Wednesday 7th of January 2026 07:33:37 PM
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What actually is fire? A physicist explains

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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Brown, Lecturer in Math and Physics, CQUniversity Australia

Pixabay/Pexels

Fire is an ancient technology that has helped shape human evolution. Our ancestors used fire for safety, cooking and preserving food. They gathered around a flickering fire to share stories, pass on cultural knowledge and build community.

Today, fire is an important industrial tool. It remains woven into our daily lives and rituals (think blowing out candles on your birthday cake). As it did millions of years ago, fire can shape our landscapes, having the power to both devastate and rejuvenate entire ecosystems.

Fire is so familiar, and yet it can be hard to define. What actually is fire?

Let’s begin with a question that’s a little easier to answer.

What are the ingredients for fire?

To light a fire we need three things: fuel (something to burn), oxygen and an initial spark or heat source. This is known as the fire triangle, but you could also call the fuel and oxygen “reactants” and the initial heat the “activation energy”.

For a bushfire, organic matter (such as wood) provides the fuel. Oxygen is available in the air, and the activation energy could come from a range of sources, such as lightning or human activities.

If we remove one of the reactants, a fire cannot continue to burn. To extinguish a bushfire, heat can be removed by dousing the fire with water. The water is turned into steam, which also smothers the fire by displacing air. Fuel may be used up by the fire itself or be preemptively removed using hazard-reduction or cultural burns.

The main “product” of fire is energy, along with the gasses carbon dioxide and water vapour. When there is more fuel than there is oxygen for burning, which is the case in a bushfire, there can be additional products. One of them is soot, which is tiny half-burned particles of carbon. These products interact to provide what we feel and see when we experience fire.

The warmth we feel from a fire comes from energy as it radiates outwards in the form of heat. The hot gas products rise because they are less dense than the surrounding, cooler air. The gases carry with them soot particles that glow yellow-orange because of their high temperature.

In a bushfire or campfire, it is the glowing soot that we experience as flames. Flames actually extend well above where we can see them. As the soot moves higher up, it cools and emits light in colours that we cannot see, such as infrared light.



Read more:
Human global domination began with fire, not factories or farms

So, what is fire?

It obviously isn’t a liquid or a solid. While flames do involve hot gases, flames only exist while a fire is burning. They don’t exist in a stable state on their own and we can’t collect flames in a container like we could CO₂ or water vapour. Therefore, flames and fire are not gases.

We can also rule out plasma – the fourth state of matter. Plasma is similar to an extremely hot gas but with some key differences.

A plasma contains so much heat energy that atoms in the plasma become ionised, meaning they can no longer hold on to all of their electrons. The plasma is like a soup of charged particles, both electrons and ionised atoms, which can conduct electricity and respond to a magnetic field.

In the hottest parts of the most intense fires, it is possible that there are enough ionised atoms to form areas of weak plasma. However, the plasma is not stable on its own and fire, as a whole, does not behave like a plasma.

In fact, fire is not matter at all. Fire is a process. It is a type of chemical reaction called combustion.

A process unique to Earth

Gasses and plasma are everywhere in the universe, but fire as we experience it – with visible, oxygen-fuelled flames – appears to be unique to Earth.

The Earth itself formed from dust and gas around a young Sun, which is so hot that it is almost entirely plasma. The universe is home to trillions of galaxies, each filled with stars and possible planetary systems, so there’s a lot of gas and plasma out there.

Meanwhile, our Earth is the only place in the universe where fire is known to be possible.

That’s because one of the key ingredients for fire – a stable supply of oxygen – is a byproduct of life. And as far as we know, life only exists here on Earth.

The Conversation

Emma Brown does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. What actually is fire? A physicist explains – https://theconversation.com/what-actually-is-fire-a-physicist-explains-269708

It’s a pool party! How to stay safe around the pool with friends this summer

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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amy Peden, NHMRC Research Fellow, School of Population Health and Co-founder UNSW Beach Safety Research Group, UNSW Sydney

Kindel Media/Pexels

It’s summer so kids’ playdates and birthday parties might start moving from the playground to the pool.

I research how to prevent drowning. I’m also a mum of two kids living in a house with a pool. So water safety is always front of mind.

Drowning deaths are at a record high in Australia. For pre-schoolers, this often happens in backyard pools. Although school-aged children have a much lower risk it’s still important to be vigilant.

Here are some key questions to ask and things to consider before you accept an invitation to a pool party or host your own.

With these tips, you’ll be able to navigate pool safety while ensuring the kids have heaps of fun.

Not everyone knows how to swim

First, think about your child’s swimming ability. Have they learned to swim? Do you know how their ability stacks up against their peers? Check their skills against the recommended minimum national swimming and water safety benchmarks for their age.

Perhaps some top-up lessons or some intensive lessons over summer might give their skills a boost ahead of a busy swim season.

As important as swimming skills are, so too is knowing how to be safe around the water. Have you talked to your kids about water safety? Are they mindful that others may not be able to swim as well as they can and may not be comfortable disclosing this to their friends?

Have you discussed how dangerous it can be to hold each other down under the water or hold their breath to swim to the end of the pool repeatedly? It can lead to someone blacking out.

It’s also not just about drowning. Knowing about water depth, the dangers of diving into shallow water, and not running around a wet and slippery pool can help avoid injury.

It’s not just about the kids

You also have a more direct role in keeping everyone safe. If you’re hosting a playdate and planning to include a swim, have you checked with the child’s parents? Ask about children’s swimming abilities or fears.

Before everyone hits the water, discuss your pool safety rules and expectations with the kids, including your own. My kids, and their friends, are very used to my “lifeguard lectures” by now.

An important part of playing lifeguard is supervision. If your kids’ friends are weak or poor swimmers, regardless of their age, you should be in the water with them. This is usually more fun anyway.

For older kids and more confident swimmers it’s still best to supervise from a distance (maybe poolside) and be dressed ready to get into the water in an emergency.

If you’re expecting more than a couple of kids, you might need more than one adult to ensure adequate supervision (and keep your stress levels down). Ensure each person’s supervision responsibilities are clear to avoid tragic miscommunications, such as: “I thought you were looking after them.”

Have you refreshed your CPR skills lately? Does your pool have a CPR sign you can refer to? Is your pool fenced and compliant? Does the gate close and lock on its own?

What about at someone else’s house?

Are you confident in your child’s ability to swim and be safe around the pool, if you’re not there? Have the hosts asked about your child’s swimming ability and any concerns? If not, you should be proactive and flag them.

Remember that eveyone’s definition of “can swim” is different. Would the hosts mind if you stayed to help supervise?

If you’re going to do the “drop and run”, will the adults hosting be supervising?
How vigilant will they be? Will the adults be drinking alcohol?

Having the conversation early can ensure all parents involved are aligned on matters of water safety.

We’re heading to the local pool instead

Many of the same rules apply if you’re meeting up with friends for a swim at your local pool.

Conditions here are more controlled with depth markers and safety equipment. But none of this replaces good swimming skills and safe behaviours.

Although lifeguards are on hand to help should anything go wrong, they are not a substitute for active parental supervision and shouldn’t be treated as babysitters.

In fact, reports of aggression and verbal and physical abuse of lifeguards are increasing, so please be respectful and keep your cool.

Keep yourself safe too

Kids aren’t the only ones who can get into trouble in the water. Adult drownings in a variety of different waterways are also on the rise.

So if you’re hitting the pool this summer, avoid alcohol around the water. You can even be impaired the day after heavy drinking.

Older adults can also be at risk of drowning in backyard pools due to medical incidents, such as a heart attack, or accidentally falling into the water.

If you keep all these issues in mind, we can all have a safe and enjoyable summer by the pool.

The Conversation

Amy Peden receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council. Amy Peden is affiliated with Royal Life Saving Society – Australia as an honorary Senior Research Fellow.

– ref. It’s a pool party! How to stay safe around the pool with friends this summer – https://theconversation.com/its-a-pool-party-how-to-stay-safe-around-the-pool-with-friends-this-summer-268090

Clouds are vital to life – but many are becoming wispy ghosts. Here’s how to see the changes above us

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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rumen Rachev, PhD Candidate, Edith Cowan University

Thomas Koukas/Unsplash, CC BY-NC-ND

As a scholar researching clouds, I have spent much of my time trying to understand the economy of the sky. Not the weather reports showing scudding rainclouds, but the deeper logic of cloud movements, their distributions and densities and the way they intervene in light, regulate temperatures and choreograph heat flows across our restless planet.

Recently, I have been noticing something strange: skies that feel hollowed out, clouds that look like they have lost their conviction. I think of them as ghost clouds. Not quite absent, but not fully there. These wispy formations drift unmoored from the systems that once gave them coherence. Too thin to reflect sunlight, too fragmented to produce rain, too sluggish to stir up wind, they give the illusion of a cloud without its function.

We think of clouds as insubstantial. But they matter far beyond their weight or tangibility. In dry Western Australia where I live, rain-bringing clouds are eagerly anticipated. But the winter storms which bring most rain to the south-west are being pushed south, depositing vital fresh water into the oceans. More and more days pass under a hard, endless blue – beautiful, but also brutal in its vacancy.

Worldwide, cloud patterns are now changing in concerning ways. Scientists have found the expanse of Earth’s highly reflective clouds is steadily shrinking. With less heat reflected, the Earth is now trapping more heat than expected.

A quiet crisis above

When there are fewer and fewer clouds, it doesn’t make headlines as floods or fires do. Their absence is quiet, cumulative and very worrying.

To be clear, clouds aren’t going to disappear. They may increase in some areas. But the belts of shiny white clouds we need most are declining between 1.5 and 3% per decade.

These clouds are the best at reflecting sunlight back to space, especially in the sunniest parts of the world close to the equator. By contrast, broken grey clouds reflect less heat, while less light hits polar regions, giving polar clouds less to reflect.

Clouds are often thought of as an ambient backdrop to climate action. But we’re now learning this is a fundamental oversight. Clouds aren’t décor – they’re dynamic, distributed and deeply consequential infrastructure able to cool the planet and shape the rainfall patterns seeding life below. These masses of tiny water droplets or ice crystals represent climate protection accessible to all, regardless of nation, wealth or politics.

On average, clouds cover two-thirds of the Earth’s surface, clustering over the oceans. Of all solar radiation reflected back to space, clouds are responsible for about 70%.

Clouds mediate extremes, soften sunlight, ferry moisture and form invisible feedback loops sustaining a stable climate.

single white cloud blue sky.
Earth’s expanse of white, reflective clouds is shrinking decade after decade.
Bernd Dittrich/Unsplash, CC BY-NC-ND

When loss is invisible

If clouds become rarer or leave, it’s not just a loss to the climate system. It’s a loss to how we perceive the world.

When glaciers melt, species die out or coral reefs bleach and die, traces are often left of what was there. But if cloud cover diminishes, it leaves only an emptiness that’s hard to name and harder still to grieve. We have had to learn how to grieve other environmental losses. But we do not yet have a way to mourn the way skies used to be.

And yet we must. To confront loss on this scale, we must allow ourselves to mourn – not out of despair, but out of clarity. Grieving the atmosphere as it used to be is not weakness. It is planetary attention, a necessary pause that opens space for care and creative reimagination of how we live with – and within – the sky.

earth from space, showing ocean land and clouds.
Seen from space, Earth is a planet swathed in cloud.
NASA, CC BY-NC-ND

Reading the clouds

For generations, Australia’s First Nations have read the clouds and sky, interpreting their forms to guide seasonal activities. The Emu in the Sky (Gugurmin in Wiradjuri) can be seen in the Milky Way’s dark dust. When the emu figure is high in the night sky, it’s the right time to gather emu eggs.

The skies are changing faster than our systems of understanding can keep up.

One solution is to reframe how we perceive weather phenomena such as clouds. As researchers in Japan have observed, weather is a type of public good – a “weather commons”. If we see clouds not as leftovers from an unchanging past, but as invitations to imagine new futures for our planet, we might begin to learn how to live more wisely and attentively with the sky.

This might mean teaching people how to read the clouds again – to notice their presence, their changes, their disappearances. We can learn to distinguish between clouds which cool and those which drift, decorative but functionally inert. Our natural affinity to clouds makes them ideal for engaging citizens.

To read clouds is to understand where they formed, what they carry and whether they might return tomorrow. From the ground, we can see whether clouds have begun a slow retreat from the places that need them most.

figure showing different types of cloud.
Learning to read the clouds can help us glimpse the changes above.
Valentin de Bruyn/Wikimedia, CC BY-NC-ND

Weather doesn’t just happen

For millennia, humans have treated weather as something beyond our control, something that happens to us. But our effects on Earth have ballooned to the point that we are now helping shape the weather, whether by removing forests which can produce much of their own rain or by funnelling billions of tonnes of fossil carbon into the atmosphere. What we do below shapes what happens above.

We are living through a very brief window in which every change will have very long term consequences. If emissions continue apace, the extra heating will last millennia.

I propose cloud literacy not as solution, but as a way to urgently draw our attention to the very real change happening around us.

We must move from reaction to atmospheric co-design – not as technical fix, but as a civic, collective and imaginative responsibility.

Professor Christian Jakob provided feedback and contributed to this article, while Dr Jo Pollitt and Professor Helena Grehan offered comments and edits.

The Conversation

Rumen Rachev receives funding from Edith Cowan University (ECU) through the Vice-Chancellor’s PhD Scholarship, under the project Staging Weather led by Dr Jo Pollitt. He is also a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) member of the Centre for People, Place, and Planet (CPPP) at ECU.

– ref. Clouds are vital to life – but many are becoming wispy ghosts. Here’s how to see the changes above us – https://theconversation.com/clouds-are-vital-to-life-but-many-are-becoming-wispy-ghosts-heres-how-to-see-the-changes-above-us-265575

Weather: Tents destroyed, trees down in heavy winds

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Campground managers in the North Island are hoping for sunnier weather leading up to New Year’s. Ruth Kuo

Wild weather battered much of the North Island on Monday, disrupting campers, causing power outages and downing trees.

In the parts of the South Island, strong winds brought down trees overnight.

  • Has your holiday been disrupted by the weather? Email iwitness@rnz.co.nz with your photos or information.

Fire and Emergency said State Highway 7 over the Rahu Saddle, between Reefton and Springs Junction, was affected.

State Highway 6 also had trees coming down, particularly through the Whangamoa Hills between Nelson and Blenheim.

Firefighters were still being called out into the evening across the North Island, taking the total number of weather-related jobs to about 140 in Auckland, Northland, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty.

PowerCo said hundreds of properties remain without power north of Whanganui, and around Palmerston North and Feilding.

Campground holidays disrupted

Campground managers in the North Island are hoping for sunnier weather leading up to New Year’s after a lashing of wind and rain.

Wild weather battered much of the North Island on Monday, disrupting campers, causing power outages and downing trees.

In Auckland a roof was torn off an unoccupied home in Hillsborough, as fire crews responded to more than 100 weather-related callouts.

The manager of Kūaotunu Campground on the Coromandel Peninsula, Yvette Davey, said the weather had caused a bit of disruption on Monday.

“We have had a couple of campers that their tents were destroyed so they had to go home, other than that people are hunkering down, it’s settled down here,” she said.

Leanne Mills, the owner of Long Bay Motor Camp in Coromandel said campers were not too put off by the wet weather.

“We’ve had a bit of rain [on Monday] but we’ve been lucky campers have just used it as a crash day, just chill out, read a book, sleep,” she said.

“We’ve just got continued support from our regulars, mostly 90 percent Kiwis, so they’ll come and just meet up every year with the same people year after year and they don’t really care if it rains.”

