Latest news with #AucklandAnniversary
NZ Herald
7 days ago
- Climate
- NZ Herald
Air NZ plane smashed into runway edge lights, pilots say lessons have been learned
The pilots' union says freak weather during the Auckland Anniversary weekend floods contributed to a jetliner smashing into runway edge lights. The Air New Zealand plane was on a flight from Melbourne to Auckland and encountered heavy rain and volatile wind conditions. The Boeing 777 began to drift away from
1News
7 days ago
- Climate
- 1News
Why an Air NZ plane veered off runway when landing in Auckland
A late switch from autopilot to manual control due to heavy rain likely contributed to an Air New Zealand flight veering off the runway when landing at Auckland Airport. A recently released Transport Accident Investigation Commission report looked into the incident - in which there were no injuries - that occurred on January 27, 2023 - the night of the Auckland Anniversary floods. It found the veer-off likely happened because heavy rain had contributed to a late transition from autopilot to manual control. "The timing of the autopilot disengagement combined with the technique used by the pilot flying, very likely resulted in there being insufficient time to correct the flightpath of the aeroplane before landing," the TAIC report said. "The pilot flying was therefore unable to prevent the aeroplane drifting away from the centreline before landing and stop it veering off the runway after landing." ADVERTISEMENT TZK-OKN, a Boeing 777, was on a scheduled flight from Melbourne to Auckland. The planes wheel's following the incident. (Source: Supplied) On approach, the flight encountered heavy rain and wind, which changed in direction and strength. As the aircraft neared the runway, it began to drift right of the centreline. Soon after touchdown, it "veered" off the runway onto a sealed shoulder, striking six runway edge lights along the way. One of the runway lights damaged during the incident. (Source: Supplied) The pilot regained control and taxied the aircraft to the airport terminal. Nobody was injured. An inspection of the aircraft found six of the right landing gear tyres were damaged, with one deflated. The right brake assembly and wiring harness also suffered damage. ADVERTISEMENT Damage to one of the plane's tyres following the incident. (Source: Supplied) According to the report, the autopilot was disengaged at 20 metres, when operator procedures suggested it should occur at between 90 and 180 metres. "The late disengagement was likely because of the inclement weather on the approach," the report's findings said. "When the autopilot was disengaged, the autopilot control inputs ceased, and the flight and pilot controls returned to a neutral position. This resulted in the aircraft rolling to the right and drifting right of the centreline. "It is very likely that the pilot flying did not hold the same control inputs set by the autopilot when they disengaged the autopilot." The weather, while bad, had not met the minimum weather requirements throughout the approach and landing, and the commission said it was "exceptionally unlikely" that water on the runway caused the incident. Damage to one of the plane's tyres following the incident. (Source: Supplied) ADVERTISEMENT The commission found the approach and landing briefing did not meet the operator's guidelines - although it was exceptionally unlikely it contributed to the incident. Since the incident, Air New Zealand has amended its operational procedures and information and has provided training to reinforce the technique for a smooth transition from autopilot to manual control. In a statement to 1News, the airline acknowledged the report and praised its staff for how they handled themselves during the incident. "The incident occurred during the onset of a severe weather event that caused widespread flooding in Auckland, and we recognise our crew for their professionalism in managing the aircraft under unexpected and challenging conditions," chief safety and risk officer Nathan McGraw said. "Our own investigation, conducted alongside the Commission's work, has led to safety enhancements, as referenced in the report. "We remain committed to continuously improving our training and operational procedures to uphold the highest standards of safety."
