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Former Silver Ferns coach Janine Southby reflects on the brutal reality of elite coaching

Source: Radio New Zealand

Janine Southby was Silver Ferns coach for three years. Photosport

Only those who have sat in the top job can truly understand the pressure that comes with leading a national side, says former Silver Ferns coach Janine Southby

Southby was this week named head coach of the Southern Blast, the Southern Steel’s feeder team in the ANZ Premiership – her highest profile coaching job since resigning as Silver Ferns head coach in July 2018.

Her departure came after a disastrous Commonwealth Games campaign in which New Zealand failed to win a medal for the first time – a result that saw Southby face relentless public criticism.

Upon the team’s return, Netball NZ launched an independent review of the Gold Coast campaign.

The findings were brutal, leading Southby to step down.

Southby said after the highly public ordeal she needed to take some time away from the sport.

“I needed some time out, I think anyone who goes through a process that’s really challenging you need to just have a break,” Southby said.

She later made a quiet return to coaching at a local level.

“I continued coaching around Dunedin post that and have been coaching club teams, I’ve done a bit of school stuff, I’ve been coaching the opens team for the Dunedin Netball Centre. So I’ve stayed involved but probably a lot of people won’t be aware of that.”

The past year has highlighted just how intense the scrutiny on top coaches in New Zealand can be.

Scott Robertson lost the All Blacks job in January. SANKA VIDANAGAMA

Last year, Dame Noeline Taurua, who replaced Southby in 2018, was stood down for nearly two months after player complaints prompted an independent review into the team environment.

Taurua was reinstated in October after a bruising affair that dominated headlines for weeks.

In January, Scott Robertson was axed as All Blacks coach following a “scathing” end of season review, which included player feedback.

“It’s only other coaches who have been through something that’s pretty challenging, who get it,” Southby said.

“It’s a hugely pressure cooker environment but you go into it knowing that and high performance sport is brutal and pretty cut-throat and there’s always a saying ‘you’re doing well if they don’t talk about you’ and it’s a tough environment.”

Does she think player power is playing too big a part in coaching careers?

“I can’t speak for what’s been happening in the last wee while but I think it’s important everyone has a voice and high performance is a real brutal environment and you want to have the balance of having the input but you’ve also got to have the balance of people knowing their roles and being able to do their jobs to their full capacity.”

Current Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua. Marty Melville / PHOTOSPORT

The former Otago Rebels player coached the Southern Steel for four years from 2012, before taking the helm of the side in 2015.

Southby would not rule out coaching an ANZ Premiership side again one day but said she was excited about working with players in the space between high school and the top domestic league.

“At this stage I’m just keeping it local, I live a pretty busy life, my husband and I have a couple of businesses, I’m teaching so we keep ourselves busy and I just felt passionate about the opportunity to help Netball South and young players in our zone have the opportunity and chance and that’s where my focus is right at the moment.”

Filling the gap

The 2026 National Netball league (NNL) is a watered down version of what it was in its first year in 2016 when it was known as the Beko Netball League.

The league was introduced in 2016 to provide the next tier of players below ANZ Premiership level further development opportunities.

But since that inaugural season, when the competition ran over 12 weekends and teams played a double round-robin, the league has been reduced to one round robin.

The Netball South Zone initially made the decision to not field a team in the 2026 NNL season, given the costs involved to support a team, while also seeing the number of games decrease.

They later backtracked after concerns were raised by the netball community about the impact it would have on development pathways.

Southby said it was important to maintain a feeder league.

“There’s a big step up from playing either secondary school or club to going into the franchise teams and there was a lot of push back from the centres around the decision when it happened last year and thankfully Netball South changed their mind and decided yes they also believe it’s important.

“There’s a lot of challenges in this space for the financial side of things and just the uncertainty of what was actually happening.”

Janine Southby coach the Southern Steel for four year’s from 2012. Anthony Au-Yeung

Southby, who coached the New Zealand under 21 side to gold at the 2013 World Youth Cup in Glasgow, said players would fall through the cracks without the NNL.

“There’s a lot of players out there that are hungry to get to the next level and we need to keep providing them opportunities. They are quite well catered for through the secondary school system, with representative netball and secondary school tournaments etc. but once they leave school there’s quite a big gap.

“Not all school levers are going to go straight into a franchise team so somewhere there needs to be a programme that caters for these players and gives them opportunities to be seen to experience what it is and the work that they have to do to get up to the next level.”

