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Covid-19 vaccine passports ‘almost an inevitability’ within next year – Chris Hipkins

By
Kaniva Staff
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This TVNZ story is republished with permission

Covid-19 vaccine passports will be “almost an inevitability” within the next year, according to Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins.

The Covid-19 Response Minister said everyone in New Zealand will “not necessarily” need to be vaccinated before allowing in people from overseas, however. Source: Q+A

“New Zealand’s actively involved in the conversations around vaccine passports,” he told Q+A this morning.

“I think vaccine passports are almost an inevitability at some point in the future and probably the not-too-distant future, I think that’s likely to happen.”

A vaccine passport is a way of people being able to easily show and prove they’ve been vaccinated for Covid-19, usually discussed in the context of overseas travel.

In the UK, it’s also being discussed as a possibility to require the vaccine passport for visiting busy domestic locations too, such as the gym or a restaurant.

Hipkins said while there is “a lot of water to flow under the bridge very quickly,” he believes the vaccine passport is “highly likely to be something people will need to get” within the next year.

No new community Covid-19 cases reported overnight – Chris Hipkins

Vaccines will need to be available to everyone before requiring a vaccine passport to travel can be mandatory, he added.

“You couldn’t say to someone, ‘You can’t travel until you’ve had a vaccine’, if that person couldn’t get a vaccine,” Hipkins said.

However, he said they may not require everyone in New Zealand to be vaccinated before people from overseas can enter the country.

Law expert warns Covid-19 vaccination passports might lead to discrimination for some

He said studies carried out overseas are within the wider global context of “widespread community transmission” and “in New Zealand, that’s not the context”.

“Very few [countries] are in the position New Zealand’s in, so if you look at other research they’re doing on transmission of the virus to air conditioning systems, no one else is looking at that because no one else really cares,” he said.

“In the context of person-to-person spread being the biggest transmitter, they’re not looking at air conditioning systems as we are.”

He said New Zealand could have “quite different border settings to the ones we have now” as vaccines are rolled out across the globe and there is a greater understanding of “what that means in terms of transmissibility of the vaccine”.

“As we get to a position where vaccines are part of the global picture, that will probably have an impact on our border as we can open up safe travel areas with other countries – Australia, the Pacific – we will absolutely be doing that.

“All of those things are happening. There’s a bit of uncertainty around all of those as well because there’s uncertainty around vaccines, but we’re working hard to try and give that certainty.”

While on Q+A this morning, the minister also confirmed there were no new Covid-19 cases to report in the community overnight. The formal update by the Ministry of Health is due at 1pm.

Cyclone Niran causes damage and injures one in New Caledonia

By
Kaniva Staff
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This RNZ.co.nz story is republished with permission

Cyclone Niran injured at least one person and caused extensive damage in New Caledonia according to early reports.

Cyclone Niran, (centre)
Cyclone Niran, (centre) Photo: Meteo NC

The cyclone hit today generating gusts of up to 220km/h.

RRB radio reported a child was injured by shards of glass from a bay window during the storm.

About 20,000 people are without power and roofs have also been ripped off buildings in the town of Dumbéa, on the outskirts of Noumea.

Several ships have also been forced aground on the coast in Noumea although according to a provisional report, no major damage was recorded following this cyclone, the intensity of which was a little lower than expected.

Meteo France NC said there was not a lot of rain during the storm but violent winds ranging from 130 to nearly 220km/h caused problems.

It’s been reported 50mm of rain fell over the course of six hours.

“Niran caused extensive damage to the power grid and to vegetation,” a civil security spokesperson told the AFP.

Meanwhile there are 400 people still sheltering in evacuation centres in the capital of Noumea.

The cyclone is weakening as it moves to the southeast of the New Caledonian mainland.

Car fire, Chapel Road Flat Bush Auckland

By
Kaniva Staff
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Police have received reports of a vehicle fire on Chapel Road at 8.10pm this evening.

Initial reports indicate a body may be in the vehicle.

Police and FENZ are at the scene and members of the public are asked to avoid the area while emergency services are there.

Cordons are in place at Chapel Road and Ormiston Road, and Stancombe Road and Chapel Road.

An investigation is underway into the incident and a scene examination will take place tomorrow.

Auckland to move to alert level 2, Prime Minister confirms

By
Kaniva Staff
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This RNZ.co.nz story is republished with permission

Auckland will move to alert level 2 and the rest of New Zealand will move to level 1 at 6am on Sunday morning, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced.

Ardern announced the move while speaking to media after a Cabinet meeting to decide on alert level changes.

Watch the media conference live here:

This will be reconsidered with a plan to move Auckland down a level at the start of the next weekend if possible, she said.

“If you are sick, stay at home, don’t go to work or school and don’t socialise. Keep track of where you’ve been at all times.”

