Rugby live updates: Wallabies v British & Irish Lions
Photo:The much-awaited first test between Australia and the Lions is here, in front of a big crowd in Brisbane.
The home side are up against it, with the tourists showing great form in the lead up games. Kickoff is at 10pm NZT.
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RNZ News
6 minutes ago
- RNZ News
'Great Rides' need double the money to keep running smoothly
The country's Great Rides attract about a million cyclists and walkers each year. File photo. Photo: RNZ / Chris Bramwell Maintenance funding for the country's 'Great Rides' trails will need to double in the next decade, or some will degrade so much they will lose that status. The trails generate just under $1b annually in benefits to regional economies, drawing about a million cyclists and walkers each year. The government puts $8m a year towards the trails through the International Visitor and Conservation Levy, with contributions totalling $129m since 2009. Councils have co-invested at least $60m into the rides in that time. But an Official Information Act response from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, released to RNZ, shows an estimated $160 million will be needed to maintain and enhance the Great Rides over the next 10 years. Per year, it is double the amount currently allocated for the network. "Without additional funding, there is a risk the Great Rides will gradually decline over time, potentially resulting in the removal of Great Ride status from some underperforming trails," the briefing to Tourism Minister Louise Upston says. NZ Cycle Journeys runs cycle hire and luggage transfer services across five of the trails and owner Geoff Gabites told Nine to Noon the trails were "perfectly usable" at the moment, but would need resurfacing soon - the maintenance largely done by local councils, with three trails covered by the Department of Conservation (DOC). He compared that to the 'Great Walks' tramping tracks fully managed by DOC - which owns and manages the huts, thereby collecting an income stream. "On the [Great Rides] trails, there is no mechanism whereby riders themselves can be levied or generate money for the trusts or councils that own the trails," Gabites said. When set up in 2009 under the John Key government, the Great Rides were intended to eventually become self-funding, but the OIA response showed this "has not eventuated as the economic benefits have not flowed back to the trails to allow them to maintain and grow to be a world-class asset". There are no direct revenue-gathering options for the trusts that operate the trails. The problem is exacerbated by trails that have been impacted by severe weather, like the Great Taste Trail in Nelson which will need rebuilding following the recent Tasman floods . "It's that sort of siphoning of money out of the $8m which the government currently fund per annum which is I think causing a significant decline in the ongoing funding available for maintenance," Gabites said. He said given the benefits, it should be on the government to support the maintenance of the trails. "It's hard to actually find a government initiative that has delivered that sort of degree of return, and so you would have to be saying to the government 'this is your investment, and it's really going to be upon you, I believe, to maintain and protect that investment'." They were considerably cheaper than urban-based cycleways to maintain, he said. "In terms of numbers, 48 percent of the riders travel specifically to ride these trails so they're not just 'happen to be there and then go and and do something', it's actually a driver into the region... the $8m that have been granted is the same degree of funding that was in place from, I think, 2018." The government has launched a "programme refresh to respond to this funding pressure", and also has a "full impact evaluation" for the 2024/25 fiscal year under way, scheduled for completion in September. Gabites said tourism operators benefiting from the trail where also were aware they should contribute, and that was being done on a voluntary basis - but it was currently the only way those operators were helping fund the trails. "So Cycle Journeys has had a luggage levy of 15 percent in there, and we've donated something like $126,000 over the last four years - but when the trail maintenance numbers are as high as they are, that's not sufficient to stay ahead of the game." Part of the problem was the lack of any way to charge the users of the trails, and the government's contracts with councils - many of which had a low rating base - left ratepayers to fund the maintenance. "There's multiple entry/exit points, so it's it's just never been set up to do this - and also legislatively as well, there's no mechanism," Gabites said. The MBIE briefing notes the government is exploring differential funding from councils "based on a local government deprivation index similar to that used by the New Zealand Transport Agency to fund roads". James Bell from ski and bike hireage company TCB Ohakune is heavily involved in the town's business community and said everyone including DOC and iwi seemed to be "pitching in where they can and where is necessary", but the trails themselves needed to be completed to make the whole system run smoother. "The biggest challenge right now - and this might sound a bit harsh - is we're currently driving a three-wheeled cart, because that cart isn't complete and therefore working on maintaining a three-wheeled cart is a lot tougher. Makes more sense, at least, for our community, to add that fourth wheel." As an example, many of the trails have been at least partly on-road since the scheme was launched, and the MBIE briefing notes that a $7.9m bid to have 120km of the Alps 2 Ocean ride shifted to off-road was rejected. Bell said there were also other ways to get the maintenance done, like new levies or commissions or through concession agreements. Minister Upston in a statement to RNZ said she was aware of the maintenance issues and cost pressures. "An ongoing challenge is how to generate revenue to reinvest into the trails to ensure they continue to offer a world-class experience. MBIE is currently working with sector partners to refresh the broader Great Rides programme. I'm committed to finding solutions to ensure the future of the Great Rides for Kiwis and international visitors alike," she said. The government has also confirmed plans to spend $3m on adding e-bike charging stations to the trails, with a second round of funding launched in June - however the MBIE briefing noted there was a "low level of support for installing e-charging stations" from stakeholders. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
