Kiwi chopper pilot dies fighting NSW bushfire
A New Zealand-born helicopter pilot who died water bombing a major bushfire in Australia has been described as an amazing man with years of experience fighting fires from the air. The experienced pilot was described as "an amazing guy" by a colleague at Sydney Helicopters, where he worked. Sydney Helicopters said Mr Tull's death will be felt by all in the firefighting community and beyond. Five major fires on the south coast and to the north were still out of control on Friday night. The Rural Fire Service has confirmed the Bemboka fire on the south coast burned down three homes and four outbuildings in the Bega Valley while 11 outbuildings were lost in the Mount Kingiman blaze nearby.
Source:Otago Daily Times
August 18, 2018 00:22 UTC
Time running out for Tonga
Time running out for Australia-Tonga test after NZRL snub MARVIN FRANCEPHIL WALTER/GETTY IMAGES Tonga coach Kristian Woolf was disappointed the test against Australia could not take place in New Zealand. The proposed test between Tonga and Australia may have hit one roadblock too many with the anticipated clash running dangerously close to falling through. READ MORE:* NZRL torpedoes Australia-Tonga test in Auckland* Maguire dismisses Broncos rumours* Green: RTS can get betterBut Tonga coach Kristian Woolf says they are quickly running out of time to get it across the line. "While there was a big focus on Tonga [in the semifinal], there was also a big focus on rugby league in New Zealand. Tonga have been battling to organise a test against a tier one nation since the end of the World Cup.
Source:Stuff
August 17, 2018 23:37 UTC
Cyclist injured in Ngāruawāhia crash
Cyclist injured in Ngāruawāhia crashGOOGLE MAPS The cyclist was taken to hospital after the accident on Great South Road. A cyclist has been seriously injured in a collision with a car on Great South Road in the Waikato. The accident happened in Ngāruawāhia at 10.35 on Saturday morning. The cyclist was taken to Waikato Hospital. Diversions were put in place at Horotiu Road and Ngāruawāhia Road, but the road had reopened by midday.
Source:Stuff
August 17, 2018 23:28 UTC
Bolt arrives for CCM trial
Usain Bolt arrives to much fanfare for Central Coast Mariners A-League trialGETTY IMAGES Usain Bolt is swamped by media and fans on his arrival in Australia on Saturday. A League club Central Coast Mariners are leaving no stone unturned in a bid to get Olympic legend Usain Bolt's professional football career up and running. READ MORE:* No special treatment for Bolt* Bolt to train with Mariners* Honda puts off retirement plans"I've said all along this is for real and I'm here to show what I can do," said Bolt upon landing, where he was greeted by a large media pack and a group of diehard fans. Chairman of the Mariners' official supporters' group, Mark Leadbeatter, made the hour-plus drive south to catch a glimpse of the Bolt show. Although Bolt may do some light running over the next couple of days, Tuesday will be his first official training session, coinciding with his 32nd birthday.
Source:Stuff
August 17, 2018 23:26 UTC
Danny Lee keeps PGA tour card for another year
Danny Lee keeps PGA tour card for another year IAN ANDERSONGETTY IMAGES Danny Lee can look forward to another season on the US PGA Tour. Kiwi golfer Danny Lee will head to the FedEx Cup playoffs next week sound in the knowledge he'll still be playing with the big boys in 2019. Lee was poised to make the cut right on the number on Saturday (NZ time) in the final tournament on the US PGA Tour before the top 125 players were awarded their cards for next season. Lee entered the tournament ranked 107th, with 450 points, which will gain him a start in the Northern Trust tournament next week. Points began the tournament with just 40 Fed Ex Cup ... um ... points ... and could only make the post-season tournaments and gain a tour card for next season with a tournament win.
Source:Stuff
August 17, 2018 22:52 UTC
Planes taking off after fog delay in Dunedin
Planes are starting to take off from Dunedin Airport after lingering fog disrupted all flights for most of the morning. A delayed Air New Zealand flight from Auckland managed to land about 11.30am and took off just before noon. At least three departures earlier this morning had to be cancelled - two to Christchurch and one to Wellington. Others flights including to Auckland were delayed by at least 30 minutes. A Wellington and a Christchurch arrival were cancelled, while another Christchurch flight had to be diverted.
Source:Otago Daily Times
August 17, 2018 22:52 UTC
'An amazing guy': Kiwi chopper pilot dies fighting Australian bushfire
'An amazing guy': Kiwi chopper pilot dies fighting Australian bushfireSupplied A helicopter pilot has died fighting bush fires in New South Wales, Australia. A helicopter pilot who died water-bombing a major bushfire in Australia was Allan Tull, a New Zealander who had been flying for many years. The experienced pilot was described as "an amazing guy" by a colleague at Sydney Helicopters, where he worked. This week's unseasonal bushfires stretching the length of the NSW coast from the Queensland border to Victoria have also destroyed three homes and 22 outbuildings. Five major fires on the south coast and to the north were still out of control on Friday evening.
