Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Opera superstar Joyce DiDonato says music has power to heal

Source: Radio New Zealand

American opera singer Joyce DiDonato grew up in a house full of music, she says.

“There was a lot of noise. There was a lot of music.” She told RNZ’s Concert of her childhood home in Kansas.

One of seven siblings, her father worked from home and preferred classical music, her brothers were in the basement were blasting heavy metal and she was upstairs with her sister playing 80s pop.

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Air New Zealand named world’s safest airline among a host of international awards

Source: Radio New Zealand

Air New Zealand has won a range of international awards. Supplied / Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand has won a number of international awards, including being named the world’s safest airline for 2025 by AirlineRatings.com.

Alongside the top gong for safety, the airline was named the best in the South Pacific by APEX, and claimed Oceania’s Leading Airline and Oceania’s Leading Airline Brand at the World Travel Awards 2025.

Air New Zealand also won the Forbes Travel Guide’s Innovation of the Year for its Skycouch seats, while readers of USA TODAY’s 10 BEST Awards voted the airline among the world’s favourites, placing second for Best Airline, second for Best Cabin Crew, second for Best Airline Food, and third for both Business Class and Inflight Entertainment.

Alongside these awards, Air New Zealand was ranked as the third best airline in the world by AirlineRatings.com, and was named Australia’s most trusted airline in the Finder Awards as well as taking out the top value frequent flyer programme.

The airline was also awarded for its sustainability efforts, by taking out the Asia Pacific CAPA Environmental Sustainability Award of the Year for 2025.

Air New Zealand chief customer and digital officer Jeremy O’Brien said the recognition reflects the talent, creativity and commitment of the airline’s people.

“It’s fantastic to see Air New Zealand recognised alongside some of the biggest and best carriers in the world. It’s a reflection of New Zealand and where we come from, as well as our people on the ground and in the air who work tirelessly to deliver an experience that feels genuinely Kiwi.

“These awards belong to our team, and to our customers, who continue to support and believe in what we do. Our teams have ensured our manaaki and care continue to shine through, and it’s that unwavering commitment that’s clearly turning heads on the global stage,” O’Brien said.

Beyond the skies, Air New Zealand was again named New Zealand’s Most Attractive Employer by recruitment agency Ranstad, a title it has now held for three consecutive years.

“Awards are wonderful recognition, but they’re also motivation to keep moving forward,” said O’Brien.

“We’ll continue to innovate, evolve and do what we do best, taking care of our customers and showcasing the very best of New Zealand to the world.”

The awards come as Air New Zealand cabin crew prepare to strike in December after months of negotiations failed to secure a fair deal on pay and conditions.

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The Ashes recap: Australia beat England by eight wickets in first test

Source: Radio New Zealand

By Joel Dubber, for Reuters

Australia’s Travis Head brought up Australia’s equal-third fastest century during day two of the first Ashes test, in Perth on Saturday. SAEED KHAN

Makeshift opener Travis Head scored a brilliant 83-ball 123 to lift Australia to an astonishing eight-wicket victory inside two days against England on Saturday, powering his side to 205-2 late in the final session of the Ashes opener at Perth Stadium.

The manic style of cricket, which produced the shortest Ashes test by overs-bowled to deliver a result since 1888, kept the crowd enthralled as both sides gained and relinquished the ascendancy throughout.

England had set Australia a target of 205 after being bowled out for 164 by tea on day two, losing nine second-session wickets in the wake of a Scott Boland seam masterclass of four for 33. The tourists had made 172 in their first innings.

Head, taking the place of opener Usman Khawaja, who gingerly left the field in England’s 27th over with back trouble, got Australia’s run chase off to a rollicking start, giving England a taste of their own ‘Bazball’ medicine in the third session.

The near 50,000-strong crowd came to life when Head slashed Brydon Carse (2-44) for six over third man to bring up 50 for his side, and later roared their approval when he peeled four boundaries off Ben Stokes’ second over.

Marnus Labuschagne added an impressive 49-ball 51 after debutant Jake Weatherald (23) had fallen to Carse, but the moment belonged to Head, who brought up Australia’s equal-third fastest century with a risky upper-cut and a scurried single.

The fourth innings raced to a conclusion, with Head clubbing four sixes and 16 boundaries before launching Carse to Ollie Pope at deep midwicket, hugging Labuschagne and soaking in the applause as he walked off.

Stand-in skipper Steve Smith, unbeaten on two, hit the winning run with a single punched to the off-side.

