NZ Engine

Source: Radio New Zealand

A Waikato business owner who hosts dental tours to Vietnam says people are saving up to tens-of-thousands of dollars by getting their work done offshore.

It comes as calls grow louder for oral care to be integrated into New Zealand’s public healthcare system.

More than 1000 New Zealanders took part in a recent Talbot Mills Research survey, commissioned by advocacy group Dental For All.

Participants were asked whether they supported dental care being brought into the public healthcare system.

In findings released on Monday, 83 percent of participants said they supported the move. Twelve percent opposed the move and 5 percent were unsure.

Dental For All campaigner Hana Pilkinton-Ching said it would cost between $1-2b per year to integrate dental care into the public health system.

Earlier this month Damien Nikora from The Current Place took his first group of seven people to Da Nang for treatments including crowns, implants and extractions.

He started the tours after he paid $1700 for dental work in Vietnam, a procedure which was quoted for $22,000 in New Zealand.

Nikora told Checkpoint some dental procedures in New Zealand were too expensive.

“It’s a nightmare. It’s basically a mortgage, it’s absolutely ridiculous,” he said.

He said clients who had been quoted $90,000 for work in New Zealand, ended up paying $10,000 for the procedure in Vietnam.

“They’re absolutely stoked, there’s plenty of tears,” he said.

“They can’t believe they get to have a little holiday, get to deal with something that they’ve been traumatised or dealt since they were kids.

“It’s pretty awesome, it’s a really cool buzz.”

The cost of essential dental care in New Zealand was a barrier for people getting the work done, Nikora said.

He said none of his 250-plus clients had reported any post-procedure problems over the past two years since starting the tours.

The New Zealand Dental Association said complications were more likely to occur in patients who underwent complex treatment overseas, such as implants or crowns.

Chief Executive Dr Mo Amso said anyone travelling overseas for dental tourism needed to make sure the clinic they were attending was reputable.

Nikora said his tours usually ran for about 10 days and people were able to do online consultations before departing New Zealand.

“They get to talk with the dentists themselves. It’s pretty thorough,” he said.

“So the dentists know what to do with each client.”

ACC does not cover medical procedures or treatments performed outside of New Zealand.

Despite the lack of cover, Nikora felt it was worth the risk.

“The people we’ve dealt with haven’t had any problems,” he said.

“In the end what it comes down to is either never getting their teeth done here in New Zealand because they can never afford it.

“If they get the opportunity to be able to do it professionally and affordably, they’re more than willing to take that chance.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A new marae under construction in New Plymouth – a city that hasn’t had a functioning marae for about 150 years – represents a homecoming for mana whenua.

Ngāti Te Whiti hapū is building the $15 million Ngāmotu Marae, overlooking Port Taranaki, and hopes it will become a focal point for the wider community.

Julie Healey, who has a consents planning role at the hapū, has fond memories of Ngāmotu Beach.

“As little ones growing up, we used to come here quite a bit. There were baches all along the front here to the beach.

“We’d come down here as kids. dad and them would be there, all the old aunties would be there.

“It was so beautiful back in the days and, I tell you what, they were the best cooks. The big roasting dish of chocolates cakes and all that kai.”

The baches are long gone, but Healey said establishing Ngāmotu Marae adjacent to the beach would be better still.

“For me to be able to see my mokopuna on here, that’s a good thing, because my grandparents wanted the same.

“For us, it is a big deal putting a stake, a pou, in the ground, I guess. We’ve always been here.

“You can ask the archaeologists we work with. They’ll tell you Ngāti Te Whiti has been here a long time and they’re still here.

“They’re going to be here forever.”

Former board member Kura Ratapu also had childhood memories of Ngāmotu beach.

“This was our playground, this was our front yard and all of us kids during holidays, we would come down here.

“We would play, we would be down here all day and we’d basically go home at night had it, tired, hungry, but then we’d come back the next day and do it all over again.”

Ratapu explained the hapū had its land confiscated in the 1800s and many whanau were later moved out of the area.

“Once they decided they wanted to build a waterfront here, then basically, all of our whanau that were here all got kicked out.

“There was no compensation. It was, like, ‘Sorry, we want to take this land, we’re going to put up a wharf here’.”

Many whanau lost their connection to the area.

“A lot of them didn’t live in their own tribal or hapū area, because the land got confiscated, they had to move and they had to go where the jobs were – they had families.

“There were only a few whanau who were lucky enough to stay here and keep those home fires burning.”

Ratapu’s grandfather was among the first to lobby for a marae at Ngāmotu beach.

“It was because this is where they all grew up, this is where they lived, this is about their relationships, but it was also about, in later years, saying, ‘We’re still here, you can’t wipe us out’.

“People might say who is this Ngāti Te Whiti? Well, you come down once the marae is built and you’ll see who they are.”

Ratapu said Ngāmotu Marae would fulfil a vital role for the hapū.

“Through all of this, we can only hope that our mokopuna will see and learn their whakapapa, and get to realise that nobody can tell them where to go, nobody can say who they are or that they don’t belong, because they do.”

Ngāti Te Whiti chair Shelton Healey said the hapū had been without a home for too long.

