NZ Engine

Cameron Hart with Swayzee, who won the NZ Trotting Cup in 2023 and 2024. PHOTOSPORT

Partying racegoers at the New Zealand Trotting Cup meeting at Addington in Christchurch will get to see the best pacer in Australasia, the champion Leap to Fame, in action on Tuesday.

New Zealand Cup day is one of the big events on the Canterbury social calendar and the Cup, with a purse of $1 million, is also one of New Zealand racing’s pinnacle events.

Leap To Fame has dominated the pre-race discussion and the betting. On Monday he was a $1.60 favourite on the NZ TAB to win the big race.

Trained and driven by Queenslander Grant Dixon, Leap To Fame is hailed as a harness superstar, with 58 wins from 73 starts and earnings of just a tick over $5 million, an amount far in advance of any of his rivals on Tuesday. One of those wins was in his only start in New Zealand, when he won the $1 million The race by betcha, in Cambridge in April, in a track record.

Leap To Fame is also out to continue Australian and his own family’s dominance of the race in recent years. His half-brother Swayzee proved too good for his Kiwi opponents in the Cup in 2023 and did so again last year.

Swayzee suffered a setback in his preparation for this year’s Cup so isn’t running.

But another Aussie rising star, Kingman, has been a late entry after beating Leap To Fame in the Victoria Cup last month and is considered one of the main challengers.

The Kiwi challengers in the Cup

Republican Party looms as the biggest Kiwi threat to Leap To Fame.

Trained by Cran and Chrissie Dalgety in Canterbury and driven by their son Carter, Republican Party would be a popular winner. Cran Dalgety has had two seconds and three thirds in previous Cups and has joked he has served a 35-year apprenticeship for Tuesday’s Cup.

Blair Orange, NZ’s top harness driver, will pilot We Walk By Faith in the NZ Trotting Cup. Photosport

Republican Party can also surpass $1 million in stakemoney if he runs a top four placing, while Auckland pacer Merlin, who has won $1.6m, looked primed when he won the Kaikoura Cup last week.

Akuta, Don’t Stop Dreaming and We Walk By Faith are also rated solid chances.

Aussies to the fore in Dominion Trot

There are three other Group 1 races on the card, including $400,000 Dominion Trot.

Once again, the Australians have a strong hand, with mare Jilliby Ballerini the favourite and Gus and Arcee Phoenix also chances. The main Kiwi hopes in the betting are Oscar Bonavena, Muscle Mountain, Bet N Win and Mr Love.

The two other Group 1s are for three-year-olds. Race 8 is for the colts and geldings and race 9 is for fillies. Both races are over 1980m for stakes of $200,000.

World Driving Championship decided

The race meeting will also feature the final heat of the World Driving Championship, featuring 10 of the best drivers from around the globe. They have been competing around the country for the past 10 days.

Canadian James McDonald leads the series from Australian Gary Hall Junior, with New Zealand rep Blair Orange in fourth place.

The 20th heat in the series, race 3 at 12.54pm, will determine the winner.

Steph McGreavy (left) and Kit Winter-Davies from Timaru decked out with handmade felt fascinators. RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon

Off the race track, but no less competitive, is the annual fashion competition, with three different categories this year – best dressed, best suited and “something blue”. The winner will be announced after race 6 at 2.30pm.

There will be ongoing entertainment at The Infield, on the grass at the centre of the track. Shapeshifter will be playing there after the race meeting finishes.

Cup day will be followed by the Show Day meeting on Friday. It features two $500,000 slot races for three-year-olds and four other Group 1 races.

Facts

New Zealand Cup

Race 12 at 5:53pm

First run in 1904

Distance: 3200 metres

Winning stake: The winner receives $540,000, second $150,000, third $85,000, fourth $47,500, fifth $27,500, while all other starters receive $15,000.

Three horses have won the Cup three times: Terror To Love (2011-12-13), False Step (1958-59-60), Indianapolis (1934-35-36).

Race record: Lazarus 2016 – 3 minutes 53.1 seconds

Most wins as driver: Ricky May 7, Mark Purdon and Cecil Devine 6

May drives American Me in this year’s Cup, while Purdon pilots Akuta.

Previous Australian winners of the NZ Cup: Steel Jaw (1983), Lightning Blue (1987), Arden Rooney (2015), and Swayzee (2023, 2024).

Kerryn Manning became the first female to drive the Cup winner when Arden Rooney triumphed.

