Category: Public Media

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How do you know if your beach is okay to swim at?

Source: Radio New Zealand

After a couple of days of rough weather and some heavy rain, beaches all around Wellington’s south coast and in the inner harbour have been slapped with an unsuitable for swimming status.

The problem isn’t confined to the capital. Many Auckland’s beaches are often unswimmable after rain, and Christchurch is looking at a plan to divert wastewater into the ocean outfall pipe as the council struggles to control a stench from fire-damaged treatment ponds at Bromley.

RNZ/Charlotte Cook

Top spots to take a dip around Aotearoa

What’s behind these advisories?

The Greater Wellington Regional Council tests water about once a week in the summer and every two weeks in the cooler months, says Edward Abraham, of Dragonfly Data Science, who is both an experienced oceanographer and a resident of Island Bay in Wellington. This testing has ramped up in frequency following last month’s Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant failure and shutdown.

“[The council] take water samples and they look for gut bacteria in the sea and if they find too much of that, then they might issue an advisory.”

The problem is that results can take days to come through so an advisory against swimming, especially immediately after heavy rainfall, is typically a prediction based on years of test results, says Abraham. Other city and regional areas, like Auckland and Christchurch, also lean on predictions so swimmers can be immediately notified if water is likely to be unsafe for swimming.

“Obviously, when you’re going swimming, …you want to know what it’s like right now.”

Auckland Council’s Safeswim did more than 6,000 water tests last year across 250 plus locations, says Dr Martin Neale, technical lead for Safeswim. A location gets tested about every two weeks, which is increased if there is an event such as a triathlon or a contamination issue. However, results take 48 hours.

“That’s why we use [prediction] models to help us fill in the gaps between the samples.”

Do I have to wait for an advisory before going in the water?

Use a little common sense, Abraham says. If you see water coming into an urban environment from, say, a stormwater drain, second-guess your decision to jump in.

“That fresh water is carrying all the grime and dirt off the street, and in addition, you might have cross over through the stormwater and the sewerage and getting problems coming in that way.”

It’s a tricky problem because the clarity of the water doesn’t indicate the amount of bacteria, says Neale.

“The one bit of advice in terms of visual of what you can do if you go to somewhere and you haven’t got any information is stay away from any stormwater discharges or stream discharges to the beach,” he says.

“Because if there is some contamination at the beach, it’s generally coming from one of those two things.”

Which websites should I check?

Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA) is a good place to start for nationwide advisories, Abraham says. This is where all the local councils feed their water testing results into, which LAWA bases its predictive model on.

“They upload their testing results, and they run these predictive models, and they’ve got a very simple traffic light system. They put up the red light if they think it’s going to be unsuitable for swimming.”

Swimmers can also check for regional-specific information, such as Auckland Council’s Safeswim website or a page on Christchurch Council’s website.

However, LAWA’s prediction model takes into account rainfall, but not other factors that can impact water quality like tides.

“LAWA are really focused on that urban run-off.”

In Wellington, sewage is being pumped 2 kilometres offshore, but weather and tide could impact swimming safety, he explains.

“If there’s a southerly that could blow back onto the coast, if the tide’s coming into harbour, it might take it towards those inner harbour beaches. That’s when you’d check Wellington water for its daily updates.”

If I swim in red status water, what’s the risk of getting sick?

If you swim when the official advice is not to, “there’s a 10 percent chance of getting sick from swimming in the sea, so it’s pretty high,” says Abraham.

Neale puts that risk lower at two percent. However, advisories are based on risk so nothing is guaranteed, and those with a weaker immune system will be at greater risk of getting sick, he says.

“It doesn’t mean that if you go swimming when a beach has a red or a black water quality warning, you will definitely get sick. It means that there’s a higher chance.

“And likewise, the other way around, you know, if it’s green, it doesn’t mean you will not get sick.”

Swimming in questionable water can give you a range of illnesses that often revolve around the intestines, such as cryptosporidium, which can result in a loss of appetite, fever, nausea and vomiting, according to the Ministry of Health website. Symptoms can last for two weeks or more.

E. coli is another waterborne illness that can leave you with diarrhoea (if there is blood present, go to your doctor) and severe stomach cramps, lasting between five and seven days. Giardia serves up similar symptoms and can be treated with antibiotics, according to the Ministry of Health website.

Swimmers can also pick up respiratory bugs, which typically have an incubation period of about ten days, says Neale.

