Category: Public Media

Source: Radio New Zealand

Otago University researchers on a quest to develop a Covid-style test for Crohn’s disease have been given a “huge” funding boost from a United States charity.

The team has been given NZ$2.4 million for their work to identify how accurately a biomarker found in the gut can identify the often debilitating disease.

Principal investigator Richard Gearry said he hoped the work would lead to the creation of an instant test that would initially be used by doctors for diagnosis.

“Or if patients have got Crohn’s disease and we want to monitor how effective treatments are we could have a point-of-care test that patients do themselves at home – at bit like a Covid test but instead of using saliva, using faeces,” he said.

That would allow people to stay on top of their symptoms and could also mean many they would not need colonoscopies – freeing up appointments for those who do.

The funding boost has come from the Leona M and Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust, which often funds Crohn’s-related research.

By New Zealand standards, the amount was huge and the team were extremely grateful, he said.

The Otago team would work with researchers in Australia and India on the three year study.

The number of people with Crohn’s and other inflammatory bowel diseases was growing in Western countries – and would soon make up one percent of the population.

The conditions were also on the rise in newly industrialised regions of the world, he said.

Having faster, cheaper, easier diagnosis and monitoring was essential as demand grew.

Professor Gearry said he often explained to patients that the immune system was normally very relaxed about gut bacteria – but in Crohn’s patients, it became angry.

“Then those bacteria are attacked by the immune system, and the gut wall is caught in the middle and that causes inflammation that leads to diarrhoea, abdominal pain, bleeding from the bowel and a range of things,” he said.

Early diagnosis could help doctors intervene to help patients before the disease got worse.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police have arrested a drunk driver heading from Gore to Te Anau who was four times the legal alcohol limit.

They said they pulled the woman over at 7:30am on Sunday, after reports of a vehicle repeatedly crossing the centre line.

Police said “smell of alcohol, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech” greeted them as they walked up to the vehicle.

A breath test revealed the woman was four times the legal limit, driving completely impaired and on little sleep after leaving a hen’s do.

The 38-year-old is due to appear in Gore District Court on 21 January.

She has also been issued a 28-day driving suspension notice.

Acting senior sergeant Christopher Rigby said police were disappointed to see poor choices being made.

“The driver was seen driving erratically and its incredible that no one was hurt on the road.

“We always encourage people to sort sober drivers, rideshare or taxi if they have plans to drink. There’s no excuse to drinking and driving,” senior sergeant Rigby.

Police said to immediately call 111 if you see dangerous driving.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

An elephant that moved from New Zealand to Australia to have children has had a stillbirth.

Auckland Zoo elephant Anjalee moved to Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, NSW in 2022, in the hopes she could breed with other elephants.

In a social media post on Sunday, Taronga Western Plains Zoo revealed that despite keepers trying their best to help Anjalee through labour, she gave birth to a stillborn calf on Thursday.

“Anjalee and the female herd are doing well, with Thong Dee, Porntip and Kanlaya staying close to her side,” the zoo said.

“We are very proud of the way the herd have been there for Anjalee throughout the whole experience and continue to be by her side after her tragic loss.”

The zoo noted that Asian Elephants like Anjalee are endangered and just 40,000 remain in the wild.

“This loss is a poignant reminder of the challenges faced in our conservation work, underscoring the critical need for ongoing conservation efforts,” it said.

“We remain dedicated to our mission to protect and preserve this endangered species.”

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Cheese, previously dumped in a landfill, has been taken and re-sold in the Waikato, New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) says.

NZFS said the Over The Moon branded cheese was taken from Putaruru Landfill and was reportedly being re-sold on Sunday, despite it being unsafe to eat.

“We have serious concerns about the safety of this product given the company determined it was not suitable for sale and rightly disposed of it.

“Also, eating cheese that has been in a landfill for a period of time and out of the food supply chain carries very obvious food safety risks of contamination,” NZFS deputy-director general Vincent Arbuckle said.

