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Making Winter Olympics a victory for two NZ debutants Lucas Ball and Ruby Star Andrews

Source: Radio New Zealand

Ruby Star Andrews (R) on the podium at a Freeski Slopestyle World Cup. FIS Park & Pipe

Freeskiers Lucas Ball and Ruby Star Andrews are thrilled to have just made it to the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

Ball was a late addition to the New Zealand team and Andrews seriously wondered if she would recover in time for the Games after a tough injury.

After suffering a dislocated hip, the 21-year-old slopestyle and big air freestyle skier was racing the clock to be fit in time and described the last three months as the “craziest of her life”.

Ruby Star Andrews in action. Supplied.

Andrews said it will be an emotional moment when she wears the New Zealand uniform during Saturday morning’s opening ceremony.

“It’s really, really cool. I’ve worked really hard to be here,” Andrews said.

“It’s really, really special, and I’m so proud to represent my country and do everyone proud.”

Andrews is one of the first New Zealand athletes in action at the Milan Winter Olympics, and despite being at her first Games, she’s a genuine medal chance.

“Yeah, feeling really good. Got to check out the course today, do a little inspection, just ride through the course and have a look at everything and got some ideas flowing, which was fun,” Andrews said.

“It looked like it was riding pretty good. I mean, we didn’t actually get to hit the course itself. We just got to look. So I’m really excited to hit it tomorrow.”

Andrews is enjoying being part of the New Zealand team and will have her family in Italy cheering her on.

“The team vibe that we have is so good and awesome. To have five people in slopestyle is really exciting. It’s a big team, so yeah, it’s going to be cool. My mum and my dad and my sister are coming, so I’m really excited to have them here and supporting me.”

New Zealand Olympians (L to R) Alice Robinson, Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, Luca Harrington, Fin Melville Ives, Cam Melville Ives, Ben Barclay and Ruby Star Andrews pictured during the New Zealand Team first selection announcement for 2026 Winter Olympic Games. James Allan / PHOTOSPORT

For 17-year-old Lucas Ball, it was a nervous wait to get confirmation he was going to the Milano Cortina Games and the teenager is loving the Olympic experience so far.

“It’s awesome, really cool environment, sick people, sick venue, everything’s awesome,” Ball said.

He is impressed with the slopestyle course – “It’s super good, pretty big rails and features, but should be a lot of fun, very creative.”

Ball is staying in New Zealand House at the moment and is pretty chuffed with the accommodation.

“Good location. I get to sleep with Ben Barclay, we have a pretty nice little room, double bed. Good food, good people, it’s a sick set up.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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How flushable sensors could be used to help clean up Auckland’s beaches

Source: Radio New Zealand

The sensors are flushable, battery-free and no bigger than a cigarette lighter. Supplied

Auckland’s beachgoers well know the frustration of being told to keep out of the water after heavy rain due to wastewater overflow, but researchers at Auckland University have been piloting flushable sensors designed to detect underground sewer faults.

The sensors are about the size of a USB stick, made from plant plastic and use ultra-high radio frequency to allow them to be detected as they move through the networks.

With some 8000 to 9000 sewer pipes under Aucklanders’ feet, the sensors can help find misconnections, where wastewater pipes are wrongly connected to stormwater or where there’s a blockages in sewer pipes causing an overflow.

Two field trials have already been completed with Auckland Council and Watercare in Browns Bay.

Dr Wei-Qin Zhuang is the project’s lead researcher based at the university’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Department.

He said he wanted to find ways to remove nitrate from waterways safely without the creation of significant greenhouse gas emissions.

He also wanted to look at water quality to detect indicator micro organisms in waterways and drinking water, he said.

There was discussion to identify the water problems specific to Auckland and consider how to use research to mitigate them, he said.

Problems identified included the overflow of the city’s sewer systems, as well as misconnections, Zhuang said.

The research team tried to come up with solutions to identify where there were misconnections on the basis it was less challenging than trying to deal with the overflow issue, he said.

“We developed this UHF-RFID [ultra-high radio frequency identification] based censors to identify illegal connections and we also found that it can be used to identify blockages of our pipes.”

