Monthly Archives: September 2021

Indias tour of New Zealand has been postponed for next year as Kiwi cricket board struggles to host multiple teams for their home summer. Thanks to covid-19, NZC(New Zealand Cricket Board) is suddenly staring at a number of high profile teams who wants to complete their earlier scheduled stops in Kiwiland. Meanwhile Indias tour will not take place as Virat Kohli and his men will now visit the country next year. They were scheduled to play three ODIs under the new 2023 ODI super league.

Hanuma Viharai Parts Ways With Andhra, to Play for Hyderabad Next Season

An NZC spokesman confirmed India would not be touring this season as per the FTP, and would fulfil those obligations later in 2022, after the next scheduled mens Twenty20 World Cup in Australia in November.

Meanwhile the Kiwi players themselves wont be returning home well before late November and will have to undergo quarantine which might not end before Christmas Day; there would be no Boxing Day Test this year in New Zealand as a result. New Zealand are currently in Pakistan where they will play a white ball series. Following which they would fly to UAE and land in India just after T20 World Cup.

The Black Caps then face a busy home summer with fixtures against South Africa, Bangladesh and Netherlands. Weve got to be mindful of players coming back from a long winter and weve got to give them time at home as well, NZC chief executive David White previously told Stuff.co.nz.

ICC T20I Rankings: Virat Kohli Static at 4th, no India Bowler in Top-10

India captain Virat Kohli and star batsman KL Rahul maintained their fourth and sixth place respectively among the batsmen while no Indian bowler featured in the top-10 in the ICC T20 rankings.

The top seven batsmen led by Englands Dawid Malan maintained their rankings while South African keeper-batter Quinton de Kock is now ranked eighth while West Indies Evin Lewis has dropped a place to be ninth in the list.

Among bowlers, Tabraiz Shamsi still holds the pole position followed by Wanindu Hasaranga and Rashid Khan.

Indias top ranked bowler in the list is veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar at 12th while injured offspinner Washington Sundar is the other in the top-20 at 18th place.

Get all the IPL news and Cricket Score here

See more here:

India's New Zealand Tour Postponed Till Next Year as NZC Struggles with Covid-Crammed Schedule - News18

The Bangladesh cricket team will have been able to visit New Zealand twice this year, before many New Zealanders abroad have been able to return at all.

The Bangladesh cricket team has been to New Zealand twice this year. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Also coming through the hotly contested MIQ system is the Netherlands cricket team, who are ranked lower than Afghanistan in the International Cricket Council (ICC) One Day International (ODI) rankings.

Other special group MIQ allocations have been made public, including over 1300 rooms set aside from now until February for staff from international Antarctic programmes, and 400 rooms for businesspeople and entertainers going to Expo 2020 Dubai from October.

This is while many New Zealanders cannot return home due to the scarcity of MIQ rooms.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) said one week in mid-August there was an average of 19,781 unique users on the site each day. There are only 4000 total rooms available each fortnight, or less than 300 a day on average, so at that point there were 65 times the number of people looking for rooms as there were rooms available.

The group allocations are decided by government ministers led by Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi. To be eligible, groups need to be sponsored by a government agency, and must be determined by the ministers to be in the national interest or have a "significant" economic impact. National security or international obligations are also a permitted reason.

Following Bangaldesh's arrival - the third time New Zealand will have played them in a series within 12 months - the South Africa and Netherlands cricket teams will arrive for a late summer tour. All three teams are granted 35 rooms each, sponsored by Sport NZ.

The Black Caps also have three ODIs and a T20 scheduled in Australia in February 2022. If those are played and should the quarantine-free travel bubble not be reimposed, the team will need MIQ rooms on their return.

Since the start of 2021, the Black Caps and the teams they have played or are scheduled to (Australia, Bangladesh twice, South Africa and the Netherlands) domestically have required or been granted 272 MIQ rooms.

