Source: Radio New Zealand

A major insurance company has temporarily stopped offering new home insurance policies in Westport because of the town’s flood risk.

A climate change policy expert says AA Insurance’s decision will be the first of many, and is urging insurers to be transparent when they withdraw from an area.

Another researcher specialising in insurance retreat says the company is sending a clear message that it wants investment in flood defences – but warned that could result in a doubling down in Westport, rather than a move out of harm’s way.

AA Insurance, which has approximately half a million New Zealand customers, wrote to Buller District Mayor Chris Russell at the very end of 2025 to tell him the company would halt new business, home and landlord insurance policies for properties in the 7825 postcode, which covers Westport, Carters Beach and Cape Foulwind.

The company said existing policies would stay in place, and it had put a transfer policy in place for anyone looking to buy or sell a house that was currently insured with AA Insurance.

In a statement summarising the letter, published on Buller District Council’s website, Chris Russell said most people would not be directly affected by the company’s decision.

“Whilst not ideal, this does not mark any sort of insurance retreat from Westport.”

Westport has been repeatedly flooded over time, escalating in recent years. A 2021 flood left more than 100 homes uninhabitable.

Last March, Buller District Council endorsed a plan that could eventually see the town gradually relocated to higher ground away from the Buller River, by opening up lower-risk land for development.

West Coast Regional Council chief executive Darryl Lew said the first stages of the the ‘Resilient Westport’ project involved building 17 kilometres of stopbanks.

Most of that work was in the planning and design stages, but two sections had been built already.

“That is protecting upwards of 30 houses that had never received protection before. And in the next few months, we’re hopefully going to be progressing more construction of a floodbank, which will result in 50 houses being protected.”

The councils planned to update insurers – who will visit the town at the end of February – as different stages of the flood protection scheme were completed.

“West Coast Regional Council will be advocating on behalf of the Westport community by specifically and intentionally writing to the Insurance Council of New Zealand and all insurance companies, and providing them this updated information,” Lew said.

The councils hoped that would make Westport “much more attractive” to insurers.

Insurer may be exerting influence over flood investment – expert

In a written statement to RNZ, AA Insurance head of underwriting Dee Naidu said if Westport’s flood exposure dropped below its maximum exposure limit in future, the company intended to reopen its books to new customers.

“This decision reflects the elevated natural hazard risk of flooding in the area, and that our exposure has reached a level where a pause on new policies is the most responsible step to ensure we can be there for our existing customers when they need us most.”

Belinda Storey, who heads up the consultancy Climate Sigma, said Australian insurance giant Suncorp, which was the ultimate owner of AA Insurance, had made similar decisions in Australian towns.

It represented a “shift” in approach in New Zealand, where insurers had been reluctant to publicise areas they were no longer insuring.

Storey was surprised that the halt was only temporary, and seemed to be aimed at new builds rather than existing homes that would likely have insurance in place already.

That suggested the insurer was pushing for an investment in flood defences from either local or central government, she said.

“This is something that Suncorp have definitely done in Australia, where they have withdrawn insurance from a particular town on the condition that massive investment in flood defences is undertaken.”

However, investing in new flood defences, rather than considering other options like managed relocation, could actually increase the danger in Westport, she said.

A stopbank was “effectively a long, skinny dam”, she said.

“Trying to hold back the Buller River, that delivers 27 million cubic metres per hour in full flood, I don’t think we’re considering this potential risk to life of this potential signal we’re getting from the insurers.

“If you build defences, people build new houses. We shouldn’t be building any new houses in Westport, full-stop.”

However, transparency around when and where insurers were withdrawing cover was crucial.

“I’m glad that they’re going public,” she said.

“But I would encourage the Reserve Bank to insist that that information is shared with [it]… It should be shared with the regulator, so that the regulator has a clear understanding of all the locations in New Zealand that this is being withdrawn, not just one area where the insurer is wanting to send a public signal.”

Darryl Lew said work on the stopbanks pre-dated AA Insurance’s decision, and was not the only part of the overall project.

“We know that it doesn’t matter how high we build the flood banks – there could always be a flood that’s bigger than that comes along and inundates the town.”

The councils had just completed a project to improve Westport’s emergency management plan, he said.

“We’ve also commissioned, with Earth Sciences New Zealand, a much more enhanced flood forecasting capability so that we’ve got plenty of flood warning in the town.”

Climate policy expert urges greater transparency

Victoria University emeritus professor Jonathan Boston, who was part of a previous government expert working group on climate adaptation, said AA Insurance’s decision was just the first of many to come.

“There will be more and more situations in which insurers, understandably, say the risks are too great to provide insurance, even with very large excesses, and will pull out.”

He also supported forcing transparency from insurers about areas they were retreating from – either by no longer issuing policies, or raising premiums to a point where they were unaffordable.

“I think there’s a very good case for transparency, because, among other things, it will provide the kind of information we need to understand the seriousness of the challenges we face,” he said.

That might not be popular with insurers or homeowners, he said.

“But that concern should not result in an approach in which we basically turn a blind eye to these problems and refuse to address them.

“On the contrary, it makes it all the more important that we have absolutely transparent processes and really robust policy settings to enable us to respond proactively, effectively and equitably.”

Not every community threatened by flooding and sea level rise had the same protection options as Westport, Boston said.

“With climate change … there are going to be more and more communities, and more and more postcodes, where it will not be possible to provide protection, and where the only reasonable and effective risk-reduction strategy will be relocation.”

Questions remain over resilience funding

Last year, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced the government’s national adaptation framework, which set out four areas of work.

That included developing new national hazard datasets, and a requirement for councils to develop adaptation plans for priority areas.

Watts told RNZ on Wednesday that requirement would be passed into law before the election in November, through an amendment to the Climate Change Response Act.

Two of the framework’s ‘pillars’ are investment in risk reduction and cost-sharing pre- and post-natural hazard events.

There is some money available for resilience, through the $1.2 billion regional infrastructure fund, but only $200 million of that has been ring-fenced for flood protection, for reinforcing existing stopbanks.

The framework requires councils to “weigh up the costs and benefits of adaptation options” but there is no firm guidance on whether costs will lie with central government, local government, or individual homeowners.

Watts, who spoke to RNZ before RNZ was aware of AA Insurance’s decision, said adaptation involved “a significant fiscal cost … that will need to be shared across society over time”.

