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Why vaccinated must lock down too – Delta’s speedy transmission

By RNZ.co.nz. Republished with permission

People who are fully or partially vaccinated in New Zealand will still need to follow Level 4 rules after a new community case was discovered.

People in Queen Street Auckland, wearing masks.
Photo: RNZ / Liu Chen

At the moment, scientists are still trying to determine just how much more transmissible Delta is, but preliminary guidance indicates it could be as much as 90 percent more infectious.

Just today, it was revealed that the Delta variant of Covid-19 was transmitted when doors were simultaneously open for just seconds at a quarantine facility.

Globally, both the World Health Organisation and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have changed their guidance on masking as Delta has spread.

The CDC has also advised that Delta can spread among the vaccinated.

The World Health Organisation recommended at a 25 June press conference that fully vaccinated people continue to wear masks and practice other safety measures.

” People need to continue to use masks consistently, be in ventilated spaces, hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, the physical distance, avoid crowding, WHO official Dr. Mariangela Simao told reporters.

“What we’re saying is once you’ve been fully vaccinated continue to play it safe because you could end up as part of a transmission chain,” Dr. Bruce Aylward said at that press conference. “You may not actually be fully protected.”

The CDC updated their guidelines 27 July recommending that even fully vaccinated people should wear a mask in most public indoor settings.

“Preliminary evidence suggests that fully vaccinated people who do become infected with the Delta variant can spread the virus to others,” the CDC noted in that advice.

FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA

Ko e hā e ‘uhinga ‘oku kei kau ai pe ‘a e kakai ne ‘osi huhu malu’i Kōviti’ ‘i he fakataputapui hono loka ‘o e kau’āfonua ‘i Nu’u Sila’ ni’?

Ko e ‘uhinga’ he ‘oku kei feinga e kau saienisi’ ke fakapapau’i e ivi malava mo e vave e pipihi  ‘a e fōtunga fo’ou ‘o e Kōviti’ kuo ‘iloa ko e Tēlita’. Ko e ngaahi faka’ilonga kuo hā mahino mai he taimi ni’ ‘oku ‘i he pēseti  ‘e 90 ‘a e lahi ange ‘o ‘ene pipihi mei ha taha ki ha taha.

‘I he ‘aho’ ni pe kuo fakahā ai ko e mafola ‘a e Tēlita’ ‘o ka ava fakataha ha ongo matapā sio’ata ‘i ha feitu’u fai’anga kolonitini, ‘oku lau sekoni pe.

Kuo liliu ai ‘e he Kautaha Mo’ui ‘a Māmani’ pehē ki he Senitā ‘a ‘Amelika ki hono Pule’i mo Malu’i mei he Mahaki’ ‘enau fakahinohino ki he māsaki’ (mask) koe’uhī ko e mafola ‘a e Tēlita’.

Koe’uhī ‘oku malava ke toe ma’u pe ‘e he Tēlita’ ia ‘a e kakai kuo nau ‘osi huhu malu’i Kōviti’ kuo fakahā ai ‘e he Kautaha Mo’ui ‘a Māmani’ ‘i he ‘aho 25 ‘o Sune’, kuopau ke kei tui māsaki pe mo e kakai ia kuo nau ‘osi huhu’.

Live updates: Covid-19 community case in Auckland

By RNZ.co.nz

There is a new community case of Covid-19 in Auckland which health officials are now investigating.

In a statement released this afternoon, the Ministry of Health said further updates would be provided once some more information was available.

Ministers will be meeting later today to establish the next moves.

The link between the case and the border or managed isolation has not been established.

The Auckland Regional Public Health unit is now undertaking interviews with the case so that it can begin tracing contacts.

Aucklanders are being encouraged to social distance and exercise caution.

“While we collect more specific information all New Zealanders are reminded of the basic public health measures of mask wearing and hand washing,” it said.

“In particular anyone in Auckland catching public transport this afternoon or who cannot socially distance in public spaces should wear a mask as a precaution.”

Treatment for Mum’s deadly anaemia leads to birthday party for Tongan family

This story by Kalino Lātū was first published by Te Waha Nui

A Tongan family in Auckland is celebrating the second birthday of its youngest member after thinking for years another child in the family wouldn’t be possible.