When all MIQ facilities are available, there are 4900 rooms available per fortnight, but around half are not used by Managed Isolation Allocation System bookings. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi

More Antarctic scientists and staff have been granted MIQ rooms, on top of ones announced earlier this year.

From this month until February next year, 1312 MIQ rooms have been set aside for the US, Korean and European Antarctic programmes. This is on top of 820 granted between August 2020 and February this year, and another 204 in July 2021. These are sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).

Christchurch is deemed a gateway city and logistics hub for people and goods movement to the continent.

Four hundred rooms have been set aside for Dubai Expo attendees, between October 2021 and March 2022, also sponsored by MFAT. The event is a large global expo advertising New Zealand's trade, tourism and business interests. It will be attended by New Zealand entertainers.

Rooms have also been given to 450 foreign fishermen arriving over the next three months, sponsored by the Ministry for Primary Industries.

The New Zealand Defence Force has 298 rooms available for them between October and February for its staff. It also had another 89 return in June and July this year.

Crankworx, a mountain bike festival, has 70 rooms next month.

Exporters sponsored by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise have secured 50 rooms across November and December.

And from November through to March, a host of sports teams arrive into the country:

Only around half of the available rooms in the MIQ system are actually used by regular New Zealanders booking through the Managed Isolation Allocation System (MIAS).

When all MIQ facilities are available, there are 4900 rooms available per fortnight, but a total of 2400-2550 are not used by MIAS bookings:

Occasionally hotels are unavailable due to maintenance or ventilation issues.

Read more:

Sports teams, business people and entertainers using MIQ spots - RNZ

New Zealands vaccine rollout is well past halfway complete, with supply issues firmly in the rear-view mirror. But big disparities between regions and ethnicities remain and we seem to be taking our foot off the gas. Henry Cooke and Kate Newton dig into the rollout.

Were halfway there, but were slowing down.

New Zealand has doled out over 50 per cent of the jabs it needs to double dose everyone aged 12 or over. Supply issues that have hindered the rollout for months are gone, with plenty of jabs in the country and millions more on the way.

But huge disparities remain in the rollout between regions and between ethnicities. The vaccination rate is nowhere near the level it would need to be to make lockdowns history. And while were climbing the international rankings, we still have far fewer people fully protected than most other rich nations.

READ MORE:* Covid-19: New Zealand's vaccine roll-out explained in 10 charts, and compared with the rest of the world* Covid-19 NZ: New Zealand's vaccine rollout explained in 11 charts* Covid-19 NZ: The vaccine roll-out explained in 9 graphs, as New Zealand hits daily record of 80,000 doses * Covid-19 NZ: New Zealand hits record-high vaccine day, but many in vulnerable group 3 still unprotected

Before we do a deep dive, lets get the overall figures out the way.

Braden Fastier/Stuff

A mass vaccination event in Nelson, who are leading the country for vaccines.

As of midnight on Tuesday, 2.9 million New Zealanders have had at least one dose of the vaccine.

Thats well over two thirds (68 per cent) of the 12+ population who are actually eligible for the vaccine. Its 58 per cent of the population as a whole.

Far fewer have had both doses: Just 1.5m people. That comes out to 35 per cent of the 12+ population or 30 per cent of the entire country.

Overall we are past halfway: Just under 8.7m doses will be needed to double dose all 4.3m Kiwis aged 12 or up and 4.4m doses have been doled out, or 51 per cent of the total.

As with much of healthcare in New Zealand, where you live plays a large role in whether you are vaccinated or not.

Three-quarters (75 per cent) of those aged 12 or over living in the top and bottom of the South Island have had a first dose, as they live in the countrys two best-performing District Health Boards (DHBs) Nelson Marlborough and Southern.

Meanwhile, just over half of those in Taranaki (55 per cent) have had a first dose the worst-performing DHB.

These disparities between the best and worst-performing DHBs are roughly the same when it comes to full vaccinations: 44 per cent of the 12+ population in Nelson Marlborough have had both doses, compared to just 26 per cent in Taranaki.

