Source: New Zealand Police
A person has died after an incident involving a motorised bike on the beach near Whanganui Airport.
Emergency services were called to the area off Airport Road about 4:40pm on Saturday.
Sadly, one person was confirmed deceased at the scene.
The circumstances of the death will be under investigation.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: Radio New Zealand
The unofficial soundtrack of every basketball, squash or hard-court tennis match is the constant high-pitched squeak or shriek of the players’ shoes. But can this squeak be designed out of them while retaining the grip?
That’s the question an international team of engineers and applied physicists, including me, have been investigating. It sounds like a small design tweak. In fact, it cuts to a deep physics problem: how a soft body slides against a rigid one.
Perhaps surprisingly, the mechanism that produces sound when a soft solid slides against a stiffer one has long been the subject of scientific debate. Most theories are linked to the concept of “stick-slip”: when, instead of sliding smoothly, the sliding object rapidly alternates between sticking and slipping.
Your shoes may be fly, but are they also quiet?
Creative Commons
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: Radio New Zealand
The subsidy they get to help pay for fuel has not changed since 2022. 123rf
Laura, a home support worker in Nelson, says it’s getting increasingly difficult to do her job.
She travels between clients she provides care for, in her own vehicle, using petrol she has paid for.
She said, although she’s on the second-highest pay band for her role, she’s still not paid the living wage, which is currently $28.95 an hour.
All that means that covering the increasing cost of petrol is getting increasingly difficult, as the price pushes ever higher.
But the subsidy she gets to help pay for fuel has not changed since 2022.
She is paid $2.35 for travel between clients, based on a calculation that a typical support worker travels 3.7 kilometres between clients. That works out at 63.5c per kilometre, compared to an Inland Revenue mileage rate for petrol cars of $1.17 per kilometre.
The same $2.35 rate is paid for travel up to 15km, after which it is paid at a rate of 64c.
“I’ve got a 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer, it’s currently got 258,000 kilometres on it,” Laura said.
It needed repairs and maintenance, she said, but she could not afford it and was also not able to purchase a new vehicle.
She said she had started to try not to look at what she was spending on petrol.
“I managed to pick up a little second-hand moped and I’m trying to do as much as possible on that and just praying that it doesn’t rain.”
She said there were some more rural areas where no one wanted to work because there could be 11km from one client to the next, then 14km to another.
“You end up just paying to be able to work those days.”
Public Service Association national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said it was something that deserved more attention.
“We need to see direct intervention for home support workers. They are among our lowest-paid workers. They use their own car and the government subsidy for their petrol hasn’t increased in four years,” Fitzsimons said.
“They are bearing the brunt of the fuel crisis. They’ve had their pay equity claim cancelled and they’re being forced into poverty because of these actions. We’re calling on the government to show leadership for these workers.”
Deborah Woodley, acting director for funding, community and mental health at Health New Zealand, said the care workers were employed by third-party providers.
“We are currently looking at 2026/27 funding for third-party providers. As part of this work, we consider cost pressures for providers and their workforce and this includes fuel costs.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: Radio New Zealand
Lex Revell-Lewis has reduced his own national record at Adelaide. Kerry Marshall/Photosport
Auckland sprinter Lex Revell-Lewis has shaved one-hundredth of a second off his own national 400 metres record at the Adelaide Invitational.
Ideally drawn in lane six, with two faster opponents outside him, he was paced around the lap of the track in a time of 45.87s, finishing second behind Australian Luke van Ratingen (45.21s).
Last year, Revell-Lewis became the first Kiwi man to break 46 seconds for 400 metres, when he ran 45.88s in Melbourne.
Last week, he dipped under that barrier again, when he defended his national at Auckland in 45.97s, winning by more than a second. That performance earnt him a ticket to this months world indoor championships in Poland.
Earlier in the Adelaide meet, NZ javelin exponent Tori Moorby won her specialist event in 58.69m. Nick Southgate equalled his season best with 5.35m for second in the pole vault.
Sprinter Tommy Te Puni won the ‘B’ 100 metres final in 10.43s with a slight tailwind, before finishing third over 200 metres in 20.68s.
James Preston clocked 1m 45.07s to finish third over 800 metres and qualify for the world indoors, but New Zealand has already filled its quota of two in that event, with James Harding and Thomas Cowan both competing for US colleges.
Representing University of Oregon, Harding will contest the NCAA championship final this weekend.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: Radio New Zealand
Sam Cosgrove has scored another goal for Auckland FC. File pic. AAP / Photosport
Auckland FC have moved to one point behind A-League men’s leaders the Jets with a 2-1 victory over them in Newcastle.
It was a victory of strength as the Aucklanders bid to not only retain the Premier’s Plate they won last year but also take the title crown in just their second year of operation.
It was the first time the Jets have been beaten this year, ending their 10-win run, while Auckland FC have turned it on after a diffident January to be unbeaten in their last six matches.
Sam Cosgrove has turned into a goal-scoring machine for the Aucklanders, with the Englishman nailing opportunities in the 15th and 52nd minutes to give him 10 goals for the season, while Clayton Taylor scored for the Jets in the 28th minute.
