A new case of mpox with a “likely” link to the recent Winter Pride Festival in Queenstown has been detected today, Health NZ has confirmed.
Today’s case is the fifth confirmed case of mpox in NZ this year. File photo. Photo: SERGII IAREMENKO/SCIENCE PHOTO L / SIA / Science Photo Library via AFP
Today’s confirmed case brings the number of cases of mpox in New Zealand to 54 since the disease became notifiable in June 2022. Five have been confirmed so far in 2024.
In a statement, national clinical director Dr Susan Jack said the National Public Health Service was continuing to investigate after several people who attended the event – including today’s case – came into contact with people who later reportedly tested positive for mpox overseas.
“While it is possible that other cases may yet be confirmed, it’s important to remember that mpox is a rare infection and the risk of it spreading widely in New Zealand remains low.
“Anyone who thinks they may have been exposed to mpox, or who develops symptoms, especially a rash, should seek medical advice.
“As the mpox virus can spread through close contact (including intimate / sexual contact) with a person with mpox, we also strongly urge anyone with symptoms to refrain from sexual activity and seek support.”
Health NZ said most people with mpox developed a rash or other skin change known as lesions. Lesions are spots, bumps, blisters or sores, usually around the face, hands, feet, mouth, throat, genitals and anus.
The sores usually go through stages – they appear flat, they become solid and raised or bumpy, they fill with fluid, crust over and eventually flake off. The lesions were often painful and itchy, and could take a few weeks to heal.
Pain, bleeding or discomfort in the anus was a possibility.
There are two types of mpox, known as clade I and clade II – both have caused the current outbreaks in African countries with a recent increase in clade I. There are no cases of clade I in Aotearoa, or in neighbouring countries.
By Nicky Park of rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission
Fiji’s first Miss Universe beauty pageant in more than 40 years has been “tainted” by ugly accusations, a New Zealand judge at the contest says.
Manshika Prasad (middle) has had her throne restored after ‘the real Miss Universe Fiji’, runner-up Nadine Roberts (left) was handed it instead. Photo: Asvin Singh
Days later, after she had celebrated winning the chance to represent Fiji at the international beauty pageant in Mexico in November, everything changed.
Prasad celebrated her win with a photoshoot on a boat around the sparkling waters of the South Pacific island nation. Photo: Supplied / Melissa White
Over the weekend, a press release from Miss Universe Fiji claimed that “correct procedures” had not been followed and Prasad’s title was given to runner-up Nadine Roberts, a 30-year-old model and property developer from Sydney whose mother is Fijian.
Marine biologist Melissa White had flown over from New Zealand to represent an environmental charity as a judge at the event. She told RNZ’s Midday Report on Monday that the days following the win had taken away from what should have been a historic event for Fiji.
“This whole thing is tainted.
“When the votes were counted on the night of the event, it was four to three. So Manshika Prasad had the four votes to the three and was given the crown as the clear winner,” White said.
“Two days later we were told that the crown had been taken from her and that all of a sudden there was an eighth judge who was the licensee of the holder for the Miss Universe Fiji.”
The controversy about the winner centres around this extra eighth vote, with vote-rigging allegations flying.
“That was all very strange, to all of us judges,” White said.
“It was just a bit unheard of that there was an absentee judge all of a sudden, and now all of a sudden there was a tie, there was a tie-breaker, and this other girl wins and they take the crown away from the girl who won fairly that night,” White said.
Fiji had not held a Miss Universe competition since 1981 as they had not been able to find anyone willing to fund a national pageant in the small island nation.
The global beauty pageant is run on a franchise basis, which enables licensees to use the brand and sell tickets. This year, property development firm Lux Projects Bali inked a deal for Fiji.
Miss Universe Fiji confirmed to RNZ that the Miss Universe Organisation were dealing with Lux Projects Bali “at the highest level”.
“What has been presented by Lux Projects Bali is false and defamatory and my legal team will also be addressing,” Miss Universe Fiji spokesman, Grant Dwyer, wrote in a statement to RNZ on Monday evening.
“This has been very sad for both Manshika, the other finalists, the judges, the sponsors and Fiji.
“The rightful winner was and is Manshika.”
Lux Projects has not responded to RNZ’s request for comment.
