Category Archives: New Zealand

Thirty years ago Jeff Wilson was unveiled to the sporting world via a remarkable schoolboy rugby display. Logan Savory looks back at how it unfolded in 1992.

Theres a reason why the late Jim Valli was regarded as one of the best newsmen in the business.

Vallis respect in the newspaper industry stretched the length of the country. His knowledge of people and events in the south has been described as encyclopedic.

He amassed a 40-year career in various news roles at The Southland Times.

A matter of months before Vallis retirement from full-time employment at the paper, the lower grade Southland rugby results crossed his desk one evening. It's a moment in time that highlighted his nose for a potential story, and in turn, shone a light on a future sporting great.

It was the Monday of Queens Birthday Weekend in 1992. Among those lower grade results was Cargill High Schools 102-6 win over James Hargest in an under-19 schoolboy contest.

It piqued The Southland Times news editors interest.

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John Hawkins/Stuff

The late Jim Valli, left, pictured with New Zealand golfing identity Greg Turner in 2007. [File photo].

It was late in the evening and a young reporter, Angus Morrison, asked Valli if there was anything he wanted him to pick up.

There was.

Valli couldnt let that 102-6 scoreline slide. He sensed there was something more to it.

He told Morrison to make some calls. Some kid might have scored a lot of points, Valli told Morrison.

He was right, some kid did.

That some kid was a future New Zealand sporting great. Vallis intrigue helped unveil a talented teenager by the name of Jeff Wilson for all to see.

Morrison called then Cargill co-coach Keith McKenzie who told him Wilson, the Cargill fullback, had scored 66 points.

Wilson ran in nine of his team's 18 tries and kicked 15 conversions against James Hargest in the humble setting of Oreti Park near Invercargills Oreti Beach.

Morrison went to Wilson for some comment: "Sixty-six! I knew I had a few, but ... Are you serious?

"I thought I scored seven tries, although I knew I put a few kicks over, Wilson responded.

Kavinda Herath/Stuff

Jeff Wilson featured on the front page of the June 2, 1992 edition of The Southland Times after scoring 66 points for Cargill High School in a game against James Hargest in Invercargill.

At the time Wilson described it as a sporting highlight, but he also seemed wary about taking anything away from his teammates as the media spotlight started to centre brightly on him.

He suggested he'd never played in a better Cargill team and unfortunately, James Hargest bore the brunt of it that day.

The game wasnt a fair indication of James Hargests strengths, though. We were in top form, Wilson said 30 years ago.

Interestingly his 66-point haul would have been 75 points if the game was played just a matter of a few days later.

Wilsons nine-try tally came days before the four-point try was changed to a five-point try.

After Vallis intrigue and Morrisons follow-up phone calls Jeff Wilson featured on the front page of the June 2, 1992 Southland Times.

The headline read: Jeff Wilson 66, James Hargest 6.

Morrison's story was sent out via the Press Association network and featured on other front pages throughout New Zealand. It prompted a television crew to turn up at the Cargill High School the next morning wanting to know more about the then-teenage Wilson.

Kavinda Herath/Stuff

The story was sent out via the Press Association network and featured on other front pages throughout New Zealand.

That moment in which Valli spotted the large scoreline amongst Southlands lower-grade rugby scores prompted a frenzy of interest.

Wilson quickly emerged as a New Zealand sporting star.

As Wilson reflects 30 years on, he agrees it was that moment on that sunny 1992 day at Oreti Park in Invercargill that probably launched his career.

And it truly was a case of the rest is history, Wilson says.

Over the years, I think I must have met every Hargest player who played in that game.

If it's in a pub Im normally usually happy to buy them a beer given what happened, Wilson says.

Prior to the 66-point haul, Wilson had already played senior club cricket as a 14-year-old and as a 15-year-old played for Southland's top-flight cricket team at Hawke Cup level.

Although he says it wasn't until that moment in 1992 that he had national media showing interest in him.

At the time he was simply stoked his school Cargill was getting some attention given it was traditionally Southland Boys' High School that dominated the school sporting scene in Invercargill.

