By Gianina SchwaneckeNew technology using lasers and artificial intelligence software is helping growers get on top of their weeding, without the need for environmentally harmful agrichemicals.Weed control is a significant challenge for many in agriculture, says Map & Zap founder Dr Kioumars Ghamkhar. It's what prompted him to first look at the issue in 2016."Map & Zap is basically pioneering, innovative technology for weed ID and control, using lasers," Ghamkar explains. "It's goal is to offer farmers a precise, efficient and environmentally friendly solution to weed management and enhancing crop yields and reducing their reliance on chemical herbicides."Founder of Map & Zap, Dr Kioumars Ghamkhar. Photo: SuppliedThe AI software allows it to be "very targeted", he said."How it works is that it uses AI, artificial intelligence, to detect weeds at species level. It even identifies weeds that you want to kill from weeds you don't want to kill and then that AI guides the laser to the exact position of the weed and that laser just kills the weed."Using lasers meant it left no chemical residue in the soil and did not disturb the soil which can lead to carbon being released, Ghamkhar said.It's also more efficient and less costly than labour-intensive alternatives like manual weeding, and minimised crop damage compared to mechanical weeding methods.Map & Zap uses artificial intelligence to detect weeds and then point a laser to kill the unwanted species. Photo: SuppliedThe technology can be mounted to any vehicle including robots or drones, which also helps reduce the cost for growers, he said.The system has been trialed on vineyards in the South Island, but has also been developed for use in pasture settings where some weeds were actually crops."We started this on pasture which is the most complex situation. Rye grass and clover are crops in pastures whereas rye grass and clovers are both weeds in vineyards."Ghamkhar said they had now proven it worked and were looking for further investment to "move this forward in the future".This story was first published by RNZ

A message from Save Our Sand (SOS)...Dear Supporters, We are reaching out to you with an important and heartfelt request for your support. As many of you know, Te Whānau o Pakiri has been engaged in a prolonged and challenging battle to protect Pakiri sands from further sandmining by McCallum Brothers. This struggle, spanning over 80 years, has now escalated to the High Court following an appeal by McCallum Brothers against the recent Environment Court decision. A Significant Victory In a landmark decision on April 11th, 2024, the Environment Court ruled in favour of our position, declining all consent applications by McCallum Brothers. This victory was achieved through the collective efforts of the community and by compelling evidence presented by Te Whānau o Pakiri, including expert testimonies on coastal processes, marine ecology, cultural fishing, and more. However, McCallum Brothers has appealed this decision, necessitating our presence and participation in the High Court. The Path Forward To date, Te Whānau o Pakiri has covered legal costs exceeding $98,000. We now need to find additional funding to cover approximately $50,000 in legal expenses (excluding pro bono contributions) for the High Court hearings which will take five days. Our legal team, led by the amazing lawyer, Vicki Morrison Shaw, is prepared to continue this crucial fight, and we need your help. How You Can Help We are seeking contributions from our community and supporters to assist with these legal costs. Your support will enable us to ensure that the significant adverse cultural and environmental effects of continued sand mining are fully addressed in the High Court. [DONATE HERE] The Importance of Our Case Te Whānau o Pakiri opposes the appeal on several critical grounds, including the significant adverse cultural effects of sand mining, inconsistency with Treaty of Waitangi principles, and the lack of information on the long-term effects of sand mining on coastal processes. As tāngata whenua we believe it is imperative that Te Whānau o Pakiri is a party to this appeal. Your Contribution MattersPlease consider making a donation to support these new legal costs. Your contributions, no matter the size, will make a significant difference in our ability to defend the environment of Pakiri and Mangawhai. Donations can be made through the Endangered Species Foundation as a koha to the Te Whānau o Pakiri High Court case legal fees. [PLEASE DONATE TODAY] Thank you for your continued support and for standing with us in this crucial fight. Ngā mihi nui e hoa ma, thank you friends, Jessie Stanley, Save Our Sand Mangawhai Pakiri 