The Dominion Trot

Race 10 at 4.37pm.

Like the Cup, it is run over 3200m, but is a race for trotters rather than pacers in the Cup (despite the Cup being called the NZ Trotting Cup).

The difference between trotters and pacers? Trotters move their legs forward in diagonal pairs (e.g., front right and back left legs hit the ground simultaneously then front left and back right), while pacers’ legs move laterally (front right and back right, then front left and and back left).

Winner receives Lyell Creek (1999-2000-2004) and Sundees Son (2020-21-22) are the only horses to have won the Dominion three times in a row.

Most driving wins in the Dominion: Anthony Butt 8.

The Dominion Trot is two races before the Cup, at 4.37pm.

Gates open at 11am with first race at 12pm.

Betting: Punters bet $7.26 on the TAB on Cup day last year, a record for that day.

General admission: $25. The Infield tickets cost $90.

Weather: MetService is forecasting a sunny afternoon, northeasterly winds and a high of 19deg.

NZ Trotting Cup field:

1 Rakero Rocket

2 Lakelsa (E2)

3 Merlin

4 Pinseeker

5 Republican Party

6 Leap To Fame (Australia)

7 Vessem

8 Sooner The Bettor

9 Wag Star (E1)

10 Akuta

11 Here’s Herbie (E3)

12 Kingman

13 We Walk By Faith

14 American Me

15 Alta Meteor

16 Mo’unga

17 Don’t Stop Dreaming

18 Better Knuckle Up

Dominion Trot field:

1 Maui

2 Jilliby Ballerini

3 Hidden Talent

4 Arcee Phoenix

5 Mystic Max (E2)

6 One Over All

7 Muscle Mountain

8 Mighty Logan

9 Mr Love

10 Oscar Bonavena

11 Love N The Port (E1)

12 Father Time

13 Parisian Artiste

14 I Dream Of Jeannie

15 Midnight Dash

16 Paris Prince (E3)

17 Gus

18 Bet N Win

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A low pressure system is expected to bring rain to many parts of NZ later this week. File photo. 123RF

New Zealand’s temperatures are getting into summer territory, but a low pressure system is expected to bring rain to many areas of the country later this week.

Maximum temperatures were expected to rise above 20°C in many areas today, with Napier forecast to reach 29°C – nearly 10°C higher than the average November maximum – and Hastings predicted to hit 31°C today.

Tuesday’s weather should also be fine for Cup Day in Christchurch, with clear skies expected over Canterbury.

But wet weather was expected to start moving down the country on Wednesday, with a low pressure system over the north Tasman Sea due to move southwards onto the North Island.

MetService said that was likely to bring warning amounts of rain in Northland, Auckland Coromandel Peninsula, and Bay of Plenty on Wednesday.

There could also be downpours in Waikato, Taupo, northern Gisborne/Tairawhiti, and Taranaki Maunga, and MetService said northeast winds could reach severe gale strength in exposed places of Northland and Auckland.

By Thursday, the low pressure system is expected to move southeastwards over northern and central New Zealand, bringing rain to many areas, including Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Gisborne/Tairawhiti north of Gisborne City, Taranaki Maunga, Tasman District west of Motueka, and the northern and eastern ranges of Marlborough.

The low pressure system should moves to the east of the county by Friday, with a front over the Tasman Sea then moving quickly over southern and central New Zealand.

The forecast for the weekend is looking clearer, with a ridge of high pressure following the front onto New Zealand.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Self-taught scent artist Nathan Taare and French-trained perfume afficionado Whitney Steel deliver a fresh take on the fragrance world in the new RNZ series Journey of Scent.

While making the show was really fun, Steel says, it was a”nail-biting” moment presenting guests with their personalised perfumes, especially star chef Kia Kanuta.

“Because he has such a refined palate, I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m going to get exposed … I really, really wanted him to love it,” she tells RNZ’s Afternoons.

This video is hosted on Youtube.

Source: Radio New Zealand

A wall of smoke from the Tongariro National Park fire is providing a spectacular but worrying vista for a central plateau village.

The blaze has burned through up to 2500 hectares and is 20 percent contained.

Whakapapa Village was evacuated on Sunday, and the fire has forced the evacuation of trampers and closed lodges. All tracks and huts within the Tongariro National Park are closed, and State Highway 48 leading to Whakapapa Village and State Highway 47 at the intersection with State Highway 4 at Waimarino are also closed.

