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Shaken Black Foils skipper Peter Burling raises concerns about SailGP fleet safety

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand driver Peter Burling says he did all he could to avoid a catastrophic collision at SailGP Perth. Samo Vidic for SailGP

“Pretty shaken” Black Foils skipper Peter Burling is taking stock, while overseeing crucial repairs to the team boat, after a disastrous Perth SailGP outing at Freemantle.

Damage sustained in a collision with the Swiss boat on the opening day of the new season saw the Kiwi team sidelined after just one race.

Black Foils co-chief executive and driver Burling said it was obviously disappointing to take no further part in the regatta.

He did not believe his team were at , after the Swiss crew crashed into the back of the Kiwi F50 boat, although his view differed from that of course officials.

As well as missing the day’s racing, the Kiwi team were also handed a seven-point penalty for the event and will therefore be deducted three season points.

An eight-point penalty was initially handed down, but was reduced after an appeal. Burling expressed considerable frustration with the situation.

“We obviously saw the incident a different way to the umpires, so made an appeal, and disagree with the subsequent outcome,” he said.

“They have made their decision and we have to deal with it now, but believe it sets a concerning precedent for the season.

“The impact was about a metre away from me and it left me pretty shaken.

“I’m also concerned that the penalty decision sets a worrying precedent for the season and the safety of the fleet.”

Peter Burling. Christopher Pike for SailGP / Supplied

The incident saw the Swiss collide with the port stern of the team’s F50. Both teams took no further part in the day’s racing, although no injuries were reported on either boat.

“We did everything we could to keep clear and I am not sure what else we could have done in the situation,” Burling said. “It’s frustrating to have an incident like this, but we just have to review from here and see what the situation is with the repairs.”

While New Zealand were also landlocked for the second day of racing, Switzerland returned to the water, finishing 10th, fifth and seventh to sit 11th of the 13 boats overall.

Burling said his team would return to the drawingboard before the next round at home on the Waitematā Harbour, starting 14 February.

“It’s certainly not the outcome we’d hoped for. It’s important now that we come together and use our time together here productively before Auckland.”

Burling added the team would work hard with SailGP to get back on the water as soon as possible.

“Everyone has seen the extent of the damage,” he said. “There is no transom on our boat.

“We will just have to see how quickly the league can rebuild the boat and see what the situation will be going forward.”

– RNZ

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Kiwi world track cycling medallist Marshall Erwood takes early lead in Tour of Southland

Source: Radio New Zealand

Marshall Erwood is presented with the Southland tour leader’s orange jersey. supplied

World team pursuit medallist Marshall Erwood has an early lead in cycling’s Tour of Southland after the opening stages.

The Cambridge-based Southlander capped a day of competitive racing on the first day of the rescheduled 2025 tour, featuring a field of nearly 100 riders.

Erwood’s Creation Signs-MitoQ-NZ Cycling Project team enjoyed a successful day, after they won the team time trial prologue on a new 4.2km circuit in north Invercargill, before the U23 rider finished second in the 42km stage one street race on the same course to take the overall lead in the general classification.

“I would have loved to have put the arms in the air and pulled [the stage win] off, but second is leaving me wanting something more for the tour,” Erwood said.

Receiving the leader’s orange jersey was a big moment for the 20-year-old rider, who also won bronze as a member of New Zealand men’s pursuit team at the 2025 UCI World Track Cycling Championships in Santiago.

“It was pretty special,” he said. “Nick Kergozou has been in the jersey, Josh Burnett has been in the jersey… to be among some world class Southlanders is pretty special.”

Hamilton’s Zakk Patterson, left, sprints to the line on stage one of the Tour of Southland. supplied

Hamilton’s Zakk Patterson (Quality Foods Southland-Gough Brothers) produced a classy sprint at the front of the 96-strong peloton to win the opening stage from Erwood and PowerNet’s Kiaan Watts. Earlier in the stage, he also took sprint points for an early lead in the Sprint Ace classification.

Victory was a great reward for a rider who had twice won the Te Anau stage in Southland, but was in doubt to even make it to the start-line this year, due to a recent throat infection.

“I had no expectations coming into this,” Patterson said. “I was pretty sick a few weeks ago and didn’t even know if I’d be able to race.