Almost 4500 more people have signed up to the Jobseeker Work Ready benefit since the start of May - and more grim data about the state of the country's businesses could foreshadow more job losses.Stats NZ released data last week that showed that non-financial businesses were spending more than they earned in the March quarter, a continuation of a trend that had been seen in four of the past five quarters.This calculation includes non-cash factors such as depreciation, but paints a similar picture to other data released in recent months showing sharp declines in gross domestic product per capita and in business profits.ANZ senior economist Miles Workman said that in better times, it could mean that the economy was on the verge of a resurgence and businesses were borrowing to invest in new plant and machinery."That's not what is happening right now. What is happening right now is consistent with where we think we are in the business cycle - businesses are facing still high costs to produce goods and services, high labour costs, interest costs, transport costs, fuel costs. Some are still rising at a relatively healthy clip."Meanwhile, consumers are tightening their belts and watching pennies, they're more choosy about where they spend their money and how much. Businesses are wearing these costs and profitability takes a hammering in that world."He said eventually businesses would have to readjust how much they spent on things like staff. It was just another example of the recession playing out that the Reserve Bank had engineered, he said.Data from the Ministry of Social Development shows that there were 13,668 more people on Jobseeker Work Ready in May than a year earlier, an increase of 14 percent. Another 2052 went on to the benefit in the month of May alone.Since then, weekly reporting data shows another 2450 signed up to the benefit through June.'Hard to increase productivity'ASB senior economist Mark Smith said it showed how much the non-financial corporate sector was losing."That is important because these firms tend to employ people and if they are losing money, if they cannot see scope for them to increase sales or prices, given we are in a policy-induced recession, it's hard to increase productivity - that's the key but our track record hasn't been good. The last thing they can do is look at cost-cutting."He pointed to the recent quarterly survey of business opinion which showed businesses were under considerable margin pressure and looking at cutting hiring. Treasury data also showed the corporate tax take was still well below where it was last year."That will flow through… which will hit the household sector."He said the weakness in corporate profits was why ASB had brought forward its forecast for the first official ash rate (OCR) cut to the end of this year instead of February next year."The other thing is the impact on wages… we've got a much weaker corporate sector, it's not going to be in a position to offer wage increases to the extent it had."He said the public sector job cuts had attracted a lot of attention but were "small beer" compared to what was happening in the wider corporate sector.Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold said the Reserve Bank had seemed surprised at its last monetary policy update that households and businesses had not adjusted more quickly to the tighter monetary environment."They thought because people had been expecting there might be interest rate cuts coming around the corner for a while, it might have meant people just held on and had not got rid of people they don't currently have something to do with."He said the labour market had proven to be more resilient than the Reserve Bank had forecast, but that would have to change if activity did not pick up for businesses.This story was originally written by Susan Edmunds, Money Correspondent for RNZ News

Do you recognise Nathan Theobald? Police are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Nathan Theobald who has a warrant to arrest.The 37-year-old is sought in relation to outstanding warrants relating to assault and the unlawful possession of a firearm. Police have actively been making enquiries to locate him however are now asking the public to assist.He was last seen in the Northland area however may have travelled out of the region. It’s understood he may be travelling in a white Toyota Hilux. Theobald should not be approached, and anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact Police immediately on 111.Please quote file number 240421/8630. Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Sneezing, coughing, a runny nose and sore throat: Thousands of people are falling sick every week.As we navigate the depths of winter and ride the back end of a Covid wave, what can be done to keep bugs away - and how do you tell whether a sniffle is serious?Rotorua GP Dr Cate Hill told First Up that there were some concerning symptoms people should look out for."Things that would worry me are like a super high fever that doesn't come down with paracetamol, really severe headache or a lot of pressure in your face, super sore throat that makes it really hard to swallow. And any breathing difficulties, so feeling really short of breath with your cough."She said often, the signs of something serious were hard to miss and using over-the-counter remedies would not mask the problem.Hill recommended heading to the GP as soon as things felt unusual."Most GPs will have some sort of emergency service where they will see people who are really unwell as soon as they practically can, or at least give you a phone call or some sort of triage process to help you decide whether you need to be seen or not."She said taking vitamin C and zinc supplements could help fight infection, but it was better to include them as part of a healthy diet to prevent illness."If you're not getting enough in your diet, then that's going to make you more vulnerable."Using nasal rinses was a good idea because they helped clear the nose, she said.She also recommended nasal sprays."We know that those are helpful. One, because they help with symptom control and two, because they help you breathe and recover faster as well."She said pseudoephedrine, which recently returned to pharmacy shelves, was effective if used responsibly.But it was not just a healthy diet and the right medications that helped, she said - it was also important to have a clean and dry living space.And people who were unwell were better off staying away from the workplace to avoid the spread of bugs, she said.This story was originally posted by RNZ News

An energy hardship expert says there are likely to be hundreds of thousands more people struggling to afford electricity than what is estimated by the government.A report from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), on energy hardship measures for the year ending June 2022, found 6 percent of households could not afford to keep their home adequately warm.Dr Kimberley O'Sullivan, a senior research fellow in the Department of Public Health at Te Whare Wānanga o Otāgo ki Pōneke, said that was just the tip of the iceberg.Analysis using that same data set showed at least 18 percent of households, about 360,000 across the country, were unable to pay for the electricity they needed.O'Sullivan said the size of the problem had not decreased in recent years, given the cost of living pressures.MBIE defines energy hardship as the situation when individuals, households and whānau are not able to obtain and afford adequate energy services to support their wellbeing in their home or kāinga.In January, Consumer NZ reported an estimated 40,000 households had their power disconnected in the past year because they could not pay their power bill.Power outages: What to do - and what not to do - when the electricity goes outPower use: It's the little things that add upTo turn your heatpump off or not?The three key factors to heating your home and saving moneyO'Sullivan said there were many more people who received a notice and borrowed money to pay a bill or make a payment arrangement with their energy retailer."There are a lot of people who are in quite significant hardship before they are actually disconnected."People responded to energy hardship in different ways; some people would run up an electricity debt to keep themselves warm, while others would drastically limit their use, she said."Other people will sit there with basically nothing but the lights on, they will be freezing at home, they will be limiting their use of hot water and living in a really miserable situation, but they might not ever get a disconnection notice, because they are trying to manage this problem in really different ways."Renters were at higher risk of experiencing energy hardship because they often lived in poorer quality houses which were difficult to heat."New Zealand still had remarkably low building quality standards, what the Building Code specifies, even for new builds, is homes that are still going to need heating now and into the future so that's part of our problem, we have built ourselves into this."Then we have the cost of electricity as well and the fact we mostly rely on electric heating."Common Grace Aotearoa has started a petition calling on the Electricity Authority to ban disconnection and reconnection fees. A petition against electricity disconnection fees durationCo-director Kate Day said the fees disproportionately affected the poorest customers."We think a fee that hits people when they have already shown they are not able to pay for electricity is inherently unreasonable and should be banned."Day said there were voluntary guidelines stating that fees should be reasonable, but there was no definition of what that meant. The current charges varied between companies, some did not impose a fee, while others charged up to $300 for disconnecting and reconnecting power.The campaign, which is supported by 16 organisations including the Salvation Army, Child Poverty Action Group and Consumer NZ, also wants to ensure retailers' prepay prices are no more expensive than their cheapest plan.Day said it wanted power companies to do the right thing for customers in hardship, and not to impose disconnection or reconnection fees.This story was originally posted on RNZ News