Festivalgoers for New Year’s events such as Rhythm and Vines in Gisborne have been warned to watch out for wild weather on the roads.

The roof of an unoccupied home in the Auckland suburb of Hillsborough came off in high winds and scattered debris down the road. RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

What’s today’s forecast?

Strong wind warnings for the northern and central parts of the North Island have expired but several regions remain in the firing line.

A strong wind warning is in effect for Wellington until 9pm Tuesday. South to southeast winds may approach severe gale in exposed places, MetService said.

Orange wind warnings remain for Manawatu, Horowhenua and Kapiti Coast until 9am Tuesday, and the Marlborough Sounds, Nelson and the West Coast north of Aoraki Mount Cook until 2pm Tuesday.

An orange heavy rain warning is in place for Hawke’s Bay until 8am Tuesday.

Tauranga City Council has cancelled all five of its community New Year’s Eve events because of the bad weather forecast.

The council said weather reports indicated heavy rain and strong winds during event set-up, with conditions highly likely to continue into Wednesday.

It said fireworks displays would hopefully still take place from various locations around the city on New Year’s Eve.

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

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

Weather: Tents destroyed, trees down in heavy winds

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Campground managers in the North Island are hoping for sunnier weather leading up to New Year’s. Ruth Kuo

Wild weather battered much of the North Island on Monday, disrupting campers, causing power outages and downing trees.

In the parts of the South Island, strong winds brought down trees overnight.

  • Has your holiday been disrupted by the weather? Email iwitness@rnz.co.nz with your photos or information.

Fire and Emergency said State Highway 7 over the Rahu Saddle, between Reefton and Springs Junction, was affected.

State Highway 6 also had trees coming down, particularly through the Whangamoa Hills between Nelson and Blenheim.

Firefighters were still being called out into the evening across the North Island, taking the total number of weather-related jobs to about 140 in Auckland, Northland, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty.

PowerCo said hundreds of properties remain without power north of Whanganui, and around Palmerston North and Feilding.

Campground holidays disrupted

Campground managers in the North Island are hoping for sunnier weather leading up to New Year’s after a lashing of wind and rain.

Wild weather battered much of the North Island on Monday, disrupting campers, causing power outages and downing trees.

In Auckland a roof was torn off an unoccupied home in Hillsborough, as fire crews responded to more than 100 weather-related callouts.

The manager of Kūaotunu Campground on the Coromandel Peninsula, Yvette Davey, said the weather had caused a bit of disruption on Monday.

“We have had a couple of campers that their tents were destroyed so they had to go home, other than that people are hunkering down, it’s settled down here,” she said.

Leanne Mills, the owner of Long Bay Motor Camp in Coromandel said campers were not too put off by the wet weather.

“We’ve had a bit of rain [on Monday] but we’ve been lucky campers have just used it as a crash day, just chill out, read a book, sleep,” she said.

“We’ve just got continued support from our regulars, mostly 90 percent Kiwis, so they’ll come and just meet up every year with the same people year after year and they don’t really care if it rains.”

Festivalgoers for New Year’s events such as Rhythm and Vines in Gisborne have been warned to watch out for wild weather on the roads.

The roof of an unoccupied home in the Auckland suburb of Hillsborough came off in high winds and scattered debris down the road. RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

What’s today’s forecast?

Strong wind warnings for the northern and central parts of the North Island have expired but several regions remain in the firing line.

A strong wind warning is in effect for Wellington until 9pm Tuesday. South to southeast winds may approach severe gale in exposed places, MetService said.

Orange wind warnings remain for Manawatu, Horowhenua and Kapiti Coast until 9am Tuesday, and the Marlborough Sounds, Nelson and the West Coast north of Aoraki Mount Cook until 2pm Tuesday.

An orange heavy rain warning is in place for Hawke’s Bay until 8am Tuesday.

Tauranga City Council has cancelled all five of its community New Year’s Eve events because of the bad weather forecast.

The council said weather reports indicated heavy rain and strong winds during event set-up, with conditions highly likely to continue into Wednesday.

It said fireworks displays would hopefully still take place from various locations around the city on New Year’s Eve.

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

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

Can Australian sport ever be environmentally sustainable?

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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Camilla Brockett, Professor of Sport Systems Development, Victoria University

Sport is one of the most climate-sensitive aspects of Australian life, yet still sits largely outside the national conversation on climate exposure.

Sport attracts around 14 million participants annually in Australia. According to national data from July 2023 to December 2024:

  • 85% of adult Australians (aged 15+) participated in sport or physical activity at least once in the previous 12 months

  • 11 million (51%) adults took part in a sport-related activity

  • 3 million children (64%) aged 0–14 participated in an organised out-of-school sport-related activity at least once in the previous 12 months

  • More than 2.8 million adults volunteer in sport.

But as our days get hotter and playing conditions get harsher, an increasingly important question emerges: can Australian sport keep pace with our changing climate and become truly sustainable?

Climate is changing the way we play

Community members know the story well: scorching grounds, cancelled matches, smoke-affected sessions and volunteers scrambling to interpret new safety protocols.

When heatwaves, smoke, floods or storms hit, training stops and rounds are washed out. The impacts are immediate: reduced physical activity, diminished social connection, and fewer wellbeing benefits.

Clubs are feeling it too. The Australian Sports Foundation reports two-thirds of community clubs are struggling as costs rise and weather-related disruptions increase.

Similarly, risks to athlete health and performance are major concerns for many professional competitions – including the Australian Open tennis tournament which has faced match delays from extreme heat, rain and bushfire smoke in recent years, while the 2025 Australian Open golf tournament had to manage the course and player expectations after torrential rain impacted the greens.

Emissions and sport

Sport creates emissions in a few different ways.

There are direct emissions such as getting to games, running training facilities and hosting competitions and events.

Then there are the indirect emissions from the industries sport depends on, including air travel, electricity and even producing sporting gear.

Together, these pressures point to the need for strong leadership from government, backed by coordinated action from peak bodies and local clubs.

Some action but major gaps remain

In September 2025 the federal government released Australia’s first National Climate Risk Assessment, mapping priority risks across housing, infrastructure and health.

Sport barely features.

This omission matters. Sport is where climate impacts become tangible for many Australians: cancelled junior cricket matches, smoky netball sessions cut short, a “no play” sign on a local oval after overnight storms.

Recognising sport as community infrastructure in future risk assessments — or commissioning a sport-specific climate risk review — would help ensure funding and preparedness efforts land where they’re most needed.

The government also launched Game On, a $50 million grant scheme to help up to 500 clubs install solar, batteries, shade and drainage.

But infrastructure alone won’t make sport climate-ready. When a grant ends or a key volunteer moves on, projects can lose momentum.

New research from Victoria University, due to be published in early 2026, identified many sporting organisations still lack governance, leadership and data systems to sustain environmental initiatives.

This creates inconsistent progress, with some organisations advancing quickly while others lag.

Genuine sport climate leadership

Here are four ways sport organisations can lead the way.

1. Link funding to on-the-ground outcomes

Public investment should be tied to simple measures that matter to communities, such as:

  • fewer heat- or rain-related cancellations
  • reduced energy use
  • faster recovery of participation after disruptions.

For example, if a club saves on power bills, direct a portion of those savings to participation, maintenance or safety equipment. Create a cycle where today’s savings support tomorrow’s play.

2. Invest in people, not just panels

Sustainability requires capability. Boards, executives and councils need practical training in risk planning and environmental management. Every club or association should have someone responsible. Include basic climate and energy indicators in annual reports so committees and members can track progress.

3. Build a shared evidence base

A sport-specific climate risk assessment would identify which facilities face the greatest heat, flood or smoke exposure. With this map, governments and sporting bodies could set priorities and roll out simple, uniform toolkits for clubs, such as heat policies, smoke protocols and purchasing guides.

4. Make partnerships count

Public funding for sustainability should include expectations for reinvesting savings and co-funding with business or community partners. Models such as Cricket for Climate work because they track savings and channel them back into participation and safety.

These steps can protect Australians’ ability to play sport safely and regularly.

They also draw on one of sport’s greatest strengths – its reach. Because sport connects with so many people, it’s uniquely placed to normalise practical climate action whether that’s better shade and scheduling, smarter energy use or clearer safety triggers for heat and smoke.

Can Australian sport be truly sustainable?

Not perfectly. Climate change is already reshaping how Australians play and watch sport. Extreme weather is becoming more frequent and decisions about heat, storms and air quality are now routine parts of sport administration.

But sustainability isn’t about perfection – it’s about building resilience. And resilience depends on good governance.

If we can embed environmental accountability, leadership and data-informed decision-making into sports’ day-to-day operations, the benefits will endure for generations to come.

The Conversation

Camilla Brockett is affiliated with the Sports Environment Alliance, a not-for-profit membership organisation funded through memberships, partners, registrations for workshops/events, donations, consulting and government grants.

Xu He does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Can Australian sport ever be environmentally sustainable? – https://theconversation.com/can-australian-sport-ever-be-environmentally-sustainable-267545

Architecture isn’t neutral. It’s been shaping political power for millennia

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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Dovey, Professor of Architecture and Urban Design, The University of Melbourne

Among his other ongoing projects, US President Donald Trump has spent much of his second term on a renovation. The Oval Office has been converted into a miniature palace festooned with gold bling, the rose garden has been paved over, a triumphal arch is planned and the new ballroom will be larger than the White House.

Why bother turning Washington into a royal “court”? Well, architecture makes a big difference to the ways power is practised and courted.

While it’s easy to see buildings and public spaces as somewhat neutral or superficial, it’s not. Like the frame of a painting, it frames the spaces in which politics takes place, both literally and symbolically.

The spaces and symbols of power work together to choreograph the action and shape the narrative. We can see this throughout architectural history. Here are some global examples.

Invisible power

The Forbidden City in Beijing is a nested set of walled and gated precincts with multiple courtyards, within which the Emperor was largely hidden from public view.

Here, power was sustained by being invisible.

When the five-year-old Tongzhi was crowned in 1861, his mother, the Empress Dowager Cixi, placed him on a throne in front of a thin curtain and governed from behind it.

Everyone knew what was going on, but the legitimating imagery was crucial as Cixi ruled China for more than 40 years through two child emperors.

The revolution brought new imagery. The Forbidden City was opened to the people as a museum, Mao appeared on Tiananmen gate (where his image remains), and the vast Tiananmen Square was created as the antithesis of the closed courtyard.

Party elites moved into the Zhongnanhai compound next door, but there is no presidential palace, nor any consensus on where the current president lives.

Power through surveillance

Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, now also a museum, was home to Sultans of the Ottoman empire from the 15th to 19th centuries.

There is much fascination with the ways the sultan’s quarters and harem were designed to manage complex interrelations between eunuchs, wives, concubines and slaves, and with the beautifully designed audience halls and courtyards.

A white tower with a pointed roof overlooks an ornate Turkish palace
The Tower of Justice loomed large, whether the Sultan was sitting in it or not.
Nicole Ashley Rahayu Densmoor/Pexels

The tallest building is the Tower of Justice, which is located between the Sultan’s quarters and the Imperial Council Chamber, through which the sultan ruled the empire.

From within it the sultan could sit behind a golden grill placed high in the wall of the chamber. He could overhear and oversee council discussions without being seen.

Here, the building becomes an agent of power without the presence of the sultan. The councillors must act as if he were there.

This is the panoptic power of surveillance that has morphed more broadly into the surveillance state and surveillance capitalism.

Telling stories

The Palace at Versailles was where Louis XIV retreated as his empire declined in the late 17th century.

The building was designed around a ceremonial route as visitors were led through a sequence of salons, named as planets (Venus, Mars and Mercury) as they approached the Sun King (Apollo).

The route then turned at the Salon of War, to enter the vast Hall of Mirrors. The view across manicured gardens produced an illusion of control over nature, which ever way one looked.

An opulent hall with mirrors on each wall, crystal chandeliers and ornate gold detailing
Versailles’ Hall of Mirrors is among the most famous (and visited) examples of power through opulence.
Myrabella/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Hitler’s Chancellery in Berlin was modelled on Versailles, but designed to dwarf it.

The approach to the chancellor’s office was a long promenade from a Court of Honour, through a sequence of Greek, Roman and Nazi styled chambers to a vast and empty “Hall of Marble”. The marble was not just for looking at, as Hitler put it, visitors “should have practice in moving on a slippery surface”.

A black and white image of a large long hall made of reflective marble
Both the material and the size of the Hall of Marble exerts power.
Hoffmann/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

The chancellor’s office was mostly notable for its size: about 400 square metres. The Oval Office is just 75 square metres.

Both Versailles and the Chancellery were extremes of legitimating architecture, produced when the regime was fragile, whether at the end or the beginning of the empire.

If there is a thread connecting these examples, it’s that the trappings of power have an inverse relation to its legitimacy: the over-production of buildings and bling suggest a regime lacks credibility.

The corollary, however, does not hold. There is no ideal state where the trappings of power dissolve. Buildings are expensive and have great inertia, so most new leaders adopt the pre-existing centres of power along with the embodied legitimacy.

The British prime minister lives and works in a terrace house where the legitimating narrative lies in the idea of a house in “common” with its neighbours − number ten, first among equals.

Mythological power

One of the earliest centres of power is the Minoan “palace” of Knossos (1900–1375 BCE), in Crete.

The plan is in the form of a labyrinth, replete with corridors. All passages through the building are convoluted, and at its heart is a huge courtyard of unknown function (roughly the size of the proposed White House ballroom).

How power was practised at Knossos remains a mystery. There is little evidence of any king or queen, nor of the relative power of men and women, but it worked for about 500 years.

These ruins were famously a source for the later Greek myth of King Minos who had his architect Daedelus design a labyrinth to hide the big family secret: the half-bull, half-man figure of the minotaur.

According to this myth, the building worked by producing ignorance about how to get in or out, and by hiding a truth that can’t be told.

Of course, this is just a myth. But the architecture of power is built on mythologies of those who commission them.

Architecture embodies, hides and naturalises the politics of power, for better or worse.

The Conversation

Kim Dovey does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Architecture isn’t neutral. It’s been shaping political power for millennia – https://theconversation.com/architecture-isnt-neutral-its-been-shaping-political-power-for-millennia-267742

Babblers, cops and quacks: the sometimes dark – but often amusing – origins of nicknames for jobs

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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Burridge, Professor of Linguistics, Monash University

Pinterest, Canva, Wikimedia, The Conversation, CC BY

These days, human resources (HR) departments want us to use official titles for jobs. But we know the social truths of a job — how well that job gets done, whether we like the person doing it — are much more complex.

Nicknames for jobs help us manage workplace performances, personalities and power beyond HR spreadsheets — and they can be a lot of fun.

Cooks, bastards and babblers

Australians like to call things as they are — and it’s always been that way, as this famed army example illustrates:

Officer addressing a group of men: “Who called the cook a bastard?”

One man shouting above the others: “Who called the bastard a cook?”

Sometimes we’re very direct, but other times there’s a hidden, and often cheeky, hierarchy at work. During the first world war, one ANZAC magazine warned that army cooks ranged from the “grease-besmudged babbler” to the “natty, smart-looking chef”. Babbler is rhyming slang from “babbling brook” for “cook”. Babblers were presumably better at their job than “baitlayers”, “slushies” or “poisoners” — other terms for cooks in the bush.

How not to boil the wrong Billy

But workplace nicknames are more than just pointing out someone who “wouldn’t work in an iron lung” or is more likely to “pick up a brown snake than a rake”. Nicknames are also about creating a friendlier workplace.

