Page 10«..9101112..2030..»

Category Archives: New Zealand

New Zealand pet shelters are being swamped with axolotls. Are Minecraft and TikTok to blame? – The Guardian

Posted: October 15, 2022 at 4:53 pm

An axolotl boom is seeing thousands of the smiling amphibians accumulating at New Zealands pet shelters, with some blaming their newfound popularity on Minecraft, TikTok and other online games.

Emma Neale, who runs an amphibian, reptile and animal rescue in Dunedin, said she now had 2,000 axolotls in her care, after 600 of the creatures had arrived last week. So if anyone is looking for an axolotl, feel free to send them my way, she said.

Neale said some inexperienced owners were failing to desex their pets or accidentally placing breeding pairs together in tanks. The amorous amphibians ended up having accidental clutches and [owners are] not knowing what to do with the eggs then ending up with literally thousands of them and not being able to find them a home, she said.

They can produce a huge number of eggs, said SPCA science officer Alison Vaughan. That situation can very quickly get out of control.

Axolotls are considered critically endangered in the wild, but are widely bred in captivity. Their growth has been driven partly by their popularity online, where their little faces, set in a constant grin, are well suited to memes and shareable videos.

The creatures have been a hit on TikTok, where their hashtag has accumulated 2.6bn views.

Axie Infinity, an online game where players battle cartoon axolotls, peaked at about 2.7m users in November last year. Perhaps the greatest contributor to the axolotl renaissance, however, might be Minecraft, the enormously popular childrens world-building game, where the amphibians were introduced as a companion creature in 2021.

Google trend reports indicate that searches for axolotl peaked when Minecraft introduced them in July 2021, but have remained elevated since. Internationally, outlets began reporting last year that axolotls had become a hot new pet for Minecraft-playing children.

But animal care experts say some owners are naive about the commitment involved. Dr Helen Beattie of Veterinarians for Animal Welfare said shed had concerns since last year, when she said increasing numbers of children began asking their parents for pet axolotls.

Right at the time that Minecraft introduced the capability of spawning said axolotls in the program there were concerns at that point about the demands kids were then making to their parents around getting the real deal, she said. Theyre not easy pets ... Theyve got really specific needs.

Danni Mokomoko, who runs Wellington Amphibian and Reptile Rescue, said the rescue received 25 axolotls arrive last week. He thought their increasing popularity was possibly linked to Minecraft.

Mokomoko said that many people didnt understand the effort required to keep an axolotl the rescue had had hundreds of people enquire about adopting over the past two weeks, but most evaporated when they were told about the equipment and treatment required to keep an axolotl healthy and happy.

Neale was sceptical that Minecraft alone could account for high axolotl numbers, saying she blamed the growth more on irresponsible breeding. She also said they made excellent pets as long as families were prepared and did proper research around tanks, food, and care. For those considering taking one on, the translucent creatures are not a short-term experiment they can live for up to 25 years.

Read this article:

New Zealand pet shelters are being swamped with axolotls. Are Minecraft and TikTok to blame? - The Guardian

Posted in New Zealand | Comments Off on New Zealand pet shelters are being swamped with axolotls. Are Minecraft and TikTok to blame? – The Guardian

New Zealand needing to take one final step at T20 World Cup – The Associated Press – en Espaol

Posted: at 4:53 pm

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) Always the bridesmaid has become a defining metaphor for New Zealands recent experience of white ball cricket finals.

Runners-up in the last two 50-over World Cups in 2015 and 19 and in last years Twenty20 World Cup, New Zealand has been part of the big occasion but ultimately not the center of attention.

This time, New Zealand will take one of its best-ever squads to a T20 World Cup. It has strength in all areas, experience and the memory of those recent near misses to fuel its drive.

This is a golden era for New Zealand cricket. It won the first World Test Championship in June of last year to go with that collection of finals appearances in the limited-overs formats.

New Zealand opens with a rematch of the 2021 final against defending champion Australia on Oct. 22 in Sydney.

STRENGTHS

To use a baseball metaphor, New Zealand seems to have all bases covered. Few teams will come to the tournament with a more balanced squad. New Zealand has batting solidity from Devon Conway and Kane Williamson, hard-hitters in Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell and Jimmy Neesham, outstanding pace bowling from Trent Boult and Tim Southee along with the express pace of Lockie Ferguson and top-class white ball spinners in Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner. It has the all round talents of Santner, Neesham, Mitchell and recent discovery Michael Bracewell. It also is one of the worlds best fielding teams and has finals experience: only three players who took part in the 2021 World Cup final are not returning.

WEAKNESSES

The glib observation would be that New Zealands weakness is winning white ball finals. Theyre good at getting to the finals, not good at winning them. New Zealand has no obvious weakness of personnel or balance but can be accused of inconsistency and a tendency to play to the level of its opposition. In a tough group alongside England, Australia and Afghanistan the Black Caps cant afford an off day. Injuries to players such as Daryl Mitchell and Lockie Ferguson are a current concern. Captain Kane Williamson also has recently been below his best form but posted a half-century in the narrow loss to Pakistan in Fridays tri-series final at Christchurch.

KEY PLAYERS

Conway is the reliable anchor of the New Zealand batting order. He can open and bat through an innings as he recently did for 70 against Bangladesh in the New Zealand Tri-Series.

