Latest news with #McCaw
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
McCaws support youth social media ban
Hāwea Flat's newest celebrity residents, the McCaw family, are rallying in support of a social media ban for youth. Former Black Stick Gemma McCaw and husband Richie McCaw are backing the B416 campaign as they run a tight ship in their own home when it comes to using technology. The campaign began as a way of validating the government's proposed Bill to restrict social media use for children under 16, following Australia's recently adopted legislation. Mrs McCaw gave a strong endorsement to the campaign this month when she attended the B416 launch in Auckland. She said as a mother of three young girls aged between 2 and 6years old, this was an issue close to her heart. For her, it was not just about banning social media for under-16s. She felt a fundamental shift was needed in the way technology was used in the home for both parents and children. "We can't tell our kids to get off their devices if we're not willing to do it ourselves. "... For Richie and I, we just want to be really intentional with our own use," she said. She believed the overuse of phones was contributing to a decline in people's mental health, and children needed extra protection. "It's just the unfiltered access on the internet that's really, really harmful, and that's kind of my worry," she said. Having moved to Hāwea Flat last year, Mrs McCaw said there was more opportunity to implement healthier choices for her children as there was a stronger sense of community and a plethora of outdoor activities. The proposed member's Bill would require social media companies to put a system in place designed to verify a user was over 16 years old. It is unclear what the verification process would look like or which platforms would be included in the ban, as the government works with Education Minister Erica Stanford to better direct the final Bill. Other members of the Hāwea and Wānaka community were equally supportive of the campaign. Hāwea parent Alex Walton said the campaign was important for parents who were struggling to manage their children's social media use. "It gives that reassurance to parents that we're all on the same page here ... It sparks that discussion around 'what measures are safe?' and 'what boundaries do we want to put in place?'," she said. One of the social media features Ms Walton was concerned about was youths seeing their friends on social media in real time. It created a sense of exclusion, as young people could see their friends taking part in activities they were not included in. Christchurch educator and founder of Little Kiwis Nature Play, Celia Hogan, gave a talk on Monday at the Wānaka Community Hub, exploring how smartphones could shape childhoods. As part of her organisation's work, she has held workshops on how to engage children outdoors and keep them safe online. "We've got increased mental health and wellbeing issues. We've got safety concerns on screens. And a lot of us parents didn't grow up with screens in that way." She was an advocate for not only B416 but also the Smartphone Free Childhood campaign, a movement that started last year. It was started by United Kingdom mothers Daisy Greenwell and Clare Fernyhough, who were passionate about delaying their children's smartphone use. This made its way to New Zealand and there are now ambassadors across the country helping raise awareness of the dangers associated with early smartphone use.
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
McCaw uplifts young rugby fans
He has lifted the Webb Ellis Trophy twice and more silverware than you can count, but bringing smiles to Wānaka's biggest rugby fans gives Richie McCaw a sky-high feeling. The former All Black captain was the pilot of a memorable flight for four of Wānaka's people with disabilities from the Mint Charitable Trust yesterday morning. McCaw flew All Blacks fans Eli Larose, 14, Ewan Little, 22, Lachlan Davison, 19, and Reuben Beston, 14, to the top of Coromandel Peak to chuck around a rugby ball at 1200m. "This is the first time I have done something like this with the helicopter," McCaw said. "With me being based down here now, they asked if I could come [and] take the team for a ride and I am more than happy to do that. "Over the years I have done a few things like this [charitable causes] to give people a smile. "It is amazing that with a little bit of a time out of your day, you can make a difference." McCaw and his wife Gemma, along with their three daughters, moved to Upper Clutha from Christchurch at the end of last year. Mr Davison said he had been in a helicopter before, but never with McCaw. He was a huge All Blacks fan and said it felt "pretty cool" to have him as his pilot. Reuben said he was excited to say hello to his biggest rugby hero, and new local celebrity. "I have seen him at the supermarket, but I have never said hi to him — I was too scared. "He is my favourite All Black." McCaw said he had not been flying as frequently as he would like, but would not mind getting back in the cockpit. "I have been doing a little bit less lately as I have been getting myself sorted down here. "I am keen to keep flying so I am still working that one out." He had taken his children in the helicopter a few times. "The first time I took them up they all fell asleep — the vibrations put them to sleep." Yesterday morning's flight was a rewarding one for everyone. "Whether you're flying or whatever, when kids get excited doing whatever it is, it's great. "There are obviously a couple of excited fellas here, and they love the Crusaders." He and the family were enjoying the change of pace and environment in the South. "We have holidayed here for a long time. "With all the outdoors ... the kids have a bit of space [and] it suits us well." The flight was organised by charity Uplift in Kind which aims to brings hope and joy to children and families facing illness or hardship by giving them the unforgettable experience of flight. With the support of aviation partner Wānaka Helicopters, the flight was all fee free for parents and children.
NZ Herald
06-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Bill McCaw, oldest living All Black, dies aged 97
His son John McCaw, also a loose forward, represented Canterbury from 1986-87. McCaw played in the famous 1953 test when Wales beat the All Blacks 13-8 in 1953 in Cardiff – the last time the Welsh tasted victory over New Zealand. He spoke about the match in an interview with the Herald in 2021. 'It's not such a good thing carrying that 'honour' of being in that team to lose to Wales – you can't get that one off your back. But it's still a big item of rugby history, isn't it? 'We always like to think we struck the Welsh at a time when they were at their peak with players like Bleddyn Williams and Ken Jones, and they had some pretty notable forwards too. 'Yes, it always gets thrown up at you – 'you were in that team which lost to Wales'. I just ignore it.' McCaw said he's often asked if he is related to a certain Richie McCaw. 'I tell people look, I'm not related to Richie, but I was the first McCaw All Black,' he said. Happy 90th Birthday to All Black #527 Bill McCaw. It was a thrill to take Bill and his family for a helicopter ride and picnic in the mountains yesterday. Posted by Richie McCaw on Friday 25 August 2017 'On my 90th birthday, my family took me out for a helicopter ride and of course who was the pilot but Richie. 'We all enjoyed it and he is such an easy guy to talk to, very down to earth. We didn't get into match specifics at all – his record is too overwhelming.'