THE PAONGA FAMILY (FROM LEFT): SIMAIMA (NAITE) PĀONGO, VEILI PĀONGO, SIONE MO’UI HE KELESI PĀONGO, SELA PĀONGO (CARRYING FIFITA VAVA’U TŌNUNGA KI WELLESLEY PAONGO), SYLVIA PĀONGO AND AKOSITA PĀONGO. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Thirteen years ago, Sela Pāongo was forced to have a medical abortion in Tonga because her anaemia meant she was at risk of losing her life, together with her unborn child.

Sela’s condition, caused by a lack of healthy red blood cells, can be deadly for pregnant women and she had been told to avoid further pregnancies since her condition could not be treated in the kingdom.

Sela and her husband Veili Pāongo, who have three girls, including twins born by caesarean delivery, and a son, thought their hopes of having more children were at an end.

But after moving into New Zealand in 2014, Sela visited their family doctor in Panmure for a routine check-up.

During a brief consultation, the doctor revealed the good news and said her condition could be cured.

Sela said the doctor gave her some medication for her anaemia.

“I was so excited after the doctor said there is a remedy for my condition,” Sela told Te Waha Nui.

On July 23, 2019 she gave birth to her youngest daughter, Fifita Vava’u Tōnunga ki Wellesley Pāongo.

A big family celebration was staged last year at their Pakuranga home to celebrate Fifita’s first birthday.

Last month, the family and their kāinga gathered again for a second celebration after Fifita turned two years old.

“I just wanted to share the news with our community because I know some people in Tonga have experienced this same problem especially it stopped them from having children,” Sela said.

Her husband Veili also welcomed the great news.

Veili said: “It is a blessing for us, and we are fortunate to come to New Zealand and be able to have Sela’s health issue resolved.”

Dr Saia Piukala at Vaiola Hospital in Nuku’alofa said abortion is prohibited in Tonga except when it comes to health condition like anaemia which could put the life of the mother at risk.

“That’s when we have medical abortion,” he told TWN.

Anaemia

According to a research, published in The Lancet Global Health journal, pregnant women with anaemia are twice as likely to die during or shortly after pregnancy compared to those without the condition.

The study  of over 300,000 women across 29 countries was led by Queen Mary University of London.

It said the disease affected 32 million pregnant women worldwide, and up to half of all pregnant women in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).

“Women in LMICs are at increased risk of anaemia due to higher rates of dietary iron deficiency, inherited blood disorders, nutrient deficiencies and infections such as malaria, HIV and hookworm,” it said.

Teenager charged with attempted murder after alleged attack on Toutai Kefu

By ABC. This story appeared on RNZ.co.nz. Kaniva republishes RNZ stories under partnership agreement.

Queensland Police have charged a 15-year-old boy with four counts of attempted murder, after an alleged violent attack on former Wallabies No.8 Toutai Kefu and his family in Brisbane.

‘Ikale Tahi Head Coach Toutai Kefu

The boy has also been charged with three counts of grievous bodily harm, and one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, break and enter, burglary and deprivation of liberty.

Another 15-year-old boy is in custody.

Detective Superintendent Tony Fleming said it was understood one of the family members woke to noise about 3.15am and went to investigate.

He said the “brutal and violent” attack was allegedly carried out with an axe, knife and machete.

Police have alleged the person was accosted by at least one of the offenders in the premises on Buena Vista Avenue in Coorparoo and they were threatened with being stabbed if they did not hand over vehicle keys.

“Other members of the family then came to that person’s aid and during that time very significant injuries occurred to the family,” Detective Superintendent Fleming said.

Kefu, the Tongan national team coach, underwent surgery for very serious wounds to his abdomen after being stabbed.

“His initial condition was described as critical, but expected to survive,” Detective Superintendent Fleming said.

“The mother has suffered very, very serious lacerations to her arm and I’m told her wounds are very significant.”

The Kefus’ children, his 21-year-old son and 18-year-old daughter, were also injured.

Their son sustained significant wounds to his arm and back and one of his daughters has cuts to her hand and arm.

Police told media they located a knife and axe and believe a machete was also used.

They do not believe the attack was targeted.

Police said three juveniles were involved in the incident.

Police said Kefu’s family remained in hospital.

“Mr Kefu is out of surgery and is stable now,” Detective Superintendent Fleming said.

“His son is still receiving treatment as I understand and there’s more treatment for Mrs Kefu and their daughter that will continue tomorrow.”