Setting up the test in a stormwater utility hole. Wei-Qin Zhuang

They did not want the censors to be intrusive to avoid having to visit a house and install a bunch of devices to detect the issues, he said.

“So initially we were trying to develop something that can be flushed through our toilet bowls without clogging the pipes, the sewer lateral, and we purposely looked for small devices that has the size that is small enough to be flushed.”

They designed the censors to ensure they could be flushed and then could float on the water “so their sensitivities won’t be compromised by water,” he said.

“After they’ve been flushed into the sewer lateral, they’ll be washed and they’ll flow with the water flow and then get into the sewer mains and then we can install detectors at manholes to detect these censors.”

The censor sends out an ultra-high radio frequency which is then picked up at the various sites, Zhuang said.

“So you flush your censors through toilet bowls and then supposedly all the censors need to go through the sewer manhole, but if we catch some of the censors in the stormwater manhole then we instantly know that which household has a misconnection.”

Blockages can be detected when the censor takes much longer than expected to reach a certain point, he said.

“Then authorities can send CCTV cameras down pipes and see whether the blockage is severe or has just started building up.”

The first generation of the censors could be collected and then composted, while the second generation of the censors dissolve in water after two hours so it did not worsen the blockage situation, he said.

That provided a one hour window to use the censor to detect if there had been a blockage, he said.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Operation Violin: Jayden Mamfredos-Nair’s family issue statement following murder sentencing

Source: New Zealand Police

Police acknowledge the sentences handed down to three men linked to the Head Hunters gang for murdering a west Auckland teenager nearly three years ago.

Jayden Mamfredos-Nair was a 19-year-old that suddenly lost contact with his family one Friday night, 21 April 2023.

Operation Violin commenced into his disappearance, and as time drew on Police concerns only grew and his family’s fears were realised.

Jayden had been the victim of foul play.

A nine-month search would ensue, with Jayden’s body being located on a Dairy Flat property in January 2024.

Today, the three men were sentenced in the Auckland High Court to life imprisonment for Jayden’s murder.

– Prospect Matthew Snaylam received a minimum period of imprisonment of 17 years.
– Patched member Zak Kameta received a minimum period of imprisonment of 18 years.
– Associate Hassan Al Fadhli received a minimum period of imprisonment of 17 years.

Detective Inspector Callum McNeill, of Waitematā CIB, acknowledges all Police staff and specialists involved in the case.

“This team never gave up their work to locate Jayden and bring him home for his family,” he says.

“I’m incredibly proud of this team, for their absolute determination to see the investigation through to the end and seek justice on behalf of Jayden’s family.

“Jayden’s death has placed a heavy toll on his family, and I know they deeply feel his loss.

“They have been incredibly composed through four weeks of evidence.

“Nothing we could have done would have brought Jayden back, but I hope there is some closure for them in being able to find Jayden and lay him to rest.”  

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

  • Statement on behalf of Maria, Jayden’s mum:

Today marks the end of a long legal journey, but for our family, the ongoing journey of grieving and healing continues.

While today brings a level of accountability, no sentence can fill the void left by the loss of Jayden or ease the weight of his absence in our lives.

My son was only 19-years-old, just beginning his life. Full of laughter, hope and dreams.

Like any young person, he made mistakes, but nothing he did deserved to end this way.

He was loving, kind and deeply caring. Family meant everything to him. He took his role as a big brother seriously and was always there when someone needed him. He was the heartbeat of our home, without him, there is silence.

This crime has had a devastating permanent impact on our entire family, his friends and the community who loved him. The grief, the heartbreak, the devastation – it will never go away. Our lives have been shattered, changed forever.

My son leaves behind a legacy of love, light and compassion. Even in death his light still shines, a light that can never be taken away.

Though our hearts remain heavy, and the pain of his absence will be with us for the rest of our lives, we will carry his memory in every step we take.

Honouring him by remembering the moments of love, laughter and hope he brought into our lives. We take comfort in knowing that this chapter is finally over, and he can finally be at peace.