“When I get a cough or cold, I blame my kids for bringing something home from school, but it may be that I’ve been swimming last weekend and I’ve picked up a bug from that.”

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

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Why do some of us remember dreams and others say they ‘don’t dream’?

Source: Radio New Zealand

Some mornings, you wake up and the dream is right there. Clear and vivid. You might still feel the emotion in your chest, and it can take a few minutes to remember where you are and what was real.

Other mornings, you open your eyes and there is nothing. Just a quiet sense of having slept.

You might know people who think they do not dream. However, the reality is we all do. Sometimes we have many in one night.

Dreams can sometimes feel highly emotional, dramatic or unusually vivid.

Getty Images / Unsplash

Do women really need more sleep than men?

What varies is whether people remember their dreams and how often they remember them.

Dream recall myth vs reality

During the night, we cycle through periods of light sleep, deep sleep and rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep. A full cycle takes about 90 minutes.

People generally spend more time in deep sleep in the first half of the night and more time in REM sleep in the second half.

The main function of deep sleep is restorative: to replenish energy, repair our bodies and help store memories.

REM sleep is important for memory consolidation and emotional processing. Later in the night, REM sleep becomes longer. This is the stage most closely linked to vivid, emotional dreaming.

If you wake up during or just after REM sleep, you are much more likely to remember a dream. If you wake from deep sleep, you probably will not, even though you were dreaming earlier. It isn’t a sign something is wrong; it’s simply how the sleeping brain works.

Another myth is dreams only happen in REM sleep. While REM dreams tend to be more intense and story-like, dreaming can happen in other stages, too; they are just often quieter and harder to recall.

So if you wake up some mornings with a clear recollection of your dream, and other mornings with nothing at all, that is completely normal. It doesn’t mean you didn’t dream. It just means you woke up at a different point in your sleep cycle.

Why do some people remember their dreams more often?

Several factors affect whether you recall dreams.

As you get older, your capacity to recall dreams decreases. Some studies suggest women are more likely to remember dreams than men. Some medications, such as antidepressants and sedatives, can affect your dream recall.

Timing plays a big role. We spend more time in REM sleep later in the night, so dreams that happen closer to morning are easier to remember. Waking up briefly during the night offers a chance to remember dreams before they fade. That’s why parents of young children and light sleepers, who are more likely to wake up from REM sleep, often report remembering more dreams.

How you wake up also matters. If someone jolts you awake, the dream can vanish in an instant. But if you are woken gently, someone softly calling your name, there is a better chance the dream lingers long enough for you to remember.

Some people are naturally “high recallers” and are just better at capturing their dreams before they fade. And therefore, they consistently remember dreams.

Why do some dreams feel intense?

Dreams can sometimes feel highly emotional, dramatic or unusually vivid. This is largely because REM sleep, the stage most associated with dreaming, involves increased activation of regions of the brain that control our emotions, such as the amygdala and limbic system.

This occurs alongside relatively reduced activity in parts of the prefrontal cortex that regulate logic and emotional control.

Stress, life changes or heightened emotions can make dreams feel more intense. Dreams often reflect elements of real-life experiences as the brain tries to process events from the day and consolidate them into long-term memory.

In most cases, having intense dreams is entirely normal and part of healthy emotional processing.

So is dreaming a reflection of good sleep?

Remembering your dreams does not automatically mean you had poor sleep, and forgetting them does not mean your sleep was perfect.

Rather than using dream recall as an indicator of sleep quality, it is more helpful to focus on how you feel during the day. Indicators such as feeling rested on waking and daytime energy provide a more meaningful indicator of your sleep health.

For most people, differences in dream recall and dream intensity are normal and shouldn’t cause concern. Dream frequency varies widely among people and across lifespans.

However, it may be helpful to seek advice from a health professional if:

you experience persistent daytime exhaustion despite adequate time in bed

nightmares are frequent, highly distressing or interfere with your mood and functioning

sleep is regularly disrupted by awakenings, panic or prolonged difficulty returning to sleep.

If you feel rested, functional and emotionally stable during the day, occasional vivid dreams or changes in recall are completely fine and simply part of how healthy sleep unfolds.

Yaqoot Fatima is a Professor of Sleep Health, University of the Sunshine Coast. Danielle Wilson is a Research Fellow and Sleep Scientist at the Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast. Nisreen Aouira is a Research Programme Manager, Let’s Yarn About Sleep, Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast.

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

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House seriously damaged in overnight fire in Southland

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

A home is seriously damaged after a fire in Southland overnight.