Now-Vodafone New Zealand chief executive Jason Paris was one of Wilsons Cargill teammates that day headlines were created in 1992.

Paris slotted in at second five-eighth. He says his job was to simply get the ball to Wilson as quickly as possible.

Paris recalls the 102-6 scoreline coming as a large shock given the two Invercargill schools had historically been involved in tight tussles.

Just the year before the two schools had squared off in the Southland under-19 final.

However, just what Wilson produced that day was not so much of a surprise to his teammates.

We knew what a phenomenal player he was already, but that put him on the international stage really. Little Invercargill doesn't get on the 1News too much, especially for a school sports game, Paris says.

It was pretty incredible having the TV cameras show up the next day, and he was on national news. But it could have been for one of four or five sports, it just happened to be for rugby.

Wilson was on the national youth sports radar at the time for athletics, rugby, cricket, and basketball. He was the kid that excelled at any sport he tried his hand at.

Ive seen him score from a flying header and a bicycle kick in soccer, Paris says.

Paris adds it should be noted that Wilson did not score nine tries in that single game in 1992 because he was in search of a large tally.

Hes massively competitive, but a real team player. The fact that he scored 66 points is because hes a phenomenal athlete, not because he was being greedy.

Supplied

Current Vodafone New Zealand chief executive Jason Paris was part of the Cargill High School first XV in 1992 when Jeff Wilson scored 66 points in a school game against James Hargest.

Richard Cournane was part of the Cargill forward pack the day he says Wilson shot to fame.

During the past 30 years, over a beer or three, Cournane has been quick to point out to others that it was that dominant forward display by Cargill which was the making of Wilson.

Although Cournane concedes the reality is Wilson did much of the work on his own.

There were a lot of long-range tries. They kicked the ball to him a bit, and he basically returned the kicks, and they couldn't catch him, the now Rangiora-based builder says.

Cournane had a first-hand look at the rise of a sublime young sporting athlete given he also attended primary school with Wilson in Invercargill.

There were kids that excelled at any sports they tried, and then there was Wilson, Cournane says.

He was in a class of his own.

He was kicking conversions in Year 5 and 6 when no-one else was kicking conversions. I remember playing interschools with him at Newfield [School] and wed just give Jeff the ball, and he'd do the rest.

supplied

Jeff Wilson, pictured in the front row, third from the left, as part of the 1992 New Zealand secondary schools rugby team.

Weeks after the media spotlight that followed the 66-point deed, Wilson was selected to play fullback for the Invercargill Metro senior representative team.

Tom Downey was coach of the Invercargill Metro team and after a discussion with Jeff's father Bill it was decided the schoolkid was up to it.

"The bottom line is it was handed to me very fast, Wilson says.

The selection came despite Wilson never playing in a game of senior club rugby before.

They played Otago Country - featuring the likes of Otago hooker David Latta - in a midweek game at Rugby Park in Invercargill.

Most of the players took half a day off work for the game. Wilson took half a day off school.

Marty Hurring lined up at first five-eighth for Otago Country.

Hurring recalls them scoffing a little at the boldness of the Invercargill Metro team selecting a schoolboy at fullback.

If I have to tell you the true story its not that good, Hurring jokes 30 years on.

Our game plan was to pretty much bomb this schoolboy with the high ball and take him out of the game. But probably after the third bomb we worked out it wasnt such a good idea.

I think he come in [from fullback] on the outside of our centre and left him standing still about three times.

Wilson scored three tries, set up another couple, and kicked a conversion as Invercargill Metro banked a 33-19 win over Otago Country.

By the end of it, the Southland selectors were convinced the teenager was ready for first-class rugby that year.

David Henderson was the Southland captain at that time and says it was a unique situation having a schoolboy join the Southland team, given he had yet to play senior club rugby.

Although Henderson and his teammates were aware Wilson was a unique case.

We were playing touch rugby one day, and I ended up marking him. I probably gave him a metre and a half on the outside. I was young and fit in those days and pretty good on my feet, but he run around me and I didn't touch him. He left me in his dust, Henderson recalls.