In a social media post, Prasad said the experience “has been a wild ride of growth and challenges” and that she was “beyond excited” to take on the world. Roberts had posted that “the world needs to see the FULL crowning footage from the MUF finals”. Neither had replied to a request for an interview.
White said on Monday morning that she understood the Miss Universe Organisation had stepped in and reinstated Prasad as the rightful winner after a “really confusing” few days.
Prasad has been reappointed the winner of Miss Universe Fiji. Photo: Asvin Singh
“It was quite an emotional rollercoaster for her,” White said.
“The night of the crowning was life-changing for her and she was so grateful and she just couldn’t believe it was happening to her.
“She had this big burst of emotion when she won and then it was all taken away from her.
“Now she has understood that all of the judges have been fighting for her because we wanted to truth to come out, we wanted people to know what actually happened and what was fair.”
By Tiana Haxton of rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission
A new weather radar installed at the at Fua’amotu Airport is expected to empower Tonga to issue crucial early warnings, reducing the impact of severe weather on vulnerable communities.
Tonga’s Minister of Meteorology Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu said the installation of the radar will save lives. Photo: Supplied
The NZ$4 million weather radar, funded by the New Zealand government, was launched by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres and NZ Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters late last month.
Tonga’s Minister of Meteorology Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu said the installation of the radar will save lives.
“Technology investments are a part of our fight against [natural] disasters, and this new radar system does provide us with the critical data that is needed to anticipate and respond and to ensure that we do save people’s lives,” she said.
Schools in the Kingdom will greatly benefit from the early warning system, according to the principal of St Andrews School.
Losana Latu said the new radar gives staff more confidence they will have enough notice to safely evacuate students in time during natural disasters.
She said having early notice will reduce panic amongst students and staff, allowing them to better respond during emergencies.
“As the principal of the school it is my responsibility to ensure the safety of the children and staff of my school.
“We have to make sure during any disaster, no child is left behind.”
‘Utoikamanu said children were Tonga’s “most valued possessions” and the government’s investment in their education resilience is very important.
The project is a pilot, part of a $20 million Weather Ready Pacific Program, which is aimed at strengthening the Pacific’s ability to prepare for extreme weather events.
Peters said the radar represents a major step in their commitment to Pacific Island nations.
“We’re delighted to be here for the commissioning of this valuable new installation following the announcement of funding for this work when we visited in February.
“The radar will provide Tonga with the ability to give communities critical early warnings and mitigate the impacts of high-risk weather.”
The New Zealand MetService also provided construction and training support.
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) director general Sefanaia Nawadra said the radar was just the first step of the rollout of the Weather Ready Pacific Program across the entire region.
“Through this initiative, I’d like to assure you of the commitment of the region to implement early warning systems for all, so no one is left behind,” he said.
“So that we are better ready for all the weather impacts we will continue to experience.”
A threatening email to an Auckland schools reinforces the error of the Government’s recent decisions, the Federation of Islamic Associations (FIANZ) says.
Photo: Supplied / Google Maps
Al-Madinah School and Zayed College, both on Westney Road in Māngere, were in lockdown after being sent an email with a threatening video.
A third Auckland Islamic school, Iqra primary school in New Lynn, was not in lockdown but was on restricted access Monday after the threat to Al-Madinah.
Al-Madinah Assistant Principal Amjad Ali told RNZ a video was sent to the school’s principal at 11pm on Sunday.
It featured a man showing guns in a car and randomly shooting, he said.
It wasn’t filmed at the school, but police recommended going into lockdown.
Zayed College for Girls. Photo: Supplied / Google Maps
The Federation of Islamic Associations (FIANZ) said it was particularly concerned about the well-being and trauma of the students, staff, parents and wider community.
The threat could have been made to a church, synagogue, community centre, women’s refuge, or shopping centre, the organisation said in a statement.
“We urge the Right Honourable Prime Minister to reconsider the decision of his Lead Coordination Minister regarding the most important recommendation of the Royal Commission: to establish a dedicated and purpose-specific national security agency.
“Threats like this demonstrate why we need to have a strategic approach for our national security.”
The group also queried withdrawal from other Royal Commission recommendations, the “vitriol” around firearms reform, and the need to teach young people how to identify and counter disinformation.