More to come …

See how it unfolded, in the play-by-play blog:

Mitchell Starc celebrates a wicket against England. AAP/Photosport

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Te Matatini champion Kereama Wright on power of kapa haka

Source: Radio New Zealand

Kereama Wright (Te Arawa), senior member of haka rōpū Ngāti Whakaue and Te Matatini 2025 champion, says kapa haka is a form of rongoā – healing body, mind and spirit – and one of the strongest expressions of Māori culture.

“It’s a vehicle for us to tell stories – stories of triumph, stories of oppression, stories about the birth of our children – but it’s a vehicle to continue our history, our stories and our legacy, and pass it on to our future generations,” he told RNZ.

Before cameras and social media, Māori preserved knowledge and stories through whakairo, waiata and mōteatea that traversed generations, Wright said.

“That’s why it’s important for me to perform and keep practising kapa haka – because it’s about an expression of our culture.”

Wright said kapa haka was also a statement of survival.

“It’s telling the oppressor that you’re never going to kill us, you’re never going to get rid of us, no matter how you try. Despite all the legislation you can put in place, we’re still here and we’re not going anywhere.

Ngāti Whakaue perform at the Te Matatini Festival. Supplied / Te Matatini Enterprises

The whakapapa of haka

Wright said the origins of haka could be traced back to Tāne-Rore and Hine-Rēhia.

Tāne-Rore, the personification of shimmering heatwaves and the origin of dance, is the son of Tamanui-Te-Rā (the Sun) and Hine-Raumati (the Summer Maiden). When the land is hot and the air shimmers, Tāne-Rore performs the haka for his mother.

This is represented on stage through the trembling hand movement, known as wiriwiri or ‘Te Haka a Tāne-Rore’.

Hine-te-Rēhia is the goddess of entertainment, pleasure and games. Her influence ensures audiences are entertained and engaged, known as ‘Ngā Mahi a Hine-te-Rēhia’, performed on the stage or Te Whaitua o Rēhia.

Ngāti Whakaue perform at the Te Matatini Festival. Supplied / Te Matatini Enterprises

“Over time, haka was used by our ancestors to prepare for battle,” Wright said. “Mentally, physically and spiritually.”

Today, haka is seen on the international stage, for example with the All Blacks, used to honour opponents or guests.

“All of those various expressions are still relevant today,” he said.

“Nowadays, it’s a heavily contested competition, but at the root of something like Te Matatini is practising our culture, keeping it alive and letting the world know that we’re still here.”

At the World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Education 2025, which took place over the week in Tāmaki Makaurau, crowds were given the opportunity to see the Matatini champions in action.

Wright said the message Ngāti Whakaue brought to the kaupapa was ‘Poua te Aroha’ – “share the love and spread the love”.

“It’s an ingredient that’s absent in many countries around the world, but it’s at the heart of everything we do as Indigenous peoples.”

Ngāti Whakaue perform at the Te Matatini Festival. Supplied / Te Matatini Enterprises

He believes all indigenous cultures have a lot in common.

“We are fighting for our survival – the survival of our language, the retention of our land and the survival of our culture,” he said. “If we can’t practice now, if we don’t continue practising our culture and the teachings of our ancestors, then the coloniser will win.

“It’s important that we keep practising, and pass on variations of kapa haka, culture and dance to our children, so that our stories can live on.”

He also described kapa haka as a form of rongoā or Māori medicine.

“Not only for the body, physically, but the movement, the sound, the beats. It’s been scientifically proven that it can reduce dementia – it’s rongoā for illnesses like that.”

“You’ll see groups who live by the sea dance differently to groups like Tūhoe, who live in the bush. The movements we perform depict the environments we come from.

“We are the environment. That’s why it’s important for us to keep moving the way we do – it benefits mental, physical and spiritual health as well.”

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Recap: Black Caps v West Indies – third one-dayer

Source: Radio New Zealand

Mark Chapman celebrates his half-century against West Indies. Andrew Cornaga/Photosport

Mark Chapman and Michael Bracewell have steadied a shaky Black Caps batting effort, guiding them to a one-day series sweep of West Indies at Hamilton.

Chasing a target of only 162 for victory, New Zealand were staggering at 70/4, but Chapman and Bracewell combined for a 75-run partnership off 48 balls that steadied the ship.

Chapman was eventually dismissed for 64 off 63 balls, including two sixes, with the home side needing only 17 runs to win. Bracewell was unbeaten on 40 off 31 balls at the end, after bowler Zak Foulkes struck the winning runs, lapping a delivery over the wicketkeeper for two runs.