NZ Herald
26-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Summer concerts fuel economic growth in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch
'Accommodation occupancy peaked at 95.1% on Friday, November 15 – the night of the second Music of the Spheres Coldplay concert." The economic and cultural agency also says the events heavily impacted the vibrancy of the city, as well as supporting small businesses, hotels and restaurants. 'Major events also make Auckland a great place to work, live and play – providing vibrancy to our streets and venues and an uplift in social health and wellbeing," Hill adds. 'Over the summer period, we saw an influx of visitors booking out hotels and flooding into cafes, bars and restaurants, and this is what ultimately helps many businesses get through the quieter periods.' Hospitality NZ chief executive Steve Armitage told the Herald last year that events such as concerts were 'a real boost' for businesses, including hospitality and accommodation operators. 'The run of Coldplay and Pearl Jam concerts in Auckland brought the city to life, filling our venues and restaurants with visitors keen to experience more than just the music." This sentiment was echoed by Claire Baxter-Cardy of the Kingsland Business Society, who said the hospo community had felt first-hand the positive impacts of the big Eden Park concerts. 'We advocated quite strongly for Eden Park to get the additional concerts, because we know from, say, test matches or any of those large sporting events that there's a 500 to 600% increase in business that night.' She said concerts saw a wider demographic of people come to the Kingsland area, with a similar increase in business for the hospitality sector of 500 to 600%. 'If it's a Saturday event, you're getting these groups and families that will be there quite early, like for three or four hours before the event, really experiencing all the offerings around the Kingsland and Morningside area.' For the P!nk concerts in 2024, Baxter-Cardy said the owner of popular pizza joint Papa's sold out. It was their first time opening again after being closed since the Auckland Anniversary floods. 'It was so cool to see that happen. We are a community that is deeply passionate. It might be a husband or wife team, or it might be someone who owns a very small business that's owner-operator driven. 'Every time there's a special event, we're getting more and more involved in the activation side of things to make sure when people come into Kingsland or come into Morningside, that there are things for them to see, things for them to do, and things for them to be involved in, as well as the great hospitality that we have.' Wellington The capital received a $15.9m economic boost between December and March, according to tourism body WellingtonNZ. Between December 2024 and March 2025, the city hosted 72 events. WellingtonNZ reported 211,686 people attending events over that period. This included Jim Beam Homegrown's final outing in the region, as well as sold-out comedy shows at the Michael Fowler Centre from the likes of Sarah Millican, Paul Smith, Jack Whitehall, and three Graham Norton shows. Nineties rave legends Groove Armada also performed to large crowds at the TSB Arena on the waterfront. 'Events bring vibrancy, liveliness and atmosphere to Wellington for both locals and visitors – and this summer was no exception," WellingtonNZ events and experiences general manager Heidi Morton says. Locals are seemingly on board as well, with recent research figures from WellingtonNZ revealing that 90% of Wellingtonians agreed that hosting events made Wellington a great place to live. Guests to the region were also 88% satisfied during their stay in the capital, according to the research. Advertisement Advertise with NZME. 'Events don't just fill calendars – they ignite civic pride and bring communities together. Wellingtonians are strong supporters of our events schedule and it's important that continues,' Morton says. 'The accommodation, hospitality and retail sectors have all seen a benefit from the breadth of events that have taken place over the last few months.' Wellington Chocolate Factory general manager Matt Williams agrees, saying major events and a stacked calendar are great not only for the business, but also for the city. 'It's really important that businesses make the most of the opportunities on offer too, think outside the square about how they can leverage what's happening to drive foot traffic and build up some buzz.' Lydia Suggate, co-owner of hospitality venues Nolita, LBQ, The Botanist, Bebemos and Otto, says events are crucial for business owners during a tough economic climate. 'Events in Wellington make a huge impact for our businesses, especially when people are watching their spending a bit more these days, as they like to plan where they're going to spend their money.' Karaka cafe owner Paul Retimanu adds that events like Matariki and Mana Moana help bridge the gap during the quieter winter months but also give locals a reason to come out and enjoy the experiences. Christchurch For Ōtautahi Christchurch, it was Electric Avenue Festival's two-day expansion in February that saw the biggest economic return over the summer, resulting in a visitor spend of $10.5m in the city. Featuring major headline acts like Empire Of The Sun, The Prodigy, and Chase and Status, the festival was the biggest event for local tourism body ChristchurchNZ and is believed to have produced the largest visitor spend of any Christchurch event since the 1974 Commonwealth Games. This summer, from December to February, there was a $12.4m visitor spend, which was just shy of the $12.8m spend of the 2023-24 December to February period. While the 2024-25 results are still in progress, ChristchurchNZ says the figures should come close to, but may not top, the $35.7m from the full year 2022-23. The FY22-23 period featured events such as an Elton John concert and a one-day Electric Avenue Festival. There were also strong survey figures from FreshInfo on behalf of ChristchurchNZ that supported the city's efforts when it came to hosting large-scale events. The research found that 93% of resident attendees agreed that hosting events like Electric Ave increased their pride in Christchurch, and 96% agreed that hosting events like Electric Ave made Christchurch a more enjoyable place to live. 'Ōtautahi Christchurch has proven the city has the infrastructure, experience, and capability to host major events,' Karena Finnie, ChristchurchNZ head of major events, tells the Herald. 'With new venues coming on stream and the momentum we can can indeed go bigger, although these opportunities require investment.' Various businesses also supplied feedback to ChristchurchNZ about the positive impact of Electric Avenue, including Chiwahwah and Zodiac restaurants' general manager, Amanda Keenan. 'We certainly saw an increase in sales, not just for Friday and Saturday [of the festival] but for the entire week,' Keenan says. 'Overall, [there was] a 5% increase in sales for the week compared to the same week the previous month.' Keenan also says visitors are well-behaved during their visits, adding to the positive community experience. 'Both Chiwahwah and Zodiac saw an increase in numbers through the door both nights, and our security team reported a significant decrease in denials due to intoxication compared to previous weeks, even considering the increase in headcount.' And with the opening of the new One New Zealand Stadium set to draw thousands to the region, there will continue to be more opportunities to draw punters to the region. Elsewhere across the country, events like the upcoming Metallica concert in Auckland and WoW and Peppa Pig's Fun Day Out in Wellington are also set to give these regions an economic boost in 2025.