Schools take caution
Al-Madinah school was advising students to stay at home and it would be in lockdown until further notice.
The state integrated area school has primary and secondary age pupils from Year 1-13.
Zayed College said on its website that it was also closed Monday as a matter of caution following the threat to Al-Madinah.
It initially went into lockdown, but all staff and students had since safely left the school, commissioner Linley Myers said.
“A very big thanks to the staff involved for their calm and responsive support.
“I will update you later today on plans for tomorrow when we know more,” Myers said.
Zayed College said it was the first Islamic College for girls in New Zealand, it was a state integrated special character Islamic secondary school for girls Year 7 – 13.
Police said they were notified of the email at 7.15am Monday.
They were investigating the email “of a concerning nature” sent to staff at Al Madinah School.
“Police are in attendance at Al Madinah School and enquiries are under way to determine the circumstances surrounding the email.”
Iqra School. Photo: Supplied / Google Maps
Iqra School principal Leanne Chartrand said on the school’s website that the school was open on Monday and was not in lockdown, but did have restricted access.
“We are on alert currently in the event of an emergency due to another school in South Auckland receiving threats.
“We have very good practises in place and the staff will be on alert to ensure our children stay safe.”
Precautionary safety measures were being taken, she said.
Auckland bus drivers are pushing for a stop work meeting to discuss their safety after a fellow driver was punched in the face on Saturday morning.
Auckland bus drivers are pushing for a stop work meeting to discuss safety after Rajnish Trehan was punched in the face by a passenger. Photo: Supplied
Roskill depot-based Rajnish Trehan was hit by a man who wouldn’t pay, he required hospital care for stitches and emergency dental work.
Tramways Auckland union president Gary Froggatt told Morning Report members were now pushing for a stop work meeting, which he acknowledged would cause disruption across the city.
“I don’t want to do that if we can avoid it but we can’t let this go on… bus drivers are concerned about their ongoing safety.
“We’re being pressured by our members (for the meeting) and I think the time has come that we have to do that.”
He said they were talking to management first before confirming a stop work meeting which would see union members taking time off during their shift.
Froggatt said they wanted a full investigation by WorkSafe into the attack on Trehan.
And he said they were disappointed by the company’s response, with Trehan taken back to the depot where his wife picked him up and took him to hospital.
“She took him into Auckland Hospital where they put some stitches in his chin and then they had to go out to Middlemore Hospital to have the tooth fixed.”
Froggatt said there had been a quieter period of violence towards bus drivers, particularly after most were sent on a de-escalation course.
However, the frequency of events was starting to increase again, he said.
“It does happen and it’s starting to happen more frequently just recently.”
“We’ve got to the stage where we’ve seen some samples of what the bus companies and Auckland Transport are looking at.”
While new buses would come fitted with screens, it would take some time to retrofit the 2000-odd existing buses, Froggatt said.
Emergency protocols followed
Kinetic, which owns bus company NZ Bus, confirmed Trehan notified the operations centre about 10am Saturday that he had been assaulted by a passenger.
“As per our emergency protocols, our team immediately notified the police and ambulance service and sent out our support team to assist Mr Trehan and ensure he was safe and well looked after,” a spokesperson said.
“The health and wellbeing of our people is very important to us, and we are assisting police with their investigation.”
Police are investigating the assault, and want to hear from anyone who saw what happened.
A former high school prefect and deputy head boy turned corrupt baggage handler has lost his bid for a discharge without conviction for participating in an organised crime syndicate that smuggled hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine into New Zealand by exploiting a loophole in Auckland Airport’s security.
Māngere Bridge resident Kimela Kolo Piukana, 24, was initially alleged to be part of a group of airport workers who, on several occasions in 2021, were tasked with secretly removing illicit drug shipments stowed aboard Malaysian Airlines flights from Kuala Lumpur and Air New Zealand flights from Los Angeles.
“The drugs were subsequently driven off airport grounds and on-supplied to other members of the syndicate,” court documents state.
As part of his guilty plea in June, the Crown conceded he was no longer alleged to have physically removed the drugs from the aircraft. He instead was sentenced for acting as an intermediary between key members of the syndicate, passing along messages via texts.
