Category: Radio New Zealand

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Person dies after truck crash on SH2 north of Dannevirke

Source: Radio New Zealand

St John says one person with serious injuries is being flown to Palmerston North Hospital. RNZ / REECE BAKER

Police have confirmed one person has died following a crash on State Highway 2 north of Dennevirke on Friday morning.

Emergency services were called to the crash near Okane Road in Matamau at about 9.50am.

A second person sustained serious injuries and has been transported to hospital, police said.

Fire and Emergency confirmed a truck was involved, and said its crews helped free the driver who had been trapped.

SH2 would remain closed for some time while the Serious Crash unit conduct a scene examination, police said.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area, and detours are in place.

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Pro-Beijing activist loses defamation case against former Auckland councillor

Source: Radio New Zealand

Morgan (Zhi Hong) Xiao. Supplied

An Auckland-based pro-Beijing online political commentator has been ordered to pay more than $200,000 in defamation damages to former Auckland Councillor Paul Young.

Morgan (Zhi Hong) Xiao, also known as ‘Demon King’ (魔王) online, runs a social media account on WeChat and describes himself as a “New Zealand political commentary author, social activist and TV programmes planner”.

Xiao stood in local elections in 2019, and had called Professor Anne-Marie Brady and other critics of the Chinese government “son of bitches” and “anti-China forces”.

Justice Tracey Walker ruled Xiao defamed Young in 13 posts, and/ordered him and any third party platform to remove the posts. She also ordered him to pay $225,000 in damages to Young.

Young said he felt vindicated after three years of litigation.

“The court has confirmed what I have maintained throughout – the allegations made against me were false and defamatory,” he said in a statement.

“I hope this outcome sends a clear message that New Zealand’s legal system provides effective remedies for those whose reputations are attacked through sustained online campaigns.”

Young was a Taiwan-born New Zealander who immigrated in 1989.

He was elected as Howick’s ward councillor in the 2018 by-election, becoming Auckland’s first ethnically Chinese councillor. He was re-elected in 2019, but lost his seat in the 2022 Auckland local elections.

Xiao has worked as a parking warden for Auckland Transport but refuses to confirm to RNZ if he’s still in that role – saying that it’s not related to the case.

He said he planned to appeal the decision and was not worried about the money he had been ordered to pay.

“I do not worry about it, because I believe this judgement is going to be successfully appealed… this money will not be a problem.”

Portia Mao. Supplied

Xiao had also previously taken Chinese-New Zealand journalist Portia Mao to court, alleging she had breached the Harmful Digital Communications Act.

Mao is a veteran journalist who covers China-related issues in New Zealand as well as other subjects.

Mao was required to take down the articles while the matter was before the court, but the order was lifted in a later decision by Manukau District Court Judge Richard McIlraith.

In a submission to the court, Mao’s lawyer said Xiao had weaponised the Harmful Digital Communications Act to silence a journalist, as Xiao had celebrated his victory on social media without Mao knowing an application had been filed.

The judge found Mao had no opportunity to defend herself in court at the time the orders were made.

“What has occurred here has been unfortunate,” Judge McIlraith said.

“This case has demonstrated the danger of ‘without notice’ applications being made under this act and the regrettable delay in a defendant having the opportunity to be heard.”

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Remember when we flagged getting a new flag?

Source: Radio New Zealand

It’s 10 years since New Zealand voted in a referendum to keep flying the flag for tradition.

Over 10,292 alternative designs were submitted, then whittled down to a long list of 40 and then five. From there, Kyle Lockwood’s black, white and blue silver fern flag was chosen to go up against the old faithful.

Often described as the then Prime Minister Sir John Key’s passion project, more than 2 million people voted in the final referendum.

John Key was a fan of the Kyle Lockwood design.

RNZ / Diego Opatowski

The secret history of the Anzac biscuit

6 photos

More than 1.2 million people, or 56.6 percent of those who voted, opted to keep the current flag.

Lockwood still reflects on what might have been, 10 years on, he told RNZ’s Nights.

“I reckon if maybe if there was only one particular design that was in the first referendum, it might have just got through. It might have got the 50 percent,” he says.

Lockwood, who is still selling his design through his website, says it was a moment when the country could have chosen a flag that more represented its modern identity.

“The Union Jack in the top left-hand corner probably doesn’t represent every sort of New Zealander.

“We’re a multicultural society now, and I think for a lot of people, it just doesn’t resonate, and I think we probably should change the flag, but the vote in the end, it wasn’t to be, of course.”

One of the most famous entries, which gained world-wide attention, was Fire the Lazar! by Lucy Gray.

The infamous Laser Kiwi design.