Neighbours came to family’s aid, apprehended suspect

Detective Superintendent Fleming said neighbours came to the family’s aid and assisted in apprehending one of the alleged offenders, who was armed with a knife.

“All credit to those neighbours for coming to the aid of the family,” he said.

Police arrived shortly after and arrested one suspect.

He was taken to the watch house but has since been transferred to hospital to be checked for Covid-19 after coughing.

Another suspect presented at Princess Alexandra Hospital with cuts and has since been arrested and is under police guard at the hospital.

Officers have since attempted to intercept a silver Hyundai i35 they allege was used by the offenders to travel to the scene.

Police alleged the car was stolen from Forest Lake where a woman had tried to stop the car being taken and was “shoved over”.

Detective Superintendent Fleming told ABC Radio Brisbane that police were still searching for the vehicle.

“This Hyundai iX35, a silver one, remains outstanding at the moment, we’d really appreciate any members of the community who find that,” he said.

“It did have registration 435 VJP on it, it was seen shortly afterwards in the Goodna area, we believe it then headed towards the Inala area but where it is now, we don’t know.”

Detective Superintendent Tony Fleming said a third person of interest had been located.

“Whether they’re sufficient to charge him remains to be determined but the investigations are ongoing there,” he said.

Forensic officers remain at the scene as investigations continue.

Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) said it had been made aware of “a shocking incident” involving Mr Kefu.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Toutai and his family at this time,” the QRU said.

“We offer our support to them and the wider Queensland rugby community who are affected by the incident.”

Kefu played 60 tests in the forwards for Australia in a seven-year international career.

The 47-year-old made his debut for the Wallabies against South Africa in 1997 in Pretoria.

In 2001, he scored the match-winning try against the All Blacks that also gave Australia victory in the Bledisloe Cup.

He finished as the most capped Wallaby number eight of all time (58 tests).

He was appointed head coach of the Tongan national rugby side in 2016 and coached the squad through to the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

He was reappointed Tongan head coach earlier this year.

Kefu is also assistant coach of the first 15 at Iona College at Wynnum West on Brisbane’s bayside.

– ABC

Tonga national rugby coach clinging to life after stabbed inside family home

By Tyson Otto, news.com.au

A Wallabies cult hero has reportedly been stabbed inside his family home in a “stabbing rampage” where his wife and children were also injured.

Wallabies legend Toutai Kefu has been rushed to hospital and is reportedly clinging to life after being stabbed during a home invasion.

The Australian rugby cult hero was stabbed in the stomach inside his family home in Brisbane during an incident where his wife, son and daughter are also reported to have been injured.

All four were taken to hospital in ambulances.

The 47-year-old is undergoing surgery at the Princess Alexandria Hospital.

He was reportedly defending his family after three men broke into the family home in Coorparoo around 3am (AEST) on Monday morning.

According to Channel 7, neighbours were woken and raced to the scene to help, holding down one of the alleged offenders who was arrested at the scene.

According toThe Courier-Mail, two men are in police custody.

Sunrise’s Brisbane correspondent Bianca Stone reported Monday morning Kefu is “fighting for life”.

She described the incident as a “stabbing rampage” and a “large brawl” when speaking on Channel 7 Monday morning.

His wife suffered a significant arm injury, while his son suffered lacerations to his back and abdominals. His daughter suffered a hand injury.

Kefu played 60 times for the Wallabies, including winning the World Cup in 1999, and made 103 appearances for the Queensland Reds during his career.

He is currently the head coach of the Tongan national team.

China’s three-child policy campaign leaves many sceptical

By RNZ/Radio New Zealand and is republished with permission. 

China’s Family Planning Association has launched a competition encouraging the public to come up with slogans to promote its three-child policy, but the appeal has been met with anger and sarcasm on social media.

A family negotiates traffic on a scooter in Kunming, China.

A family negotiates traffic on a scooter in Kunming, China. Photo: 123rf

Three months ago, the Chinese government scrapped its two-child policy in a bid to address the crisis of a rapidly ageing population and falling birth rate.

China’s controversial one-child policy was officially axed in 2015, ending more than three decades of the strict birth control.

But the latest census data revealed population growth had fallen to its slowest pace since the 1960s, posing a major challenge to policymakers in Beijing.

The contest by the Family Planning Association aims to “advertise a new time of marriage and family planning culture”.