Fire and Emergency says the property in Mataura, near Gore, was well alight by the time crews arrived at about 9.15pm on Thursday.

A spokesperson says nobody was home, but the house suffered extensive damage and fire crews had to call for backup from another station.

The blaze was under control by 10pm, but fire crews remained at the scene until midnight.

Police have had a scene guard in place overnight until a fire investigator arrives later this morning.

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NZ travel agents helping clients escape Middle East conflict

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ

Travel agents are helping their New Zealand clients get out of the Middle East.

It has been almost a week since the US and Israel began bombing Iran, which is carrying out retaliatory strikes on US bases and embassies.

Most commercial flights are not operating, with much of the region’s airspace closed.

Paul Diamond from Wendy Wu Tours said the company was helping to evacuate six New Zealand clients from Egypt.

“They were due to carry on through to Jordan. But obviously, with the travel warnings out, we decided that it was only right for the safety of the passengers to cancel the Jordan part of the trip and to find ways to get them home early.”

He said the clients were booked on upcoming flights from Cairo to Auckland via China.

He said one of their clients was not able to evacuate via London because of recent changes to immigration rules, meaning dual citizens can no longer use a foreign passport to enter the UK.

“We couldn’t reroute them back through the UK because even though they were born in Britain, they didn’t have a British passport with them. They only had their New Zealand passport. With the new immigration changes, EgyptAir told us that they wouldn’t be able to get on the flight to transit through London because they would have had to go through customs.”

He said they had rerouted or cancelled all tours going through the Middle East since the conflict broke out, affecting about 500 of their clients across New Zealand, Australia, and the UK so far.

“We won’t operate our tours, and we won’t send passengers through any country if there is a travel warning that says to avoid non-essential travel. We always cancel our tours and make other arrangements while those warnings are in place.

“We’re going to see a lot of disruption, not just for us, but for a lot of people looking to travel to Europe that have got their tickets booked with Middle Eastern carriers, which, since Covid, have been one of our main routes to get New Zealanders over to Europe.”

Flight Centre general manager Heidi Walker said some New Zealanders had been able to get on flights from Dubai to Sydney.

Flight Centre NZ general manager Heidi Walker. Supplied / Flight Centre

“We’ve been in daily correspondence with Emirates in New Zealand and many of the other airlines as well. They’ve been helping us get people onto the limited flights that are departing. Emirates has managed to get a few flights from Dubai into Australia, and those have been really beneficial to everyone trying to get out of there.”

She could not say how many clients were in the Middle East currently, but about 100 had planned to travel via Dubai in March.

“We’re reaching out to those customers who have booked with us to make sure that we can find the best solution for them. Everyone is a little bit different about what they want to do and where they need to get to.

“We are saying to everybody to make their own decisions, to not rush into any decisions. We’re trying to give them all the information that we have and refer them to where they can find information about the safety of the destination that they’re travelling to.”

She said there was no firm date on when Dubai to Auckland flights would resume.

“The message from Emirates, which I fully support, is that when it is safe to be able to travel, then they will look at that. But until the point where it’s safe, they won’t be resuming those flights.

“At the moment, the Dubai-Sydney flights are definitely filling our requirement to help New Zealanders out of Dubai.”

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What to know about the war in Iran

Source: Radio New Zealand

A man makes his way through debris littering a street following airstrikes in central Tehran, on March 4, 2026. AFP

A look at the history, the players, and the early stages of global fallout from the war in Iran

Acclaimed New Zealand foreign correspondent Anna Fifield was on the ground in Iran across two years as the Financial Times’ Tehran correspondent, allowing her to gain a deep understanding of the country’s history and political complexities.

So, she’s not surprised the long-simmering stand-off between Iran, the United States, and Israel has exploded into open war or that the ripple effects are being felt far beyond the Middle East.

She talks to The Detail about the war, which began over the weekend, when the US and Israel targeted Iranian military and strategic sites with coordinated strikes, after tensions over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and regional militia support reached a breaking point.

Iran immediately retaliated with missile and drone attacks, and since Sunday, civilian casualties have mounted, global markets have wobbled, and disruption around the vital Strait of Hormuz has raised concerns about fuel prices and supply chains worldwide.

The impact is being felt in New Zealand.

So, with growing military, political, and economic fallout, The Detail looks at what led to the war in the first place.

“This is not the first time that the United States has intervened in Iran to try to bring about regime change, and it was not successful the first time round either,” says Fifield.