Southby, who was only appointed last week, is still to hold trials. “It feels a little bit like we’re behind everything but we’re working through a few challenges and we’ll get a programme in place and get these girls ready to go.”

Southby coached her two daughters through high school and it’s no surprise they are very promising netballers.

Ella Southby went to the Youth World Cup for New Zealand last year and is a training partner this year for the Southern Steel. Older sister Grace has also played NNL netball and previously been a training partner for the Steel.

Southby said travelling to Gibraltar last year to watch Ella play was an amazing experience.

“It’s always nerve wracking but you also have that real sense of pride and we were hugely proud of Ella because she had come back from having an ACL the previous year.”

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Luxon says Cabinet colleagues back him, won’t stand down as National’s leader

Source: Radio New Zealand

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon (L) flanked by his Cabinet colleagues. RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

The Prime Minister has told Newstalk ZB none of his Cabinet colleagues have told him to reconsider his future, saying “all of them” back him.

Christopher Luxon’s comments came after speculation about his leadership following a Taxpayers’ Union Curia poll had National on 28.4 – down nearly 3 points from its poll last month.

Labour was up at 34.4, while the Greens, ACT, and Te Pati Māori were all up on 10.5, 7.5, and 3.2 respectively.

New Zealand First had taken a slight drop to 9.7.

Those results would give the centre-Left bloc 61 seats, enough to govern, while the coalition government bloc would fall short on 59 seats.

Luxon told Newstalk ZB he was ‘absolutely not’ considering standing down and said he had the skills to lead the National Party and the country.

“The only thing I am considering is the future of our children and grandchildren.”

He said the only polling he took note of was National’s own internal polling, which was processed in the United Kingdom.

“I would reassure you – if there was a problem, I would be doing something about it. But we are long way away from what we’ve seen published in a TPU poll today.”

Luxon said he has “not thought about” what polling level would be the threshold for him to step down as prime minister.

“I have the full support of my team and my caucus.”

The poll came at the end of a week where Luxon struggled to communicate clearly on the Iran conflict.

Speaking on NewstalkZB, he acknowledged failings with his personal communication: “I’ve freely admitted, I’m not a career politician. I’m not always going to have the perfect most tidy soundbite like someone who’s been there 20 years would do.”

Luxon said the media had gotten carried away in its reaction to the public poll over the course of the day.

“The whole world seems to have got very exercised … the reason I’m going on your show is to clarify to people, no, I’m not doing that [considering my future].”

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Get Up street art festival returns to New Plymouth

Source: Radio New Zealand

Twenty-six graffiti artists are transforming the New Plymouth CBD into a living gallery. RNZ / Robin Martin

The centre of New Plymouth has been taken over by street artists, musicians, and a whole lot of spray paint this week.

The Get Up Festival is back in town for the first time in more than a decade and 26 graffiti artists are transforming the CBD into a living gallery.

Event co-founder Cam “Oddjobs” Shennan said the Get Up Festival was designed as a celebration of street culture.

“The festival is all about a community buzz I think, bringing good people together and now my kids are all grown up that’s why I’m re-doing it now.

“I tried doing [it] during Covid but Covid happened and I tried doing it with another couple of people, but they didn’t have the same enthusiasm as me, you know, I believe you need to be in the scene to do these festivals really.”

Event co-founder Cam “Oddjobs” Shennan. RNZ / Robin Martin

Originally from the UK, Shennan had expanded the festival offering to include workshops, exhibitions, live music and even a graffiti battle.

“Like anything out of the hip hop scene you’ve got the rap there’s always a battle, DJing you’ve got the DJing and scratch battles and then you’ve got the graffiti battles.

“So, this time we’re going to do it. We’ve got a wooden wall and I’m going to make an X cross-section and four artists are going to paint on an internal corner with 13 cans of the same colour and one and a half hours painting the same word and there’s going to be a public vote for the winner.”

Get Up Festival is a labour of love for co-founder Cameron “Oddjobs” Shennan. RNZ / Robin Martin

Raglan artist Theo Arraj was working on a large-scale mural from a hoist in Huatoki Plaza when RNZ visited.

“I’m kinda making [it] up as I go it’s open to interpretation and I think everyone is seeing their own thing in there. I don’t really like to explain my art too much, you know, it’s in the eye of the beholder as they say.”

