Olivia Newton-John star of Grease and multi-platinum selling singer, has died aged 73, her family says.In a short statement her husband John Easterling said she had passed away at her California ranch on Monday morning."Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer," the statement said."We ask that everyone please respect the family's privacy during this very difficult time."Actress and singer Newton-John achieved commercial success as a country singer and sold millions of records.But it was her role as Sandy in the film adaptation of Grease that catapulted her to world-wide fame.Photo: AFPAfter being diagnosed with breast cancer in the early 1990s, Newton-John became a leading advocate for cancer research.Her efforts in the field were recognised by Queen Elizabeth, who honoured her with a Dame in 2020 New Year's Honours list.John Travolta who starred opposite Newton-John in Grease, wrote on Instagram that she "made all of our lives so much better"."Your impact was incredible. I love you so much," he wrote."We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever!"

The family of a man mauled to death say they have heard nothing from the owner of the aggressive dogs found at his property.Police say Neville Thomson was attacked by someone else's dogs - not his own two pets.He was found dead at his home in Pānguru last Thursday.His children said the attacking dogs belonged to a friend who was boarding there temporarily.Thomson's daughter Nataria Moore (Te Rarawa) told RNZ: "Dad was trying to help him because he had some issues".She said the boarder had been silent since her father's death and needed to stop behaving like a "coward"."He had ample opportunity to reach out to us - he could have made a statement and he could have apologised, he could have done something," she said."His animals destroyed our family. Not only did they take our dad, they've gone and taken part of our childhood, which is our family home. How do we return back there knowing what went on? We will because that's how my dad brought us up. We will live through this."Moore said her father's body had been returned from an autopsy."Waiting those days to even just see his face, just to actually see him, was just unbearable."We were so close yet so far away from him. And then when we did get to see him - shock and horror. It didn't look like our dad, but it was our dad."Tamatekapua Thomson (Te Rarawa, Te Arawa, clan MacLeod Isle of Skye) said his father adored animals, and people should know Thomson's own pets were well cared for."He had pet magpies over the years, Clydesdales, we had pet pigs, chickens, and they were all our pets. We looked after them. He loved animals."Thomson said his father's generosity to a friend tragically backfired."His door was always open to anyone regardless of who you were, what you did. He didn't care. He cared about what was looking at him, what you showed him, what you showed to him. If you needed help, he was there."RNZ asked police today if they had spoken to Thomson's boarder - they would not say, but were investigating.Thomson's funeral will be held tomorrow.A Givealittle page has been set up to help with costs and has raised $3000 so far.Thomson owned two dogs and his children said they were found locked up when emergency services got to the scene.They said he was keeping his dogs indoors away from the boarder's dogs.When his body was found last week, police and animal control rounded up 25 neo mastiff crosses and bulldog crosses outside and took them to Far North District Council's animal shelter.Another dog outside was shot at the scene.Police said three aggressive dogs escaped but they had been found and also put down.

After industrial action that's been smouldering since June, firefighters have given notice of a rare national strike. Our stressed-out and over-worked firefighters have finally had enough. They’ll be walking off the job this month.After going on a smouldering partial strike in mid-June - which saw them stop performing administrative tasks - our frustrated firefighters are ramping up the heat.Right around the country next month, they'll be going on two separate strikes, between 11am and 12pm on Friday 19 August and again at the same time on Friday 26 August.It's the first time there's been a national firefighters strike in this country, where they'll be refusing to respond when that fire alarm rings.Fire and Emergency, also known as FENZ, has said in a statement that firefighters will continue to respond to emergencies during the hour-long strikes.It says there will be fewer staff, however, and there may be delays for areas primarily served by paid career firefighters.But the Professional Firefighters union rep Wattie Watson is scratching her head over those plans, as she told RNZ's Morning Report last week."The notice is actually for all of our members, but FENZ has issued a notice to say that they believe they will have a contingency available. I'm not sure what they mean by that, but they appear confident," she says.How did we get here, and why exactly are firefighters digging their heels in?Karla Karaitiana is a Stuff reporter covering emergency services at the Manawatū Standard.  She's been following the tussles between FENZ and the union, which represents nearly 2000 paid staff."It would be very easy from an outsider looking in to think that it's a money-driven decision," she says.Back in May, almost all union members rejected FENZ's pay offer, which would have seen the average staffer get an increase of between 1.5 and two percent, after they hadn't had a pay rise since July 2020.The full strikes come as both parties are set to be back in mediation this week.FENZ deputy national commander Brendan Nally said in a press release it was disappointing that the union was striking, especially after a new pay offer was put on the table which would see base salaries for all firefighters increase by between 8 percent and 19 percent over the next two years.But Karaitiana says pay is only one of the concerns. She says mental health support, staffing numbers and working conditions for staff and volunteers are also front of mind. "We've got staff there that are running on empty and they're expected to perform at 110 percent. Ultimately, that's not sustainable for them."While professional, paid firefighters are taking up the spotlight, Karaitiana says the country's 12,000 or so volunteers also bear the brunt of working at the coal face without sufficient support."These are people who are putting down their day jobs or leaving their families at two in the morning to attend these calls in their community, and then are kind of being left with all but a debrief at the end of it," she says.

