Latest news with #MiddayReport
The Citizen
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
SA mourns loss of beloved radio icon Darren Scott
HOT102.7FM's radio DJ Darren Scott succumbed to cancer in the early hours of Tuesday morning, following a courageous battle with stage four melanoma. Scott was surrounded by love and support in his final months, many of which were spent in the hospital fighting the aggressive cancer. News of Scott's passing sparked an outpouring of tributes on social media, with one X user describing the veteran as: ''witty, super smart, and sometimes controversial.'' You loved or hated Darren Scott, the lovable rabble rouser. Naughty, witty, super smart and sometimes controversial. Loved listening to you and you will be missed. RIP Darren. #DarrenScott — Garth Breytenbach (@poormanscaviar) May 27, 2025 Another X user stated: ''Darren Scott had probably my favorite radio show on 5FM in the afternoons when I grew up.'' Darren Scott had probably my favorite radio show on 5FM in the afternoons when I grew up. And was phenomenal on Boots & All with Naas. 😥 — Christo Kruger (@Echo_ZA) May 27, 2025 Author and broadcaster Mandy Wiener also took to social media, sharing her own heartfelt message for the legendary personality. 'Darren Scott, you made radio. I have so many memories of you broadcasting,' said Wiener, current host of Midday Report on Radio 702. Our colleagues at @Hot1027FM have announced the passing of a radio legend. Darren Scott, you made radio. I have so many memories of you broadcasting. Condolences to all who loved you. — Mandy Wiener (@MandyWiener) May 27, 2025 Scott's journey in radio began more than 40 years ago, with a career that saw him make his mark at iconic stations such as Radio Bop, 5FM, East Coast Radio, and HOT 102.7FM. For some listeners, Scott will be fondly remembered for his time at Jacaranda FM, where he hosted the popular 'Just Plain Breakfast' show in the early 2000s. Read more: President Fouché Drive reopens after lengthy repairs His contribution to broadcasting was formally recognised last year when he was inducted into the Radio Awards Hall of Fame. Beyond the microphone, Scott was a father to his sons Mark and Matthew. As the radio community mourns, it also celebrates the legacy of the iconic broadcaster. While Scott may be gone, his voice and love for his craft will live on in the memories of those he reached. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
RNZ News
20-05-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
RUNIT safety spokesperson reluctant to take part himself
Photo: runitstraight24 A sports scientist has condemned the controversial collision sport Run It Straight, calling it a reckless and dangerous spectacle. And the new event's own safety spokesperson says he would be reluctant to take part, fearing the wrath of his other half. Run it Straight, or 'RUNIT', is a rugby-like competition which involves a collision between a ball runner and a defender, running full speed at each other. Two events are being held in Auckland this week, with thousands of dollars on offer. The participant who "dominates" the contact is deemed the winner. At Monday night's event in Auckland, a quarter of all who took part ended up with a concussion. Run It safety spokesperson Billy Coffey told RNZ's Midday Report the two individuals used "illegal" techniques. "We had two concussions out of our eight runners, and those two concussions, the first one was from a guy who was an American-based and he led with his head, and the second one was the same concept." Coffey said so far, Run It had a 20 percent concussion rate - but claimed that was better than in the UFC. Competitors were required to wear mouthguards, he said, but headgear was optional. "We've got an ambulance on site… We've got liability. Everything's covered. There's waivers, medicals beforehand, medicals after. There's an ambulance on site." The annual cost of treating sport-related concussion rose nearly 25 percent to $80 million last year, according to figures released by the Accident Compensation Corporation . AUT professor Patria Hume, an expert in sports biomechanics, said the sport contradicts decades of scientific evidence on head injury risk and was a "reckless and dangerous spectacle". "I know that people find it exciting to have, you know, people running at each other and smashing each other up. But in terms of the short-term effects and brain injury, and also the potential long-term effects of brain injury, I'd like people to really think, is it really worth it?" She said concussions and repeated high-force impacts to the head - even without immediate symptoms - could lead to serious brain conditions." "The deliberate design of this event to maximise impact is not only irresponsible - it's scientifically indefensible. We've spent years building evidence-based strategies to reduce head and neck injuries in rugby and contact sports. This event ignores all of that." Former league internationals Dean Lonergan and Mark Carroll have also raised concerns over its safety. Coffey said the event would "bring some fire back into people's bellies who may have had to retire from the sport and are kind of stuck with a single-income family working two jobs to make things happen for their families". "These guys, they're born warriors, they want to do this and they're stuck at home, have to retire early. "Just because of that financial crisis, they're stuck in two jobs because maybe their partner or wife or whoever's staying at home can't afford to send [their children to] a daycare or doesn't want to and wants to spend more time with the family, and this gives these people a chance to get off off the couch, find that fire again in front of their friends and family and relive it." Asked if he would take part, Coffey said he would "love to… but my wife may get a bit cranky about me. But I feel like I'm gonna pull the boots on eventually. "My wife just doesn't love me coming home sore and complaining the next day, trying to look after my kids." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
