Gisborne finalists named for surf lifesaving Awards of Excellence
The awards recognise and celebrate the skill and commitment of surf lifeguards who make a meaningful contribution towards saving lives, developing great New Zealanders and keeping beachgoers safer.
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NZ Herald
14 hours ago
- NZ Herald
New Zealand sporting bodies unite to fight proposed Online Casino Gambling Bill
Cycling New Zealand chair Martin Snedden is leading the charge against the legislation and told Newstalk ZB it poses a 'massive risk' to grassroots sport. 'This is a crazy move by the Government,' Snedden said. 'Sport has thrived for decades off the back of community gambling grants. It all goes to clubs, not professional sport. 'There had been no consultation with the sport sector, no warning that this was coming. As soon as I saw it, I recognised the extent of the risk to community funding.' Snedden said the timing couldn't be worse, with clubs already struggling amid rising costs, shrinking sponsorship and reduced support from financially stretched local governments. He's urging ministers to revisit the bill's design and reinstate the original intent behind early drafts, which included a requirement for international operators to contribute to community funding. 'The Prime Minister, the Minister of Sport, Mark Mitchell, the Associate Minister of Sport, Chris Bishop, they all love sport dearly,' Snedden said. 'I'm sure they're not going to allow something to go through that is ultimately going to have a dramatic negative impact on the future of community sport. I just can't imagine that they would be prepared to do that and to take that risk. 'The Government should be saying to the international operators, you are going to be contributing if you want to operate in New Zealand. 'Part of the reason you're allowed to do so is that part of your money is going to be going into community and that's a good thing.' After the bill passed its first reading, van Velden said the bill was important to protect New Zealanders. 'New Zealanders can legally access thousands of offshore gambling websites. But the market is unregulated, so there are no player safety standards or oversight of harm minimisation,' she said. 'My intention with this bill is to ensure that online gambling is safer for New Zealanders who wish to gamble online to do so. 'In addition, that companies providing this service contribute to tax revenue and funding the services that treat gambling harm in New Zealand.' Public submissions close in two weeks on August 17.
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Provincial game's character hinges on money
While we await New Zealand Rugby's long-overdue announcement about the future of the NPC, Adrian Seconi ponders what the competition might look like next year. Get a day job? The Men's Pathways and Competitions report appears to have been filed in the third drawer down at the New Zealand Rugby headquarters. However, its contents have been widely leaked. And, according to various media reports, one of the key recommendations is to affirm the NPC as a key competition in the men's pathway. There is a fishhook, though. The costs are too high and one way to make some savings is to introduce a salary cap. New Zealand Rugby general manager of community rugby Steve Lancaster confirmed to the Sunday Star-Times that a salary cap of $840,000 was proposed in the pathways report. To put that into context, if the provincial unions contracted 30 players, they could pay them an average of $28,000 each. That is not bad for three months' work, but is it enough to give up your day job? No roof? Otago will play Auckland at Auckland Grammar School on October 4. Auckland are saying they want to get the game into different corners of the city. Puh-lease. It is about saving money and that fixture is a trial run. The NPC costs more than $36 million each season. Player payments make up the largest chunk of that, but venue costs, estimated at $4million, are the next expense set for a prune. NPC champions Wellington have already moved in that direction. They will host all their games at Porirua Park this season. It is suggested that about $400,000 could be shaved off the bill of running the competition if all 14 NPC teams moved to smaller venues. Otago had an average crowd of just 1600 last year. Does that even keep the lights on at Forsyth Barr Stadium? How long before Otago follow in Wellington's footsteps and make the move to Tahuna Park? Rugby for free? Could the NPC be about to return to free-to-air television? Sky recently bought TV3 for a buck, and that buck might return some NPC games to New Zealanders who have been unable or unwilling to pay to watch rugby. The New Zealand Herald reported New Zealand Rugby had previously been in talks with TVNZ to sell partial broadcasting rights for the NPC and Farah Palmer Cup. Sky was reportedly willing to work with TVNZ, but the expectation now is it would use TV3 to broadcast the games it deems fit for free-to-air, while the rest would remain behind its paywall.
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Seeds for clubs, counting the birds
Garden clubs are invited to grow flowers from seeds to brighten up public spaces. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES In preparation for National Gardening Week in October, a seed company is offering to help garden clubs get ready to beautify public spaces. Yates will provide seeds and fertilisers to garden clubs, so members can grow seedlings, ready for planting the week before National Gardening Week, October 20-27. ''It could be a public garden, planters in the main street, or a tired-looking roadside garden,'' a Yates spokesperson said. ''If you've got a spot that you think could benefit from being planted with flowers, Yates will provide seeds and fertilisers to you now, for you to grow seedlings, ready for planting the week before National Gardening Week.'' Every garden club that signs up will receive a selection of products for raffling/ fundraising. For further information, contact liane@ The number of Otago people taking part in the garden bird survey increased this year. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY Garden bird survey Otago was the regional star in this year's garden bird survey, with 589 counts made, up on last year and more than 10% of the national total of 5800 bird counts. Southland was down slightly and, despite extreme weather during the survey week from June 28 to July 6, the West Coast and Nelson had a response of 80% compared with last year's figures. Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research has led this biodiversity study of urban and rural landscapes since 2007. This survey is the only one of its kind that informs policy makers, scientists, bird enthusiasts and other organisations nationwide who have an interest in the state of our garden birds and their environment. The survey acts as a backyard barometer for our nation's garden birds. It is an early warning system to highlight any health issues, as well as evidence that our birds are thriving. Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research monitors changes in bird populations over time by analysing bird counts gathered by New Zealanders. Results of this year's survey have not yet been released. — Allied Media