Raglan’s Theo Arraj was working on a large-scale mural in Huatoki Plaza. RNZ / Robin Martin

Arraj was in two minds about his piece still being there once he had left town.

“It’s like a double-edged sword knowing that your art is going to stick around on the wall for a long time because most artists will look at their own work and see all the things they could’ve done better.

“So, it’s nice but then at the same time I’ll probably come back here in a couple of months’ time and be like hmmm I should’ve this and should’ve done that.”

Arraj was in two minds about his piece still being there once he had left town. RNZ / Robin Martin

In a lane nearby, Wellington fine arts student Sheldon Morehu aka “Rytem” was more in an old school style.

“This is just a big wall of like graffiti everyone else is doing the murals sort of like full on detail big scale sort of thing, but we’re just sticking to the OG original style of graffiti big words, letters, like massive letters and I guess some of them are readable and some of them you can’t read.”

Sheldon Morehu aka “Rytem” works in a traditional graffiti style. RNZ / Robin Martin

He hoped the work would help change some people’s perception of graffiti.

“This is pretty much a tag just an extended version an abstract version whatever you want to call it. This is were it leads to what we are doing now big bright colourful words.”

Morehu was grateful to be able to showcase his work.

“It’s giving us the opportunity so [the] public can see what we do and see that it’s not all the ugly stuff they don’t like. And it’s art definitely.”

Sheldon Morehu aka “Rytem” works in a traditional graffiti style. RNZ / Robin Martin

Tucked away on Church Lane, Venus Hoy was plotting out another mural.

“I do a lot of work around surrealism and the inner mind landscape, so my piece is pretty centred around that it’s this dreamy landscape of a woman in space with a few little bits and bobs.

“It’s just a piece centred around recognising what a beautiful gift it is to be here on earth.”

Venus Hoy with her piece at the Get Up Festival in New Plymouth. RNZ / Robin Martin

She loved the ethereal natural of street art.

“I hope the artworks don’t last too long because that’s a thing that I love about street art and murals is that they are constantly changing. I love places like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane for that and I hope they keep evolving, so I hope people enjoy it for a little while and then it changes to something else equally beautiful.”

Venus Hoy with her piece at the Get Up Festival in New Plymouth. RNZ / Robin Martin

Shennan meanwhile hoped the festival’s legacy would hold for a while yet.

“This is a festival that actually stays all year round it doesn’t roll into town and roll out again.

“Hopefully it will bring some more people into town because I know town is kind of dying a little bit, so get art tours happening and make it into a bit of an art destination and education as well.

“That’s why I keep the graffiti side of it because people think graffiti is damage, but to me it is a letter form.”

The Get Up Festival wraps up on Monday.

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The great property breakup

Source: Radio New Zealand

Townhouses on Glengarry Road, Glen Eden. Supplied

New Zealand’s love affair with property could be in the break-up stage, with no shortage of houses and investors turning to the share market.

It’s been a national obsession for decades – buying property and creating wealth through soaring capital gains.

But the days of making huge, untaxed profits on such investments are likely over.

The Reserve Bank’s chief economist says we may be seeing a “structural change” in the housing market; there are too many empty townhouses failing to sell; prices are going sideways; and the prospect of a capital gains tax being introduced is becoming more certain.

First home buyers are making a comeback.

But is it too early to say we’re seeing the end of the housing crisis?

On this episode of The Detail we look at where we’re sitting, with experts saying while there’s no shortage of homes available now, that doesn’t necessarily make them affordable.

There are several factors behind the shift.

Younger investors who know they can’t afford to get a foot on the property ladder are turning to KiwiSaver and managed funds – they’re the “Sharesies” generation. The ASB’s latest Investor Confidence Survey says traditional property investment is losing ground to options that provide better returns.

New intensification rules have seen developers replace traditional single-home sections with townhouses – so much so that the market is now awash with them.

Rents are falling – it’s now a tenants’ market – meaning returns on property are less certain. Rock bottom interest rates, which encouraged debt, are unlikely to ever return.

And the ANZ’s chief economist, Sharon Zollner, says there’s an inevitability of new taxes that would dent profit margins in property.

She says maybe a Capital Gains Tax is not on our doorstop, but it will come eventually.

“How long can New Zealand really remain such an outlier internationally, and refuse to have that conversation?” she says.

“I do wonder if people are starting to think that perhaps there’s an inevitability around tax change.”

Zollner says first home buyers have got the field to themselves and some of them are taking advantage of it.