It runs until 15 September, and 35 slogans will be chosen with cash prices up to 1000 yuan (NZ$220).

Although the campaign received some welcoming messages on social media, such as “the more children, the merrier”, overwhelmingly responses have taken either an angry or mocking tone.

“Your sex organs don’t belong to you, but the country,” one person wrote on Weibo.

“One person exceeds the birth limit, the whole village will be sterilised,” another wrote, a saying which resembles an old slogan used during the one-child policy.

Some people shared grim memories about having a forced abortion in the past, while others called out the discrimination against women when they had more children, especially in the workplace.

Chinese women say they aren’t convinced

Jessie Zhang, 30, is a single mother who works in IT in the eastern coastal city of Hangzhou.

She told the ABC that having children was a personal choice and slogans wouldn’t encourage more women to give birth.

“I don’t want to have more children, that’s not the purpose of my life,” Zhang said.

“Reproductive rights should be controlled in my hand; men shouldn’t have too much say in it.”

Summer Xia, 36, is an accountant from the southern province of Hainan and a mother of two daughters.

She said she was already struggling to raise two children due to rising costs of education and living, despite her family having two incomes.

“It’s too much financial pressure,” Xia said.

“The grandparents are too old to take care of the children … after six months of maternity leave, we had to hire a nanny.

“Although it’s not very expensive to attend a public school, the quality of education there is poor, so we had to hire a private tutor.”

A nurse holds a baby at the Xiyuege Centre, or "Lucky Month Home", in Beijing. Concerns about slow population growth led to a three-child policy in May this year.

A nurse holds a baby at the Xiyuege Centre, or “Lucky Month Home”, in Beijing. Concerns about slow population growth led to a three-child policy in May this year. Photo: AFP

Last month, new restrictions were placed on private tutoring in China, a move to tackle the huge burden on school children and their parents’ finances.

“The government said they wanted to relieve the burden for children, but doesn’t change the test-oriented education system,” Xia added.

She said her decision to have a second child wasn’t swayed by the two-child policy, instead she thought it would be too lonely for her first daughter to grow up without a sibling.

“I think any independent woman won’t be influenced by these slogans,” Xia said.

“It might work for older generations, or for men, but definitely not women.”

“At least women who I know think so, no slogans can touch my heart.”

Brothers at a bakery in the Muslim quarter in Xi'an city, China.

Brothers at a bakery in the Muslim quarter in Xi’an city, China. Photo: 123rf

Sarcasm a creative way to criticise policy

Dr Pan Wang is a senior lecturer in Chinese and Asian studies from the University of New South Wales.

She told the ABC the slogan contest signalled that the Family Planning Association was eager to revamp its reputation, given its role in the previous policies.

“It helps with trust-building between people and the government – not just mandate top-down policy and control people’s reproductive rights in its own hands,” she said.

“But rather, invite people to be part it, given the propagandisation of completely different messages during the previous family planning campaigns.”

Dr Wang said people using sarcasm or dark humour to criticise policymakers was a way to get around internet censorship.

“People are aware that ‘throwing an egg [direct criticism or protest] against a rock [government]’ will lead to nowhere,” she said.

“Rather, giving sarcastic suggestions on social media helps to draw public attention.”

Wei-Jun Jean Yeung, founding director of the Centre for Family and Population Research at the National University of Singapore, said Chinese people were tired of slogans after family planning policy changes.

“It would be better to pay attention to young people’s constraints and preferences more realistically,” she told the ABC.

“It is much harder to force people to have babies than not having babies.”

Is the three-child policy doomed to fail?

For decades, Chinese families were told not to cross the red line of having more than one child, and the notion that one child was enough was instilled in many millennials.

Experts said the one-child policy had changed people’s mindsets profoundly.

“Very few people will consider having a third baby these days,” Professor Yeung said.

“After four decades of one-child policy, the social norms have changed about childbearing in China.”

China’s total fertility rate of women currently sits at 1.3, lower than the replacement rate of 2.1, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

To reverse the trend, both Professor Yeung and Dr Wang said the Chinese government should tackle issues such as discrimination against women in the workplace and at home, affordable childcare and long-term monetary incentives.

This week, the Beijing government said it would reward women who have a third child with an additional 30 days of maternity leave and 15 days of parental leave for the father.

China’s marriage rate has also fallen to a record low of 1.16 per cent, and that has prompted the central government to look at ways of trying to slow the number of divorces.