The restriction of 100 people at events will be in place.

Ardern said it was good news that there had been no new cases for five days in a row.

Ardern said the strategy of elimination was best for New Zealand but it did not make it easy.

“Covid has taken a toll on so many in so many ways, but it will get better.”

She said an elimination strategy was hard work and it was normal to feel fatigued, but New Zealand was not in the devastating position that much of the world found itself in.

No new cases of Covid-19 have been reported in the community or in managed isolation today.

The Ministry of Health said there was still a strong demand for testing with more than 11,500 tests processed yesterday. Results from wastewater testing at three Auckland sites – including Papatoetoe – on Wednesday have all come back negative.

Dr Ashley Bloomfield said today that about 6000 people connected to the latest cluster have been contacted, with many of them followed up on a daily basis.

He said all outstanding Papatoetoe contacts have returned a negative test.

“It is possible we may still get positive results from people who remain in isolation and are still to get a day 12 tests. It’s important to note that these people are in isolation,” he said.

Dr Bloomfield said under a new Section 70 order, any person who attended City Fitness Hunters Plaza on 20 February between 11.15am and 1.45pm, or 26 February between 3.25pm and 4.30pm, as well as anyone who is a close, close-plus or casual contacts is required to:

* Isolate at your usual home

* Report for testing at a specified time

* Accept testing and isolate until you are told officially that you no longer need to

Boxer Joseph Parker splits with Kevin Barry, what next?

By
Kaniva Staff
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This RNZ.co.nz story is republished with permission

New Zealand heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker has split with trainer Kevin Barry.

Trainer Kevin Barry (L) and boxer Joseph Parker
Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The pair have parted ways by mutual consent.

Both men agreed to the decision after Parker’s points victory over Junior Fa in Auckland on Saturday night.

“Without Kevin I wouldn’t be where I am today,” Parker said.

“Together we made it to the very top. Kevin was with me every step of the way, guiding my progress inside and outside of the ring. So it is with genuine sadness that I confirm our partnership has come to an end.

“But the time just feels right. It’s fitting that we closed this chapter of my career with a win in front of a great home crowd in Auckland, and with bigger things just on the horizon.

“I know Kevin will always be in my corner.”

Parker’s tactics and form were heavily criticised following the less than impressive win.

Many fans on social media had been calling for the pair to part ways for some time, and after the Fa fight, both supporters and pundits further questioned whether Barry could take the former WBO champion and further in his career.

The pair have been together for eight years.

“It has been an amazing journey with Joseph and Team Parker. But all journeys must come to an end, and the time is right for myself and Joseph to go in our own directions,” Barry said.

“I have been in New Zealand for five months now, away from my family and my other fighters. I have three guys fighting for world titles this year and have responsibilities with them and a few new guys.

“It’s not possible for me to stay in New Zealand any longer. For Joe, he has a wife and three young girls in New Zealand, and he wishes to spend more time here.

“I totally understand this and will always be in his corner and support him. We have always had a very close bond and I want nothing but the best for him. We have achieved so much together. It has been one heck of an amazing journey.”

In December 2016, Parker became New Zealand’s first ever World Heavyweight Champion, defeating Andy Ruiz Junior in Auckland to claim the vacant WBO World Heavyweight Championship.

Parker and Barry managed to secure a unification bout with Briton Anthony Joshua in Cardiff in March 2018.

He would lose that fight and also suffer a defeat to British fighter Dillian Whyte in July the same year, raising questions at the time over his future in the division.

His wins since haven’t been of note and he’s lacked the knockout finish that fans craved and pundits believed necessary for him to secure bigger fights against the likes of Joshua, Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder or even a rematch with Whyte.

Fans on social media have largely reacted positively to the news of Parker’s and Barry’s split, however many have said the decision has come too late to resurrect the New Zealander’s career.

Parker could next fight Britain’s Derek Chisora, though the bout, expected to be held in London in May, has yet to be confirmed.

New Zealand boxing commentator Mike Angove said the pandemic will be complicating Parker’s next move.

“Look it’s tricky times it depends on where Joe wants to base himself obviously we’re in the midst of covid and he has three daughters here in New Zealand,” he said, “There’s probably limited teams and coaches that operate at an absolutely world class level. I assume that this is a decision which has been undertaken over a longer period of time so I’m certain he will have spoken to David Higgins and they will have been reviewing names of coaches especially here in New Zealand or potentially overseas.”

“One thing is for sure he doesn’t want to be taking a short notice fight in the next couple of months when he is just developing and working on a relationship with a new coach.