Conways mastery of all formats has been influential in New Zealands recent successes in test and white ball cricket.

He comes into his own in T20 cricket in which he averages 50.87 at a strike rate of 136. His 814 runs in T20 internationals include 456 from boundaries. He also can keep wicket and is a brilliant outfielder.

Phillips is one of the most formidable weapons in New Zealands battery of hard-hitters. Coming in at the top of the order, he has the ability to swing matches and disrupt bowling plans with his fast scoring.

Mitchell and Neesham have similar abilities lower in the order but Phillips ability is to set the pace of the innings early on. He has maintained a strike rate of 142.35 through 46 T20 internationals in which he has scored a century and five half centuries and has hit 75 sixes.

Leg-spinner Sodhi adds a key component to New Zealands varied bowling attack as an aggressive spin option. He has an element of fearlessness in his nature which makes him particularly effective. Hes unafraid to flight the ball, even against aggressive batting, and he can find turn on most surfaces. Spinners often are called on to play a containing role in T20 cricket but Sodhi offers a clear wicket-taking ability with 101 wickets already to his credit in 78 T20 internationals.

___

Squad: Kane Williamson (captain), Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Mitchell Santner, Glenn Phillips, Jimmy Neesham, Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, Martin Guptill, Lachlan Ferguson, Devon Conway, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Trent Boult, Finn Allen.

___

More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Read the original here:

New Zealand needing to take one final step at T20 World Cup - The Associated Press - en Espaol

Posted in New Zealand | Comments Off on New Zealand needing to take one final step at T20 World Cup – The Associated Press – en Espaol

What time is Wales v New Zealand kick-off at Women’s Rugby World Cup? TV channel and live stream info – Wales Online

Posted: at 4:53 pm

Wales face the daunting task of going head to head with the reigning World Cup champions, the Black Ferns, in just their second pool fixture as they bid to navigate an exit from the group stages.

New Zealand, ranked second in the world to Wales' eighth after round one, will pose a major challenge at a sold-out Waitakere Stadium in west Auckland, with their strike power a major asset and threat to any opposition.

Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham has made four changes to his starting side after the last-minute win over Scotland last weekend, while the Black Ferns have seen wholesale changes.

Wales and the Black Ferns have previously met on four occasions, most recently a 44-12 New Zealand win at the 2017 Rugby World Cup. The sides did play in a friendly last October, too.

Here's everything you need to know about the game:

Wales face the Black Ferns in the early hours of Sunday, October 16, if you're watching from the UK, 3.15am, or 3.15pm local time.

Wales' clash against New Zealand will be broadcast live in the UK on S4C and ITV online.

Wales' backline is unchanged in the wake of the last-minute win over Scotland in the opening round last weekend, where a successful penalty kick by replacement scrum-half Keira Bevan ensured a narrow 18-15 win.

Hannah Jones is named vice-captain and lines up in midfield alongside Meg Webb, while wings Jasmine Joyce and Lisa Neumann form and full-back Kayleigh Powell form the back-three. Elinor Snowsill and Ffion Lewis are the starting half-backs, with Bevan and Robyn Wilkins on the bench along with midfield cover Kerin Lake, who has recovered from injury to line up for her first-ever World Cup appearance.

After being dealt a major injury blow with news that flanker Alisha Butchers was ruled out of the rest of the tournament due to a "significant" knee injury, a reshuffle has taken place in the pack.

Lock Gwen Crabb moves to No. 6, Siwan Lillicrap resumes the captaincy and starts in the second-row alongside Natalia John, with Bethan Lewis claiming the starting No. 7 jersey over Alex Callender and Kelsey Jones coming into the front-row in place of Carys Phillips, who is carrying an ankle knock. Sioned Harries retains her place at the back of the scrum, while Cara Hope and Donna Rose complete the front-row.

As for the hosts, they head into this contest on the back of a 41-17 win over Australia in their pool opener. Whether or not they could muscle up up front when it counts was a question mark ahead of the tournament, but assistant coach Wesley Clarke admits they also need to tidy up their set-piece, line speed and aggression in defence after the win over the Wallaroos.

New Zealand have made wholesale changes to the starting line-up, with five players set to make their World Cup debuts.

A new-look front-row sees Awhina Tangen-Wainohu win her first start in the black jersey and Tanya Kalounivale returning from injury, while hooker Georgia Ponsonby is promoted after coming off the bench last weekend. Alana Bremner also makes a return from injury and will be joined by Kendra Reynolds and Charmaine McMenamin to make up the back-row.

Auckland midfielders Theresa Fitzpatrick and Sylvia Brunt combine at centre, while Renee Wickliffe gets a start on the wing in her fourth World Cup, with Ruby Tui donning the full-back jersey for the first time. Krystal Murray will make her Rugby World Cup debut off the bench.

Wales: 15. Kayleigh Powell, 14. Jasmine Joyce, 13. Megan Webb, 12. Hannah Jones, 11. Lisa Neumann, 10. Elinor Snowsill, 9. Ffion Lewis, 1. Cara Hope, 2. Kelsey Jones, 3. Donna Rose, 4. Natalia John, 5. Siwan Lillicrap (capt), 6. Gwen Crabb, 7. Bethan Lewis, 8. Sioned Harries.