“If people don’t get married, they are not likely to have babies, because the current system does not recognise babies born outside of legal marriages,” Professor Yeung said.

A photo of a smiling mother and son embracing and holding head by the pool

Photo: xixinxing/123RF

Reluctance to abolish birth restrictions altogether

As a tool to manage its large population, family planning has long been “a fundamental policy of the country” in the eyes of the Chinese Communist Party.

Breaching birth restrictions in the past meant large fines and sometimes even punishments such as invasive procedures and the installation of intrauterine devices.

But the party is reluctant to abolish birth restrictions altogether.

Last month, Yang Wenzhuang, director of the Population and Family Department of National Health Commission, said while more support measures should be taken to meet the needs of the parents, family planning policy had to be adhered to.

“We are now promoting balanced population development in the long run, which is different from the population development goal of the 1970s and 1980s, which was to control rapid population growth,” he said at a media briefing last month.

Professor Yeung said although she thinks China should relax the birth restrictions completely, it won’t have much impact on population growth.

“At this point, it probably wouldn’t make much difference for the fertility rate,” she said.

“The Chinese government is worried that rural or low-income families may have too many babies that create a potential poverty problem for the country.”

But for Summer Xia, she just wants full control of her reproductive rights.

“I think China’s family planning policies in the past are inhumane … they are against human rights,” she said.

“Everyone should have their reproductive rights, it’s up to themselves to give birth.

“If the government wants to encourage people to have more children, that’s fine, but they shouldn’t force them.”

China’s Family Planning Association didn’t respond to a request for comment.

-ABC

One seriously injured after fight in South Auckland

By ONE News and is republished with permission. 

Several people have been hospitalised after a reported fight in South Auckland.

1 NEWS
Police officers. Source: istock.com

Police said one person was in a serious condition after the incident on Dawson Rd, Clover Park, about 9.30am Saturday.

A spokesperson said inquiries into the incident are underway.

Anyone who witnessed the incident and has not yet spoken to police is asked to call 105, quoting event number P047538013.

New rules aimed at stopping youth from vaping come into effect

By RNZ.co.nz. Republished with permission

New vaping legislation has come into effect today which may make it harder for teenagers to access nicotine products.

General retailers – dairies, supermarkets and service stations – across the country will now only be allowed to sell three vape flavours – mint, menthol, or tobacco.

It is part of a roll-out of SmokeFree legislation that is aimed to protect young people from being influenced to start smoking.

Vape stores are supportive of the legislation, but are preparing for an influx of teenagers trying to buy e-cigarettes from their stores as a response to the regulation change.

For many general retailers, such as dairy owners, this comes as a relief.

PJ is the manager of a store near a high school and said he has almost 20 teenagers try to purchase vape products in his shop each week.

“They try for the peace ice, or watermelon flavours which are popular,” he said.

Flavoured vapes are popular among teenagers, and up until November last year, there were no age restrictions on purchasing the products.

Retailer fines for selling tobacco products to minors can reach up to $10,000.

Other vape liquids are now only at specialised stores, which have tighter security and prevention mechanisms to deter those under 18.

Specialised vape stores are now gearing up for an increase in teenage foot-traffic.

Most stores have long-standing R18 policies for vape products and entrance into the store, but some managers have said they still see teenagers trying their luck.

Nabhik Gupta, a spokesperson for Shosha, the country’s largest retailer of vape products, said their stores already have issues with teens coming inside.

“We have around 90 stores, they experience these things at least a couple times per week,” said Gupta.

They have been reminding their staff of the changes and of their responsibilities as retailers.

The government’s next step in the rollout of the smoke-free legalisation is a ban on smoking and vaping in vehicles where there are children. That comes into force at the end of November.

Critical blood shortage in Fiji

By RNZ/Radio New Zealand and is republished with permission.

Blood stocks all across Covid-19 stricken Fiji are critically low and volunteers have had to reach out to their personal contacts to ask for blood donations.

Although the Fiji National Blood Service has a regular pool of blood donors which kept blood supply sufficient, the current challenges of the country’s Covid outbreak is keeping donors away, which is a huge problem for the country’s three largest hospitals.

Residents look on as police check people are wearing face masks in Suva,  as a worsening outbreak of the Covid-19 coronavirus Delta variant has overwhelmed the South Pacific nation's largest hospital.