More than two weeks after a workplace mishap toppled a power pylon, an investigation into the region-wide outage that followed is stepping up a gear.On Monday, the Electricity Authority announced the appointment of Sarah Sinclair, a top lawyer specialising in the infrastructure and energy sectors, to head an independent inquiry ordered by Energy Minister Simeon Brown after the 20 June blackout.Businesses still want compensation after Northland power cut durationThe inquiry team is already gathering information from electricity retailers, lines companies and national grid operator Transpower, with the finished report due by 13 September.Its findings will be made public 15 days later at the most.Transpower is conducting its own investigation, which is due to be completed by the end of July.After refusing to be drawn on the cause for days, chief executive Alison Andrew revealed on 24 June the pylon toppled when contractors carrying out routine maintenance unbolted three of its four legs at once.A Transpower spokesman said a "Lindsey tower" - designed for emergency restoration of power networks - was installed three days after the pylon fell.Three temporary single-pole towers, carrying the second 220 kilovolt circuit supplying Northland, were completed three days later.The spokesman said no date had been set as yet for building a permanent, replacement pylon.All four temporary structures were, however, robust and provided a secure power supply.Meanwhile, Northland businesses are continuing to count the cost of the outage.Most households had their power partially restored within seven hours, but the region's biggest power users - such as Fonterra's dairy plants at Kauri and Maungaturoto, and Golden Bay Cement at Portland - were unable to resume production until the following Monday.Even many small businesses that had their power restored relatively quickly still lost two to three days of income.Krishant Amin, of Paihia's Blue Door Restaurant, says the power cut had a huge effect on his business. Photo: RNZ/Peter de GraafKrishant Amin, of Paihia's Blue Door Restaurant, said the power cut occurred on a Thursday, ahead of what should have been a bumper weekend."We were scheduled for three back-to-back functions, but because of this huge power cut - from morning to the next day - all our stock which was stored in the fridge and the freezers was lost. It probably cost us $15,000 to $20,000," he said.Amin said insurance would cover lost stock but it would not make up for three days of reduced trade.The outage also meant restaurant staff were unable to give their guests the kind of experience they usually prided themselves on.Amin hoped Transpower would step up and help businesses like his."Winter is already a tough time, and with the Brynderwyn closure it got even tougher. Something like this is the worst that can happen. Compensation would definitely help us to at least get back on our feet."The iwi-owned Ngāwhā Springs hot pools, near Kaikohe, also lost significant income.The pool complex, which is ironically next to Top Energy's geothermal power station, had its electricity restored at 8.30pm on the day of the outage.However, operations manager Moana Cross said that did not mean the pools could reopen the following day."People think when the power goes off it just affects lights and things like that, but for us here at Ngāwhā it affects our pumps and the way we operate our pools here," she said.Operations manager Moana Cross says the hot pools at Ngāwhā Springs lost up to two days’ worth of bookings. Photo: RNZ/Peter de Graaf"We have pumps running all the time and when the power goes out everything just starts to overflow and mix together. And not only do we have to close, we have to take another day to clean the pools out and then they take half a day to fill."And while they're filling they get very hot, so we need at least another eight hours for them to get down to a temperature everyone can enjoy."The pool complex had a backup generator but that was good only for outages of a few hours' duration.Cross said many guests booked the following day were from out of town and did not have the option of returning another day, so they had to be refunded.In winter, the busiest time of year, as many as 350 people per day could visit the pools - so closing could mean losing $10,000 or more a day.Cross' message to Transpower was simple."Please keep the power on. It's vital to use here. Between our roads, our power and everything else, it's quite hard to operate businesses up here in the North. But we get by, we just push ahead for our communities," she said.Northland's Chamber of Commerce has been spearheading the push for compensation for affected businesses, which, unlike households, are not covered by the Consumer Guarantees Act.NorthChamber chief executive Darryn Fisher said members were still feeling frustrated when they met last Thursday for an update on compensation, and legal advice should discussions with Transpower falter.Fisher said he had heard from restaurants that had lost major bookings in the days after the outage due to uncertainty over the power supply and the communications from Transpower."So while we might hear, 'Hey, you got your power back on seven hours later', the actual business impact was three or four days."Discussions with Transpower were progressing well so far, Fisher said.NorthChamber chief executive Darryn Fisher says businesses are still counting the cost of the blackout. Photo: RNZ/Peter de Graaf"We're talking about multiple topics. One is what does direct compensation for business look like, and how can we get to a fair and reasonable number on that."There's also recognition of the ongoing brand damage to Northland and negative impact on business and investor confidence, and that's what we really need to reinvigorate. I think we'll get good support from Transpower on that in time as well."For too long, Northlanders had accepted third-rate infrastructure as normal, he said."I know some people say, 'Hey, that's the compromise you have to put up with to live in such a beautiful place', but in this day and age I think that's really unfair and we need to shake that perception by creating a more robust and reliable region to live in."Fisher said Northland businesses' message about the need for quality infrastructure would be reiterated when senior government ministers Chris Bishop and David Seymour visited the region this week."We know the government doesn't have a lot of money to throw around, but what we're looking for is the support to get on and do the work. It's a hand-up sort of conversation, not a hand out."The terms of reference for the Electricity Authority inquiry are wide-ranging.The inquiry, among other things, will look into the immediate causes of the outrage; risk assessment and mitigation; communication from Transpower to the public; the way power companies looked after medically dependent customers; and any lessons from the incident that could prevent it occurring again.Sinclair, who will lead the independent review, chairs the law firm Minter Ellison Rudd Watts and is on the board of the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga.A spokesman for the authority said the review team was analysing and assessing information it had requested from Transpower, lines companies and electricity retailers.Information sought from Transpower included all information provided to its investigator, a detailed timeline of the event describing events, actions, and factors, its response and remediation, and planning and risk documents.Initial estimates for the losses incurred by Northland businesses as a result of the outage range from Infometrics' figure of $60 million to NorthChamber's $80 million-plus.This story was originally written by Peter de Graaf for RNZ News