There may be a solution to coral reefs dying, thanks to dolphin poo! In the Maldives lives a small dolphin that goes by the name of spinner dolphin. This particular type of dolphin is known for being acrobatic and highly intelligent, and are typically 129–235 cm long and up to 79 kg in weight. These smart cetaceans can spin their bodies in the air, making as many as seven rotations at a time. And now they can add special excrement to their skillset.Spinner dolphins spend their days in shallow lagoons in the ocean around the Maldives and Chagos archipelagoes. In the morning the dolphins enter the lagoons for a day-time rest, and exit in the afternoon.During this period of rest and relaxation, the dolphins deposit large amounts of nitrogen-rich poop. Researchers who observed the dolphins estimated that one pod excreted around 288kg (635 lbs) of nitrogen in one year alone.Essential nutrients for coral reefs“It’s exciting to have found a likely important mechanism by which the dolphin’s behaviour could be sustaining the health of surrounding reefs,” says lead author of the study, Dr Tom B Letessier from ZSL’s Institute of Zoology.Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for coral reef. Its role is to ‘enhance coral reef productivity and resilience’ according to the study. Coral reef needs all the help it can get. Due to a myriad of factors, including climate change, overfishing, and pollution, coral reefs are dying. The Status of the Coral Reefs of the World report of 2020 states that between 2009 and 2018 14 percent of the world’s coral reef was lost.Image: By Yahia.Mokhtar - Alcyonium glomeratum or red sea fingers soft coral, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113273465When coral reefs are under threat from climate change, pollution, overfishing and other environmental aspects they turn white, as the algae that lives within the coral is expelled. This is referred to as coral bleaching. If the temperature inside the coral stays too high, the coral will not let the algae back in, and the coral will die. This is why nitrogen is so important to reefs- the algae feed on this.“Coral reefs are facing profound threats around the world, including climate change and biodiversity loss, but this research has identified a clear ally for them: spinner dolphins,” Letessier says.Dolphins aren’t the only marine mammals helping the environment with their waste either. Whale poop is also helping to negate the effects of climate change.

Wellsford's brand-new toilet facility is now OPEN!Right in the heart of town, it's very convenient and has plenty of parking. The old toilet block will be demolished next week and still to come is the new pocket park.Estimated to cost a whopping $979,600 - for five toilets, a baby change table, men’s urinal and carpark lighting! So ENJOY!