Earlier, New Zealand had bundled their rivals out for 161 in the 37th over, with fast-bowler Matt Henry doing most of the damage, taking 4/43. Foulkes captured the crucial scalp of West Indies captain Shai Hope, who scored a century in a losing effort three days earlier.

This time round, Hope followed a loose delivery down legside, tickling a catch to keeper Tom Latham for only 16.

The tourists appeared dead in the water at 95/7, but their tailenders put on 66 runs for the last three wickets, anchored by allrounder Roston Chase’s 38 runs.

The international rivals now turn their attention to the red ball, with the first of three tests scheduled to begin at Christchurch on 2 December.

Follow the action here:

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Live: All Blacks v Wales

Source: Radio New Zealand

The All Blacks take on Wales for their final test of the year in Cardiff.

Coach Scott Robertson has made 13 changes to the side – captain Scott Barrett and Simon Parker are the only survivors from the loss to England at Twickenham, with an entirely new backline named.

As expected, one of them is Ruben Love starting at fullback – his first appearance on the tour.

Kickoff is scheduled for 4.10am.

Team lists

Wales: 1. Rhys Carre, 2. Dewi Lake, 3. Keiron Assiratti, 4. Dafydd Jenkins, 5. Adam Beard, 6. Alex Mann, 7. Harri Deaves, 8. Aaron Wainwright, 9. Tomos Williams, 10. Dan Edwards, 11. Tom Rogers, 12. Joe Hawkins, 13. Max Llewellyn, 14. Louis Rees-Zammit, 15. Blair Murray

Bench: 16. Brodie Coghlan, 17. Gareth Thomas, 18. Archie Griffin, 19. Freddie Thomas, 20. Taine Plumtree, 21. Kieran Hardy, 22. Jarrod Evans, 23. Nick Tompkins

All Blacks: 1.Tamaiti Williams, 2. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3. Pasilio Tosi, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Fabian Holland, 6. Simon Parker, 7. Du’Plessis Kirifi, 8. Wallace Sititi, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Anton Lienert-Brown, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Will Jordan, 15. Ruben Love

Bench: 16. George Bell, 17. Fletcher Newell, 18. George Bower, 19. Josh Lord, 20. Christian Lio-Willie, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Leicester Fainga’anuku, 23. Sevu Reece

Scott Barrett will captain the All Blacks against Wales. www.photosport.nz

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Phoenix lose home match to Macarthur FC

Source: Radio New Zealand

Macarthur FC players celebrate after Harry Sawyer’s winning goal against the Phoenix. Photosport

Wellington Phoenix have lost their A-League home match against Macarthur FC 1-0.

Harry Sawyer scored the winning goal in the 83rd minute.

The visitors were the sharper side, creating more scoring opportunities, while the Phoenix struggled to get their attack in order enough to threaten the Macarthur goal.

The score would have been higher, but for some daring saves by goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi. He got a touch on Sawyer’s goal, but could not prevent it going into the net.

The result leaves the Wellington side with one win and a draw from five matches. They are eighth on the table, but that could change over the course of the weekend.

Macarthur’s second win for the season puts them two points ahead of the Phoenix in seventh place.

Auckland FC, who lead the A-League table on 10 points, play fifth-placed Brisbane Roar at Mt Smart Stadium at 3pm Sunday.

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Formula One: Kiwi Liam Lawson qualifies sixth for Las Vegas Grand Prix

Source: Radio New Zealand

Liam Lawson landed on the second row of the starting grid at Las Vegas. AFP

Kiwi Liam Lawson will start from sixth on the grid for the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix, after a gutsy drive in qualifying.

In a frenetic final lap, Lawson went from the fifth-fastest lap time to third, before dropping back to sixth, as Brit Lando Norris stormed to his first Las Vegas pole with a brilliant final lap.

Norris timed 1m 47.934s, with 0.323secs back to Dutchman Max Verstappen. Spaniard Carlos Sainz was third fastest, ahead of Brit George Russell and Aussie Oscar Piastri. Lawson was next in 1m 49.062s, 1.128sec behind Norris’ time.

Fernando Alonso, Lawson’s Racing Bulls team-mate Isack Hadjar, Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly rounded out the top 10.

Lawson’s best qualifying position was third in the Azerbaijan GP in September.

The three qualifying sessions on the Las Vegas Strip were chaotic, with rain causing a slippery surface, although it dried out in the closing stages.