“In 1953, there was a democratically elected Prime Minister, [Mohammad] Mosaddegh, who the US and the UK actually overthrew because he was trying to nationalise the oil company at the time … and the US and the UK didn’t like the idea.”

That oil company is now known as BP.

“As in so many conflicts, this all comes back to the oil, so they overthrew him and reinstalled the Shah of Iran, who was a monarch who had been unseated there. He was very unpopular … he was very corrupt, and this directly led to the Iranian revolution in 1979 and the overthrow of the Shah, of the monarchy, and the installation of the Islamic State.

“So in many ways, the very existence of the Islamic State of Iran is a direct result of the US.”

She says this time around, there are three main players – Iran, Israel, and the US, which “Iran continues to call ‘the great Satan'”.

“Over the intervening decades and especially under the leadership of the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on Saturday, they have become more and more hardline in terms of developing a nuclear programme, supporting other groups aimed at destabilising the regions, such as Hamas and Hezbollah, and the Houthis in Yemen, and really trying to assert themselves in the Middle East.

“Iran does not agree with the right of the state of Israel to exist, so Iran and Israel have been at loggerheads ever since as well.”

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu AFP

This, she says, does not sit well with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“So the tensions between Iran and Israel are very long-standing and have been simmering for decades; both of them see the other as an illegitimate regime.”

Then, she says, there is the US, whose relationship with Iran remains equally volatile.

“There has been ongoing burbling animosity there. Last year, we saw the limited strikes and 12-day war in June when Israel and the US went in together and took out a lot of Iran’s nuclear material, buried a lot of it under the rubble and really neutralised it as that threat. So this has been going on for a long time.”

Then, in January this year, thousands of Iranian anti-government protestors were killed by security forces during nationwide protests. That, in part, gave Trump a window to strike last weekend.

Back here, in New Zealand, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has taken a cautious line, calling for de-escalation while reiterating New Zealand’s opposition to nuclear proliferation. He has ruled out any military involvement and focused on the safety of Kiwis in the region.

But that response has drawn criticism, with opponents arguing the government should take a clearer stand on the legality and morality of the strikes.

“I think trying to strike a balance between condemning what is happening in Iran and saying ‘we have no love for that regime and what it stood for, but there are still rules and laws that have to be applied’, I think that’s where the government, and other governments, have struggled,” says Newsroom associate editor Sam Sachdeva.

For now, New Zealand is watching from afar – but in a globalised world, wars rarely stay contained. If oil prices spike, markets tumble, or the conflict spreads further, the impact will be felt here too.

And as missiles fly in the Middle East, the diplomatic balancing act in Wellington is only just beginning.

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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How has Country Calendar lasted 60 years on NZ TV?

Source: Radio New Zealand

Taking the gravel road less travelled is one of the great joys of New Zealand’s longest running TV show, Country Calendar.

The iconic show, which has arguably the country’s most recognisable theme tune, celebrates its 60th birthday this weekend.

Host and director Dan Henry says Country Calendar has covered just about every corner of the country in that time “and some properties we’ve been to two or three times”.

“I really enjoy those stories where you get to go somewhere that you would got no business driving up, or to a part of the country that’s just a little bit inaccessible.”

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Why travel insurance might not help right now

Source: Radio New Zealand

Travellers are being warned to check what they are actually covered for by insurance. RNZ

Travellers are being warned to check what they are actually covered for by insurance if they cancel travel plans due to the conflict in the Middle East.

Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman Karen Stevens said people should make sure they understood what they could claim for before they cancelled their insurance policies.

The conflict had closed many areas of airspace and meant a number of flights had been cancelled.

Many travel policies do not cover anything to do with the outbreak of war, civil disobedience or riot. That includes flights, accommodation or rebooking costs.

“I think most people don’t think about how the insurance is going to respond before they cancel,” Stevens said.

“They’ve got to be very careful before they just go ahead and cancel things.”

She said people should talk to their airlines first, or their accommodation providers, to see if they could get a refund or credit, or change their arrangements.

“A lot of people are still travelling or want to continue to travel, it’s just that because of the travel alerts and so forth and because of what’s going on in the Middle East they can’t go that way.

“But a much better suggestion for them is to actually start with the airline than it is to just cancel and then think that they can rely on the insurance cover because in most cases they will not be able to.”

Insurance would also not cover situations where people cancelled out of concern.

She said her scheme had dealt with many situations in which people had changed their minds about travelling and not been able to claim.