Warkworth / Rodney RegionMonday 8th July - Partly cloudy, with isolated showers clearing early morning. Southwesterlies, easing in the afternoon.Tuesday 9th July - Cloud clearing and becoming fine in the morning. Light winds, easterlies developing in the evening.Wednesday 10th -Fine. Easterlies developing in the morning.Thursday 11th -Fine. Easterlies, easing.Friday 12th -Fine. Southeasterlies, easing.Saturday 13th - Fine. Easterlies.Sunday 14th - Partly cloudy. Easterlies.Mangawhai RegionMonday 8th July - Partly cloudy with isolated showers, mainly in the west. Southerlies, easing in the afternoon.Tuesday 9th July - Mainly fine, but becoming mostly cloudy with isolated showers in the east in the evening. Easterlies.Wednesday 10th -Mainly fine, isolated showers in the afternoon and evening. Easterlies.Thursday 11th -Cloudy periods. Easterlies.Friday 12th -Cloud clearing and becoming fine. Easterlies.Saturday 13th - Partly cloudy. Easterlies.Sunday 14th - Showers. Northeasterlies.

New Zealand Food Safety is supporting AB World Foods Pty Limited in its recall of Al’Fez-branded tahini due to the possible presence of Salmonella.Products affected by the recall include 160g tubs of Al’Fez Tahini Paste with a batch marking of 3355 and a best before date of 06 2025.Up-to-date information about affected products, including pictures, is available on New Zealand Food Safety’s recall webpage: https://bit.ly/3LkReJTThe affected product is imported to New Zealand from Australia and was manufactured in Poland. It has been sold throughout the South Island in selected Foodstuff South Island stores. The product has been removed from shelves.Salmonellosis can be serious, so it is important that people do not eat these products.Symptoms can appear within 12 to 72 hours and include abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Illness usually lasts between 4 and 7 days but, in more severe cases, it can go on for up to 10 days and cause more serious illness.If you have consumed any of these products and are concerned for your health, contact your health professional, or call Healthline on 0800 61 11 16.