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to our community who have stood by us through this unimaginable pain. Your love, prayers and unwavering support have carried us through our darkest days. To the Detectives, the entire police team and the prosecution. We are profoundly moved by the perseverance in seeking justice and the compassion you showed our family throughout this difficult time.

You refused to give up despite the challenges – and gave us the gift of closure and the chance to lay our boy to rest with dignity. To the Judge and jury who have carried the great responsibility of the trial with fairness and compassion. We sincerely thank you all.

Although we understand there is public interest in this case, we ask for the space to navigate this next chapter of our journey privately. We appreciate your respect for our silence as focus on our healing. Thank you.

Rest easy now, Jayden.

Gone too soon, but you will never be forgotten.

ENDS.

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Wellington’s Moa Point Wastewater Plant shuts down as floors flood, staff evacuate

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellington Water’s Moa Point treatment plant (file photo). Wellington Water

Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant has been shut down and staff evacuated from the site, with an equipment failure causing multiple floors and key areas of the plant to be inundated with water.

“This is a serious situation, and we anticipate the plant will be shut down for an extended period,” says Wellington Water chief executive Pat Dougherty.

He strongly advises the community to stay away from the South Coast beaches.

Untreated wastewater is being discharged into the water and this may occur for some time.

Earlier, Wellington Water had started discharging raw sewage off the city’s south coast, and issued two other wastewater discharge notices, after a mechanical failure and heavy rain.

The mechanical failure, at 3am on Wednesday, caused it to start an unconsented discharge of untreated wastewater from its Moa Point treatment plant.

The water agency said the sewage would emerge at the short outfall into the ocean at Tarakena Bay and may cause the water to appear cloudy or murky.

Meanwhile, during a night of heavy rain, partially treated wastewater was discharged into Wellington’s Karori Stream at 10.45pm on Tuesday. That would also flow into the sea on the south coast.

About half an hour before that, fully treated sewage was released at 10.18pm into Waiwhetū Stream in Lower Hutt, which flows into the sea near Petone beach.

Water monitoring body Land, Air, Water Aotearoa advises people to stay out of the sea for two or three days after heavy rain.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Hotel closed off, cordons in place as police respond to ‘incident’ in Hamilton

Source: Radio New Zealand

A cordon is in place on Ulster Street in Hamilton. Libby Kirkby-McLeod

Police have cordoned off streets in Hamilton and the entrance to a hotel has been taped off.

A spokesperson said cordons were in place along Ulster Street and Abbotsford Street in the suburb of Whitiora.

The spokesperson said they were responding to an incident but did not provide further details.

Libby Kirkby-McLeod

An RNZ reporter at the scene said police cars can be seen parked in the street and police officers are going door-to-door speaking with people.

They declined to answer questions.

A resident who wanted to go home had been told by police he was not able to at this time.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Keeping patients at the centre on World Cancer Day

Source: New Zealand Government

Health Minister Simeon Brown says World Cancer Day is a chance to highlight the progress made to strengthen cancer care across New Zealand, with patients at the heart of every decision. 

“Cancer affects every New Zealander, with thousands of Kiwis diagnosed every year. On World Cancer Day, we acknowledge everyone impacted by cancer – patients, families, clinicians, and communities,” Mr Brown says.

“Over the last two years, we have taken action to improve cancer outcomes for New Zealanders. We’ve focused on earlier detection, faster access to care, and ensuring patients can benefit from modern medicines and world-class treatment.

“Bringing care closer to home has been an important focus. The newly opened Taranaki Cancer Centre is a great example. Since opening late last year, it is now treating radiation oncology patients who previously had to travel to Palmerston North for weeks at a time. Since December, 460 treatments have been delivered locally, for cancers including lung, prostate, breast, and gynaecological diseases.”

