“Wow, Shaun, great commitment...great job.. thank you’ while another posted, ‘You are astounding Shaun’ and ‘great work Shaun. Lee told the Herald a member of the publicwas in the water trying to help the whale which had beached up against rocks. Project Jonah marine mammal medics and Department of Conservation staff responded to calls for help. Project Jonah spokeswoman Louisa Hawkes told RNZ Shepherd’s beaked whales lived in the deep sea and would only come up to shore if something was wrong. According to Project Jonah, Shepherd’s beaked whales have only been spotted out at sea four times, with fewer than 50 strandings recorded globally.

The man accused of murdering and dismembering Christchurch father-of-three Richard Leman has given evidence at his own trial. Rodger has pleaded not guilty to murder and claims Sara Plimmer and Morgan “Molly” Grant are responsible for Leman’s death. Photo / SuppliedThe Crown finished presenting evidence, including lengthy testimony from both Plimmer and Grant, to the jury today. On the day Leman died, Rodger had been in Christchurch “purchasing some product” which he explained meant “buying some meth”. She said she only told Rodger because her circumstances had changed and she did not want to look like she had lied.

Dave Rennie has been named the new All Blacks head coach through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, seeing off Jamie Joseph in the two-man race to replace Scott Robertson. The 62-year-old former Chiefs coach and coach of the Wallabies was unveiled as the national coach in a New Zealand Rugby social media post just before midday. Photo: RNZRennie, who is of Cook Islands descent through his mother, becomes the first All Blacks head coach with Pasifika heritage. Photo: Gerard O'Brien"On behalf of the Board, I'd like to congratulate Dave on his appointment as All Blacks head coach. He was head coach of the Wallabies between 2020 and 2023, although largely struggled for success before being replaced by Eddie Jones.

PHOTO: The Mainlander Train / FacebookA commuter rail service between Selwyn townships and Christchurch is being investigated by a community board, with planning under way for a one-off trial later this year. Community board member Samantha Samuel said the proposal is still in its early stages. “The trial is the result of community feedback calling for a commuter service in the face of increasing traffic from a growing population. “The infrastructure is already there, so it’s looking at what we can do to start the conversation towards a commuter train in the future.”The plan for the trial is a phased approach, proposed to start with a one-off event express train service and then a “move towards a commuter train”. The trial process aims to understand the costs and answer the crucial 'who pays' element of any future service.

The first person to get open-heart surgery in New Zealand, Christchurch resident Helen Harris, has died aged 78. Helen (nee Arnold) was about 10 or 11 when she underwent open heart surgery, performed by Sir Brian Barratt-Boyes at Auckland's Greenlane Hospital in September 1958. Photo: Courtesy of the Arnold family via RNZHelen died on Saturday, February 28, surrounded by her family. Helen Arnold post-operation with her parents. • The Open Heart from RNZ’s Eyewitness podcast details Dr Kerr’s relationship with Sir Barratt Boyes and the day that changed Helen's life.

Photo: Getty ImagesGore Mayor Ben Bell has welcomed Waitaki District Council’s decision to rejoin the Three Waters group Southern Waters Done Well after its initial rejection of the scheme last year. Waitaki District Mayor Mel Tavendale said despite "good conversations that were had in good faith" it was a lost opportunity. Mrs Tavendale said the Southern Waters group had "a really open door" for Waitaki throughout the conversation and the understanding of "rural water" was a big plus in those discussions. In a joint statement, Central Otago District Mayor Tamah Alley, Clutha District Mayor Jock Martin and Gore District Mayor Ben Bell said the inclusion of Waitaki in the Southern Waters group would strengthen the water services entity. Mr Martin said Southern Waters had always been open to working with like-minded councils to deliver positive outcomes for their communities.

Scores of people have been killed across the Middle East since the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, killing its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the opening salvoes. Global air transport has also been in chaos, with Middle East air hubs linking Asia, Europe and Africa affected, Reuters reports. All sorts of contingencies to help Kiwis were being looked at but it was a complex situation, Peters told RNZ's Morning Report programme today. Asked on Morning Report about possible evacuation flights for Kiwis, Peters said the situation was "difficult". Last time there was conflict in the Middle East a plane was sent, and within an hour of it landing "peace broke out" and no one got on the flight, Peters said.