Boxing commentating duo Mike Angove and Colonel Bob Sheridan.
Boxing commentating duo Mike Angove and Colonel Bob Sheridan. Photo: Photosport Ltd 2016 www.photosport.nz

“I don’t think it’s wise to take on a short notice fight in two or three months if you’ve just changed coaching team because there may be new approaches to technical things but also there may be changes in conditioning, there’s a relationship that needs to develop and there may be some skill based work that you want to embed.

“I know there’s been talk of Derek Chisora in May, personally I think that would be a very quick turnaround although I think it’s a very winnable fight for Joe. I think you’ve got to be cautious in your first fight under a new coaching team.

“I don’t think you’ll see a stylistic change, what you would potentially see is enhancement of what he’s already has and obviously that also depends on how Joe responds to a new environment, a new coach and a slightly new approach.”

“There’s no question he needs a world class coach or a world class team people who are capable of developing his skills, developing his trust and who understand what it takes to take the next step at the pinnacle of the game.

“I think Kevin Barry should be given due credit for the job he’s done with Joe to this point he’s taken him from a very raw teenager to a world title, there’s not many people that can do that, that can develop an athlete from young and take them right up to World Championship level and sustain that over a number of years,” Angove said.

Watch live: Tsunami update from government

By
Kaniva Staff
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Civil Defence are providing an update on the tsunami threat and earthquakes that struck New Zealand this morning.

Kiri Allan is now speaking and GNS seismologist Bill Fry will also be at the conference.

Watch the media conference – scheduled to start at 11.30, but now delayed for five minutes – here:

Multiple tsunami warnings have been issued by Civil Defence this morning after a 8.1 magnitude quake near the Kermadec Islands.

The quake was at a depth of 10km.

It is the third earthquake this morning following a 7.4 quake near the Kermadec Islands earlier, and a 7.1 quake off New Zealand’s east coast.

Follow our liveblog here.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is warning of flooding of coastal land in the West Coast of the North Island from Cape Reinga to Ahipara, and the East Coast of the North Island from Cape Reinga to Whangārei, from Matata to Tolaga Bay including Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki and Great Barrier Island.

It is telling people near the coast from the Bay of Islands to Whangārei, from Matata to Tolaga Bay, and Great Barrier Island must move immediately to nearest high ground, out of all tsunami evacuation zones, or as far inland as possible.

The National Crisis Management Centre – or Beehive bunker – has been stood up in response to multiple major earthquakes and tsunami warnings.

NEMA is leading the response and coordinating with local Civil Defence Emergency Management Groups.

The Officials Committee for Domestic and External Security Coordination – a high level committee brought together to respond to serious security events has not been stood up at this stage – but is ready in case it needs to.

Emergency Management Minister Kiri Allan and National Controller Roger Ball are providing the update at Parliament.

Live: Tsunami warning after 7.2m earthquake shakes upper North Island

By
Kalino Latu
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This RNZ news is republished with permission

A tsunami warning has been issued for NZ’s coastal areas after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in the North Island.

Civil Defence says people near the coast who felt a long or strong quake should move immediately to the nearest high ground, out of all tsunami evacuation zones or as far inland as possible.

Nearly 60,000 people have reported feeling the quake on GeoNet.

It struck at 2.27am, 100km east of Te Araroa.

GeoNet has described the quake as being severe.

The North Island has been shaken awake by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake.

The 7.2m quake struck at 2.27am, 100km east of Te Araroa. Photo: GeoNet

Civil Defence says people near the coast who felt a long or strong quake should move immediately to the nearest high ground, out of all tsunami evacuation zones or as far inland as possible.

Nearly 60,000 people have reported feeling the quake on GeoNet.

It struck at 2.27am, 100km east of Te Araroa.

GeoNet has described the quake as being severe.

The National Emergency Management Agency is assessing the quake to determine if there is a tsunami risk to New Zealand.

It says people in coastal areas should:

  • Listen to the radio and/or TV for updates, and NZCivilDefence Twitter
  • Listen to local Civil Defence authorities
  • Stay out of the water (sea, rivers and estuaries, this includes boats)
  • Stay off beaches and shore areas
  • Do not go sightseeing
  • Share this information with family, neighbours and friends

By 3am, nearly 60,000 people reported feeling the quake on GeoNet’s website.

Many of them have taken to social media to describe the jolt.

More to come…

Repeated complaints against Vava‘u restaurant’s sanitation conditions met with inaction, Town Officer claims

By
Kalino Latu
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Neiafu Town Officer Vava Lapota claimed he has lodged a number of complaints with Health Authority over  what he has described as poor conditions of a restaurant in Vava’u but he hadn’t heard back.

Lapota said his complaints included the restaurant allegedly operating without a proper drainage system its waste water collected through their sinks.

He also complained that the waste water was collected before it was allegedly dumped into the seas.

He said there were concerns whether the restaurant followed the standard of sanitation required by the laws.

The restaurant and the Neiafu Health authority could not be reached for comment.