Replacements: 16. Kat Evans, 17. Caryl Thomas, 18. Sisilia Tuipulotu, 19. Abbie Fleming, 20. Alex Callender, 21. Keira Bevan, 22. Robyn Wilkins, 23. Kerin Lake.

New Zealand: 15. Ruby Tui, 14. Renee Wickliffe, 13. Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Ataii (Sylvia) Brunt, 12. Theresa Fitzpatrick, 11. Portia Woodman, 10. Ruahei Demant (capt), 9. Ariana Bayler, 1. Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, 2. Georgia Ponsonby, 3. Tanya Kalounivale, 4. Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 5. Chelsea Bremner, 6. Alana Bremner, 7. Kendra Reynolds, 8. Charmaine McMenamin.

Replacements: 16. Luka Connor, 17. Krystal Murray, 18. Santo Taumata, 19. Joanah Ngan-Woo, 20. Sarah Hirini, 21. Kendra Cocksedge, 22. Amy du Plessis, 23. Hazel Tubic.

"Youve got to keep some momentum and consistency," Wales boss Ioan Cunningham said of his team selection. "I thought Meg Webb did extremely well on Sunday, she deserves another opportunity as do the rest of the backs.

"We wanted to bring the experience of our captain in at lock. Unfortunately, we have lost Alisha so we wanted to utilise Gwen Crabbs extra strength at No. 6. Bethan Lewis has been pushing Alex Callender in training and deserves a start. Carys Phillips has picked up a slight ankle injury so its a chance for Kelsey to start and for Kat [Evans] to come off the bench. Kerin [Lake], Sisilia [Tuipulotu] and Abbie [Fleming] come on to the bench, it will be good to see them go.

"We started well against Scotland, scored two tries but created more scoring opportunities, we probably left two tries out there. If we can take more of those opportunities, well be in a much better place come Sunday evening.

"Were playing New Zealand in their home World Cup, were both on the back of wins, so its all about this game now. We have nothing to lose but you have to be brave against any New Zealand team, you have to go for it, score tries, we cant hold back, we have to go for it. Australia showed you can create opportunities and we need to do that too."

As for Black Ferns director of rugby Wayne Smith, he said: "We are balancing a desire to keep as much continuity as possible but we want to give players the opportunity to put their form out on the park. So we are putting in a lot of work around who plays when.

"We need to use this whole occasion to make us better. Were in our own country, marching behind our flag, it is the greatest time in our life. We need to use that to our advantage."

READ NEXT:

Go here to read the rest:

What time is Wales v New Zealand kick-off at Women's Rugby World Cup? TV channel and live stream info - Wales Online

Posted in New Zealand | Comments Off on What time is Wales v New Zealand kick-off at Women’s Rugby World Cup? TV channel and live stream info – Wales Online

As a Muslim in New Zealand Ive long yearned for a TV show that reflected my life. So now were making one – The Guardian

Posted: at 4:53 pm

To say I have an obsessive relationship with television would be to undersell the truth. As far back as I can remember, I was glued to a screen. As a child I would race home from school to catch the latest episode of Power Rangers or Dragon Ball Z, mimicking the moves and exaggerated American accents to regurgitate with my friends the next day. At night I would sneak out of bed to steal some alone time with Whos Line Is It Anyway?, gripping my hands over my mouth to stop myself cackling loudly enough to awaken my parents.

Television was a portal, and I imagined myself as every one of these characters living big lives. I wanted to be Goku and the Blue Power Ranger. I wanted to be as funny as Ryan Stiles and Wayne Brady. Soon it was The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and my friends and I practising our best pshhh handshakes. It didnt matter that none of these characters were Muslim or Arab. To me they were all moulds I could squeeze myself into, superhero suits I could pull on to feel powerful in. On TV I saw all the things I could become.

But somewhere along the way that began to change, and the world in front of me began to narrow. At the age of 11, I woke up to my parents watching in horror as footage of the September 11 attacks played endlessly. At school my teacher wheeled in a television set and we watched it all day, asking ourselves why this would happen, who was behind it. It didnt take long before our screens were plastered with images of Osama bin Laden and the Taliban, mixed in with out-of-context footage of Palestinian celebrations. Even at that age, I understood that we were entering into a strange new world, one that I felt ill-prepared for.

Overnight, my community went from invisibility to hyper-visibility, our identities and beliefs caricatured in an endless loop. Suddenly, we were the suits that others wore to feel powerful: terror experts, politicians, shock-jocks, racially ambiguous Hollywood actors. Except we werent superheroes, we were supervillains.

My love for TV didnt abate, but I became acutely aware that the stories I was consuming werent meant for me, and that my own experience would never be truly reflected. I entered journalism to try to fix these harmful narratives, but at times the tide felt overwhelming. If it wasnt the terrorist, it was the war-stricken child. If it wasnt the angry Muslim, it was the oppressed and downtrodden one. But these were still caricatures, two dimensional versions of ourselves presented through pain and trauma. Where was our nuance, our quirk, the things that made us truly human?

After the 15 March attacks in Christchurch, a lot of my colleagues in the media looked inwards, examining the ways in which they had played a role in proliferating harmful narratives. We began seeing Muslims on TV, young and old, talking about their lives. For many it was the first time they had heard Muslims speaking for themselves, particularly ones with New Zealand accents and familiar backstories. It was a fundamental shift in narrative, but one rooted in grief. A retroactive attempt at fixing what had already been lost.