Twenty-five neo mastiff crosses and bulldog crosses have been rounded up at the Northland property where a man was killed in a suspected mauling yesterday afternoon.The Far North District Council said it can't be sure exactly how many dogs remain on the loose.The man was found at a rural property in the northern Hokianga community of Pānguru, and the police reported shooting one vicious dog on arrival.The council's general manager of district services Dean Myburgh said traps were being used to round up the remainder."Our animal management officers have rounded up approximately 25 dogs and those are being held in our animal shelter just outside Kaitaia," he said.It's believed three dogs escaped and were still on the loose, but Myburgh conceded that number was a guess.He said exactly how many dogs were at the property to begin with was unclear - or whether they belong to the man who was killed.They weren't registered, he said."We don't have an exact number so we are endeavouring to retrieve those dogs or assist the police in the retrieval of those dogs. Then we'll have a much better picture of exactly how many dogs there were on site.""We think we've got most of them but there could be a few on the loose. Those are the ones we're hoping to see returned to the house."Only about 96 people live in Pānguru.Kaikohe-Hokianga ward councillor Moko Tepania said it was an "extremely worrying" and "tragic" situation for the tight-knit community."This is extremely horrific and I really do feel so much aroha for Runaruna, which is a community just out of Pānguru," he said."All of North Hokianga are an extremely tight-knit community and this is just something you'd never want to happen in your area."Tepania feared for tamariki wanting to play outside while dogs were still on the loose.He explained the area was "about as rural as you can get" and surrounded by hilly, thick bush, which has complicated the search for the dogs.Puketawa Road was a 10km-long metal road "just a little bit of an upgrade from a goat track", he said."It is a well used road but it is extremely rural. It's surrounded by bush and mountains and rivers. So if these dogs had gone to ground then until they come back it could be a real struggle to try and locate them."Photo: Screenshot / Google MapsHowever, Myburgh was confident that the dogs would return to the property for food."Obviously these dogs are very well fed, I must say. The information that we've received is that the dogs are in very good condition, very well fed. And they will return, obviously being hungry, they will return to the house. So there are traps in place to get these dogs rounded up."But it was unclear exactly what would prompt well-cared-for dogs to attack a human.The managing director of the free dog safety education service The Bark Foundation, Heather Summers, said "most loved and well cared for animals would sit more so in the bite category than attack"."The attack category is more primal, it's survival. It's usually triggered by instinct. A lot more of a physical response."The incident adds to a history of animal management problems in the Far North.Last year in March and April DOC tracks on Cape Reinga had to be closed due to packs of feral dogs.Then in September feral dogs were blamed for the killings of dozens of goats and sheep on farms near the cape.Pānguru residents were being urged to stay away from stray dogs and report them to police.

A man has been killed by dogs in the Far North community of Panguru, police believe.In a statement, police said earlier today they responded to a sudden death, and it appeared the deceased was subject to a dog attack."Enquiries are in their early stages, but police don't believe the death was suspicious. Police and animal control have attempted to secure the dogs on the property."However, four of the dogs got loose, and were behaving in an aggressive manner. Police risk assessment showed the dogs posed a risk to their safety."In the process of trying to contain the dogs, unfortunately one was shot by Police, and died. The other three dogs are still outstanding."Police are warning people in the area to be vigilant and avoid any stray dogs, and to let them know if they see any.The Northland President of Federated Farmers Colin Hannah said an attack like this was unusual, but dogs have been a problem in the area before."We have had problems with unruly dogs and actually farmers' dogs east of that point [where the attack occurred] particularly with sheep."Hannah said he was unsure if the dogs were wild or domesticated.Investigations will continue overnight and tomorrow.

Friday 5th AugustWilde Robertson at RSA WarkworthWarkworth Theatre presents: Don't Dress For DinnerSaturday 6th AugustWarkworth Theatre presents: Don't Dress For DinnerMatakana Village Farmers MarketMangawhai Tavern MarketSunday 7th AugustWarkworth Theatre presents: Don't Dress For DinnerFestival of Ideas – messages for the futureWarkworth Roller Skating ClassENJOY!

Walking the talk with Telephone Account Management (TAM) & Customer Relationship management (CRM) servicesBack on the pumps, hands on rebuilding and offering Telephone Account Management (TAM) & Customer Relationship Management (CRM) services including consulting from a person that ‘walks the talk’. I’m motivated it is amazing what you can achieve driving the telephone into the marketplace whether it is cleansing data (finding opportunities within an existing database that hasn’t been proactively managed) or looking for new business opportunities. However, it is a discipline. Being back on the phone has motivated me and I am just as positive and proactive as I was when I started my career, building long-term relationship with customers by phone and CRM – TAM because it works. People buy from people they like. Stay connected and keep them well informed and sales evolve. It hasn’t changed. I read all these sales books, but I find simple is best! If you have an existing base and know who you want to do business with and have the discipline to stay connected, it bloody wellworks!!! It's a solid business strategy one that build business and goodwill. Does your database need some proactive attention? You’ll be amazed what you find.Louise at Proactive Consulting

