian. Fighting for Bogdans release is also fighting for an end to the repression of the working class and the sadistic proxy wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

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Bogdan Syrotiuk was vocal in his opposition to the Ukraine-Russian war that serves as NATOs proxy war against Russia. The Zelensky regime have arrested Bogdan citing clearly false accusations of collusion with Russia.

Opposition to this war, in which 500,000 Ukrainians have been killed, is opposition to the unnecessary loss of life of the Ukrainian and Russian working class. The suppression of this antiwar sentiment exposes the class interests of the Zelensky regime, as do the tactics used to falsely incriminate Bogdan which should serve as a warning to all who oppose war.

This desperate suppression of the international antiwar youth movement reveal that the Zelensky regime consider Bogdan and his stance a significant threat and reveals the power of the international working class united against war, imperialism, and capitalism. We must demand the immediate release of comrade Bogdan!

The IYSSE at Western Sydney University echoes the call to workers and youth around the world to come to the defence of our comrade Bogdan Syrotiukthe founder and leader of the Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists (YGBL) in Ukraine. Following his arrest on April 25 by the Security Service of Ukraine, state officials are attempting to present Bogdan as an agent and supporter of the Russian regime through blatant lies. The real crime of Bogdanin the eyes of the Ukrainian regimeis his fight for the principled unity of the Ukrainian and Russian working class in opposition to both the US-NATO backed regime of Zelensky and the oligarchic Putin regime in the midst of this devastating war, which threatens nuclear annihilation.

The Ukrainian regime, like its counterparts around the world, is terrified of the very real prospect of revolutionary upheavals as a result of its criminal policies. It realises the significant threat posed by revolutionary leadership like Bogdan Syrotiuk and the YGBL and is attempting to use police-state measures to prolong its survival.

The attack on Bogdan is an attack on the entire working class! The genuine enforcers of democracy are the international youth and working class, not the profit-dominated judiciary system of Ukraine, or anywhere else for that matter.

In our defence of Bogdan Syrotiuk is the defence of our right to oppose the interests of the bloodthirsty capitalist class. This fight becomes ever more urgent, as the current socioeconomic order marches once more down the path of world war. Workers and students must turn to the ICFI in coordinating strike action and economic struggles against the corporations, universities, governments and union bureaucracies bankrolling and abetting war, genocide and the destruction of basic living conditions, making part of your demands Bogdans immediate release!

Bogdan Syrotiuk, a principled Trotskyist, has been arrested on a bogus charge of high treason. The real reason for his arrest is that he calls for the unity of Ukrainian and Russian workers, in opposition to the conflict in the region, a prospect that the ruling class fears.

Bogdans arrest is a stark warning to workers around the world that anyone who opposes the imperialist wars being waged, currently or those being prepared, will become a target of the various state apparatuses. Bogdans struggle is our struggle; I salute his bravery and add my voice to those who demand his immediate release.

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The campaign to free Ukrainian Socialist Bogdan Syrotiuk continues to gain support in Australia and New Zealand - WSWS

Tudors Born To Dare manifesto reverberates across the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team from the Haka to their test matches.

In the world of team sports, several names have immortalised themselves as legends of the game thanks to their sporting success and dominance across the decades. The Reds of Manchester United and Ferrari are household names of football and Formula 1, while across the Atlantic Ocean, the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Yankees and the New England Patriots come to mind. In the world of rugby, that title belongs to the New Zealand All Blacks.

(From left to right) Tepaea Cook-Savage, Leroy Carter and Ngarohi McGarvey-Black of the New Zealand All Blacks Sevens.

What is it like to be daring from birth, to possess courage and fearlessness in pushing norms and boundaries? Some crumble under pressure, while others live up and soar beyond expectations. The New Zealand All Blacks rugby national team are on a different level, up for anything from when they don their iconic silver fern-crested black jersey and perform the world-famous Mori haka to laying their bodies on the line in fearsome rugby test matches.

(From left to right) Alena Saili, Risaleaana Pouri-Lane and Jorja Miller of the New Zealand Black Ferns Sevens.

If anyone is wondering, the games are regarded as test matches because every players and teams physicality, skill level, endurance and mental ability are laid bare on the pitch with nowhere to hide. This spirit resonates with Tudors Born To Dare manifesto. Earlier in May, the All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens the New Zealand rugby sevens mens and womens teams were in Singapore to compete and conquered the HSBC SVNS Singapore. The Tudor Singapore team hosted some of the players and Mens Folio had the privilege of hearing from the players first-hand before the tournament about their pride in performing the haka and donning the iconic black jersey, and what Born To Dare means to them.

The Tudor manifesto is Born To Dare. How does this resonate with you and maybe the team as well? Leroy Carter (LC): Well, it can be pretty ruthless, especially in our game of Sevens. So, if you go into games and are not ready to put your body on the line, you can come out second-best. Its going to the games and willing to do whatever you can to get the job done. I think thats where there are many similarities to Tudors Born to Dare.

Jorja Miller (JM): Born To Dare in the rugby context is being courageous and having that courage. In a team like ours, we embrace it. Courage and bravery on and off the field are big things that lean into what we do daily. Courage plays a significant role in shaping our daily actions and mindset.

Risaleaana Pouri-Lane (RP): The first thing that comes to mind is going beyond expectations. We strive for greatness, to be the best at what we can be, and to be more than others try to achieve. It also relates to you guys theres no ceiling, and you can strive for whatever you want.