Police are seeking information on the whereabouts of Kohi Awatea Hemana, who is wanted to arrest.The 31-year-old has warrants for his arrest on family harm-related offending. If you see Hemana or have Information on his whereabouts, please contact Police.You can contact Police by calling 105 quoting the file number 240216/6853.Information can also be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi advises of the following closures for motorway mprovements. Work delayed by bad weather will be completed at the next available date, prior to Friday, 7 June 2024. Unless otherwise stated, closures start at 9pm and finish at 5am. NORTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)Southbound lanes between Orewa off-ramp and Silverdale on-ramp, 11 JulyOrewa southbound on-ramp, 11 JulyMillwater southbound on-ramp, 11 JulyNorthbound lanes between Silverdale off-ramp and Orewa on-ramp, 11 JulySilverdale northbound on-ramp, 11 JulySouthbound lanes between Constellation Drive off-ramp and Northcote Road on-ramp, 11 July (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Constellation Drive southbound on-ramp, 11 JulyTristram Avenue southbound on-ramp, 11 JulySouthbound lanes between Northcote Road off-ramp and Onewa Road on-ramp, 10 July (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Northcote Road southbound on-ramp, 10 JulyEsmonde Road southbound on-ramp, 10 JulyOnewa Road southbound off-ramp, 11 JulyOnewa Road southbound on-ramp, 11 JulyOnewa Road northbound on-ramp, 11 JulyCurran Street northbound on-ramp, 7-11 July (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)Stafford Road northbound off-ramp, 7-11 July (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)CENTRAL MOTORWAY JUNCTION (CMJ)Eastbound lanes between Alten Road and Beach Road, 11 JulySOUTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)Khyber Pass Road southbound on-ramp, 9-11 JulyMarket Road northbound off-ramp, 7 JulySouthbound lanes between Greenlane off-ramp and Mt Wellington Highway on-ramp, 7-8 July (approx. 10:30pm to 5:00am)Greenlane southbound on-ramp, 7-8 July (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Tecoma Street southbound on-ramp, 7-8 July (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Ellerslie-Panmure Highway southbound on-ramp, 7-8 July (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Northbound lanes between Mt Wellington Highway off-ramp and Ellerslie-Panmure Highway on-ramp, 9 July (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)South Eastern Highway (SEART) northbound on-ramp, 9 JulyMt Wellington Highway northbound on-ramp, 9 JulySouthbound lanes between Mt Wellington Highway off-ramp and East Tamaki Road on-ramp, 9 July (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Mt Wellington Highway southbound on-ramp, 9 JulyPrinces Street southbound on-ramp, 9 JulyHighbrook Drive southbound on-ramp, 9 JulyPrinces Street southbound off-ramp, 10-11 JulySouthbound lanes between Papakura off-ramp and Drury/SH22 on-ramp, 5 July (approx. 10:30pm to 6:00am)Papakura (Loop) southbound on-ramp, 5 July (approx. 10:00pm to 6:00am)Papakura (Diamond) southbound on-ramp, 5 July (10:00pm to 6:00am)Southbound lanes between Takanini off-ramp and Drury/SH22 on-ramp, 8-11 JulyTakanini southbound on-ramp, 8-11 JulySouthbound lanes between Papakura off-ramp and Drury/SH22 on-ramp, 7 JulyPapakura (Loop) southbound on-ramp, 7-11 JulyPapakura (Diamond) southbound on-ramp, 7-11 JulyPapakura (Diamond) northbound on-ramp, 7-9 JulyPapakura (Loop) northbound on-ramp, 7-9 JulyNorthbound lanes between Drury/SH22 off-ramp and Takanini on-ramp, 7-9 JulyNorthbound lanes between Ramarama off-ramp and Papakura on-ramp, 10-11 JulyDrury/SH22 northbound on-ramp, 7-11 JulyRamarama northbound on-ramp, 10-11 JulyPioneer Road northbound off-ramp, 5-13 July (24/7)NORTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH16)Southbound lanes between Waimauku Roundabout and Trigg Road, 7 JulyNorthbound lanes between Trigg Road and Waimauku Roundabout, 7 JulySouthbound lanes between Waimauku Roundabout and Trigg Road, 8-11 July (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)Northbound lanes between Trigg Rd and Waimauku Roundabout, 8-11 July (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)Great North Road eastbound off ramp (Waterview southbound tunnel closed), 8 JulySH16 eastbound to SH20 southbound link (Waterview southbound tunnel closed), 8 JulySH16 westbound to SH20 southbound link (Waterview southbound tunnel closed), 8 JulySOUTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH20)Hillsborough Road southbound off-ramp, 8-9 JulyHillsborough Road northbound on-ramp, 10-11 JulyNeilson Street southbound on-ramp, 10-11 July (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Southbound lanes between Massey Road off-ramp and Puhinui Road on-ramp, 8-10 July (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Massey Road southbound on-ramp, 8-10 JulySTATE HIGHWAY 2 (SH2)Mangatangi westbound off-ramp, 8 July   