Residents look on as police check people are wearing face masks in Suva, as a worsening outbreak of the Covid-19 coronavirus Delta variant has overwhelmed the South Pacific nation’s largest hospital. Photo: AFP or licensors

The Fiji Red Cross Society’s Neomai Kafoa, who is the focal point for its Covid-19 work, said the situation was so serious that they had 85 volunteers on the phones urging friends and family to donate blood.

“So it’s quite critical at this point. The need for blood is dire, if I can say, right across the country. And this is further exacerbated because of the fact that there’s sort of fear around approaching medical facilities to donate blood.

“So there was a sort of generally a shortage there. And now it’s worse because of the situation,” Kafoa said.

“At this point, there is no specific target. We’re trying to get people to at least come forward and donate. So that’s the first point is to just bring people forward to donate.”

In the past, the work of the Red Cross to drive blood donations was mainly limited to awareness activities leading up to World Blood Donor Day which falls on the 14th of June.

But Kafoa said with Covid-19 they noticed the government became overwhelmed and was having to make regular community requests for blood donations, so they offered to help the Fiji National Blood Service.

“So our volunteers are already trained in specific areas of health and those volunteers are the ones that we’ve identified for this particular task. And they have undergone training as well for the blood drive to further support that work,” she explained.

“And so these volunteers, what they do is that we’ll have to call around and get blood donors and they’ll liaise with our divisional teams who then liaises with the Ministry of Health to be able to provide locations for these blood drives to happen.”

Reaching out

There have been times in the past when the Fijian Blood Bank has been depleted and patients at government facilities have had to reach out to their family members to donate blood.

But according to the Red Cross, which is the government’s community blood drive partner, current shortages are exarcebated by public fear of contracting Covid-19 at government health facilities.

The organisation says it is working to ensure blood donors know of safe locations where they can donate blood.

“The obvious fear from the public is if I go to this particular facility, I might catch it. So while the arrangements are there, the gap we feel is that people are not getting sufficient information so they’re not really identifying the places that they need to go to be able to do that.

“So the support that we are providing is also to be able to identify venues that people can go to, to be able to give blood and getting that information to everyone is where the issue is,” Kafoa said.

Dr James Fong.

Dr James Fong. Photo: Fiji govt

Meanwhile, Fiji’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health James Fong has been stressing the importance of donating blood and reminding the public that COVID-19 can’t be transmitted by blood transfusion.

“The virus is transmitted from the respiratory tract as droplets and to a smaller extent as airborne in confined spaces. It is not transmissible in blood,” Dr Fong said.

“As such we need asymptomatic people to donate blood. Even in this COVID times, blood still is essential. The child we saved in Kadavu through Medivac this week was save by blood transfusion and Surgery.”

In the first eight days of August, Fiji has recorded over seven thousand (7198) new infections and 60 Covid-19 deaths. There are currently over 24,000 (24,138) active cases of Covid in the community.

Since the current outbreak began in April there have been more than 300 covid-related deaths and close to 37,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19.

The government continues to resist imposing a national lockdown, insisting that its mass vaccination program is the only way out of the outbreak.

Police hunt for Maserati used in Auckland hit and run

By RNZ/Radio New Zealand is republished with permission.

Police are investigating a hit and run incident in Auckland where a motorcyclist was hit to the ground and knocked unconscious by a Maserati.

Maserati Levante

Not the actual vehicle. Photo: Supplied / NZ Police

Police said the victim was on his motorbike waiting to turn right when a person driving a Maserati – believed to be a dark-coloured Levante model – hit him and immediately left the scene.

The incident happened on 8 July 2021 about 10.18pm on Great South Road at the intersection with Greenlane East.

Constable David Smith said the motorcyclist suffered serious injuries and the incident could have been much worse.

“Along with being knocked unconscious, the victim also sustained leg injuries and we are lucky that we are not dealing with more serious injuries or worse, a fatality,” Smith said.

“The offending vehicle was tracked on CCTV driving in the Penrose area prior to the crash. We also believe during the crash it has sustained damage to its right side and possibly its front.

It is also missing part of its right wing mirror cover.

“Police are asking our community if they know who this driver is or who the vehicle belongs to, to please get in touch with us as soon as possible.

“This driver has hit someone, injured them and then driven off with no regard for their safety so it is imperative that we identify and locate them so they can be held accountable for their actions.”