Lawson finished 10th fastest in the first qualifying stage and then sixth in the final two sessions.

He had an eventful final practice session, his Racing Bulls car almost being hit by Brit Lewis Hamilton, while earlier, pieces of carbon fibre could be seen flying from his car onto the track.

Lawson, who is fighting for a place in the Racing Bulls team next year, is 14th in the championship standings heading in to Las Vegas, with teammate Hadjar 10th.

Norris leads Piastri by 24 points in the championship, while defending champion Verstappen is 49 points off the lead.

“Boy, that was stressful, stressful as hell,” said Norris. “It’s so slippery out there.

“As soon as you hit the kerb a bit wrong, like I did, you snap one way, lose the car the other way. Close to hitting the wall.

“No-one has driven around here in the rain before, so it was difficult to know what to expect.”

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, who normally excels in wet conditions, will start last at a street circuit his team had hoped would favour them.

Television footage showed him hitting a bollard, which may have become stuck under the car, before the seven-time world champion failed to beat the chequered flag for a final flying lap that he aborted.

“Couldn’t get the tyres to work,” the Briton said over the radio.

Leclerc also had his hands full, his Ferrari stalling on track and then re-starting in that phase.

Alex Albon smashed his Williams’ suspension, when he hit the wall at the end of an opening phase that also left Mercedes’ Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli in 17th and Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda 19th.

“It was very strange, like ice,” said Tsunoda. “I don’t know what has happened specifically, but clearly something isn’t working.”

Norris made it through Q1 in 13th, with Piastri a safer sixth, while Russell set the pace, ahead of Verstappen, on the treacherous surface.

The second phase was delayed slightly for repairs to the bollard at turn 14 and to clear debris from the track, as the rain eased off and a dry line emerged.

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New CT scanner boosting output at Kenepuru Hospital

Source: New Zealand Government

The new Photon Counting Computed Tomography (PCCT) scanner at Kenepuru Hospital, which opened last month, is already delivering significant benefits for patients in Porirua and the surrounding communities, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

“This modern technology is providing faster, more accurate, and far more detailed diagnostic imaging – helping patients get timely, quality care closer to home.

“In just four weeks, 245 patients have already been scanned, and CT outpatient activity across Wellington and Kenepuru has increased by 37 percent,” Mr Brown says.

Since the scanner became operational on 14 October, the benefits have been clear:

Advanced PCCT imaging is detecting abnormalities that were previously undetectable.
Patients are avoiding invasive procedures that would previously have been required.
Inpatients are leaving hospital up to a week earlier thanks to improved vascular imaging.
On-site imaging is reducing the need for ambulance transfers and transit nursing between Wellington and Kenepuru hospitals, improving hospital workflows and freeing up capacity.

“Since opening, the new PCCT scanner has already clarified the diagnosis for 20 patients, meaning they no longer need further tests. In addition, 18 cardiac patients who would previously have required an invasive angiography were able to receive a faster, non-invasive, fully diagnostic CT coronary angiogram instead – a 90 percent increase in non-invasive cardiac scans.

“The improvement in imaging is like moving from black-and-white television to Ultra-HD. With extremely detailed, fully diagnostic imaging, patients are being diagnosed and treated earlier, reducing hospital stays and allowing clinicians to focus on those with more complex needs.

“The next focus is to extend these benefits even further by expanding diagnostic services beyond the hospital. Plans are underway for a community-based service at Kenepuru, including a trial in partnership with local general practices.”

Mr Brown says these early results show just how transformative this technology can be for patients and the wider health system.

“By bringing world-class diagnostic imaging closer to home, we are improving patient outcomes, reducing pressure on hospitals, and making healthcare more accessible for the people of Porirua and the surrounding communities.”

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Dog owner, pooch rescued from Arrowtown cliff by helicopter

Source: Radio New Zealand

Firefighters and a helicopter crew teamed up to pluck a person and their dog to safety (file photo). Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Trust

A person and their dog have been winched to safety by helicopter, after getting stuck on a cliff in Otago.

Emergency services were called about 1pm Saturday and responded to the incident close to Thompson Hill, near Arrowtown, along the Twin Rivers Trail.

A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said the pair had to be rescued using harnesses and a helicopter, as they were trapped about 60 metres down.

The person became stuck, when they tried to rescue their dog and found they could not get back up to the track.

Two crews of firefighters from Frankton and one crew from Arrowtown were sent to the scene.

The rescue was wrapped up by 4pm Saturday, the spokesperson said, and there were no reports of injuries.

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