Lulu Sun has continued her remarkable maiden run at Wimbledon by making it to the fourth round after defeating China's Zhu Lin 7-6(4) 7-6(6) overnight.In a match that started two hours late because of rain, Sun was able to lift her game again over the world No 61 when it mattered most and saved 15 of the 18 break points she had on her serve.Sun is now the first New Zealand woman to reach the fourth round of the singles at Wimbledon since Ruia Morrison in 1959 and has now won six matches in a row at this year's Championships, including three victories in qualifying."It was definitely tricky conditions today with the wind and waiting with the rain as well, and she's a tough opponent," Sun said."We had a lot of rallies as well as she had great service games. So it really came down to just a few points. During the tiebreak, exactly as I said, it comes down to a few points. So just really nailing it down to each point and fighting each point is what got me through."In the next round Sun will face UK wildcard Emma Raducanu who dominated Greek ninth seed Maria Sakkari, beating her 6-2 6-3.Emma Raducatu who will be Lulu Sun's next opponent. Photo: PHOTOSPORTSun came back from being at 0-40 to hold in the second game and was also 15-40 down on her next service game.Sun's first break point came in the fifth game and she put in a disguised drop shot. Zhu ran in as quickly as she could but couldn't get the ball over the net.They swapped breaks later in the set, but when Sun served for it at 5-4, she had her only wobbly moment of the match, double-faulting three times.However, in the tiebreaker, Sun got a mini break at 4-4 and Zhu put forehands wide to the right on the next two points.Sun was broken in the opening game of the second set, but got the break back when Zhu was serving at 2-3. She also saved three more break points at 4-4.So the match went to another tiebreaker, which was close all the way through.But Sun got herself a match point on Zhu's serve. The Kiwi pushed Zhu out wide to create the opening, got a short ball back and then hit it into the other corner for the winner.This win is expected to lift Sun's world ranking from 123 to 74 which means she will make it directly into the main draw at next month's US Open.She has also earned herself NZ$471,000 in prize money by getting this far. Up to this week, the total prize money Sun had earned during her career was NZ$277,000.The 23-year-old only made her Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open this year, losing in the first round.She pulled off a major upset on the tournament's opening day, ousting Chinese world number eight Qinwen Zheng.This story was originally published by RNZ

Warkworth / Rodney RegionFriday 5th July - Fine, with areas of morning frost. Light showers developing about the west coast late this evening. Southwesterlies from afternoon.Saturday 6th July - Partly cloudy, with isolated showers, clearing at night. Fresh southwesterlies, easing in the evening.Sunday 7th July - Partly cloudy. Southwesterlies, becoming fresh for a time in the afternoon and evening.Mangawhai / Northland RegionFriday 5th July - Fine. Light winds and afternoon southerlies.Saturday 6th July - Mainly fine, chance of a shower in the afternoon and evening. Fresh southwesterlies, easing in the afternoon.Sunday 7th July - Fine. Southwesterlies, becoming fresh for a time in the afternoon and evening.

Lucy XiaBrodie Hunter, RNZ internA man and a woman have been charged in connection to a homicide investigation sparked by an unidentified woman's body found in the waters of Auckland's Gulf Harbour in March.The pair, both aged 36, made a first appearance at the North Shore District Court on Monday, but this information is allowed to be reported for the first time after sweeping suppressions around the charges and its link to the case have lapsed.The court heard on Monday they were arrested on Sunday evening after being stopped at the airport.The two defendants are each facing a charge of performing an indignity to a dead human body of an unidentified deceased, and were accompanied by a Mandarin interpreter on Monday.Earlier, police prosecutor Henry Steele told the court a media release was sent in error on Monday due to an internal miscommunication, which had led to details being prematurely disclosed.While various media reported on the new developments and attended court after receiving the media release, Steele sought suppression of all information relating to the arrest - arguing that it would prejudice the investigation.Steele also sought a take-down order of articles published on Monday about the arrest, which was granted at the time by Judge Ajit Swaran Singh.The order was opposed by several media at the time.At the case's second call on Thursday, the sweeping suppressions lapsed and the prosecution no longer sought suppression of the nature of the charges, the circumstances of the defendants' arrest, and the connection to the body of the woman found in the Gulf Harbour.Steele said they now accept there is little utility in continuing to seek suppression given the publicity that has already occurred.Meanwhile, defence lawyer Angela Roebeck's application for continued interim name suppression was declined by Judge Anna Fitzgibbon.However, the names of the defendants are still suppressed due to a pending appeal from the defence.Roebeck argued that any publication of the names would prejudice the defendants' rights to a fair trial, considering the influence it would have on future jurors.On Monday, defence lawyer Michael Kan had also argued that one of the defendants has not yet had a chance to inform their family members, who are believed to be in China.Thursday's application was opposed by a lawyer acting for several media, Daniel Nilsson, who submitted that any reporting will be fair and accurate, that jurors would comply with what iss expected of them and that there is a significant public interest in this case.Judge Fitzgibbon ruled that she agreed with Nilsson that jurors would comply with directions, and that while juror's may have their prejudices, they are expected to leave that at the door when they come to a trial.The two defendants have been remanded until a case review hearing in September.They were excused from appearing on Thursday.This story was originally published by RNZ

Discover the enchantment of the Mahurangi Winter Festival of Lights, a community event that has brought joy and light to our winter months since 2018. Organised by dedicated volunteers, this festival aims to unite the community and brighten up the cold season with a spectacular array of activities and entertainment.Join the fun this Saturday, July 6th, Wharf & Baxter Streets, Warkworth, for the Gull Family Fun Day. From 11am to 9:30pm, immerse yourself in a world of fun and excitement with a variety of amusements including Spinning Cups, a Giant Slide, Mini-Kombis, Vertical Bungy, and Water Walkers. Enjoy delicious treats from food trucks, get creative with Glow-in-the-Dark face painting, and dance the day away on a Funky Disco Floor.As the evening sets in, the festivities continue with the ITM Parade of Lights at 6pm, with live music performances throughout the day. Don’t miss local legends "Rumpus Machine" at 7pm, performing classic rock hits and original songs. The highlight of the night, the breathtaking Laser Light Show, will dazzle from 8:00pm to 9:30pm.This extraordinary celebration is made possible by generous local business sponsors, grants, and donations. Don’t miss out on this magical event that brings our community together.For more details, visit the Mahurangi Winter Festival of Lights Facebook and Instagram pages. Join us in celebrating the warmth and spirit of our community at this unforgettable festival!