The country was beginning to see us for the first time, but not on our terms. We had been seen now in our pain, but we deserved to also be seen in our joy.

Two years ago, I had a conversation with award-winning producer and director Ahmed Osman that would chart us both on a new course. We had both spent our lives waiting to see our own stories come to life, ones that reflected the true colour and madness of our wonderful community. Why werent any of the Muslims on TV funny? Where was the mosque politics and the gossip uncles we tried to avoid during Friday prayers? Where were the Muslim students arguing politics while trying to court potential spouses at the campus marriage talks? Where were the converts trying to navigate cultural expectations, the westernised youth sneaking out to parties after prayers and the clumsy government informants hiding in plain sight?

If we couldnt see ourselves represented on TV in the ways we wanted, then maybe we should do something about it. We hatched a plan for a show that would centre our community, and nearly two years later we are close to bringing it to reality. Miles From Nowhere, a comedy about identity, surveillance and the Muslim community, is about to start production thanks to funding from NZ On Air, in partnership with Gibson Group and Sky Originals NZ. Ahmed and I, alongside Australian comedian Aamer Rahman, have launched a production company, Homegrown Pictures, aiming to bring many more stories to the screen that centre immigrant and refugee narratives.

It feels surreal, but it also feels like a shift is finally happening. Suddenly theres Ramy, a mesmerising portrayal of Arab-American millennials, Man Like Mobeen, an invitation into Birminghams Muslim community, Mo, a dive into life as an undocumented Palestinian refugee in the US. We are finally seeing real Muslims on our screens.

Were not alone. Chinese-American films like The Farewell and Korean-American stories like Minari are celebrating rich immigrant experiences. Here in New Zealand, Pax Assadi is telling his story as a Bahai New Zealander on another Sky Originals NZ production, Raised By Refugees, and Roseanne Liangs Creamerie is giving us license to see ourselves in wildly imaginative stories that shed the baggage of representation politics. Something is in the air. A window wedged opened and in came the breeze.

Like so many of our immigrant peers, Ahmed and I grew up with a thirst for rich stories. I glued myself to the TV in the quiet of night. He talks about skipping classes to go to the movies, a place where he found wonder and purpose.

Today, we have been given the opportunity to carry ourselves and our communities to the screen and show the world what they have been missing all this time.

View original post here:

As a Muslim in New Zealand Ive long yearned for a TV show that reflected my life. So now were making one - The Guardian

Posted in New Zealand | Comments Off on As a Muslim in New Zealand Ive long yearned for a TV show that reflected my life. So now were making one – The Guardian

Former New Zealand PM John Key says he would have voted for Trump and Bolsonaro – The Guardian

Posted: at 4:53 pm

Former New Zealand prime minister Sir John Key has suggested he would have voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 US election, and far-right president Jair Bolsonaro in Brazils 2022 elections, had he been eligible to do so.

Key, who served three terms as prime minister from 2008 to 2016, revealed his preferences in a quick-fire round of 20 questions that featured at the end of a new online series called Both Sides Now, hosted by members of the Labour and National youth wings.

The show travels around New Zealand to interview former and current politicians, with the goal to break down political polarisation and bring both sides of key issues to the people.

Key is broadly considered one of the countrys most popular prime ministers, and led the National party for 10 years before announcing his retirement from politics in 2016. He is still considered an influential political figure and is regularly called upon as a high-profile voice on politics and other matters in the media.

At the end of the Both Sides Now episode, the hosts ask a quick-fire round of 20 questions to find out Keys positions on both global and domestic topics, including: whether the world should have nuclear weapons, if they believe te reo Mori (Mori language) should be compulsory in schools, and whether the nickname Cindy for current prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, is derogatory.

When asked whether he would have voted Clinton or Trump had he been in the US in 2016, Key replied: Trump. But I mean, you know, Im a right-wing voter, Im never voting left.

He went on to add: Im not saying that would be the right decision but Im just saying thats what I would have done.

A host then asks what about Brazil would you have voted for Bolsonaro this election?

Key hesitates slightly, before saying right-wing as well yes, I think so. But some of these people are getting pretty crazy on the right, so even I might not be wanting to vote there.

But, philosophically, I have never voted anything other than right, so Im not going to start arguing that Im voting left now I dont know whether your listeners are going to agree with that, but Im being honest with you.

Bolsonaro, who won power in 2018 by pledging to fight corruption, has never been shy about his disdain for the democratic process or his admiration for autocrats such as Chiles General Augusto Pinochet.

He trails leftist rival Luiz Incio Lula da Silva after the first round of Brazils presidential polls, having lost favour for his mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic, mocking mask wearing and vaccines in a country where 684,000 lives were lost to Covid-19.

A damning congressional inquiry recommended that Bolsonaro be charged with offences including crimes against humanity and charlatanism, for promoting false treatments such as hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin.

Visit link:

Former New Zealand PM John Key says he would have voted for Trump and Bolsonaro - The Guardian

Posted in New Zealand | Comments Off on Former New Zealand PM John Key says he would have voted for Trump and Bolsonaro – The Guardian

New Zealand bird of the year contest bars worlds fattest parrot from running – The Guardian

Posted: at 4:53 pm

New Zealands annual bird of the year competition could usher in another round of controversy, with perennial favourite the kkp struck from the ballot after twice winning the competition.