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

Source: New Zealand Police

Attributable to Sergeant Tracy Haggart, Queenstown Acting Response Manager,

Queenstown Police are appealing for information from the public following a burglary in Remarkables Park.

At around 2.15am today, Police were alerted to a burglary at a commercial premises at the intersection of Tex Smith Lane and Hawthorne Drive.

A stolen vehicle has been used to unlawfully enter the premises, where two offenders have taken around $900 of alcohol.

The offenders have fled the area, travelling to Kelvin Height Peninsula, where the vehicle was located abandoned and submerged in Lake Whakatipu at around 2.30am.

Police are working with Coastguard Queenstown and Queenstown Lakes District Council to retrieve the vehicle.

Enquiries into the incident are ongoing, and Police are appealing for information from the public to assist in our investigation.

Police would like to hear from anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage between 2am and 2.40am on Monday 10 November around the Remarkables Park and Kelvin Heights areas.

Police also ask anyone who may have any information about the incident to please contact us.

Members of the public may see an increase in reassurance patrols in and around commercial business areas while our enquiries are ongoing.

If you have any information, CCTV, or dashcam footage that may assist in our enquiries, please contact us online through 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update Report” or by calling 105.

Please use the reference number P064408540.

Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Patience, care and attention will be needed on the roads in and around Canterbury over the next week as a busy schedule of events leads into a long weekend with many holidaymakers travelling.

New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is encouraging those travelling out of the region for the Canterbury Anniversary weekend to plan ahead, build extra time into their journeys and expect delays at times.

“We all know the highways leading in and out of Canterbury are going to be busier as people head away for the long weekend, and as many return home on Sunday or around that time,” says NZTA system manager for the central South Island, Mark Pinner.

“But people should also be aware that they may encounter roadworks on the highways that are part of the busy spring/summer roading maintenance programmes, with some of these worksites remaining in place over the long weekend. The work is essential to keep the highways in good condition for all road users, but it may mean having to stop on demand or slowing for temporary speed limit reductions at work sites.”

“We want holidaymakers to get where they are going safely, so we ask motorists to show patience and drive carefully around any roadworks. Road users can find out what to expect on the state highways at our Journey Planner site, or at the latest of our planned roadworks newsletters:

This week in Christchurch, NZ Cup Week 2025 and the Royal A&P Show of New Zealand are expected to attract thousands of visitors, and this extra activity means more people on the roads.

“In addition to more traffic on local city streets, we are likely to see higher volumes of traffic on State Highways 73, 75 and 76 that run past hubs of activity such as the Addington Raceway & Events Centre, and the Canterbury Park A&P Showgrounds,” Mr Pinner says.

“Again, it is easy to get frustrated with more traffic on the roads and longer wait times but planning ahead and avoiding known hot spots where possible will go a long way to making life easier on the roads.”

On Sunday night (16 November), work will begin on installing the top and final layer of asphalt on sections of SH75/Halswell Road and Aidanfield Drive. This will mean closures of SH75/Halswell Road (between Dunbars Road and Augustine Drive/Monsaraz Boulevard), and Aidanfield Drive (between Halswell Road and Bibiana Street/Euphrasie Drive).

Starting Sunday night, the road closures will run from 6pm to 7am for the northbound lane, and from 7pm to 7am for the southbound lane, of the affected section of SH75/Halswell Road. The affected section of Aidanfield Drive will also close. The closures are expected to continue nightly for about a week.

Beyond this, more activity and events leading into the Christmas/New Year period will also mean more to deal with on the roads. On Sunday 23 November, the VIP Frames & Trusses Christmas Show Parade is due to be held at the Canterbury Park A&P Showgrounds.

“State Highway 75 will again be busy around this event, and in addition there will be convoys of Christmas floats moving between the Queen Elizabeth II Park and the Agricultural Park, on State Highways 74 Anzac Drive/Dyers Rd, SH74A Palinurus Road/Rutherford Street/Garlands Rd, and SH76 Brougham St in the morning and evening,” Mr Pinner says.

Source: Radio New Zealand

Centre Yanni Wetzell returns to Tall Blacks for games against Australia. Supplied

The Tall Blacks’ path to the 2027 FIBA World Cup begins against familiar foes.

At the end of the month the Tall Blacks will resume their storied rivalry with the Australian Boomers in a home-away series of two World Cup qualifiers.

Coach Judd Flavell has turned to three bigs – centre Yanni Wetzell, centre Tyrell Harrison and forward Sam Mennenga – who will all pull on the black singlet for the first time in 2025, to bolster the roster.