That concession reduced his culpability, defence lawyer Ben Mugisho said late last month as he asked Justice Michele Wilkinson-Smith for a discharge without conviction. He noted his client had never been in trouble before his arrest in November 2021 after a lengthy undercover police and Customs investigation dubbed Operation Selena.
Piukana had been a university student before dropping out in 2017 to look after his ailing father, Mugisho said, explaining that after his client’s father died Piukana came under the bad influence of a man who was more intricately involved in the meth import conspiracy. That other man, who has also pleaded guilty, has interim name suppression as he awaits sentencing.
Piukana pleaded guilty in June to participating in an organised criminal group, which carries a sentence of up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
Nigel Iuvale appears in the High Court at Auckland, where he was found guilty of co-ordinating the smuggling of methamphetame into the country. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Piukana is the first of the group to have been sentenced.
Police alleged at the time of their arrests that the group had either successfully smuggled or tried to smuggle roughly 500kg of methamphetamine. While the cost of methamphetamine can fluctuate, that amount has been described by police in prior drug import cases as having a value of between $50 million and $90m in New Zealand – considered one of the most profitable meth markets in the world.
“This type of offending is highly concerning not only because of the harm drugs are doing to the community, but the ability to place unchecked items into aircraft … threatens the integrity and security of air travel,” Detective Inspector Paul Newman said at the time of the arrests, estimating an influx of 500kg of the drug on to the underground market would have caused “around $550m in community harm … particularly in vulnerable communities”.
Piukana’s lawyer said his client has ambitions of someday becoming a personal trainer, but a conviction on his record may serve as a barrier. Crown prosecutor Ruby van Boheemen argued against a discharge without conviction, pointing to the seriousness of the charge.
“If those in charge of the syndicate didn’t have members at every level, that syndicate wouldn’t be able to function,” she said, adding the consequences of a conviction wouldn’t be “out of all proportion” to the seriousness of the crime – the standard by which discharge without conviction requests are considered.
Justice Wilkinson-Smith described the offending of Piukana and his co-defendants as “a level of corruption unusual to New Zealand” and as “damaging to New Zealand’s reputation”.
The judge rejected the suggestion Piukana had been ignorant to what was going on when he passed along the messages.
“You must have had a very good idea of what was occurring,” she said, adding that even if he didn’t know the exact amount of methamphetamine being imported he would have been aware it was a commercial quantity. “You knew what was happening and you helped. You gave real assistance.
“You were at best wilfully blind.”
But the judge also noted his young age at the time of offending and his prospect for rehabilitation, allowing for a 25% discount from the starting point of two years and three months suggested by the Crown. An additional 15% reduction was applied for his guilty plea, as well as two months for the time he was under strict bail conditions awaiting trial.
She settled on a sentence of seven months’ home detention.
The judge said the co-defendant who pulled Piukana into the scheme “should be ashamed”.
“You are, however, an adult,” she said. “You were capable of being better than this, and you are capable of being better than this in the future.”
Craig Kapitan is an Auckland-based journalist covering courts and justice. He joined the Herald in 2021 and has reported on courts since 2002 in three newsrooms in the US and New Zealand.
A Tongan man in Draper, Salt Lake City has been charged with attacking a coach with an umbrella at a rugby tournament.
A fight that broke out during a rugby tournament in Salt Lake City resulted in a coach losing sight in one eye after being assaulted by a man with an umbrella, according to police. (Barbra Ford, Shutterstock)
Takes Mafileo Vakapuna, 39, was charged Thursday in 3rd District Court with aggravated assault resulting in serious injury, a second-degree felony.
A tournament by the Utah Rugby Academy was held at the Salt Lake Regional Athletic Complex, 2280 N. Rose Park Lane, on July 27. A fight broke out at one of the games, and a coach tried to break it up, according to charging documents.
“During the altercation, Vakapuna struck (the coach) multiple times with an umbrella. (The coach) lost consciousness and use of his right eye from the altercation,” the charges allege.
The coach needed to have surgery on his eye, and more than two weeks after the incident was still unable to see out of it, according to the charges.
Police reviewed cellphone video of the attack and talked to one witness who saw the coach being hit “multiple times with an umbrella. (The coach) fell, and Vakapuna continued hitting (him) on the ground with an umbrella,” the charges say.