I knew straight away he had something special. He was a sprightly young lad that was keen to learn, and we knew he wouldn't be with us for long because he was going to go up the line pretty quickly.

John Selkirk

Jeff Wilson heads towards the posts to score during the 145-17 win over Japan at the 1995 World Cup in South Africa.

Just 17 months after Wilsons 66-point schoolboy masterclass he was playing test rugby capping a rapid rise to the top. He scored three tries on debut for the All Blacks against Scotland in Edinburgh on November 20, 1993.

Eight months before that 1993 All Blacks debut, Wilson had already played cricket for New Zealand in a one-day series against Australia.

At 19-years-old he scored an unbeaten 44 from 28 balls to lift New Zealand to a one-day victory over an Australian cricket team that included a long list of cricketing royalty. It included Mark Taylor, brothers Mark and Steve Waugh, David Boon, Dean Jones, Ian Healy and Merv Hughes.

Dean Kozanic/Stuff

Jeff Wilson played for both the All Blacks and Black Caps.

Wilson had become a Double All Black before he had even celebrated his 21st birthday.

Honestly, it's a bit bizarre," Wilson says, reflecting on the crazy 17-month period that followed that schoolboy demolition at Oreti Park.

I myself even struggle to look back at the whirlwind that it was.

It's a feat that seems almost certain to never be repeated.

Although Wilson himself is not so certain.

I think it's possible with T20, I really do. You watch the Black Clash this year and you watch [rugby players] Will Jordan and Keiran Read hit a cricket ball, Jordie Barrett bowl a cricket ball.

The natural ability is there and T20 is the place to showcase that because the technical expectations arent the same. If youve got a good eye and can hit the ball you could play for New Zealand in T20.

I think we are so slow to jump on the opportunity to get these [rugby players] playing in a T20 competition.

Wilson went on to play 60 tests for the All Blacks and after retiring from rugby he returned to play cricket and again represented New Zealand in limited-overs cricket in 2005.

He is now an established broadcaster with Sky Sport.

Barry Harcourt

Jeff Wilson and older brother Richard playing hallway cricket at the family home in Invercargill in 1994.

Read the rest here:

30 years on... The unveiling of a New Zealand sporting great - Stuff

Sport

20 May, 2022 01:51 AM3 minutes to read

Julia Ratcliffe (L) and Tom Walsh (R) will defend their Commonwealth Games gold medals in Birmingham. Photos / Photosport

An 18-strong New Zealand athletics team has been named for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games that includes eight throwers.

Giving it a heave, be it with a hammer, a discus, a shot or a spear, is in vogue and Tom Walsh and Julia Ratcliffe lead the team as defending champions.

However, Ratcliffe has support in the hammer via Lauren Bruce and Nicole Bradley while Walsh will be joined, as usual, by Jacko Gill.

Ratcliffe says she will enter the Games with a fairly relaxed attitude, despite arriving as the defending champion.

"I'm going to go out there and have some fun and throw as far as I can and the results will be what the results will be," Ratcliffe told NZME.

"It's going to take some high numbers to get the medals this year, which is going to be cool again. I don't really set targets for myself in terms of distances, I just go out there and see what I can unleash."

Maddi Wesche will contest the women's shot put, while Connor Bell returns from a broken ankle last year to throw the discus and Tori Peeters will fling the javelin.

Leaping and vaulting are also popular pursuits, with high jumper Hamish Kerr and pole vaulters Imogen Ayris and Olivia McTaggart making the cut.

On the track, Zoe Hobbs makes her Games debut after breaking New Zealand's national 100-metre record three times this past summer.

Hobbs set the current mark of 11.15 seconds at Hasting in February and has a point to prove.

"It's a really special moment for me to be a part of this. I've worked towards this my whole life, being a part of the sport since the age of five," Hobbs told NZME.

"To be standing here and part of all this is a pretty cool feeling."

Portia Bing contests the 400 metre hurdles, Geordie Beamish the 5000 metres and Quentin Rew the 10,000-metre race walk.

High jumper Keeley O'Hagan, 1500-metre runner Sam Tanner and 5000-metre exponent Eric Speakman are selected provisionally.

