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Netball NZ gets new interim boss and a high performance expert

Source: Radio New Zealand

Jane Patterson during the 100 Days to Go event for the FIFA Women’s World Cup at Eden Park, Auckland, 11 April 2023. Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz

Netball New Zealand has appointed an interim chief executive and a new Silver Ferns high performance lead, who both come with impressive CVs.

Jane Patterson has been hired as interim boss, following Jennie Wyllie’s decision to step down as CEO in December 2025 after nine year’s in the job.

And a former NBA performance director, Chelsea Lane, has been appointed as Head of Performance – Silver Ferns.

Wyllie stepped down after what will be remembered as Netball New Zealand’s most turbulent year. In 2025 the organisation struggled to secure a broadcast deal for the ANZ Premiership, the sport’s domestic showpiece.

But the biggest damage to the organisation’s reputation came in September when it announced that Silver Ferns’ coach Dame Noeline Taurua was being suspended, due to concerns in the high performance environment, sparked by player complaints.

The saga played out in the media for weeks before Dame Noeline was eventually reinstated, but calls for ‘heads to roll’ at Netball NZ came from many quarters of the netball community.

Patterson has more than three decades of experience across sport and major events in New Zealand and internationally. Her career highlights include serving as Chief Operating Officer (New Zealand) for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023.

She spent four years as COO and CMO of IRONMAN Asia Pacific and previously held the role of CEO of the Netball World Cup 2007, hosted in New Zealand. Most recently, she served as Interim CEO of Badminton New Zealand, a role she completed in December.

Patterson, who steps into the role on 19 January, believes she has a strong connection to the history, people and traditions that underpin netball in Aotearoa.

“Since first playing netball at the age of seven, I’ve carried a deep respect for the game and its proud place in New Zealand sport. Stepping into this role comes with a real sense of responsibility, and I’m committed to working alongside our staff, the Board, and the wider community to ensure the organisation remains strong, united, and focused for the future.

“My immediate focus as Interim CEO is to provide stability, clarity, and support across the organisation. This is a time to listen, to connect with our staff and communities nation-wide, and to ensure netball is well positioned for the future – both on and off the court,” Patterson said.

Lane’s appointment has been described as “further strengthening leadership within the Silver Ferns high performance programme.”

The Netball New Zealand press release said Lane will support the Silver Ferns with a clear, aligned, reliable and world-class performance system, “helping to assemble the team that will take the programme forward.”

Lane has more than 20 years’ experience across elite and professional sport, including senior roles with NBA franchises and national sporting bodies.

Her career includes helping transform the Atlanta Hawks from a low-performing franchise to a top-three NBA team within three seasons, as well as contributing to multiple NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors.

Netball New Zealand said closer to home, her work had strengthened high-performance capability at NZ Cricket and Basketball New Zealand, alongside mentoring performance leaders internationally.

Silver Ferns head coach Dame Noeline Taurua said: “Chelsea’s proven ability to align performance, people and culture will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen the Silver Ferns programme. I’m looking forward to working closely with her as we prepare for the challenges and opportunities ahead.”

Netball New Zealand believe both appointments will provide stability, additional support and experienced leadership at an important time for netball in Aotearoa.

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

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Disposable Razor: Scott Robertson dumped as All Blacks coach

Source: Radio New Zealand

Marty Melville

Scott “Razor” Robertson, only a few years ago hailed as the future of All Black rugby after taking the Crusaders to multiple Super Rugby championships, has been dumped as All Black coach.

A process would commence immediately to find Robertson’s replacement, NZ Rugby said in a statement on Thursday.

“We’ve taken an extensive look at the team’s progress on and off the field and have subsequently had discussions with Scott on the way forward,” NZR chair David Kirk said.

“Both NZR and Scott agree it is in the best interests of the team that he depart his role.

“The mid-point in the Rugby World Cup cycle is the right time to look at the All Blacks’ progress over the first two seasons.”

Kirk thanked Robertson.

“He has continued to put the All Blacks first and we respect that he has done the hard but right thing in agreeing to depart.”

There had been mounting speculation after an internal report into the 2025 All Black games found dissatisfaction among senior players.