For the major centres there has been some real movement in recent weeks, however.

Auckland and Wellingtons DHBs have been on a bit of a tear for first doses. Wellington's two DHBs have got 73 per cent of their 12+ population jabbed with at least one dose, while Aucklands three DHBs have jabbed 70 per cent.

This is quite a big gain for Wellington, which had been lagging Auckland something you can still see when it comes to the number of people fully vaccinated, with Wellington at 30 per cent compared to Aucklands 36 per cent.

Christchurch lags both other major centres on first doses and full vaccinations. Just 29 per cent of its 12+ population is fully protected and 61 per cent has had a single jab.

New Zealands vaccine rollout sped up massively after the outbreak in Auckland.

On August 27, an unprecedented 93,000 Kiwis got a jab, over 1.8 per cent of the entire country. Our average rate of doses per day was higher than almost every other western country had reached.

Looking back though, this was probably New Zealands peak. Our rate has dropped down to jabbing around 1.1 per cent of the population a day still a decent rate, but not as high as it was. After two weeks where the country was administering around 540,000 doses a week, the week to Sunday saw just 428,000.

This slows down projections for when the rollout might finish.

Obviously, not every New Zealander aged 12+ will get the vaccine. Some will choose not to and some just wont be reached by the healthcare system.

But for the purpose of illustration, if Kiwis continued to get the jab at the same rate they have for the last week, the whole rollout would finish on November 26 with everyone aged 12 or over having had both vaccines.

If we look at just first doses, which provide some protection, and again project out from the current rate, then 80 per cent of those aged 12 or over would have had a first dose by September 28, 90 per cent by October 9, and 100 per cent by October 21. Again it is clear that not everyone will get a jab, and the rate may drop further.

Its also worth keeping in mind that the vaccine takes two weeks for full effectiveness. So if youre looking for a magic date when enough people are protected that life can really go back to normal? It will be a few more months.

New Zealands international vaccine performance can be seen through two distinct lenses.

If you look at first doses, we are steadily moving up the charts, beating out Australia and a handful of European and Latin American countries in the OECD grouping of rich nations.

Indeed, we are likely to pass the USA in the next week on this metric, unless the vaccine rollout slows more.

But if you look at second doses, which offer full protection, we are second from the bottom just marginally ahead of Costa Rica. This is because the vaccine rollout is very firmly focused on first doses right now.

You can blend these figures to get a more holistic picture, by looking at vaccine doses per 100 people. On this metric we are again not quite at the bottom but not far from it and remain behind the countries we traditionally compare ourselves to.

New Zealands vaccine rollout was intentionally staggered, with the most needy getting the jab first.

These priority groups covered border workers in group 1, healthcare workers and rest home residents in group 2, the older and more vulnerable in group 3, and the general population in group 4.

But these priority groups have overlapped massively, and many in group 3 remain unprotected even while group 4 races ahead.

Part of the issue here is simply counting: The Government has no real idea how many people fit into group 3, which includes everyone aged 65+, the disabled, pregnant people, and those who have a disease like asthma that might make a Covid-19 infection particularly dangerous.

It knows there are around 750,000 people aged 65+, but can only hazard a guess at the rest of the people in the group: It estimates there are somewhere between 700,000 and 1.2 million of these people. That means group 3 could be anywhere between 1.45m and 1.95m people.

Even without an exact figure, its clear that many in this group are not yet vaccinated. Just 741,000 people in group 3 have had a single dose, and only 574,000 have had both. Given we know there are at least 750,000 people aged 65+ as well as all those other vulnerable groups many are not yet protected.

Meanwhile, group 4 has raced ahead with 1.6m people having had a first jab.

