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Newsroom
3 days ago
- Sport
- Newsroom
Our sports queen honoured by the King
Suzanne McFadden has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the King's Birthday Honours for her services to sports journalism and women. In this Q&A, the founder of our LockerRoom section and passionate advocate for better participation, media coverage and recognition for women in sport, reflects on a 40-year labour of love. How hard was it starting out in the 80s as the only woman in the room in sports departments, press boxes and media conferences? Initially it was tough to get a foot in the door. I tried a couple of times, but naively I had no idea how difficult it was as a young female to get a start in sport, which was the only job I ever wanted. It wasn't until a defendant in a district court case I was covering threatened to kill me, that the Herald bosses finally agreed to transfer me from news to the sports department – just in time for the 1990 Commonwealth Games. I was there when gymnast Nikki Jenkins, then 14 years old, won gold on the vault, and her parents had been my PE teachers. I stayed working in sport for the Herald for 10 years – and I had incredible opportunities to cover events around the world, like the America's Cup. And even though I was the only woman in the department through that decade, it felt more like being part of a tight sports team. There was one time, though, at a sailing regatta, I was made to feel like the 'new girl' who'd only be there for 10 minutes… 30 years later… Did you get pigeon-holed into writing about women's sports? In my first job, at the Bay of Plenty Times, I was a general news reporter, but the sports editor, Kevin Savage, asked me to cover the local netball competition. I was not impressed – I'd only ever played 10 minutes of netball at school (fell over, grazed my knees on the asphalt, and never walked onto a netball court again). But he told me to write about the people more than the sport, and that's become my compass. Sir Terry McLean, who I was privileged to work alongside when I first started in sports journalism, once told me, 'The human story is the best story'. So even if I was assigned to women's sport, it was okay, because I was weaving the stories of interesting and often outstanding people into the match reports. Have you ever had a woman boss? Who are your female mentors? I've never had a female boss in sports reporting, but some of the best editors I've worked with in my freelancing career have been women. The wonderful Carroll du Chateau at Canvas taught me how to craft a feature story and was an incredible mentor. Michelle Crawshaw always trusted me with fascinating assignments. And my cousin Fiona Rotherham, then editor of Unlimited magazine, made business stories relatable and human. Among the women I look up to today is Shirley Hooper – vice president of World Netball and heavily involved in artistic swimming in New Zealand – and also a cousin. Storytelling runs in our McClean genes. Speaking of, my parents were both great mentors – Dad gave my sister and I our love of watching sport, and Mum taught me how to write. Ashley Stanley and Suzanne McFadden at Eden Park. Photo: Paul Enticott How much has it changed in sports journalism for young women? I honestly don't think the dial has moved enough. It's just as hard to get a job in a sports newsroom now as it was back in 1986. There are some excellent female sports reporters right now – Dana Johannsen at RNZ is a multiple-time sports journalist of the year; the TVNZ sports team has a strong female representation, including the super-talented Jordan Oppert. Yet we're still the minority, and the only way that's going to change is with more female sports editors. Something I've been really proud we've been able to do through LockerRoom is introducing more female voices to sports writing, and giving two women – Ashley Stanley and Merryn Anderson – scholarships to work at Newsroom. Through these wāhine, I discovered I love mentoring. What's your approach when setting out to interview someone? Great question! For a LockerRoom long read (you know all my stories are long!) I research, but not to the point where I think I know everything about the person. There needs to be that element of curiosity, where I want to learn more for the readers, so I can share something new. And I never call it an interview – it's always a chat. And there's no such thing as a stupid question. Suzanne McFadden first wrote about the late Sir Peter Blake's America's Cup red socks superstition. What stories do you look back on with most pride? What makes you happiest about stories you find and publish? During the 1995 America's Cup in San Diego, I wrote a story about Team New Zealand's superstitions on Black Magic – Sir Russell Coutts always the last man on the boat, and Sir Peter Blake wearing his lucky red socks. The rest is history. I've loved telling stories about women that show how resilient they are, and how much more they have to do to be successful. Sportswomen who've returned to the top as mums, especially