Robertson’s short tenure has been marred by turmoil.

Just eight months into his reign, assistant coach Leon MacDonald abruptly handed in his resignation ahead of the tour to South Africa, citing differences in attacking philosophy and coaching direction.

Jamie Joseph, right, and Tony Brown during their time at the Highlanders. PHOTOSPORT

This was followed by back-to-back defeats in the republic.

The Otago Daily Times earlier speculated Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph could take over the All Blacks if Scott Robertson does lose his job.

Under Robertson, the All Blacks also suffered their heaviest defeat in history, humiliated by the Springboks 43-10 in Wellington and were beaten on Argentinian soil for the first time.

Ceri Evans, head of leadership + mental performance, and coach Scott Robertson look dejected after the loss to Argentina. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz

However, the Razor era hasn’t all been doom and gloom. The All Blacks managed to keep the Eden Park streak intact with a gutsy victory over South Africa, and maintained New Zealand’s two-decade Bledisloe Cup dominance.

With Robertson overseeing the side, the All Blacks have had a 74 percent win rate, with 20 wins from 27 tests.

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Students can now claim $12,000 but is it money well spent?

Source: Radio New Zealand

123RF

Eligible students can now apply for funds to help with the cost of their final year of study.

But one economist is asking whether it’s the best use of the money.

People who are studying for the first time can now access up to $12,000 for their final year of study or final two years of work-based learning.

The fees-free scheme changed from funding the first year to the final year from 1 January last year.

Payments are only available once the year is complete, so the first students are eligible under the new criteria this year.

Inland Revenue said the final-year fees-free programme was designed to motivate people to complete a qualification or programme.

They needed to pay their fees when they enrolled and then apply for the funding once they had competed and passed the qualification.

Infometrics chief executive Brad Olsen pointed to government analysis of the scheme before the change was introduced, which highlighted that it had not achieved many of its objectives.

“It wasn’t lifting participation rates or anything like that. It wasn’t helping people who would not have otherwise gone to university,” he said.

“It wasn’t helping people in a more disadvantaged position. It was basically just making stuff free, which might have felt good, but it didn’t make a real difference in terms of access or engagement or in completions or anything else. And so I think the challenge there was that you were paying a fair amount to subsidise a group of people to start their university career, where they were probably already going to do that.

“The government did want to focus a bit more on the final year because if you’re not getting any of those wider benefits, if you’re not changing participation or anything else, then it doesn’t make as much sense to fund and pay for university studies that might not be completed. And if you’re funding the last year, you effectively know that you are getting that much higher completion rate.”

The regulatory impact statement that examined the change said the main impact of the policy change would be on cost savings for the government. The total savings for final-year fees free versus first-year fees free for the financial years 2023/2024 – 2027/2028 were estimated at Budget 2024 to be $879 million.

Cost savings would decrease over time, to $139m on an ongoing basis.

Olsen said fees were not the barrier to university, a sentiment that was echoed by the regulatory impact statement.

“Especially because you take on a student loan and you have longer gains that you get over time with high earning potential.

“You have people that struggle still, be it fees free or not, to pay their living costs week to week. If they haven’t got sort of the right educational attainment over time or they haven’t got the right supports in place, you can fund them to go to university as much as you want. But if they can’t find somewhere to live, if they can’t pay for themselves while they’re living there, if they don’t have the ability to sort of continue to make it through the programme, none of that matters.”

He said there should be a wider conversation about how people could be encouraged and supported into education.

“Are you not better to instead of just saying everyone who’s sort of eligible, who’s doing all these various degrees or courses or similar in their last year, they can get it free? Are we not better to make it a whole lot more targeted if we know there are certain industries, areas that we know we want to cultivate a range of people if we know that there are groups or communities that are struggling to get access?

“We’re not better to put the money in there rather than just saying, you know what, anyone who’s doing a course, yes, if you’re completing it, you can have it free.”

Applications can be made through the myIR system. The application needs to be made within a year after completing the eligible qualification.

For people who have a student loan, the entitlement goes towards the loan balance.