After Samoa set the Group A pace in the day’s first game, both Fiji and Tonga were keen to hit the ground running similarly fast, resulting in both Teams trying to find their rhythm.
The game settled down after the opener, courtesy of the hosts.
Surrounded by defenders, forward Uliana Vuniyayawa latched onto a bouncing loose ball in midfield, keeping her composure to bury past Temaleti Taufa’ao, prompting rapturous screams from the stand.
Buoyed by the lead, it was a matter of time before Fiji added a second. Sisilia Tuvou Kuladina, who was the youngest player at last month’s inaugural OFC Women’s Futsal Nations Cup, backed up her brilliant goal on the court to double her country’s lead in the 39th minute. Much to the anticipation of the crowd, she stood over free kick about 35 yards out and launched an unstoppable drive past the Tongan goalkeeper.
If Fiji had the momentum going into half time, Tonga were determined to take it back after half time.
It began with Cienna Filimoeatu’s through ball to Kuria Malohifo’ou. She looked to have held onto the ball a touch too long, but her shot was too powerful for Melania Keresoni to properly block, and so Tonga looked to have found a way back into the game.
Tonga then found an equaliser four minutes later. Tyra Bagiante, who had looked dangerous up front for Tonga all game, confidently slotted home after being released it.
Losing the lead so quickly seemed to dent Fiji’s confidence, as Tonga looked more assured on the ball, although they were unable to convert this into a lead.
Bravery from Temaleti Taufa’ao kept the score at 2-2, taking the ball off Teonila Levuiciva’s toes after the winger latched onto a Kuladina through ball, only for the Tongan goalkeeper to deny Fiji.
Bagiante thought she was through for a winner in 75th, but Keresoni was quick off her line to deny the Tongan striker.
Fiji looked to have secured the win in the 78th minute through Grace Lakavutu. The substitute’s outside of the boot finish from close range sparked wild celebrations from the Fijian bench.
But Tonga weren’t finished yet.
Malohifo’ou found the back of the net for the second time in the half, equalising the score and closing out the goal-scoring opportunities for both teams as the match ended in a 3-3 draw.
UPDATED: A 6.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Tonga today Sunday 8 has been reported on social media.
The tremor, which struck at 10.39am, was 10km deep 170km East of Tongatapu, Tongan Met Service said.
The above magnitude is provisional and may be increased or decreased as more seismic data becomes available.
Tongatapu residents described its intensity as “moderate”.
“Ki’i lulu leka pe he ko e Sāpate” said Parliament Deputy Chief Clerk Dr Sione Vikilani. He was saying that it was just a minor tremor because this is Sunday.
There have been no reports of damage or casualties.
No tsunami advisories have been issued.
The report comes after a magnitude-6.9 earthquake occurred northeast of Tonga at around 12.29pm on Aug 26.
The epicenter of that earthquake was approximately 72 km (45 miles) west of Pangai.
The tremor occurred at a depth of about 107 km (66 miles), and moderate-to-strong shaking was probably felt throughout Tonga.
Should a five-year-old be able to count to 10 and accurately describe shapes?
Photo: RNZ
The draft Year 0-6 English and Year 0-8 maths curriculums expect they will be able to do that, and more, after six months at school.
The curriculums are out for consultation and the government is rushing to introduce them next year.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) says the drafts are designed to be much clearer than the previous document, especially in terms of what children should learn at each year level.
They also include guidance for teachers – suggestions of what they should teach and how.
Underpinning both documents is the “science of learning”, which the MOE says is basically a well-sequenced approach to teaching that ensures children master one skill or area of knowledge before moving on to the next.
A big change in the English curriculum is a nation-wide shift to “structured literacy” as the approach for teaching children in Years 0-3 to read.
The move to structured literacy began under the previous government and most schools spoken to by RNZ are enthusiastic about its effectiveness.
It means families can expect to see young children learning to read from books that emphasise particular sounds with sentences like “Can Nan nap?” and “Nat taps on a pot”.
The draft English curriculum also includes more of a focus on punctuation, grammar and spelling than the current document.