The fat, flightless and nocturnal parrot is the only species to reign twice as New Zealands favourite bird, in 2020 and 2008. This year, however, it will be conspicuously absent, amid concerns that its continued dominance could divert the spotlight from less charismatic candidates.

The kkp is the worlds heaviest parrot, and has been rescued from the brink of extinction by years of conservation efforts. Its population has risen from 50 during the 1990s to 252 today.

With voting due to open next week, some close followers of the competition were unconvinced by explanations for their candidates absence.

The kkp has decided not to be in Bird of the Year? More like rort of the year, one social media commenter reacted to the news.

He was pushed, they continued.

He was robbed, responded another.

Others were supportive of the decision: Very sporting, said one. The right decision.

A spokesperson for Forest and Bird, the elections organisers, rejected claims that the kkp had been banned for good.

No, not banned from entry. Its a hiatus. Its definitely not a lifetime ban, Forest & Bird spokesperson Ellen Rykers said. You know, if the same bird keeps winning every year, that might make it not so interesting.

Rykers said in an earlier statement that Of course, the election remains fundamentally democratic, adding that the competition was hoping to channel love to some of our feathered friends that may be overshadowed by their flashier, chonkier or louder cousins.

The competition, which was started to raise awareness of New Zealands endangered or threatened native birds, has run for 17 years and become a sprawling undertaking.

Rykers said that this year, 40 people had taken up roles as campaign managers for individual birds. Organisers are attempting to boost the profile of less glamorous birds dubbed underbirds that usually get negligible votes. Candidates in this category, including the grey duck and shore plover will be highlighted on the online ballot, in an attempt to spark underdog sympathies among voters.

The competition has been an annual source of controversy and international media coverage. Last year, it made headlines after organisers allowed a native bat to enter. The bat won.

In 2019, the discovery of hundreds of votes being registered from Russia sparked claims of election meddling. The votes were ultimately judged legitimate; a spokesperson said interest from Russian ornithologists may be responsible. New Zealand actually shares birds with Russia, they said at the time. We have the bar-tailed godwit that makes an annual round trip.

In 2020, there was some consternation after the Adult Toy Megastore announced its sponsorship of the hihi, a polyamorous, sexually fluid bird with big testicles.

In 2018, Forest & Bird said 300 fraudulent votes were cast by Australians attempting to rig the contest in favour of the amusingly named shag.

Read more:

New Zealand bird of the year contest bars worlds fattest parrot from running - The Guardian

Posted in New Zealand | Comments Off on New Zealand bird of the year contest bars worlds fattest parrot from running – The Guardian

The man who beat New Zealand’s ‘unfairest tax’ – Stuff

Posted: at 4:53 pm

Auckland Harry Stanley beat what has been dubbed New Zealands unfairest tax.

Every year ACC makes mistakes, wrongly declining cover for some people with injuries.

But when those people challenge those decisions and win large back-dated payments of the entitlements, they are taxed as if the whole back payment is income in the year they get it, sometimes resulting in them paying tax at the top rate.

The resulting overtaxing of people like Stanley has been ruled legal by the courts, but thats not stopped Waikato woman Veronica Hoerberechts fighting to get MPs to change tax law to end it.

READ MORE:* The woman fighting New Zealand's 'unfairest tax law'* NZ Income Insurance Scheme: A long-term solution for a short-term emergency* Sexual abuse survivor says ACC payment so low, she can only eat one meal a day

Hoeberechts said 40 years of governments had failed to reform what she says is an obnoxious tax setting, affecting about 1000 people a year. It cost her around $35,000 when she won a backdated lump sum to cover the weekly compensation payments she was wrongly denied by ACC.

Stanley was hit by one of these massive tax bills when ACC was required to make a backdated payment to him.

He had suffered multiple treatment injuries in the early 2000s, including permanent damage to his brain, weakening of bones, and deterioration of joint cartilage, as a result of being given herbal treatment by a registered nurse, which contained high levels of the steroid betamethasone.

I was given the wrong treatment for my gout by a registered nurse. It was a medication I was taking for about four years before realising all the different things it had done to my body [including] shrinking my brain, which is still shrunk, he said.

His case led to a nationwide warning by Medsafe about the herbal remedy he had been given, which were also being used to treat people in rest homes.

History recently repeated itself, and in July, Medsafe once again warned steroid-laced herbal remedies were entering the county.

But his steroid poisoning also led to a lengthy series of legal tussles with ACC to get weekly compensation, which Stanley applied for in 2008, having initially been told by a medical practitioner that he was not eligible for ACC.

Stuff

Harry Stanley was injured by a nurse who supplied him with a herbal remedy containing extremely high levels of steroids.

When he secured one large back payment, which he thinks was around 2012, he decided to ask ACC to pay the extra tax that resulted.

I made a claim directly to ACC for the excess tax I paid as a result of its error in paying me late, Stanley said.

ACC paid me the difference in tax I had to pay Inland Revenue on that occasion, but not on the next back payment made to me, also resulting from ACC's error, he said.