“I came good the week before the tour, and had a couple of rides and a club race. With one lap to go, I was in a good position and the legs were feeling good.”

Creation Signs-MitoQ-NZ Cycling Project lead the teams classification, with Ben Dyball the leading over-35 rider.

Erwood leads by four seconds overall from a group of six riders, including Watts. Defending champion Josh Burnett (PowerNet) featured at the front of the street race at times and finished day one safely, six seconds behind.

Erwood relished the chance to be the rider everyone was watching before tomorrow’s 151km stage from Invercargill to Gore.

“It’s going to be hard,” he said. “There’s a pretty classy field and to be going head to head with them is pretty special.”

– RNZ

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Inside Northland floods: Through the eyes of Ōakura residents

Source: Radio New Zealand

George Gee spends almost every weekend at his holiday home in on a low-lying part of Ōakura Road.

That same settlement was among the hardest hit by the Northland floods, which have isolated communities, destroyed homes and left some with nothing.

“It was about 4am this morning, and it was heavy, heavy, heavy rain, thunder and lightning as well,” Gee said. “Then we got up and we just saw all the water coming down – it just kept rising, rising, rising.

“We were standing on my deck and next thing, all the water started bubbling up through the deck, Then we look in the kitchen, and the kitchen was full of water and it was just everywhere.”

The water was about 10cm deep throughout Gee’s kitchen, but almost a metre deep – above the beds – in the cabins, where his children and grandchildren stayed.

George and Toni Gee in their holiday home. RNZ/Peter de Graaf

His son brought a generator up from Whangārei, so they could start waterblasting away a layer of thick, sticky mud.

Gee said his carpet had to be ripped up throughout his house, while his neighbours had to take their couches, fridges and beds to the dump, due to flood damage.

He said water levels reached as high as his picket fence inside the neighbouring units.

“Huge amount of water in very short hours… in about four hours, very very fast,” Gee said emotionally.

“All of the houses coming into Ōakura are all underwater. Few cars are going to be carted away, they are going to be dumped, they all went underwater before they got taken out.”

Gee’s family helped with the clean-up and contacting his insurance provider.

A bach in a lake at Ōakura. RNZ/Peter de Graaf

Boat afloat inside garage

Flood devastation lingered throughout the small beachtown community, with Shanne McInnes’ situation at his holiday home no different.

“We were having a lie in, listening to the rain and then the [car] alarm went off, and then we got up and it was underwater… everything, everything was underwater.”

McInnes found his Holden ute in a on metre-high body of water, with the console fully flooded.

He said his house was a “little bit elevated”, but his garage was not.

“Everything was floating, including the boat on its trailer.”

Shane McInnes in his garage. RNZ/Peter de Graaf

McInnes had only been in Ōakura for a year, but said his neighbours had “never ever seen flooding like this”.

“It was insane… not a nice way to start the day,” he said.

What’s left of the community hall

Mud, trees and debris have also taken aim at Ōakura Community Hall.

The shared community space was devastated by a slip that smashed through the rear wall. Muddy water continued to flow out the hall’s front doors hours after the slip began.

Oakura Community Hall was devastated by flooding.. RNZ/Peter de Graaf

The hall was only reroofed and renovated about 18 months ago, after a massive community fundraising effort.

Rātu Hiku, who lives at nearby Ohawini Bay, said it was “tragedy”.

“It left devastation along the bays… a lot of devastation around here

“The community hall has just been hugely devastated by the huge slip that has come through the back of the community hall, so that’s a bit of a tragedy for the local community.”

Rātu Hiku at Oakura Community Hall. RNZ/Peter de Graaf

However, Hiku remained positive that the community would overcome the long road that lay ahead.

“We are a good strong community and we keep together and we will just push on through.

“I think one day at a time… I’m sure we will all get together and pull a rabbit out of the hat.”

Hiku said the last time he saw similar damage in the area was Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023.

No flooding mitigation plan

Donna Kerridge, who’s lives in Ōakura, said the settlement was missing a flooding mitigation plan.

“Homes that have never flooded before are now starting to flood. The homes all opposite us that never used to flood are now flooded throughout the house.”

Kerridge said she had personally lost the whole first storey of her home, with water creeping up past the windowsills.