Cosgrove latched on to a cross from Jesse Randell for Auckland’s first goal, while he headed in a cross from Francis de Vries for his second.
Randell, who has been one of their stars in their current run of form, said it was a frantic match.
“I genuinely don’t think I have played a game like that in my life, I am absolutely knackered,” he told Sky Sport.
“It’s going to give so much confidence this win.”
The Aucklanders have five matches left in the regular season, with Macarthur the next opponents in Auckland on Saturday.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: Radio New Zealand
Tanielu Tele’a of the Highlanders scores a try against Crusaders. Photosport
The Crusaders have overcome three yellow cards and a plucky Highlanders side 29-18 to win their southern Super Rugby Pacific derby in Christchurch.
The defending champions avenged their season-opening 25-23 loss to their southern rivals last month, a big boost, after entering the match with only one win from four outings.
The Highlanders led 15-12 at halftime, after both teams scored two tries apiece, and the Crusaders temporarily lost front-rowers Codie Taylor and Finlay Brewis for yellow-card infringements in the first half.
They looked in danger of a red card, when Chay Fihaka cannoned high into the Highlanders first-five Cam Millar halfway through the second half, but it stayed yellow, as officials ruled a late dip at the contact. Millar stayed off the field, after failing a head injury assessment
In between, debutant flanker Johnny Lee scored two tries to give them the edge.
While they had another try disallowed for obstruction, the Crusaders had enough defensive smarts to hold onto their lead.
The Highlanders tried hard for a bonus point late in the match, but were held out.
Follow the live action here:
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Source: Radio New Zealand
Wellington Phoenix celebrate a goal against Brisbane. Photosport
Wellington Phoenix have moved into third place on the A-League women’s ladder with a comprehensive 3-0 home win over Brisbane Roar.
The result completed a great day for football in the capital, following the Phoenix men’s 2-0 over Perth Glory in the earlier match.
The Wellington women controlled their match, creating far more scoring opportunities than the Queensland side, as they started their drive towards the premiership and playoffs after a three-week break.
Manaia Elliott soared over two rivals to head in a superb Brooke Nunn cross in the 10th minute, while Emma Pijnenburg tapped in a half-volley, after some messy Brisbane defence six minutes later.
The Phoenix led 2-0 at halftime and Makala Woods, who blew two golden opportunities for goal in the first half, finally found the scoreboard in the 73rd minute, with the decisive shot, after a melee near the Roar net.
Brisbane’s best three chances were thwarted by brilliant saves from ‘Nix keeper Victoria Esson.
The Phoenix are now two points behind competition leaders Melbourne City, with Adelaide United separating them.
They welcomed back Macey Fraser in the second half and play Sydney FC in Sydney next weekend.
Phoenix captain Mackenzie Barry said third was an amazing place on the ladder, but they still needed more consistency in their approach.
“We need to keep sharp through the whole 90 minutes leading into the finals,” she said on Sky Sport.
“Three-nil is a really good score and we are feeling really positive.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: Radio New Zealand
Fire crews are responding to a fire near Rotorua which is sending thick smoke over the city. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Fire crews are responding to a blaze at a car wreckers in Ngongotaha near Rotorua.
Police said people should avoid Wikaraka Street while emergency services deal with the fire.
Thick smoke was drifting through the area.
Police said residents nearby should stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: Radio New Zealand
Atonia Waqa scores a try for Fijian Drua against ACT Brumbies. Getty Images
Fijian Drua have created history in Ba, with a tough 42-27 win over ACT Brumbies at the Four R Stadium in round five of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific competition.
It was their first victory over the Brumbies in seven matches so far, since 2022, handing the former competition leaders their second consecutive loss this year.
Drua flyhalf Isaiah Washington-Ravula also claimed a milestone of his own, becoming the first of his club to score 200 points in the competition.
Backed by more than 13,000 fans, led by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, the side played their first Super Rugby game at the stadium, which is now their third home ground.
Local media reports said fans were at the gates at 9am to purchase tickets for the game, following excitement during the week.
Despite giving away more penalties than their Australian opponents and being reduced to 13 players in the first half, because of yellow cards to Mesake Doge and Elia Canakaivata, the locals led 20-12 at halftime and built on that to claim their second win in the competition this season.
The game started with the temperature at 31 degrees, but a light drizzle at the break cooled off things for a while, before the rain came thundering down during the first 15 minutes of the second half.
Referee Paul Williams allowed the game to play and kept a a tight rein on discipline.
Drua debutant Sairusi Ravudi, who took over at hooker in a quick change before the game started, scored his first try of the series in the second half.
The Drua scored five tries – two by fullback Ilaisa Droasese – while Brumbies matched them, with lock forward Toby Macpherson claiming two of his own.
Brumbies featured two players of Fijian heritage – prop Lington Ieli and centurion Rob Valetini.
Follow the live action here:
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: New Zealand Police
District:
People in Rotorua are advised if possible to steer clear of Wikaraka Street, Ngongotaha where there is a fire at a car wreckers.
The smoke is thick, and those living in the area are asked to stay inside and close windows and doors.
ENDS