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Deluge overwhelms stormwater network, closes streets in South Taranaki

Source: Radio New Zealand

Surface flooding on Princes Street and Furlong Street intersection in Hāwera. Supplied / South Taranaki District Council

Streets have been closed in Hāwera after heavy rain overwhelmed stormwater network causing surface flooding in the South Taranaki town.

A council spokespersoon said they had experienced extremely heavy rain coming down in a very short period of time.

“We have got all of our crews out there checking drains, clearing sumps, putting up signage and implementing traffic management where roads are flooded. For example, the Princes Street/Furlong St area in Hawera has been closed due to surface flooding.

“The extreme rainfall appears to have been centred around the central and southern parts of the district, with most of the calls we’ve received having come from Hāwera, Normanby and to a lesser extent Manaia and Pātea.

Council crews were checking drains, clearing sumps and putting up signage and putting in place traffic management in the affected areas.

The spokesperson said the rain had eased somewhat since the deluge and was forecast to be light for the rest of the day.

“Our emergency response team is continuing to monitor the situation and we urge drivers to take extra care on the roads and avoid driving on the roads if they can.

“One area to pay special attention to is State Highway 3 (the stretch between Hāwera and Normanby, outside the Hāwera aerodrome). Waka Kotahi/NZTA have been advised.”

Local residents had taken to the Extreme Weather Taranaki Facebook page to share their experience of the deluge.

Beamsley Jesse Heathers had just left Hāwera.

“Surface flooding like rivers through the main streets. Could barely see out the windscreen. Torrential downpours. Did not know due to poor visibility, that roads were overflowing and drove into floods. One supermarket carpark not usable and then the sirens went up.”

Michelle Watt posted that she’d had 85mls in her rain gauge over 12 hours, while others put up photos of surface flooding.

And Hāwera Harness Racing Club announced the postponement of its meeting due to “the huge amount of rain”.

It was looking to reschedule to Sunday.

Hāwera Fire and Emergency chief Merv Watt said the rain was causing a few issues.

“We’ve had non-stop rain all morning. It’s been pretty heavy most of the morning and luckily we’ve only actually had one call out to a business. And they just needed a hand to get rid of some water out of the premises.

“It was just a place in town that had a lot of water run into the area. It was like a workshop and we just needed to clean the workshop out of water.

“There’s been a lot of surface flooding around the town, and the council have closed off some of the streets. But yeah, there’s no being real, no big emergency call outs for the river at the stage, except for that one.

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Tongans still ‘broken’ four years on from Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano eruption

Source: Radio New Zealand

It is known as the day Tonga went black. January 15th marks four years since the devastating eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano and the tsunami that followed.

Three people lost their lives and major damage was caused to infrastructure and crops in the surrounding islands. But it is the mental impacts which have scarred the local community the deepest.

Scientists described the underwater volcano as one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history, equivalent to five underground nuclear bombs. It was an explosion that no one who experienced it could ever forget.

Business owner Liz Cowley remembers that fateful day clearly. She was driving to safety with her late mother.

“As soon as we just turned this little turn, the world went dark and we could hear the bang, bang, bang and ash was down, falling, you know,” she recalled.

Hours later, she looked out at a surreal scene.

“When we went out and saw the ash was almost ankle high and it was just a very airy feeling in Tonga, you know, it was like something out of a movie. You never thought this would happen to us, but it did,” Cowley explained.

Consulate of the Kingdom of Tonga

Survivor Lusiana Kikau and her family are just grateful to be alive. They were employees of Fafa Island Resort. The small island, which is a 30-minute boat ride away from Tonga’s capital Nuku’alofa, was destroyed by the tsunami.

Kikau remembers sitting on the beach when the tsunami hit, and her main priority was to save her daughter who was 10 years old at the time.

“So, we just trying to save, save our daughter, so we try to clear with other two Fijian staff we were together on that island, just try to save our daughter. So, she climbed up on the tree. I just used the rope to tie around my waist when the waves start coming in,” Kikau recalled.

Kikau admitted that she was still traumatised by the event.

“Sometime when I heard loud sound like I’m scared, I always remember what happened on that day, when the loud sound like thunder or any sound,” she said.