Humour and informality are key ingredients for workplace nicknames — Aussies have a knack for keeping things light-hearted. Think of the way “sickie” has flipped its meaning from a day’s sick leave to a day’s leave without being sick.

In the bushie era, some joked that any two men were apt to be named Bill or Jim. The swaggies needed ways to tell all their Bills apart, so you might end up with “Old Billy”, “Young Billy”, “Tall Billy”, “Thin Billy”, “Fat Billy” or “Billy the Rooster”. And, of course, true to Australian character, “Tall Billy” might be short, “Thin Billy” might be fat, and a red-headed Billy was almost certainly called “Bluey”.

One understated but important way to make a “Bill” or “Jim” more likeable is to make them a “Billy” or “Jimmy” — in other words, to add an “-ie” or “-y”, or an “-o” (as in a name like “Johno”). These sorts of endings abound in English, but Australians go a step further than British and Americans in terms of frequency and creativity.

Moreover, the Australian “-o” ending can trace its origins to occupational nicknaming. The earliest Australian examples (“milk-o”, “rabbit-o”, “bottle-o”) date from the late 19th century. All are clipped names for people’s jobs (milkman, rabbit-seller, bottle-collector), though sometimes written with “-oh” because they echo the street vendor calls.

These endings are called diminutives — or hypocoristics, if you want the fancy term. Basically, they’re pet-name endings we tack onto words (often shortened) to show warmth or friendliness. And sure, names like “Johno” and “Susie” can sound affectionate, but most Aussie diminutives like “journo” or “sparky” aren’t about being cute.

It’s still a puzzle which words get which ending. We happily talk about “sparkies”, “chippies” and “brickies”, but never “sparkos”, “chippos” or “brickos. “Ambos”, “garbos and “musos” roll off the tongue, but “ambies”, “garbies” and “musies” don’t. And why are there gaps? People who build are “builders”, not “buildos” or “buildies”.

Much remains unknown about these endings. But what we do know from research that Evan Kidd and colleagues have carried out is that these playful endings really do have social power — the little “-ie”/“-y” and “-o” tags help hold Australian English speakers together.

Shrinks, cops, hacks and quacks

Nicknames also help us cope with the power certain occupations wield over us, and the degree to which we trust those occupations.

For instance, the exact origins of “shrink” for psychiatrist are speculative, but all point to some anxiety about the people who help us with our anxieties. The term first emerged as “headshrinker” and almost certainly owes its origins to the literal practice of head shrinking (as performed by the Jivaroan Indigenous people of South America). The rather grisly label for psychiatrist made its print debut in Hollywood slang in the 1950s — and an on-screen appearance in Rebel Without a Cause certainly popularised the term.

Perhaps the process was originally seen as taking air out of the inflated egos so rife in showbiz — or letting air out of people’s worry-swollen thoughts. Others suggest the term echoes lobotomies once used on those seen as dangerously violent.
Or perhaps it’s simply that shrink reflected the nervous suspicion at the time about what psychiatrists really did to people’s heads — and black humour took the edge off.

More than a few people have also shown a distrust of police officers — who garner nicknames like “five-o” (from the famed television show Hawaii Five-O) or “pigs” and “grunters” (both have entries in James Hardy Vaux’s 1812 dictionary of convict slang).

Of all the nicknames, “cop” is perhaps the best recognised. Certainly, it’s sparked the most interesting narratives about how it came to be. One suggestion is that it was originally back slang from “police” (like “yob” from “boy”) — but there’s too much consonant dropping required here for this to be the most likely story!

Others link it to copper buttons, badges or batons. There are also a number of backronym explanations (retrofitted acronyms, where the words are chosen after the fact to match the letters). It’s often claimed, for example, that “cop” stands for “constable on patrol”. In fact, a copper was simply one who cops (that is, catches criminals).

Journalists also draw scrutiny and have been called “hacks”. In the 1500s, “hack” (short for “hackney”) referred to a horse for hire, usually an inferior or worn-out one. In the 1600s, “hacks” extended to people — “hacks” were drudges or lackeys. Later it specialised to refer to those hiring themselves out to do literary work, usually of poor quality. By the early 1800s, “hack” increasingly was used for journalists (originally “newspaper hack”). And, like so many derogatory names, it’s now more usually affectionate or ironic.

The curious word “quack” has emerged as a catch-all term for those promoting quick and easy cures or get-rich-quick schemes. “Quack” was a shortened form of “quacksalver”, in use since the 1600s for the medical charlatan (although as historian Roy Porter has emphasised, some quacks were decent, caring, well-intentioned people, offering cures when mainstream medicine failed). The inspiration here was the quacksalvers’ loud and bragging promotion of their products.

Our workplace “bean-counters” (US slang since the 1970s) turn people into KPIs, but workers are bound to stay focused on whom we love, whom we fear and whether a bastard’s a cook or a cook’s a bastard. From quacks to babblers, our workplace language isn’t determined in spreadsheets — it’s determined at “smoko”.

The Conversation

Kate Burridge receives funding from the Australian Research Council (SR200200350: Metaphors and Identities in the Australian Vernacular).

Howard Manns receives funding from the Australian Research Council (SR200200350: Metaphors and Identities in the Australian Vernacular).

– ref. Babblers, cops and quacks: the sometimes dark – but often amusing – origins of nicknames for jobs – https://theconversation.com/babblers-cops-and-quacks-the-sometimes-dark-but-often-amusing-origins-of-nicknames-for-jobs-270647

‘Weights of gold in bullion’: how the ancients invested in precious metals

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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Konstantine Panegyres, Lecturer in Classics and Ancient History, The University of Western Australia

Sailko, CC BY-SA 3.0, CC BY

“All I want is an income of 20,000 sesterces from secure investments”, proclaims a character in a poem by Juvenal (1st-2nd century CE), the Roman poet.

Today, 20,000 sesterces would be equivalent to about A$300,000 in interest from investments. Anyone would be very happy with this much passive annual income.

Like today, people in ancient times understood that investing money could help them consolidate and grow their wealth.

As the Roman novelist Petronius (1st century CE) once wrote,

Whoever has money sails with a fair breeze, and governs his fortune as he wishes.

So, how exactly did ancient people invest their money?

A lofty house with hidden silver

In ancient Greek and Roman times, there was no stock market where you could buy and trade shares in a company.

If you wanted to invest your cash, one of the more popular options was to obtain gold or silver.

People did this to protect against currency fluctuations and inflation. They usually kept the metals either in bullion form or in the form of ware like jewellery. Storing these items could be risky and prone to theft.

The Roman poet Virgil (70-19 BCE) describes the estate of a wealthy person that included “a lofty house, where talents of silver lie deeply hidden” alongside “weights of gold in bullion and in ware”.

A talent was the largest unit of currency measurement in ancient Greece and Rome, equivalent to about 25kg of weighed silver.

Detail of Virgil from Mosaic of Virgil Writing the Aeneid
A detail from a mosaic of Virgil Writing the Aeneid, held in the Bardo Museum in Tunis, Tunisia.
Roger Wood/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images

Usually the metals were stored in a special vault or security cupboard.

The Roman writer Cicero (106-43 BCE) recalls how a wealthy lady named Clodia would take gold (perhaps bars or ingots or plates) out of a security cupboard when she wished to lend money to someone. The gold could then be exchanged for coinage.

Market booms – and busts

The price of these metals could, however, occasionally be subject to unpredictable fluctuations and crashes in price, though less often than currency.

The Greek historian Polybius (c. 200-118 BCE) says that when a new gold vein was discovered in Aquileia, Italy, only two feet deep, it caused a gold rush. The new material flooded the market too quickly and “the price of gold throughout Italy at once fell by one-third” after only two months. To stabilise the gold price, mining in the area was quickly monopolised and regulated.

When people wanted to trade precious metals, they would sell them by weight. If the gold or silver or bronze had been worked into jewellery or other objects, this could be melted down and turned into bullion.

People must have delighted in owning these precious metals.

The Athenian writer Xenophon (c. 430-350 BCE) gives a clue about the mindset of ancient silver investors:

Silver is not like furniture, of which a man never buys more once he has got enough for his house. No one ever yet possessed so much silver as to want no more; if a man finds himself with a huge amount of it, he takes as much pleasure in burying the surplus as in using it.

A number of Roman wills reveal people leaving their heirs silver and gold in the form of bars, plates or ingots.

Roman Gold Bars AD Bank of England Museum
Roman gold ingot, dating to circa 375 AD, in the Bank of England Museum collection.
Joyofmuseums, CC BY-SA 4.0, CC BY

Commodities that could not be ‘ruined by Jupiter’

Aside from metals, agricultural commodities were also very popular, especially grain, olive oil, and wine.

To profit from agricultural commodities, people bought farmland and traded the commodities on the market.

The Roman statesman Cato thought putting money into the production of essential goods was the safest investment. He said these things “could not be ruined by Jupiter” – in other words, they were resistant to unpredictable movements in the economy.

Whereas precious metals were a store of wealth, they generated no income unless they were sold. But a diversified portfolio of agricultural commodities guaranteed a permanent income.

People also invested and traded in precious goods, like artworks.

When the Romans sacked the city of Corinth in 146 BC, they stole the city’s collection of famous artwork, and later sold the masterpieces for huge sums of money at auction in order to bring profit for the Roman state.

At this auction, the King of Pergamon, Attalus II (220-138 BCE), bought one of the paintings, by the master artist Aristeides of Thebes (4th century BCE), for the incredible sum of 100 talents (about 2,500kg of silver).

Eccentric emperors

Political instability or uncertainty sometimes raised the price of these metals.

The Greek historian Appian (2nd century CE) records how during the Roman civil war in 32-30 BCE:

the price of all commodities had risen, and the Romans ascribed the cause of this to the quarrelling of the leaders whom they cursed.

A bust of Emperor Caligula in the Louvre museum.
A bust of Emperor Caligula in the Louvre museum.
By anonymous – Clio20, CC BY-SA 3.0, CC BY

Eccentric emperors might also impose new taxes or charges on commodities, or try to manipulate the market.

The Roman historian Suetonius (c. 69-122 CE) tells us the emperor Caligula (12-41 CE) “levied new and unheard of taxes […] and there was no class of commodities or men on which he did not impose some form of tariff”.

Another emperor, Vespasian (17-79 CE), went so far as to “buy up certain commodities merely in order to distribute them at profit”, says Suetonius.

Clearly, investing in commodities 2,000 years ago could help build personal wealth – but also involved some risk, just like today.

The Conversation

Konstantine Panegyres does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. ‘Weights of gold in bullion’: how the ancients invested in precious metals – https://theconversation.com/weights-of-gold-in-bullion-how-the-ancients-invested-in-precious-metals-268207

Phoenix crushed by Victory in A-League clash in Melbourne

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Source: Radio New Zealand

The Phoenix are now 10th following the defeat to Melbourne Victory. Masanori Udagawa/Photosport

The Wellington Phoenix have fallen to their heaviest defeat of the A-League season, thumped 5-1 by Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park.

Ramy Najjarine drew the Phoenix level at 1-1 midway through the first half but the hosts scored goals either side of halftime take a two goal lead.

The Victory extended their advantage before the hour mark and added a fifth goal in the 90th minute.

Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano said the team’s defence was poor.

“I had a quick look at the goals that we conceded and I think every goal was preventable,” he said.

“The first goal was taken well. It was a good header but just sloppy second phase awareness for the first two goals. And then the third, fourth and fifth goals were for me comical. Especially coming out at halftime, the lack of pressure on the ball, being aware of where their dangers were and we weren’t protecting the space like we’d spoken about.

“And just the timing of the goals like straight after halftime to make it 3-1. Uncharacteristic goals…and we should have managed defensively a lot better.”

The result drops the Phoenix to 10th on the ladder, three points outside the top six.

Italiano believes it was an “off day” for his side and they can still turn around their fortunes.

“Simply it comes down to focus for 90 minutes and nothing else.

“We’re in most games for a large part. Tonight…was probably the first game that got away from us very early. It’s just staying in those moments and making sure that we don’t make basic errors and mistakes and there’s a lack of application.

“If we can eliminate that then we can still achieve good things this season.”

Italiano made one enforced change to the starting XI with 18-year-old goalkeeper Eamonn McCarron named to make his A-League starting debut in place of Josh Oluwayemi, who suffered an injury early in the 3-1 win over Central Coast prior to Christmas.

Alby Kelly-Heald, Xuan Loke and reserve team fullback Ryan Lee were promoted to the bench.

The Phoenix have little time to dwell on the defeat as they will travel to Brisbane prepare for Saturday’s match against the Roar.

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

Ngā Kaupapa Hirahira o te Tau: A look back at the year that was in Te Ao Māori

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Wiremu Keretene (Ngāti Hine) holds a sleeping child during the waka display at Tii Beach this morning. RNZ / Peter de Graaf

After the rollercoaster year that was 2024 te ao Māori may have expected that to continue into 2025 and in many ways it did with so many stories making for another unprecedented year.

The national Kapa Haka competition Te Matatini returned in February, rising to new heights of popularity with Te Tauihu group Te Kuru Marutea capturing hearts well beyond Māori circles with their powerful solos and of course there was that Waiata ā Ringa from eventual winners Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue.

The festival has also grown to record size, this year saw 55 haka groups competing the most ever and concerns over infrastructure in smaller regions eventually led organisers to move the next festival in 2027 to Waikato, rather than to the Nelson region which had been expected to host.

2025 was also a status qou breaking year in Māori politics, which saw the deaths of influential political leaders, an unprecedented suspension from Parliament, a by-election in Tāmaki Makaurau and a bitter feud within Te Pāti Māori.

But it began with a long and drawn out Select Committee process for the Treaty Principles Bill, a record-breaking 300,000+ submissions were made on the controversial bill which was ultimately defeated near-unanimously at its second reading in April – although its architect David Seymour has promised to reignite the debate in 2026.

The first Koroneihana of Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po took place in September, one year on from her ascension as Māori Monarch and the death of her father Kiingi Tuheitia.

Te Ao Māori awaited eagerly to hear what Te Arikinui would say after a year of silence – and her kōrero did not disappoint. She told listeners there were many ways to manifest being Māori, “Kaua tātou e tuku mā ngā porotū kau noa e Māori ai tātou – Tino Rangatiratangatia tō reo, Mana Motuhaketia te taiao, Tino Rangatiratangatia tō hauora, Mana Motuhaketia tō pā harakeke, kei aua kaupapa rā te tino oranga mai o te Māoritanga,” she said.

She also took the opportunity to launch two new economic initiatives, including a multi million dollar Kotahitanga Fund. Could that be a catalyst to take Māoridom into a post Treaty Settlement era?

Here are just a few of the stories that we had the privilege of sharing in 2025:

Dame Tariana Turia

The year had barely begun when news broke that Dame Tariana Turia, the former co-leader of Te Pāti Māori, had died at the age of 80.

At her tangihanga at Whangaehu Marae near Whanganui she was remembered as a principled politician, a fighter for her iwi, including during the 79-day occupation of Whanganui’s Moutoa Gardens in 1995, but by most people simply as Nanny Tari.

She was the first of many of many Māori leaders taken in Te Kupenga o Taramainuku in 2025, less then a month later the Turia whānau were rocked again by the death of Dame Tariana’s grandson Pakaitore Turia.

Then-Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia poses during a portrait session at Parliament on 29 July 2014 in Wellington. Hagen Hopkins / Getty Images

Dame Tariana Turia is carried from Whangaehu Marae to the nearby urupā where she was laid to rest. Pokere Paewai

Several thousand people attended the tangihanga of Dame Tariana Turia. Pokere Paewai

Rātana

The annual Rātana celebrations in January commemorate the birthday of the movements founder Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana and traditionally mark the beginning of the political year.