Asked again what the funding mechanism would be, he said local councils would need to come up with a plan that weighed all the adaptation options, “and then work with the other stakeholders, which includes central government, in terms of how we transition to that point”.

There was already significant money from the transport fund going into making roading infrastructure more resilient, he said.

Boston said there were still major unanswered questions.

The framework, as announced, does not address the question of who’s going to pay for what, when, and how.

“It doesn’t have clear principles of equity, and it doesn’t kind of provide councils with the confidence and resources that they will need in order to begin to take proactive steps to move people out of harm’s way as harms increase over time.”

Buller District Council growth and development manager Paul Zaanen said it had proven more difficult in general to get insurance in Westport since the 2021 flood.

RNZ attempted to get insurance quotes for a Westport address via several insurance company websites.

Tower did not offer cover for the address, while other major insurers’ websites said a phone call was needed to gather more information before a quote could be provided.

A Tower spokesperson said it took an address-level approach to providing cover.

“We continue to insure, and offer insurance, to lower risk properties within high-risk areas throughout the country, including Westport.”

Insurance Council chief executive Kris Faafoi said it was up to individual insurers to decide what cover they were prepared to offer, in Westport and elsewhere.

He had visited the West Coast in August last year “to give them support in their efforts to reduce risk there”.

“We do want them to make sure that that flood protection and risk reduction is there to protect the community.”

The council was keen to see high-risk areas around the country identified in a consistent manner.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police say they back new recommendations for overhauling 111 emergency calling and are working on how to do it.

A report by an Australasian group police is part of, details many shortcomings in the old, fragmented system that it says are hindering the response to routine emergencies and large disasters.

Police said they were not aware of any issues with 111 during the landslide and flood events last week.

“The core technology used by Police Emergency Communications and Dispatch to answer and respond to emergency calls for service functioned throughout, with no significant outages or issues to any of its systems including Inter-CAD,” acting director of Emergency Communications and Dispatch Inspector Mike Higgie said in a statement on Wednesday afternoon.

However, the latest report by the National Emergency Communications Working Group of Australia and New Zealand has echoed several earlier reports on how the system that has been upgraded here-and-there over the years, often failed to share information and enable operations in a quick, accurate and seamless way.

Police are part of the working group and said they were considering all recommendations in the report.

It called for them to set up two working groups, on tech and on rules and standards.

“NZ Police is in the process of establishing a cross agency working group to develop options for addressing the issues raised in the NECWG white paper,” Higgie said.

RNZ reported its findings and recommendations on Wednesday, for police to take the lead on technological and legislative-regulatory change, and for a strategy to overcome an uncertain future for 111.

Minister Mark Mitchell’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

A push within the emergency agencies for over four years to overhaul 111 has not been funded by government, with police, Fire and Emergency and ambulance operators instead making incremental tech improvements here and there.

Police are also part of the Emergency Communications Service and Inter-operability set up in late 2023.

Its aims included to “improve how emergency services communicate and operate with each other” and build strong partnerships, Higgie said.

The forum’s aim did not include making changes to the 111 service owned and operated by Spark. Spark was not a member of it, he said.

The working group’s 111 report detailed various ways the current system failed to coordinate what was being done between the responders like police, and the telco companies that run some of the tech.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police are asking anyone with video footage and images of the slip at Mt Maunganui to upload it via an online portal.

They are particularly interested in anyone who has footage or images of the campsite and Mount Maunganui between Wednesday night right through to the time the slip happened and the immediate time after the slip.

The request came as one of the victims of the deadly landslide was formally identified as Max Furse-Kee.

At an identification hearing at Tauranga District Court on Wednesday, deputy chief coroner Brigitte Windley formally identified the teen.

Senior Constable Robert Stokes told the court his body was found on Monday, and forensic dental examination has determined his identity.

Max Furse-Kee would have turned 16 today.

Follow how the events of Wednesday unfolded in our blog

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A man has been charged in connection to a shooting Palmerston North after police found him in a stolen car they had spiked.

They had been looking for the man since a shooting on January 12 at Marriner Reserve.

The police said they spiked a car on Railway Road that had been reported stolen on Wednesday and the man was driving it.

They said he ran away but found and arrested him a few hours later.

“[Thursday’s] arrest was a great result for our community,” Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Thompson said.

“It was clear from [Thursday’s] events that this man was very motivated to remain at large, and that he was not going to stop until he was arrested.

“However, police staff’s persistence and patience paid off, and we are now able to hold him to account,” Sergeant Thompson said.

The 33-year-old has been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm with firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, failing to stop for police, dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.

He is due to appear in the Palmerston North District Court on Thursday.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

One of the victims of the deadly Mount Maunganui landslide has been formally identified as Max Furse-Kee, on what would have been his 16th birthday.

Six people died in the Mauao slip last Thursday.

At an identification hearing at Tauranga District Court on Wednesday evening, deputy chief coroner Brigitte Windley formally identified Max Furse-Kee after hearing evidence provided by Senior Constable Robert Stokes.

Stokes told the court his body was found on Monday, and detailed the forensic dental examination which determined his identity.

Furse-Kee’s body will now be released to his family.

“Sadly, today he would have turned 16,” she said.

Windley told the court the evidence provided to her was the culmination of specialist work by police, forensic pathologists, forensic odontologists, and other experts.

She acknowledged the dedication and skill of those working at the scene.

Windley noted that in disasters, victims can be misidentified – and it has happened overseas – but she is confident that the evidence provided was sufficient and reliable to establish Furse-Kee’s identity.

She expressed condolences to Furse-Kee’s whānau and friends for their loss in “unimaginable circumstances”.

The victims of the landslide have been named as Lisa Anne Maclennan, 50, Måns Loke Bernhardsson, 20, Jacqualine Suzanne Wheeler, 71, Susan Doreen Knowles, 71, Sharon Maccanico, 15, and Max Furse-Kee, 15.

Only Furse-Kee has been formally identified.

His mother, Hannah Furse, released a statement paying tribute to her son on Sunday.

“My love for Max is impossible to explain, no words are big enough to describe this love or loss,” she said.

“What I can say is from the moment I first looked at his beautiful blue eyes almost 16 years ago he had my whole heart, he was my sunshine.”

Her son was an “incredible, kind, and beautiful human being”, she said.