“But then the immediate question is – why have they got the field to themselves? Where are the investors? And I think that’s where it gets interesting.”

She says investors seem to be wary. Adding to the uncertainty has been a very strong outflow of Kiwis to Australia, and they are putting their own houses on the market.

“While interest rates have come down a long way, they’re nowhere near the lows we saw in the boom, and now it’s a question of when they’ll be hiked.”

But Zollner says there are bigger structural issues.

“Can we expect similar returns from the next 10 years say, in the housing market, that we’ve seen over the last decades? And there I think more people are realising, probably not.”

BusinessDesk property editor Maria Slade believes we are on the cusp of a change.

“Perhaps people are starting to see houses as something you live in, and not necessarily an investment,” she says.

“Successive governments have tightened the rules around property investment. It’s not quite as attractive as it used to be. And also the costs have made it less attractive – insurance has gone up, rates have gone up … you’ve got to be getting pretty good rents to get a good yield out of an investment property now. So that’s also, I think, changed the mindset a wee bit.

“I think the tide has turned in terms of how New Zealanders are looking at property.”

Slade says that’s a good thing.

“We have way too much wealth tied up in property – it’s unproductive wealth, it just sits there on a 700 square metre section … it’s not doing anything for the country.

“We definitely need to get over that one if the country’s going to become more prosperous going forward.”

As an example of change, Slade has been looking at what commentators are saying is a glut of townhouses, and the consequences of that. Some are sitting on the market for so long they’re no longer considered ‘new builds’, which means favourable lending for first home buyers doesn’t apply.

In spite of the stagnant market, new data from Infometrics shows consents for townhouses grew by 14 percent from the year to January.

In today’s podcast, Slade talks about some possible reasons for that, including a possible move away from cookie-cutter style homes without car parks to less crowded buildings.

Kelvin Davidson, the chief Property Economist at Cotality, hedges his bets when asked if the housing crisis is over.

“It depends what you mean by ‘housing crisis’,” he says.

“I suppose what people think about … over the past 20 or 30 years is an affordability crisis where house prices have been too high in relation to incomes and it’s been a stretch for people to get onto the housing ladder.

“I don’t think it’s ever been easy to buy your first house. It’s been a challenge through time.

“So is that crisis over? Maybe.

“I think we may be reaching a turning point in the market now, where the mindset is shifting and people are starting to realise that actually, ever-rising house prices isn’t necessarily the best thing for a country.”

Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here.

You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter.

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Israel, US intensify attacks on Iran as war hits 7th day

Source: Radio New Zealand

Follow the latest with our live blog above.

The conflict in Iran continues to widen.

In Azerbaijan, two people have been injured after Iranian drones hit an airport and landed near a school building.Explosions have been heard over Bahrain and Qatar.

Evacuation notices have been issued for southern parts of Lebanon’s capital Beirut, Israel is attacking strongholds of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military says it has continued its attacks on Iran.

And, US President Donald Trump told news outlet Axios that he needs to personally be involved in selecting Iran’s new leader.

Follow the latest with our live blog at the top of this page.

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NRL round one – New Zealand Warriors v Sydney Roosters

Source: Radio New Zealand

Chanel Harris-Tavita scores a try for the Warriors against Roosters. Andrew Cornaga/Photosport

Five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita scored two tries, as his NZ Warriors overpowered Sydney Roosters for a 42-18 NRL season-opening victory at Go Media Stadium.

The home side scored 22 consecutive points to grab a 22-6 halftime lead, crossing soon after the break through high-flying second-rower Leka Halasima to stamp their control on the game.

Sydney countered with back-to-back tries to centre Billy Smith and second-rower Angus Crichton, pulling within 10 points midway through the second half, but that was as close as they got.

Harris-Tavita had his two tries in identical fashion, looming inside wing Roger Tuivasa-Sheck close to the line for late offloads.

His 75th-minute effort probably clinched the game for the Warriors, but fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad had the last say, diving over in the corner, with half Tanah Boyd converting from the sideline.