While the political talk was dominated by the Treaty Principles Bill the event also marked the first visit of the Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po to Rātana since the death of her father Kiingi Tuheititia.

Tainui leader Tuku Morgan described the Kiingitanga and Rātana Church as two movements inextricably bound together.

Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po being welcomed to Rātana. RNZ / Pokere Paewai

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Kamaka Manuel. RNZ / Reece Baker

Waitangi

Waitangi commemorations began with the re-opening of the historic wharenui at Te Tii Marae, where at least 300 people gathered to witness the whare’s new carvings, paved courtyard and earthquake strengthening.

Among the annual attractions was the annual waka parade; a staple of Waitangi commemorations and a celebration of the various vessels used by early Māori settlers.

Keen-eyed beach onlookers would also have noticed Bosco, the water surfing French bulldog, who made headlines for his aquatic antics.

Diving of the Waitangi bridge to cool off – a Waitangi tradition. RNZ/ Peter de Graaf

The Ngāti Kahu waka Te Rangimarie is launched next to Waitangi Bridge. RNZ/ Peter de Graaf

Three-year-old French bulldog, Bosco lives the boat life in Paihia and has been surfing for over a year and a half. Layla Bailey-McDowell / RNZ

Iritana Tawhiwhirangi

Māori educator Dame Iritana Te Rangi Tāwhiwhirangi, a founder of the Kōhanga Reo movement, died in early February, she was 95.

During her tangihanga at Gisborne’s Te Poho o Rawiri Marae she was remembered as a stern but caring mentor, a lion, a taniwha and a keen golfer.

Many mourners made their way to Te Tairāwhiti, including Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po, now the patron of the Kōhanga Reo National Trust and for whom Dame Iritana was a mentor.

Dame Iritana Tāwhiwhirangi Supplied / Te Tai

Mourners arriving at Te Poho o Rawiri Marae in Gisborne. RNZ / Pokere Paewai

Te Matatini

The largest event in Māoridom, the “Olympics of Kapa Haka” Te Matatini, returned in 2025 with Taranaki and Whanganui hosting the biggest competition ever.

Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue from the Te Arawa region emerged as Toa Whakaihuwaka, as champions on the final day at Pukekura Park in New Plymouth.

The pōwhiri at Stadium Taranaki kicked off Te Matatini. Emma Andrews

Mōtai Tangata Rau performing at Pukekura, the Bowl of Brooklands in New Plymouth. Te Matatini Enterprises

Te Matatini champions Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue. Supplied / Te Matatini Enterprises

Matariki mā Puanga

For it’s fourth year the Matariki Public Holiday celebrations highlighted the star Puanga (Rigel) and the communities who observe the star in their astronomical traditions.

The national hautapu ceremony was hosted this year by central North Island iwi Ngāti Rangi at Tirorangi Marae near the base of Ruapehu.

The stars of Matariki pictured between the clouds as viewed from Tirorangi Marae. Supplied by Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Richie Mills

Kaikarakia group at 2025’s Matariki celebrations at Tirorangi Marae. Supplied / Richie Mills

Takutai Tarsh Kemp

The MP for Tāmaki Makaurau Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp died suddenly in June at the age of 50, the Pāti Māori MP had been at Parliament working only the day before.

Before Parliament she founded the Rangatahi Mental Health Youth Hub, managed the first crew from Aotearoa to qualify for the World Hip Hop Championships in the US and lead Manurewa Marae as its chief executive through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Takutai Tarsh Kemp. RNZ / Simon Rogers

Flowers on the House seat of Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Takutai Tarsh Kemp being laid to rest on the church grounds behind Opaea Marae near Taihape. Pokere Paewai / RNZ

Koroneihana

The first Koroneihana of Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po took place one year on from her ascension as Māori Monarch and the death of her father Kiingi Tuheitia

After a year of mourning many people were eagerly awaiting her first national address. In an emotional speech she told listeners that being Māori was not defined by having an enemy or a challenge to overcome.

Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po receives a koha from Te Wharekura o Kirikiriroa, as she marked the first day of her first Koroneihana celebrations. Image courtesy of Te Tari o te Kiingitanga

Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po. Image courtesy of Te Tari o te Kiingitanga

Te Arikinui with the poi after her first official address. Image courtesy of Te Tari o te Kiingitanga

Te Pāti Māori ructions

Ructions within Te Pāti Māori dominated the headlines throughout the second half of the year. It began with what should have been a moment of celebration for the party with former broadcaster Oriini Kaipara winning the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election in a landslide.

But allegations by former staffer Eru Kapa-Kingi of a “dictatorship” among the party leadership soon spiralled with Te Pāti Māori’s national council voting to expel MPs Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, mother of Eru, and Tākuta Ferris.

Kapa-Kingi has since been reinstated as a member of the party, but the court decision which forced the issue will be revisited at a full hearing in early February next year. Just in time for Waitangi.

Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi. RNZ/Samuel Rillstone

Tākuta Ferris and Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. RNZ/Liam K. Swiggs

Marine and Coastal Area Act (MACA)

In October the government’s changes to the Marine and Coastal Area Act (MACA) passed, making it harder for Māori groups to secure Customary Marine Title (CMT) over parts of New Zealand’s coast.

The law is also retrospective meaning groups who had their title confirmed after 24 July 2024, such as the whānau of Ruapuke Island, will have to go back to court.

Veteran Māori rights activist Reuben Taipari gathered almost 20,000 signatures in only four days on a petition opposing the Bill, which he called worse than the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004.

Ngātiwai chairman Aperahama Kerepeti-Edwards also made his feelings on the Bill clear during a debate and was ejected from Parliament’s gallery for it, then a few weeks later the iwi upped the ante by landing on the Poor Knights Islands to raise a flag and erect a carved pou in protest.

Rueben Taipari after delivering the petition to parliament. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Ngātiwai members travelled to the Poor Knights Islands about 20km off Northland’s Tūtūkākā Coast, by waka hourua Supplied

Sir Tumu Te Heuheu

In September Sir Tumu Te Heuheu Tūkino VII, the Ariki or traditional leader of central North Island iwi Ngāti Tūwharetoa died, he was 84.

Succeeding his father Sir Hepi Te Heuheu as Ariki in 1997, he left behind a legacy of commitment to his iwi and to the environment. His son was named his successor, Te Rangimaheu Te Heuheu Tūkino IX.

Sir Tumu Te Heuheu outside his wharenui Tapeka at Waihī. Supplied/The Hui

Sir Tumu (centre). (He is shown here at the tangihanga for Kiingi Tuheitia, in September 2024). Supplied/ Kiingitanga – Tuteri Rangihaeata

WIPCE

After 20 years the World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Education (WIPCE) returned to Aotearoa. Some 4000 delagates representing indigenous nations the world over descended on Tāmaki Makaurau.

The conference covered many different themes on education and many more beyond including Pacific wayfinding and indigenous food, the conference also saw the return of the Hawaiian double-hulled voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa to Auckland 40 years since its voyage to Aotearoa that helped spark a revival of Pacific navigation.

Pōwhiri for the start of four-day WIPCE 2025 conference. Tamaira Hook

The historic waka hourua Hōkūleʻa returns to Tāmaki Makaurau after 40 years. Tamaira Hook / WIPCE

Hawaiian Chef Kealoha Domingo prepares kina during a foraging excursion for indigenous chefs at WIPCE. RNZ/Nick Monro

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

Ngā Kaupapa Hirahira o te Tau: A look back at the year that was in Te Ao Māori

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wiremu Keretene (Ngāti Hine) holds a sleeping child during the waka display at Tii Beach this morning. RNZ / Peter de Graaf

After the rollercoaster year that was 2024 te ao Māori may have expected that to continue into 2025 and in many ways it did with so many stories making for another unprecedented year.

The national Kapa Haka competition Te Matatini returned in February, rising to new heights of popularity with Te Tauihu group Te Kuru Marutea capturing hearts well beyond Māori circles with their powerful solos and of course there was that Waiata ā Ringa from eventual winners Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue.

The festival has also grown to record size, this year saw 55 haka groups competing the most ever and concerns over infrastructure in smaller regions eventually led organisers to move the next festival in 2027 to Waikato, rather than to the Nelson region which had been expected to host.

2025 was also a status qou breaking year in Māori politics, which saw the deaths of influential political leaders, an unprecedented suspension from Parliament, a by-election in Tāmaki Makaurau and a bitter feud within Te Pāti Māori.

But it began with a long and drawn out Select Committee process for the Treaty Principles Bill, a record-breaking 300,000+ submissions were made on the controversial bill which was ultimately defeated near-unanimously at its second reading in April – although its architect David Seymour has promised to reignite the debate in 2026.

The first Koroneihana of Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po took place in September, one year on from her ascension as Māori Monarch and the death of her father Kiingi Tuheitia.

Te Ao Māori awaited eagerly to hear what Te Arikinui would say after a year of silence – and her kōrero did not disappoint. She told listeners there were many ways to manifest being Māori, “Kaua tātou e tuku mā ngā porotū kau noa e Māori ai tātou – Tino Rangatiratangatia tō reo, Mana Motuhaketia te taiao, Tino Rangatiratangatia tō hauora, Mana Motuhaketia tō pā harakeke, kei aua kaupapa rā te tino oranga mai o te Māoritanga,” she said.

She also took the opportunity to launch two new economic initiatives, including a multi million dollar Kotahitanga Fund. Could that be a catalyst to take Māoridom into a post Treaty Settlement era?

Here are just a few of the stories that we had the privilege of sharing in 2025:

Dame Tariana Turia

The year had barely begun when news broke that Dame Tariana Turia, the former co-leader of Te Pāti Māori, had died at the age of 80.

At her tangihanga at Whangaehu Marae near Whanganui she was remembered as a principled politician, a fighter for her iwi, including during the 79-day occupation of Whanganui’s Moutoa Gardens in 1995, but by most people simply as Nanny Tari.

She was the first of many of many Māori leaders taken in Te Kupenga o Taramainuku in 2025, less then a month later the Turia whānau were rocked again by the death of Dame Tariana’s grandson Pakaitore Turia.

Then-Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia poses during a portrait session at Parliament on 29 July 2014 in Wellington. Hagen Hopkins / Getty Images

Dame Tariana Turia is carried from Whangaehu Marae to the nearby urupā where she was laid to rest. Pokere Paewai

Several thousand people attended the tangihanga of Dame Tariana Turia. Pokere Paewai

Rātana

The annual Rātana celebrations in January commemorate the birthday of the movements founder Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana and traditionally mark the beginning of the political year.

While the political talk was dominated by the Treaty Principles Bill the event also marked the first visit of the Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po to Rātana since the death of her father Kiingi Tuheititia.

Tainui leader Tuku Morgan described the Kiingitanga and Rātana Church as two movements inextricably bound together.

Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po being welcomed to Rātana. RNZ / Pokere Paewai

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Kamaka Manuel. RNZ / Reece Baker

Waitangi

Waitangi commemorations began with the re-opening of the historic wharenui at Te Tii Marae, where at least 300 people gathered to witness the whare’s new carvings, paved courtyard and earthquake strengthening.

Among the annual attractions was the annual waka parade; a staple of Waitangi commemorations and a celebration of the various vessels used by early Māori settlers.

Keen-eyed beach onlookers would also have noticed Bosco, the water surfing French bulldog, who made headlines for his aquatic antics.

Diving of the Waitangi bridge to cool off – a Waitangi tradition. RNZ/ Peter de Graaf

The Ngāti Kahu waka Te Rangimarie is launched next to Waitangi Bridge. RNZ/ Peter de Graaf

Three-year-old French bulldog, Bosco lives the boat life in Paihia and has been surfing for over a year and a half. Layla Bailey-McDowell / RNZ

Iritana Tawhiwhirangi

Māori educator Dame Iritana Te Rangi Tāwhiwhirangi, a founder of the Kōhanga Reo movement, died in early February, she was 95.

During her tangihanga at Gisborne’s Te Poho o Rawiri Marae she was remembered as a stern but caring mentor, a lion, a taniwha and a keen golfer.

Many mourners made their way to Te Tairāwhiti, including Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po, now the patron of the Kōhanga Reo National Trust and for whom Dame Iritana was a mentor.

Dame Iritana Tāwhiwhirangi Supplied / Te Tai

Mourners arriving at Te Poho o Rawiri Marae in Gisborne. RNZ / Pokere Paewai

Te Matatini

The largest event in Māoridom, the “Olympics of Kapa Haka” Te Matatini, returned in 2025 with Taranaki and Whanganui hosting the biggest competition ever.

Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue from the Te Arawa region emerged as Toa Whakaihuwaka, as champions on the final day at Pukekura Park in New Plymouth.

The pōwhiri at Stadium Taranaki kicked off Te Matatini. Emma Andrews

Mōtai Tangata Rau performing at Pukekura, the Bowl of Brooklands in New Plymouth. Te Matatini Enterprises

Te Matatini champions Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue. Supplied / Te Matatini Enterprises

Matariki mā Puanga

For it’s fourth year the Matariki Public Holiday celebrations highlighted the star Puanga (Rigel) and the communities who observe the star in their astronomical traditions.

The national hautapu ceremony was hosted this year by central North Island iwi Ngāti Rangi at Tirorangi Marae near the base of Ruapehu.

The stars of Matariki pictured between the clouds as viewed from Tirorangi Marae. Supplied by Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Richie Mills

Kaikarakia group at 2025’s Matariki celebrations at Tirorangi Marae. Supplied / Richie Mills

Takutai Tarsh Kemp

The MP for Tāmaki Makaurau Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp died suddenly in June at the age of 50, the Pāti Māori MP had been at Parliament working only the day before.

Before Parliament she founded the Rangatahi Mental Health Youth Hub, managed the first crew from Aotearoa to qualify for the World Hip Hop Championships in the US and lead Manurewa Marae as its chief executive through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Takutai Tarsh Kemp. RNZ / Simon Rogers

Flowers on the House seat of Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Takutai Tarsh Kemp being laid to rest on the church grounds behind Opaea Marae near Taihape. Pokere Paewai / RNZ

Koroneihana

The first Koroneihana of Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po took place one year on from her ascension as Māori Monarch and the death of her father Kiingi Tuheitia

After a year of mourning many people were eagerly awaiting her first national address. In an emotional speech she told listeners that being Māori was not defined by having an enemy or a challenge to overcome.

Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po receives a koha from Te Wharekura o Kirikiriroa, as she marked the first day of her first Koroneihana celebrations. Image courtesy of Te Tari o te Kiingitanga

Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po. Image courtesy of Te Tari o te Kiingitanga

Te Arikinui with the poi after her first official address. Image courtesy of Te Tari o te Kiingitanga

Te Pāti Māori ructions

Ructions within Te Pāti Māori dominated the headlines throughout the second half of the year. It began with what should have been a moment of celebration for the party with former broadcaster Oriini Kaipara winning the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election in a landslide.

But allegations by former staffer Eru Kapa-Kingi of a “dictatorship” among the party leadership soon spiralled with Te Pāti Māori’s national council voting to expel MPs Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, mother of Eru, and Tākuta Ferris.

Kapa-Kingi has since been reinstated as a member of the party, but the court decision which forced the issue will be revisited at a full hearing in early February next year. Just in time for Waitangi.

Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi. RNZ/Samuel Rillstone

Tākuta Ferris and Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. RNZ/Liam K. Swiggs

Marine and Coastal Area Act (MACA)

In October the government’s changes to the Marine and Coastal Area Act (MACA) passed, making it harder for Māori groups to secure Customary Marine Title (CMT) over parts of New Zealand’s coast.

