Latest news with #Pukekohe
NZ Herald
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
What to do in Auckland this weekend: Art exhibits, family history expo, arcade opening and more
Fresh talent is emerging at the Basement Theatre next week, where Nikeidrian Lologa-Peters' Tafatolu opens. Looking for things to do in Auckland this weekend? Our list is plentiful. If art gets your juices flowing, there's a bounty of new exhibitions: Frankly Small in Pukekohe, Between the Lines in Remuera and the Auckland Plein Air Group at Alberton. If you're interested in looking to the past
RNZ News
6 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
Shoe-box sized device helps growers detect diseases
The two-year trial at Pukekohe involving BioScout units aims to help growers make better disease management decisions. Photo: Supplied A new device is helping growers detect diseases out of thin air. The two-year trial at Pukekohe involving BioScout units aims to help growers make better disease management decisions. Three of the shoe box-sized units have been set up by Te Ahikawariki Vegetable Industry Centre of Excellence (VICE) with support from Vegetables New Zealand Inc, Onions NZ and Potatoes New Zealand. They sit upon a stand and are powered by solar panels. A small intake on the front of the machine collects air samples which pass over a bit of tape. Daniel Sutton, research development and extension manager for Vegetables New Zealand, explained a microscopic camera take images of the particles - such as pollen or fungal spores - which are stuck to the tape and then analysed by artificial intelligence to see if they carry disease. "What we're doing is using this tool to evaluate the amount of disease spores in the air and we're looking at ground truthing that in terms of the range of different vegetable crops that we grow in the area - potatoes, onions, lettuce, brassicas, carrots and the like," Sutton said. "We're trying to evaluate what we're seeing in the machine versus what we're seeing in the crop." Sutton said this tool would help "fill in the gap" around the pathogen and provide a continual flow of information of what disease is around and how much of it. "Disease infection 101 is you need a susceptible host, you need the environment to be favourable for the disease to infect and you need the pathogen to be present." He said it will help them identify some of the "big" diseases like target spot in potatoes and white mould in carrots. It was an "exciting" example of how technology was helping the sector. Sutton said, if they worked as expected, the hope was to establish a network of such BioScout units across major vegetable growing regions in the country. There are about 20 such units across the country, with arable farmers and grape growers having also adopted the tech. "If they can all talk and connect to one another than we'd actually have a nationwide network looking for these key diseases for us." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
01-08-2025
- RNZ News
Investigation underway following fatal motorbike crash in South Auckland's Pukekohe
Police had tried to pull the rider over shortly before they were found dead. (File photo) Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller One person has died following a motorbike crash in Auckland's Pukekohe, and a police investigation has been launched. Counties Manukau District Commander, Superintendent Shanan Gray said police had been looking for a stolen motorbike in the area when officers saw the bike travelling along Helvetia Rd at 12.20pm on Friday. The officer did a U-turn and attempted to get the motorbike to stop, but Gray said before they had turned on their lights and sirens the motorbike sped off at speed. They then lost sight of the bike. A short time later another officer found the bike crashed on McShane St. The rider was found dead at the scene. A scene examination was underway and the road was closed, Gray said. "There is now an investigation underway, which will work to establish all the facts surrounding this tragic incident." The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) would also be notified. "We are also working to support those affected and their families as well as our staff who were involved," Gray said. "As part of our investigation, we are seeking information from witnesses who may have been in the area at the time, or prior to this incident occurring." Anyone with information should contact police online now or call 105 and use the reference number P063348335. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
29-07-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Vanuatu RSE workers celebrate first-ever Bislama Language Week