ACC had discretion to make such payments, but wasnt telling claimants they could apply for them, Stanley said.

Stanley remains disabled, and is receiving ACC weekly compensation.

Tom Pullar-Strecker/Stuff

Stanley was hit by a massive tax bill when ACC was required to make a backdated payment to him (file photo).

Amanda Malu, deputy chief executive for service delivery at ACC, confirmed such payments could be made.

We are aware of the impact backdated payments attracting higher tax rates can have on clients.

The law on how tax is applied to income is set by Inland Revenue. We encourage clients who receive backdated payments to contact Inland Revenue to understand their options. However, where we have done something wrong that has contributed to the higher tax bill, we may be able to provide an additional payment to contribute to, or cover this.

Where there had been an unreasonable delay in calculating and making payments, ACC could make an interest payment, which would help cover the tax liability, she said.

In rare occurrences, where ACC has committed a serious service failing, such as where we have failed to do something that was a legislative requirement, we can consider a one-off payment which can cover the additional tax bill.

Hoeberechts has written to multiple ministers in a bid to reform tax law to end the over-taxation of people getting backdated payments from ACC.

ACC minister Carmel Sepuloni has asked officials to report to her on the issue.

Christel Yardley/Stuff

Veronica Anne Hoeberechts has been battling ACC, and now Inland Revenue, since 2014. She won her fight against ACC, got paid a large sum in compensation, but then got hit by an unfair and massive tax bill.

Before his injury, Stanley was a property developer.

He said the public needed to understand the hardship wrong ACC decisions could cause to injured people.

What hasn't been broached yet anywhere, is the multi-level hardship we were subjected to during the years of fighting to overturn the many highly questionable decisions by ACC that kept us all on MSD benefits, he said.

I had to sell my car and pawn off many of my personal assets that had some pawnable value at 20c to 25c on the dollar, and juggle bill payments, while having to front creditors to stop cutting off services or to have services reconnected, he said.

He backed Hoerberechts campaign for law change, saying MPs should move urgently to stop the overtaxing immediately.

View post:

The man who beat New Zealand's 'unfairest tax' - Stuff

Posted in New Zealand | Comments Off on The man who beat New Zealand’s ‘unfairest tax’ – Stuff

David vs Goliath: When New Zealand took on Haaland, and won – 1News

Posted: at 4:53 pm

Erling Haaland is the hottest name in world football right now.

Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring against Manchester United. (Source: Associated Press)

The burly Norwegian striker has taken the Premier League by storm, scoring an incredible 15 goals in his first nine league games for Manchester City, as well as a further five in three Champions League games.

The 22-year-old's already demolished some long-standing records and is on track to score the most goals in a Premier League season. Some believe he could go on to be one of, if not the greatest striker of all time.

Yet just three years ago, he was walking off the pitch frustrated after a 2-0 defeat to surprise package New Zealand, a result that essentially knocked Norway out of the 2019 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Poland.

Norway had come into the tournament on a hot streak, having defeated defending champions England in qualifying.

New Zealands coach Des Buckingham told 1News Norway had some quality players, but Haaland was the standout.

Hed moved from Molde, where he was under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the time, and signed for Red Bull Salzburg for about 8 or 10 million euros, which for an 18 or 19-year-old at the time is a big move. We knew they would be a very tough challenge.

George Stanger from New Zealand U20 fights for the ball with Erling Haland from Norway U20. (Source: Photosport)

But Buckingham said his side were focussed on their own game and how they wanted to play, rather than the resume of opposition players.

It was a mindset shift. It wasnt about worrying about the opposition, it was we have the players and this is about us.

Buckingham described the match as a game of chess.

They had some real qualities but we stuck true to what we said we were going to. The players in terms of the gameplan and showing what they could do were fantastic.

In the first half, Haaland got in behind the Kiwi defence, racing away with the ball from the halfway line and finding himself in a one-on-one with goalkeeper Michael Woud.

But rather than shoot, he tried to square the ball to his teammate in the centre of the box. The pass was mistimed and failed to find its target. New Zealand survived.

I remember after the game one of our members of staff said the boy that played up top is valued at around 20 million pounds, and we all kinda laughed because he was stuck in our centre backs pocket all game, Nando Pjaniker

The game remained level until deep in the second half when Kiwi midfielder Gianni Stensness (now a full Australian international) broke the deadlock with a long-range rocket into the top corner.

Sitting on the bench was teammate Matt Conroy, who said he was shocked by the goal.

Id never seen that from him beforeit was kind of like delirium.

Buckingham described it as one of the goals of the tournament.

Rather than sit back, New Zealand continued to press on and were rewarded in the dying minutes as a cross from Elijah Just was deflected into the net by a Norwegian defender.

The 2-0 victory for the Kiwis saw them through to the round of 16, having already demolished Honduras 5-0 in the opening game. It was the first time New Zealand had won two games at a single under-20 World Cup.

Erling Haaland of Norway looks dejected after defeat in the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup group C match between Norway and New Zealand. (Source: Getty)

Their efforts meant Norway were on the precipice of being knocked out, having also lost to Uruguay in the opening game.

Despite being one of the biggest prospects at the tournament, Haaland had failed to score in both games. Members of that New Zealand side admit they didnt see him becoming the player he is today.