NZ athletics team for Birmingham Commonwealth Games:Lauren Bruce, Julia Ratcliffe, Nicole Bradley (women's hammer)Olivia McTaggart, Imogen Ayris (women's pole vault)Maddison Wesche (women's shot put) Tori Peeters (women's javelin) Zoe Hobbs (women's 100m) Portia Bing (women's 400m hurdles) *Keeley O'Hagan (women's high jump) Jacko Gill, Tom Walsh (men's shot put) Hamish Kerr (men's high jump) Connor Bell (men's discus) Quentin Rew (men's 10,000m race walk) Geordie Beamish, *Eric Speakman (men's 5000m) *Sam Tanner (men's 1500m)

* Conditionally selected

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Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022: New Zealand announce 18-strong athletics team - New Zealand Herald

US pop-rock trio Hanson will return to New Zealand this November with their Red Green Blue 2022 Tour.

Known for their 1997 international hit MMMBop and in celebration of 30 years performing together as Hanson, brothers Isaac Hanson (guitar, vocals, bass, piano), Taylor Hanson (keyboards, vocals, percussion), and Zac Hanson (drums, vocals, piano), will play one show at Aucklands Powerstation on November 19.

Supplied

Hanson will return to New Zealand to play one show at Auckland's Powerstation on November 19.

Tickets go on sale May 26.

This tour is an exciting chance to reunite with our fans all over the world and celebrate three decades of music, said Taylor Hanson.

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We cant wait to come together with fans across Australia and New Zealand, and share music live on stage once again.

Hansons trip down under will come in support of their 11th studio album Red Green Blue, a combination of three solo-led projects, bringing together Isaac, Taylor and Zacs creative voices, with each brother producing a third of the album (Taylors Red, Isaacs Green, and Zacs Blue).

The record is co-produced by Grammy Award-winning producer, engineer and mixer Jim Scott (Tom Petty, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Wilco), and Grammy Award-winning Artist and producer David Garza (Fiona Apple, Midland, Sharon Van Etten), and features the singles Child At Heart, Write You A Song and Dont Let Me Down (featuring Zach Myers of Shinedown).

The visit will be Hansons first to New Zealand since their 2017 Middle of Everywhere tour which celebrated the groups 25th anniversary. They most recently toured Australia in 2019 with their String Theory Tour, which saw them take the stage alongside a symphony orchestra, through a special collaboration with Academy Award-winning arranger David Campbell.

Being their first major tour in three years, fans can expect a career spanning set list of fan favourites, along with the songs off the new album and 2020s Against The World.

The multi-platinum three-time Grammy-nominated pop-rock group has sold over 16 million albums, and performed concerts to over three million fans world-wide.

Founded in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1992, the band established a regional following before making a meteoric rise to international fame with their major-label debut, Middle Of Nowhere, lead by the earworm single MmmBop, which reached number one in 27 countries simultaneously and climbed to number four on the New Zealand charts.

This was followed by their sophomore album Snowed In, a Christmas record that became the best-selling holiday album for 1997 in the US and peaked at number 12 in New Zealand.

Hanson

Red Green Blue New Zealand Tour - November 2022

November 19 Powerstation | Auckland

Tickets on sale May 26.

Read more from the original source:

MMMBop hitmakers Hanson to play one New Zealand show in November - Stuff

After two years, the first international visitors are returning to New Zealand.

But the tiny island nation - globally renowned for its pristine natural landscape - has a message for visitors.

The future will not look like the past.

These are the words of Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) chief executive Rebecca Ingram. But they encapsulate a shift - to regenerative, sustainable travel - that is being embraced by the entire industry.

Before the pandemic, New Zealand (also known by its Mori name, Aotearoa) was a global tourism hotspot.

Between 2016 and 2019, roughly 11 million visitors descended on the island-nation, which boasts a permanent population of just 5 million.

In picturesque Milford Sound Piopiotahi, cruise liner visits almost quadrupled in 13 years, peaking at 133 in 2019.

In 2020, annual visitor numbers to the Sound were predicted to tip one million.