“Time have been tough in terms of helping future generations understand who they are, what their whakapapa is and how to involve themselves being Māori in a Māori kaupapa space, such as a marae.

“For mana whenua here, we’ve always had to go onto marae as visitors.”

He said the marae build had not come without its challenges.

In 2019, then hapū chief executive and former police officer Shaun Keenan was jailed, after stealing about $500,000 from Ngāti Te Whiti, sending the then-$4.5 million project back to the drawingboard.

“It was an unfortunate situation that happened, and we were determined to fix that and make sure, for me and whanau members, that our future generations were going to have somewhere they could call home.

“One person wasn’t going to destroy that for us.”

Healey said the first phase of the project would include an atea, a wharenui sleeping 80 and wharekai catering to 100 people per sitting.

He was thrilled at the prospect.

“Knowing one day we’ll be able to sit inside a marae that’s going to build here for whanau, hapū members, kaumatua, our community itself, where we can come together as one and be one people even… yeah, it’s an exciting time.

“It’s an exciting time for Ngāti Te Whiti, but also the community.”

The hapū was still raising about $5 million with partners Taranaki Foundation to enable phase two of the project, which included an administration area, community facilities and support amenities.

Taranaki Foundation chief executive Josh Hickford said the charity had set up a page on its website to allow the public to donate to the project.

“This project brings tangible benefits to our city, from creating local job opportunities to enhancing cultural infrastructure for generations to come.”

Phase one of the marae build was expected to take about 15 months to complete.

Donations could be made via the Taranaki Foundation portal.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A Waikato business owner who hosts dental tours to Vietnam says people are saving up to tens-of-thousands of dollars by getting their work done offshore.

It comes as calls grow louder for oral care to be integrated into New Zealand’s public healthcare system.

More than 1000 New Zealanders took part in a recent Talbot Mills Research survey, commissioned by advocacy group Dental For All.

Participants were asked whether they supported dental care being brought into the public healthcare system.

In findings released on Monday, 83 percent of participants said they supported the move. Twelve percent opposed the move and 5 percent were unsure.

Dental For All campaigner Hana Pilkinton-Ching said it would cost between $1-2b per year to integrate dental care into the public health system.

Earlier this month Damien Nikora from The Current Place took his first group of seven people to Da Nang for treatments including crowns, implants and extractions.

He started the tours after he paid $1700 for dental work in Vietnam, a procedure which was quoted for $22,000 in New Zealand.

Nikora told Checkpoint some dental procedures in New Zealand were too expensive.

“It’s a nightmare. It’s basically a mortgage, it’s absolutely ridiculous,” he said.

He said clients who had been quoted $90,000 for work in New Zealand, ended up paying $10,000 for the procedure in Vietnam.

“They’re absolutely stoked, there’s plenty of tears,” he said.

“They can’t believe they get to have a little holiday, get to deal with something that they’ve been traumatised or dealt since they were kids.

“It’s pretty awesome, it’s a really cool buzz.”

The cost of essential dental care in New Zealand was a barrier for people getting the work done, Nikora said.

He said none of his 250-plus clients had reported any post-procedure problems over the past two years since starting the tours.

The New Zealand Dental Association said complications were more likely to occur in patients who underwent complex treatment overseas, such as implants or crowns.

Chief Executive Dr Mo Amso said anyone travelling overseas for dental tourism needed to make sure the clinic they were attending was reputable.

Nikora said his tours usually ran for about 10 days and people were able to do online consultations before departing New Zealand.

“They get to talk with the dentists themselves. It’s pretty thorough,” he said.

“So the dentists know what to do with each client.”

ACC does not cover medical procedures or treatments performed outside of New Zealand.

Despite the lack of cover, Nikora felt it was worth the risk.

“The people we’ve dealt with haven’t had any problems,” he said.

“In the end what it comes down to is either never getting their teeth done here in New Zealand because they can never afford it.

“If they get the opportunity to be able to do it professionally and affordably, they’re more than willing to take that chance.”

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A man is in custody after a major police response in Dunedin.

Police said they were told of a person acting erratically on Helensburgh St in the suburb of Wakari at 6pm.

A home was cordoned off while officers spoke with the man.

He was taken into custody just before 7.30pm.

A nearby worker said they saw about nine police vehicles and some ambulances.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Enjoy your evening walks while you can – daylight saving will soon come to an end for another year, which means we all get an extra hour of sleep.

But when do the clocks switch over? Why do we observe daylight saving? And how do you change it on your phone?

Here’s what you need to know.

When does daylight saving end in New Zealand?

Daylight saving time ends every year at 3am on the first Sunday in April – which this year will be at 3am on Sunday 5 April.

Do the clocks go forward or back?

To quote the immortal Doc Brown, great scott! We’ve got to go back to the future.

That’s right: Clocks go back for the winter, from 3am to 2am.

That means you get an extra hour’s sleep-in and it won’t be as dark when you wake up in the morning – at least for a while.

It also means the sun will go down an hour earlier in the evening, so if you’ve got outside chores to complete, get them done faster.

Why do we have daylight saving time?