Id be lying if I sat here and said hed be doing what he is now, Conroy said.

I remember after the game one of our members of staff said the boy that played up top is valued at around 20 million pounds, and we all kinda laughed because he was stuck in our centre backs pocket all game, Nando Pjaniker.

But in the final group game a dead rubber against Honduras Haaland made sure he didnt go home quietly, scoring an incredible nine goals in a 12-0 win. While the victory wasnt enough to see Norway through to the next round, his efforts won him the tournaments golden boot, with the next top scorer only managing four goals in over double the games.

He put the world on notice, Conroy recalled of Haalands feat against Honduras.

I like to think the game that made him was our game [against Norway]. We pushed him to have a game like that and show the world what hes really about.

While Haaland and Norways tournament was over, New Zealands journey was in full swing.

The team had been playing high-paced, high-pressing football and dominating possession, something that had not been seen before by a New Zealand side.

I dont want to come to this World Cup and try not to lose games. I feel that we have the players to do something special.

Buckingham said it was all part of a plan designed when he first got the job in 2018.

"I arrived with pretty much a blank slate and a blank canvas.

"Rather than holding camps, which we didnt have the resource to do, I got around the country. I think of the 365 days leading into that World Cup, I spent 210 days away from my home visiting clubs and visiting players because the feel was to go and see them in their environments where you can actually see them behave a lot more naturally than they might if they arrived into a camp."

Buckingham said he went to each National League club and spent four or five days attending trainings, team meetings, and getting to know the players at a deeper level.

Prior to the tournament, Buckingham invited Christian Penny from High Performance Sport New Zealand to run a four-day camp with the squad to try and develop a culture and meaning around what it meant to wear the fern.

Buckingham said up until that point players were proud to wear the fern, but didn't have much of a sense about what that really meant.

Over the week, work was done to intertwine football with New Zealand-specific culture.

This included a whakatau - a welcome ceremony - and a pepeha session, where players introduced themselves to the rest of the squad, revealing where they came from and what was important to them.

Buckingham said this work "had the biggest impact I've ever seen in a sporting world".

"It brought together 21 young men from nine different environments so close together with a shared purpose so quickly.

"Off the field it was something no other country could replicate and on the field...we wanted to change the way that New Zealand football played on the world stage.

In the 17 games at the Under-20 World Cup [before this tournament], New Zealand had only won two. They were always a team that at under-20s level were out-possessed, out-passed, out-shot.

I said to them I dont want to come to this World Cup and try not to lose games. I feel that we have the players to do something special and change not just the mindset of how we approach these tournaments, but we can go on and can beat these nations.

Gianni Stensness from New Zealand U20 celebrates with team mates after scoring against Norway. (Source: Photosport)

The plan worked. Two wins and two clean sheets from their opening two games at the tournament saw them through to the round-of-16 with a game in hand.

It allowed the squad to be rotated for the final group game against Uruguay, allowing players like Conroy and goalkeeper Cameron Brown the opportunity to start for the first time in the tournament.

Uruguay were top of the group, having also defeated Norway and Honduras, and their squad featured current Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez and Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo.

A household name for global football fans in 2022 following his NZ$130 million to Anfield, Nunez was still plying his trade for Penarol in his home country at the time of the Under-20 World Cup in 2019.

However, he was quickly showcasing his talent to the world, and his opposition, scoring a brilliant volley against Norway in Uruguay's opening game to lead his side to victory.

He proved to be decisive against New Zealand too.

With the two teams evenly matched, it was Nunez who broke the deadlock late in the first half, latching onto a whipped cross into the middle of the box and smashing the ball past a helpless Brown and into the top corner.

"Hes that out-and-out striker with that instinct. Even then, he knew where to be. [For the goal] the ball was cut back and he was in the perfect spot and leathered it top corner," Brown said, "You could see he was a good player."

Despite the setback, New Zealand remained in the game, with Joe Bell nearly equalising in the second half, his shot from the left side of the box sailing the wrong side of the post.

Uruguay sealed the game with a goal in injury time, taking a 2-0 win and topping the group.

The result left the New Zealand players feeling disappointed, although Brown said that showed how much belief the side had in their abilities, and the amount of talent coming through the ranks in New Zealand.

"To be disappointed with a loss against Uruguay really shows the standard of players here in New Zealand. To look back on it its pretty cool, its definitely one of the highlights of my career so far," Brown told 1News.

The two teams mingled in the changing sheds after the game, with some players swapping shirts. Conroy arrived late and got whistled over to a corner of the room "by a player talking with a bit of broken English".

"[He was] calling out my number to swap shirts," Conroy recalled.

"It was Darwin Nunez so I've got his Uruguay shirt at home which is quite cool."

It's an unreal thing to bring up around your mates because they all get a buzz off it.

A grinning Conroy said it had since become a popular story to tell his friends.

"It's an unreal thing to bring up around your mates because they all get a buzz off it. For me I think it highlights the opportunities you get playing at those tournaments.

"When I did that there was no way I could even fathom that Id be sitting down and watching the opening day of the Premier League season and hes just been signed by Liverpool. Its a cool moment and shows the hard work you put into it can pay off by having the shirt, let alone sharing a pitch with someone thats doing it at the highest level week in week out."

