Delays for rename of airport terminal honouring Shadbolt
Photo: Matthew Rosenberg/LDRInvercargill residents will have to wait a little longer for their airport terminal to bear the name of the city's longest serving mayor. This week, Invercargill City Council confirmed the rebrand to Sir Tim Shadbolt Terminal was taking longer than anticipated. According to a council report, the organisation holds over 97 percent of shares in the airport through Invercargill City Holdings Ltd, which Shadbolt was a director of from 2013 to 2019. During his tenure as mayor, the airport underwent a significant runway extension in 2003 and completion of a new terminal development in 2016. Shadbolt served as mayor of Invercargill from 1993-1995, and again from 1998-2022.
Source:Otago Daily Times
June 08, 2024 09:16 UTC
Home Alone house on sale for $8.6 million, including its own movie theatre
Fans of the Home Alone franchise will recognise the stately Chicago home from the films starring Macaulay Culkin. Fans of the Home Alone franchise will recognise the stately Chicago home from the films starring Macaulay Culkin. This brick house in Winnetka, Chicago, was featured in the 1990 movie Home Alone. Home Alone is the comedic story of 8-year-old Kevin, played by Macaulay Culkin, who is accidentally left behind while his family travels to Europe at Christmas. The 43-year-old actor played Kevin McCallister in the iconic Christmas film franchise, with the first film released in 1990 and the sequel in 1992.
Source:New Zealand Herald
June 08, 2024 05:27 UTC
Open mike 08/06/2024
The Rt Hon Winston Peters, joined by Mike King, has announced $24 million over four years for the ‘I Am Hope Foundation’, and will provide young people aged between 5 to 25 years with free mental health counselling services. This funding will help I Am Hope’s ‘Gumboot Friday’ initiative give
Source:Stuff
June 08, 2024 00:08 UTC
Sperm donor who was told he had no biological children finds son on DNA testing website
DNA testing sites are adding a layer of complexity to the sensitive process of linking sperm donors and their biological families. But for those who donated before a 2005 cut-off date the process is more complicated - and increasingly being muddied by DNA testing sites. Further DNA testing showed the Queensland man was a 50 per cent match for the twin brothers. At the same time, some donors or recipients are instead finding out about biological family members on popular DNA testing websites, often accidentally. Donor Conceived Aotearoa spokeswoman Rebecca Hamilton said DNA testing had provided information to many donor-conceived people which the voluntary register could not.
Source:New Zealand Herald
June 07, 2024 23:45 UTC
Blake says 'hate-filled' US sprinters would have to wait for eternity to end Jamaican track dominance
Wellington, Sep 15(ANI): Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake has said their American rivalswould have to wait till forever to end their country's dominance in track events, and added the sprinters from the US always hated them for their capabilities. US men, who once ruled the sprints, have been overwhelmed by Jamaican speedsters at Olympic and world championships since triple world record holder Usain Bolt's stunning show at the 2008 Beijing Games, and the trend will continue,according to the world 100 metres champion, Blake. According to Stuff.co.nz, when asked about how long he thinks the American sprinters would have to wait to regain their dominance on the track, Blake replied: "I would say until the day that we all leave the earth." On their rivalry with the American sprinters, Blake said: "We don't really have a relationship. Bolt claimed gold in the 100 and 200 again at the London Olympics with Blake taking silver in both before the two helped Jamaica to another world record in the 4x100.
Source:Stuff
June 07, 2024 22:53 UTC
NZ musician Hollie Smith on infertility, her new tour and art exhibition
Musician Hollie Smith's debut art exhibition has opened at Auckland's Eyes on Fire gallery. Photo / Jason OxenhamAhead of an unexpected art exhibition (and a looming small town music tour) Hollie Smith talks to Kim Knight about the true cost of creativity. No-one can get confused.”Musician Hollie Smith with a selection of the paintings she is showing at Auckland's Eyes on Fire Gallery. “I’ve got to a place in the last little while where I’m a lot more comfortable with myself,” says Smith. Smith: “I’m ‘Aunty Lollie’ to quite a few little munchkins these days!”Musician Hollie Smith aimed to paint a work every week for her debut exhibition that has just opened at Auckland's Eyes on Fire Gallery.