Auckland Council says kauri dieback is moving slower than previously thought, but remains a looming threat to Aotearoa's iconic native tree.Results from a survey of 68,000 kauri trees in the Waitākere Ranges showed the disease remained limited to small areas along the park's edge.The council said it was pleased by the results, which suggest the pathogen takes longer to spread than originally feared."This is encouraging news for our kauri," said Councillor Richard Hills, who chairs the Environment and Climate Change Committee. "It is pleasing to know that large stands remain unaffected and there is hope for the next generation of kauri."Just over half the trees remain in good health, with another 28 percent growing slower than expected.But the threat remains, Hills said, as the disease gradually spreads between kauri. One of every six trees showed symptoms of dieback, particularly those near timber sites or along the coast.Te Kawerau Iwi Tiaki Trust board member Edward Ashby said a holistic Mātauranga Māori approach to environmental health was key."It's not just the presence of a pathogen in isolation, but more the combination of the harmful ways we interact with nature that degrades the thread of life," he said.Auckland Council said the findings would support further interventions to protect kauri and slow dieback within the Waitākere Ranges.It said the results support the precautionary approach the Council has taken thus far."This supports the continuation of the strategies to slow or stop the spread," says Kauri Dieback Manager Lisa Tolich."The hope is in future surveys, we will see these young trees survive and continue on their way to maturity."

The latest footage of progress for Matakana Link Road is availableFor more information on the projects https://at.govt.nz/projects-roadworks/te-honohono-ki-tai-matakana-link-road/

A University of Otago trial has found virtual reality video could be used as a cure for common phobias like spiders, flying, needles, heights and dogs.The trial saw 129 people take part and the results showed a 75 percent reduction in their phobia symptoms after just six weeks.Prior to the virtual reality element of the project, involved participants use modules in an app to learn new techniques to manage anxiety such as mindfulness.The participants then put on a virtual reality headset before they are exposed to situations which increase their anxiety.Trial leader Associate Professor Cameron Lacey told Morning Report the virtual reality scenarios would then become increasingly fearful as participants became more accustomed to the discomfort."It's using established graded exposure principle and so people start for example with spiders with a small spider a long distance away and then work their way through to for example a large tarantula very close," he said.Lacey said the virtual reality scenarios were filmed in real life which made the experience highly immersive."People report that if felt very realistic and these people are very sensitive to any images associated with their phobia so for them it achieved exactly what we wanted," he said.People with a phobia of spiders, for example, experienced increased anxiety levels easily triggered by images or even soft toy representations of the insect, Lacey said.The research project is now aiming to expand the range of phobias targeted in the experiment while also starting a project with a focus on social anxiety disorder.

