Latest news with #Kiwi-born
1News
11-07-2025
- 1News
Inquest hears tragic details of Kiwi surfer's death in WA shark attack
An inquest has been held following the death of a Kiwi-born surfer who was mauled by a shark in Western Australia earlier this year. Steven Payne, 37, was attacked by a great white shark "between 3.2m and 3.5m in length" at Wharton Beach, east of Esperance in Western Australia on March 10. Drone footage from a witness who happened to be filming at the time of the attack showed the shark swimming away from a large cloud of blood close to the shore. Payne's body was never recovered, but parts of his wetsuit and "distinctive surf hat" were. The Kiwi was living in Geelong, Victoria and his partner and dog were five weeks into a six-month caravan trip around the western half of Australia when the incident happened, according to his family. ADVERTISEMENT The devastating circumstances surrounding his death have now been revealed at a mandatory coronial inquest. The coroner heard Payne was a keen surfer, who had previously been cautious about the possibility of shark attacks and used deterrent devices while in the water, WA Today reported. The inquest heard he was not wearing the device on the day, because he thought it was not needed after leaving South Australia. "[The couple] had discussed wearing [shark deterrents] prior to their visit to Granites Beach," Senior Constable Assisting the Coroner Craig Robertson told the court. "Unfortunately, they thought after leaving South Australian waters it would be safe to enter the water without them." Payne and his partner had also made the decision not to surf at South Australia's Granites Beach after locals warned them about a fatal shark attack there in January. "They were aware of a fatal shark attack at the location on January 2, 2025 and following speaking with locals they ultimately decided not to enter the water," Robertson said. ADVERTISEMENT Perth Now also reported that Payne had been in remission for testicular cancer for three years when he died. Coroner Sarah Linton indicated she would likely determine he died accidentally, and was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt he was deceased. She would hand down her findings at a later date.
The Age
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Legendary music venue shuts its doors
One of Sydney's best-loved jazz venues, Ultimo's Foundry616, is closing its doors after 12 years at the heart of the city's improvised music scene. The Harris St club, founded by local jazz icon Peter Rechniewski, will bring down the curtain on Saturday with a final gig featuring vocalist Anna Weaving. It all started in September 2013 as a 'labour of love', says 74-year-old Rechniewski, also a co-founder of the Sydney Improvised Music Association. 'I wanted to create a really good venue for the scene,' he says. 'One that had a good atmosphere with really good sound on stage that could present the best bands on the scene as often as possible as well as internationals.' Rechniewski built it, and they came. Over the years, Foundry616 has played host to a who's who of established and up-and-coming Australian jazz talent such as James Morrison, The Catholics, Barney McAll, Dale Barlow and Sandy Evans. Then there were the international artists including Lakecia Benjamin, Veronica Swift, Wayne Bergeron and Kamasi Washington. A particular drawcard for many artists was the high-end Yamaha grand piano that Rechniewski installed, which led Kiwi-born jazz icon Mike Nock to make Foundry616 almost his second home for many memorable gigs. 'There was also a period when we were the main site for the Sydney International Women's Jazz Festival, and I was then co-artistic director,' says Rechniewski. 'We brought out some really, really good artists who were on the cusp of breakthrough.'
Sydney Morning Herald
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Legendary music venue shuts its doors
One of Sydney's best-loved jazz venues, Ultimo's Foundry616, is closing its doors after 12 years at the heart of the city's improvised music scene. The Harris St club, founded by local jazz icon Peter Rechniewski, will bring down the curtain on Saturday with a final gig featuring vocalist Anna Weaving. It all started in September 2013 as a 'labour of love', says 74-year-old Rechniewski, also a co-founder of the Sydney Improvised Music Association. 'I wanted to create a really good venue for the scene,' he says. 'One that had a good atmosphere with really good sound on stage that could present the best bands on the scene as often as possible as well as internationals.' Rechniewski built it, and they came. Over the years, Foundry616 has played host to a who's who of established and up-and-coming Australian jazz talent such as James Morrison, The Catholics, Barney McAll, Dale Barlow and Sandy Evans. Then there were the international artists including Lakecia Benjamin, Veronica Swift, Wayne Bergeron and Kamasi Washington. A particular drawcard for many artists was the high-end Yamaha grand piano that Rechniewski installed, which led Kiwi-born jazz icon Mike Nock to make Foundry616 almost his second home for many memorable gigs. 'There was also a period when we were the main site for the Sydney International Women's Jazz Festival, and I was then co-artistic director,' says Rechniewski. 'We brought out some really, really good artists who were on the cusp of breakthrough.'
NZ Herald
24-06-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Hurricanes sign Kiwi-born Japan lock Warner Dearns for 2026 season
The Hurricanes have signed Kiwi-born Japanese international Warner Dearns for the 2026 Super Rugby season. The 2.02m , 124kg lock has been allowed a temporary break from his contract with Toshiba Brave Lupus club, in Japan. 'I'm really excited about the opportunity to join the Hurricanes and take on a
Hindustan Times
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Selectors expect three-way fight for Virat Kohli's No.4 spot in England: Shubman Gill, KL Rahul or Karun Nair
The last time India lost two batting behemoths in one fell swoop was back in 2012, when Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman announced their retirements from Test cricket after an ill-fated tour of Australia. Between them, they boasted 297 caps, 22,046 runs and 53 centuries. Dravid called time on his career immediately on his return from Australia, Laxman followed suit several months later on the eve of a two-Test home series against New Zealand. With Virat Kohli (58, 103 and 51*) leading the charge, India overcame Ross Taylor's competitive side 2-0, a wonderful chase of 261 in the second Test in Bengaluru, suggesting that the future of Indian Test batting was in competent, safe hands. Now, nearly 13 (unlucky?) years on, India's Test batting is again at the crossroads following the retirements of Kohli and Rohit Sharma within a week, the two immediate all-format captains. Their combined numbers, while not as intimidating as the Dravid-Laxman duo, are still formidable – 190 appearances, 13,531 runs, 42 hundreds. When Dravid and Laxman walked away into the sunset, a certain Sachin Tendulkar (who wouldn't retire until November 2013) was still going strong. There is no such consolation now, not with a demanding five-Test series in England starting five weeks hence. KL Rahul, who cut his teeth in the five-day game in December 2014, looms as India's most experienced specialist batter, though 3,257 runs and an average of 33.57 from 58 appearances aren't exactly out of the topmost drawer. There is a fair sprinkling of experience – Ravindra Jadeja is the country's seniormost active Test cricketer, having debuted in December 2012, while Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill (the projected new captain) and Yashasvi Jaiswal aren't exactly babes in the woods. But there is no denying the erosion of the intimidation factor India's batting unit boasted when Rohit and Kohli were around, never mind their underwhelming records in the season gone by. Ben Stokes' England will be licking their lips in anticipation, sharpening their Bazball knives and believing that a 5-0 rout isn't beyond them. But they will also be quietly wary of the immense talent and potential in the Indian ranks; there is no substitute for experience, for battle-hardened heads and hearts, but there is something to be said for the fearlessness of youth, a trait that first Kohli and then Rohit walked the extra mile to instill in their successful stints as captains and leaders. There was a time when a Test tour of England was considered the ultimate challenge. Incessant changes to weather patterns, a plethora of middling-to-very good swing bowlers, a little red orb which facilitated that mode of bowling and pitches that always had something in them for the bowlers combined to ask numerous questions of visiting batters, especially those from the subcontinent, unaccustomed to these vagaries. Much of that has changed in the last three years, since the union of the Kiwi-born duo of Stokes and Brendon McCullum as captain and head coach respectively. Their insistence on batting aggressively at all times, allied with a strange disappearance of swing in the Dukes balls, has resulted in an even-playing field made even further so by a pronounced flattening out of pitches. As such, the demands on touring batters have reduced considerably, though no one should be under any illusion that, given the plethora of pace riches at Stokes' disposal, batting has become a ridiculously easy proposition. Among India's multiple decision-making headaches are who to plug the Rohit- and Kohli-sized holes with. Where does Rahul slot in? Having been yo-yoed up and down the order in the last 18 months, it's time for the former captain to be presented with a settled position, whether it is at the top of the order, or at No. 4 which Kohli has occupied for so long. Do India invest in the organised and correct Sai Sudharsan as Jaiswal's partner, and therefore have an all-left opening combine? Isn't it time to reward Karun Nair for his prolific run in domestic cricket and bring India's only Test triple-centurion apart from Virender Sehwag back into the five-day scheme of things? And what of Shreyas Iyer, whose revamped approach to the short ball means there is every reason for him to expect to add to his 14 Test caps that have yielded 811 runs? Then, there are Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar, who both sparkled in patches – the former more so – in Australia and Rajat Patidar, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain who has been a stellar performer for Madhya Pradesh. This unit doesn't have the same ring as Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman, Ganguly (which one will?) or Rohit, Pujara, Kohli, Rahane. Not yet, one might argue. Irrespective of India going to England seriously short of experience, what with 106-Test veteran R Ashwin having retired halfway through the Australia series. Perestroika will be the theme, tinged with cautious optimism and a lingering sense of dread (from the fans) as Indian Test cricket approaches a new, testing, exciting era.