Over the last two years, the Government has delivered a series of initiatives to strengthen cancer services and improve outcomes, including:

  • Funding 33 new cancer medicines through a $604 million Pharmac investment, giving patients access to the latest and most effective treatments.
  • Expanding breast screening to women aged 70–74, enabling thousands more women to benefit from early detection.
  • Progressively lowering the bowel screening age to match Australia with 58 as the first step, improving early detection and saving lives.
  • Establishing the Faster Cancer Treatment target, ensuring patients access specialist assessment and treatment sooner.
  • Investing in critical cancer infrastructure, including new LINAC machines and upgraded treatment facilities.
  • Expanding stem cell transplant services to improve access and reduce delays.
  • Commencing work on New Zealand’s first Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy.
  • Investing in the cancer workforce, supporting clinicians to deliver timely, quality care.
  • Refreshing the Cancer Action Plan (2019–2029) to ensure the system is well-positioned for the future.

“These actions are about improving the experience and outcomes for people living with cancer – reducing wait times, improving access to treatment, and ensuring Kiwis receive the best care no matter where they live.

“We will continue to keep patients at the centre of everything we do, building on the progress of the past three years to deliver faster, fairer, and more effective cancer care for all New Zealanders,” Mr Brown says.

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‘Excitement’ over potential for testing cancer drugs on lab-grown tumours at Auckland Uni

Source: Radio New Zealand

With samples taken from patients, Dr Hossein Jahedi is building a collection of tiny, fleshy lumps of cancer. Supplied / University of Auckland

A project at the cutting edge of cancer research hopes to build a collection of tiny lab-grown tumours at the University of Auckland.

Smaller than a grain of sand, these so-called tumour organoids can be used to test experimental cancer treatments with quick results.

With samples taken from patients, Dr Hossein Jahedi is building a collection of these tiny, fleshy lumps of cancer.

“We take a tiny bit of their tumour, with their permission, and we take it into the lab. We digest it into single cells, so we kind of digest all the stuff around the cancer cells so that we only have the cancer cells, and then we grow these cancer cells in a jelly-like material,” he said.

The organoids themselves were barely the size of a grain of sand, but Dr Jahedi said their potential was enormous.

“They act like avatars for the cancers that we can grow in the lab. We can have a replica of that person’s cancer, not a 100 percent replica, but quite, quite similar,” he said.

“And what this does, it allows us to test some of the drugs that the patient may receive before they actually receive it to see if these organoids respond to those drugs.”

Dr Emma Nolan has been building a library of breast cancer organoids since 2022. Supplied / University of Auckland / Brett Phibbs

Jahedi’s new project, which focused on lung cancer, was inspired by his colleague, Dr Emma Nolan.

Nolan had been developing a library of breast cancer organoids since 2022 as part of a pilot study to prove how useful they could be.

To date, she had created organoids from 30 breast cancer patients, with a goal to build a library that researchers across the country could pull from to test life-saving treatments.

“So the idea with this organoid collection from these 30 patients, and we’re hoping to increase this, is that this becomes a tool for cancer research across New Zealand,” she said.

“And therefore, breast cancer labs across the country can use these models to answer their questions that they’re looking at.”

Cancer patients ‘put themselves as lab rats’

David Downs Supplied / David Downs

Cancer survivor David Downs knew firsthand how experimental treatments could save lives, but he said the process of undergoing new treatments was daunting.

“The pathway to medicines coming to the mainstream today does require humans to put themselves kind of as lab rats,” he said.

“You’re literally signing pieces of paper acknowledging that you’re one of the first humans to get this and they know roughly what the side effects might be but they’re not sure, etcetera. All that can create a bit of anxiety.”

Diagnosed in 2017 with a rare blood cancer that wouldn’t respond to chemotherapy, Downs braved a clinical trial in the United States that ultimately saved his life.

He hoped organoids could be used to improve that process and spare others the anxiety he felt.

“I went to Boston, I had a treatment, I was very lucky, it went really well for me. But you do certainly hear of side effects in some clinical trials, particularly early on, and so testing things in a way that involves human cells but isn’t involving humans, to me, feels like a really great breakthrough,” he said.

However, research into tumour organoids was still in the very early stages.

Even after three years of work, Dr Nolan said a clinical trial was years away.

“We would hope within the next five years to be able to initiate a small trial at one or two sites within Auckland in order to really test the clinical value of these organoids,” she said.