Stuff has asked the Ministry of Health about this discrepancy and received a written statement suggesting DHBs have ongoing plans to make sure those in group 3 are getting access to vaccines. Covid-19 Minister Chris Hipkins has noted in earlier weeks that many people technically eligible for group 3 may just be saying they are in group 4 when turning up for a jab.

Another way we can look at vulnerable populations is ethnicity, given research shows Mori are far more likely to be hospitalised and die if they are infected with Covid-19.

Mori are still behind the rest of the population, with just 23 per cent of the population protected, compared to 38 per cent of Pkeh.

Some of this can be explained by age structure: Older people are more likely to have had a vaccine, and the Mori population is younger than the general population.

But not all of it even within age bands Mori are well-behind the general population.

A Mori person aged 20-34 is about half as likely to have had either one or two jabs as someone in the general population.

More:

Covid-19: New Zealand's vaccine rollout explained in 10 charts, as it hits halfway mark - Stuff.co.nz

EN-W vs NZ-W Dream11 Prediction England Women vs New Zealand Women 1st ODI

England Women vs New Zealand Women Dream11 Team Prediction England Women vs New Zealand Women ODI Fantasy Playing Tips, Probable XIs, Dream11 Guru Tips, Probable XIs For Todays EN-W vs NZ-W at County Ground, Bristol: After losing both the T20I series, New Zealand Women will take on England Women in the 5-match ODI series, starting September 16 on Thursday. The EN-W vs NZ-W 1st ODI will begin at 5:30 PM IST. The White Ferns will look to turn the tables in the 50-over format after suffering a 1-2 defeat in T20Is. Meanwhile, England Women will look to continue their winning momentum in the ODIs. Captain Heather Knights form will be crucial for the hosts as she bagged the Player of the match in the 3rd T20I after playing a brisk knock of 42 runs. Here is the England Women vs New Zealand Women ODI Dream11 Team Prediction Dream11 Guru Tips Prediction and EN-W vs NZ-W Dream11 Team Prediction, EN-W vs NZ-W Fantasy Cricket Prediction 1st ODI, Probable Playing 11s England Women vs New Zealand Women ODI, Fantasy Cricket Prediction England Women vs New Zealand Women, Fantasy Playing Tips England Women vs New Zealand Women ODI.Also Read - DD vs KH Dream11 Team Prediction, Fantasy Tips Bengal T20 Challenge Match 19: Captain, Vice-Captain- Durgapur Dazzlers vs Kolkata Heroes, Playing 11s, Team News For Today's T20 Match at Eden Gardens at 3 PM IST September 16 Thursday

TOSS: The 1st ODI match toss between England Women vs New Zealand Women will take place at 5 PM (IST) September 16, Thursday. Also Read - SWE vs LUX Dream11 Team Prediction, Fantasy Playing Tips Dream11 ECC T10 Match 16: Captain, Vice-Captain- Sweden vs Luxembourg, Playing XIs, Team News For Today's T10 Match at Cartama Oval at 12:30 PM IST September 16 Thursday

Time: 5:30 PM IST Also Read - PRC vs MTC Dream11 Team Prediction, Fantasy Tips KCA Club Championship Qualifier 2: Captain, Playing 11s- Prathibha Cricket Club vs Masters Cricket Club, Team News For Today's Match at SD College Ground at 9:30 AM IST September 16 Thursday

Venue: County Ground, Bristol.

Wicketkeeper Amy Jones

Batters Heather Knight, Tammy Beaumont, Danielle Wyatt, Amy Satterthwaite

All-rounders Natalie Sciver (VC), Sophie Devine (C), Hayley Jensen

Bowlers Sophie Ecclestone, Leigh Kasperek, Claudia Green

England Women: Lauren Winfield, Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight (C), Natalie Sciver, Amy Jones (WK), Sophia Dunkley, Katherine Brunt, Anya Shrubsole, Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, Kate Cross.

New Zealand Women: Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine (C), Amy Satterthwaite, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Katey Martin (WK), Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek, Jess Kerr, Hannah Rowe, Thamsyn Newton.

England Women: Heather Knight (Captain), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Freya Davies, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones (wk), Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole. Lauren Winfield-Hill, Danni Wyatt.

New Zealand Women: Sophie Devine (Captain), Amy Satterthwaite (VC), Suzie Bates, Lauren Down, Claudia Green, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Jess Kerr, Katey Martin (wk), Leigh Kasperek, Rosemary Mair, Jess McFadyen* (wk), Thamsyn Newton, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu.

Visit link:

EN-W vs NZ-W Dream11 Team Prediction, Fantasy Playing Tips England Women vs New Zealand Women 1st ODI: Captai - India.com

Supplied

Air New Zealand plans to replace its Bombardier Q300 with planes powered by alternative energy.

This story was originally published on RNZ.co.nz and is republished with permission.

A man is surprised Air New Zealand suggested travelling out of lockdown in Auckland to Hamilton to take advantage of the offer of a free-of-charge flight change.

The man, who RNZ has agreed not to name, says he was helping a family member rearrange flights previously booked from Auckland to Wellington set for this week.

The flight was cancelled due to lockdown and converted into credit. The man then messaged Air New Zealand on Facebook asking about its policy towards waiving fare differences when rebooking flights.

READ MORE:* Covid-19: Flights resume to Cook Islands after NZ goes a week without community cases* Australia to decide on Tuesday whether to resume quarantine-free flights from New Zealand* Covid-19: Air NZ passengers caught out by voucher system can change flights

It replied its policy did not allow that, but if they wanted to keep the same travel dates it could offer a free change to a flight out of Hamilton at the same cost out - as long as they met requirements about travelling between alert levels.

The man said this "unsolicited" offer was surprising.

"I couldn't really believe it when they - albeit trying to be helpful - gave me advice, which seemed like encouragement even, on how to get ... a free-of-charge flight change.

"It just seems a bit reckless."

1 NEWS

The prime minister didnt want to comment further on the Wnaka lockdown breachers, saying it was now in the hands of police.

It comes as an Auckland couple - a lawyer and equestrian - are in hot water after fleeing the city, using essential worker exemptions and driving to Hamilton, then taking a flight to Queenstown via Wellington and driving a rented vehicle to Wnaka.

The man who had contacted Air New Zealand said he worried how many other people had got a similar message from the airline and may have taken it "as encouragement" to take flights from Hamilton using an essential travel exemption.

He said the rules about crossing between alert levels was very confusing for most people already.

"And so while everyone is trying to decipher what they can and can't do, I think it just adds an extra incentive to walk in that grey area."

He said Air New Zealand should have included other options in its response to him such as rebooking at a later date, not just giving the Hamilton option.

"A suite [of options] would have felt more comprehensive and responsible."

Air New Zealand said in a statement its customer team "offered an option that would be suitable for someone travelling for essential purposes or from a region under alert level 2 as not all customers flying from Auckland live in Auckland".

"We have made it very clear they would have to meet the travel requirements in place at the time."

This story was originally published on RNZ.co.nz and is republished with permission.

Link:

Air New Zealand offered free flight change from Auckland to Hamilton departure - Stuff.co.nz

OPINION: I am just another migrant from adeveloping country. I came to New Zealand on a Student Visa in 2017 with a hope to change my future.

I studied a masters of architecture (professional) at Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland.

This is one of the most competitive courses in New Zealand. I worked really hard to overcome all obstacles.

I remember all the cold winter walks to my accommodation, 5kmaway, because there was no bus service after 11.45pm, with all my architecture drawings and drafting tools.

It was an experience.

However, a real challenge presented during my final thesis semester when my grandfather died of old age.

The man who raised mewas no more.

Thankfully, I was able to go back to my home within 20 hoursto attend his funeral.

It was such depressing times, my professors and thesis mentors asked me to extend the thesis.