Sounds Air cut flying routes as costs surge
Sounds Air managing director Andrew Crawford says aviation has been severely hit by escalating costs, supply chain challenges and a weak New Zealand dollar. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King Sounds Air is cutting two regional services, saying it's facing 'out of control' costs. The airline will no longer fly Blenheim to Christchurch or Christchurch to Wānaka from the end of September. Last December, it stopped flying Wellington to Taupō and Wellington to Westport. Sounds Air managing director Andrew Crawford told Nine to Noon aviation has been severely hit by escalating costs, supply chain challenges and a weak New Zealand dollar that's threatened the viability of all regional airlines. He said the irony is that bookings have never been better, but they've exhausted all other options and need to reduce regional services. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
Fiji coach doubles down on claim NZ Rugby contracts restrict players from representing Pacific nations
Byrne claims he has spoken to some player agents who confirmed that there is an agreement players sign, and these are attached to their contracts. Photo: Fiji Rugby Flying Fijians head coach Mick Byrne has told RNZ Pacific that New Zealand-based players of Pacific Island heritage have signed letters of agreement attached to their contracts, which bar them from playing for teams other than the All Blacks. In an exclusive interview with RNZ Pacific, Byrne said that while New Zealand Rugby has publicly stated that players contracted to NZ-based Super Rugby clubs are free to choose which national team they want to represent, he has been told otherwise. This follows comments he made in June, stating that some players of Fijian heritage playing Super Rugby Pacific in New Zealand have been unable to play for Fiji because their contracts ban them from doing so. Byrne claims he has spoken to some player agents who confirmed that there is an agreement players sign, and these are attached to their contracts. "I know New Zealand Rugby came out and said they're not contracted; well to the letter of the law, they're probably not, but they have a letter attached to their contract that they signed that they can't play," Byrne said. "At the moment, I'm trying to chase down a couple of players. Since we spoke, a couple of the players have been taken into wider training squads, but there's still a couple of players there that I'd like to talk to, but we still need to get their approval. "I know New Zealand Rugby said I was wrong, but I've done some investigations and spoken with agents, and they've told me that the players actually signed a letter attached to their contract, and there's a little bit more to it. "I'd actually like to get some more details. I'm investigating and trying to find out exactly where we're at." NZ Rugby Photo: Photosport However, he said there is light at the end of the tunnel, as there is a process that can be followed to get players released from their current arrangements while still honouring their player contracts. "But my understanding is I can't just say if a player wants to play for Fiji. I can't just sign him and get him to play. "I have to go through a process to get him cleared to be released from current letter of arrangement that New Zealand Rugby have with these players." Last month, a New Zealand Rugby spokesperson told RNZ Pacific that, while the they could not comment on individual players, the union was clear on what it can do, including offering contracts to up to three players who may not opt to play for New Zealand. Responding to Byrne's claims, New Zealand Rugby maintained that players have the freedom to choose which national union pathway they wish to pursue and that is declared at the time they sign their contracts. "NZR's five Super Rugby Pacific clubs have the ability to contract up to three 'non-NZ eligible players' who have already played internationally (including for Pacific Island nations Samoa, Tonga or Fiji) or who have declared their intent to play internationally for a non-NZ national team at international level and therefore not make themselves eligible for NZ national teams. "All other players contracted to NZR's five Super Rugby clubs have declared their availability and intention to represent NZ national teams over the duration of their contract." Byrne is interested to discuss options with Blues' Hoskins Sotutu, Crusaders' George Bower and Highlanders pair Jona Nareki and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens. Former All Black Sotutu will be eligible to play for Fiji this year and is also eligible for England through his mother. Bower, who was also going to be eligible to play for Fiji this year, has since been recalled into the All Blacks by head coach Scot Robertson, and is named on the bench for Saturday's third Test against France in Hamilton. Both Nareki and Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens are currently contracted to the Highlanders and have both indicated their willingness to play for Fiji. Byrne said he will continue to pursue the issue and hopes to have some positive news soon. With the 2027 Rugby World Cup in 24 months, the Fiji head coach is hopeful he will be able to use some of the New Zealand-based players during the 2026 build-up campaign.