She said her son was “incredibly close” to his family and life without him was “impossible to imagine”.

The recovery operation at the site of the slip is ongoing.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A treatment for Huntington’s disease being trialled in New Zealand and Australia is showing promising early results, the US biotech company behind the drug says.

Skyhawk Therapeutics began trialling the novel drug, SKY-0515, on New Zealand and Australian patients a year ago and plans to expand globally.

Local disease advocates have described the treatment as a real hope.

Huntington’s disease is a rare degenerative brain disorder with no cure at present, affecting about one in 10,000 people.

Each child of a parent with the disease has a 50 percent chance of inheriting the faulty gene and, if they do, will develop the disease – with symptoms typically emerging between the ages of 35 and 45.

Skyhawk Therapeutics said patients taking its daily pill saw a significant drop in mutant huntingtin protein (mHTT) in their blood, which causes symptoms to worsen.

The drug improved their scores on health tests compared to the typical physical decline observed in untreated patients over the same period.

Huntington’s Disease Association Auckland chief executive Jo Dysart said she was lost for words after reading the trial results.

“For our Huntington’s population in New Zealand, it’s amazing, groundbreaking. This is real hope,” she said.

“Our families are very cautious about hope… and we don’t like to use the word cure – I’m not saying this will be a cure by any means – but the fact that we’ve got a tablet that gets over the barrier to the brain in human beings in New Zealand is amazing.”

Dr Greg Finucan, a neuropsychiatrist and chief medical adviser for the Huntington’s Association, said the drug was akin to a stop sign in RNA that prevented the body from reproducing mHTT.

Last year, researchers at University College London’s Huntington’s Disease Centre published results showing an experimental gene therapy slowed disease progression.

That was a positive result but the latest drug from Skyhawk was unbelievable, Finucan said.

“I don’t think we were expecting anything quite as good as this,” he said.

“The [gene therapy trial] showed that a very invasive treatment, involving injections into the brain, slowed down progression to about 25 percent of what it would have been. These preliminary results, from this trial, make it look as though there’s no progression at all, which is quite amazing for a medication.

“It’s just so much more practical to have people at home taking medication than going into a hospital at a huge expense. We calculated the cost of those injections and you could build a new hospital for what it took for that other treatment.”

Finucan said it was important the phase-two trial – now underway – proved there were no serious adverse effects.

“It’s looking very good, but we just need to get the numbers,” he said.

Dysart said families affected by Huntington’s would be keen to know – if the drug was successful – that it would be affordable.

The Huntington’s Disease Association supported 1500 people affected by the disease in Auckland and the North Shore, including people living with Huntington’s, those at risk, and those who were gene-positive, she said.

Skyhawk Therapeutics was working toward testing 520 people at over 52 total sites around the world throughout phase-two and -three of the trial.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A raft of public works in Lower Hutt is causing headaches for commuters, closing roads and rerouting traffic.

It is linked to Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi, formerly known as the RiverLink project – with electricity renewal work in the area also underway, as well as council roading maintainence.

The $1.5 billion works included flood protection and river restoration work, improvements to public transport links and walking and cycling routes as well as upgrading the Melling interchange which linked the city to State Highway Two.

A new pedestrian bridge was also planned to link the relocated Melling Railway Station – which closed for an estimated three years in December last year – to the city.

Multiple people say in recent weeks there’s been a marked increase in delays and heavy congestion – extending beyond peak times – around the already busy choke point between the city, hospital and housing on one side Hutt River and the motorway to Wellington City (south) and the Upper Hutt and Wairarapa in the north.

The Melling train line to Wellington continued to run from the Western Hutt Station – further south – and each weekday Metlink bused nearly 370 Melling passengers from line’s former end.

Across the river – towards the city – Block Road as well as a section of Pharazyn Street, north of Marsden Street, were permanently closed earlier this month.

While Queens Drive, between Rutherford Street and High Street, was being prepared for the added traffic expected through the area and would remain closed until 2029.

Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi works to carry on through 2031

Jon Kingsbury from Hutt City Council said the full extent of the Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi works was not expected to be completed until some time in 2031.

People should expect longer travel times and were encouraged to plan ahead, he said.

“Different elements of the work will be delivered at different times, and disruption will vary as projects moves through scheduled phases.

“We appreciate people’s patience while this critical work is underway. While the disruption is significant, these projects are about making Lower Hutt safer, more resilient and better connected for the long term.”

Kingsbury said the council appreciated the cumulative effect of the multiple works could feel significant especially during peak travel times.

“Project partners are working closely together, alongside local businesses, residents, and transport providers, to plan, sequence and manage disruption as much as possible.

“Traffic management plans and local detours are in place across the city. While alternative routes are available, people should expect longer travel times and are encouraged to plan ahead,” the spokesperson said.

Works overlap regular road maintenance season

The early stages of the work on Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi had also co-incided with Hutt City Council’s road maintenance season.

Beginning in last November and set to continue through the summer to March the program would resurface and reseal around 15 kilometres of road in the area.

Outside of Hutt Central, construction of Tupua Horo Nuku – a 4.4 kilometre seawall and shared path along Marine Drive between Ngau Matau/Point Howard and Eastbourne – had also added to the congestion, with up to three-lane closures, stop/go traffic controls, and a reduced speed limit on the road accessing the Eastbourne Bays.

Later in March, Hutt City Council would also close the intersection of Queens Drive and High Street as the nearby roundabout was removed and replaced by traffic lights.

That piece of the puzzle would be completed near the end of the year and was expected to bring an extra layer of commuter chaos to the city’s centre.

Electricity works clear substations and cables from construction zone

This week – south of the main works – Wellington Electricity also closed the Ewen Bridge on-ramp and a lane across the bridge which linked the city to Alice town, the Hutt Road and the Western Hutt Railway station.

The electricity supplier would be laying trenches for cable removal or installation in the area as cables and substations in the Te Awa Kairangi construction zone were relocated.

Lanes on Market Grove, Marsden Street, and Connolly Street would also be blocked – as new cable was laid down as a part of the project.