Stevens said she expected to receive complaints.

“I think to try and avoid those complaints, the best thing people can do is understand what they are covered for before they make any claims or before they decide to do anything about the travel arrangements. They really need to know if the insurer is going to provide the cover or they’re going to say an outright no as soon as the claim is made.”

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Several top Kiwi netballers undecided on Silver Ferns future

Source: Radio New Zealand

From top-left clockwise, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Jane Watson, Whitney Souness, Gina Crampton. Photosport

Several top Kiwi netballers preparing to play in Australia’s Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) league are still undecided about whether they will make themselves available for the Silver Ferns ahead of the sport’s biggest events.

Nine current and former Silver Ferns will test themselves in the Australian league this year, widely regarded as the world’s toughest domestic netball competition. It comes after Netball NZ loosened its eligibility rules last year, allowing players based overseas to remain eligible for the Silver Ferns through a formal exemption process.

Among the group snapped up by Australian franchises are several players who have elected not to make themselves available for national selection in recent years – Gina Crampton, Jane Watson and Te Paea Selby-Rickit.

The veteran trio each told RNZ they remain undecided on whether they would put their hands up for the black dress ahead of July’s Commonwealth Games and the 2027 World Cup.

Crampton, who is returning to the court with the NSW Swifts following the birth of her first child, joked she is just focused on “remembering how to play netball again”, while Selby-Rickit and Watson said they planned to take the season as it comes.

The loss of experienced players from the Ferns’ selection pool has raised concerns about squad depth in recent seasons.

Former Silver Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio. Marty Melville / PHOTOSPORT

Last year skipper and frontline star Ameliaranne Ekenasio stepped aside from the captaincy and made herself unavailable for the international season, saying she needed a break. Her decision came amid a turbulent 2025 season that saw Dame Noeline Taurua stood down as coach following an employment dispute with Netball NZ.

Ekenasio, who turned down offers in Australia to play for the Pulse in this year’s ANZ Premiership, has not ruled out a return to the black dress.

Remembering how to play again

Crampton admits she thought her chance of playing in the most competitive league in the world might have passed her by.

“I probably resided to that fact that that could have been the end. Last year before I fell pregnant I was really excited to play in the SSN, the world leading competition and now getting that opportunity again is very exciting, it’s a little bit daunting for sure. But even just being involved with a club like the Swifts, who have been historically very successful, I’m just excited to be involved and I can’t wait to see how we go this season,” Crampton said.

The specialist wing attack will play alongside Silver Ferns starting shooter Grace Nweke, who effectively forced Netball New Zealand to revisit its eligibility rules when she joined the Swifts last year.

The national body subsequently loosened its rules, which saw six players apply for and granted exemptions to still be able to play for the Silver Ferns.

Crampton and her partner Fa’asiu Fuatai have been based in Sydney since early 2024. That year Crampton was signed as a training partner with the Giants, and played one game as injury cover. The Giants then signed her on a full contract for the 2025 season before Crampton found out she was pregnant.

Gina Crampton last played for the Stars in the ANZ Premiership. Photosport

An opening came up at their cross town rivals for the 2026 season when Australian Diamond and New South Wales stalwart Paige Hadley announced she was pregnant.

Having given birth to baby boy Reggie just seven months ago, Crampton said pre-season had been tough.

“Sort of had a bit of and up and down journey so far, had a few niggles pop up and things. I guess it was a bit of a learning curve on the return after having a baby, but feel like I’m in a good place now, which has been really cool to get back into things and try and remember how to play netball again.”

After the 2023 World Cup where the Silver Ferns finished a disappointing fourth, Crampton took extended leave to join her rugby playing partner in New York, before they moved to Australia.

Would she consider making herself available for the Silver Ferns again?

“Oh gosh, I’m not sure I think you have to say whether you want to be available for selection or not and I haven’t said anything yet,” Crampton laughed. “So I’m not sure, it seems all a bit far away I guess in terms of just having a baby as well, so maybe something to think of.”

As a former Ferns captain Crampton said it was hard seeing the team surrounded in controversy at the back end of last year with the shock suspension of coach Dame Noeline Taurua.

Crampton spent most of her Silver Ferns career under Taurua, who was reinstated after a 51-day stand-off.

“That was really tough, obviously you could see the impact it had on the girls and how I guess everyone reacted to that but I think the awesome thing to see was how they banded together and they had a huge international season. Not being so close to it anymore, didn’t know exactly what was going on but I think the best thing that came out of it was how the girls played those games.”