READ MORE:*An immigration scam encouraged by the New Zealand government*Work visa holders stranded overseas share heartbreak stories*Christchurch shooting survivor pleads for residency

But I was not ready to give up. I pushed myself to complete the thesis within the initial stipulated time, and became a graduate in 2019.

Finally, I became a New Zealand architectural graduate.

I come from a low to medium income family. For me, working was never an option. It was imperative.

I didnt have the choices to pick my job. I worked whereverjobpresented itself. I worked in a milk formula packing factory, as a midnight cleaner at a mall, weekend gardener for a lovely family in Remuera, and as a factory assistant at a furniture company.

With my constant effort, I was also able to get into some jobs that strengthened my resume, like an internshipat areputed architecture firm, design internship at a reputed digital marketing firm, a construction labour job,and an assistant project manager role with a construction firm.

Through these jobs I was able to gain practical knowledge. Allof these jobs were either minimum wage or voluntary.

But these jobs gave me a strong portfolio.

There was alight at the end.

After months of struggle, my hard work finally paid off with an architectural designer job in 2019.

This job is a dream cometrue. So far,I have had the opportunity to design more than 75residential buildings in thespan of less than two years.

Its a huge step up in my career. At this current job, I get to design conceptual plans, elevations, make 3D renders, and print 3D models of houses I have designed.

How cool is my job?

People might say I was lucky getting this job. But, this opportunity didnt simply fall in my hands.

I worked really hard to earn my job.

Nothing in my life happened because of luck. I dont believe in luck, but I believe in hard work.

Meanwhile, I'm in a long distance relationship.It's been eight years, and counting. I met myfiance in 2013.

We quickly fell in love.

I wanted to be financially stable before I asked her to marry me. After so many struggles, I felt I was in a good position in New Zealand.

So, in 2019, I asked and she said yes. Like rest of my story, it wasnt a smooth path.

Even the most anticipated proposal I planned and booked went for a toss.

From a helicopter ride to the mountains, to photographers and a spa.The entire engagement celebration was booked.

I even personally designed and had the diamond engagement ring specially made by a jeweller. All my excitement went south when myfiances visitor visa got rejected.

The reason - we are not satisfied that you have strong intensions in returning to your home country.

One of many waysImmigration New Zealand rejects people from adeveloping country, despite having granted one year multiple entry tourist visas in Australia.

Heartbroken, but unwilling to give up, I shifted my whole plan to Australia.

It wasnt a grand alpine engagement, but a humble, deep woods surprise. When the land of the long white cloud said noto us, the mighty blue mountains said yes.

What changed today? I went home in January 2020 to get my elders blessing for our wedding.

We planned our wedding for July 2020. Everything went downhill after that.

Covid-19 happened, borders closed in March 2020. In November 2020, I submitted my expression of interest for an Skilled Migrant CategoryVisa with 185 points.

AP

Covid-19 has left many migrants stranded.

Because of my professional experience, I will receive an additional 20 points in October 2021.

The expression of interestpool is still closed, therefore it's no use.

With no promises from Immigration New Zealand, the processing duration is unpredictable.

In addition, Immigration New Zealand has closed down its office in my home country, India.

Suddenly, everything in life became uncertain.

To choose between family and career.

On the one side, I am unable to be with my fiance due to border closures, and we are unable to show our union, since we lack the typical proofrequired by Immigration New Zealand.

Our chances of being together in New Zealand are growing slim every day.

On the other hand, I have a wonderful job with good pay, a boss who treats me like family (I spent last year's Christmas break with his entire family at his sister's house), friends, and a community that loves me.

I've even started saving for a home that we'll build for our future in New Zealand, after I get my residency.

Another empty dream or a future that is all set and ready.

We are compelled to choose between our families and our careers. Why can't our visa have a pause buttonin these trying times?

We could go home and care for our families and loved ones. And then return to New Zealand to resume our careers.

Most of us migrantsare not afraid of losing our jobs, or finding a new one, but of losing our chance to return to New Zealand if we leave.