The law is also retrospective meaning groups who had their title confirmed after 24 July 2024, such as the whānau of Ruapuke Island, will have to go back to court.

Veteran Māori rights activist Reuben Taipari gathered almost 20,000 signatures in only four days on a petition opposing the Bill, which he called worse than the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004.

Ngātiwai chairman Aperahama Kerepeti-Edwards also made his feelings on the Bill clear during a debate and was ejected from Parliament’s gallery for it, then a few weeks later the iwi upped the ante by landing on the Poor Knights Islands to raise a flag and erect a carved pou in protest.

Rueben Taipari after delivering the petition to parliament. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Ngātiwai members travelled to the Poor Knights Islands about 20km off Northland’s Tūtūkākā Coast, by waka hourua Supplied

Sir Tumu Te Heuheu

In September Sir Tumu Te Heuheu Tūkino VII, the Ariki or traditional leader of central North Island iwi Ngāti Tūwharetoa died, he was 84.

Succeeding his father Sir Hepi Te Heuheu as Ariki in 1997, he left behind a legacy of commitment to his iwi and to the environment. His son was named his successor, Te Rangimaheu Te Heuheu Tūkino IX.

Sir Tumu Te Heuheu outside his wharenui Tapeka at Waihī. Supplied/The Hui

Sir Tumu (centre). (He is shown here at the tangihanga for Kiingi Tuheitia, in September 2024). Supplied/ Kiingitanga – Tuteri Rangihaeata

WIPCE

After 20 years the World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Education (WIPCE) returned to Aotearoa. Some 4000 delagates representing indigenous nations the world over descended on Tāmaki Makaurau.

The conference covered many different themes on education and many more beyond including Pacific wayfinding and indigenous food, the conference also saw the return of the Hawaiian double-hulled voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa to Auckland 40 years since its voyage to Aotearoa that helped spark a revival of Pacific navigation.

Pōwhiri for the start of four-day WIPCE 2025 conference. Tamaira Hook

The historic waka hourua Hōkūleʻa returns to Tāmaki Makaurau after 40 years. Tamaira Hook / WIPCE

Hawaiian Chef Kealoha Domingo prepares kina during a foraging excursion for indigenous chefs at WIPCE. RNZ/Nick Monro

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

Animal rights advocates call for camera surveillance in shearing sheds

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Source: Radio New Zealand

PETA says video footage captured on New Zealand farms exposes the cruelty involved in sheep shearing. Supplied / PETA Asia

Animal rights advocates are calling for cameras in shearing sheds, saying “welfare training” for shearers is not enough to stop sheep being mistreated.

The government and the industry have this week announced a joint $75,000 fund to support this training.

It is in response to a damning exposé last year by PETA, which released covert footage of sheep being punched and kicked, and triggered an ongoing investigation by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

However, the SPCA’s chief scientific officer, Dr Arnja Dale, said she would be “really disappointed” if this were the only outcome.

SPCA chief science advisor Arnja Dale. Supplied / SPCA

“It’s been more than a year since that exposé. More training is absolutely needed, it’s a good start, but these are not new issues.”

The PETA investigation had attracted international attention and obviously embarrassed the government and the wool industry, she said.

“But if they really cared about animal welfare, they would have addressed these issues with shearing years ago.”

MPI’s own Verification Services had expressed concern about the number of animals arriving at freezing works with fresh and unhealed shearing cuts and injuries, Dale said.

The ministry’s evaluation report following public consultation on the new Code of Welfare for Sheep and Beef Cattle last year also noted NZ Shearing Contractors had reported an increase in cuts and injuries “over time”.

The government had yet to sign off on the new code, which would require farmers to identify and treat sheep with shearing cuts or injuries.

The SPCA would support camera surveillance in both shearing sheds and slaughter houses, Dale said.

“There is no record of how many cuts and significant injuries result in animals being euthanised. There’s no central repository of this information, so we don’t know the full extent of the problem.

“But it would also be great to have shearers being accredited and have compulsory training before they start and checks and balances as they go through their career.”

Part of the problem was that shearers were rewarded for speed and “through put”, she said.

“Some shearers and some farms are putting animal welfare first and putting the emphasis on keeping animals calm.

“We hope that we see not only more time and more care being taken, but also pain relief should be used routinely for all cuts and injuries, and inspection by vets of any injuries or wounds of a significant nature.”

PETA spokesperson Jason Baker said when animals were treated as economic commodities, “welfare loses out to economics every time”.

“A year on from our case, there is still not a single live feed coming from a single shed, because the industry would never dare show the world that shearing is anything but ‘just a haircut’.

“Regardless of what PR moves the industry or government throws up, there is no such thing as humane wool. Anyone who cares about sheep doesn’t wear wool.”

Government won’t fund cameras

Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard. RNZ / Kim Baker-Wilson

However, both the government and the shearing industry have rejected video surveillance as “unnecessary and intrusive”.

Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard said New Zealand did not “spy” on its own citizens.

Furthermore, there would be major technical hurdles to such a scheme, he said.

“Connectivity is a massive challenge for a lot of farms. The key thing here is making sure people are aware of their responsibilities and rules, and that’s the best way of encouraging good behaviour.”

The training programme would help reinforce New Zealand’s reputation for high animal welfare standards, he said.

Industry has ‘nothing to hide’, say shearers

New Zealand Shearing Contractors Association chief executive Phil Holden. Photosport

The New Zealand Shearing Contractors Association chief executive, Phil Holden, said if farmers wanted to place cameras in shearing sheds, that was up to them.

“It’s more about the practical implications of it: who funds them? Who sees the footage? What happens to the footage? All those privacy issues. It’s not as simple as just sticking a camera up. So it’s a rather naive response to what’s a more complicated issue.”

Some companies were trialling the use of cameras in sheds and properties, he said.

“The reality is we’ve got nothing to hide. The industry is in a real solid place and this animal welfare initiative is another step on the journey.

“It’s not something new, it’s been running over the course of the year. We’ve been able to secure another source of funding to just take it to the next level.”

Holden said he was not aware of any increase in shearing injuries to sheep.

Speed was not incompatible with animal welfare in his view: the main focus of the training was keeping the sheep “calm”.

“As long as the animal is calm then it can be shorn fast. I don’t think speed is the issue. It’s about making sure the animal is calm and in a state ready to be shorn and it’s done appropriately by a skilled person.”

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

Campground managers hoping for sunnier New Year’s Eve weather

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Campground managers in the North Island are hoping for sunnier weather leading up to New Year’s. Ruth Kuo

Campground managers in the North Island are hoping for sunnier weather leading up to New Year’s after a lashing of wind and rain.

Wild weather battered much of the North Island on Monday, disrupting campers, causing power outages and downing trees.

In Auckland a roof was torn off an unoccupied home in Hillsborough, as fire crews responded to more than 100 weather-related callouts.

The manager of Kūaotunu Campground on the Coromandel Peninsula, Yvette Davey, said the weather had caused a bit of disruption on Monday.

“We have had a couple of campers that their tents were destroyed so they had to go home, other than that people are hunkering down, it’s settled down here,” she said.

Leanne Mills, the owner of Long Bay Motor Camp in Coromandel said campers were not too put off by the wet weather.

“We’ve had a bit of rain [on Monday] but we’ve been lucky campers have just used it as a crash day, just chill out, read a book, sleep,” she said.

“We’ve just got continued support from our regulars, mostly 90 percent Kiwis, so they’ll come and just meet up every year with the same people year after year and they don’t really care if it rains.”

Festivalgoers for New Year’s events such as Rhythm and Vines in Gisborne have been warned to watch out for wild weather on the roads.

Strong wind warnings for the northern and central parts of the North Island have expired but several regions remain in the firing line.

Orange wind warnings remain for Manawatu, Horowhenua and Kapiti Coast until 9am Tuesday, and the Marlborough Sounds, Nelson and the West Coast north of Aoraki Mount Cook until 2pm Tuesday.

An orange heavy rain warning is in place for Hawke’s Bay until 8am Tuesday.

Tauranga City Council has cancelled all five of its community New Year’s Eve events because of the bad weather forecast.

The council said weather reports indicated heavy rain and strong winds during event set-up, with conditions highly likely to continue into Wednesday.

It said fireworks displays would hopefully still take place from various locations around the city on New Year’s Eve.

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

Essential New Zealand Albums: Strawpeople – Broadcast

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Sleek, modern, sophisticated and brimful of hits, their 1994 album Broadcast was a type of album by a type of group that hadn’t really been heard in this country before.

‘Sweet Disorder’ – the biggest hit from Broadcast – won the 1995 Silver Scroll Award for its composers.

The Strawpeople story started in the ’80s, at Auckland student station bFM, where fellow music and recording geeks Mark Tierney and Paul Casserly were working as DJs.

Strawpeople – Broadcast

Essential New Zealand AlbumsSeason 5 / Episode 6

This video is hosted on Youtube.

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

How short-form videos could be harming young minds

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Analysis – Online short-form video has shifted from a light distraction to a constant backdrop in many children’s lives. What used to fill a spare moment now shapes how young people relax, communicate and form opinions, with TikTok, Instagram Reels, Douyin and YouTube Shorts drawing in hundreds of millions of under-18s through endlessly personalised feeds.

These apps feel lively and intimate, offering quick routes to humour, trends and connection, yet their design encourages long sessions of rapid scrolling that can be difficult for young users to manage. They were never built with children in mind, although many children use them daily and often alone.

For some pre-teens, these platforms help develop identity, spark interests and maintain friendships. For others, the flow of content disrupts sleep, erodes boundaries or squeezes out time for reflection and meaningful interaction.

Unlike longer videos or traditional social media posts, short-form content provides almost no context, no warning, and no opportunity to prepare emotionally, Easton says.

Unsplash/ Audrey K

More stories

Problematic use is less about minutes spent and more about patterns where scrolling becomes compulsive or hard to stop. These patterns can begin to affect sleep, mood, attention, schoolwork and relationships.

Short-form videos (typically between 15 and 90 seconds) are engineered to capture the brain’s craving for novelty. Each swipe promises something different, whether a joke, prank or shock – and the reward system responds instantly.

Because the feed rarely pauses, the natural breaks that help attention reset vanish. Over time, this can weaken impulse control and sustained focus. A 2023 analysis of 71 studies and nearly 100,000 participants found a moderate link between heavy short-form video use and reduced inhibitory control and attention spans.

Attention hijacked

Sleep is one of the clearest areas where short-form video can take a toll.

Many children today view screens when they should be winding down. The bright light delays the release of melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate sleep, making it harder for them to drift off.

But the emotional highs and lows of rapid content make it particularly difficult for the brain to settle. A recent study found that for some teenagers, excessive short-form video use is connected to poorer sleep and higher social anxiety.

These sleep disturbances affect mood, resilience and memory, and can create a cycle that is especially hard for stressed or socially pressured children to break.

Short-form video use may lead to insomnia.

Beyond sleep, the constant stream of peer images and curated lifestyles can amplify comparison. Pre-teens may internalise unrealistic standards of popularity, appearance or success, which is linked to lower self-esteem and anxiety – although the same is true for all forms of social media.

Younger children are more susceptible

Most research focuses on teenagers, but younger children have less mature self-regulation and a more fragile sense of identity, leaving them highly susceptible to the emotional pull of quick-fire content.

Exposure to material children never intended to see adds risk and the design of short-form video apps can make this far more likely. Because clips appear instantly and autoplay one after another, children can be shown violent footage, harmful challenges or sexual content before they have time to process what they are seeing or look away.

Unlike longer videos or traditional social media posts, short-form content provides almost no context, no warning, and no opportunity to prepare emotionally. A single swipe can produce a sudden shift in tone from silly to disturbing, which is particularly jarring for developing brains.

Although this content may not always be illegal, it can still be inappropriate for a child’s stage of development. Algorithmic systems learn from a brief moment of exposure, sometimes escalating similar content into the feed. This combination of instant appearance, lack of context, emotional intensity and rapid reinforcement is what makes inappropriate content in short-form video especially problematic for younger users.

Not every child is affected in the same way, though. Those with anxiety, attention difficulties or emotional volatility seem more vulnerable to compulsive scrolling and to the mood swings that follow it.

Some research suggests a cyclical relationship, where young people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, are particularly drawn to rapid content, while heavy use may intensify the symptoms that make self-regulation difficult. Children dealing with bullying, stress, family instability or poor sleep may also use late-night scrolling to cope with difficult emotions.

This matters because childhood is a critical period for learning how to build relationships, tolerate boredom and handle uncomfortable feelings. When every quiet moment is filled with quick entertainment, children lose chances to practise daydreaming, invent games, chat with family or simply let their thoughts wander.

Unstructured time is part of how young minds learn to soothe themselves and develop internal focus. Without it, these skills can weaken.

New guidelines

There are encouraging signs of change as governments and schools begin to address digital well-being more explicitly. In England, new statutory guidelines encourage schools to integrate online safety and digital literacy into the curriculum.

Some schools are restricting smartphone use during the school day, and organisations such as Amnesty International are urging platforms to introduce safer defaults, better age-verification and greater transparency around algorithms.

At home, open conversation can help children understand their habits and build healthier ones. Parents can watch videos together, discuss what makes certain clips appealing and explore how particular content made the child feel.

Establishing simple family routines, such as keeping devices out of bedrooms or setting a shared cut-off time for screen use, can protect sleep and reduce late-night scrolling. Encouraging offline activities, hobbies, sports and time with friends also helps maintain a healthy balance.

Short-form videos can be creative, funny and comforting. With thoughtful support, responsive policies and safer platform design, children can enjoy them without compromising their well-being or development.

*Katherine Easton is a lecturer of psychology at University of Sheffield. Disclosure statement: Easton has recently received funding from: 2021 – UKRI eNurture (PI) £26,762.00 Hacking the school system. 2022 – Research England, HEIF TUoS (PI) £48,983 Digiware: Knowledge Exchange in Education and Internet of Things. to research young people’s views on the use of technology in their schools

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

The biggest Kiwi sporting stories of 2025

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Geordie Beamish. PHOTOSPORT

Controversies, comebacks, suspensions, breakthrough wins and a near perfect seasons, there have been some truly massive sport’s stories involving New Zealanders this year.

RNZ sport looks back at some of the biggest Kiwi sports stories of 2025.

Geordie Beamish’s dramatic tumble

The photo which captured the Geordie Beamish moment was selected as one of three finalists for the 2025 World Athletics Photograph of the Year. Emilee Chinn

New Zealand track runner Geordie Beamish took a tumble at the World Championships in Tokyo in September, which could have ended badly.

Beamish fell during the heats of the 3000m steeplechase after tripping over a barrier on the final lap, and a rival runner’s spiked foot briefly made contact with his face.

Fortunately, Beamish was able to recover and finished second in the heat, after sustaining a couple of scratches to his face.

Two days later, he went on to stun the field in the final, beating hot favourite and two-time Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco to claim gold.

In doing so, the 29-year-old won New Zealand’s first-ever track gold at a World Championships.

Dame Noeline Taurua and the saga of the Silver Ferns coach

Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua, photographed on her first day back reinstated in the position. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

What began as a quietly handled cultural review spiralled into one of the biggest controversies in New Zealand netball history. Tensions erupted into public view in September, when Netball NZ abruptly stood down Dame Noeline and her coaching staff just days out from the Taini Jamison series against South Africa.

The move followed a breakdown in talks over proposed changes to the Silver Ferns programme.