in the 'From Here to Maternity' series in LockerRoom. What makes me happiest about publishing stories? When one person tells you they read it, and it helped them through something they were facing. Like the RED-S stories we've told over the years. If you can make a difference in one person's life, it's a win. Your RED-S stories opened a lot of people's eyes. How'd that story come about? American athlete Mary Cain broke her silence on the mistreatment she received while she was training under the all-male support team at the Nike Oregon Project, and how the win-at-all-costs mentality had made her ill. She had all the symptoms of RED-S, a syndrome I hadn't really heard of, but it turned out there were Kiwi athletes who weren't fuelling their bodies to match the energy they were expending. The more we wrote about RED-S, the more athletes came forward with their own health battles. Hopefully, we've helped some young women spot the signs in time. Are women in sport getting a fair crack now at representation, competition, professionalism, payment, crowd support, media? Look, the three World Cups hosted by New Zealand in 2022 and '23 were phenomenal for women's sport here – they opened so many eyes to just how entertaining and enthralling women's sport is. The media coverage of women's sport spiked to 28 percent – higher than I ever expected to see in my career. But things have slipped away since then – it's as though we need the big events, like the Olympics, to remind the public how talented our female athletes are. Covid hasn't helped the situation – if there's a funding cut, it's most likely the women's programme in a sport will be the first to feel it. Pay equity in some sports is still a pipe dream, and there aren't enough women's coaches at the top level of most sports. There's still so much work to do. But LockerRoom has had amazing readership, as recently as the past fortnight, which highlights that people still want to read interesting stories about women in sport. McFadden with the great Black Fern Portia Wickliffe Woodman. Photo: Supplied Who would you most want to spend time with, write about – for LockerRoom or for a book? That's a tough question! Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, Emma Twigg and Sophie Devine immediately come to mind. Writing a book is hard yakka though, and I don't think I'll be rushing back into one. But the two books I've written, Striking Gold and Honey, are two of my proudest achievements (alongside my two sons, and two grandsons, obviously). And, what was your first thought when Government House sent you word of your MNZM nomination? It was a Friday, I think, and I wasn't feeling 100 percent, so I'd just had a nap. I woke up to an email from Government House and I immediately panicked. I thought it must be a long weekend, and this email was the media list of honour recipients, and I'd quickly have to prepare a LockerRoom story for Monday! Then I opened it, read it, and read it again and bawled my eyes out. A recognition like this is 'ginormous', as my four-year-old grandson would say. I feel incredibly proud, humbled, and grateful to everyone who's guided me along this crazy path, and all who've come with me. And that includes you, Tim. Thank you.
NZ Herald
25-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
On The Up: The Matua Bar in Tauranga thrives after removing pokies
They say the move has created a new vibe and atmosphere, and has been positive for the Warrington St business and the community. 'So many people say to us, 'It's warm, it's family-friendly, the food's great, with no bright lights and no annoying noise of the machines going off, ka-ching, ka-ching, ka-ching','' Fletcher told the Bay of Plenty Times. 'We get a lot of visitors from England who often tell us this is what English corner pubs used to be like. This is a nice, homely, friendly pub, it's a calm, relaxed place for all ages with nice, tidy bathrooms.' Hazelwood was the bar's duty manager for about five years before he and Fletcher bought the business two and a half years ago. He said The Matua Bar had nine pokies when they took over. They cut the pokies to seven before removing them all at the end of June last year. Customers applauded the move, but not everyone was convinced. 'Some people told us, 'You're going to go under' if we removed the pokies, but that certainly hasn't been the case at all. ' Hazelwood said there had been no negative financial impact. 'We've done better from having the extra dining space, and the food side of the business has also done better, plus our customers are more comfortable not having to put up with the noise of the machines. 'It's absolutely been the right decision. It's been good for our business and good for our community.' Fletcher said there were lots of rules and regulations around pokie machines, and new gaming rules meant they had to check on everybody using them every 15 minutes. Keeping track of people going in and out of the gaming area was 'quite a mission', especially ensuring no children entered the area. 