NZ Herald
24-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Auckland floods: Competing plans for Takapuna Golf Course assessed
Council stormwater department Healthy Waters' proposal for the month-by-month leased site came after the Government promised funding for flood mitigation, with a final decision on what happens in the hands of the local board or full council. But after the golf club presented an alternative plan that retains the course's 18 holes and uses a 'dry basin' approach to create a flood retention zone, both ideas are now being looked at by engineers and other experts from Healthy Waters and the club. At a public meeting at Eventfinda Stadium in Wairau Valley on Wednesday, Kaipātiki Local Board deputy chairwoman Danielle Grant told the Herald 's Simon Wilson there was a series of 15 tests the plans must pass. 'And [she said] at this point, deep in the process, both measure up,' Wilson wrote in his Love this City column today. Greenslade Reserve, in the neighbouring suburb of Northcote, was altered before the 2023 floods to be a sports ground also able to act as a stormwater detention basin, protecting properties from being flooded. There were four main criteria for the eventual chosen plan, Healthy Waters sustainable outcomes boss Tom Mansell told the crowd of several hundred residents, golfers, business owners and sport clubs' representatives at Wednesday's meeting. 'The first is that the chosen project will be big enough to hold 500 million litres of water – both options will do this,' Wilson wrote of Mansell's comments. On Auckland Anniversary weekend in 2023, rainfall totalled 500 million litres. The drains and water management system operated by Healthy Waters can cope with 60 million litres. The remaining three criteria were affordability, buildability and ability to be maintained, Mansell told the crowd. A report was due by early July and decisions would follow quickly after. Healthy Waters and wider council staff heard a range of views at Wednesday's meeting, from those desperate for a prompt solution amid fears of future floods – there were flood events again at Easter and this month – and those against the golf course being reduced from 18 holes to nine. 'Why didn't you start from the position of keeping the golf course?' said a man called Simon, to applause. The council's 'prime consideration from the start' was to 'protect life and property', said council executive Barry Potter, to no applause. Another man said if the golf course closed – of which there'd been no suggestion – there would be 60,000 golfers 'with nowhere to go'. He was responding to a North Shore Basketball member who said 5000 kids a week used the stadium, which was out of action for seven months because of damage from the 2023 flooding. Others worried a wetland would attract biting insects, rubbish and crime, and reduce property values, and were countered by fears of insurance problems in the event of future floods. 'The sports will go,' said Eventfinda chief executive Brian Blake of the prospect future insurance could be denied if another major flood occurred, after insurers paid out millions in 2023. Everything was moving 'way too slowly', said Anna, who runs the Coffee Lab shop next to the stadium. 'I cannot for the life of me think why you would want to save the golf course when homes and businesses are being ruined.'
NZ Herald
23-05-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Auckland deputy mayor Desley Simpson to announce mayoral bid decision next month
'Timing that works for me', she said. In response to Wilson's most recent query - yesterday - on her plans, Simpson said with a smile: 'You'll be surprised.' The longtime National Party member's potential interest in leading the city first came to public attention in January, when the Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance revealed the domain had been registered by her son last year. Simpson told the Herald her son registered the domain at Christmas 'as a bit of a laugh'. 'It doesn't mean I'm doing it, but that doesn't mean I'm not doing it either.' He'd heard about it 'very recently' and hadn't spoken to Simpson yet, Brown said at the time. In April, the mayor apologised to Simpson after telling Wilson all his deputy 'thinks about is how to help people buying their next Lamborghini'. The Ōrākei ward includes the wealthy eastern suburbs of Remuera, Kohimarama and St Heliers. Brown chose Simpson as his deputy when he won the mayoral election in 2022, but they are understood to no longer be close, Wilson wrote in April. In the aftermath of the deadly Auckland Anniversary weekend floods in 2023, Brown stayed behind the scenes as Simpson fronted the council response. Then- Herald writer Steve Braunias wrote at the time that Brown had 'become the vacuum to his deputy mayor's power: the one person we have been able to look to for an example of leadership and strength…She's fronted. She's stood up.' Brown said the media hadn't been his focus with Simpson doing some of that work while he was out with building inspectors, and geotechnical engineers, visiting broken bridges and picking up rubbish with the student volunteer army and navy groups. 'I've been on the ground.' Along with Brown, Whau councillor and Labour Party member Kerrin Leoni has announced she will stand for the mayoralty in October. She wanted to be the first Māori mayor of the Super City, said Leoni, who is Ngāti Paoa, Ngāitakoto and Ngati Kuri.