That has led University of Auckland associate professor Aaron Wilson to describe it as more a literacy curriculum than an English curriculum.
Meanwhile, the maths curriculum is aiming for significant acceleration in what children learn in the subject that is without doubt New Zealand education’s weak spot.
Initial testing indicated just 20 percent of Year 3 children and 22 percent of Year 8s would meet its expectations, a sharp contrast to the current curriculum where 82 percent of Year 4s and 42 percent of Year 8s are at the level expected of them.
Julia Novak from the MOE told RNZ the new curriculum would be more explicit about ensuring young children mastered the basics of maths so they had the skills and knowledge they needed by Year 8.
“They are seeing fractions sooner than they were before … using addition, subtraction, multiplication and division a little sooner than before,” she said.
Both the English and maths curriculums specify what children should be learning each year they are at school.
That is a big change from the current system of broad curriculum levels that cover a number of year levels.
For example, curriculum level four applies mostly to children in the final year of intermediate school, Year 8, but children in Years 6, 7, 9 and 10 could also be working at that level.
The curriculums also include guidance for teachers on what they should teach and how.
For example the English curriculum advises teachers of Year 4-6 to “teach students to segment words into syllables and phonemes” when covering spelling and to “teach spelling every day”.
Ellen MacGregor-Reid from the MOE said the advice built on the Common Practice Model developed under the previous government.
She said it was aimed at ensuring teachers were using proven approaches to teaching, increasing consistency between schools, and reducing teacher workloads.
“It’s not about taking away teachers bring things to life in an exciting way. It is about providing that clarity about across all of this learning at different year levels, what is important to teach,” she said.
What do teachers think?
Teachers and principals agree the curriculum needs to change.
Many welcomed the increased specificity about what to teach and when, but some worried it might go too far and restrain teachers’ professional judgement.
They also warn that the government is moving too fast. Consultation on the drafts was open for just four weeks and schools are expected to start using the documents from the start of next year.
Principals say that is totally unrealistic.
Minister of Education Erica Stanford has been at pains to reassure teachers.
She said there was no expectation that schools would use the curriculums perfectly from day one next year and there would be more teacher training and resources to help them.
But she said the government needed to crack on with the changes – too many children are struggling with reading, writing and maths and change has to start now.
Also of concern to teachers is the shift to year-by-year achievement expectations.
They say children develop at different speeds, especially in the early years, and expecting all children of a certain age to meet particular benchmarks is not realistic.
Is literacy and numeracy really as bad as the government says?
National studies of children’s achievement show the percentage of children achieving at the curriculum level expected of them declines as they get older and curriculum expectations increase.
By the time they were finishing Year 8, generally the final year of intermediate or primary school, 47 percent of children were at the expected curriculum level in reading and 42 percent were at the expected level in maths.
The Council for Educational Research, which conducted the research with the University of Otago, said there had been no real change in Year 8 children’s maths achievement over the past 10 years.
They also tested children against the draft maths curriculum and found that only 22 percent of Year 8s met its expectations.
The government headlined that figure when announcing the results earlier this year, and principals are still angry about it, saying the government misrepresented the facts to create a sense of crisis.
However, the OECD’s international PISA tests of 15-year-olds shows a steady decline in New Zealand teens’ scores in reading and maths with this country most-recently ranked 10th in reading and 23rd in maths in the 2022 round of tests.
The tests found 21 percent of New Zealand 15-year-olds were reading at the lowest level – meaning they struggled with all but the simplest reading tasks – and in maths 29 percent performed at the lowest level.
Meanwhile secondary schools are warning that too many students, especially among Māori, Pacific and poor communities are failing new NCEA reading, writing and numeracy tests designed to ensure teens leave school with basic literacy and numeracy.
In May about 55,000 teens attempted the tests with pass rates of 59 percent in reading, 56 percent in writing, and 46 percent in numeracy.
A second round of tests will be held in September.
While the new curriculums raise the bar for what is expected of children, it is not a given that they will raise achievement.
Stanford is confident that improvement will happen quickly, especially in maths.
Certainly the changes should scoop up any schools or teachers that have been neglecting reading, writing and maths or teaching those subjects badly.
But teachers warn they need ongoing professional development and good resources for years to come to ensure any improvements stick.