For the first time, Vanuatu Bislama Language Week is being officially celebrated in New Zealand and for Ni-Vanuatu seasonal workers toiling in the orchards of Pukekohe, they are feeling a sense of pride. The week marks a historic addition to the Ministry for Pacific Peoples' annual Pacific language calendar, which now includes 12 languages: Rotuman, Samoan, Kiribati, Cook Islands Māori, Tongan, Papua New Guinean, Tuvaluan, Fijian, Niuean, Tokelauan, Solomon Islands Pijin and Bislama. Bislama is the national language of Vanuatu and a creole language spoken across Vanuatu's 83 islands which is a blend of English, French, and Indigenous words. Clifford Yahwo has been participating in the seasonal program and this year marks his tenth year, he said he is feeling thankful he gets to witness this historic moment. Yahwo said it is great to have the opportunity to celebrate Bislama in Aotearoa. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi "Vanuatu is a small country in the Pacific, close to Fiji, Solomon (Island), New Caledonia. "I am so happy, like we are very happy we to celebrate here in New Zealand. We come for work, but its good we have this opportunity to celebrate Bislama language here in New Zealand." "Also, [in] Vanuatu we have different cultures - each island [has its] own culture, different from different island. Another thing is we are independent people. We had our independence since 1980." Fellow team leader David Navian, who also manages another group of workers at Punchbowl orchards, echoes the same sentiment, especially because people get to learn about their language. Laughing from the cold weather and crisp air in Pukekohe, he offered a few of his favourite phrases: The theme for this year's inaugural Bislama Language Week is 'Tokabaot Klaemet Jenj - hemi ril mo yumi mas lukaotem laef' which translates to 'Talk about climate change, it is real, and we must look after life'. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi Ministry for Pacific Peoples chief executive Gerardine Clifford-Lidstone said this is more than a cultural milestone. "There is deep pride in Bislama. It connects people across islands, generations, and borders," she said. "We are proud to stand alongside the Vanuatu community as they celebrate Vanuatu Bislama Language Week for the first time in Aotearoa New Zealand. "This is a powerful moment of recognition, connection, and pride. Bislama carries the stories, humour, and heart of its people - and we are honoured to support its journey here" Events are being held across the country all week and as the workers like to say: "678 to the world."
RNZ News
08-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
More work needed to protect prime horticultural land, says industry
Photo: Supplied The horticulture industry says more work is needed to protect prime horticultural land. New research looking at the ability to get by with domestic production if global food supply chains are disrupted ranked New Zealand was one of the most self-sufficient countries. The paper, published in the journal Nature Food , analysed 186 countries ability to feed their citizens and achieve dietary guidelines if supply chains were disrupted by trade tariffs, wars, pandemics or other crises. The research found over a third of countries cannot meet self-sufficiency for more than two of the seven essential food groups, while New Zealand was fully self-sufficient in five of the seven - fruit and vegetable, meat, dairy, fish and seafood supply - but would struggle to produce enough starchy staples and legumes, nuts and seeds. Industry group United Fresh spokesperson Dr Hans Maurer told Morning Report while the report bodes well for New Zealand's food security, there's an imbalance in protecting prime horticultural land, citing housing development at Pukekohe. "[That's] very good volcanic land and a lot of that land over the last twenty years has been built up with new housing," he said. "Horticulture - particularly the protection of vegetables - is very dependent on land that can be intensively farmed. We have plenty of land in this country, but not land of the same quality of Pukekohe or Horowhenua, where the soils are just ideal." Dr Maurer said the industry was working with the government on new legislation. "We need to create a legal framework that protects production," he said. New Zealand has traditionally "boxed above it's weight" when it came to the adoption of technology and innovation, he said. "You only need to look at the kiwifruit industry or the way the apple industry has maintained its edge globally." But he said there needs to be continued investment, especially as new on-farm and orchard technologies come online, including artificial intelligence. New Zealand's reliance on seasonal labour was also problematic, as it would become harder to come by as the population aged, he said. United Fresh figures showed the country's fresh fruit and vegetable exports reached $4.3 billion dollars last year, an increase of 8 percent from 2023. The group said there was an industry-wide push underway to increase horticulture production, with an aim of doubling the farmgate return by 2036. Consumers spent roughly $1.3 billion dollars on New Zealand-grown produce in 2024. While shoppers were increasingly suffering from sticker shock at the price of some produce, the sector is heavily impacted by other markets, particularly energy and gas, instability in those markets puts a lot of pressure on supply chains. Maurer stressed the weather dependent nature of the industry, including challenges from extreme weather events, pests and diseases, noting that last month's widespread flooding in the Nelson Tasman region will impact next season's apples. Despite New Zealand's relatively good showing in the research, a map summarising the results contained a significant glitch - the country did not feature at all. "That is not a reflection of the work that has been done, they certainly analysed New Zealand as well," Maurer said. The researchers had apologised for the unintentional omission, he said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