This handout photo taken on January 16, 2022 and received on January 25 courtesy of Rev. Kisini Toetu’u via Matangi Tonga shows survivors praying on a hilltop at dawn on Mango Island, following the January 15 eruption of the nearby Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai underwater volcano. AFP PHOTO / Courtesy of Rev. Kisini Toetu’u via Matangi Tonga” –

In the immediate wake of the disaster, the Pasifika Medical Association Group sent an emergency response team of medical professionals to Tonga. It has subsequently returned each year with support focused on addressing the well-being of individuals.

PMA’s CEO Debbie Sorensen said today many people will be feeling overwhelmed by the legacy of the disaster.

“I think the anniversary brings up all sorts of feelings for people, you know, there are feelings of grief over what people have lost.

“There’s anxiety and fear, you know, I imagine quite a lot of people will be looking at that horizon wondering whether it’s going to be another one on the same day. You know, those are quite normal feelings,” she notes.

Sorensen said it’s important for those suffering trauma to seek help from the resources available, including reaching out to local mental health professionals

“The Tongan Mental Health Group is actually very well known amongst our community and in Tonga,” she said.

Volcanic clouds cover the skies over Tongatapu at around 5pm on 15 January 2022, as the Hunga Tonga – Hunga Ha’apai volcano started erupting. Iliesa Tora

The traumatic event has left devastating effects on people’s well-being in Tonga. For some people, the full impacts of trauma are delayed, and four years on many people are still grappling with the worst of it – a complex set of fears and emotions that may not be visible to others but is very real for the people affected.

Cowley said she is deeply concerned about the people around her, and said more professional help is needed to help the community.

“Someone passionate that can a listener you know, to help these people, they’re broken,” Cowley said.

“Because I don’t think some will ever be able to recover from this at all.”

Sorensen agreed that more needs to be invested in resources.

“I think that technology, you know, has played its part in being able to extend the services that are offered. But there’s no question that there needs to be more investment in more resources applied.”

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Marlborough’s only kaupapa Māori GP receives funding to address critical gap

Source: Radio New Zealand

Kaupapa Māori GP Manu Ora founders Dr Sara Simmons (left) and Dr Rachel Inder (right). Supplied/Chris Brooks – Motive Digital

Marlborough’s only kaupapa Māori general practice, Manu Ora, has received funding for the next three years with evidence showing it’s early intervention model benefits both its patients and the wider healthcare system.

The Blenheim based practice was established in mid-2021 by Dr Sara Simmons and Dr Rachel Inder in partnership with Te Piki Oranga a Māori health services provider in Te Tauihu.

Co-founder Dr Sara Simmons (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Māmoe, Waitaha) said it was born from a desire to provide care in a te ao Māori way for the community’s most vulnerable.

“Our partner organisation is Te Piki Oranga, so that’s a Māori wellness service here in Te Tauihu and we were really lucky to kind of gain their support a they recognised that we had something that could kind of close the loop of care for whānau Māori in the region from their perspective, because they have nurses and social workers and addiction services and mental health services and some other social services as well, but they didn’t have any GPs.”

Simmons said they soon realised the service needed to be run as a not for profit entity rather than the traditional GP business model. Only 28 percent of Manu Ora’s funding is provided through the government.

“We rely on funding for 72 percent of our costs. So, you know, that community support is just so critical. And we’ve been really lucky to have that and to get some recognition on a wider stage… We’re four and a half years in, and we’re kind of excited about where to next and what the future will bring and hopefully seeing some of those big stats turn the corner for our whānau Māori,” she said.

The Rātā Foundation awarded $165,000 to Manu Ora over three years, which Simmons said is their first multi year contract from an external organisation and will provide a degree certainty to their work.

Manu Ora a kaupapa Māori general practice in Blenheim. Supplied/Chris Brooks – Motive Digital

Simmons said they spent much of the practice’s first year planning and engaging with local whānau and community to create a service that would reflect their needs.