Unexpected career twist

Te Paea Selby-Rickit was a Tactix stalwart. Photosport Ltd 2021

Shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit said she had enjoyed a better work-life balance over the past two years since stepping away from international netball after several years.

The 34-year-old arguably had the best domestic season of her career last year when she was a key cog in the Tactix side, which claimed a maiden domestic title.

Selby-Rickit is not sure yet if she will make herself available for the Silver Ferns, who have a huge two years ahead.

“I’m just trying to see how this season goes, if the body is all good and I’m still enjoying my netball I might make myself available but at this stage it’s 50/50, still thinking about it. Obviously a big couple of years and they’d probably want a couple of years of commitment so it’s a big decision whether I can commit to that or not but it’s definitely an option but waiting to see how I go,” Selby-Rickit said.

Playing in the SSN is an unexpected career twist for Selby-Rickit.

“Even over the last couple of years when I wasn’t playing for the Silver Ferns I didn’t really consider it, I thought it probably wouldn’t happen. But I’ve always loved watching SSN and admired it and wondered what if? So when the opportunity came up I couldn’t say no.”

No end date

Jane Watson was a key part of the Silver Ferns defensive end at the 2019 World Cup. © Photosport Ltd 2019

Watson has also got a career refresh after signing with the Sydney based Giants. The defender was in strong form for the Tactix last year when the side finally broke its title drought.

“Having played for them for so long, actually getting a win, in previous years we’d been very close, it was a very special moment for the club and the fans and all the people that came before us would have been stoked with that as well,” Watson said.

Watson thought 2025 was going to be her last year of elite netball before the Giants reached out to her just before the ANZ Premiership finals.

The 35-year-old, who has been joined in Sydney by her partner and three-year-old daughter, is not putting an end date on her career.

“I thought that I was supposed to be finishing a couple of years ago so who knows whether this is the last year or not we’ll just have to see what happens.”

Post the 2023 World Cup, Watson played two series for the Silver Ferns later that year but has not made herself available for the black dress since. But the 66-Test cap Silver Fern told RNZ that she has not retired from international netball.

Souness targets Silver Ferns recall

Whitney Souness spent several seasons with the Pulse in the ANZ Premiership. PHOTOSPORT

Former Silver Fern Whitney Souness also signed with the Giants, and was recently named captain before her first SSN season.

The 44-test midcourter missed out on Silver Ferns selection last year and is determined to push for inclusion before July’s Commonwealth Games.

“Not making it last season it was quite tough, it had been a hard season in the ANZ. For me it was probably the best time to go, I think it came at the right time for me to really push myself and what better way to do that than in the SSN competition so it’s been good timing for me to work my butt off and hopefully get back in that squad,” Souness said.

Knowing that she wanted to be considered for Silver Ferns selection, the 30-year-old applied for and was granted an exemption by Netball New Zealand.

“It was a bit of a different process, it was new, a lot of us had come over here so it was a bit of a different situation for me because I hadn’t made the squad so just a lot of comms with me and Netball New Zealand to make sure that I was available to still be part of the squad and have the opportunity to be part of it.”

Kiwis playing in 2026 SSN

* Have been granted an exemption

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Adam Hall grateful family and friends will see him in his last Paralympics

Source: Radio New Zealand

Adam Hall will be competing in his sixth Winter Olympics in Milan this month. PHOTOSPORT

Sixth Paralympics in, Wānaka’s Adam Hall knows exactly how rare this moment is.

The 38-year-old para alpine skier is preparing for what will likely be his final Winter Paralympics in Italy. But for the first time in his decorated career, he’ll have a full family cheering squad on the sidelines.

Hall and fellow Kiwi Corey Peters make up New Zealand’s two-strong Paralympic team, and both head to the Italian Alps as genuine medal contenders. But for Hall, this campaign carries an extra layer of meaning.

Born with spina bifida, Hall burst onto the global stage with gold in the men’s standing slalom at Vancouver in 2010. Eight years later he reclaimed the title at PyeongChang, adding to a haul that also includes three Paralympic bronze medals.

Now, with nearly two-thirds of his life spent on snow, he said perspective comes easily.

He said he is full of gratitude for those around him, including team-mates and coaches, who have supported him. As for many top athletes though it is family who sacrifice most.

Hall’s seven year old daughter Gracelynn will watch her father race in person for the first time, alongside his wife Elitsa – herself a two-time US Winter Paralympian.