Whats going on inside me? I'm not blaming anyone in particular. I recognise that I am simply an unfortunate individual in a bad circumstance.

There is no light at the end of the tunnel for me. Life has suddenly become so full of uncertainties that my mind feels like it's about to explode.

People who know me well tell me that I am extremely fortunate because I have the willpower to push forward against all the odds and do not rely on chance.

But I don't think I'm as fortunate as I once was.

I feel uneasy and disposable since Immigration New Zealand changes its guidelines so frequently.

Prior to the closure of the border, I used to close my eyes at 10.00 pmand wake up at6.30am sharp the next morning, without the need for an alarm.

Everything in my life was meticulously organised, and I always had a backup plan in place, so my mind was at ease and I was able to sleep soundly.

However, I can hear every clock tick as I sleep, and I wake up to every notification on from theImmigration New Zealand Facebook page.

I can't stop thinking about a strategy to keep both my family and my job.

I am aware that I am depressed, but I simply put on a cheerful front and go about my business.

Depression, mental health, and well-being are all luxury items that poor migrants can notafford.

Whats next?I'm a young designer who is intelligent, well-educated, and really talented.

Rather than a deadline, I've opted for a plan. 2022 February will mark the end of my two-year battle in New Zealand as a result of the border closure, and I will not travel any further.

If things go as per plan, I will go home, get married and come back with my wife when border closure gets relaxed.

If things dont get any better with Immigration New Zealandor the border closure, I will choose other options.

I believe, if I work hard and smart as I do now, I have excellent opportunities in other counties.

I am sure it will set me back by two or threeyears in my career, butat least I could be with my loved ones.

I would definitely miss my job, my boss, friends and this beautiful country.

But its a sacrifice worth taking for being with my family again.

I will not consider this part of my journey as a sad ending story but an adventurous one.

New Zealand made me who I am today. Itgave me the best career opportunities, amazing work culture and wonderful memories.

Read more here:

Migrant's chances of being with fiance in New Zealand slimmer every day - Stuff.co.nz

In the race to get Kiwis vaccinated the top of the south is leading the charge.

In Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough 78 per cent of the eligible population have had their first dose of the vaccination against Covid-19, while 45 per cent have had their second.

But, while thats the highest of any region in New Zealand, with a national rate of 65 per cent having one and 35 per cent two doses, local health officials arent slowing down.

Now, early bird clinics, targeting workplaces, and taking vaccines to the people on a converted booze bus are among the strategies being adopted to get as many people vaccinated as possible with a particular focus on those aged 12 to 30.

READ MORE:* Covid-19: Canterbury behind other main centres on vaccine roll-out* 'Have a cuppa and a Covid-19 vaccine': How one clinic is reaching Mori * National MP brands text invite to young Mori for Covid-19 jab race-based

Braden Fastier/Stuff

Hundreds attended a mass vaccination event at Nelsons Trafalgar Centre in August.

The two-dose Pfizer vaccination is free for everyone aged 12 and over. More than 2.9 million New Zealanders have had their first vaccine and more than 1.5 million their second.

Nelson Marlborough Health chief medical officer Dr Nick Baker said community buy-in had played a big role in the level of vaccination.

Getting vaccinated is the popular choice its the right choice.

The regions success also reflected a group effort, with public health organisations and the District Health Board working successfully together.

That meant the vaccination message was being delivered in the most way effective way possible, he said.

BRADEN FASTIER / STUFF

Tasman Mako rugby team members and staff were vaccinated at their clubrooms in Nelson.

You get to give the message in the way that people understand and the best message giver is someone you already know and trust.

Mori vaccination roll-out co-ordinator Vicki Thorn said being able to work in partnership with PHOs and the DHB meant they were able to offer an approach that was targetted to iwi.

It needed to delivered by Mori with a Mori view.

The aim was to get Mori and their whanau comfortable talking about vaccination, she said.