Wiki commons

“A lot of people ask me what’s the story behind it and they bring up all their own theories and when it comes down to it, it’s not that deep. I just thought New Zealand needed more dangerous animals.

“So, you know, just take a kiwi, add lasers,” she told RNZ’s Nights.

The design’s popularity likely reflects New Zealanders’ sense of humour, she says.

“There’s an element of satirising the flag referendum, which I think a lot of people saw as a waste of time and money.

“It’s really a symbol of our irreverent sense of humour. And I think what it set out to do as an absurdist piece, it achieved quite well.”

Lockwood is pleased that his design, despite not making it over the line, resonated with so many Kiwis.

“The fact that it got nearly 44 percent of the vote, I think was amazing. Some of the polls were coming back at around 30 percent.

“And when it got 44, I was like, wow, that’s actually quite a significant minority when you come to think of it.”

Lockwood, now living in Melbourne is still known as the “flag guy”.

“There’re definitely worse nicknames,” he says.

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Women in finance more than twice as likely to be sexually harrassed than men – survey

Source: Radio New Zealand

Despite reports of sexual harassment against women dropping from 2021 levels, CA ANZ general manager for New Zealand, Charlotte Evett, said it remained too high. 123RF

Women are still more than two-and-a-half times as likely to experience sexual harassment compared to men in the finance sector.

Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand’s (CA ANZ) latest two-yearly diversity, equity and inclusion report showed 13 percent of women respondents reported sexual harassment in the workplace, compared to 5 percent of men.

That compared to 11 percent of women in 2023 and 19 percent in 2021.

CA ANZ general manager for New Zealand, Charlotte Evett, said the findings – based on a survey of nearly 2000 members – did not reflect a structural problem in the profession.

“The profession is not without fault, because it’s not zero percent, but I think it’s reflective of a broader societal issue – but absolutely, we’re not going to wait for other people to fix it.

“We have a responsibility, as Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand, to help address it across the accounting profession.”

Evett said the biennial survey aimed to shine a light on issues and uncomfortable truths such as harassment.

Despite reports of sexual harassment against women dropping from 2021 levels, Evett said it remained too high.

“We’ve seen some great improvements across other negative behaviours, but we continue to shine a light on the uncomfortable truths so that we can work with members and our profession to do something about them.

“The right percentage of sexual harassment cases is zero.”

CA ANZ chief executive Ainslie van Onselen said 51 percent of its provisional membership were women, compared to 43 percent of its full members, and it was clear the demographic sands of the profession were shifting.

“Therefore, it is imperative for us to collectively address the issues facing women if we are to retain and develop key talent within the profession.”

Encouraging more Māori and Pasifika accountants

CA ANZ data also showed Māori made up 4 percent of membership, compared to 18 percent who identify as Māori in the wider population.

Evett wanted their membership to reflect the communities they serve, noting that the Māori economy had grown from $17 billion in 2018 to $32b in 2023.

“It makes absolute business sense, as well as being the right thing to do.”

CA ANZ was developing partnerships with Iwi and educators, and had introduced a “learn while you earn” pathway to formal accounting qualifications.

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Successful medical drone delivery could offer faster healthcare access for remote communities

Source: Radio New Zealand

The drone used in the trial and members of the team involved. Supplied by Vertilink

Researchers hope the quick responsiveness of a medical drone could save the lives of New Zealanders living in remote communities.

The trial, a partnership between drone company VertiLink, the University of Auckland and Ngāi Te Rangi Iwi, successfully delivered medical gear to Matakana Island last week during a simulated emergency at Te Kutaroa Marae in less than four minutes.

VertiLink chief executive Charlie Nelson told Nine to Noon, it was a groundbreaking milestone and offered new hope to the island’s 500 residents.

Nelson said the trial was the product of two years of research and the objective had been to see how drones could be sued to benefit people living in isolated communities.

“We really wanted to look at what difference the response time would be between traditional medicines versus this new technology.”

The simulated event included someone who had experienced a high trauma event, like a car crash, on the island, Nelson said.

“We looked at a high trauma event, high stakes and very narrow window of time for this person’s outcome of survival. First responders were dispatched and so was the drone. It was about looking at the time difference and whether that made a difference in the outcome.”

The drone could have a maximum take-off weight of 95kgs, Nelson said, and could carry up to 40kgs. It had a box attached underneath which could be filled with supplied and opened upon landing.

Matakana Island has about 500 residents. (File photo) WIKIMEDIA COMMONS / Ulanwp

Nelson said the drone also had the ability for a winch so the box could be winched from a height in cases where it couldn’t land safely.

He said now they would continue to engage with communities and tailor it to their particular needs.