With travel restrictions during the last games because of Covid, Hall’s family and friends are making the most of seeing him in action this time.

“To have our daughter there watching is something special and she is at an age now where hopefully she’ll be able to remember that experience,” Hall told RNZ.

Adam Hall has been competing on the international stage for more than two decades. Photosport Ltd 2018 www.photosport.nz

Hall also has the in-laws, cousins and an old childhood mate from his days growing up in Outram among his supporters.

He calls the Kiwi Paralympic squad “a small but mighty team” who spend a lot of their time away from family and is hoping to reward them with another podium finish in Italy.

“I’m just missing a silver so we’ll see if we get the full set or not.”

His specialist event is the slalom but he’ll also line up in the giant slalom.

“The competition is so tight now and the margins are getting smaller and I’ve said this before that no matter what colour, if it’s a bronze or silver it feels just as good as gold.

“Can’t be too fussy about the colour but we do strive to be on top.”

Hall is familiar with the Italian Alps and closely followed the Winter Olympics with interest as he’ll be skiing on the same slopes around Cortina.

“For us we call the Olympics the test event, jokingly, they kind of iron everything out before the big show.”

The big show for Hall starts with the GS on March 13 followed by the Slalom on the 15th.

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Super Rugby preview: Barrett and D’Mac back, old rivals do battle

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Brumbies are winning the race after three rounds of Super Rugby. Brett Phibbs/Photosport

The Brumbies have galloped out of the gates, and after three rounds lead the Super Rugby field.

The two-time champs sit six points clear of the best placed New Zealand side the Chiefs, with the Waratahs still in second.

It was a rough week for Kiwis teams, the sole side to taste victory, the comeback kings, the Crusaders who picked up their first win of the season in a humdinger in Hamilton.

Despite the defeat, the Chiefs can count themselves almost a lock for try of the season, after Etene Nanai-Seturo’s length of the field stunner.

The Chiefs continue their run of derbies, though should expect an easier encounter on Friday night against an out of sorts Moana Pasifika.

Tana Umaga’s men were woeful against the Force, and they now find themselves at the bottom of the ladder with a wounded and dangerous Chiefs outfit awaiting.

The Hurricanes were dealt a cruel hand in Lautoka, forced to not only battle the heat but the wet in ‘sauna’ like conditions against the Drua.

They look to bounce back in an enticing clash in Sydney against the Waratahs, fresh off two wins and a bye.

The Highlanders were also luck-less in Brisbane, and head back under the roof to host the Force on Saturday afternoon.

The match of the round without a doubt is at Eden Park as two of Super’s greatest rivals go to battle.

The Crusaders turned around a poor start to their campaign with their 43-33 victory while the Blues had their hearts broken by the Brumbies.

Selection notes

All Black first five’s Beauden Barrett and Damian Mackenzie return for his first matches of the season.

Tupou Vai’i will skipper the Chiefs in the absence of Luke Jacobson Wallaby Lalakai Foeketi will get his first at centre. Augustine Pulu will make his debut for Moana Pasifika with Joel Lam and Tyler Pulini also to debut form the bench.

Angus Ta’avao returns for the Highlanders while the promising Lucas Casey has been left out of the 23.

All Black hooker Codie Taylor also returns for the Crusaders while Rivez Reihana is back at first five, with Taha Kemara dropping to 15, Will Jordan earning a rest.

Injury ward

Brett Cameron’s season has been confirmed to be over, while Ruben Love’s ankle is still anywhere from two to four weeks away from match fitness.

Luke Jacobson sits the week out with a hip complaint while Brodie McAlister will be back for week five. Moana have a packed casualty ward with Jimmy Tupou, Julian Savea, Lalomilo Lalomilo, Israel Leota and William Havili all out.

The Blues are low on locking stocks with Laghlan McWhannell and Patrick Tuipulotu both unavailable. Crusaders hooker George Bell suffered a foot injury last week and will be at least two weeks away.

Key stats

Team lists

Chiefs vs Moana

Kick-off: 7:05pm Friday March 6

FMG Stadium, Hamilton

Live blog updates on RNZ

Chiefs:

1. Benet Kumeroa. 2. Samisoni Taukei’aho. 3. Reuben O’Neill. 4. Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi. 5. Tupou Vaa’i, who will captain the side. 6. Samipeni Finau. 7. Jahrome Brown. 8. Wallace Sititi. 9. Cortez Ratima. 10. Damian McKenzie. 11. Leroy Carter. 12. Quinn Tupaea, who is vice-captain. 13. Lalakai Foketi. 14. Emoni Narawa. 15. Liam Coombes-Fabling.