Lower Hutt closures at a glance:

• Queens Drive is closed between Rutherford St and High St until approximately 2029
• The northern section of the Riverbank car park is permanently closed to vehicles and pedestrians.
• The Hutt River Trail on the western side of the river (from 800m south of Kennedy Good Bridge to 500m north of Ewen Bridge) is closed.
• Pharazyn Street is closed from near Marsden Street to Block Road until approximately 2029
• Block Road and the pedestrian crossing from Tirohanga Rd over SH2 to Block Rd are permanently closed.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A rural Waikato community will not be losing its only post shop after NZ Post admitted it mistakenly included it on the list of almost 150 sites earmarked to close.

But the state-owned company has indicated the service could be on the chopping block in future.

This week, NZ Post confirmed it would be removing 142 service counters in partnering convenience stores, pharmacies and libraries around New Zealand by the end of the year.

A total 567 post shops would remain open nationwide and rural post shops would not be affected.

The Te Kauwhata site was initially listed for closure, sparking bewilderment from the local convenience store owner who runs the service.

For residents, it would have meant the nearest postal store was more than 15 kilometres away.

On Wednesday, NZ Post confirmed the changes do not apply to the Te Kauwhata service.

“Their name appeared on our website in error, and we’ve now corrected this and spoken with them by phone. We remain available and continue to engage with them as needed,” a spokesperson said.

NZ Post said it had provided “early visibility of potential longer term plans” for the Te Kauwhata site.

“As part of the careful, evidence-based approach taken across the retail network, we’ve been transparent that, over time, NZ Post services in their area may move as we develop a future retail network with the right services in the right places,” a spokesperson said.

“This planning involves making sure we’re in the right environment to maintain services in this area, rather than withdrawing services.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A New Zealander who was severely injured while fighting in Ukraine said he sang Aotearoa’s national anthem to keep himself going as he was rescued.

Twenty-five-year-old Khol Gillies had to wait days to be evacuated from the battlefield, with his foot all but blown off, because fierce fighting made it nearly impossible to reach him.

Gillies, who is originally from Hawke’s Bay, had been in Ukraine for six months fighting as a volunteer.

It’s been three months since he was shot multiple times during a drone and ground attack. He’s now recovering in a hospital in Europe after having his leg amputated.

Gillies told Checkpoint he still hasn’t processed the day he was injured.

“We were manning our positions, and we came under a heavy attack. My comrades’ weapons were destroyed and we were running out of ammunition,” he said.

“Mine was the only functioning firearm, so I had to take point and obviously protect the group. Amongst all that, we started getting hit with drones, artillery bullet fire, small arms fire. My training and instincts really kicked in, and I wasn’t really thinking too much. I was just doing.”

During the attack, Gillies said his ankle was “blown off”, leaving his knee shattered and a 10-to-15-centimetre gash down his leg.

“I knew from then on, we had to really get out of there quick. [But] as we’re making our way out amongst what was happening, I sustained more injuries,” he said.

“My left eardrum had been blown out, so I couldn’t quite hear the drones coming. But I do remember looking down, seeing my injuries and thinking ‘shit, I want to live.’ So, I just started running.

“The adrenaline was pumping and as soon as I got to safety, I just dived in the hole. First thing I did, I reached down and checked my reproductive organs. Those were still intact and so I was very happy.”

He said he had to wait nearly five days in the bunker with his comrades, and waiting for the weather to turn.

“Fog is the only time that you can really manoeuvre around, so the drones can’t use their thermals and all their optics. It’s pretty much a no-fly zone when the fog is out, so that’s all we’re waiting for – some bad weather, which is good weather.”

Despite his injuries, he still did what he could to support his fellow comrades.

“I was still pulling radio and guard duty. I mean, it wasn’t too bad. I was just laying down, watching the door, manning the radio. My comrades were attending to my needs and pretty much being my medics for me.

“At one point, I did think about dying because of the pain. I can’t describe the pain. It was horrible.”

During one of the nights in the bunker, Gillies was woken up by the sound of nibbling.

“I looked down at my leg and I saw two bloody rats there. And I think ‘holy shit, they’re eating my leg,” he said.

After over four and a half days, Gillies was pulled out of the bunker during a foggy morning on a stretcher by three of his comrades.

“We had to navigate me through a minefield and that was tough,” he said.

He was then placed on a ground drone, a type of vehicle that is used to evacuate wounded soldiers.

“That lasted about four hours to get me out. These things go maybe 10… at the maximum 15km’s an hour. During that trip, I ended up getting hypothermia and it was really cold.”

He said the trip was agonising.

“The machine that I was on was a bit smaller than me, so my legs were hanging out the front, and I had to keep holding them up because they kept getting caught on the dirt and foliage.”

“There were also other enemy drones that would hover above me and I was just wondering, will I get hit and die here or something?”

Gillies sang the New Zealand National Anthem and ‘Stayin’ Alive’ by the Bee Gees to pass the time and take his mind off his wounds.

‘I have no regrets about going’

Gillies said he knew instantly from the first day after being hit and staying in the bunker that he was going to lose his leg.

“I had two tourniquets on for those five days, and I lost I think 50 percent of my blood. We couldn’t stop the bleeding.”

“From then on, I just knew that it had to come off, it didn’t look good. But my reproductive organs were good. I still had my hands so I can play the PlayStation. So, I was quite happy, but I was somewhat content with my injuries.”

“I mean it still sucks having no leg. Yeah, it’s not as bad as it could have been. I’m one of the lucky ones.”

But despite his injuries, he said he has no regrets about going to Ukraine.

“Maybe putting my wife through all of this. But no, I have no regrets. My comrades are saying if I didn’t do what I did, they most likely would have died and I would have still had my leg, but I’m very happy that wasn’t the outcome.”

Khol Gillies said one of the reasons why he wanted to serve in Ukraine is because of hearing stories during his childhood from one his grandfathers, the late Sir Robert Bob Gillies.

“That was very inspiring to me and I’ve always just felt good about helping out. I feel like it’s an honour to serve and help, no matter where it is, as long as you know the cause is righteous in some sort of sense.”

“I felt like I had the capacity and the will to do something and me just being back at home, knowing that I had those things and was doing nothing about it was eating away at me and I probably wouldn’t be happy with myself, knowing that I could have helped do something.

‘This was something he felt strongly about.’

Jasmine Gillies, Khol’s wife, supported him when he decided to go to Ukraine. Khol left New Zealand for Ukraine at the end of June last year.

“Initially, when he first told me, I had mixed emotions about it, but I supported what he wanted to do. I knew this was something he felt strongly about.”