“Our bedroom, our shower is full of mud, it’s up over hand basins, up the wall, it’s all up to chest high the flooding that came through.”

Donna Kerridge in her water-damaged home. RNZ/Peter de Graaf

The Māori practitioner said she wished she could have saved her “irreplaceable” books and writings about rongoā Māori.

“It would have been the first thing we would have saved had we been here. It is devastating.”

She is hoping she may be able to save and retain some of the books.

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Tramper missing in Kahurangi National Park found alive

Source: Radio New Zealand

Graham Garnett Supplied / NZ Police

A tramper who disappeared in Kahurangi National Park last month has been found alive.

Police Search and Rescue Sergeant Jonny Evans said Graham Garnett, 66, was found about 2.30pm Sunday at Venus Hut by contractors working in the area and extracted by Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter operator GCH Aviation.

“Graham has been transported to Nelson Hospital, where he has been re-united with his family,” Evans said.

Garnett had failed to return home from a hike in the national park on December 30.

“This is an amazing result,” Evans said. “We are so pleased for Graham and his loved ones.

“Obviously, he has been through quite an ordeal and everyone involved in the search is delighted to hear that Graham has been found alive.”

Earlier this week, police search and rescue said they would suspend their extensive search for Garnett.

Four specialist canyon teams, as well as a Defence Force NH90 helicopter, were involved in the search.

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Government seeks urgent advice on how to protect Auckland rockpools

Source: Radio New Zealand

Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

The government is seeking urgent advice on dealing with the alleged stripping of rockpools by harvesters in the north Auckland area.

On Saturday, about a hundred people demonstrated at Army Bay in Auckland’s Whangaparāoa for the protection of local rockpools.

Residents told RNZ the bay had been ransacked of marine life by visitors, sealife gathers and general beach-goers.

Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones said he had asked Fisheries New Zealand officials for urgent advice about the situation at the bay. He said the matter was a result of a cultural clash.

“Kiwis, we’re fairly laidback and we make assumption that, when immigrants come to New Zealand, they won’t crap on the beach, they won’t slaughter all the periwinkles. Well, this is evidence that, as our democracy changes, we’re going to have to be more vigilant.

“The New Zealand public has got to wake up to the fact that unfettered immigration is going to import these problems, because a lot of the migrant communities have a different cultural mindset and, until they abide by the Kiwi ways, we are going to have to both educate and regulate.”

People gathering sealife at Army Bay. Protect Whangaparoa Rockpools

University of Auckland marine biologist Andrew Jeffs previously told RNZ he had witnessed this issue firsthand.

“I’ve been at the beach, and observed groups harvesting the organisms out of rock pools and taking them away by the bucketload.

“I’ve had conversations with people, where I’ve questioned what they are doing on the beach, and they said, ‘Well, they’re only little animals and it doesn’t matter’, but it does matter, because those animals often only live in a few small places in relatively small areas. Once you remove them, it’s very difficult for them to actually come back and re-establish.”

The Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust has requested a two-year fisheries ban across parts of the north Auckland coastline.

Iwi chief executive Nicola MacDonald said that, while harvesting shellfish had long been common practice, as the area’s population had grown, the amount of harvesting had become unsustainable.

Fisheries said suspected illegal activity could be reported through the 0800 4 POACHER number (0800 476 224).

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Black Caps skipper Michael Bracewell prepares for 100th milestone against India

Source: Radio New Zealand

Michael Bracewell’s international career has flourished, despite a late start. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz

Black Caps captain Michael Bracewell says he didn’t expect to play one game for New Zealand, let alone bring up his 100th ODI wearing the silver fern.

Bracewell leads a depleted touring side hoping to seal its first-ever one-day series in India in the third and final match at Indore on Sunday NZT.

“For a long time, I never thought I’d play once, so to be standing here on the eve of 100 games is pretty special,” he said.

Ten years after making his first-class debut, Bracewell was a late starter to international cricket at the age of 31, handed his first one-day cap against the Netherlands in 2022.

“Every one of those games has been a significant achievement, I think, and certainly one that I go out and play with a lot of pride.”

Bracewell, now 34, admitted his international career had unfolded unexpectedly, especially the extent to which he has become a regular bowling option for New Zealand.

“Each format has its unique challenges and I think probably one thing I wasn’t expecting as I was younger was the bowling opportunities that I’ve had.