Bench: 16. Tyrone Thompson. 17. Ollie Norris. 18. George Dyer. 19. Josh Lord. 20. Simon Parker. 21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi. 22. Josh Jacomb. 23. Kyle Brown.

“It’s a very strong team for a game where we need to respond after we got a punch in the nose by the Crusaders.” – Chiefs coach Jonno Gibbs.

Moana Pasifika:

1. Abraham Pole 2. Millennium Sanerivi 3. Chris Apoua 4. Tom Savage 5. Allan Craig 6. Miracle Faiilagi (c) 7. Semisi Paea 8. Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa 9. Augustine Pulu (debut) 10. Jackson Garden-Bachop 11. Solomon Alaimalo 12. Ngani Laumape 13. Tevita Latu 14. Tevita Ofa 15. Glen Vaihu

Bench: 16. Samiuela Moli 17. Malakai Hala-Ngatai 18. Lolani Faleiva 19. Ofa Tauatevalu 20. Ola Tauelangi 21. Joel Lam debut 22. Patrick Pellegrini 23. Tyler Pulini (debut.)

“The Chiefs always bring a great challenge and we know that we need to be accurate and come out strong from the start. As a team we’re focused on trusting what we can do and going out there and executing our game plan.” – Moana coach Fa’alogo Tana Umaga

Waratahs vs Hurricanes

Kick-off: 9:35pm Friday March 6

Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Live blog updates on RNZ

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

“They’re coming off a bye week, so they’ll be ready to go. We feel really prepared. We’ve travelled well and recovered well from Fiji.” – Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw.

Highlanders vs Western Force

Kick-off: 4:35pm Saturday March 7

Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

Live blog updates on RNZ

Highlanders:

1. Ethan de Groot (CC) 2. Jack Taylor 3. Angus Ta’avao 4. Oliver Haig 5. Mitch Dunshea 6. Te Kamaka Howden 7. Veveni Lasaqa 8. Nikora Broughton 9. Folau Fakatava 10. Cameron Millar 11. Jona Nareki 12. Timoci Tavatavanawai (CC) 13. Jonah Lowe 14. Caleb Tangitau 15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens

Bench: 16. Soane Vikena 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown 18. Sosefo Kautai 19. Will Stodart 20. Sean Withy 21. Adam Lennox 22. Reesjan Pasitoa 23. Tanielu Tele’a

“We need to build on our start to the season, lift a notch or two, and convert more of the pressure we’re applying into points.” – Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph.

Blues vs Crusaders

Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday March 7

Eden Park, Auckland

Live blog updates on RNZ

Blues:

1. Ofa Tu’ungafasi 2. Kurt Eklund 3. Marcel Renata 4. Josh Beehre 5. Sam Darry 6. Torian Barnes 7. Dalton Papali’i (c) 8. Hoskins Sotutu 9. Finlay Christie 10. Stephen Perofeta 11. Caleb Clarke 12. Pita Ahki 13. AJ Lam 14. Codemeru Vai 15. Zarn Sullivan

Bench: 16. James Mullan 17. Mason Tupaea 18. Sam Matenga 19. Che Clark 20. Anton Segner 21. Taufa Funaki 22. Beauden Barrett 23. Xavi Taele

“The Crusaders are always a quality side and these contests carry a bit of extra edge. It’s special to be back at home in front of our supporters. We know the lift that Eden Park gives us and the boys are looking forward to putting in a big performance.” – Blues coach Vern Cotter

Crusaders:

1. George Bower 2. Codie Taylor 3. Fletcher Newell 4. Antonio Shalfoon 5. Jamie Hannah 6. Dom Gardiner 7. Ethan Blackadder (VC) 8. Christian Lio-Willie 9. Noah Hotham 10. Rivez Reihana 11. Sevu Reece 12. David Havili (c) 13. Leicester Fainga’anuku 14. Chay Fihaki 15. Taha Kemara

Bench: 16. Manumaua Letiu 17. Finlay Brewis 18. Seb Calder 19. Will Tucker (Crusaders Debut) 20. Corey Kellow 21. Kyle Preston 22. Xavier Saifoloi 23. Dallas McLeod

“One win doesn’t make a season, but the energy was great and everyone’s done a great job keeping things grounded as we look forward to heading up to Eden Park.” – Crusaders coach Rob Penney.

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