13-05-2025
- Climate
- Otago Daily Times
Mt Hutt aiming for first May opening since 2009
Mt Hutt has not opened so early in the season since 2009. Photo: Supplied Canterbury's Mt Hutt ski field is planning to open two weeks early - if weather conditions remain favourable. More than one metre of snow fell on the slopes in early May, providing enough cover to open on King's Birthday weekend on May 31. Mt Hutt ski manager James McKenzie told Midday Report the ski field had not opened in autumn for years. "We haven't seen this for about 16 years. 2009 was our first May opening since this side of the millennium, so it's pretty exciting," he said. McKenzie said a snowcat vehicle was already doing "quite a bit of a dig-out" to clear a fence buried in snow in preparation for the opening. "It's all buried under snow and we have to sort of have to lift that netting fence up so that we can get operational," he said. Clearing snow on Mt Hutt. Photo: Supplied While snow had melted off lower parts of the mountain because of a north-westerly wind, there was still a good base of snow on the upper mountain, where about 50 to 80 centimetres of snow remained, McKenzie said. "Looking at what we've got on the ground now, it is a fantastic start to the 2025 winter season for a southern ski field. So, we're just keeping our fingers crossed that it holds in there," he said. Mt Hutt was originally scheduled to open on June 13. Otago skifields Cardrona and Coronet Peak are scheduled to open on June 14.
Otago Daily Times
30-04-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Man jailed 25 years acquitted of murder
A man who spent 25 years in prison for the murder of Auckland tyre-fitter Deane Fuller-Sandys has been acquitted. Stephen Stone was imprisoned in 1999 for that murder, as well as the rape and murder of Leah Stephens. In October last year his convictions were quashed by the Court of Appeal, alongside those of Gail Maney, Colin Maney and Mark Henriksen, and a retrial was ordered. Crown prosecutor Alysha McClintock told the High Court at Auckland today that the Crown would not be pursuing charges against Stone in a retrial. McClintock said a criminal trial could only proceed if there was sufficient evidence to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt, and there was no longer sufficient evidence to support Stone being retried. Three of the key witnesses were no longer available and additional ESR testing had not produced any results of significance, she said. Justice Brewer acquitted Stone on all charges. Stone stood with clenched fists in the dock as the judge announced the decision. 'Disgraceful miscarriage of justice' Private investigator Tim McKinnel, who has worked on a number of wrongful conviction cases, said the decision had been a "long time coming". "He appeared today and the Crown stood up and offered no evidence against him, which, we'd had some advance notice was going to occur," he told RNZ's Midday Report programme today. Henriksen, Gail Maney and Colin Maney were also convicted on various charges relating to the case, but had their convictions quashed at the same time as Stone. "This case, in my view, is a disgraceful miscarriage of justice," McKinnel said. "We have four people who were wrongfully convicted for murder and rape involving two supposed victims, and the case, I think, can be best described in my view as a corrupt investigation, and the fact that it's taken this long to remedy is a tragedy. "What's also a tragedy, we think, is that the families of Leah Stephens and Deane Fuller-Sandys haven't been told the truth over the last few decades. And I think that there's still some work to do to make sure that the truth emerges." McKinnel said Stone's head was "spinning". "A real mixture of emotions for Stephen - primarily anger. He's had his life taken from him. He has been incarcerated and institutionalised for nearly three decades, and his life and his family's life has been tipped upside down for crimes that he had nothing to do with. "Gail was in court today to support Stephen, and for her, today was an important day because effectively a continuing prosecution of Stephen suggested that the Crown thought these events may well have occurred, and so she was eager to make sure that the case was put to bed once and for all. "So it's a good day for her and Colin and Mark as well." McKinnel said money would never make up for what the four went through, and there was a "fairly rigorous process to go through" to prove their innocence on the balance of probabilities - the benchmark for receiving compensation. "We think there needs to be an inquiry… I think the public and the Stephens and Fuller-Sandys family deserve to understand what went wrong here. The case is so old, so complex and so troubling that we think an inquiry needs to occur." The first thing Stone had planned after being freed was getting some food, McKinnel said, before visiting his mother's grave. "His mother died in 1989 when these supposed events occurred, and so he wants to go and see her and spend some time with her."