Source:Stuff
August 17, 2018 22:32 UTC
Metro magazine founder dies
Photo: gg.govt.nz via RNZPioneering magazine editor Warwick Roger has died at the age of 72. Once described as the best New Zealand journalist of his generation, Mr Roger changed the face of magazines in this country. He worked at several newspapers, becoming a feature writer and columnist, before being appointed in 1981 as founding editor of Metro - the country's first glossy city magazine. In 1994 he left Metro after a defamation suit by fellow journalist Toni McRae, which cost the magazine a $100,000. Warwick Roger is survived by four children - a son and daughter from his first marriage, and two daughters from his second.
Source:Otago Daily Times
August 17, 2018 22:18 UTC
Review: RNZB impresses with Strength & Grace
Review: RNZB impresses with Strength & GraceStephen A'Court/RNZB Stand to Reason by Andrea Schermoly, part of Strength & Grace by the Royal New Zealand Ballet. Strength & GraceRoyal New Zealand BalletOpera House, WellingtonEnds August 18Reviewed by Ann HuntE.M.Forster once wrote "only connect," and this is something all four works in Strength & Grace do supremely well. They connect us to the strength and power of women, especially when they are united by a collective cause. Foster-Sproull focuses on the strength of women, their grit and determination, and then abstracts those qualities. Choreographically tight, intense, with beautiful reaching arm movements, Schermoly has drawn inspiring performances from all eight women, particularly Selchow, Boyle and Madeleine Graham.
Source:Stuff
August 17, 2018 21:56 UTC
Metro magazine founder Warwick Roger dies
Metro magazine founder Warwick Roger diesDAVID WHITE/STUFF Warwick Roger, founder of Metro magazine. The founder of Auckland's Metro magazine, Warwick Roger, has died. DAVID WHITE/STUFF Warwick Roger and his wife Robyn Langwell. "It was the privilege of my career to edit the magazine, Metro, that he founded and made so great." DAVID WHITE/STUFF Warwick Roger, pictured in 2005.
Source:Stuff
August 17, 2018 21:26 UTC
Kane Williamson's knock in vain as Yorkshire knocked out by Ish Sodhi's Notts
Kane Williamson's knock in vain as Yorkshire knocked out by Ish Sodhi's NottsGETTY IMAGES Ish Sodhi in action for Nottinghamshire during the T20 blast. Kane Williamson struck a masterful innings for his Yorkshire side, but it wasn't enough to stop them being knocked out of England's T20 Blast by Ish Sodhi's Nottinghamshire. GETTY IMAGES Kane Williamson and Yorkshire were knocked out of the T20 Blast on Saturday. The loss meant Williamson's Yorkshire missed out on a spot in the quarterfinals, finishing fifth in the north group. Corey Anderson's Somerset qualified top of the south group after their win over Kent on Friday (NZ time).
Source:Stuff
August 17, 2018 21:22 UTC
The magic number that will deliver Bledisloe Cup victory to the Wallabies
The magic number that will deliver Bledisloe Cup victory to the WallabiesGETTY IMAGES The Wallabies haven't had that winning feeling much. The All Blacks have lost 15 times in the past decade and the lesson from those losses is clear. If you want to beat them you have to attack, attack, attack. They conceded between 25-29 points in 18 games over the past decade – but lost 13 of them. The All Blacks have conceded 30-plus points eight times in the past decade, and have won only two of those fixtures.
Source:Stuff
August 17, 2018 21:11 UTC
Flights resume after fog delay in Dunedin
Flights have resumed at Dunedin Airport after lingering fog caused disruption for most of the morning. A delayed Air New Zealand flight from Auckland managed to land about 11.30am and took off just before noon. At least three departures earlier this morning had to be cancelled - two to Christchurch and one to Wellington. Others flights including to Auckland were delayed by at least 30 minutes. A Wellington and a Christchurch arrival were cancelled, while another Christchurch flight had to be diverted.
Source:Otago Daily Times
August 17, 2018 21:05 UTC
Safer boating expected with completion of new pontoon at Nelson boat ramp
Safer boating expected with completion of new pontoon at Nelson boat rampMARTIN DE RUYTER/STUFF The new Pontoon at the Nelson Boat Ramp in Akersten St, Port Nelson. Nelson boaties can expect less time waiting to cast off with a newly-installed floating pontoon now ready for use. Located at the Akersten St boat ramp at Nelson Marina, the pontoon represents the first phase of developments identified in the Nelson City Council's 2017 Nelson Marina Strategy . Safety and congestion issues at the Akersten St facility had prompted Nelson boaties to plead their case for improved boating facilities in the city. MARTIN DE RUYTER/STUFF The new pontoon in action at the Nelson Boat Ramp in Akersten St, Port Nelson.
Source:Stuff
August 17, 2018 18:11 UTC
Lessons from Vaea Fifita
Vaea Fifita situation testament to how we don't always hear what the other person is saying HAMISH BIDWELL1 NEWSDropped All Blacks forward Vaea Fifita said he didn’t think coach Steve Hansen was telling him the truth. Things that ought to have been taken care of in private quickly got a public airing as Steve Hansen and John Plumtree sought to keep forward Vaea Fifita from going rogue. Left out of the All Blacks, in circumstances that were a little difficult to understand, Fifita expressed disappointment with coach Hansen. Whatever skills Fifita has, they're not best-served in the second row. Like Hansen, he had to be quick this week to reaffirm his original message to Fifita and also assure fans there was no rift or confusion.
Source:Stuff
August 17, 2018 17:08 UTC