New Zealand faced Colombia in the round of 16, where their tournament ended in a heartbreaking penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw.

All Whites team huddle before their World Cup playoff against Costa Rica. (Source: Photosport)

While unable to become the first New Zealand under-20 side to make the quarterfinals of a World Cup, the players and staff look back on the tournament fondly, and hope their style of football can be translated to the senior side in years to come.

"I think for New Zealand were in a really positive place at the moment in our football. That tournament did flip a switch in many peoples minds that we can compete on the big stage. Theres players playing Premier League, Champions League, Serie A, its a really positive time," Conroy said.

"Even at grassroots level, clubs are starting to put an emphasis on development and developing players in this country. I think people are starting to fall in love with football a little bit more."

Buckingham said it wasn't just a one-off performance, but something that should now be expected by New Zealand football fans.

"We have good players. It was about building a framework around them and allow them to fill it and showcase what they could do.

"I think its quite exciting, especially this crop of young players surrounded some really good seniors. Its exciting now and I think for the next four to six years its a really good time for this group to really go and show what they can do. We have the players to do that and itll be good to see where they can go."

Continue reading here:

David vs Goliath: When New Zealand took on Haaland, and won - 1News

Posted in New Zealand | Comments Off on David vs Goliath: When New Zealand took on Haaland, and won – 1News

SA-born New Zealand pastor dies after car collides with train – News24

Posted: at 4:53 pm

South African born New Zealand pastor Sean Schutte died on Thursday morning after his car collided with a train.

New Zealand-based pastor Sean Schutte, aSouth African, died on Thursday morning after his car collided with a train.

Schutte was a co-pastor at Matamata Baptist Church at the time of his death.

The church confirmed his death to News24, but said it could not comment any further.

Church Online New Zealand announced the news on Thursday morning.

"We will be praying for Matamata Baptist Church, who lost their co-pastor, Sean Schutte, today in a tragic accident. We will pray too for the family," it said in a Facebook post.

READ |Woman killed, another person injured in 4-car collision in Durban

According to New Zealand news website,Stuff, the KiwiRail train collided with his vehicle.

A congregant said the church was focused on supporting his wife and daughter in New Zealand and was assisting to inform his family in Johannesburg.

According to his Facebook profile, Schutte went to Pretoria Boys High School.

KiwiRail executive general manager of operations, Paul Ashton, told Stuff the driver of the train was receiving counselling.

News24 reached out to KiwiRail for comment. Their response will be added once received.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred

In times of uncertainty you need journalism you can trust. For 14 free days, you can have access to a world of in-depth analyses, investigative journalism, top opinions and a range of features. Journalism strengthens democracy. Invest in the future today. Thereafter you will be billed R75 per month. You can cancel anytime and if you cancel within 14 days you won't be billed.

View original post here:

SA-born New Zealand pastor dies after car collides with train - News24

Posted in New Zealand | Comments Off on SA-born New Zealand pastor dies after car collides with train – News24

‘It is God’s place’: Immigration NZ apologises for offending Sikh community – New Zealand Herald

Posted: at 4:53 pm

President of the New Zealand Central Sikh Association, Daljit Singh, said the Sikh community was very offended when Immigration NZ officials refused to follow religious protocol. Photo / NZME

Immigration New Zealand has apologised for offending the country's Sikh community during a raid on a Hamilton temple, blaming health and safety requirements for the religious transgression.

The NZ Central Sikh Association said immigration officials refused to follow religious protocols when they allegedly forcefully entered the Gurudwara Mata Sahib Kaur Ji temple on Monday.

New Zealand Central Sikh Association represents 70,000 Sikhs in this country.

Immigration NZ staff entered the temple without removing their shoes or covering their heads, having advised temple officials they would needed to keep their shoes on as per standard health and safety requirements.

NZ Central Sikh Association president Daljit Singh said he was visiting another Sikh temple when he received a call from a temple secretary about the offensive faux pas.

Singh said he immediately rang Immigration NZ and the Immigration Minister.

"I told them the community is upset by the officials' actions. We are New Zealand citizens ... It is God's place.

"We received an apology letter. They came to the same place [yesterday]. They will follow the protocol from now on. We are satisfied with this response," he said.

Singh said Immigration NZ chief executive Carolyn Tremain visited the temple this week to apologise for not following religious protocols when executing a search warrant.

He added that the immigration officials did not find anything at the temple during their search.

In a statement to the Herald on Sunday, Immigration NZ said it was "deeply sorry" but did not indicate the health and safety procedures would change in future.

Karen Bishop, Immigration NZ's general manager verification and compliance, said: "I have spoken with the president of the New Zealand Central Sikh Association to apologise for any offence caused.

"We are deeply sorry for any offence caused during the execution of a search warrant at an address in Hamilton on Monday," she said.

"I have also met with temple officials today to discuss how our compliance teams can engage more effectively with the Sikh community in the future."

It remains unclear what the purpose of the search warrant was and Immigration NZ refused to comment further as investigations were ongoing.

- additional reporting Raphael Franks

Excerpt from:

'It is God's place': Immigration NZ apologises for offending Sikh community - New Zealand Herald

Posted in New Zealand | Comments Off on ‘It is God’s place’: Immigration NZ apologises for offending Sikh community – New Zealand Herald

Page 10«..9101112..2030..»