“Two world-class centres at the top of their game, and both big pieces overall,” Flavell said.

“Not just in want we do on the court, but I also like those two (Harrison and Wetzell) and the characteristics they have as people as well, they’re going to add a lot to the culture of the Tall Blacks as well.”

Wetzell is currently plying his trade in the Japanese B-League for the Akita Northern Happinets where he averages a tick over 14 points and 7.8 rebounds per contest.

“Yanni is one of the most mobile centres you’re going to see worldwide. His ability to run the floor, that’s certainly the way the Tall Blacks have played for a while now. He’s just an unselfish guy, who leaves it all out there.”

One of the stories of the Australian NBL season has been the form of Brisbane big man Harrison, who has routinely been tallying double-doubles for the Bullets en route to averaging 16.6 points and 9.7 rebounds per game at an efficient 67 percent from the field.

“Tyrell has quickly become, certainly a guy in the NBL, who has become one of the best big men in the league. What he gives us, obviously, true size and length. He’s a presence around the basket and also someone who runs the floor as well. It’s going to be fun to have him join us again.

“We’ve got Sam Mennenga playing great basketball right now too. It’s going to be his first camp in a while, certainly his first with me.”

Mennenga will join the national team for the first time since the Tall Blacks final 2024 Olympic qualifying game against Slovenia.

The core guard rotation from August’s Asia Cup squad remains intact, with Taylor Britt, Flynn Cameron and Mojave King back from the team’s fourth place finish in Jeddah.

“Asia Cup was such an important piece for us. Not only about the tournament itself, but laying down the foundation of what this Tall Black team looks like in the next few years, and those three, great performances. Carried a lot of the weight of the team in different areas, they’re going to be big pieces for us.”

Not only will the Tall Blacks have the services of those three, but they also welcome back the Wellington Saints backcourt duo of Shea Ili and Izayah Le’afa, who between them combine for over 100 Tall Black appearances.

Ili has missed the start of the NBL season with Melbourne United with a hamstring injury but is expected to get game time this week.

Shea Ili playing against Australia in May. PHOTOSPORT

“Having Shea’s presence is going to help boost everybody. We have a genuine world-class defender, and somebody that plays the Tall Blacks way, which is just all out – every single possession.”

“We welcome Izayah Le’afa back with open arms. A combo guard, somebody who can slide to the point guard. Ball-handling, also gives us defence.”

With five genuine starting level guards, minutes in the rotation will be hard to divvy out.

The squad also sees the return of Melbourne United forward, Finn Delany, who will captain the side during this opening FIBA World Cup qualifying window.

These two games will mark the fourth and fifth times the Tall Blacks and Boomers have battled this year. It was an incredibly rare occasion in the current international basketball landscape to play the same opponent five times in one calendar year.

In May’s Trans-Tasman Throwdown the Australians picked up two wins at home in Adelaide and Gold Coast, while the Tall Blacks survived a late surge to outlast their rivals in Hamilton in the Throwdown’s conclusion.

Game one of the qualifiers is in Hobart on 28 November and the return leg is in Wellington on 1 December, with the Boomers visiting the capital for the first time in 10 years.

Tall Blacks squad for the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers – Window 1

Taylor Britt (44 games), Canterbury Rams & New Zealand Breakers
Flynn Cameron (39 games), Franklin Bulls & Adelaide 36ers
Max Darling (18 games), Canterbury Rams & New Zealand Breakers
Carlin Davison (15 games), New Zealand Breakers
Finn Delany (55 games), Melbourne United, captain
Tyrell Harrison (11 games), Brisbane Bullets
Shea Ili (73 games), Wellington Saints & Melbourne United
Mojave King (9 games), Tauranga Whai & Cairns Taipans
Izayah Le’afa (28 games), Wellington Saints & New Zealand Breakers
Sam Mennenga (7 Games), New Zealand Breakers
Tohi Smith-Milner (78 games), Canterbury Rams & Brisbane Bullets
Yanni Wetzell (13 games), Akita Northern Happinets

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Former ACT Party president Tim Jago. RNZ / Calvin Samuel

Former ACT Party president Tim Jago has pleaded not guilty to indecent assault.

Jago was charged with indecent assault last month relating to an allegation from 1995.

He pleaded not guilty at the North Shore District Court on Monday and elected trial by jury.