Business Journals
25-04-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
Belltown tower's new owner launches major renovation
The new owner selected Bayspring Real Estate Partners' San Francisco office to manage Bay Vista and the $1 million-plus capital program. The new owner of the circa-1982 Bay Vista tower in Belltown is making comprehensive capital improvements to the commercial and medical office component of the 22-story mixed-use tower at 2815 Second Ave. Minneapolis-based global investment company Värde Partners quietly acquired the asset last fall through a deed in lieu of foreclosure. Other Seattle assets, including the 40-story Fourth and Madison and two Union Station buildings once owned by the McCaw family, also have sold through under-the-radar transfers. Värde selected Bayspring Real Estate Partners' San Francisco office to manage Bay Vista and the $1 million-plus capital program, which includes enhancement of common areas, move-in-ready spec suites, and "a market-leading tenant improvement allowance program," the April 7 announcement states. DLR Group is designing the project. On Thursday, a project spokesperson said a general contractor has not yet been selected. Bayspring hired Brandon Burmeister, Leah Masson and Ellen Akopyan of Cushman & Wakefield to market the medical and office space for lease and Tom Graff of Ewing & Clark to lease the retail. Finding tenants for Class B assets like Bay Vista is challenging in this market where a major trend is flight to quality, when tenants ditch space for digs in newer buildings with better amenities. "Bay Vista is well-positioned to attract top-tier office and medical tenants with enhanced amenities, great views of Elliott Bay and flexible suite options for tenants of all sizes,' Burmeister said in a news release. Of the 120,000 square feet of commercial space in the building, 61,322 are available on a direct basis, according to Cushman, which declined to provide asking rates. While older and in Belltown, where the city's homeless crisis is visible, Bay Vista does have water views and is proximate to the Olympic Sculpture Park, Pike Place Market, Seattle Center and Waterfront Park. Deeds in lieu of foreclosure don't turn up in public records searches filtered by sales price because the transactions record at $0. This means the sellers don't pay the real estate excise tax — 3% of the sales price over $3.025 million. Unless you work at a title company, one has to look for "deeds lieu," as they're called. One of the region's highest-profile deed-in-lieu sales was Smith Tower. Others include 1800 Ninth, formerly home to Amazon, empty life science building 330 Yale and TwoPine, formerly the Broadacres Building. Public records show Des Moines, Iowa-based Principal Real Estate Investors acquired nine-story 605 Union Station and four-story 625 Union Station in August. The seller was an entity related to the Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association, which bought the buildings from the McCaws in 2013 for $97 million. The deed-in-lieu sale of Fourth and Madison occurred in December 2023, with public records listing the T-C 4th & Madison LLC as the seller and the New York State Teachers' Retirement System the buyer. Largest real estate deals in King County in 2024 Sale price Rank Prior Rank Transaction date 1 1 Parkside Esterra Park - 11/01/2024 2 2 1165 Eastlake - 09/05/2024 3 3 Beaumont Apartments - 11/19/2024 View this list For more stories like this one, sign up for the Business Journal's free morning and afternoon daily newsletters or download our free app.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Prince Harry Shares Rare Update on What Life in California is Like, Five Years After Moving There
While at the 2025 Invictus Games in Canada earlier this month, Prince Harry gave an update on life in California—and shared something he is grateful for about living in the United States. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle relocated from the U.K. to the U.S. in 2020 after announcing their step back as working members of the royal family on January 8 of that year. After living in Harry's native U.K., the two—along with son Prince Archie—moved to Meghan's home state of California the year before daughter Princess Lilibet was born in 2021. Us Weekly reported that, while at the Games, former professional rugby player Richie McCaw asked Harry how things were going, to which Harry responded, 'Well, life's going on pretty good.' 'He was like, 'Yeah, I can drop the kids off at school…without any issue,'" McCaw said. 'And hey, we all take that for granted, don't we?' McCaw added of Harry, 'But tough situation to be in…however you look at it.' Originally from New Zealand, McCaw retired from professional rugby in 2015 after breaking several records and captaining the All Blacks, New Zealand's national rugby team, to World Cup wins in 2011 and 2015. Us Weekly reported that McCaw visited Buckingham Palace with the All Blacks to meet Queen Elizabeth on several occasions, and was even part of King Charles' procession at his coronation in May 2023. 'We've rubbed shoulders with the royal family a few times,' McCaw told the outlet. 'I haven't spent a lot of time with Harry, but yeah, it was cool that you got to have a chat.' Speaking to the outlet himself, Harry reflected on the decade that has passed since he founded the multi-sport competition for injured, sick, and wounded members of the military community, both veterans and those still serving, in 2014. 'Today I have the benefit of hindsight and experience, but I wouldn't change any of it—except still wishing there were no need for the Invictus Games,' Harry said of the last 10 years, which included meeting and marrying Meghan; having two kids; leaving royal life; writing a bombshell memoir; and relocating to California, for starters. Of Meghan—who shared a sweet tribute to her husband on Instagram for Valentine's Day after she'd returned home from Canada and the Games to California and their kids while Harry remained behind to close out the competition—Harry said that she 'has been part of this community since shortly after the Orlando Games in 2016 and has loved every minute of it.' 'There are so many special memories,' he added. Read the original article on InStyle