Towering waterfalls, rugged beaches, and snow-capped mountains - all heaved with visitors.

Then the pandemic struck, and the country locked its borders.

Amidst huge economic pain - the average tourism business let go 40 per cent of staff and saw revenues halve in the year to May 2021, a TIA survey revealed - there was space for reflection.

For two years, cruises unloading their passengers on port towns and tourists rushing around the South Island were a distant memory. Some communities liked it that way.

As an industry, we have listened to the concerns that some communities had before the pandemic about the growth of tourism and how it was impacting their lifestyle and environment, Rebecca Ingram says.

Changes have been made to ensure the New Zealand tourism experience is one that New Zealanders can be proud of.

The government has passed new laws restricting freedom camping. While local communities have written destination management plans to guard against **overcrowding** and the negative effects of tourism.

In over-subscribed Milford Piopiotahi, proposals include capping daily entry at 4000 and introducing an international visitor fee.

The last two years have given us the opportunity to reflect on how we can manage our tourism industry better, says Ingram.

Individual tourism businesses are also seeking to green their own operations, with 1600 signing up to TIAs sustainability commitment.

Carino Wildlife Tours in the beautiful Bay of Islands is one of these operators.

The tour doubles as a citizen science project, explains Carino managing director Vanessa McKay. Each cruise collects data on penguin, shark, stingray, and dolphin numbers.

Its about enjoying recreationally and then adding to it. Visitors are marine kaitiaki (guardians). We let them take ownership, she explains.

Its about making a place better than you found it. Its for the next generation. Its really about the kids.

Wildwire Wanaka is another business giving back.

The attraction - the worlds highest waterfall cable climb - wants to become carbon positive, says Director Mark Morrison.

Our vision is to be fully regenerative, he says.

Whenever we have guests, we want them to give back through conservation Whether its checking traps in an effort to bring birds back into the area or carrying seeds on the journey which guests use to plant more trees.

Our goal is to get to the point of the community seeing tourists and being thrilled theyre here as they know theyre giving back to the community.

The pandemic has accelerated the embrace of sustainability- but Aotearoa has long been a world leader in regenerative tourism.

From 2019, international visitors to national parks had to pay a levy of NZ$35 (21.50).

However, the shift is also psychological. In 2018, Tourism New Zealand launched the Tiaki Promise. Tiaki means care in te reo Mori.

While in New Zealand I will care for land, sea, and nature, treading lightly and leaving no trace, the pledge, which visitors are encouraged to take, reads.

Recommendations included ditching drones and being careful not to spread pests that threaten the nations unique biodiversity.

The promise is inspired by the rich Mori tradition of respect and reciprocity with the natural landscape, explains Oscar Nathan, Tourism Bay of Plentys general manager.

The concept of regeneration is not new, it is based on the idea that everyone is connected to the environment and must respect it - a belief embedded in Te Ao Mori (the Mori world).

As the first international visitors for two years touch down in NZ, the beleaguered tourism industry will welcome them with open arms. But theyll also ask them to tread lightly.

See original here:

New Zealand overtourism: Residents invite tourists to 'tread lightly and leave no trace' - Euronews

Image Source: AFP

Recently retired New Zealand women's wicketkeeper-batter Katey Martin revealed that suffering from a concussion in the last 12 months of her career played a part in her decision to call time on her career spanning 21 years. On May 18, Martin retired from all forms of cricket after being a part of the New Zealand team for 19 years.

"I didn't want to get a head knock and then have to deal with that again. It does get you really down, and then you feel like you can't give your all. That played somewhat into the decision. I knew the time was right, but those little things add to it," Martin was quoted as saying by stuff.co.nz.

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Martin, who was visibly emotional during national anthems before New Zealand played their final match of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup against Pakistan, admitted that the narrow three-run loss to West Indies in the tournament opener is something that is still present in her mind.

With five runs needed off as many balls, Martin was dismissed for 44 and eventually, couldn't take the hosts home as West Indies pulled off a heist. "I was out there, and I had the opportunity, and I knew how important that was. There have been some really tough moments and some heartbreaking moments and there were times where I've scored runs, but never fully finished the job."