“Both Rachel and I are born and bred in the Wairau, and although I whakapapa to further south, down in Wairewa, you know, I’ve grown up going to Omaka Marae and connecting with our Māori community locally, and so we just really kind of opened the door and asked the question. And I think what people identified with was, the desire to do something different and the desire to do something that was really designed from the ground up to really benefit our community. So, we didn’t start with any preconceived ‘this is what we think it should look like,’ we really just asked that question of our whānau and kind of went from there.”

It’s a privilege to be able to provide care in a kaupapa Māori model, she said.

“It stemmed from a desire to do something different, a desire to do something that we thought was the right thing to do for our whānau Māori in the area… When we started having kōrero with people about what we wanted to do, that’s when we really thought, yeah, this is something that our community needs, because I think in Marlborough, in particular, many people have their eyes shut to the kind of poverty and the needs that is out there.

“I mean, we’ve got strong primary industry, and I think people see all of that, and don’t see the housing insecurity, and the kai insecurity, and the job insecurity, and then the kind of flow-on effects from that onto people’s mental health and their hauora, their overall well-being.”

Simmons said when the practice first opened, there was some concern from established practices in the region about their approach.

“It’s a reflection of the region really not providing care for our whānau Māori in a way that is really best for them. And, you know, we look at the stats and whānau Māori are less likely to seek out healthcare and then even when they do, they’re less likely to receive gold standard care. And so those impacts, you know, in the big picture, that health inequality is just, well, it’s massive and it’s really heartbreaking, you know, and to look at my tamariki and know that their life expectancy is seven or eight years less than non-Māori their same age – that’s kind of why we do what we do is, is to look to benefit, not only the whānau who we’ve got enrolled with us now, but our future generations.”

The team from Manu Ora a kaupapa Māori general practice in Marlborough. Supplied/Chris Brooks – Motive Digital

An independent evaluation by Sapere (2022) reported: “Stakeholders identify to us that these high needs vulnerable whānau likely would not have [otherwise] connected with general practice or would not have received an appropriate level of service, and only occasionally would have been seen by the DHB in its hospital, usually in a crisis situation.”

Manu Ora maintains a lower patient-to-GP ratio of 1:900, compared to the national average of 1:1,700. Nearly 50 percent of the practice’s patient roll is Māori, compared to 13 percent at other Blenheim practices; over 50 percent of staff, and 80 percent of the Board, whakapapa Māori.

Simmons thanked the team at Manu Ora, saying they are lucky to have a group of both Māori and non-Māori clinicians who can provide whānau centred care.

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Weather: Severe thunderstorms, heavy rain warnings for North Island, upper South

Source: Radio New Zealand

An orange rain warning is in force for Bay of Plenty, including Rotorua, until 11am on Friday. Supplied/MetService

Severe thunderstorm and heavy rain watches are in place for the top half of the country and upper South Island, with surface flooding and slips possible.

MetService is warning people to prepare for localised downpours of 25 to 40 millimetres an hour.

An orange rain warning is in force for Bay of Plenty, including Rotorua, until 11am on Friday, with up to 150 millimetres expected.

Northland, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Taihape, Wanganui, Manawatu, Tararua, Taranaki, Wellington, Wairarapa are all under a severe thunderstorm watch until late on Thursday night, while Auckland, Waikato, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula’s watches are in place until early Friday morning.

Heavy rain is also set to lash the top of the South, with an orange warning in place for northern parts of Marlborough until late Thursday afternoon.

Rain watches are in place on Thursday across Nelson, Tasman, and southern Marlborough, including the Kaikoura Coast.

Marlborough District Council said Marlborough Sounds, Richmond Ranges, Rai Valley, Blenheim, Seddon and Ward residents should expect 60 to 90 millimetres of rain on top of what has already fallen.

It warned people travelling in the region to be cautious of slips and flooding.

Beware of localised downpours

MetService meteorologist Katie Lyons says the severe thunderstorm watches may be upgraded. MetService/Supplied

MetService meteorologist Katie Lyons told RNZ the severe thunderstorm watches could be upgraded.

“There’s a lot going on around the country, I think something that could catch people out today are just those localised downpours in one area.

“And watch out for those thunderstorm warnings,” she said.