See how the action unfolded here:

Team lists

Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Ali Leiataua, 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Tanah Boyd, 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Kurt Capewell, 12. Jacob Laban, 13. Erin Clark

Interchange: 14. Sam Healey, 15. Demitric Vaimauga, 16. Leka Halasima, 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 18. Taine Tuaupiki, 20. Morgan Gannon

Reserves: 21. Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 22. Luke Hanson, 23. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava

Roosters: 1. James Tedesco, 2. Daniel Tupou, 3. Billy Smith, 4. Robert Toia, 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase, 6. Daly Cherry-Evans, 7. Sam Walker, 8. Naufahu Whyte, 9. Benaiah Ioelu, 10. Lindsay Collins, 11. Angus Crichton, 12, Nat Butcher, 13. Blake Steep

Interchange: 14. Conor Watson, 15. Siua Wong, 16. Egan Butcher, 17. Spencer Leniu, 18. Cody Ramsey, 19. Fetalaiga Pauga

Reserves: 20. Salesi Foketi, 21. Tommy Talau, 22. Toby Rodwell

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Hurricanes v Waratahs – Super Rugby Pacific

Source: Radio New Zealand

Liam Swiggs / RNZ

The Hurricanes have trounced the Waratahs at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, winning the match 59 points to 19.

Most of the Canes’ points came in the second half – as they had only been leading 17-12 heading into halftime.

Billy Proctor scored a hat-trick.

The Hurricanes now return home to host the Western Force at McLean Park in Napier.

See how the game unfolded in our blog:

Team list

Hurricanes:

1. Xavier Numia 2. Asafo Aumua (vc) 3. Pasilio Tosi 4. Warner Dearns 5. Isaia Walker-Leawere 6. Devan Flanders 7. Du’Plessis Kirifi (c) 8. Peter Lakai 9. Cam Roigard 10. Callum Harkin 11. Fehi Fineanganofo 12. Jordie Barrett 13. Billy Proctor 14. Bailyn Sullivan 15. Josh Moorby

Bench: 16. Jacob Devery 17. Siale Lauaki 18. Tevita Mafileo 19. Brad Shields 20. Brayden Iose 21. Ereatara Enari 22. Lucas Cashmore 23. Jone Rova

Waratahs:

1. Tom Lambert 2. Folau Faingaa 3. Daniel Botha 4. Matt Philip (c) 5. Miles Amatosero 6. Leafi Talataina 7. Charlie Gamble 8. Pete Samu 9. Jake Gordon 10. Lawson Creighton 11. Max Jorgensen 12. Joey Walton 13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 14.Triston Reilly 15. Andrew Kellaway

Bench: 16. Ioane Moananu, 17. Isaac Kailea, 18. Siosifa Amone, 19. Angus Blyth, 20. Clem Halaholo, 21. Teddy Wilson, 22. Jack Debreczeni, 23. Sid Harvey.

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Renowned New Zealand artist Philip Trusttum dies aged 85

Source: Radio New Zealand

Philip Trusttum. Supplied / Christchurch Art Gallery

Renowned New Zealand figurative, expressionist artist Philip Trusttum has died, aged 85, with multiple leading galleries paying tribute online.

Christchurch Art Gallery said Trusttum’s paintings “embrace life at full throttle, just as he did”.

“Bursting with colour, movement, energy and humour, they reflect his insatiable fascination with the world.

“His art was inspired by his activities and interests – from gardening, horses and tennis to the patterns he noticed on clothes and road signs – often relayed from unexpected angles and in startling close-up. Everyday subjects – red berries in a garden, the whirling blades of a mower, his grandson’s toys – were translated into his distinctively exuberant semi-abstraction.”

The artwork Northern Lights by Philip Trusttum, which is installed at 44 The Terrace in Wellington. Supplied

Born in Raetihi on 9 June, 1940, Trusttum studied at the University of Canterbury’s School of Fine Arts, before going on to exhibit his works in Aotearoa, Australia, Europe and the United States.

He was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to art in 2021.

“His acclaimed and prolific practice was grounded in the daily studio sessions he remained dedicated to even in his later years … his works are represented in all of the major public, and many private, collections in this country,” the gallery said.

“Philip Trusttum will be remembered as one of our finest painters, a passionate supporter of art and artists and a great friend to the Gallery.”

de Castro-Robinson – a zigzagged gaze Image 1: Philip Trusttum: Il Vecchio Castello Collection of the Wallace Arts Trust

The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata also acknowledged Trusttum’s death.

“He leaves behind a prolific body of work and is a significant loss for the arts community.”

PG gallery192, in Christchurch, said it had been a privilege to share his practice with audiences over the years.