Jasmine said a few days after Gillies was injured, she had a feeling that something bad had happened.

“I reached out to one of his friends in his unit and he got back to me, and he confirmed my suspicions that something had happened to Khol,” she said.

“I think he didn’t want to worry me too much, but he did explain to me that it was quite serious and that Khol was in the middle of being evacuated and it had something to do with his leg.”

Although it worried Jasmine that Gillies was overseas fighting in a war, she always believed he would come out alive.

“I booked my tickets within two days of finding out that he had been injured. I just knew I just needed to get there to be with him and support him in any way that I could.”

Jasmine arrived in Europe two weeks ago with help from Kiwi K.A.R.E, a charity led by former NZ Army Colonel Tenby Powell that provides medical aid and evacuations to New Zealand soldiers.

“I was nervous to see him. I hadn’t seen him for six months and I was trying to stay strong for him. I didn’t want to cry when I saw him because I knew he would already be going through it,” she said.

“I [didn’t] want to put any more stress on him or put my emotions on him or anything like that. It was extremely hard.”

She said it has been difficult being away from home and her family.

“We would have been more comfortable; I guess if we were going through this process back at home so he could get visitors and familiar faces.

“It’s been hard just having each other, although I am grateful, we have at least that.”

The journey back home

It’s a long path forward for Khol Gillies.

Once he leaves the hospital, he will be going into rehabilitation to learn how to walk again and to have a prosthetic leg made.

“I’m starting to do as much as I can here now. I will start doing press-ups again just to gain some strength. I’m looking at maybe three months it’ll take me; I’m healing pretty quick.”

Gillies said he’s aiming to come to back to his home in Hawke’s Bay.

“I dearly miss home and everything we have at home; I have such a deeper appreciation for everything in our country.

“Just the way of life, like every little thing that I used to take for granted before, that’s completely vanished. I am thoroughly looking forward to a steak and cheese pie and some pavlova.”

He said he’s been grateful to receive support from the Weatherman Foundation and the Ukrainian military.

“The Weatherman Foundation has helped me a lot, they’ve organised my hospital care. Ukrainian military will be helping me out with the prosthetic because I am under contract with them.”

But he’s got a GiveaLittle page to help fundraise for travel back to New Zealand and things he’ll need to help his recovery back at home.

“Extensions for like [the] shower, bathroom, toilet, just ramps, just stuff I haven’t really thought about at the moment. But I know I’ll need it.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

The rector of St Bede’s college says a former staffer’s sexual offending against boys more than two decades ago “makes me feel sick”.

It comes after RNZ reported that the Society of Mary was made aware of allegations against the priest nearly 20 years ago.

RNZ revealed on Wednesday that Fr Rowan Donoghue had pleaded guilty to six charges, five of which are representative, including indecent assault on a boy aged 12-16, indecent assault on a boy 16 and over and sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection.

The offending related to four boys who were boarding at St Bede’s College between 1996 and 2000.

• Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz

St Bede’s College rector Jon McDowall told RNZ the details outlined through the court process were “deeply disturbing”.

“As Rector, it makes me feel sick to think that young people entrusted to an adult’s care were abused in this way. I am deeply sorry that this happened to them, and my thoughts are with the victims and survivors who continue to live with the impact of that harm.”

McDowall said the school had worked openly with police throughout the process.

“We will continue to cooperate fully with the authorities should any further information come to light.

“Abuse has no place at St Bede’s – past, present, or future. The College has an established policy in place to respond and support victims of historical abuse, alongside safeguarding policies and practices to protect the wellbeing and safety of students today. Our focus remains on providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community.”

McDowall extended an open invitation for victims in the case, and others who may have been impacted, or anyone with concerns to contact him directly.

McDowall earlier told RNZ the school was “formally notified” of the allegations by police and had “worked openly with them since that time”.

“We hold victims and survivors in our thoughts and remain focused on providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community – past, present and future.”

In response to questions from RNZ on Wednesday, the Society of Mary confirmed an anonymous complaint of a sexual nature was made against Donoghue in 2007.

“The Society of Mary sought to investigate the complaint, but was unable to gain sufficient information to verify the allegations. Even so, the Society of Mary determined that Donoghue should be removed from public ministry, with a safety plan enacted. That has stayed in place since that time.”

The Society was not aware of the allegations to which Donoghue entered guilty pleas until police laid charges, the spokesperson said.

“Our first thoughts are with those who came forward and described what happened to them. We extend our apologies to them, and will seek to do so personally at an appropriate time. We deeply regret the hurt or harm caused.”

The society was “committed to ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of all people in Church settings”.

Asked whether police were told, the spokesperson said the complainant was “encouraged to contact the police”.

In early 2023, police were contacted about the allegations of sexual abuse by Donoghue in relation to his time at St Bede’s College.

In response to questions from RNZ, St Patrick’s Silverstream rector Rob Ferreira said the school had not been made aware of any allegations of abuse in care while Fr Donoghue worked at the school between 1982 to 1992.

“We have not had any inquiries from the police either.

“We operate according to clearly set out guidelines and best practice and you should note that our primary concern is the wellbeing of our students. Given that – our protection of the privacy and any other rights of survivors of abuse and other individuals would be paramount.”

He said the school had informed the community that Donoghue’s name suppression had lifted.

St Patrick’s College Wellington rector Mike Savali confirmed to RNZ that Donoghue was on the college staff from 2003 to 2007.

The Society of Mary encouraged anyone who has a concern or complaint about one of our members to contact the Police, the National Office for Professional Standards 0800 114 622, or the Society’s confidential helpline 021 909 749.

Where to get help

If it’s an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

If you have been abused, remember it’s not your fault.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Local authorities say the adrenaline has worn off and in its place is the scale of the damage in flood-hit East Coast communities.

Te Araroa on the East Coast has been described as a ‘war zone’ and was one of the worst hit during last week’s torrential rainfall.

Communities remain separated from each other, with work to clear slips on State Highway 35 continuing.

In a post on Wednesday, Tairāwhiti Civil Defence urged the public to be kind after receiving reports of people bullying roadworkers.

Te Araroa Civil Defence coordinator Tash Wanoa said the priority was still ensuring the 27 households cut off on the East Cape Road, toward Horoera, had food and supplies, but the recovery work was also underway.