The way people move through Queen Street is set to change with the introduction of a new zone that will substantially reduce congestion, air and noise pollution, making it safer for pedestrians and micro-mobility users. Using a new type of vehicle-zone called an Essential Vehicle Area (EVA), only buses, motorcycles, mopeds, bicycles, goods vehicles and emergency service vehicles will be allowed to use Queen Street between Wellesley and Wakefield streets from 3 July 2022. Auckland Council, with support from Auckland Transport, is introducing this new zone to reduce unnecessary traffic while allowing essential vehicles to continue to service the area. This change received strong support from Aucklanders in consultation on the Wai Horotiu Queen Street Project during September.Planning Committee chair Councillor Chris Darby says the EVA will free up precious space along Queen Street for essential road users and make the area safer and more pleasant for Aucklanders returning to the city centre. “Auckland’s city centre is the commercial powerhouse critical to the prosperity of Tāmaki Makaurau and Aotearoa. “Guided by the City Centre Masterplan, our goal is to regenerate the area to create a better connected, greener, and more prosperous place that we can all be proud of.” “The introduction of the new Essential Vehicle Area for a small stretch of Queen Street is an important early step to make the Wai Horotiu Queen Street Valley more desirable for people who live, work, study and enjoy the city centre. “It is a signal that Auckland is moving past the days of Queen Street being a congested, polluted drive-through to a go-to destination. Essential vehicles maintain their access but private vehicles will navigate alternative routes to park and get around,” Darby says. Work continues on broader transformation of Wai Horotiu Queen Street ValleyCouncillor Pippa Coom says the EVA is one of the bold changes being introduced through the Wai Horotiu Queen Street Project to let Aucklanders enjoy being on Queen Street rather than simply driving through it. “So much of the city is looking amazing already. At both ends of Queen Street, Karangahape Road and Quay Street have been upgraded and are easier to get around by foot and by bike. The new public square ‘Te Komititanga’ creates a car-free zone between Britomart and Commercial Bay, and Te Wānanga is our very own front deck, letting us get right up close to the harbour. “By the end of June, construction of the Wai Horotiu Queen Street Project will largely be complete in the area between Mayoral Drive and Wellesley Street, with just the greenery and the multi-use path markings to be added. Once these are in, and with the EVA up and running, Aucklanders will get a taste of the people-focused street that we can’t wait to bring to life,” says Cr Coom.   The project’s construction on Queen Street will be fully complete in mid-November 2022. “Over time Queen Street will become a low emission, vibrant pedestrian-priority walking and shopping street, as Aucklanders have been asking for and which the City Centre Masterplan envisions,” says Cr Coom. Auckland Transport has already started laying the groundwork to enable these changes through initiatives to reduce general traffic volumes on Queen Street.  These include: Prioritising loading and servicing activities by removing general parking on Queen Street between Customs Street and Mayoral Drive. Queen Street offers only loading and servicing spaces along the length of the project area with P30 mobility parking around the arts precinct. Putting in place a peak hour bus lane (4pm-7pm), heading north, between Shortland Street and Customs Street.To find out more visit the betterway website.

Little blue penguins, kororā, have been out at sea feeding on small fish and fattening up.But now it is time to start coming ashore prior to nesting. One couple were filmed as they checked out the real estate at Ti Point. There were various holes amongst the boulders that they explored. It will be interesting to see if they return to the same place as last year.Our coastline is a great place for penguins to nest. They love rocky shores where there are numerous caves and spaces between the boulders.They also love areas below pohutukawa roots where they can get some shelter.Since our project began they have chosen some very colourful real estate - penguin nesting boxes painted bright colours by Leigh School children. It is very rare for us to see penguins, but we look for signs that they are about.Footprints on the beach, guano near burrows and videos from our cameras. When they come ashore they will usually greet their partner with a very loud donkey braying sound. They'll begin making nests by carrying leaves and twigs into their choice of burrow and after mating they will begin the next cycle of laying eggs.It's going to take them about 36 days to incubate their eggs. That is when their real work begins as they head out to bring back food for their chicks. As the chicks grow they get more demanding and the parents are kept pretty busy going back and forth from the sea.To see some awesome videos of our local kororā go to our LeighPenguinProject facebook page https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=leigh%20penguin% 20project, or Leigh Penguin Project instagram.*Author: Jenny Enderby for Leigh Rag. Reposted with [email protected]

A Whangārei company has been sentenced after a trailer came off its truck and hit a car behind, killing a nine-year-old girl.WorkSafe said the failure by Johnston's Direct Logistics to do basic maintenance is a warning to all businesses.The towball and coupling of the trailer were so worn that a small bump or change of incline could dislodge it, it said."The trailer's safety chain failed, disconnecting it from the truck towing it in October 2020," said WorkSafe in a statement today.The trailer had an expired certificate of fitness, and uneven tyre pressure, when it hit the car south of Whangārei in October 2020."This tragedy should serve as a warning to other businesses to keep a much closer eye on basic maintenance."A young girl's life has been lost through no fault of her own, and her whānau is forever impacted," WorkSafe area manager Danielle Henry said.The district court fined the company $50,000 and ordered it to pay $145,000 in reparations, on the health and safety charges.The maximum possible fine is $1.5 million.RNZ has approached the company for comment.