NZFS is warning people to not eat affected cheese if found and to call 0800 00 83 33.

The affected cheeses have the batch numbers 18.11.25, 25.11.25 and 26.11.25. They include:

• Camembert
• OMG
• Black Truffle Brie
• Galactic Gold
• Halloumi
• Gee’s Spread (Black Truffle & Garlic Chilli flavours)
• Smoked Chilli Camembert
• Goat Camembert
• Double Delight

Over the Moon reported the issue to NZFS.

NZFS is not currently aware of any related illness.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

An Auckland man whose Christmas presents were stolen from his car on a quiet street is warning others not to repeat his mistake.

Police and the AA say opportunistic thieves are breaking into cars more frequently during the Christmas period.

Jeremy Rees, an RNZ staff member in Auckland, had packed his car full of gifts when he decided to visit a friend.

“Everyone had handed over presents and we had a couple of bags full of presents sitting in the back of the car,” he said.

“I decided it would be great to go round and see a friend, drop of some presents and say hello. My wife said to me ‘are you sure we should be taking this car?’ I said ‘I’m sure it’ll be fine’.

“I think it was only 20 minutes outside their house, a very quiet street, it was light out, we came out and my wife pointed out that someone had smashed the rear window, reached in and grabbed the presents and headed away.

“It was a shock, it was a shock partly because of the Christmas presents and partly because my wife had been telling me ‘don’t do that’.”

AA Insurance head of motor claims Beau Paparoa said roadside staff were responding to smashed windows more often.

“We definitely see car break-ins starting to occur a lot more around this time of year. We’re often hearing from customers and some of our roadside teams that there’s definitely a bit more opportunistic theft happening,” he said.

“We’re putting that down to it being a busy time of year, everyone’s out doing their Christmas shopping and there’s that much more presence of gifts and valuables being visible in the car.”

He encouraged people to be careful and make sure valuables were hidden from view.

“In terms of any valuables, if you’ve done some Christmas shopping or if generally you’ve got valuables in your car try and keep them locked away our out of sight, in your boot if you can,” he said.

“Where you’re parking is possibly a good thing to think about. if you can afford to, don’t park on the street, but if you have to park on street make sure you park in well-lit areas.”

In a statement, police said it was not uncommon for Christmas presents to be stolen.

“The key is to remove any opportunity, this includes taking valuables or documents out of vehicles wherever possible,” a spokesperson said.

Rees said he wished he had followed that advice.

“I feel a bit stupid to be absolutely honest, I read all of the things from police saying ‘don’t do this, don’t pack your car, don’t just leave it on the street,’ and I did exactly the opposite and I paid the price.”

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A boatie has been rescued from Lake Taupō after their vessel caught fire.

A callout came just after 6pm on Sunday to Whangamatā Bay at the northern end of the lake by Kinloch.

Police said a search and rescue operation got underway, and the person was rescued just before 8pm.

The person was taken to hospital.

Hone Hato St John said their airdesk got a call from police at 6.49pm.

Rescue helicopter company Greenlea said it had a chopper over the water just before 8pm.

Police said they were investigating the fire on the boat.

– More to come

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A person is missing after getting into difficulty in the water in the Coromandel Peninsula.

Emergency services were responding to a report of a person missing in the water near Waikawau boat ramp.

One person had made it safely to shore and raised the alarm that a second party was still in the water.

Police were called about 9.45am on Monday to the scene off the Thames Coast Road.

Police, including Police Eagle, Coastguard Howick and Auckland Coastguard Air Patrol, and Fire and Emergency New Zealand have responded.

“The second person has not been located at this stage and the search is ongoing,” a police spokesperson said.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

One person is in a serious condition after a crash between a vehicle and pedestrian in Mount Eden, Auckland.

Police were called to the scene at the intersection of Dominion and Balmoral Roads at 11.40am on Monday.

The person in a serious condition has been taken to hospital.

Motorists are being advised to expect delays and to avoid the area if possible.

Police said the Serious Crash Unit had been notified.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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