Source:Stuff
June 07, 2024 17:57 UTC
Hammered taggers caught red-handed
Photo: Laine PriestleyA pair of taggers painted the town red after going on a drunken graffiti spree in Dunedin. Officers located the duo, a 23-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman, near Duke St covered in red and black spray paint and with the cans in their possession. Photo: Laine PriestleyPolice seized the paint cans and attempted to interview the pair about the tagging, but due to the level of intoxication they were taken home, Snr Sgt Bond said. The pair would be summoned to appear in court at a later date. Police were following up during the daylight hours to see the extent and how far along the tagging goes and how many properties were damaged, Snr Sgt Bond said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
June 07, 2024 05:38 UTC
35 years of pumping fuel comes to an end
Alan Turnbull (left) and Neville Bond, owners of BP 2Go Autoworld in Oamaru, have sold after 35 years in the business. Now it was electronic transactions for coffee, pies and sandwiches at BP 2Go Autoworld in Oamaru’s South Hill. Mr Turnbull expected it would feel "a wee bit weird" today, given their lengthy tenure at the site, but change was inevitable. The pair had prided themselves on their service and Mr Bond said they met "lots of nice people". "They just look at you — and drive off," Mr Bond said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
June 07, 2024 04:49 UTC
Te Pāti Māori seeks investigation, president John Tamihere retaliates over data accusations
"Te Pāti Māori are endlessly attacked and the matter is being made into a race debate through no fault of our own." "When Te Pāti Māori made a late filing the Police were immediately called to investigate and we are sent to the Serious Fraud Office. "I don't understand why Mr Tamihere refers to the 'Employment Tribunal' because the Employment Tribunal was replaced by the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) in 2000. Police confirmed they were making enquiries into matters relating to Te Pāti Māori, but would give no further detail. Tamihere - as well as being Te Pāti Māori's president - is also the Trust's chief executive.
Source:Stuff
June 07, 2024 03:40 UTC
‘Agency for agencies’ Numeral promises front-end support
After spending 20 years in front-end development projects, Allan Walker has set up Numeral to help businesses scale up and deliver their projects on time. Numeral is a company for those needing efficient front-end expertise at a reasonable price and is dedicated to delivering projects on time and on budget. “We are here if your existing web team is light on resources, or if you’ve got a spike in workload and your project requires front-end development. “I’ve seen the value and quality of Numeral first-hand – we actually contracted Allan and the team in my previous role. I’m stoked to share my agency experience with Numeral and our customers,” says Whitehead.
Source:Stuff
June 07, 2024 03:24 UTC
Man in Mexico dies in first known human case of H5N2 bird flu variant
A 59-year-old male resident of Mexico died after being infected with a bird flu subtype never before confirmed to have spread to humans, the World Health Organization said Wednesday. The man, who suffered from other underlying health conditions, had no known exposure to poultry or other animals before being formally diagnosed by a laboratory with the H5N2 subtype of avian flu. People who came in contact with the man shortly before his death have so far not tested positive for H5N2, it added. AdvertisementA highly pathogenic form of bird flu was detected in a goat in March, the first confirmed case in the United States involving a domestic ruminant animal (i.e. Experts have criticized federal agencies in the United States for being slow to track and control the outbreak, with nine states observing outbreaks in cows as of Tuesday.
Source:Stuff
June 07, 2024 01:31 UTC
Open mike 07/06/2024
The Rt Hon Winston Peters, joined by Mike King, has announced $24 million over four years for the ‘I Am Hope Foundation’, and will provide young people aged between 5 to 25 years with free mental health counselling services. This funding will help I Am Hope’s ‘Gumboot Friday’ initiative give
Source:Stuff
June 07, 2024 00:04 UTC
West Coast Council Considers Rejoining LGNZ
West Coast Council Considers Rejoining LGNZThe West Coast Regional Council has agreed to consider rejoining Local Government NZ, but only to represent the entire local government sector in the region. This geographic comparison is used by the West Coast Regional Council to illustrate the economic challenge the sparsely populated region with a 650km length and just 22,000 rateable units has to adequately service its residents. PICTURE: West Coast Regional CouncilIn mid-2023, the council kicked to touch its membership to the body which represents New Zealand councils. The year before, in 2022, it put LGNZ on notice after querying the collective cost and benefit to West Coast ratepayers. Council chief executive Darryl Lew said the question of LGNZ membership was for council, not management.
Source:Otago Daily Times
June 06, 2024 14:18 UTC
Global Insight: Mexico president tipped to shine
Speaking on Global Insight, the University of Otago international relations specialist compares Sheinbaum to the high-profile Ardern and says the election of the first female president of Mexico in its 200-year history is important domestically and globally. This is a clear break from the past for Mexico,’’ Prof Patman says. ‘‘She has the potential to be a significant international leader.’’Claudia Sheinbaum gestures to supporters in Mexico City after winning the presidential election. Photo: ReutersLike Ardern, Sheinbaum comes across well in media interviews and is breaking new ground in politics. That approach might be strengthened by Sheinbaum, Prof Patman says.
Source:Otago Daily Times
June 06, 2024 10:45 UTC
RATs, vaccines and treatments, the budget for Covid: What you need to know
Budget 2024, announced on 30 May, allocated more than $230 million over four years to Covid and pandemic preparedness. According to Budget documents, this covers Covid vaccines and therapeutics, while retaining "critical public health surveillance infrastructure, supporting system preparedness to identify and respond to future disease outbreaks". Initially, Covid vaccines and treatments were paid for from a separate fund provided by the government. Meaning Covid vaccines and treatments needed to be prioritised against all the other medicines, medical devices, vaccines, and related products funded for New Zealanders. (While the Covid vaccines do not necessarily stop someone becoming infected, they remain good protection against severe illness and death from the disease.)
Source:Stuff
June 06, 2024 10:16 UTC