New Zealand's cycling teams today notched up another four medals - including three gold - while Lewis Clareburt won gold in the Commonwealth Games pool.The New Zealand team are still sitting second on the medal table behind Australia and New Zealand has now clocked up a total of 13 medals with seven gold, four silver and two bronze.England and Canada are in the third and fourth spots and although England now has a total of 21 medals only five of them are golds.Many New Zealanders woke on Sunday morning to discover that New Zealand had had another very successful day in the velodrome picking up three more golds and a silver medal.New Zealand took the gold and silver in the Men's 4000m Individual Pursuit.Aaron Gate won gold in the event with a time of 4min 07sec, coming in nearly five seconds ahead of his team-mate Tom Sexton who came away with silver.The pair won gold in the 4000m team pursuit yesterday.Aaron Gate (centre) wins gold, Tom Sexton silver and Australia's Conor Leahy gets bronze in the men's 4000m individual pursuit. Photo: Photosport / Will Palmer / SWpix.comTrack cyclist Bryony Botha won the gold medal in the 3000m individual pursuit.Botha qualified for the final against Australia's Maeve Plouffe in a Games Record time and reduced that record time again in the final for a time of 3min 18sec.The 24-year-old Aucklander was also part of the team that won the silver medal in the women's team pursuit.Botha said she surprised herself."I was so surprised. After this morning's ride I left it all out there and I was wondering what I'd have left in the tank. When I got out there I felt awesome and I kept running and I'm so happy with the result," Botha said."It's so special. This is my event. I can't imagine an event I'd rather get a gold medal in."Ellesse Andrews completed a fantastic morning for the team with a gold in the women's sprint by beating Canada's Kelsey Mitchell 2-0 in the best of three final. It is the 22-year-old's third medal of the Games, and her second gold.Cyclist Ellesse Andrews won gold in the women's sprint at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Photo: Photosport / Will Palmer/ SWpix.comClareburt wins goldChampion swimmer Lewis Clareburt won gold in the 400 metre individual medley, setting a new Games record time.The 23-year-old had a winning time of 4.08 seconds, with Australia's Brendon Smith getting silver and Scotland's Duncan Scott bronze in the event.In his favoured event, Clareburt went out fast this morning withstanding the challenge of Australia's Brendon Smith."You know it's crazy to think that four years ago no one knew my name and then I guess to get the gold medal and to get a PB [personal best], a Commonwealth record."I honestly thought that would never happen but ... I knew it was going to happen at some point but to execute it at the right time and the right place and the right moment, you know it's a pretty good feeling."Standing on the top step of the podium, Clareburt said he had a plan."I grew up watching you know the flag being risen at you know big competitions where someone wins a medal and you know you never really think it would be you and I always said that I'd sing the national anthem at the top of my lungs if I ever got a gold medal and I was pretty proud in that moment."Lewis Clareburt is back in the pool in the butterfly tomorrow.Earlier 18-year-old Commonwealth Games debutante Cameron Gray won a bronze medal in the Men's 50m Butterfly.Lewis Clareburt won gold in the 400 metre individual medley. Photo: PhotosportWhat's coming up at the GamesThere's more cycling with the finals of the women's 25km points race and the women's 500m Time Trial happening overnight New Zealand time. The men's sprint finals and the men's 15km Scratch Race finals are also tomorrow.In swimming, Lewis Clareburt is back in the pool just before 6.30am New Zealand time in the 200m Butterfly. Other events include the women's and men's backstroke and breaststroke finals.The Black Ferns will be playing a bronze medal match at 7.50am after losing to Australia 17-12 in the semifinal.The 73kg men's weightlifting final is set for 5.45am.