“It’s something that I’ve really enjoyed, being able to try and work up my game, and understand how to bowl in different conditions.”

He said his career had been shaped by patience and perseverance.

India’s Washington Sundar (C) speaks with New Zealand’s captain Michael Bracewell (L), as his teammate KL Rahul watches at the end of the first one-day international. SHAMMI MEHRA

“Each different format offers hugely different challenges. I think that’s something that I’m really proud of, trying to adjust and being effective in different formats in different conditions around the world.”

Being entrusted with the ODI captaincy had also been a source of pride. New Zealand has visited India on 16 different tours for ODI cricket, including four World Cups, but a series triumph has so far eluded them.

In the current three-match one-day series, the hosts claimed the opening game at Vadodara, but New Zealand came back in the second match at Rajkot to win by seven wickets to draw level.

Daryl Mitchell helped set up the win, scoring 131 not out off 117 balls, as the Black Caps also sealed their highest ODI chase of 286 on Indian soil.

Bracewell said the team was aware of the opportunity ahead of them to create more cricketing history.

“It’s a unique opportunity with the series on the line, and hopefully, we can do the little things well and see where we end up.”

“What we’ve done well this series is concentrate on the things that we can control.”

“In both games we’ve stayed in the games for long periods, so hopefully, we can repeat that process and come out on the right side of the result.”

The game starts at 9pm Sunday NZT.

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Wellington Phoenix move up A-League women’s table after win

Source: Radio New Zealand

Pia Vlok was one of the Wellington Phoenix’s two goal scorers, in a 2-0 win over Canberra, on 17 January (file photo). Marty Melville

Late goals from teenagers Zoe Benson and Pia Vlok have secured Wellington Phoenix a 2-nil victory over second-placed Canberra United FC, in a round 13 A-League clash.

Benson, 19, broke the deadlock four minutes from time on Saturday at McKellar Park, shortly after she came off the bench, while Vlok, 17, scored a sensational second deep in added time to seal the three points.

The result on Saturday moves Wellington up to seventh on the ladder.

The hosts played the entirety of the second half with just 10 players after having a player sent off in first half stoppage time, and Phoenix head coach Bev Priestman says they had to be patient.

“Pia’s been outstanding all season and Zoe all week has looked like she could score,” Priestman said.

“She did exactly what I asked of her from the moment she went on the pitch and I’m delighted for her.

“This club is big on promoting young players and if they’re good enough they’re old enough and I’m delighted for them to go and deliver.”

The Wellington Phoenix return home today, then have a full week to prepare to face Adelaide United at Porirua Park on Sunday 25 January.

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NZ Breakers beat Cairns Taipans to stay alive in NBL playoff pursuit

Source: Radio New Zealand

Sam Mennenga topscored for the Breakers with 28 points, in their win over Cairns. © Photosport Ltd 2025 www.photosport.nz

NZ Breakers NBL season is still alive, after they beat Cairns Taipans 104-86 in their latest match.

The win was their second in a row and was largely built on a dominant performance from Sam Mennenga, who finished with 28 points and five rebounds.

The team now have a 10-15 record and remain in touch with the top six.

The Breakers started strongly to lead 26-21 at the end of the first quarter and, although the Taipans piled in 30 points in the second quarter, the Breakers weren’t rattled, as they still managed to lead at the half 55-51.

They then pushed out to a double-figure lead in the third term with a run of nine straight points, which set them on the path to the 18-point win.

Other strong contributors for the Breakers were Izaiah Brockington who scored 24 points, while Parker Jackson-Cartwright had 17 points, 10 assists and five steals, and ‘Next Star’ Karim Lopez 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Cairns coach Adam Forde was ejected, left fuming and baffled all season long about the lack of calls point guard Andrew Andrews has been getting.

That all spilled over midway through the second quarter, with another no-call, when Andrews took a hit to his head. Forde made his feelings known to the officials and he was sent packing.

Tall Blacks guard Mojave King had a strong game for the Taipans, finishing with 19 points.

The Breakers will now attempt to chase down sixth-placed Tasmania JackJumpers (12-13) with their next game at South East Melbourne on Wednesday.