'It was weird having part of your business you're not allowed to advertise or promote. It's like having a dirty little secret, really, and the machines are in the back room with the door closed,' she said. 'I said right off to Jeff, if we buy this place, there is going to be a wider range of non-alcoholic drinks, and we need to encourage more women to come in because it was a very male-oriented pub.' The Matua Bar now has live music twice a week, including a Wednesday night jam session with a resident band, and customers can join in. There was a regular jazz afternoon with Trevor Braunias and a special guest on the first Sunday of each month, plus quiz nights. There is also a chef. A Bellevue resident, who asked not to be named, said he had been a regular customer for 10 years, because of the 'great food', the great vibe, and to socialise with friends. Removing the pokies was like 'lifting a dark cloud' that hung over the bar, and he supported the owners' decision. 'There is definitely a stigma around this type of gambling, and operating a bar with pokies machines under the current gambling regulations has become quite challenging.' Tauranga City Council alcohol licensing team leader Sam Kemp said the owner of the pokie machines removed from Matua Bar was granted consent to move them to another venue. 'However, the new premises owner decided not to take the machines and the gaming licence was lost.' Problem Gambling Foundation advocacy and public health director Andree Froude said it was great to hear of venues replacing pokie machines with other activities and creating more family-friendly spaces. Advertise with NZME. 'We love hearing these stories. It's good for the venue and good for the community. Pokies are the most harmful form of gambling in NZ and designed to be addictive. It's great to see numbers coming down.' Department of Internal Affairs director of gambling regulatory services Vicki Scott said The Matua Bar's gambling licence was one of 109 surrendered nationwide last year. 'Often, surrenders were because a venue changed ownership or shut down briefly before being reopened, many were granted a new licence.' She said there were 32 gaming machine venues in Tauranga operating 445 pokie machines. People using them lost a total of $37.6m last year, compared to 34 venue and 468 machines in 2023, with $39.8m lost. Nationwide, there were 13,855 machines operating out of 968 venues. with more than $1.023b lost last year, down from $1.055b in 2023.
NZ Herald
23-05-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
On The Up: Centenarian Shirley Smith reflects on a century of life and world events
She spoke to the Bay of Plenty Times ahead of her birthday, sharing the most important piece of advice for life she had learned in her years: 'Meet the day as best as you can.' Smith was born on May 23, 1925, in Lower Hutt. She lived in Napier during the 1930s and sailed to England in 1948, spending six long weeks aboard the steamship Mataroa. She returned to Lower Hutt 18 months later and has lived in Tauranga with her family for nearly 60 years. 'I enjoy reminiscing about the past,' she said. Her first job was as an office clerk at Colonial Mutual Life Insurance Company. She also did office work at Railways Road Services in Wellington before heading to the UK. 'I used to clip the tickets for road services and rail services,' she said. 'I worked at Paddington Station, and the hygiene – there wasn't any, it was terrible." She wanted to be a pharmacist, but female pharmacists were unheard of at the time. She began nursing training in maternity and public health at Wellington Hospital at the age of 28. 'I did that for a few years, and I visited people, because they had no Plunket, of course. 'So I had to go around and weigh babies to make sure they were all right.' Asked for the most memorable world events of her lifetime, she quipped: 'I've just got to oil my brains. 'I remember when the first female pilot arrived in New Zealand,' she said, referring to Rotorua-born Jean Batten, who set several aviation records, including the first solo flight from England to New Zealand. She recalled Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953 and the death of Princess Diana in 1997. 'I was very interested in the royal family.' She also recalled the Challenger space shuttle explosion of 1986, which killed its seven crew members, including teacher Christa McAuliffe. 'I remember that, it blew up in the sky, and there was a woman in the shuttle.' Smith had five children, including a set of twins; 14 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. She married Robert Smith in 1960, the father of her children. He died in 1980. Her youngest daughter, Brenda-Joy Newman, shared some of the many hobbies her mother had throughout her 100 years. 'Mum used to play tennis, she used to do lots of knitting, she was a singer and would be involved with theatre. Newman said her mother 'loved to entertain with her lovely voice'. 'She's been on the stage singing and was involved in her later life with the Skittle band.' 'They used to go around lots of places and perform, and even performed at the jazz festival one year.'
