Source:
Tomoana Road is closed following a serious crash this afternoon in Hastings.
Police were called to a crash at the intersection of Tomoana Road and Williams Street at around 12.40pm.
Initial indications suggest there are serious injuries.
The road is closed, and diversions are in place.
Motorists are advised to follow diversions and expect delays.
ENDS
Source:
District:
State Highway 1 north of Tokoroa has reopened following a serious crash this morning.
Police would like to thank motorists for their patience and cooperation while the road was closed.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre.
Source:
Emergency services are at the scene of a serious crash that has blocked Canning Road at Camberley, Hastings.
About 2pm, a motorcycle carrying two riders crashed between Hapia Street and Orchard Road, and then collided with a member of the public on the footpath.
Two people have serious injuries while a third has critical injuries.
The Serious Crash Unit has been notified and cordons are in place.
Members of the public are asked to avoid the area.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source:
State Highway 1 north of Tokoroa remains closed following a crash earlier today.
A person injured in the crash has been flown to Waikato Hospital in a critical condition.
The road is expected to remain closed until at least 3pm today.
Motorists are advised to take alternative routes or delay travel where possible.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre.
Source: – Press Release/Statement:
Headline: Using sports passion for good
How to take public passion for something and focus it on a pressing issue? Collab chats with John Wroe, co-founder and CEO of Street Child United, which amongst other things runs an international tournament uniting teams of street children to play football and call for their rights to be realised. Hear John’s origin story about the NFP and his tips for working with sports stars, other celebs and funders.
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Source: – Press Release/Statement:
Headline: How to get a UN job
Want to land a job at a big UN agency? Collab is in New York to get some tips. Ann-Marie Wilcock has lived this dream for over 13 years. She has been in Nepal, Palestine and Pakistan with agencies like UNDP, FAO and MSF. Currently she’s at the UN as an Advocacy Manager. Along the way, to inspire and equip people to follow her footsteps, she’s created an excellent blog called Hit The Iron Bell.
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Source: NordVPN
Consumers are being tricked into paying upfront fees for non-existent prizes –cybersecurity experts share how to spot and avoid these growing scams
More and more people are falling for fake prize scams, where scammers trick them into thinking they’ve won big in a lottery, sweepstakes, or contest they never entered. These fraudsters play on excitement, promising life-changing prizes – only to ask for upfront payments for supposed taxes or fees.
Once the money is sent, the scammers disappear, leaving victims empty-handed and out of pocket. It’s a growing problem, and experts warn us to stay alert to avoid becoming the next target.
“The scammers behind these fake prize schemes are sophisticated, often using personal information to make the scams appear more believable. The emotional effect of ‘winning’ a big prize only makes it harder for people to think critically,” says Adrianus Warmenhoven, a cybersecurity expert at NordVPN. (ref. https://nordvpn.com )
The hidden dangers of prize scams
While these scams might seem obvious, fraudsters are constantly evolving their tactics. Scam attempts can be extremely convincing, with phony calls, emails, and even fake websites designed to deceive victims into providing their personal information and making payments.
In 2024, prize scams were the most commonly reported fraud in the US, making up 38.27% of all scam reports, according to the National Consumers League. Also, the Federal Trade Commission reported that in 2023 alone, consumers lost $301 million to lottery and prize scams, with an average loss of $907 per person. These numbers highlight the ongoing impact of prize-related fraud.
“Scammers use a variety of tactics to make their scam seem real, including spoofing caller IDs, sending counterfeit documents, and creating fake websites that mimic legitimate lottery organizations. They know how to play on human emotions,” explains Warmenhoven.
Spotting the red flags of fake prize scams
To protect yourself from falling victim to prize scams, Warmenhoven urges everyone to watch out for these common warning signs:
Unexpected prize notices: If you didn’t enter a contest or lottery, it’s a scam.
Upfront payment requests: Legitimate organizations don’t ask for money upfront to claim a prize.
Pressure tactics: Scammers often create a sense of urgency, threatening that you’ll lose your “winnings” if you don’t act immediately.
Too good to be true: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Protecting yourself from prize scams
Adrianus Warmenhoven emphasizes the importance of staying vigilant and skeptical when receiving unsolicited communication about prize winnings. “Always verify the organization’s legitimacy and never share personal information, such as bank account details or Social Security numbers, over the phone or online unless you’re absolutely sure the source is trustworthy.”