“There’s a lot of excitement in the group for this research and there’s a lot of potential but we really need to be able to confirm this in clinical trial before we’re able to know whether or not this actually ultimately could help.”

Dr Nolan said it would be some time before patients saw the benefits of the work, but the early results were promising.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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More disruption possible after 60 flights at Wellington Airport cancelled

Source: Radio New Zealand

Fog blankets Wellington harbour on 31 March 2022. RNZ / Rob Dixon

Wellington Airport says about 60 flights were cancelled on Tuesday due to fog in the capital.

It said there could be some disruption on Wednesday as a result, so passengers should check with their airline.

Jetstar said none of its flights were disrupted.

Air New Zealand said 39 of its flights were cancelled on Tuesday.

“Impacted customers have been rebooked on the next available service,” it said.

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Government pilots wild deer control programme

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is taking action to reduce the impacts of wild deer on privately owned production land, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard and Hunting and Fishing Minister James Meager say. 

“Wild deer are valued for recreational purposes and as a food source but increasing numbers in some parts of the country are causing problems for farmers, growers and foresters,” Mr Hoggard says.

In 2026, MPI will establish a programme to help communities improve the management of wild deer.  The programme will include two trials based around catchment groups to develop and deliver management plans, one in the North Island in the Wairarapa and one in the Hurunui in the South Island. 

“Catchment groups are a good place to start because they involve landowners already working collaboratively on other issues. Wider community interests will have a role, especially hunters and regional councils.

“I’ve met with stakeholder groups such as New Zealand Deerstalkers Association and the Game Animal Council to discuss how hunters can be involved, and representatives of the hunting community will be included on an Oversight Group. I did take the opportunity to stress that despite some reports, no toxins, such as brodifacoum, would be used for deer control. 

“I also recognise the role of government policy in unlocking commercial opportunities for deer recovery, so the programme will also involve sense-checking the system and regulatory settings. I have asked officials to have a good look at the food safety controls currently on hunted meat to make sure they are justified. Any opportunity to open up more opportunities for hunters to get a financial return for their work will be looked at.”

Mr Meager says the hunting community will be part of the solution.

“Hunter-led conservation is an important part of managing wild deer in New Zealand. If we are to make real inroads in tackling the impacts of these wild animals, it will take a collaborative approach across government and stakeholders.”

Mr Hoggard says he expects that once the deer management programme was progressing, that MPI will work with partners to begin addressing other wild browsing animal problems on production land.

“There’s a lot of concern around wild pigs and Canada geese and we need a joined-up effort to address those too.”

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Synlait’s comeback delayed as costs stay high

Source: Radio New Zealand

The company is a key supplier to A2 Milk. Synlait/supplied

Dairy company Synlait is forecasting a hefty half-year loss as its recovery takes longer than hoped.

The company has forecast a net loss after tax of between $77 million-$82m for the six months ended January.

The company – a key supplier to A2 Milk – said manufacturing challenges at its Dunsandel plant in Canterbury had been resolved, but the need to rebuild inventory pushed up costs, forcing Synlait to sell more raw milk at low margins.

Lower returns from commodities and a conservative approach to tax accounting also dragged down the results.

Chief executive Richard Wyeth said the company was “very disappointed” with the half-year result and the slower than expected pace of the turnaround.

He said there had been progress in the company’s operations, with a refreshed Canterbury-based leadership team and the asset sale (of its North Island businesses) helping strengthen the business.

“Our strategy is being reset, and we are confident it will provide a pathway to return Synlait to success, although this will take at least 12 months,” he said.

The company’s sale of its North Island operations was still expected to go through on 1 April, with the proceeds to be used to pay down debt.

Synlait said the sale would allow it to refocus on its core operations in Canterbury.

Along with a heavy bottom line loss, Synlait also expected an operating loss of between $28m-33m, and an underlying loss of $33-38m.

Synlait had an insurance claim approved that would cover part of the losses linked to its manufacturing issues, but the final amount and timing of the payout were still being worked out.

The insurance payout would be added back into the accounts at a later date, and the figures were subject to an audit.

Synlait said it was in active talks with its banking syndicate as it worked towards completing the North Island asset sale.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand