Latest news with #Morrell
NZ Herald
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
On The Up: Hawke's Bay dance crew shine in 45C heat at Dubai dance competition
Members of the Rezpect Dance Academy hold their medals proudly at the World Supremacy Battlegrounds World Championships in Dubai. Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech. On The Up: Hawke's Bay dance crew shine in 45C heat at Dubai dance competition Members of the Rezpect Dance Academy hold their medals proudly at the World Supremacy Battlegrounds World Championships in Dubai. A Hawke's Bay dance crew have battled through 45C heat to stand on the dais at an international dance competition. Rezpect Dance Academy, based in Hastings, went to Dubai to represent New Zealand at the World Supremacy Battlegrounds Dance Championships, the first official hip-hop dance competition to be held in the Emirate. Director at Rezpect, Olivia Morrell, said her team represented Aotearoa with pride and delivered massive results on the world stage, with the crew's six entries scoring two silver medals and one bronze, propelling New Zealand to second place in the overall medal tally at the event. 'We are incredibly proud of the way our young people represented both on and off the stage,' Morrell said.
NZ Herald
21-07-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Rhiannon Morrell Gisborne's top ‘Young Grower'
'I was planning to head south to university, but I really needed a full-time job in the meantime. Then I found I really enjoyed horticulture, so I stayed,' she said in a release. 'I moved into a few different jobs in horticulture, but apples is what I enjoy the most. 'My job involves a lot of data collection and metrics to help make informed decisions about the trees. It's the nitty-gritty stuff and I really enjoy that there is something new every day.' Morrell has gained the NZ Certificate in Primary Industry Skills (Horticulture) Level 2 and NZ Certificate in Horticulture (Fruit Production) Level 3, and is now studying for Level 4 through the Primary ITO. 'There's lots of on-job and off-job training opportunities,' she said. 'My manager is also very supportive and had been encouraging me to enter the Young Grower competition for a couple of years. 'I really had to push myself because I was very nervous about the public speaking part of it. I'm glad I agreed to enter, though. 'The competition was great and everyone is so supportive that it really wasn't bad getting up there and speaking in front of everyone,' she said. 'I think one of the important things about Young Grower is that it stretches young people in the sector and encourages you to push yourself further. 'I had to really push myself out of my comfort zone and I'm glad I did. 'I think it also opens a lot of doors for you. It also helped raise awareness of horticulture to other young people, Morrell said. 'I think there is a perception that it's all just about outdoor work. That's certainly part of it and people really enjoy that. However, if you want to do other things, there are so many other opportunities. 'I would really like to see more high school students coming along to find about the sector and all the different career options that are available. I'd encourage them to because they may very well find something they will enjoy.' Morrell said she hoped to progress to working in pip fruit technical management. 'I want to push myself as far as I can go.' The Young Grower Gisborne regional runner-up was Matt Davies, assistant manager at Davies Contracting, whose job entails vineyard management, machinery operation and crew leadership. Davies completed an apprenticeship with Thompson's Horticulture and has gained levels 3 and 4 in Horticulture Production, studying through Eastern Institute of Technology. The competition celebrates the success of young people in the industry, as well as encouraging others to consider a career in horticulture. Entry is open to commercial fruit and vegetable growers up to the age of 30. HortNZ chief executive Kate Scott said the competitions played an important role in highlighting the wide variety of career opportunities in the industry. The competitions could not happen without the commitment of many industry professionals across the country, she said. 'Thanks to their dedication we can celebrate the skilled young people, like Rhiannon and Matt. 'Their skill, passion for the industry, the qualifications they have gained and the career progression they have achieved are a great example to other young people who may be considering a future in horticulture.'
Courier-Mail
10-07-2025
- Business
- Courier-Mail
Where Aussies are choosing to live in 2025
The Gold Coast in Queensland is the most popular place to move to in the country, new research reveals. National online removalist booking platform Muval has shared its up-to-date migration data showing where Aussies are choosing to live in 2025. They predict which suburbs are the most 'up and coming' by looking at the number of people moving in and out of the suburb vs out (inbound to outbound ratio). Hackam in South Australia came in second, following by Applecross in Western Australia. Each location in the top three recorded a ratio of 12, meaning that for every one person moving out, twelve were moving in. These high ratios signal a strong pull factor, likely driven by lifestyle, affordability or employment opportunities. 'We've seen a surge in inbound moves scheduled for the second half of this year to places like the Gold Coast and Hackham.' said James Morrell, Muval CEO. 'The Gold Coast, Hackham and Applecross all offer a lifestyle appeal, relative affordability compared to capital city cores and better work-from-home conditions like larger homes or access to nature that Aussies are clearly chasing 'The Gold Coast especially has become a magnet for families and remote workers looking to escape the city grind without sacrificing connectivity or opportunity. Mr Morrell said people were prioritising lifestyle, and were willing to cross state lines for it. 'We've also noticed fewer outbound requests in these hotspots, meaning once people settle in, they're more likely to stay put,' he said. 'That kind of stickiness is a strong indicator of local satisfaction, which feeds into this high inbound-to outbound ratio.' Queensland stood out with three suburbs in the top 10, while South Australia followed with two. There were no suburbs from Tasmania, the ACT or the Northern Territory in the list, suggesting population shifts were currently favouring key lifestyle and metro-adjacent areas on the mainland's eastern and southern coasts. Gold Coast real estate agent Amir Mian, of Amir Prestige Group said the Gold Coast real estate marketing continued to boom. 'Buyer demand is surging, especially among interstate migrants from NSW and Victoria looking to make a lifestyle shift,' Mr Mian said. ** Rank, Locality, State 1. Gold Coast, QLD 2. Hackham, SA 3. Applecross, WA 4. Basin Pocket, QLD 5. Calga – Kulnura, NSW 6. Keperra, QLD 7. Westmeadows, VIC 8. Hervey Bay, QLD 9. Stepney, SA 10. Point Clare, NSW
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Orleans City Council considers changes for future carnival seasons
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — As New Orleans begins preparing for next year's Mardi Gras season, city leaders are reflecting on what worked in 2025, and what might need to change moving forward. At Tuesday's Governmental Affairs Committee meeting, the New Orleans City Council discussed a variety of possible updates to the city's carnival operations, from parade routes and safety measures to vendor regulations and parking enforcement. City officials say many of the changes implemented during the most recent carnival season worked well, including the use of a serpentine route along St. Charles Avenue, which allowed for better crowd control and traffic flow. When asked if the route would return in 2026, New Orleans Police Department representatives said bringing back the serpentine path is the plan. 'That would be the intention and the plan going forward,' Lt. Buddy Micheu with the NOPD said. Downtown staple Palace Cafe suddenly closes its doors over legal dispute Homeland Security Director Collin Arnold noted that a dedicated safety lane might complicate the logistics. 'That will certainly require a lot more conversation,' Arnold said. Councilwoman Lesli Harris emphasized the need to include neighborhood associations in the planning process. 'Specifically, Faubourg Delachaise Neighborhood Association that's there, and the Garden District Neighborhood Association to get their feedback, because we did get some push back when we talked about the serpentine route,' Harris said. Council members also listened to public comments. One resident voiced frustration that older adult paradegoers were not allowed to sit along certain sections of the Avenue, while another called for street sweepers to clean up debris after each parade to reduce safety hazards. A potential ban on the sale of confetti by mobile vendors was also discussed as part of efforts to clean up the streets and reduce litter. Council members suggested the ordinance may extend to brick-and-mortar retailers as well. 'While we're addressing the mobile vendors, I think we also need to address the brick-and-mortar stores still selling it,' Harris said. Jefferson Parish announces creation of design district 'We'll look at amending the ordinance and just saying we won't allow the sale of confetti,' added Councilman JP Morrell. After the Krewe of Nyx was removed from the parade schedule, Morrell said the city saw a rush of interest from groups hoping to take the open spot. In response, he's developing a more formal waitlist system for parade permits. 'We have begun the process. We have a draft, it's not ready for airtime yet, there will be a future draft released,' Morrell said. Another proposal would consolidate parking enforcement under the NOPD, streamlining operations during parade season. 'Right now its two separate agencies to have them combined is going to be excellent. And I think it's going to be beneficial to the city of New Orleans.' While several issues remain under discussion, the committee did move forward with one ordinance: removing the requirement for hip tags on horses used in parades, simplifying compliance for krewe by day with Super BUCK Moon by night for Thursday Judge Seeber bridge to fully close for repairs: DOTD Walmart recalls about 850,000 water bottles after 2 people blinded Three fall into water at Glacier National Park while taking photo: rangers Iconic cereal maker WK Kellogg selling to Ferrero for $3B Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Age
07-07-2025
- Business
- The Age
All at sea: top buyer's agent's court battle over $1m yacht ‘lemon'
His Federal Court filing lists 16 different defects, including: 'the vessel is unable to reach and maintain speeds of, on wind, 8 knots tick and underneath, 15 knots downwind'; 'the bow of the vessel sits above rather than below the waterline'; 'the stern of the vessel sits below rather than above the waterline'; 'the halyards and lines of the vessel are too small for the cleats'; 'the ballast of the vessel is in a cupboard'; 'the vessel's electronics … can only be utilised through the screen fitted on the companionway of the vessel, which, due to the location, cannot be used by the helmsmen'; 'the vessel's fridge door was held together by small screws and has fallen off'; and 'the vessel's internal ceiling has fallen in'. Morrell has retained SBA Law and is taking Sundance Maritime Pty Ltd to court seeking an order for loss and damages. 'I bought myself this brand-new present,' Morrell told CBD. 'I spent a fortune … I ended up with a Leyland P76. A lemon. I am wanting my money back and taking on the dealer.' Morrell has not been on the boat since October – it is now berthed in a marina pen in Brighton. Incidentally, the boat was named Admiral, in honour of former St Kilda president Andrew Plympton, who was commonly known in Australian sailing circles as the Admiral. He passed away last year. Unusually, we thought for someone who makes a living from Melbourne's high-end property market, this is Morell's first foray into litigation. He alleges he has suffered loss and damage and is seeking the cost of the boat and spending $140,700 on sails from Sundance Marine, agents for France's SPBI Beneteau. Law firm Kennedy's has lodged a notice that it will be appearing on behalf of Sundance, however, it is yet to file a defence. 'Sundance has had a long and successful association with Mr Morell. He has purchased four vessels (including three Beneteaus) through Sundance and presently retains three,' said a spokesman for Sundance. He added the firm was proud of its reputation and disappointed about the legal action and its allegations, which he said were 'denied and misinformed'. 'Unless Mr Morell is prepared to sit down with Sundance and resolve his issues through discussion, the legal proceeding will be vigorously defended by Sundance.' Stay tuned folks. The content factory erupts Stand by for a veritable Krakatoa of mushroom trial content – anything and everything from podcasts/books/essays/documentaries/interviews and ABC TV dramas called Toxic. And don't get us started on the TikToks. Stan, which is, like this masthead, owned by Nine Entertainment, has a documentary series on the way by the name Death Cap, under its Revealed banner. The series – which 'explores how one tragic lunch has the means to shatter a small-town community' – has funding from Screen Australia, is directed by Gill Marsden and features The Age's Marta Pascual Juanola and John Silvester. An early candidate for OG podcast is surely going to be Helen Garner and Sarah Krasnostein 's proposed mushroom trial podcast. Loading CBD hears that the pair have been all about the chat on the long drives from Melbourne to the Supreme Court location in Morwell, recording their dialogue two-handers for a planned podcast series, we imagine fuelled by $1 Foodary coffees and Mentos Chewy Fruit. We asked publisher Schwartz Media for some more details but did not hear back before deadline. Garner's true-crime books include Joe Cinque's Consolation and This House of Grief but as far as we can tell, her own podcast would break new ground for her. Krasnostein is famous for her true-crime book, The Trauma Cleaner, and her latest piece for The Monthly was a long read on Preston Brass Band. The podcast project is unconfirmed, and the pair had better get their skates on, if other announcements are anything to go by. On Monday The Age live blog reported the first guilty verdict at 2.18pm. And at 3.28pm, CBD's inbox went ping with the breathless news, 'Allen & Unwin to publish The Mushroom Murders ', boasting about how the publisher had acquired the world rights to the book from Greg Haddrick, the 'Logie Award-winning screenwriter and film and television producer (whose) credits include the TV series, Underbelly, Janet King'. The book will be published on November 11. A friend indeed Last month, an investigation by this masthead revealed former rugby league star Jonathan Thurston and his colourful long-time manager, Sam Ayoub, were embroiled in a bitter legal battle with a former employee. Samantha Johnson, an ex-general manager of the Johnathan Thurston Academy, launched proceedings with the Queensland Human Rights Commission, accusing Ayoub of serious sexual misconduct, and Thurston of ignoring the behaviour. The pair strenuously deny the allegations, and launched proceedings in the Queensland Supreme Court to head off Johnson's claim. But the messy legal fight has rocked the JT Academy, the organisation helmed by Thurston which provides education services to disadvantaged youth. The dispute was set to head before the courts last month, but the parties have since agreed to try to mediate – privately. 'The parties have agreed to participate in a confidential conciliation in the Queensland Human Rights Commission to see whether it is possible for all issues between them to be resolved amicably,' a spokesperson for the JT Academy told CBD. Meanwhile, the JT Academy has quietly hired lobbyists, with a firm called Red Rocket listing it as a client on the federal lobbying register. The company has no real online paper trail, but appears linked to Ryan Wellington, a one-time consigliere to lewd Sydney shock jock Kyle Sandilands. Wellington and Red Rocket also represent JT's old club, the North Queensland Cowboys. Loading The JT Academy didn't comment on Red Rocket's lobbying. But CBD understands the academy works closely with government on service delivery, receiving $10 million in federal funding in the past seven years.