“It may not look like the same solution for other communities so we’re continuing to engage with our research partners, community and iwi.”

The drone could be used for emergency responses, Nelson said but also day-to-day health requirements on the island such as delivering prescriptions.

“We’re looking at how efficient you can make these services so the cost profile [of going to the mainland for a script] is reduced.”

Nelson said another possibility could be for people who had blood test requirements to have their tests shipped off by the drone.

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Cat that vanished 14 years ago reunited with owner, will be ‘spoilt rotten’

Source: Radio New Zealand

Mo, before he went missing. Supplied / Paul Myburgh

For more on this story, tune in to RNZ’s Checkpoint with Lisa Owen from 4-6pm on Friday.

Christmas has come early for an Auckland man who’s been reunited with his cat who went missing 14 years ago.

Paul Myburgh’s family adopted Mo from the SPCA in 2010. The ginger tabby quickly charmed just about anyone he met, according to Myburgh.

“He was an incredibly friendly cat. Very charismatic, loved human beings, would always walk up to the bus stop when he knew we were coming home.”

Mo had a tendency to follow anyone who showed him attention or gave him treats. Myburgh said that friendliness toward strangers could have led to his disappearance.

“Normally he’d come home, but then one day in 2011 he didn’t and we were devastated. We obviously put up leaflets all around the suburb, contacted the local vets, put something up on the Auckland pets lost and found but there were no sightings, there were no leads.”

Mo, before he went missing. Supplied / Paul Myburgh

In the 14 years since he went missing, Myburgh said his family lost hope that Mo might return.

“Over time, when the nights became years, we thought we’d lost him forever.

“We moved four years after he went missing and, yes, by that stage we’d resigned ourselves to the fact that he’d either met an unfortunate end or certainly wasn’t coming back.”

But that all changed when Myburgh received an email from Petstock Vet Constellation Drive while he was out grocery shopping.

“They said, ‘We’ve found this cat called Mo and we’ve checked the register, and your name and your daughter’s name was on the register.’

“I was just completely dumbfounded. I just couldn’t believe it, but the details matched up. So, I ran to the car, rang the vet clinic immediately and then told my son and we went to pick him up.”

Mo after his 14-year adventure. Supplied / Paul Myburgh

Despite being separated for more than a decade, Myburgh said Mo had not changed much.

“The astonishing thing is although he’s obviously grown a huge amount – so he’s grown into his kangaroo paws – he’s exactly the same cat. Incredibly friendly. Just kind, wants to be around people all the time, absolutely fascinated with everything going on around him – mainly to check if it’s food or not.

“Exactly the same personality, which is just astonishing because he’s obviously been through quite a few hard things.”

What Mo got up to in the time he was gone is anyone’s best guess.

“It’s very hard to know,” Myburgh said. “He was found recently on the streets of Torbay, which is 16km away from where he went missing. From the look of him he’s not been to a vet in all that time, so I suspect for at least part of it he’s been living rough.”

If Mo was not chipped or registered on the Companion Animal Register, Myburgh reckons his story would not have had such a happy ending.

“I mean, the chances of a 16-year-old, slightly battered cat getting rehomed are pretty much nil. I’m a member of the grumpy old men club, but this is just heartwarming. I mean, it’s the best Christmas present I’ve ever gotten.”

Mo will live the rest of his life in luxury, his owner says. Supplied / Paul Myburgh

Myburgh was determined to make up for lost time and pamper Mo as much as he could through his golden years.

“He’s now going to have a safe and happy retirement and he’s going to be spoilt rotten.”

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Is our attitude towards nudity changing?

Source: Radio New Zealand

Recently, Lisa McMillan observed something that hints at the change she believes is happening with New Zealand’s perceived conservatism regarding public nudity.

She was at an Auckland harbour beach not known for nude use, and there he was: a naked man walking the beach holding a baby. Perhaps the baby made the man’s nakedness more acceptable, McMillan pondered, but still there they both were in their birthday suits in the middle of the day with other beachgoers around.

“I was like, wow, I don’t think that’s actually something half a decade ago people would have really accepted.

There are designated nude beaches in New Zealand, but nude sunbathers tend to congregate at a few secluded beaches like Auckland’s Ladies Bay Beach.

Finn Blackwell

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Christchurch school launches internal probe over mouldy lunches

Source: Radio New Zealand

One of the meals. Supplied / Haeata Community Campus

The Christchurch school at the centre of a dispute about mouldy lunches served to students has launched an internal investigation.

Haeata Community Campus is at odds with New Zealand Food Safety and provider Compass Group about how mince and potato meals covered in mould came to be served to children on Monday.