The Town Officer said he also complained to senior officers who visited Vava’u from Nuku’alofa recently about the conditions of the restaurant.

Lapota shared photos of the situations with Kaniva News.

He said he was worried about the health and safety of the people in Vava’u who were using the restaurant’s services.

Silence still surrounds PTOA leaders over allegations of confrontation between MP Tapueluelu and his brother-in-law MP Pōhiva

By
Kalino Latu
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Silence still surrounds allegations that MP Māteni Tapueluelu has confronted his brother-in-law MP Siaosi Pōhiva during a PTOA Party meeting in Tongatapu last week.

MP Māteni Tapueluelu (L), and MP Siaosi Pōhiva

It has also been reported that Siaosi has made an internal complaint about the confrontation.

On Tuesday night, Siaosi who is the Party’s secretary did not attend another Party meeting held at MP Tapueluelu’s Tongatapu 4 constituency.

When contacted by Kaniva News on Tuesday Tapueluelu did not deny the allegations. He told us he was willing to comment, but he was preparing to go to the Party meeting at Popua.

“I am happy to do so but [I am running out of time] for now,” he said.

He said he would make his comment later.

PTOA Core Team Leaders MP Sēmisi Sika and MP Siaosi were contacted for comment.

Previous row

This was the latest twist in months between the two bothers-in-law.

As Kaniva News reported in April last year, Tapueluelu accused MP Siaosi and other Party supporters of wrongly advising the late Prime Minister, ‘Akilisi Pōhiva, not to resign in April 2019 five months before he died.

Tapueluelu said if ‘Akilisi’s resignation had happened according to plan, he would have been able to assist a smooth transition of power and make sure the party still won the following premiership election. The Party was defeated after the 2019 premiership election.

Tapueluelu also accused Siaosi of engaging with people who were not Party MPs in power struggle which led to the demise of the party before the 2019 premiership election.

Siaosi told Kaniva News in a previous interview when questioned about Tapueluelu’s behaviours towards him he said he “was unmoved by it”.

That row between Tapueluelu and Siaosi led Party Leader Sika to call a meeting last year in an attempt to put an end to it.

As we reported at the time, those who attended that meeting had a head to head battle before they forgave each other.

Sika said at the time after the meeting the party’s core team had decided to accept the move by its members to restore their friendly relationships and stood together.

Eight months to go

Last week’s confrontation between the brothers-in-law appears to show one of them was still holding a grudge against the other.

Meanwhile, leaders of Tonga, New Zealand, Australia and US PTOA Movements split into two group of supporters with each either supporting Siaosi or Tapueluelu.

They both accused against each other of being power hungry.

With eight months to go before the November general elections the ongoing feuds within the PTOA party needed to be addressed immediately if they wanted to be in a better position to compete with the government’s backed PAK Party.

Suspended sentence for ‘Epeli Taione’s cocaine possession charge

By
Kaniva Staff
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‘Epeli Taione who was charged with possession of Class A drugs received a 12-month suspended imprisonment sentence on Friday last week February 26.

‘Epeli Taione

His co-accused Creed Tongamoa received 15-month sentence and it was also fully suspended for two years with conditions.

Taione, who is Princess Pilolevu’s son-in-law,  was convicted and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.

The sentence was fully suspended on the conditions that he must not commit any further offences punishable by imprisonment for a period of 1 year.

He must be placed on probation during the period of his suspension.

He must also complete rehabilitation courses on drugs and alcohol as directed by the Probation Office.

In sentencing Taione, Justice Langi said the Crown submitted an overall sentence of six months’ imprisonment for possession of 0.01 grams of cocaine.

She said the court has consistently set a starting point of 12 months’ imprisonment for possession of a Class A illicit drug below 1 gram.

Justice Langi said: “I therefore set a starting point in this case of 12 months’ imprisonment. I deduct 6 months from the starting in light of the fact that up until now he has had a clean record.”

She said she noted that the probation officer is of the opinion that no rehabilitation courses should be ordered because Taione has denied using it and therefore does not have a drug problem.

Miss Langi said: “This is inconsistent with the evidence upon which I had convicted the Accused and inconsistent with his text message that he is sniffing at Creeds. It is disappointing that the Accused continues to maintain his innocence and maintains that he has no drug problem as this sort of behaviour is a sure recipe for re-off ending. Because of the infinitesimally small amount of cocaine in this case, I do not believe that an order for community service is appropriate”.

In sentencing Tongamoa, the judge suspended his sentence in full upon conditions.

The sentence was fully suspended for two years on the conditions that Tongamoa must  not commit any further offences punishable by imprisonment during the period of his suspension.

Tongamoa must be put on probation and also must complete rehabilitation courses on drugs and alcohol as directed by the Probation Office

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