“We’re now moving into clean-up mode with our crews, making assessments and going around the community and asking who needs help.”

She said it was important for help to be visible.

“I think now we’re at the critical point where people are starting to process what’s gone on,” Wanoa said.

“So, the adrenaline and the fight or flight has kicked off, and people are starting to realise, ‘Oh yep, okay’.”

Wanoa said locals were grateful for the support they’d received – it was community helping community – but said the “scale of the damage in their homes and township area” was starting to sink in.

“I imagine there’s a few areas where people are feeling a little bit anxious about what the next steps are, especially in terms of insurance processes and timelines for returning to their homes.”

The numbers fluctuated, but Wanoa said between 14 and 19 people, including tourists, were still staying at the Civil Defence hub at Hinerupe Marae.

Over the weekend, homes in Te Araroa and Onepoto in Hicks Bay had been evacuated due to the risk of landslides.

Te Araroa residents have since been given the all-clear to return, and following geotechnical assessments, 66 households in Onepoto were also deemed safe to live in.

The Gisborne District Council said assessing the safety of homes (flood or structural damage, landslide risk) would continue on Wednesday in Potaka, Rangitukia, and on the East Cape Road.

On Tuesday, red stickers had been given to eight buildings in Punaruku, Te Araroa, and three in Onepoto.

Four properties in each place had also been yellow-stickered, meaning they could be inhabited following remedial work.

Gisborne’s mayor Rehette Stolz told Checkpoint the region would need around $21.5 million following the latest damage, excluding roading costs.

Work to restore access to and between communities was ongoing, with State Highway 35 shut between Pōtaka, west of Hicks Bay, and the Taurangakoau Bridge, about 3km south of Te Araroa.

Tairāwhiti Civil Defence said reports of people bullying roadworkers were unacceptable.

It said the closure included the Pōtaka to Hicks Bay section.

“The road is incredibly dangerous and unnecessary movement could cause even more damage. When it is safe to be open, you will be the first to know!

“We’ve reports of people bullying the traffic management crews – let’s be clear on this – it is not acceptable.”

It urged the public to be kind, considerate, and to abide by the safety measures.

Hicks Bay and Te Araroa, usually a short drive from one another, remained separated by multiple slips on the highway, including a massive one estimated by the Transport Agency (NZTA) to be around 6500 tuck loads of soil.

A spokesperson said access between the communities remained challenging.

They said engineers were carrying out assessments and would have a better idea of a timeframe for reopening the road later this week.

SH35 between Te Araroa and Taurangakoau Bridge, reopened for essential services and residents three times a day on Monday, with NZTA announcing an extended midday window for Wednesday and Thursday.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Marae are welcoming the governments funding boost as a “good start” for the marae communities who turn out time and time in the wake of severe weather events.

Tauranga Moana iwi representative Roimata Ah Sam said 23 marae across the Tauranga region were able to open their doors and provide shelter and not for the first time.

“It is pretty incredible that time and time again, our marae communities, our Māori communities, turn out to respond. And we’ve seen that in complete action over the last week of how Māori turn out, regardless of where you’re from, to ensure that people are looked after in some of the most challenging times of people’s lives.”

Dozens of marae across Northland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and Tairāwhiti opened their doors in the wake of last weeks severe weather, sheltering evacuees, providing kai and serving as Civil Defence hubs. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/585204/te-araroa-evacuees-overwhelmed-by-aroha-extended-to-them-at-east-coast-marae

On Tuesday the government announced it would make $1.2 million available to mayoral relief funds for affected regions, and another $1 million would go to marae that have helped communities in need.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon praised support from marae as “exceptional”. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/585163/political-parties-respond-to-government-funding-for-communities-hit-by-severe-weather

“They have provided shelter, food and care to people in need, and I cannot speak more highly of them.”

Ah Sam said she is proud of how marae have responded in way that exercises a level of resilience and manaakitanga, even in challenging times.

“We’ve had to reopen some doors as of this afternoon. So one of our marae… out at Ngāti Pūkenga is having to open up their doors for an evacuated area. So we’re still seeing that being practised.

“The beauty of marae is that the ability for whānau and for Māori to activate and practice manaakitanga means that those doors get open pretty quickly.”

Earlier on Wednesday residents were evacuated from Mangatawa, including Mangatawa marae, in Pāpāmoa where a slip poses a risk to life and property. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/585216/new-slip-prompts-emergency-evacuations-in-tauranga

Ah Sam said Tauranga iwi welcomed the funding announcement saying that it would be a good start.

“Our marae are the first to open our doors and provide support to our communities. And in effect, they need to be resourced to do that. So whilst we’re incredibly proud of the work that our marae and our communities are able to exercise, we do need to make sure that we’re providing them with the level of support to continue to do that sustainably.”

Marae themselves are often vulnerable to floods and landslides and Ah Sam said once attention shifts from recovery to review the iwi would welcome a conversation around making marae more resilient. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/512771/survey-finds-third-of-marae-in-flood-prone-areas-up-to-30-percent-prone-to-landslides

Multiple marae across Tauranga were impacted by the floods, she said.

The challenges ahead are incredible, particularly for the whānau who are grieving for loved ones, and the thoughts of Tauranga Moana are with the whānau who are grieving, she said.

Ōtetao Reti marae in Punaruku, five minutes drive from hard-hit Ōakura in Northland, has been sheltering members of the community and providing help during the storm. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/584867/marae-provides-community-lifeline-following-northland-floods

The marae’s Civil Defence lead Paora Glassie, told Morning Report, he was grateful the government were reimbursing marae that provided welfare, but believed the money was not enough. https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2019020692/marae-to-be-reimbursed-for-help-provided-during-weather-event

“I think it’s not enough, but at the end of the day we should be grateful we have been offered some money.”

Glassie hoped the money would help ease the burden for those who had lost loved ones during the storms.

He said his area had major floodings and slips which cut the community off from the outside world, but luckily some roads had been cleared now.

With events like this, he said it was important marae were prepared with Civil Defence readiness plans and that they had basic resources to take care of people.

“Making sure that you have a good Civil Defence team too, to work alongside, so that you’re not stuck with all the load at the time of a major event.”

For his marae, he said it was “lucky” as the only real problem was access in and out of the area as the marae was equipped with solar power and generators for when the power was out.