Just using the good old kumara vine I call it word of mouth.

Having as many options available for vaccination as possible was also vital as it made it harder for people to get too busy to get vaccinated, she said.

DHB chief executive Lexie O-Shea said the combination of a connected team and a very responsive community had helped the region in its vaccination efforts.

Were working at this together and thats whats making the difference.

Baker said the focus going forward was on making it as easy as possible for people to get vaccinated.

Walk-in clinics had proved popular, and now they were looking at how they could take vaccination to the people.

Early bird clinics so people could get a vaccination before work would start next week, and other strategies were also being looked at.

Those included more drive-through clinics, workplace clinics, adapting an old police booze bus into a mobile vaccination unit, and talking with schools about having on-site vaccinations.

Because of the staged roll-out older people had excellent rates of vaccination levels, while those in younger age groups were much lower.

Teenagers were more likely to be vaccinated than those aged 19 to 30, likely because theyd tagged along when their parents were vaccinated, Baker said.

Braden Fastier/Stuff

Kaleb Webb, 15, was one of hundreds who attended the mass vaccination event at Nelsons Trafalgar Centre in August.

It was vital that younger people realised they were vulnerable without vaccination, with 66 per cent of cases from the August delta outbreak being in people aged under 30.

Covid is not just something that kills old people.

While Covid would likely be a reality going forward, vaccination offered the greatest protection against serious illness, he said.

Even if the virus does spread in our community, the amount of disease that people experience will still be within the ability of the health system to cope.

Delta in particular was a nasty variant that spread easily but the vaccine gave 98 per cent protection against ending up in the ICU, Baker said.

The known risks of Covid are real and present.

Nelson: 16 Paru Paru Rd (near the Trafalgar Centre)

Monday to Friday: 9am to 7.45pm

Saturday and Sunday: 9am to 5pm

Early bird sessions from 7am: Monday, September 20, Tuesday, September 21, Monday, September 27, Tuesday, September 28

Richmond: 253 Queen St

Monday to Friday: 9am to 7.30pm

Saturday: 9am to 4pm

Sunday: 10am to 4pm

Blenheim: Unit 3, 19 Henry St

Monday to Saturday: 8.30am to 5pm

Endeavour Park, Picton

Wednesday, September 22, 9am 3pm, walk-in

Havelock Town Hall

Thursday, September 23, 9am 3.30pm, walk-in

You can also get vaccinated through GPs and pharmacies through http://www.BookMyVaccine.nz

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Simon Pound talks to Vignesh Kumar, a partner in venture capital fund Global from Day 1, about helping local companies scale for global success.

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Local venture capital fund Global from Day 1 recently announced the close of its third fund a $130m infusion of capital to invest in New Zealand companies wanting to scale to be worldwide successes. This total includes $45m from Elevate, a New Zealand Government initiative to supercharge the local venture scene. Its the largest investment that fund has made.

In the New Zealand context thats a big fund, and Gd1, as they are generally called, are one of the longest running specialist VC firms here. Theyve moved from their first fund specialising in seed, or investments very early on in a company, through to fund two for companies a little further on, to this third fund designed to help local companies that have found initial traction for their product or service or idea, and want to scale to be emerging global leaders.

To do the global bit, the company has partnered with a bunch of global experience across finance, marketing, venture, operations and hardware. Their hardware expert, Vignesh Kumar, was a hardware scaling leader at Apple.

That Apple experience and a background at Fisher and Paykel Healthcare has helped Vignesh build a big network of companies hes advised, invested in and supported through his work at the commercialisation agency Return on Science, and as a board member at Kiwinet, the consortium of the leading research and commercialisation agencies in New Zealand.

To talk about the VC world and partnering in Gd1, his personal purpose and what Apple was like, he joined Business is Boring via Zoom this week for a chat.

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Business is Boring: The former Apple leader helping New Zealand companies go global - The Spinoff