New Zealand has picked up another four medals on the track at the Commonweath Games in Birmingham.Track cyclist Bryony Botha won the gold medal in the 3000m individual pursuit at the Commonwealth Games.Botha qualified for the final against Australia's Maeve Plouffe in a Games Record time and reduced that record time again in the final for a time of 3.18 seconds.Aaron Gate then won gold in the Men's 4000m Individual Pursuit.It was a head to head battle between Gate and team-mate Tom Sexton - who came away with Silver.Sexton set a personal best and broke the Commonwealth Games record in his qualifying heat in 4.8 seconds but Gate bettered that to be top qualifier in 4.7 seconds.In the final Gate won by nearly five seconds with a time of 4.7 seconds.The pair won gold in the 4000m team pursuit yesterday.Aaron Gate (centre) wins gold, Tom Sexton wins silver and Australia's Conor Leahy gets bronze in the men's 4000m individual pursuit at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Photo: Photosport / Will Palmer / SWpix.comThen Ellesse Andrews completed a fanstastic morning for the team with a gold in the women's sprint by beating Canada's Kelsey Mitchell 2-0 in the best of three final.It was Andrews' third medal of the Games, and her second gold.Botha said she surprised herself."I was so surprised. After this morning's ride I left it all out there and I was wondering what I'd have left in the tank. When I got out there I felt awesome and I kept running and I'm so happy with the result," Botha said."It's so special. This is my event. I can't imagine an event I'd rather get a gold medal in."The Aucklander was also part of the team that won the silver medal in the women's team pursuit.

New Zealand Paralympian Dame Sophie Pascoe has won gold in the women's S9 100 metre freestyle.Dame Sophie Pascoe won gold with a time of 1:02.95 with Australia's Emily Beecroft coming in second.Dame Sophie said winning gold was overwhelming after a build-up that included a bout of Covid and losing her Nana."After the circumstances and adversity coming into this Games and to see a number one beside my name and especially that last 10 metres really hurt - but you know I know that my Nana was with me in those last 10 metres."It was the 29-year-old's only event of the games - and she said she was undecided about her future in the pool."If this was my last one then I gave it everything I had, if it's not then, well then here come's Paris, you know a bit more training to go. But I'm just so proud of myself for getting here, overcoming everything," Dame Sophie said after the event.Dame Sophie Pascoe is New Zealand's most decorated Paralympian. She has won a total of 20 medals across four Paralympian Games, including two golds, a silver and a bronze at the Tokyo Olympics last year.She was made a dame last year for her services to swimming.She made her international debut when she was 13 years old and when she was only 15 she won three golds and one silver at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.Dame Sophie has also been named Disabled Sportsperson of the Year on six occasions at the Halberg Awards and was named Para Athlete of the Decade in 2020.

Two Auckland butcheries have taken out the top spots in this year's 100% New Zealand Bacon & Ham Awards.Returning after a three-year hiatus, the awards saw almost 200 entries from about 40 retailers.Warkworth Butchery was named the Supreme Winner in the bacon category in Auckland last night.Owner Rob Lees said he was stoked."I didn't expect that," he said."I mean, we picked up two golds last night, but a lot of people got a lot of other awards and bronze and silvers, and so I wasn't sure how it was all judged, but it was purely on that cut."Lees took over Warkworth Butchery eight years ago, but the butchery has long been part of the local landscape - it first opened in 1905.The awards will add to Lees' collection - he was awarded the Pure South Master Butcher of the Year Award in 2020."We're just a very traditional butcher," he said."We don't get carried away with trends and whatnot. I mean, our bacon is predominantly still sugar, salt, and smoke, just tried and true."He said anyone wanting top-notch bacon should head to their local butcher instead of the supermarket, for a cleaner cut.Westmere Butchery was awarded the second Supreme Award of the night for their bone-in leg ham.Glenn McKeendry said the award was a credit to the team's hard work.Westmere Butchery's bone in leg ham, which won the supreme award in the ham category of this year's 100% New Zealand Bacon & Ham Awards. Photo: NZ Pork"It was a team effort to produce an award-winning ham - time, patience and the right amount of cure are the key ingredients, and that effort has paid off," he said.Competition judge Hannah Miller Childs said when choosing the winning ham it was largely about finding something with great smoky characteristics as well as good texture."You want it to be nice and meaty, but still be moist and have enough fat content," she said.Childs said Westmere Butchery's entry was a clear winner, as it was "insanely delicious".