MetService said people should make sure their drains and gutters are clear before the heavy rain hits.

It also warned travellers to driving cautiously with difficult driving conditions likely.

Road closures or delays possible – NZTA

A New Zealand Transport Agency spokesperson said motorists should drive with care, maintain safe following distances and slow down, to help keep everyone safe.

“Our crews will be closely monitoring the state highways while these watches and warnings are in place.

“Those who are travelling on the roads should be aware of possible flooding, especially in low-lying areas and near rivers, slips, fallen trees, reduced visibility and hazardous driving conditions, and potential road closures or delays.”

The heavy rain could cause potholes to form or worsen, creating additional hazards for drivers, the spokesperson said.

They also said travellers should be mindful of contractors who may be out clearing hazards off the road.

There are currently no reports from NZTA of state highway closures due to weather.

Both Air New Zealand and Jetstar said there were no flight disruptions or cancellations at this stage.

The airlines encouraged customers to check the status of their flight online or via their apps for the latest updates.

Good news for some

A recent fire on Waitara Road burned through 22 hectares of bush. FIRE AND EMERGENCY NZ / SUPPLIED

Fire and Emergency New Zealand are welcoming the rain with open arms, but remain cautious that a few downpours alone will not change fire risk conditions.

Fire bans and restrictions span across much of the country as the risk of wildfire intensified due to the recent hot and dry weather.

Wildfire manager Tim Mitchell told RNZ the rain was “absolutely” welcomed, particularly to drier high risk areas like Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa.

Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa are under a total fire ban due to dry conditions, with specific zones requiring permits for any outdoor burning.

Hawke’s Bay is under a total fire ban due to dry conditions. RNZ/Sally Round

Mitchell said fire risks remained in place and restrictions could not be removed until grass in drier regions turned green.

“We are hoping for steady rain over a long period of time to reduce fire risk, but heavy down pours may not change conditions.”

Mitchell said flooding also posed a risk to drier areas because the hard ground struggled to soaked up the rain water.

People should also be mindful that lightning strikes could start wildfires, but in contrast to Australia, New Zealand’s lightning is associated with rain, he said.

“Residents should take extra care around flood waters and when driving, keeping a good travelling distance, and double check the checkitsalright website.”

The spell of rain and thunderstorms looks to pass for much of the country moving into the weekend.

For more information on preparing and keeping safe during a storm, visit Civil Defence Get Ready website.

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Work set to begin on New Plymouth sewage pump station known to overflow

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Mangati Pump Station. Supplied

Work is set to begin on an upgrade to a New Plymouth sewage pump station, which has a history of overflowing into the Mangati Stream during power cuts or wet weather events.

To reduce the likelihood of future overflows, it was planned to install a large underground emergency storage unit beneath the adjacent Mangati Walkway in Bell Block.

In 2021, water services company, Citycare, and the New Plymouth District Council were fined $112,000 and $66,500 respectively for their part in spilling 1.5 million cubic litres of human effluent into the stream in – the equivalent of half the volume of an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

The January 2019 sewage pump station failure, which lasted for more than nine hours, also killed hundred of fish and eels.

NPDC Project Delivery Manager Sean Cressy said the first stage of the upgrade would be ground-testing to find out how much water was in the soil which would involve installing monitoring equipment in bore holes.

“The information we gather will help us design emergency storage that is suitable for the environment.”

Drilling the bore holes was scheduled to start on 19 January.

Cressy said silt control bags and fences would capture any sediment to prevent it entering Mangati Stream and pedestrians would be able to walk past the worksite with care during the three-week work.

Stage two of the upgrade, the installation of underground storage, would take place in 2026/27.

This project was part of NPDC’s $289 million investment over 10 years to fix the district’s plumbing.

At a glance:

  • The council maintained 34 pump stations, more than 7000 manholes and nearly 700km of pipes in the district’s wastewater network.
  • Raw sewage and trade waste collected from Waitara, Bell Block, New Plymouth, Inglewood and Ōākura was treated at the New Plymouth Wastewater Treatment Plant, which was turned into clean effluent, which was discharged via an outfall into the Tasman Sea, and the slow-release fertiliser Bioboost.