"That's definitely something I've struggled with over the last year or so. I haven't been as consistent as I should've been as a player and knowing that that's your role, and you haven't done that, has been quite tough."

Martin's final appearance as a cricketer was in the FairBreak Invitational T20 tournament in Dubai earlier this month, which was won by the Tornadoes team, where she featured alongside New Zealand captain Sophie Devine. Martin, 39, believes that having players from developing nations compete alongside full nations cricketers will help grow women's cricket globally.

"Hearing the stories about how they've developed and what cricket is like in their country, I guess has refreshed my mind in cricket and what I can do around helping and supporting, not just here in New Zealand, but also what I can do around supporting and mentoring these players around the world."

"If you imagine a little girl in Bhutan watching someone in the national team being on TV, playing with the likes of (fellow New Zealand player) Suzie Bates or (England left-arm spinner) Sophie Ecclestone, that's what's going to help grow the game globally."

Martin, who makes occasional appearances as a commentator during New Zealand's matches in the home season, signed off by hoping that she finds time to develop the next generation of keepers for White Ferns.

"I know it's pretty daunting moving from domestic cricket into international cricket, so if I can pass on the knowledge that I've been able to gain over that period of time and get in and hit some balls, and help others out."

Also Read: IPL 2022 - Scorecard

"I was fortunate when I was younger to have (former New Zealand player) Rowan Milburn in Dunedin who helped me with my wicketkeeping and got me into a position that I have been in, so I want to be able to do that, and help grow the game."

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Former New Zealand Women Cricketer Katey Martin Reveals Reason Behind Early Retirement - Cricketnmore

More than 150 Ukrainians have now arrived in New Zealand on a special visa aimed at supporting international humanitarian efforts.

Ukraine refugees arriving in Krakow, Poland on March 6, 2022 Photo: AFP

Immigration New Zealand numbers show so far 666 visas have been approved and 157 visa holders have arrived in New Zealand under the 2022 Special Ukraine Visa Category.

These figures were a jump from those provided a month prior which showed approval for 463 visas and 92 Ukrainians touching down in New Zealand.

No applications had been declined.

In March, Immigration Minister Faafoi called this the largest special visa category ever established by New Zealand.

The visa however has been criticised for its tight criteria.

Only family members of Ukrainians who are already living in New Zealand are eligible to apply in this category.

Each person who is sponsored can bring a partner and children, but only if the children are dependent.

This has meant that many Ukrainians who can apply have been told they can come, but have to leave other relatives behind.

Original post:

Special Ukraine visa: Jump in the number of people seeking refuge in NZ - RNZ

Waikato University Bachelor of Science third year Ethan McKee-Harris is majoring in computer science but stumbled upon "the real buzz of hacking" early on.

"Years ago some school friends and I started hacking and started exploring some school websites and we found a way into them which gave us access to data that we shouldn't have had. We took it to the school to point it out, and that's what got me started on my journey!"

Fellow team member Callum Riddle's interest in cyber security started in 'physical security'.

"In high school, I started picking locks and then when I got into computing I stayed with the security side of it."

Courtney Wilson, Daniel Shepherd and Stefenie Pickston make up the talented group who've qualified to go to London for the 24-hour event.

"We basically look for these flags hidden in websites and use our ethical hacking skills to try and discover them," said Pickston, who specialises in steganography - where a message is hidden within other non-secret text or data.

Each team member has a unique role in the global competition and McKee-Harris describes it "like a digital game of hide and seek, just with a lot higher stakes".

All are in their third or fourth year at Waikato University, and the group warns we are at risk every day and so many people fail to follow the key steps to avoid being hacked.

Use a password manager to auto-fill passwords you've randomised, go for two-step factor authentication, and install an adblock to prevent clicking on dodgy links.

"If I manage to figure out your password and you have the same password for the rest of your accounts I can pretty easily access all your sensitive information, probably within 10 to 20 minutes."

Online cyber security in this day and age is "constantly a game of cat and mouse, every time we make an advance in security the hackers are immediately on top of that trying to find a way to break it".