“As one of Aotearoa’s most significant contemporary painters, Philip brought extraordinary energy and wholehearted commitment to his work. He was always making – music playing from his CDs, brush in hand; his bold, expressive paintings often offered glimpses into his everyday life.

“He was a generous mentor and inspiration to many artists, always welcoming visitors into his studio and sharing his passion for painting.

“He will be greatly missed, not only by those who had the pleasure of knowing and working with him, but by the wider arts community across Aotearoa New Zealand.”

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Farmer finds fully clothed skeleton while cutting trees on SH3 Waikato

Source: Radio New Zealand

Human remains were found off SH3 between Te Awamutu and Ōtorohanga in the Waikato. Google Maps

An Ōtorohanga farmer was shocked when her and a group of weed controllers stumbled across a human skeleton in an area of privet bush near State Highway 3 this morning.

Police are investigating the remains in an area around SH3 between Ōtorohanga and Te Awamutu.

Clare Douglas said she and a group of about six people were cutting down privet trees near the state highway, when the others called to her that they’d found a body.

She said she’d initially didn’t believe it, until she approached and saw for herself.

“The group was all huddled together, and I went over and said ‘get back to work’, and saw the body lying there…took me a couple of minutes to realise what it was and what we should do, and so yeah, I called the police,” she said.

“It didn’t feel real to me, and even now it feels surreal, I’ve been in shock all day,” she added.

Douglas said the skeleton was clothed and had work boots on.

“At least there’ll be some closure hopefully for a family, finding their loved one, hopefully,” she said.

Douglas’s husband’s family had lived in the area for four generations, and she said her in laws recall that this area of privet trees was only trimmed down once by the transport agency in the past 30 years.

She said the trees are now about 30 metres tall, and that prompted her to start doing some weed control in the area.

Police said they are in the very early stages of the investigation, and are unable to share any further information.

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Carter scores hat trick as Chiefs run riot over Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby Pacific

Source: Radio New Zealand

Chiefs’ Quinn Tupaea scores a try during the Chiefs vs Moana Pasifika, Super Rugby Pacific match at FMG Stadium, Hamilton. DJ Mills / Photosport

The Chiefs bounced back from last week’s Super Rugby Pacific disappointment to run riot against Moana Pasifika in a 57-24 win.

This has been one of the most one-sided fixtures since Moana joined Super Rugby and Friday night was no different.

In a frenetic first, half seven tries were scored before the break in Hamilton.

Chiefs back Quinn Tupaea continued his strong start to the season when he scored close to the left touch line in the third minute.

A minute later fullback Liam Coombe-Fabling scored the second try when he strolled over the line by making the most of the outside channel.

Moana closed the deficit 10 minutes into the game when fullback Glen Vaihu collected a bounce pass, straightened up, and sliced through beside the posts.

Chiefs winger Leroy Carter also capitalised on space down the left side when scored with ease in the 16th minute.

Against the run of play Moana hit back with a try for number eight Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa as he bumped off players to get to the try line.

Chiefs’ Damian McKenzie takes a high ball during the Super Rugby Pacific match. DJ Mills / Photosport

New dad Damian McKenzie helped set up the Chiefs’ fourth try with some fancy footwork to create space in Moana defence before winger Emoni Narawa got in on the scoring action.

McKenzie also played a part in the fifth try which was scored by former Wallabies midfielder Lalakai Foketi in his first start for the hosts. McKenzie got a kind bounce off his own kick before he flicked the ball back in field to Cortez Ratima, who was also back from paternity leave, and then fed Foketi.

After all the action in the first 40 minutes the Chiefs lead 31-14 at half-time.

Moana were first to score in the second half when Tupou Ta’eiloa again used his size to keep his side in the game.

Carter scored twice in six minutes to bring up his hat-trick on the night and extend the Chiefs’ lead.

With his first touch of the game replacement Kyle Brown was rolling in behind the posts as McKenzie converted it to bring up the 50 points.

Another substitute, Tyrone Thompson also got in the board when he lobbed to the back of the lineout, and the Chiefs got a drive going with Thompson in the boot. He remained patient, seeing his way over in the corner.

For all their dominance the Chiefs were also ahead on the penalty count which will have frustrated coach Jono Gibbs.

With time nearly up on the clock, Tevita Ofa scored his second try of the season and Moana’s fourth of the game.

Moana now extend their losing streak against the Chiefs to eight games and a third loss of the season keeps the team on the bottom of the points.

Follow how all the action unfolded below:

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