The impasse meant Netball NZ made the decision to extend Taurua’s suspension until the end of the year, sidelining the veteran coach from the Constellation Cup series against Australia and next month’s UK tour.

Months earlier, a group of up to seven players had raised concerns about the team environment, prompting Netball NZ to commission a ‘cultural review’. But Taurua and her coaching team of Debbie Fuller and Briony Akle pushed back, forcefully rejecting the findings and the process of the review.

After 51 days, Dame Noeline was reinstated as Silver Ferns coach, but would remain grounded for the end of season Northern Tour while the parties implemented agreed upon changes.

It is understood the changes being worked through involve a re-jig of the Ferns’ management team and a change in the “psych model” for tours.

Auckland FC rise to the top in their inaugural season

Hiroki Sakai and Steve Corica celebrate with the A-League Premier’s Plate. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz

Established in March 2024, the club spent money to make sure they made an immediate impact in their inaugural season in the A-League, but not many would have expected them to have achieved what they did.

Under the guidance of Steve Corica, Auckland FC went through the 24-25 season with just three losses in the regular competition, finishing five points clear at the top of the standings to claim the Premiership title.

Auckland FC didn’t lose their first game until round nine and by then the city was well an truly behind them.

They beat Wellington Phoenix three times in the New Zealand derby and averaged 18,000 fans at their home games.

With just one loss at home in the regular season the city jumped on their magical run as they became the number one attraction in town.

Captain Hiroki Sakai finished third in the Johnny Warren Medal voting with Guillermo May sixth equal, while Corica was named Coach of the Year and Alex Paulsen Goalkeeper of the Year.

Unfortunately their golden run came to an end in the semi-finals of the play-offs, as they were beaten by Melbourne Victory over two legs.

Ryan Fox wins twice on the PGA Tour

Ryan Fox of New Zealand CON CHRONIS / photosport

It had been 20 years since a New Zealand golfer had won on the PGA Tour and Ryan Fox managed to do that twice during the year.

After a successful run on the European (World) Tour Fox headed to the USA and in his second full season in the world’s toughest championship he tasted success.

He won the Myrtle Beach Classic in South Carolina in May and the Canadian Open in June and finished in the top 40 in the overall season standings.

Those results have now given him some security on the PGA Tour for the next couple of years.

With ten victories world-wide Fox is one of New Zealand’s most successful golfers.

Success in majors is now the aim for the 38 year old.

Special mention to Steve Alker who won twice on the Champions Tour (seniors), had 18 top ten finishes and finished second in the season-ending ranking.

Hayden Wilde completes courageous comeback

Hayden Wilde. PHOTOSPORT

New Zealand triathlete Hayden Wilde was crowned king of the T100 World Triathlon series, after rounding out his season in perfect style.

Wilde won the final race in the Qatar T100 Triathlon World Championship in sweltering conditions, capping his sixth victory of the season.

The victory in the grand final secured him the overall world title for the 2026 season.

However, it was his comeback from a horror bike crash in May that was the bigger story.

Wilde broke several ribs, had a broken scapula, and a punctured lung after being knocked off his bike by a truck while on a training ride in Tokyo.

Wilde returned to racing less than 100 days after the Japan crash, marking a winning comeback with victory at the T100 London race.

He would go on to win several more rounds before taking the season finale and the overall title.

Liam Lawson completes first full season in F1

New Zealand F1 driver Liam Lawson. DPPI / PHOTOSPORT

While Liam Lawson may not have won any races, or even stepped on a podium, the young New Zealander certainly spent plenty of time in the sporting headlines.

The 23-year-old started 2025 in the Red Bull team but struggled to make an impression alongside team-mate and world champion Max Verstappen.

He was demoted to the junior Racing Bulls team after just two rounds and replaced by Yuki Tsunoda.

It wasn’t until the round eight in Monaco where he grabbed his first points, finishing eighth after sacrificing a higher finish by following team orders.

His best run of results came in the middle of the season with a sixth in Austria and a fifth in Azerbaijan.

For the rest of the season Lawson scrapped for points and his survival in the sport.

His efforts were rewarded before the final round in Abu Dhabi when his seat in Racing Bulls was confirmed for 2026, while Tsunoda was relegated to reserve driver.

The pressure remains on the Lawson who now needs consistency to realise his dream of being the best in the world.

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

The carers being a helping hand to those in need

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Source: Radio New Zealand

After witnessing the struggles of elderly people and those with disabilities forced to navigate hospital appointments alone, social entrepreneur Lizzie Scott has come up with a solution.

CaringStay Companion Travel has more than 80 “companions” nationwide, who can accompany people to their appointments and take them home afterwards, staying as long as they are needed.

Scott, who started the service two years ago, said it continued to evolve, led by demand.

The company offers a variety of services including walking the dog.

123rf

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

Significant changes on the horizon for tourism industry

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Cable car above Rotorua lake and city. 123RF

The Tourism Minister has signalled significant change could be on the horizon for the industry.

Louise Upston has set her sights on doubling the value of tourism exports by 2034, growing the number of Kiwis working in tourism and hospitality, and restoring international visitor arrivals to at least 2019 levels.

In June, she unveiled how the government plans to hit that target, but more details for the medium and long term picture were yet to be revealed.

The targets were ambitious, but she said the industry had pulled together this year.

“It’s getting the balance of continuing to push for visitors to choose New Zealand and then helping them throughout New Zealand where there is still strong capacity and options,” she said.

The industry had been pushing for bold change, and a working group had considered what that change was and how they planned to get there, she said.

Tourism Minister Louise Upston. MARIKA KHABAZI / RNZ

Upston planned to review advice and proposals from officials about the next steps in the roadmap in January.

“Some of it is potentially quite significant change so I would be looking at probably taking something to Cabinet towards the end of quarter one or the beginning of quarter two,” she said.

The government was aiming to see international visitor arrivals reach at least 3.89 million by 2026.

Recent figures showed overseas arrivals hit 3.43 million in the year to September.

“We’ve got momentum, we’ve made significant investments, we are measuring the impact and I’m confident that we will achieve those visitor growth numbers by the end of next year,” Upston said.

That investment – which was often funded by the International Visitor Levy – included a $70 million major events and tourism package and more than $26m for Tourism New Zealand to attract more visitors.

She was confident that [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/557448/how-do-queenstown-residents-feel-about-increasing-tourism-and-its-impact

concerns from areas like Queenstown], where visitors numbers had already surpassed 2019 levels, were being addressed by mahi underway and planned in the Tourism Growth Roadmap.

Queenstown. RNZ / Kymberlee Gomes

She wanted to make sure every ounce of value was squeezed from investments in the industry as well as having consistent and predictable funding, Upston said.

Another priority was attracting more New Zealanders into hospitality and tourism by making sure they could see a career pathway and had ongoing training opportunities as a solid workforce would be a “critical part” in the success of tourism growth, Upston said.

In November, the government announced funding for a new industry-led qualification, Te Haeata, to boost the business events workforce.

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

Holiday road toll stands at zero – but drivers still urged to be cautious

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Source: Radio New Zealand

There have been a number of serious crashes over the holiday period, but no fatalities yet. File photo. RNZ/ Marika Khabazi

The road toll for the official Christmas holiday period is at zero, but police say people need to continue to stick to the basics of safe driving.

So far this year 268 people have died on the roads, down from 292 last year – which was the lowest number since 2013.

Director of road policing Superintendent Steve Greally said any death on the roads was a tragedy with widespread ripples, but it was good to see numbers headed down.

“We are very encouraged so far this year and when we think about the summer period so far nobody has lost their lives, compared with 15 people at the end of the period last year.

“So things are looking really good, really encouraging, but anything can happen at any time, so we have to be really cautious about that.”

He said drivers need to continue to focus on four key areas – wearing seatbelts or helmets, not driving while impaired by drugs, alcohol or tiredness, not being distracted by phones or other things in the vehicle, and ensuring their speed was suitable for the conditions.

NZTA spokesperson Mark Owen said another tip was for people to go to its Journey Planner webpage for detailed information about their planned route.

He said people can check when roads are expected to be busiest based on previous years.

“Find out when the predicted busy times are. This is typically as we get to the end of the holidays and people are heading back to the main centres, and more towards the middle of the day. If you are travelling at those times you will definitely need to allow more time, or maybe try to leave a bit earlier or later in the day.”

He said people are also encouraged to ensure they are well rested before a long drive, take regular breaks on the journey, and drive to the conditions.

“We are seeing a bit of challenging weather coming across the North Island the next couple of days. So people need to allow to drive to those conditions especially if it is rather wet or windy.

“We want everyone to return from their holidays back to their original destination safely.”

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

Concerns for welfare of missing Auckland man

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Stuart has been reported missing. Supplied / Police

Auckland police are asking for any sightings of man whose family are concerned for his welfare.

Stuart is described by police as about 6 foot tall, slender and in his 70s.

He was last seen wearing black pants, a beige shirt, a blue jacket, and a black beanie.

He usually lives and frequents central Auckland. Supplied / Police

Stuart usually lives and frequents central Auckland.

Police said he had been out of touch with his family for some time, which was out of character.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on the 105 number.

“If you have seen him or have any information that might help us locate him, please call 105, quoting file number 251219/9751.”

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

Concerns for welfare of missing Auckland man

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Stuart has been reported missing. Supplied / Police

Auckland police are asking for any sightings of man whose family are concerned for his welfare.

Stuart is described by police as about 6 foot tall, slender and in his 70s.

He was last seen wearing black pants, a beige shirt, a blue jacket, and a black beanie.

He usually lives and frequents central Auckland. Supplied / Police

Stuart usually lives and frequents central Auckland.

Police said he had been out of touch with his family for some time, which was out of character.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on the 105 number.

“If you have seen him or have any information that might help us locate him, please call 105, quoting file number 251219/9751.”

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

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

Dunedin family dominates Cromwell’s annual cherry spitting competition

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Supplied / Cromwell & Districts Promotions Group

A Dunedin family has swept the podium at the annual Cherry Pit-Spit Championship in Cromwell.

The Collins family dominated multiple categories at the quirky Central Otago event on Sunday, which challenges entrants to hoick a cherry stone as far as possible.

Aaron Collins launched a cherry pit 10.47 metres to take out first place in the men’s category.

His sister, Hannah Collins, placed second in the women’s event, while his children, Emma and Daniel, also finished on the podium.

Aaron Collins launched a cherry pit 10.47 metres to take out first place in the men’s category. Supplied / Cromwell & Districts Promotions Group

The women’s winner was Laure Vaneilhan, from France, who has just arrived for the cherry-picking season and delivered an 7.93m spit.

Cromwell & Districts Promotions Group marketing and communications manager Tanya Dennis said hundreds of people either lined up at the mat, or came along to watch on what she described as a “perfect”, sunny Central Otago day.

“We had people coming from England, we had people from Japan, we had people from Germany and America – these were people that were just curious. They were visiting the region … and then came along to the event. So it was a real cross section, and of course, we had locals and regional visitors as well,” she said.

The event has been running since 2006 and offers plenty of entertainment for spectators, Dennis said.

“Some of the competitors make real light of it, and some get very serious. We’ve got some die hard followers of the event.”

Even kids get involved in the competition. Supplied / Cromwell & Districts Promotions Group

The record belongs to Dunedinite Tui Smith, who fired a pit nearly 16m in 2023.

The world record for cherry pit-spitting is 28.5m, set in Michigan in 2004.

Cherries for this year’s National Cherry Spit Championship were provided by Jackson Orchards in Cromwell, and the day also featured a best-dressed competition and lawn games.

“Anyone can give it a go and the, you know, bragging rights is, of course, the big thing. It’s open to all age groups … and it’s a good day all round,” Dennis said.

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

Dunedin family dominates Cromwell’s annual cherry spitting competition

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Supplied / Cromwell & Districts Promotions Group

A Dunedin family has swept the podium at the annual Cherry Pit-Spit Championship in Cromwell.

The Collins family dominated multiple categories at the quirky Central Otago event on Sunday, which challenges entrants to hoick a cherry stone as far as possible.

Aaron Collins launched a cherry pit 10.47 metres to take out first place in the men’s category.

His sister, Hannah Collins, placed second in the women’s event, while his children, Emma and Daniel, also finished on the podium.

Aaron Collins launched a cherry pit 10.47 metres to take out first place in the men’s category. Supplied / Cromwell & Districts Promotions Group

The women’s winner was Laure Vaneilhan, from France, who has just arrived for the cherry-picking season and delivered an 7.93m spit.

Cromwell & Districts Promotions Group marketing and communications manager Tanya Dennis said hundreds of people either lined up at the mat, or came along to watch on what she described as a “perfect”, sunny Central Otago day.

“We had people coming from England, we had people from Japan, we had people from Germany and America – these were people that were just curious. They were visiting the region … and then came along to the event. So it was a real cross section, and of course, we had locals and regional visitors as well,” she said.

The event has been running since 2006 and offers plenty of entertainment for spectators, Dennis said.

“Some of the competitors make real light of it, and some get very serious. We’ve got some die hard followers of the event.”

Even kids get involved in the competition. Supplied / Cromwell & Districts Promotions Group

The record belongs to Dunedinite Tui Smith, who fired a pit nearly 16m in 2023.

The world record for cherry pit-spitting is 28.5m, set in Michigan in 2004.

Cherries for this year’s National Cherry Spit Championship were provided by Jackson Orchards in Cromwell, and the day also featured a best-dressed competition and lawn games.

“Anyone can give it a go and the, you know, bragging rights is, of course, the big thing. It’s open to all age groups … and it’s a good day all round,” Dennis said.

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

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

Cricket: A first for Amelia Kerr in big Blaze win

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellington Blaze captain Melie Kerr after scoring a century in the Super Smash. Marty Melville / PHOTOSPORT

A stunning century from White Fern Amelia Kerr has helped the Wellington Blaze to a 49-run victory over the Auckland Hearts in the women’s Super Smash.

Kerr completed her first century in top level T20 cricket as the defending champions picked up their second win of the competition.

The 25 year old finished unbeaten on 106 as the home side made 184 for two at the Basin Reserve.

Her century came off 59 deliveries and her innings included 17 fours and one six.

Kerr and fellow White Fern Georgia Plimmer put on 155 for the opening partnership, a Blaze record.

Plimmer made 62 off 53 deliveries.

Bree Illing and Amie Hucker picked up a wicket each for Auckland.

In reply, Auckland scored freely as they started their chase but lost regular wickets and were dismissed in the last over for 135.

Captain Maddy Green top scored with 39, while Xara Jetly grabbed three wickets and Jess Kerr and Nicole Baird took two each for Wellington.

Wellington top the table with two wins, while Auckland have a no-result and a loss.

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

Cricket: A first for Amelia Kerr in big Blaze win

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellington Blaze captain Melie Kerr after scoring a century in the Super Smash. Marty Melville / PHOTOSPORT

A stunning century from White Fern Amelia Kerr has helped the Wellington Blaze to a 49-run victory over the Auckland Hearts in the women’s Super Smash.

Kerr completed her first century in top level T20 cricket as the defending champions picked up their second win of the competition.

The 25 year old finished unbeaten on 106 as the home side made 184 for two at the Basin Reserve.

Her century came off 59 deliveries and her innings included 17 fours and one six.

Kerr and fellow White Fern Georgia Plimmer put on 155 for the opening partnership, a Blaze record.

Plimmer made 62 off 53 deliveries.

Bree Illing and Amie Hucker picked up a wicket each for Auckland.

In reply, Auckland scored freely as they started their chase but lost regular wickets and were dismissed in the last over for 135.