Otago Daily Times
30-04-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Acquitted and angry after 25 years' jail
A man who spent 25 years in prison for the murder of Auckland tyre-fitter Deane Fuller-Sandys has been acquitted. Stephen Stone was imprisoned in 1999 for that murder, as well as the rape and murder of Leah Stephens. In October last year his convictions were quashed by the Court of Appeal, alongside those of Gail Maney, Colin Maney and Mark Henriksen, and a retrial was ordered. Crown prosecutor Alysha McClintock told the High Court at Auckland today that the Crown would not be pursuing charges against Stone in a retrial. McClintock said a criminal trial could only proceed if there was sufficient evidence to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt, and there was no longer sufficient evidence to support Stone being retried. Three of the key witnesses were no longer available and additional ESR testing had not produced any results of significance, she said. Justice Brewer acquitted Stone on all charges. Stone stood with clenched fists in the dock as the judge announced the decision. 'Disgraceful miscarriage of justice' Private investigator Tim McKinnel, who has worked on a number of wrongful conviction cases, said the decision had been a "long time coming". "He appeared today and the Crown stood up and offered no evidence against him, which, we'd had some advance notice was going to occur," he told RNZ's Midday Report programme today. Henriksen, Gail Maney and Colin Maney were also convicted on various charges relating to the case, but had their convictions quashed at the same time as Stone. "This case, in my view, is a disgraceful miscarriage of justice," McKinnel said. "We have four people who were wrongfully convicted for murder and rape involving two supposed victims, and the case, I think, can be best described in my view as a corrupt investigation, and the fact that it's taken this long to remedy is a tragedy. "What's also a tragedy, we think, is that the families of Leah Stephens and Deane Fuller-Sandys haven't been told the truth over the last few decades. And I think that there's still some work to do to make sure that the truth emerges." McKinnel said Stone's head was "spinning". "A real mixture of emotions for Stephen - primarily anger. He's had his life taken from him. He has been incarcerated and institutionalised for nearly three decades, and his life and his family's life has been tipped upside down for crimes that he had nothing to do with. "Gail was in court today to support Stephen, and for her, today was an important day because effectively a continuing prosecution of Stephen suggested that the Crown thought these events may well have occurred, and so she was eager to make sure that the case was put to bed once and for all. "So it's a good day for her and Colin and Mark as well." McKinnel said money would never make up for what the four went through, and there was a "fairly rigorous process to go through" to prove their innocence on the balance of probabilities - the benchmark for receiving compensation. "We think there needs to be an inquiry… I think the public and the Stephens and Fuller-Sandys family deserve to understand what went wrong here. The case is so old, so complex and so troubling that we think an inquiry needs to occur." The first thing Stone had planned after being freed was getting some food, McKinnel said, before visiting his mother's grave. "His mother died in 1989 when these supposed events occurred, and so he wants to go and see her and spend some time with her."