Principal Peggy Burrows said she was [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/580912/principal-says-school-not-to-blame-for-mouldy-lunches-as-authorities-review-footage dismayed by comments made by New Zealand Food Safety and Compass Group that the school was to blame, before the investigation had been completed.

Contrary to claims made by Compass, she said the school’s camera footage clearly showed all food boxes, known as Cambros, were collected from the school on the previous Thursday and no food had been “left behind to sit in the sun for three days”.

Burrows said the school did not retain any of the boxes, rather they were collected and returned to the Compass distribution centre at the end of each day.

She said one box that only contained rubbish was left at the school last Wednesday but was collected by Programmed Facility Management staff, which manages the property, and returned to Compass the following day.

“The Cambros are barcoded and tracked and all meals are accounted for as there are strict food safety requirements for students with dietary needs. The contaminated meals were discovered dispersed across multiple Cambros by Haeata staff. This is confirmed by the camera footage,” she said.

Burrows said the school maintained robust systems at all times to ensure school lunches were safely distributed at the school and none of the systems had failed in the last week.

“The school does not accept responsibility for the operational failure of the supplier, the Compass Group, and disagrees with statements by both Mr Harbey [School Lunch Collective spokesman] and New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle regarding Haeata Community Campus staff being responsible for the reheating and distribution of contaminated food,” she said.

The school was committed to student safety and transparency in serving food and planned to release the findings of its own internal investigation next week.

Select committee scrutiny

The mouldy meals were raised at the Ministry for Primary Industry’s annual review before the select committee on Thursday.

Ministry director-general Ray Smith said while the investigation into the meals at Haeata had not been completed, officials felt it was important to clarify their preliminary findings given public commentary on the risks posed by the meals.

“We would not have issued an interim view on it had the thing not been in the public domain in the manner it was that alarmed parents, no question about it, so we had to quickly either tell parents there’s a problem with Compass and deal with Compass or suggest there’s an issue at the school,” he said.

Of the 300 meals delivered to the school, between 10 to 20 meals were affected.

The lunches had been delivered to 15 other schools in Christchurch on Monday.

Food Safety deputy director-general Vince Arbuckle said investigators had visited Haeata Community Campus and Compass in Christchurch several times this week as part of the investigation to determine what had happened.

“Only one school had this experience and only one part of the school had this experience, the canteen, which all adds up to suggest that somehow in the canteen some meals remained in a box, got intermingled with incoming meals on the Monday and innocently served out,” he said.

“The weight of evidence suggests that the contaminated food being distributed to students was a result of a human error at the school.”

The investigation was ongoing and New Zealand Food Safety was happy to work with the school on its processes, Arbuckle said.

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$33,000 pendant swallowed in Auckland jewellery heist ‘recovered’

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Fabergé locket was worth more than $33,500. SCREENSHOT

A Fabergé locket worth more than $33,500, swallowed by a man during an alleged theft at an Auckland jewellery store has been “recovered”.

Police confirmed it was back in their possession last night.

They said the 32-year-old man who swallowed the pendant remained in custody and would appear in Auckland District Court next week.

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Highs of 30C for parts of South Island before scorching weather moves north this weekend

Source: Radio New Zealand

Warm weather is forecast for most of the North Island over the weekend. RNZ / Richard Tindiller

Very hot weather is forecast for parts of the South Island today moving to the east coast of the North Island on the weekend.

MetService is forecasting temperature highs of 30C for Christchurch, Ashburton and Oamaru on Friday with Dunedin expected to reach 28C and Timaru and Blenheim 29C.

Northwesterly winds will drive up the temperatures in the east of the South Island and MetService has a strong wind watch for Southland, Otago and Canterbury High Country south of Aoraki / Mount Cook until 7pm on Friday. Gusts of 100km/h can be expected, especially inland.

It is also expected to be warm in the North Island on Friday with temperature highs in the low to mid 20s.

The weekend is expected to be dry for those in the North Island with hot temperatures for some. Gisborne, Napier and Hastings are forecast to exceed 30C on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

Napier is forecast to have a high of 32C on Saturday and Monday, while Hastings is expected to reach 32C on Saturday and 33C on Sunday and Gisborne is forecast to reach 31C on all three days.

Saturday temperatures are forecast to be in the mid 20s for the upper North Island including Auckland.

A dry weekend is expected for those in the North Island, but the West Coast of the South Island could expect some showers on Saturday.

MetService is forecasting more substantial rain in the west and south of the South Island on Sunday.

“Saturday will be the pick of the days this weekend in the South Island; perfect timing for runners to complete the Kepler Challenge and be off the mountain before the rain rolls in overnight,” MetService Meteorologist Michael Pawley said.

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