Captain Maddy Green top scored with 39, while Xara Jetly grabbed three wickets and Jess Kerr and Nicole Baird took two each for Wellington.

Wellington top the table with two wins, while Auckland have a no-result and a loss.

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

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

ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for December 29, 2025

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ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on December 29, 2025.

Emma Johnston was a visionary scientist, environmentalist and leader, with an abiding hope for humanity
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kylie Walker, Visiting Fellow, National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, Australian National University Emma Johnston, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne who has died aged 52, was a marine ecologist, a visionary leader in science and research, a passionate champion of the environment, a

5 lessons about misinformation from ancient Greek and Roman scientists
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jemima McPhee, PhD Candidate (Classics), Australian National University Institute for the Study of the Ancient World via Wikimedia, CC BY Ancient scientists can be easy to dismiss. Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus, often described as the West’s first scientist, believed the whole Earth was suspended on water.

Music can affect your driving – but not always how you’d expect
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor and Principal Fellow in Urban Risk and Resilience, The University of Melbourne davidf/Getty Images For many of us, listening to music is simply part of the driving routine – as ordinary as wearing a seatbelt. We build playlists for road trips, pick songs

With every extinction, we lose not just a species but a treasure trove of knowledge
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Johannes M. Luetz, Adjunct Professor, University of the Sunshine Coast; UNSW Sydney; Alphacrucis College The extinct desert rat kangaroo John Gould, Mammals of Australia (1845) The millions of species humans share the world with are valuable in their own right. When one species is lost, it has

I love my friends … I do not love their kids
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine E. Wood, Associate Professor and Clinical Psychologist, Swinburne University of Technology At this time of the year, with lots of parties, family catch-ups and holiday plans, you might be reminded of how much you love your friends. But as their kids pester for screen time, drop

Deep in holiday debt? How to start repaying overdue credit and buy now, pay later bills
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Angelique Nadia Sweetman McInnes, Academic in Financial Planning, CQUniversity Australia Christmas lunch is over, all the presents are unwrapped. Now comes the hard part: paying for it all. If you’re in that position, you’re not alone. Personal credit and charge-card balances racking up interest hit a four-year

NZ report card 2025: how the country fared in 28 key global and domestic rankings
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato Getty Images Standardised testing and regular progress assessment became key features of the education system this year, so why not apply those same principles to New Zealand as a whole? There’s an important difference here, of course. This exercise

How did Australian laws change in 2025? Here are 6 you need to know
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rick Sarre, Emeritus Professor in Law and Criminal Justice, University of South Australia The Conversation, CC BY-SA Some people take heart in the idea that the law is resistant to change, arguing that this reinforces its stability. Others delight in its ability to adapt to change, as

Donald Trump’s first step to becoming a would-be autocrat – hijacking a party
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Justin Bergman, International Affairs Editor, The Conversation We used to have a pretty clear idea of what an autocrat was. History is full of examples: Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, along with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping today. The list goes on. So, where does Donald

Brigitte Bardot defined the modern woman and defied social norms
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben McCann, Associate Professor of French Studies, University of Adelaide Herbert Dorfman/Corbis via Getty Image Brigitte Bardot’s death, at the age of 91, brings to a close one of the most extraordinary careers in post-war French cultural life. Best known as an actress, she was also a

ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for December 28, 2025
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on December 28, 2025.

Emma Johnston was a visionary scientist, environmentalist and leader, with an abiding hope for humanity

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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kylie Walker, Visiting Fellow, National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, Australian National University

Emma Johnston, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne who has died aged 52, was a marine ecologist, a visionary leader in science and research, a passionate champion of the environment, a brilliant and engaging communicator, and a caring mentor. Emma was also our friend.

Born in 1973 and raised in Melbourne, Emma’s star rose swiftly. Her success was driven by a deep love of science, problem-solving and teamwork. Dux of University High School in Melbourne (where there is now a house named after her), she ran the student newspaper and launched an environment group and recycling program.

After completing a PhD in marine ecology at the University of Melbourne, Emma became an associate lecturer at UNSW in 2001, where she built a thriving research group studying the impacts of pollution and climate change on marine and coastal ecosystems. In 2005 she established the Sydney Harbour Research Program, to understand and remediate that city’s great natural asset.

These themes of complexity, interdependence and ecosystem resilience would become guiding metaphors for her subsequent career as a research leader and a fierce advocate for science.

Emma believed research should be about teamwork rather than personal accolades. She supervised a remarkable 33 PhD students, as well as honours students and postdoctoral researchers, and she mentored countless colleagues throughout her career. Busy but never hurried, Emma was generous with her time and attention, and she loved meeting bright and curious people.

As a newly promoted professor, she was chosen to attend the 64th Lindau meeting of Nobel Laureates where she delivered the after-dinner speech.

Her research and science communication earned awards including the NSW Premier’s Award for Biological Sciences, the Australian Academy of Science’s inaugural Nancy Millis Medal for Women in Science and the Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Science Research.

In 2018, she was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for her services to higher education and scientific research. She became a fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering in 2019 and of the Australian Academy of Science in 2022.

Emma’s leadership has taken many forms. As president of the student union while at university, she delighted in political jousting and loud change-making. Each time she was underestimated in a new role, she was fond of reminding friends that her term as student union president had prepared her for even the cagiest reception.

As a presenter on TV show Coast Australia, her natural style and genuine delight at the wonders of the wild ocean resonated with audiences worldwide.

In 2017, Emma became president of Science & Technology Australia. While there, she helped establish the acclaimed Superstars of STEM program, which works to raise the profile of women and non-binary scientists, and became the organisation’s first president to address the National Press Club, where she proclaimed science’s potential to provide solutions for humanity’s problems.

At around the same time, she was appointed Dean of Science at UNSW, albeit after some initial reluctance about how the job would impinge on her time with her two young children. When her prospective employer offered her more money for childcare, she replied that she actually wanted to see her children, and that a better solution would be simply to not expect her to go to functions most nights of the week.

In February 2025, after a stint as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of Sydney, Emma returned to her alma mater as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne. This appointment positioned her better than ever to work towards her dream of a resilient, informed and motivated citizenry that can weather the storms of climate upheaval and build a strong future for humanity and the planet.

As a member of the board of CSIRO and a governor of the Ian Potter Foundation, Emma’s leadership and impact on Australian research was broad.

She had a formidable clarity of purpose, and an abiding hope for humanity. Her resilience strategy for the University of Melbourne, finalised just weeks before her death on December 26 2025, was the first step in her ten-year plan to build an extraordinary, empowered and resilient Australia.

As director of the board of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Emma led the 2021 State of the Environment report for the Australian government. In it, she emphasised that the ocean could only absorb so much heat before it would reach catastrophic collapse. Emma wanted nothing less than to save the world, but – like the ocean – in the end she could only do so much.

Emma’s final months were marked by a fierce doubling-down on her mission – she understood she was running out of time. Only 52 years old when she died from complications associated with cancer, she still wasn’t done with parenting, with saving the oceans and the planet, with nurturing and uplifting the next generation, or with remaking the Australian research and higher education landscape.

In a recent voice memo to one of us (Kylie), she said:

What has driven me in my life is a deep love of the science, a love of working with people and helping them to flourish and achieve, and a desire to work with others to protect this world I was immersed in as a scientist. And in that, I feel I have gone well beyond what I ever set out to achieve.

Survived by her husband Sam and their two children, Emma Johnston truly was a leader for our age, a star whose light burned out too soon.

The Conversation

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Emma Johnston was a visionary scientist, environmentalist and leader, with an abiding hope for humanity – https://theconversation.com/emma-johnston-was-a-visionary-scientist-environmentalist-and-leader-with-an-abiding-hope-for-humanity-272609

Former Phoenix player returns home

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Roy Krishna will be a key player for Fiji. Oceania Football

Fiji football star Roy Krishna has signed with Bula FC for the inaugral season of Oceania’s first ever professional football league.

The Suva-based club announced the star signing on boxing day.

“We are thrilled to announce the signing of Roy Krishna, a football legend, who officially joins Bula FC today!”

In a statement the club said Roy Krishna’s journey began in Labasa, where he honed his skills at All Saints High School before making his mark with Labasa FC and the Fiji national team, earning over 60 caps and Oceania top goal scorer.

His path led him to international success, playing for top clubs such as Waitakere United, Auckland City and Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand, and ATK, Mohun Bagan, Bengaluru, and Odisha in the Indian Super League.

A defining moment came in 2019 when Roy won the prestigious Johnny Warren Medal as the A-League’s best player, finishing that season as the top scorer.

Despite offers from abroad, Roy chose to return home this year.

“It’s been an amazing journey playing abroad, but there’s something special about coming back home. It’s where my roots are, and I’m excited to give back,” Krishna said.

“This team is full of young, hungry players with immense potential. I’m here not just to play, but to guide them and show them what it takes to succeed.”

The Phoenix striker Roy Krishna. PHOTOSPORT

Krishna said his decision to return to Fiji is driven by a desire to contribute to the growth of football in Fiji.

“It’s not just about me; it’s about creating something lasting. I want these young players to achieve even more than I did, and I’m here to help them get there,” he said.

After years playing his trade abroad, Krishna said he is also excited to spend more time with his wife and daughter, who have supported him throughout his career.

“Finally being able to share my days with them here is truly the icing on the cake.”

Bula FC said Roy Krishna will wear the number 21 jersey for Bula FC.

“We can’t wait to see his leadership, experience and talent help elevate the club to new heights.”

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

Auckland Harbour Bridge repaint project: Where things stand more than a year later

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Engineers are trialling containment systems on the land-based areas of the bridge – the structures that will allow workers to eventually access and repaint the bridge. RNZ / Lucy Xia

The Auckland Harbour Bridge repaint project – that’s estimated to take 12 years – has been underway for more than a year, with works beginning at the southern end of the bridge in late 2024.

The New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said the original paint coatings on the 66-year-old truss bridge had reached the end of its designed life and needed a full-repaint, which involved stripping down the existing coating and repainting it.

The project, also known as the Truss Bridge Refurbishment Project, was the main contributor that led to the money spent on maintenance and repairs of the bridge increasing from $12.2 million in the 2023/2024 financial year, to $22.4m in the 2024/2025 financial year.

Waka Kotahi couldn’t confirm how much the entire repaint would cost, but said the project has cost $11.6m to date – covering design analysis, strengthening work and the establishment of equipment for the project.

RNZ caught up with the agency’s manager of maintenance and operations for the Auckland and Northern regions, Jacqui Hori-Hoult, to find out the latest progress and challenges with the project.

A year in: Work done at land-based southern end of the bridge

Hori-Hoult said the initial years of the project will focus on repainting the structures underneath the surface road of the bridge.

“When you’re travelling over the bridge, you won’t see a lot, because our project is focused on the refurbishment of underneath the truss bridge, which is under the actual bridge deck,

“So it’s the steel work on the bridge deck which sits in the harshest environment and is also the oldest part of our bridge.”

Hori-Hoult said that part of the bridge is susceptible to corrosion, and the repaint is key to maintaining the structural integrity of the truss bridge.

She said over the past year, work has been mostly around the land-based southern end of the bridge, where sandblasting is used to remove the old coatings before new coatings are applied.

Earlier, an RNZ investigation revealed that NZTA knew that Harbour Bridge maintenance work contaminated homes at Stokes Point/Te Onewa with heavy metals above permitted levels a decade ago, but residents were not told.

Hori-Hoult said the current work has taken precautions to stop any contaminants from the old paint from polluting the environment.

Waka Kotahi: Challenges in repaint of section of bridge crossing sea

Hori-Hoult said expert teams are still working on the plan for how to execute the repainting of the main section of the bridge that crosses the sea, in a way that ensures no potential pollutants get into the sea.

She said they’re hoping to commence work on the sea based section of the bridge at some point in 2026.

The parts of the bridge which have paint containing lead are mostly in one of the spans at the southern end of the bridge, and Waka Kotahi believes that the rest of the bridge is predominantly lead free, she said.

However, Hori-Hoult said they will be using the same environmental protection measures for the main part of the bridge, as they have done for the work at the land-based ends of the bridge, and this would be challenging due it being over the sea.

“So we’re going to have to put temporary work and scaffolding , like we’ve done with the land base with scaffolding,

“Now we have to work through with our experts around how we can manage to attach our containment units in order for us to do a similar type of work, in a very smaller space, but also to make sure whatever we attach is structurally sound for the bridge to enable us to do the work.”

Hori-Hoult said experts were still figuring out what would be the best type of material for the temporary platform.

“We will be installing that full containment system, that you can see when we’re carrying out the [sand] blasting and painting operations, so all materials generated from our operation is actually disposed of to a managed facility that specialises in contaminated material disposal,” she added.

There’s lots of structural elements to think about, for instance how much additional weight can be added to the ageing bridge, she said.

Waka Kotahi said engineers have been assessing the impacts of installing the containment systems on the bridge, and the level of strengthening that is required.

It said teams have been trialling methodologies in the land-based areas.

Bridge to stay grey after repaint

Hori-Hoult said a decision was made to keep the bridge grey as it always has been with the repaint, despite some internal discussions about a new colour for the bridge.

“The Harbour Bridge has been iconic – it’s 66 years old – so you want to keep it as close to its original colour as possible, because of its age and the mana it holds within our city,” she said.

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

Ministerial advisory group wants commitment to tackling transnational organised crime in Budget 2026

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Chairperson of the ministerial advisory group on organised crime, Steve Symon. (File photo) RNZ / Nick Monro

The chairperson of a ministerial advisory group on organised crime says he won’t be satisfied until he sees the government commit resources to tackling the issue of organised crime.

The government launched a plan earlier this month to combat transnational organised crime, including setting up a new agency and minister responsible, developing inter-agency information sharing, and establishing a maritime campaign to disrupt criminal networks in the Pacific.

“New Zealand and our Pacific neighbours are being increasingly targeted by organised criminal groups, who are using new technologies and new ways of operating,” Associate Minister of Police Casey Costello said then. “We need a different, stronger and more cohesive response.”

Associate Minister of Police Casey Costello. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Chairperson Steve Symon said he was encouraged to see the government endorse the advisory group’s plan, but wanted to see a commitment in Budget 2026.

“What would make me really satisfied, is if we follow through on it, if what we see in the coming months, is rolling up our sleeves and really mucking in to find out exactly what we need to do to make this work.”

Symon said the picture would become very bleak for New Zealand without a real effort to disrupt criminal networks.

“It’s quite a frightening picture, because organised crime is affecting all New Zealanders, whether we necessarily recognise it or not.”

He said the effects of organised crime were reaching into all corners of New Zealand, whether through a rise in methamphetamine use, fraud and cyber fraud, or migrant exploitation.

Symon pointed to Australia’s response to the illegal tobacco problem – which he said was not quick enough to disrupt what had become a $10 billion industry for criminal groups.

He said the advisory group’s recommendation to set up a new department and minister responsible for the issue, was justified when there could be up to 19 or 30 different agencies involved in addressing the problem right now.

“What we’re saying is the New Zealand public expect a co-ordinated response. It expects these agencies to be working together, in fact the public is right, because we will need that if we are going to successfully stop organised crime.”

University of Canterbury’s Pacific regional security hub head Jose Sousa-Santos said the government and the public should be worried about the influx of drugs at the border.

He said despite larger seizures by customs, the price of methamphetamine remained stable.

“Even though we are seizing more methamphetamine over the past decades combined, you can come to the conclusion there is much more methamphetamine coming in.”

Sousa-Santos said drugs were moving through the Pacific from South America, Canada and South East Asia to New Zealand and Australia.

He said Pacific criminal organised groups were starting to take hold in the region, infiltrating and corrupting law enforcement agencies.