And that's what these cyber whizzes will be doing when they compete in London next month, except it'll all be legal.

Read more:

Former lock picker and hacker to represent New Zealand at global cyber security event - Newshub

Aaron Hockly is Fund Manager of NZX-listed Vital Healthcare Property Trust

OPINION: On July 1, the new body replacing the District Health Boards (DHBs), Health New Zealand, will become one of the countrys largest property managers.

New Zealand has 83 public hospitals; a 2020 Ministry of Health report put the replacement value of the assets managed by the 20 DHBs at $24 billion.

The same report noted many main hospital campus buildings, some of which date back to World War II and even earlier, were at the end of their useful life.

READ MORE:* Health centres providing new investment opportunities * Maze-like, outdated IT systems at DHBs flagged in national reviews* Litany of flaws found in Christchurch hospital buildings

Also in 2020, the Heather Simpson-led report into the health and disability sector estimated that $14 billion would need to be spent on health infrastructure investment over the following decade. This figure did not include repairs, maintenance, and ICT (another area where outdated and inadequate systems are commonplace, as demonstrated by the 2021 ransomware attack on the Waikato District Health Board).

Two months ago, a report from the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga concluded the Simpson reports estimate, which was based on 2018 figures, was out of date. The review suggests the Crown will need to stump up some $20 billion over the next 10 years in order to address the current infrastructure deficit.

Years of under-investment in hospitals and other public health facilities across New Zealand mean that many are no longer fit for purpose, making it difficult to introduce the new models of care that Government intends, said Blake Lepper, GM Infrastructure Delivery at Te Waihanga.

Stuff

Vital Healthcare fund manager Aaron Hockly

This weeks Budget set aside $1.3 billion to fund priority health infrastructure projects over the next five years. That is on top of the $586 million allocated in last years Budget to just two projects: the redevelopment of Whangrei hospital and the construction of a new mental health unit at Canterburys Hillmorton.

Given the many calls on the health vote, from medicines to mental health, it is surely worth questioning whether large capital projects are best funded by the government, or whether there is a better way.

The government and its agencies have been bold in outlining the challenges faced by the healthcare sector, including the need to improve the quality of capital funding decisions, asset management and long-term investment outcomes.

Agree or disagree with it, the decision to replace 20 DHBs with two national agencies is a bold move. However, when it comes to managing healthcare infrastructure, governments approach has been to modify the status quo.

The Capital Investment Committee will continue to advise the Ministers of Health and Finance on the prioritisation and allocation of funding for capital investment and health infrastructure. Current committee members are extremely able and well-qualified for their role; however, the committee is established by the Minister of Health, can be terminated by the Minister of Health, and consists of such members as the Minister determines.

The Cabinet Paper setting out the proposed reforms asserted, somewhat optimistically, that the integration of hospitals into Health NZ will enable improved planning, supply chain, procurement and asset management and that a national service planning view should drive capital savings and a more robust consideration of the trade-offs between operational and capital investment.

That more robust consideration will not be brought about simply by structural change. It requires specialist expertise something the Simpson report recommended should be developed by the Health Investment Unit, which will become part of Health NZ.

That specialist expertise already exists in the New Zealand private sector.

The dual public-private system is well entrenched in New Zealand healthcare, but greater use could be made of private sector expertise to procuring, developing, owning and managing healthcare infrastructure.

A lack of access to staff and capital means DHBs have long relied heavily on the private sector to provide services such as diagnostic imaging and surgical procedures. That is widely accepted as a fact of life and as an economically effective way to provide better services to more patients and to meet urgent needs.

Surely it makes even more sense to involve specialists in non-core business activities like property ownership and management. Involving partners from the private sector in developing and maintaining property infrastructure would ensure a clear separation between capital management and operational management and improve the outcomes in both areas, benefiting healthcare professionals, patients and taxpayers.

Aaron Hockly is Fund Manager of NZX-listed Vital Healthcare Property Trust, a specialist landlord of healthcare real estate in New Zealand and Australia.

Originally posted here:

We need to spend billions replacing old hospitals - so who should pay? - Stuff

A MASSIVE 6.7 magnitude earthquake has struck near New Zealand and Australia sparking fears of a tsunami.