When ear, nose and throat surgeon Dr Casey Means noticed her patients were presenting with conditions ending in '-itis', she realised inflammation was the root cause of their complaints."In medical speak, any word that ends with '-itis', means it's a condition fundamentally rooted in inflammation, the immune system revving up and causing swelling in the body," she told RNZ's Afternoons."Anyone who's been to an ENT doctor, they know it's a lot of -itis - it's sinusitis, thyroiditis, laryngitis, otitis, cellulitis, the list goes on and on and on."All of a sudden, so many years into my training, and I realised, 'oh my gosh, I'm an inflammation doctor, and I didn't even realise it'."Metabolism is one of the most important and least understood factors in our health, she argues in her book, Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health, which delves into the connection between inflammatory diseases and cells and the food we eat.LISTEN ▶ Our food could be making us ill, Dr Casey Means' new bookThe question then was why is there so much inflammation in our bodies?"And so that was really an unlock for me, I know how to take a hammer to inflammation with these heavy-duty drugs like steroids, but I don't really know how to truly think about what is causing it."Our bodies are being "revved up," she said, by industrial food production and other environmental factors."Our food system has changed drastically in the past 50 years, 70 percent of our calories in the US are ultra-processed foods made in a factory, these are very confusing to the body and can generate chronic inflammation."And on top of that, we're sleeping less, 25 percent Less than we were 100 years ago, we're barely moving our bodies, we're sitting all the time we've got our smartphones in our hands that are constantly streaming fear-inducing media, there's a lot of things in our environment that are causing a sense of threat in our bodies."A symptom, she said, is the body telling us something is wrong on a deeper level."We should look with curiosity, what is the symptom? What is the body trying to tell me? In the nose it could certainly be from environmental allergens, it could be from pollen, it could be from anything triggering this, you know that we kind of associate with sinusitis."But it could be something deeper happening inside the body that's revving up that swelling and the chronic inflammation. It could be our diet, it could be the toxins that we're breathing in from the personal care products we're using at home, it could be any of these other elements of our modern diet and lifestyle many of which are very foreign to our bodies."She believes we should take more ownership of our health, rather regularly outsourcing it to the medical profession, and that means knowing our key metabolic biomarkers.Be on the lookout for things like a fasting blood sugar level, triglyceride levels, cholesterol and blood sugar levels, she said."You really want to know your blood pressure and your waist circumference, because these basic biomarkers together can tell us where we are on the metabolic spectrum."We want to see fasting glucose of under 100 milligrams per decilitre, triglyceride under 150 milligrams per decilitre, blood pressure less than 120 over 80, you want to see a waist circumference less than 35 inches in women and 40 inches in men."We want to see an HDL cholesterol above 40 these … just knowing a few of those biomarkers can tell us so much about how our metabolic health is."Once we know where we stand now, we can start to address the underlying causes, she said."Step two is understanding all the different levers that we can pull to really follow the science and improve our metabolic health."This is some of the most common things that you intuitively already know. Eating, real unprocessed, high quality, fresh food filled with good nutrients, avoiding ultra-processed foods with all those unrecognisable ingredients that you know we've never heard of before."We must move to keep the metabolism activated, she said."We've got to move our body throughout the day, little walks every half hour, get up and move around a little bit every half hour or so, because that keeps our metabolism active."Sitting at a desk, it's not working for our biology. We've got to get good sleep, we've got to clean up our environment in terms of toxins, this means filtering our water, making sure that we're not using toxic homecare products or putting toxins on our skin."She described eating as a "matching problem"."We meet the needs of our cells largely through the food that we're putting in our mouths. So, we're matching the needs of this machine, of the body, with what we're putting in our mouths. And when we match those things, it is the foundation of good health."When we get 60 to 70 percent of our calories from ultra-processed, factory-made pesticide-covered food, we are not matching the food that's going into our mouths with the needs of the cells. And so of course, there will be dysfunction."One of the ways to understand whether the needs of the cells are being matched with the food we eat is to be aware, she said."Tune in to how you feel, do you feel really, really good most of the time? We should feel energetic, limitless, joyful, sharp, pretty much every day. If we're not feeling that way, there's room for improvement."And regularly check those biomarkers, she said."If our biomarkers are moving into a more optimal range, specifically our metabolic biomarkers, we can pretty safely say that the food we're eating is matching the needs of these beautiful machines of ourselves."This story was originally published by RNZ