“Just making sure that the basic things are in place, generators, you’ve got gas and that, so that when you come into… that situation the marae can continue to survive or continue to help the people in the area.”

The $1 million allocation has been added to the Māori Development Fund, enabling Te Puni Kōkiri to provide one-off reimbursement grants to marae that delivered welfare support during the January 2026 severe weather event.

Marae or related organisations that provided welfare support can apply for reimbursement grants by contacting their regional Te Puni Kōkiri office to begin the process.

Funding can be used to cover eligible costs incurred while supporting communities, including food, accommodation, utilities and other essential welfare expenses.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police say two people have died in a helicopter crash near Wellington today.

Emergency services were called to a helicopter crash in the Paekākāriki Hill area, north of Wellington, by an automated crash alert at 7.30am.

Inspector Renée Perkins said both the pilot and sole passenger were found deceased following the crash.

She said police were working to remove the bodies from the area and cordons were in place around the Battle Hill campground.

Police would work alongside the Civil Aviation Authority to examine the scene.

A man who discovered a body in the “unrecognisable” wreckage of a helicopter that crashed says he was checking for vital signs as the Westpac helicopter arrived at the scene.

The witness said they checked the vital signs of one of the people on the helicopter and they were deceased.

Shortly afterwards, he said another person was located some distance from the wreckage on steep terrain in thick scrub.

“It’s not my first. I spent 27 years in search and rescue – so it’s not something new to me,” the man said.

He said he attempted to shut the helicopter off as fuel was running out of the aircraft, but could not access the switch to do so.

“Because there’s fuel leaking out and the machine was still turned on, we took the safe option and we moved out of the way,”

The man said he understood the helicopter was involved in goat culling in the area.

Police, Maritime NZ’s Rescue Coordination Centre and Fire and Emergency responded to the crash.

Fire and Emergency had sent two crews from Porirua, along with their “line rescue team”. Also known as rope rescue personnel, they are trained in high-angle, vertical, or challenging terrain, often handling rescues at height or in confined spaces.

The newly appointed Police Assistant Commissioner, currently District Commander, Corrie Parnell has arrived on site. RNZ understands authorities are currently in meetings and they are struggling to access the site because of the area.

Park rangers and teams on ATVs were trying to make the scene more accessible.

While helicopters have been in the air this morning, an RNZ reporter at the scene says Flight Radar is no longer showing helicopters in the area.

The search area is near Pukerua Bay, where three people died in a crash involving an Air Force helicopter on Anzac Day in 2010.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Nearly a week after six people were killed in a landslide at the Mount Maunganui campground, questions remain on who knew what, when they were notified, and what action could or should have been taken. National Crime Correspondent Sam Sherwood reports.

It was about 5am, when Lisa Anne Maclennan began waking her fellow campers in Mount Maunganui, warning them about a slip that had pushed her campervan about a metre forward.

Nearly five hours later a massive chunk of land came down at the Beachside Holiday Park, smashing into campervans, tents, vehicles and an ablution block near the Mount Hot Pools. Six people remain missing, Maclennan, 50, Måns Loke Bernhardsson, 20, Jacqualine Suzanne Wheeler, 71, Susan Doreen Knowles, 71, Sharon Maccanico, 15, and Max Furse-Kee, 15.

RNZ has asked authorities in the days since the landslide what they knew and what actions they took.

‘I think everyone should move’

A woman, who did not want to be named, told RNZ she had been at the campground for about three weeks and was staying right next to Maclennan and her husband.

She said she was woken shortly before 5am on 22 January by Maclennan banging on her window.

“She’s like ‘Oh I’m so sorry I’m waking you up’, but the slip had pushed her campervan about a metre forward, so she said, ‘I’m just waking everyone up because I think everyone should move’.”

The woman moved her campervan straight away and Maclennan’s campervan was moved parallel to the shower block.

The woman said the group then went to the office, but there was no-one there.

She said Maclennan had tried ringing the emergency number at the campground and could not get hold of anybody.

The woman said Maclennan told her she was going to try calling Civil Defence. It was at that moment the woman called police.

Shortly before, she took some photos and video of one of three slips, including one right at her campsite. An image, supplied to RNZ, was timestamped at 6.15am and the video, which shows the slips, was taken a minute later.

A call log provided by the woman confirms she called police at 6.18am. The outgoing call lasted eight minutes.

“I explained to them about the slips. I said, ‘look, I understand that you guys will be really busy, and this might not be anything, but this is what’s happened here’. 

“It was enough to push the ladies’ campervan forward, and there’s a homeless man in the toilet block, and he was actually going crazy and sort of banging on the walls and smashing things.

“And so I said, maybe you should send someone to have a look at that, just in case. You know, there’s a lot of kids here… and they said, yeah, it is a really busy night. It’s been a busy night. It’s a busy morning, we’ll try and get a unit there.”

The woman said no-one arrived until about 7.45am, when she said she saw what she described as a ute that was sign-written with Tauranga City Council. The ute stopped and the woman says she called out, “Look, I don’t know if you can see them from where you are, but there’s these slips up here, I think, you know, someone should look at them.”

The woman was unsure the man heard her. The woman said the ute then drove through the Pilot Bay side of the campground slowly past the slips that she had filmed directly in front of several campsites.

“I figured, well, everything will be fine. Someone from the council’s come, they’ve seen the slips, he’s driven past them, he’s driven through the water that was coming down from that corner that collapsed. So I had no worries after that.”

Fire and Emergency New Zealand

In response to earlier questions from RNZ, deputy national commander Megan Stiffler confirmed FENZ received a 111 call at 5.48am on Thursday from a person reporting a slip near the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park.

“Our call takers made contact with the Tauranga City Council, the landowners of the camping ground, and notified them of this information at 5.51am.

“The landslip that was referenced in the 111 call received at 5.48am did not impact life or property and therefore Fire and Emergency did not respond firefighters to attend, instead we notified Tauranga City Council as the landowner responsible.”

Speaking to the NZ Herald, Tauranga City Council chief executive Marty Grenfell said there was no record of a 111 call being referred to the council.

However, a council statement released only hours later backtracked on this version of events.

“After further enquiries, we can confirm that the Tauranga City Council’s main Contact Centre received a call from Fire and Emergency New Zealand at around 5.50am on Thursday, 22 January.”