Alena Saili (AS): Courage was also the first word that came to my mind. Also, authenticity not being afraid to be yourself and bringing what you have to the table.

There are so much expectations and pressure going into the competitions. How do you handle them in terms of mental preparation and getting into that headspace? Tepaea Cook-Savage (TC): It starts back home with the preparation and being savage on the basics, being accountable for your learning and growth, and being able to put your head down and get stuck in training days. Its also bringing the mahi (Maori for the hard work necessary to get the job done). When were on tour, we think of the boys who dont get selected putting in the hard yards back home. Thats one thing that keeps me going, knowing that I can be back home and not travel. You cant take it for granted when youre travelling.

RP: Expectations and pressures come with the privilege of wearing the black jersey and representing our country. Its about shifting our perspective to see these challenges as opportunities. We understand that expectations and pressure will always be present, but its how we harness them positively that matters most. Experience teaches us valuable lessons; we learn and grow from facing different situations. Perfection isnt always attainable, but we continue to learn and progress by acknowledging the external noise and staying united.

One of the interesting things especially this year is that we are getting the womens Sevens team. In a sport that males traditionally dominate, what does it mean to be a female and trailblazer in this sport? AS: At this stage, Im really lucky to have reached a point where I have because there are good people before me such as my parents, even some of the girls on the team, Sarah, Portia, and Kelly, who all played in the Olympics in 2016. Seeing women come through and understanding that there is a pathway for women, girls, and even little boys makes me feel like its something to aspire to, especially in a sport that Im really interested in.

Women in different sports have been fighting for that level of performance. To see that come through in a sport especially after the work has been done by the women before what do you think is going to be the next step? Do you think youll be able to maintain this? JM: 100%; I think that even these days, the womens game has grown so much more than the mens, especially in New Zealand. Many people come out to us and say, Oh, we love watching you guys; the men are pretty boring at the moment. So thats really cool to get. And then, I guess, additionally, the culture within our team allows us to keep pushing that boat out. I cant say it especially our team but for rugby for women in general, it is never going backwards anytime soon.

What is it like coming into the team where the culture of winning has already been set-up and to establish this culture within the younger girls who are coming through the team? JM: Its cool coming in young, knowing you can be a sponge and soak up all the older players experience and knowledge. Coming into a culture like that, you know that from day one, you have to work hard because things will not be given to you. You have to work hard to get there and feel that when youre with the team.

AS: Just driving standards for the younger girls coming through and making sure that everyones at the gym and nutrition, sleep, and recovery are taken care of. So its preparing them mentally and getting them into the program.

What initially drew you to rugby? Whenever you think of New Zealand, you automatically think of rugby, but was it always going to be rugby for you guys? Ngarohi McGarvey-Black (NM): Back where Im from in New Zealand, rugby is like a religion and going to church on a Sunday. Youre born into rugby, and its the first thing you get into; every kid in New Zealand knows about the sport, grows up loving it and watches it every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday when its on. Its a way of life for us. As you get older, you turn it into an opportunity and a job, and get to travel the world.

Tell us about your feeling when you don the iconic black jersey. Is it a weight of expectation? LC: Its a hard question to answer; you dont really know, but youre proud. We dont feel the expectation or pressure when we put on the jersey. Its a special feeling within the group, and you dont want it to go away. Of course, the tournaments finish, and its almost sad you have to take it off, but then you cant wait to get into the next tournament. Its a special feeling, almost unreal, and there are no words to describe it.

The All Blacks are famous for the Haka. What does the Haka mean for you as a team? RP: We all perform the haka after we win, which goes back many years. Its such an important part of our Polynesian culture, and the Haka tells stories about our people. We talk about who we are, what the game means to us, and what it means to play alongside each other when we win.

NM: Its something special for me because Im Maori. Haka is our identity, and its what you do growing up and every day of the week. Coming into this group (the All Blacks team) was something that I prided myself on. Although its part of my culture and not Leroys, hell understand it better if I show him how we do it. He can bring his flair and attitude towards a haka when performing it. We feed off the audiences energy; the higher their energy, the better our energy and haka will be. Thats what haka is about: compassion, the challenge, love, anger, different emotions, and its up and down.

It is important that you see playing as a privilege and not for granted, and daring to push the boundaries and go beyond says a lot. Other than the physical aspects of training and beyond the physicality of it, what are the lessons you have learned from this sport? LC: Sometimes youre so tired that everything in your head tells you to give up, but you have to keep going. Thats what Tepaea said about our preparations back home we got to go into those dark places on the training field. Otherwise, we wont be able to perform well on the pitch. I think the mental side of the games is probably bigger than the physical aspect. The mental battles that go through your head during a game are something that you work a lot on.

As high-performance players, please give us some advice on how to not be under the pressure of the moment as you try to dare. What can we learn from your experience in the All Blacks? NM: Its to stay mentally present and in the moment, and not think about what has happened and is going to happen. Your sole focus is whats in front of you after. Obviously, have a plan. For us, everything will fall into place if we stick to the plan and nail it. Things will happen, even if its uncontrollable. Its what you can and cant control.

TC: Similarly to what Ngarohi said: nail your preparations, do everything you can and then surrender to the moment. Win or lose, whatever happens, happens.

Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images

This interview took place days prior to the HSBC SVNS Singapore tournament. The New Zealand All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens were later crowned tournament champions.

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The New Zealand All Blacks and Black Ferns are #BornToDare - Men's Folio