It is recommended to remember that if you didn’t enter a lottery or sweepstakes, you didn’t win. The best defense against these scams is awareness. If you have any doubts, contact the supposed prize issuer directly through official channels, and never provide personal information unless you’re sure it’s real.
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Source:
In the last eight months, more than 100 new, warm, dry state homes have been added to our portfolio in Napier.
These homes are changing the lives of the people who are moving into them. Sixty whānau have been able to move out of emergency accommodation including 100 children who are no longer growing up in motels.
In the last four years, we have built 270 new Napier homes, says Regional Director East North Island Naomi Whitewood (Ngāti Porou, Ngāpuhi). “We have another 55 homes in construction that are expected to be completed in the next three months.”
“A development of 13 homes has just been finished. Like every new home we complete, these ones were blessed by local kaikarakia before they are occupied. The people who are moving into the homes are invited to the blessing. Meeting these whānau is always a heartwarming occasion. I can see how desperate many peoples’ living situation has been and what a difference having a long-term suitable home makes to build their future around.”
The moment Chris opened the door to his new home was very emotional.
One of these people whose life has changed is Chris. He recently moved into one of the new homes in Onekawa after five years living in temporary housing.
I feel like I have always been on the move, says Chris. “As a child living with my dad, we moved 10 times. Since I moved into emergency housing five years ago, I have moved seven times around different motels. I am looking forward to having a long-term place to fill with love. My brother is living with me and my sister lives close by. We are all supporting each other to live independent lives.
Chris became homeless after he went through a number of challenges in 2019. He was depressed, drinking to isolate himself socially and he needed to move out of the family home.
“I moved into emergency accommodation based in a motel room. That was where I was living when we went into COVID lockdown. My mental health really took a dive, and I knew I need to work on myself.”
“I did this by cutting out the drink and focusing on art. I love to sketch and paint. I will sketch anything and everything. While my life improved doing these things, it was hard living with the uncertainty of not having a long-term home.”
“That has all changed now. I love living in a clean, fresh home. This has always been important to me. ‘A clean space keeps a happy face” When people visit, they often comment on how nice my place smells. I also like to fill my lungs with fresh air, and nice fragrances. Since moving in I have enjoyed having a garden and growing herbs and vegetables. The next goal is to find a job that I like.”
While I am grateful to have moved out of emergency accommodation, I do want to thank the management at Fern Motel, the last place I was living. They cater for everyone’s needs and are lovely people to all those who call the motel home for a period of time.”
Page updated: 16 April 2025
Source:
Media Release
“New Zealand women are being let down by systems and institutions that continue to disenfranchise them.” says National President of the National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ), Lisa Lawrence, who strongly believes there must be an urgent focus on creating equity which fosters equality, and supports everyone to reach their full potential.
“There is so much work going on to enable women and gender minorities, but there is more to do.” says Lisa Lawrence (Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāti Ruapani).
“The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is ‘Creating an Equal and Enabled World’ and that clearly resonates with us in Aotearoa New Zealand,” she says, “However the National Council of Women of New Zealand wants to see more and faster action.”
NCWNZ says creating an environment where everyone has the same opportunity is absolutely key, and that should be supported by everyone. “We must work together, walking alongside those who face inequalities and who are unable to access opportunities because of barriers they face. By making an environment equitable, inequalities are addressed. Those in the disability sector especially know this mahi is hard but the positive outcomes are life changing.” says Lisa Lawrence.
New Zealand women are being let down by systems and institutions that continue to disenfranchise them says NCWNZ.
“There is work to be done around poverty, homelessness and low pay, all of which disproportionately affect women. It’s deeply disappointing but not surprising that 63% of the female prison population is Māori. This is a direct result of a lack of equality and a lack of enabling behaviour by institutions.” says Lisa Lawrence.
However, there is a cause for celebration around the recent recognition of women at the New Zealander of the Year Awards. Dame Margaret Sparrow (Senior of the Year) is a champion of reproductive rights. Good Bitches Baking (Community of the Year) is literally a group of women set up to help others. Georgia Hale (Young New Zealander of the Year) already has a significant profile of work, helping others through charity drives and mentoring.
“All of these women have been recognised for their service to the community, and they serve a range of different communities. All of these women are working to create a more equitable and therefore more equal and enabled world. But isn’t that what we should all be doing?”
NCWNZ encourages people to get together and attend one of the many events around the country, or get together and watch the livestream of UN Women Aotearoa New Zealand and Zonta Club of Wellington’s International Women’s Day 2020 Breakfast from Parliament.