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Kiwi snowboarder Campbell Melville Ives earns World Cup silver in Switzerland

Source: Radio New Zealand

Campbell Melville Ives takes second place on the podium, alongside winner Scotty James (Australia) and third Valentino Guseli (Australia). FIS/David Tributsch

Kiwi snowboarder Campbell Melville Ives has showcased a new triple jump sequence to secure silver in the halfpipe at the latest FIS World Cup in Switzerland.

The Winter Olympic-bound teen’s career-best run secured second place at the Laax Open, behind Australian winner Scotty James.

As rider after rider fell, the 19-year-old Wanaka athlete held his nerve during his two-triple run to score an impressive 91.00 mark from the the judges on run two.

The Kiwi moved to the top of the leaderboard, until four-time Olympian James achieved a mark of 98.75 to claim his fifth World Cup halfpipe victory.

James executed a triple cord and new switch backside on his second run for the top score. Fellow Aussie Valentino Guseli was third with 80.25.

On the way to his first World Cup podium, Melville Ives – twin brother of world freeski champion Finley Melville Ives – became the first athlete to land back-to-back triples in competition.

“The first run, I made a mistake early, when I hit a wrong edge and ran out of pipe at the end,” he said. “On the second run, I adjusted the trick into a single.

“I’ve been riding that pipe for so many years, so I just relaxed into the feeling of when it’s warm and sunny there, and that helped with the nerves.”

Coach Mitch Brown said landing back-to-back triple jumps in competition was a remarkable achievement.

“It’s the first time he’s landed that sequence and the first time an athlete has landed back-to-back triples in a competition, so we’re super proud of him, and he executed it with so much style and swagger,” Brown said.

“He’s been working so hard over a long period of time and was incredibly brave in firm night-time conditions to send it as hard as he did.”

Melville Ives next competes at the X-Games in Aspen in his build-up to next month’s Winter Olympics at Milano Cortina, Italy.

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Auckland FC starts OFC Pro League in style

Source: Radio New Zealand

Auckland FC has decisively won the first-ever North v South Kiwi derby in the new Oceania Football Confederation Pro League (OFC), following a clinical 3-0 victory over South Island United.

  • New Football Oceania Professional League kicks off, in Auckland

    • In front of a noisy and expectant crowd at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday, both sides were cagey in the opening minutes, as South Island United’s forwards Ryan Feutz, David Yoo and former All White Oskar Van Hattum, all made bright starts.

    But the more the first half progressed, the more Auckland FC started to get going, and they got their noses in front just after the half-hour mark, with Swedish striker Oscar Faulds scoring from close range, after a perfectly delivered corner from Reid Drake.

    Auckland FC grew stronger in the second half, nullifying all South Island United attacks, other than one with 20 minutes left, when Christian Gray touched a long throw to his defensive partner Ollie Van Rijssel, who slashed the ball narrowly wide from ten yards out.

    The miss was costly, with Auckland FC doubling their lead in the 83rd minute, when American Jonathan Robinson, on as a second-half substitute, raced into the South Island United box and his cut-back was finished by fellow replacement Bailey Ferguson.

    A VAR check followed not long after, after a South Island United defender was ruled to have handled the ball inside the penalty area, following an Emiliano Tade shot.

    The resulting spot kick was taken by All Whites international Liam Gillion, and the winger capped a player of the match performance with a goal.

    Earlier, in the opening match of the Pro League, Vanuatu United and Fijian team, Bula FC, played out an entertaining 2-2 draw.

    Years of dreams, hard-work and planning finally came to fruition, as professional football in the Pacific entered into a new and exciting era, and it didn’t take long for the opening goal to arrive, with Bill Kaltak scoring for Vanuatu United from a corner.

    The lead lasted just ten minutes however, when Bula FC’s equaliser arrived, it came via Roy Krishna – returning to the region after a long stint in India.

    The second half proved to be low on chances, until pacy Bula FC winger, teenager Kaile Auvray, provided for substitute Nabil Begg, who drove past Vanuatu United goalkeeper Matt Acton, to give the Fijian team the lead.

    United threw everything they had in search of a second equaliser, but just when it felt as if a point was slipping away, they were gifted a dramatic late reprieve, when American William Cardona scored from long distance, after goalkeeper Didier Desprez spilled the effort into the roof of the net and ensure the spoils were shared.

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