Because the Earth is on a tilt (of about 23 degrees, for those curious), we are exposed to more sun during summer and less during winter.

That means the days are longer during the warmer months and shorter in the colder months.

Daylight saving is intended to make the most of those long daylight hours. It means an extra hour of light on summer evenings.

How long have we been doing this?

New Zealand first observed daylight saving in 1927.

However, the dates that clocks went forward and back, and the amount of time they were changed, varied over the following years.

In 1941, daylight saving was extended year-round under emergency regulations to help save energy during World War II.

Five years later, daylight saving time (or summer time as it was then known) was adopted as standard time, effectively discontinuing daylight saving.

In 1975, daylight saving was introduced again.

It was extended to its current dates – from the last Sunday in September to the first Sunday in April – in 2007.

How do I change the time on my phone?

Most smartphones will adjust to time zones automatically.

Here’s how to check if your smartphone does that:

• Android: Go into the clock app, tap more and then go into settings. Then go into change date and time, select set time zone automatically and then select use location to set time zone.
• iPhone: Open settings, select general, to go date & time and make sure set automatically is turned on.
• Samsung: Open settings, go to general management, select date and time and then make sure automatic date and time is turned on. This should mean your phone will automatically reflect the time depending on where you are.

When will daylight saving time start again?

Clocks will go forward one hour at 2am on Sunday 27 September.

What if I’m working when the time changes?

The rules around getting paid for working during daylight saving time are set out in the Time Act 1974.

It says that if you’re working when clocks go back an hour, you are entitled to be paid for that extra hour.

For example, if your shift started at 10pm and finishes at 6am, you will have actually worked nine hours and must be paid for nine hours of work.

If you’re working on 27 September when the clocks go forward, you are still entitled to be paid for your normal hours. In this instance, a 10pm-6am shift will only mean seven hours of work, but you must be paid for eight.

I’ve changed the wall clock – what’s next?

Emergency officials say that daylight saving is a good time to check the batteries on your smoke alarm by pushing the test button to sound the alarm.

Check the alarm’s expiry date too – most last a maximum of 10 years – and give the cover a clean to avoid false alarms from dust buildup.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A large police presence is being reported in Dunedin.

A worker at the intersection of Helensburgh and Taieri Rds said there were multiple police cars and ambulances in the area shortly after 7pm on Monday,

They said they saw about nine police cars.

MORE TO COME…

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Who is willing to try their luck and running prowess against a horse? Only fools, of course.

The Central Otago race Only Fools and Horses is back for round two on 11 April. There is a 40km race and a second shorter 25km fun run to entice more people to challenge their two- or four-legged foes.

Runners and riders have been testing out the course near Wedderburn, which traverses through tussock, along an ancient water race and up ridges.

When it came to long-distance running, Julia Chamberlain has had a go at nearly everything – including testing her mettle against the horses in last year’s race.

“The horses thrashed us, they were so quick. But it was a great run,” she said.

But in a race between Only Fool and Horses, why did she choose the Fools side?

“I’ve probably ridden a horse once in my life. I’m a runner so running against horses, when do you get that opportunity? It’s a couple of friends who have organised the race so it’s pretty cool to support them,” Chamberlain said.

“Such a foreign concept… it’s quite fun running along the water race with these huge beasts coming past you.”

She knew the odds were falling in favour of four legs.

“The only thing that’s really in our favour is endurance, but even then, they’ve still got great endurance,” she said.

“Endurance, speed – but they’ve got four legs, we’ve got two so arguably, they should always win. It would be good to get a great runner to beat the horse so the humans must win. They hopefully will at some stage.”

Rider Niam Tripp was eager to hit the trail.

“I love jumping. I love the adrenaline but also I do love just galloping over hills.”

She was keen for a redemption race after competing on Jeffery last year.

They stopped halfway as he was not quite race-fit, but she said he had been putting in the mahi this hunt season and was ready to go.

She laid down the gauntlet for runners – especially for her brother who, she said, did a dramatic sprint finish last year.

“We’re going to at least try to beat my brother this year,” Tripp said.

“It’s been an ongoing rivalry for a long time.”

Tripp was firmly on Team Horse.

“They’re better at running than we are. Horses are supreme and those runners, well, tough luck for them. They’re going to get beaten again,” she said.

Race co-organiser Steve Tripp – and Niam’s dad – said about 40 competitors had signed up so far, but he expected more would jump onboard.

“It’s the Maniototo. It’s all gold and blue and some wonderful views. You’ve got a historic water race to run along. It’s all on private land so it’s land that you can’t get to otherwise. There’s a lake, a silver birch forest.”

Locals would be cheering everyone over the finish line before the afterparty kicked off with a buffet dinner and dancing – last year, he said the runners outdanced the horse riders.

There was also some added incentive for a runner to cross the finish line first, he said.

“We’ve got a jackpot so it goes up $500 every year that a human doesn’t win it so it’s up to $1000. So if a human wins, it’s a $1000. If not, then it will be $1500 next year.”

The battle between hoof and foot will take place in Wedderburn on 11 April, with the money raised going towards supporting the Maniototo Area School.

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