NZ Herald
22-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Warning after ute driver brandishes knife at Tauranga motorist
He alleged the following driver was 'acting aggressively and driving erratically', and crossing the centre line. 'He then dangerously cut in front of me, slammed on the brakes and slowed right down to walking speed.' He said at one point the driver stuck his arm out of his window, seemingly to give him 'the finger'. 'But I then saw he was brandishing a 30cm, bladed boning knife in his right hand towards me,' he claimed. He said he pulled over at the Asher Rd and Welcome Bay Rd intersection to decide what to do. 'I was sitting there assessing the situation, and saw the ute driver stop and fling open the driver's door. 'He started stomping aggressively towards me, brandishing the knife.' Concerned the man intended to cause him 'serious harm', he turned around, drove home and called 111. He said the operator told him police were too busy to attend immediately. He said he had wondered since if the incident was an attempt to steal his mountain bike worth $10,000-$12,000, which was on his bike rack. 'I don't really know what the man's intentions were or what triggered this because I didn't do anything to provoke such extreme, aggressive behaviour. But I didn't wait around to find out. 'I wasn't fearful as such at the time. But I was definitely in survival mode.' He described the alleged offender as heavily built, possibly in his late 40s, of Māori or Pacific Island descent and wearing red shorts and a black hoodie. He said he and his wife were speaking out to warn others and urged anyone with any information to come forward to the police, who had been provided with the dashcam footage. The man's wife said it appeared her husband was not alone in being confronted by this person. Others in a local social media group had shared similar stories of incidents involving a man and vehicle fitting the same description. 'We would hate to learn that someone was actually harmed or robbed by this person.' A police spokeswoman confirmed an online complaint was received on Tuesday and police were investigating. 'There have been no reported fresh sightings of the ute.' The Bay of Plenty Times asked the police whether there had been any other complaints about similar incidents of this nature in the Welcome Bay area in recent months. 'Police cannot disclose information while it is an active investigation, however, police would like to hear on 105 from anyone who has information related to this matter,' the spokeswoman said. 'Please use file 250520/5191 as a reference when contacting the police,' she said.
NZ Herald
19-05-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
Mōtītī Island: Divers ‘buzzed' by sharks during launch salvage after 14 rescued
When the Maketū Coastguard rescue vessel Eastpack arrived, the bow was still visible and the stern had hit the seafloor, but the vessel was taking on water quickly. Rob Campbell, Pāpāmoa-based Bay Underwater Services NZ Ltd director, said the company had been engaged by the launch owner's insurer to salvage the vessel, and protect the environment from diesel and oil. Campbell told the Bay of Plenty Times that on Saturday the company's staff began raising the estimated 35 to 40-tonne launch, which was about 8m deep. 'Prior to raising the casualty using about 60 tonnes of air lift bags, the launch's fuel tanks were sealed off to prevent any further diesel leakage and the fuel tanks were found intact.' 'Once the vessel was back on the surface enough, it was tethered and moved to a more sheltered area on the southern side of Mōtītī Island to be worked on further,' he said. Campbell said there was 'major damages' to the stern with several holes and they needed to use patches and plates to make temporary repairs and ensure the vessel was water-tight. 'The bow and stern of the vessel were at the surface allowing the salvage divers to work underneath the hull to shore up the holes.' Campbell said eight salvage divers had been working 24-7 in shifts in windy and choppy conditions during Sunday and were 'buzzed by several sharks' attracted by bait and fish floating out of the stricken vessel. They hoped to tow the vessel to Tauranga by mid-Tuesday. Campbell said there was four tonnes of fuel on board and they needed to cap off the fuel once it was fully floated. He said Sean Kelly, the owner of Tauranga-based Pacific 7 which also provides marine salvage services, helped the salvage operation by skippering one of Bay Underwater Services' salvage boats. Maketu Volunteer Coastguard president Shane Beech said the skipper and passengers did 'all the rights things after getting into difficulties and all those on board were wearing lifejackets'. He said he was waiting to talk to the launch owner again. Beech urged all boaties to check their charts and conditions before heading out on the water and to also seek the Coastguard's advice if heading to unfamiliar places. Tauranga Bridge Marina general manager Tony Arnold said the vessel, which left from Sulphur Point marina, was not owned by any of the marina's berth owners. A Maritime NZ spokesman said the organisation was seeking to better understand what happened. 'This will involve speaking with the owner, and others as might be appropriate.' Mōtītī Island is 21km northeast of Tauranga. The Bay of Plenty Times has attempted to contact the owner of the vessel as well as the rescued passengers.