NEW Local businesses for you on the app. Shop LOCAL and Support LOCAL!Check out the Eat / Drink / Stay button.FOR EATS🍺 🎸The Matakana Village Pub in the heart of the village has been around since 1903 and is a local institution! A gastropub that offers great tasty food, awesome atmosphere and groovy live music every week. Open Monday - Sunday: 11:30AM - Late! Offering Sunday Roast's all day. 🍗☕ Whanga Eats is tucked away in Whangaripo valley and a great pitstop on the back roads from Mangawhai to Matakana.; or a destination all on its own. New owners have added their signature and changed the hours to Wed-Fri 7 to 2pm and Sat-Sun 8am to 2pm. Check out their Sunday Roast Lunch!FOR STAYS🛎 Woodhouse Mountain Lodge is boutique accommodation set on 100 acres of private land known as Kourawhero Estate in the Matakana hinterland and is just an hour’s drive from Auckland. It is beautiful and private with wonderful views and facilities such as a restaurant, pool, sauna and spa treatments.⛱ Whangateau Holiday Park right on the water’s edge located between Matakana and Leigh. This fantastic spot is super popular especially with families. The facilities are many with the usual cooking and dining areas, but also kids’ playground, buggies for hire, laundry, TV and dining room. They also have cabins and units available if you prefer not to camp.🏘 Redbluff Country Lodge only 5 mins from Warkworth, is a 1912 iconic, boutique villa, offering group bookings, retreat, or B&B options. Relax in your very own private space, overlooking the Mahurangi River estuary and nestled in a picturesque rural valley.

The arable sector and the Ministry for Primary Industries are developing a pest management approach to better control the spread of fall armyworms.The pest, which can munch its way through more than 350 plant species including maize and sweetcorn, is believed to have blown over to New Zealand from Australia after a cyclone in early 2022.Eradication has been ruled out, but the arable industry has been working hard to contain its spread.After a year of battling the pest, MPI and industry partners have agreed to close the response and shift the focus to long-term management of the pest.Biosecurity New Zealand deputy director-general Stuart Anderson said it was collaborating with the Foundation for Arable Research, Process Vegetables NZ, Vegetables NZ Inc, and growers on management and mitigation strategies to help reduce production losses and enhance resilience to the invasive pest."Together we'll develop some really good tools for growers, including establishing surveillance networks on a national scale.MPI is putting $300,000 towards the $630,000 three-year programme of work through the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund.Photo: Foundation for Arable ResearchThe impact of the fall armyworm infestation into the winter was unknown, Foundation for Arable Research biosecurity officer Ashley Mills said."It depends largely on our winter temperatures and suitable host plants in the absence of maize and sweetcorn."For instance, in areas with warmer winter temperatures such as Northland, the insect has the capacity to overwinter and survive all year round, with warming temperatures, we might expect the problem to grow year on year."Part of the programme would be to identify gaps of knowledge around the winter growing season and dispersal of fall armyworm, Mills said."We'll produce models and come up with early warning tools for agronomists and growers, so they understand when they need to employ their most intensive management strategies."There's no one-size-fits-all solution, and approaches may vary according to factors such as region, climate or soil type."In most cases, encouraging beneficial insects would work, but in more problematic regions or localities, insecticides might be needed, and the timing of application would be important, Mills said."Over the next three years, we'll focus on understanding fall armyworm phenology and distribution, developing New Zealand-specific economic thresholds and finding long-term solutions that reduce reliance on agrichemicals, and preserve soil health, water quality and biodiversity."This story was originally published by RNZ

We are thrilled to share the remarkable achievements of Diana Langton, the founder of Four Little Birds Patisserie and Cakes, a beloved local patisserie in Mangawhai. Diana is a dynamic and focused young entrepreneur, and her patisserie has quickly become a community favourite and hub.Its success was recently recognized at the Junction 2024 Business Awards, where Four Little Birds Patisserie was awarded the prestigious Winner of the North Food and Beverage category and also took home 3rd place in the Restaurants, Food category. Competing alongside incredible businesses, both big and small, this recognition is a testament to the passion and dedication poured into every aspect of the patisserie.When accepting the awards, Diana expressed her overwhelming gratitude and excitement. She was beyond speechless; to be included among such amazing businesses was an incredible honour, but to win was beyond her wildest dreams. Diana can't wipe the smile off her face and has a spring in her step.Four Little Birds is more than just a patisserie; it’s a cosy haven where the community can enjoy delightful treats made with love and passion. From their famous donuts that started it all in their small food truck at the Mangawhai markets in 2020, to their signature cupcakes, specialty food range both sweet and savoury, and their custom event cakes—including 3D cakes, gravity cakes, and more. Every item is handcrafted, made in-house with the finest ingredients, something Diana takes great pride in.Join the celebration and experience the magic of Four Little Birds Patisserie and Cakes at 83 Molesworth Drive, Mangawhai, right next to New World. Follow their journey on their FB page and IG page for updates, special offers, and behind-the-scenes looks at their baking adventures.