The terrifying shake happened in the Macquarie Island region in the southern Pacific Ocean.

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According to the United States Geological Survey the quake, which was revised from an initial magnitude of 7.3, had a depth of 6.21 miles.

The quake initially sparked tsunami fears but the U.S. Tsunami Warning System said there was no tsunami warning.

It comes as Wellington was also shaken over the weekend after a 4.7 earthquake hit.

The location of the quake was recorded as 15 miles west of Paraparaumu on the Kpiti Coast.

A tweet read: "A morning shake for some today with a M4.7 earthquake offshore of Paraparaumu. It was felt in the lower North Island and northern South Island".

An initial recording by Geonet put the quake at 4.2 and a depth of 17m.

Geonet has received more than 12,000 "felt" reports about the quake, NZ Herald reported.

Cops said there were no reports of any damage relating to the quake.

The two quakes follow another disaster in New Zeland that left only a few survivors.

Back in 2019, a catastrophic volcanic eruption left six people dead, including British tourists.

The hugeblast on White Island sent 12,000ft plume of smoke and rock into the air and left survivors with serious burns.

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Massive 6.7 magnitude earthquake hits near New Zealand and Australia prompting Tsunami fears... - The US Sun

Al Best will ride the "Zombie Tracker" for the first time in the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride. Photo / Michael Craig

When Al Best heads out on the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride (DGR) tomorrow he'll be alongside more than 900 bikers across Aotearoa New Zealand who have raised over $80,000 towards men's health this year. And he'll be riding a new motorbike built just for the occasion.

"The design concept is for a 'Zombie Apocalypse' vehicle," Best says.

"It's a metaphor to get people off the couch and put down their phones and enjoy life through motorcycling."

Dubbed the "Zombie Tracker", Best's motorbike is a custom build based on a Street Scrambler 900 donated by Triumph NZ for the DGR.

Best approached Triumph through his magazine Submachine with the concept to design and build the Zombie Tracker in time for tomorrow's ride.

"They loved the idea, supplied me with the Street Scrambler and left me to it."

The process has been a collaboration of ideas and skills, bringing people together to make it happen, Best says.

"A small community has formed around this motorcycle and my hope is that it draws attention to the DGR, which raises millions of dollars each year for men's health through the Movember Foundation."

A graphic and fine artist, Best is passionate about "art, cars, motorcycles and optimism", things that he describes as "The Community of the Cool". His passion turned into daily reality when he launched Submachine in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic last year.

"I was advised against it but the response has been humbling. I have met so many talented people and their stories and feedback from readers have been amazing."

The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride was inspired by a photograph of uber-cool fictional character Don Draper from the TV series Mad Men. Sydneysider Mark Hawwa saw Draper sitting on a 1957 Matchless bike, "wearing his finest suit", and the themed rally connecting motorcycle enthusiasts around the world while raising money "to support the men in our lives" was born.

A decade later, the DGR boasts it has raised more than $50 million with 340,000 riders taking part in 115 countries around the world.

Covid has, of course, marred the picture after the peak of 116,000 riders from 678 cities raised $9.5m in 2019. The 2020 ride was a solo and virtual affair, but last year 65,000 riders took part in limited number events and nearly $6.5m was raised for men's health charities.

For Best, taking part in and supporting events like the DGR is a metaphysical experience.

"Submachine relates to humans being part of the machine. We're all machines, if you like, but without us, the machines don't do anything. They're just inanimate objects.

"Events like the DGR have been good for men of a certain age to reconnect after dedicating their lives to work and raising families. It's good for their mental health.

"The positive mental health benefits seen in the motorcycle community are well documented but I hope to inspire people to seek out creativity where they can. It could be life drawing, basket weaving or a welding course.

"These things are good for the soul."

Check out more on the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride https://www.gentlemansride.com/ and see how Al Best put the Zombie Tracker together at https://www.facebook.com/submachinemagazine

Excerpt from:

Easy ride to mental health - New Zealand News - New Zealand Herald