A hungry driver ran a red light and crashed into an unmarked police car in his bid to get home for lunch. The 31-year-old man admitted to officers that he ‘‘wasn’t concentrating’’ when he ran the red light and caused the crash yesterday, Sergeant Matt Lee, of Dunedin, said. Emergency services were called to the crash at the intersection of Queens Gardens and Crawford St at about 12pm. An unmarked police vehicle was travelling north through the intersection on a green light when the crash happened. Photo: Craig BaxterThe driver later told officers that he had been heading home for lunch and ‘‘just wasn't concentrating’’.

An angry Dunedin dog owner allegedly grabbed his dog by the throat and threw it through a glass door because he was "frustrated". Police were called to a Mornington address by neighbours at 8.20pm on Monday after they reported concerns for the dog's welfare. The dog's owner, a 30-year-old man, told police he had "got frustrated at his dog" while trying to feed it. He then grabbed his dog by the throat and threw it through a glass door, which smashed, he said. The dog was found, unharmed, in the area a short time later, Sergeant Matt Lee, of Dunedin, said.

New Zealand Rugby is expected to reveal the identity of the next All Blacks coach either tomorrow or Friday after a process that has drawn out since Scott Robertson was punted on January 16. It is an entirely unkept secret that the two candidates for the biggest job in the country are Highlanders coach Joseph and former Chiefs and Wallabies coach Dave Rennie. The interview panel will make a recommendation on the All Blacks coach appointment to the NZR board. Getting a deal only to the end of the next Rugby World Cup — that would normally be the case — will leave the new coach with just 20 months of job security. "Coincidentally, the All Blacks game against South Africa in Baltimore this year would have been my 250th All Blacks test.

PGG Wrightson agent and auctioneer Russell Moloney. PHOTO: SRL FILESDemand remains strong for sheep and beef in Otago. PGG Wrightson agent and auctioneer Russell Moloney said the cattle and sheep sale was "very strong right across the board" at Balclutha Saleyards last week. The two-tooth ewes fetched $300 each, two shear ewes $272, three shear ewes $245, four shear ewes $192 and annual draft ewes sold for $188. More than 6000 lambs sold for an average of about $200 each at West Wānaka Station.

Photo: RNZ / Mark PapaliiA person has been seriously injured after getting trapped between a rubbish truck and what RNZ understands to be a skip bin in Wellington. FENZ shift manager Jill Webley said crews extracted a trapped person and they were taken to hospital. A Daily Waste rubbish truck could be seen parked close up to the wall of the Wellington Central Police Station, which sits next to the lane on yellow lines. A large blue bin sat atop a pile of black rubbish bags on the tray above the cab of the vehicle. Workers in the area told RNZ the truck had been parked in that fashion when they arrived this morning.

Ngāi Tahu Seafood will not fish for Bluff oysters for the second consecutive year as concerns about the fishery remain. The company said it has observed a decline in both the quantity and quality of oysters (tio) available during recent seasons. Awarua Incorporated Society chairwoman Pania Coote said historical patterns and local mātauraka (knowledge) showed the recovery of tio beds took time. "This suggests strong recruitment of new oysters, and evidence of immature oysters beginning to grow through to adulthood." The Bluff Oyster Management Company (BOMC) is the stakeholder group that ensures the sustainable management of the Bluff oyster fishery on behalf of quota owners.

Another is less happy with the proposal for the corner of Russell St and Arthur St in City Rise, Dunedin. Russell St cottage owner Andrina Kitto could recall when the neighbouring property was a corner shop. "The corner shop, as it was during those years, was a very popular outlet for the local community and was very well patronised," she told the hearing. Arthur St resident Joanne Baldwin was worried about noise associated with the proposed cafe, as well as pressure on residents’ parking. The 1923 corner shop and flat upstairs were used for student accommodation when the couple bought it.

Christchurch's wastewater treatment plant after the fire in November 2021. Photo: CCCChristchurch City Council is yet to clarify how sewage will be treated before being pumped into the ocean under a new plan designed to mitigate the putrid stench coming from Bromley's damaged sewage treatment plant. RNZ had requested interviews with Mauger, city council staff and councillors representing affected areas, but none had responded. Christchurch City Council was yet to answer questions on how the sewage would be treated before being pumped to the ocean and how long such a measure would be in effect. I have concerns about it being discharged into our ocean because our ocean is literally not for that purpose.