He will next appear in December for a case review hearing.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Supplied / Google Maps

Listed property company, Kiwi Property Group, is set to sell a large-format retail property next to its Sylvia Park complex in Auckland for $90 million.

The buyer will be a yet-to-be established fund, Mackersy LFR Fund, a large-format retail investment fund managed by Queenstown-based commercial property investor, Mackersy Property.

Kiwi Property chief executive Clive Mackenzie said it would continue to manage Sylvia Park Lifestyle, and the sale would provide capital for new developments and strengthen its balance sheet .

“By retaining a significant stake in the LFR Fund, we can continue to leverage our retail management and leasing capabilities to drive the performance of the asset on behalf of both Kiwi Property and LFR Fund investors.”

The deal is subject to Mackersy LFR raising the required funds by mid-December.

Kiwi Property has agreed to buy 50 percent of the units and underwrite another 25 percent, giving it up to 75 percent of the fund, while receiving between $52.9 million and $65.3 million cash for the sale of the property to the fund.

Mackersy chief executive Hamish Wilton said the new fund would suit wholesale investors to invest in large format retail, which tends to be resilient in all market conditions.

“Our valued relationship with Kiwi Property has meant we have been able to secure Sylvia Park Lifestyle as the initial seed asset for the fund.”

Sylvia Park Lifestyle covers 16,500 square metres and houses major retailers such as Animates and Spotlight.

Kiwi Property Group also invested in the parent company, Mackersy Property in November 2024, and expects this to convert to a 50 percent stake in December 2025.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The owner of a lodge near Tongariro National Park, says areas of the land have been reduced to ash by a raging wildfire spreading more than 2500 hectares.

The fire began on Saturday and was just 20 percent contained. It had led to the evacuation of trampers, lodges, the Hillary Outdoor Centre and Whakapapa Village.

The owner of Tongariro Crossing Lodge, Louis van Wyk, said he had walked past the area where the fire first started shortly beforehand and was shocked by how different it now looked.

“By yesterday I could see the areas we’d walked through were now just ash and burnt.”

It was devastating, van Wyk said, as it was a very sensitive and biodiverse area.

He’d spent his Sunday helping fill the planes that were dousing the flames with water and said on Monday his main job now was managing inquiries from guests trying to decided if they wanted to cancel their bookings or still come.

Firefighters continue to battle the Tongariro National Park wildfire. Fire and Emergency

“We’re hoping with the rain now things are going to settle down and once the fire is out they can see what the condition is like on the tracks.

“I’m looking forward to hearing what the results are and whether anything will be open later on in the week for people to come and view.”

Sam and Kaz Clarkson, who owned the Skotel Alpine Resort spent last night in Waimarino after Whakapapa village was evacuated.

They were hopeful they could return on Monday given the wet weather.

Sam Clarkson said he felt “relaxed” about the threat as beech trees by the village provided a “natural defence line”.

Meanwhile, Hillary Outdoors safety manager Graeme Swift can’t work today due to closure of State Highway 47.

He said schools had cancelled their visits for Monday while they waited for more news.

Gillian and John Visser, owners of the Adventure Lodge and Motel, said they had no cancellations on Monday.

They worried though about the effects on business if the Tongariro Crossing was closed.

“They’re unsure about coming here because they think they’re going to find a wall of fire and every road closed,” Gillian Visser said.

“I’ve just been telling them that there are roads open because they’ll find something lovely here.”

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

Posts

New Zealand Trotting Cup – all you need to know

The Kiwi challengers in the Cup

Aussies to the fore in Dominion Trot

World Driving Championship decided

Facts

Weather: Warm start to the week, but more rain expected after Wednesday

Two Kiwi perfume rebels invite you on a ‘Journey of Scent’

Want to smell like Donald Trump?

Whitney Steel (Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, Te Ātiawa) – cohost of Journey of Scent

Nathan Taare (Ngāti Porou) – cohost of Journey of Scent

Want to smell like Donald Trump?

Live: Tongariro National Park wildfire spreads to nearly 3000 hectares

Queenstown Police appeal for information after commercial burglary

Busy week of events, long weekend travel volumes facing road users

Basketball: Bigs back for Tall Blacks’ qualifiers against Boomers

Tall Blacks squad for the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers – Window 1

Former ACT Party president Tim Jago pleads not guilty to indecent assault

Large-format retail property next to Sylvia Park to be sold

Parts of Tongariro National Park reduced to ash in huge blaze, Lodge owner says