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Pinched petrol leads to pricey penalty

Source: New Zealand Police

An east Auckland man’s charges stepped up a gear after Police made an expensive and unexpected discovery at his property.

Police had executed a search warrant at an address in Juliet Avenue, Howick as part of an investigation into a series of petrol drive-offs across the wider area.

Senior Sergeant Simon Cornish, of Counties Manukau East Police, says upon arrival at the property, a man was seen at the back of the house attempting to flee.

“Police believed he was discarding evidence in the back yard.

“He was subsequently placed under arrest and it was found a set of keys had been thrown into an outside shed.”

Senior Sergeant Cornish says Police then searched the area, locating the set of keys, which then led to the discovery of a stolen Audi Q7 parked just 300 metres down the road.

“Following a number of enquiries it was found the vehicle had been taken during an unreported burglary at an Island View Terrace property, where the owners were overseas.

“Police have managed to contact the homeowners to advise them of the situation,” he says.

“Safe to say they were very grateful to be made aware of what had occurred and to learn the vehicle had been recovered.

“This is a great example of quick thinking and collaboration between staff, which resulted in a great find.”

A 32-year-old man will appear in Manukau District Court today facing a number of charges including burglary, theft, receiving property, possession for supply of cannabis and resisting Police.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

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Red-hot Black Cap Daryl Mitchell scales new heights

Source: Radio New Zealand

Daryl Mitchell AFP

Black Caps match-winner Daryl Mitchell concedes he’s at the peak of his powers and finally feels “comfortable about how I go about my batting” in international cricket.

Mitchell unfurled another match-winning knock in the second ODI win by seven wickets over India in Rajkot, his unbeaten 131 continuing a majestic run of form in the 50-over format.

The 34-year-old has scored 936 runs at an average of 72.0 over his last 16 ODI innings, often steering New Zealand home or providing an important boost in setting a target.

His latest innings may well be enough to propel him from second to first in the format’s ICC batting rankings, lifting him ahead of Indian talisman Virat Kohli.

Daryl Mitchell tries to play a shot during the first ODI between India and New Zealand SHAMMI MEHRA

Mitchell’s brilliantly paced 117-ball knock was his eighth ton, but more importantly to him, it was at the heart of a Black Caps win as they completed their highest successful chase in an ODI in India.

“I just love playing for my country. I love travelling the world and playing international cricket and I’m lucky to do that across all three formats,” he said.

“My job’s to help us win games of cricket and I was able to do that tonight.”

Mitchell’s knock exemplified why he has thrived of late, helping New Zealand recover from 46-2, putting on 162 for the third wicket with Will Young (87) before swinging momentum by targeting India’s key spinner Kuldeep Yadav.

Ranked the world’s premier ODI bowler, Yadav leaked 82 runs from his 10 overs, unable to contain Mitchell’s guile.

“As New Zealanders, we don’t grow up on these surfaces. We grow up on bouncy, grassy wickets and the nature of playing international cricket is you have to find ways all around the world,” Mitchell said.

“For me, it’s been a learning process over several years now. I’m comfortable with how I want to go about my batting in these conditions and trying to find ways to put the bowlers under pressure.

“Whether that’s using your feet, sweep, using the crease – there are different ways to put pressure on them.

“The likes of Kuldeep and Ravi Jadeja, who are accurate and bowl so well, you keep finding ways to put pressure on them.

“It’s constantly adapting to what the surface is dictating. I guess today the surface was a lot lower and slower so it was a lot easier to go square, rather than down the ground, at times.

“It’s about being smart with your boundary options.

Daryl Mitchell celebrates after scoring a century. PUNIT PARANJPE

Mitchell accelerated to finish with 11 fours and two sixes, and was still at the crease when victory was achieved with 15 balls to spare.

He fell three runs short of his highest ODI score – achieved in India two years ago – and lifted his career average to a remarkable 56.73, the second-highest figure behind Kohli’s 58.45 among all batsmen to have played 50 or more ODIs.

The series is 1-1 ahead of the third and final game in Indore on Sunday, where Mitchell and his team will target a first ever ODI series win in India.

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