The council said the chief executive’s earlier comments referred specifically to information logged in the council’s Emergency Operations Centre, which did not receive a call.

Tauranga City Council

Tauranga mayor Mahé Drysdale spoke with Midday Report on Wednesday. Asked whether he thought the campground could or should have been evacuated, he said he was not going to be “drawn on a conclusion yet”.

“Until we’ve actually seen you know exactly the timeline, exactly who knew what when, but I can absolutely assure people, you know when, when we’ve got all that information in front of me, that… we will act appropriately. We will understand and and obviously, you know, the important thing is learning from this tragedy.”

Drysdale confirmed some staff were at the campground at the time of the slip.

He was unable to say how many, as there were several different teams.

Drysdale did not know what the Council did after they were notified by FENZ at 5.51am.

Asked about RNZ’s article about a local council representative driving through the Mount Maunganui campground and directly past three slips about two hours before the landslide, Drysdale said he he did not “have the absolute detail”.

“This is the problem… there’s a lot of information, and we need to verify that information absolutely,” he said.

“I don’t have a accurate or verified, you know, case of where all our staff were when they were there, what they knew, what they didn’t know. That is absolutely something that we need to find out.”

Police

In response to questions from RNZ, a police spokesperson confirmed police received an emergency call at 6.18am in relation to a disorder incident that had occurred at the campsite.

“During the call, the informant also referenced a potential landslip.

“Police did not attend as it was unclear whether the disorder resulted in any property damage.

“Fire and Emergency New Zealand were earlier alerted to the slip, and the council was in turn notified.”

Between 5am and 9.30am in the Mount Maunganui area, Police received one other call about a slip on the base track.

“The informant left the area safely and noted cones had been placed to restrict further access.”

What about a review?

On Tuesday, the Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said there was a “strong case” for a government inquiry into the landslide.

He announced the possibility during a media conference and said many questions about last Thursday’s slip were being asked, including whether there was a missed opportunity to evacuate people sooner.

“Six families are grieving the unimaginable loss of their loved ones, and they deserve answers. I acknowledge that the Tauranga City Council has ordered its own inquiry into the events leading up to the landslide at the campground.

“However, I do believe there is a strong case for an independent government inquiry, and we’ll be talking to Tauranga City Council about that.”

Luxon said it would be important not only for the grieving families but for helping to ensure lessons were learned to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

While an independent inquiry had already been announced by local council, Luxon said there were concerns it would not be impartial if it was conducted by the council.

“There’s a potentially an inherent conflict between the ownership of the campground and the council, but it’s also coming from conversations directly with the families that Mark and I had in the last 48 hours with people in Tauranga at the Mount, and their big desires to actually understand what did happen here.

“I think doing that dispassionately, being able to do that very objectively, through an independent government inquiry would be the way forward.”

Asked about a review on Wednesday, Drysdale said the council would “certainly do something”.

“We just don’t want to, I guess, stamp on the government’s toes. So we’re just working in with them at the moment, understanding what they’re doing, and that will help shape exactly what we do.

“But we need to know the actions of our employees. We need to know what was done, what the facts were, establish exactly what happened, and then understand whether everyone within our organisation acted appropriately and the decisions were made when they should have been.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Well-wishers have come out in force for a Wellington cat considered to be Aro Park royalty.

Lola the Cat was a regular fixture in Aro Park for many years.

She died in December last year, her death was announced on her Facebook page on Monday.

“Lola lived one of the fullest lives a little cat could,” the post said.

Most of you will remember the big moments that shaped her life: surviving a greyhound attack (and losing her front leg), and surviving a second dog attack, and a subsequent surgery with just a 10 percent chance of survival,” the post said.

“But those of you lucky enough to pass Lola on your commute will know that her life was made up of so many more small, seemingly insignificant moments. It was in these moments that you all came to love Lola, and it feels only right to thank you as we say goodbye.”

The post said Lola reigned over Aro Park until after the second dog attack, spending her last year’s perched in a basket at home, where she received many visitors, and deliveries of smoked salmon.

“Thank you to everyone who cuddled her, fed her, and treated her to Wellington’s best fish and chips,” the post said.

“Thank you also to the endless stream of Vic Uni Students who befriended Lola every year (even those of you who drunkenly kidnapped her, only to call the next morning full of apologies and asking to return her – I can only imagine the hangxiety). We are endlessly grateful to you all for the love and care you showed our beautiful girl.”

The Facebook post has attracted more than 100 comments with people reminiscing about their times with Lola.

“May we all live lives as full as this sweet and sassy gal! Lola was my first local friend when I studied abroad in Wellington in 2016,” said Claire Naughton. “Rest easy, sweet Lola! You truly were loved around the world.”

“I’m sitting on my couch crying now,” said Courtney Hutchinson. “Lola was so special, I loved seeing her on my walk to work and back home when I lived in Aro Valley years ago.”

“Very sad, but what an amazing life Lola has had,” said Simon Dartford. “I briefly lived up Aro Valley approx 14 years ago and the highlight of each day was sharing some cuddles and rubs with Lola.”

Lola first arrived in Aro Valley in 2008 and was cared for by Josephine Brien from 2014. Brien’s daughter Zeni, runs the Facebook page.

Brien said she’d received many well-wishes since Lola’s passing.

“This boy came around with this beautiful oil painting he’d done of her, which is just so lovely, and […] another beautiful drawing has come through the letterbox as well, lots of cards.”

Brien said people used to spend ages at her fence talking to Lola.

“We used to think that we should put a little sign up, like in that Peanuts cartoon, ‘psychiatric help 5 cents or whatever’, because […] people would talk to her for ages.

Brien said for a little cat, Lola had left behind an enormous hole.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Tauranga’s mayor has confirmed council workers were at the fatal Mount Maunganui campground landslide when it happened.

There have been several accounts of warnings that were made to Tauranga City Council and other agencies about landslips at Mauao in the hours before the tragedy.

Mayor Mahe Drysdale told Midday Report that council staff were there when the slip came down at about 9:30am on Thursday.

“There were some staff at the campground at the time of the slip.

“Our City Ops workers were doing a job, and we have camp workers. Those facts will all be established so we can understand exactly where they were and what they were doing.”

Drysdale said a timeline of what staff knew and when would be made public.

He said they were working to verify a large amount of information.

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