He pointed to one part of the government’s plan, which was to set up a joint customs, GCSB, and Defence Force maritime campaign to disrupt organised criminal groups networks across the Pacific.

He said this could strengthen the region’s national security.

“The Pacific Ocean is a large space to operate in, and this will at least ensure that New Zealand is able to be secure and work with our partners in the Pacific, creating a situation where the regions and our partnerships become force multipliers.

“It’s very important that New Zealand has a lessons learnt policy from our neighbours in the US and South-East Asia.

“The tactics which are new to us – such as the narco subs or the low-profile vessels – these are tactics which have been utilised in America, and South-East Asia for decades.”

Costello said previously that New Zealand needed to improve its responses.

“The key thing I think we need to recognise is that organised crime is a business that will do anything it can to make a profit.

“We need to be pivoting and responding in a far more flexible and responsive way than we currently are.”

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

Three men seriously hurt in Auckland assaults remain in hospital

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Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Angus Dreaver

Three men seriously hurt in separate fights in Auckland – one of them a mass street brawl – are still in hospital.

Police have made a public appeal after the disorder in the central city on Saturday night.

In the first assault, a 33-year-old man was seriously injured outside Crown Bar on Queen Street just after 4am.

Fifteen minutes later a 27-year-old was seriously hurt on Karangahape Road where there was an estimated crowd of more than 50 people.

Then 30 minutes after that, a 46-year-old man was also seriously injured at a nearby petrol station.

Police say all three are today in stable conditions.

There are no updates in their investigation.

On Sunday, Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Greaves said: “Police are disappointed at the bad, aggressive and careless behaviour on display on Karangahape Road and will be holding any and all offenders to account.”

The police file number is 251228/4774.

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

Woman lists sole Christmas gift on husband’s Trade Me account – a Star Wars T-shirt

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Supplied / TradeMe

A Lower Hutt woman is keeping her “dark side” in check by reselling the one gift she received from her husband of 20 years on Christmas Day: a Star Wars T-shirt.

The shirt, originally purchased from EB Games, has been listed on her husband’s Trade Me account – in hopes he will get the message.

Speaking to RNZ, Cindy* said she had a laugh when she opened the present on Christmas Day as she was a big fan of Star Wars.

But given it was the only gift she received alongside a pair of socks from her mum, she was a little disappointed.

“My birthday is the 21st so I guess that was his focus. I did get presents for my birthday but yeah, that was not what I expected.”

In the early hours of the morning and after a couple drinks, Cindy decided to list the T-shirt on Trade Me – titled ‘Revenge of the Wife’.

The T-shirt up for grabs. Supplied / TradeMe

“How am I supposed to gently explain to my husband that after 20 YEARS of marriage, receiving only a T-shirt for Christmas may… awaken my dark side?,” she wrote in the listing.

“Answer: I don’t. I list it for sale on his Trade Me account and let the Force handle the rest.

“Up for grabs is this brand new, never worn, still-has-the-tag Star Wars T-shirt, size Small, featuring Revenge of the Sith – 20th Anniversary on the sleeve. Yes, very cool. Yes, very nostalgic. Yes… still a T-shirt for Christmas!”

Cindy wrote the shirt was “perfect” for Star Wars fans, husbands who think a T-shirt is a thoughtful gift and “anyone brave enough to flirt with the Dark Side”.

She said she was selling the item in hopes of “preserving galactic peace in a 20-year marriage” and selling it on the hubby’s account in hopes he “may or may not ‘get the drift’”.

“Buy it before my patience fully turns to the Dark Side. May the Force (and better gift ideas) be with you,” she ended the listing with.

Cindy said he husband took her decision to sell the shirt “really well”.

They often played pranks on each other and Cindy said the foundation to a good marriage was being able to have a “really good laugh” and constructive conversations about things.

It had taught him it might be a good idea to ask her what she wanted for Christmas instead of buying something he liked for himself and then deciding to buy it for her.

In the question and answer section of the listing, it was clear Cindy’s husband had come to realise where he had gone wrong and was contemplating his life choices.

One question from a Trade Me user said: “I’m surprised she didn’t bring forth the light sabre and slash this abomination to shreds…..”, to which he replied: “Point taken, you could say I had the aim of a storm trooper this year … completely missed the mark.”

But after the ordeal, Cindy’s husband had thought long and hard about what she deserved and would be treating her to a massage.

A long one, she said: “I need it”.

And the money from the sale of the shirt?

Cindy said all proceeds from the Trade Me sale would go towards Sea Shepherd – who defend, protect and conserve what she called the “real Jedi”.

* Not her real name

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

Lakes Festival delivers a one-day rave marathon in Hagley Park

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Source: Radio New Zealand

With Christmas done and dusted, the festive season has switched into festival season. A day after Hidden Valley’s 10-year edition at Matakana, the South Island offshoot event Hidden Lakes, now shortened to Lakes festival, returned to Christchurch’s Hagley Park for its fifth edition.

For Mainlanders, Sunday’s high-octane, dance-heavy fete functioned both as an effective means to sweat off that Christmas pudding, and an appetiser for larger marquee events to follow.

I dread to contemplate the revellers at Lakes who are set to back up further south at Rhythm and Alps over the next three nights.

Maribou State performing on stage at Lakes Festival, Hagley Park, on 28 December, 2025.

RNZ / Adam Burns

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

Wellington Phoenix sign White Ferns midfielder

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Emma Pijnenburg of the Football Ferns. MEXSPORT / PHOTOSPORT

The Wellington Phoenix women have signed White Ferns midfielder Emma Pijnenburg for the rest of the A-League season.

The 21 year old replaces Alyssa Whinham, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in round three.

Pijnenburg returns to New Zealand having secured a release from Feyenoord Rotterdam after three years with the Dutch Vrouwen Eredivisie club.

Phoenix head coach Bev Priestman is thrilled to be able to pick up Pijnenburg.

“The club believes in developing and investing in Kiwi talent and Emma is one the country’s brightest,” Priestman said.

“Emma is a technically and athletically gifted player, and I’m really excited to see her play for the Phoenix.

“She’ll complement the midfielders we already have in our squad and will give us great flexibility and options.”

Pijnenburg arrived in New Zealand last week and spent Christmas with her family in Auckland before joining the Phoenix.

“It doesn’t feel like I’m joining a new team because I know so many of the players,” Pijnenburg said.

Pijnenburg moved to the Netherlands as an 18-year-old to live out her dream of playing professionally in Europe.

The seven-cap Fern says it was an amazing experience playing for Feyenoord, but she was unable to say no to the opportunity to sign with New Zealand’s only professional women’s team.

“I’m after some more consistent playing time and I’ve heard really good things about Bev, the style that the Phoenix play and what they’re trying to do.

Pijnenburg believes she suits the way Priestman wants to play and is driven to be part of the first Nix women’s team to qualify for the finals.

“I’m a technical player. I want to get on the ball and connect players around the field.

“And I always look to go forward. I like that style of football and I think that matches what Bev wants from me.”

Emma Pijnenburg will wear the no. 32 shirt for the Wellington Phoenix, which is also her squad number for the Football Ferns.

The Phoenix plan to announce a further women’s signing early in 2026.

The Phoenix sit ninth on the A-League table and play at Western Sydney on Tuesday.

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

Two hospitalised after overnight brawl in Auckland

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Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / REECE BAKER

Two people have been taken to hospital after another overnight brawl in Auckland.

Police were called to Wallson Crescent in Wiri just before 10pm to what they say were reports of a fight involving several people.

One person was left with serious injuries, and another was in a moderate condition.

Police said the offenders left before officers arrived and they are still trying to find them.

Hato Hone St John said it was notified of the incident at 9.53pm.

“Two ambulances, one rapid response unit, and one operations manager responded,” a spokesperson said.

“Two patients, one in moderate condition and one in serious condition, were transported to Middlemore Hospital.”

It follows a mass disorder the night before on Karangahape Road in the central city with an estimated crowd of more than 50 people.

There was also a serious assault at a nearby petrol station, and outside a bar on Queen Street.

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

Brigitte Bardot, the French star you ‘had to see to believe’

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Brigitte Bardot, the doe-eyed beauty whose sensuality brought French cinema to the mainstream, has died aged 91.

Arriving on screen in the 1950s, Bardot swiftly rose to fame as an era-defining “sex kitten”.

She starred in films such as And God Created Woman, Contempt and Jean-Luc Godard’s Masculin Féminin.

French actress Brigitte Bardot on the set of the film “Don Juan 73” directed by Roger Vadim in Stockholm on August 4, 1972.

TT NEWS AGENCY / AFP

‘Close call’: Elderly man saved after collapsing, getting lost during hike in Coromandel

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Kauaeranga Valley. Supplied/DOC.

An elderly hiker who got lost and collapsed wearing only shorts and a singlet was saved by a mother and her two teenagers who huddled around him to keep him warm, police say.

He was in the Kauaeranga Valley in Coromandel with no emergency supplies apart from a phone.

Police were alerted by family at about 10pm on Sunday that the 80-year-old man was lost, had run out of water and collapsed on the trail.

The lost man had made the call.

Police were then able to pinpoint his location through his mobile phone, only 100 metres from Crosbies Hut.

A helicopter was sent but could not land because of deteriorating weather.

But the mother and her two children, who were also on the trail, were about to come to his rescue.

Enquiries by Police Search and Rescue and Department of Conservation revealed they were staying at the nearby hut.

Emergency crews managed to contact them to get to them to help find the lost man.

By this time, a second helicopter was sent but it too could not land because of the worsening weather.

The woman and her teenagers found the man within a short time, made a human circle around him to keep him warm, and made it back to the hut to wait for rescuers.

Eventually they were able to make it, with police and search and rescue teams reaching him at first light on Monday morning.

“He was very close to not being able to continue, and if it weren’t for the family staying at the hut nearby, things could have been very different,” Waikato West area commander Inspector Mike Henwood said.

“If you’re going out on an excursion in the bush, or adventuring on tramping trails, you need to be prepared for any eventuality.

Henwood said it was important to wear appropriate clothing and take food and water even for short walks, especially if hikers were unsure of the area.

He said the elderly man was grateful to see the rescuers when they arrived, but it was an uncomfortably “close call”.

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

Wellington Phoenix determined to end winless run in Melbourne

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Source: Radio New Zealand

The Phoenix celebrate their win over Central Coast. Marty Melville/Photosport

Coach Giancarlo Italiano is adamant the Wellington Phoenix can change their “atrocious record” at AAMI Park as they strive to snap a 23-match winless streak at the ground and push themselves into playoff contention.

The New Zealanders take on Melbourne Victory on Monday night in Melbourne.

The Phoenix are currently ninth, level on points with the Victory, with three wins from nine games.

Italiano is confident they can climb the ladder and claim back-to-back wins following their triumph over Central Coast before Christmas.

“It was good for the boys to get away, enjoy Christmas,” Italiano said.

“Training’s been really good this week and we’ve got two hard games now, against Victory and Brisbane.

“The refresh has come at the right time.”

Eamonn McCarron (GK) of the Phoenix. Masanori Udagawa

The game shapes as a huge opportunity for teenage goalkeeper Eamonn McCarron, who is set to play with Josh Oluwayemi unavailable through injury.

McCarron replaced Oluwayemi last Sunday against the Mariners, but this would be his first professional start.

“Joshy won’t travel. It’s precautionary at the moment. I think he needs another week of rehab before he starts being available for first team selection,” Italiano said.

“[Eamonn’s] done well enough in training and the game to show that he can hold his spot. It gives Alby a chance to come up to the bench, which is good for him because he’s been training really hard.

“It’s good to have three goalkeepers of that pedigree.”

Challenges don’t come much bigger than a trip to Melbourne, particularly for a Phoenix side who have a dismal record at AAMI Park.

The Phoenix have won just three of the 39 games they’ve played at the venue against Victorian A-League opposition and haven’t won there since 2017.

Italiano concedes it will be tough.

“I think Victory are a very well rounded squad, they have some good depth, especially up front. Mata’s been very effective. He’s got a little more freedom in the ten. Players like Velupillay, very dangerous.

“Good players, good solid squad, they’ll be very tough to beat.”

The Phoenix could rise as high as fourth with a win, or slip as low as eleventh with a loss.

“To throw a blanket and a generalisation that certain teams are easier than others, it’s not reflective of where the league is. It’s so close at the moment, from top to bottom.

“We lose one game, we go back to the bottom of the table. We win one game, back in contention for the six. Going to games, thinking you’re going to win easily, I think those days are gone.”

Italiano is convinced that this set of players will help the club challenge for the playoffs.

“I have more belief in this team than I have in my seven years here. As a collective, I think the team is very good.

“You can argue that the team is a little bit of a misfit team, in terms of where players have come from, their trajectory and where they’ve played before.

“There’s a lot of boys here who have a lot to prove. For everything that’s been said about our team over the year, I think we’ve been in every game.”

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

Wellington Phoenix determined to end winless run in Melbourne

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Phoenix celebrate their win over Central Coast. Marty Melville/Photosport

Coach Giancarlo Italiano is adamant the Wellington Phoenix can change their “atrocious record” at AAMI Park as they strive to snap a 23-match winless streak at the ground and push themselves into playoff contention.

The New Zealanders take on Melbourne Victory on Monday night in Melbourne.

The Phoenix are currently ninth, level on points with the Victory, with three wins from nine games.

Italiano is confident they can climb the ladder and claim back-to-back wins following their triumph over Central Coast before Christmas.

“It was good for the boys to get away, enjoy Christmas,” Italiano said.

“Training’s been really good this week and we’ve got two hard games now, against Victory and Brisbane.

“The refresh has come at the right time.”

Eamonn McCarron (GK) of the Phoenix. Masanori Udagawa

The game shapes as a huge opportunity for teenage goalkeeper Eamonn McCarron, who is set to play with Josh Oluwayemi unavailable through injury.

McCarron replaced Oluwayemi last Sunday against the Mariners, but this would be his first professional start.

“Joshy won’t travel. It’s precautionary at the moment. I think he needs another week of rehab before he starts being available for first team selection,” Italiano said.

“[Eamonn’s] done well enough in training and the game to show that he can hold his spot. It gives Alby a chance to come up to the bench, which is good for him because he’s been training really hard.

“It’s good to have three goalkeepers of that pedigree.”

Challenges don’t come much bigger than a trip to Melbourne, particularly for a Phoenix side who have a dismal record at AAMI Park.

The Phoenix have won just three of the 39 games they’ve played at the venue against Victorian A-League opposition and haven’t won there since 2017.

Italiano concedes it will be tough.

“I think Victory are a very well rounded squad, they have some good depth, especially up front. Mata’s been very effective. He’s got a little more freedom in the ten. Players like Velupillay, very dangerous.

“Good players, good solid squad, they’ll be very tough to beat.”

The Phoenix could rise as high as fourth with a win, or slip as low as eleventh with a loss.

“To throw a blanket and a generalisation that certain teams are easier than others, it’s not reflective of where the league is. It’s so close at the moment, from top to bottom.

“We lose one game, we go back to the bottom of the table. We win one game, back in contention for the six. Going to games, thinking you’re going to win easily, I think those days are gone.”

Italiano is convinced that this set of players will help the club challenge for the playoffs.

“I have more belief in this team than I have in my seven years here. As a collective, I think the team is very good.

“You can argue that the team is a little bit of a misfit team, in terms of where players have come from, their trajectory and where they’ve played before.

“There’s a lot of boys here who have a lot to prove. For everything that’s been said about our team over the year, I think we’ve been in every game.”

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

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

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