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RNZ News
25-05-2025
- RNZ News
Serial book vandal targeting biographies of Māori, Pasifika women
Photo: SUPPLIED A Hamilton book store owner is fed up with the "disrespectful" actions of a serial book vandal, who she says has wilfully targeted the biographies of high-profile Māori and Pasifika women. Nichola Carter, who owns Pennys' Bookstore in the Chartwell Shopping Centre, said the unnamed man has deliberately ripped the covers of stock during three separate visits to the store. The book-tearing campaign began six weeks ago when the man first visited the store, making a beeline for the sport section. "We noticed this gentleman... he picked up books and put them down and picked up books again and put them down again, and then he walked out," Carter said. A staff member then spotted a copy of Straight Up, the biography of Black Fern star Ruby Tui had been ripped, and put back on the shelf with the back facing. Two copies of rugby league commentator Honey Hireme-Smiler's biography were also damaged in the same way during a later visit. Photo: SUPPLIED "We knew then that someone was doing this on purpose and we did think 'OK does this person have an issue with women'," Carter said. On Friday, a copy of Full Circle by TV presenter Jenny May-Clarkson was also found "ripped and hidden, face down"on one of the store's display stands. "I was thinking why is this happening to these three particular women," she said. Carter then discovered that the same thing, involving the same three books, had also occurred at another book store 25 minutes out of Hamilton. "What got the disrespect. No respect for our store, no respect for these women, and just purposefully doing it," she said. "We're an independent book store, we've been here for 44 years and we've actually never had anything like this happen to us." Although the store had experienced theft, no one had deliberately vandalised stock until now, Carter said. "In 2025, as everyone knows retail is hard for anyone. We are against the big-wigs, we are very local and our customers support us and they're amazing. It's hard work in this retail environment, and then to see that, that's more money going out of my pocket." Photo: SUPPLIED The store owner had not engaged with police yet as she was unsure as to whether they could do anything. "I want this person to know that they're not welcome back and we will trespass. I don't want this kind of behaviour in the store." Because it had happened at multiple stores, Carter felt the man's actions were racially-motivated. "Someone's got an issue, a big issue." Hireme-Smiler, a former cross-code international-turned commentator, hails from Putāruru, South Waikato and is of Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Ahuru descent. Meanwhile, May-Clarkson (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Kahu) is another former international sporting star who had successfully transitioned to a media career. Tui - a Black Ferns world champion and sevens Olympic gold medalist - has Samoan, Irish and Scottish heritage. "What really annoys me is that these three women who have written these books, and what they've gone through to get to where they are is unbelievable," Carter said. "And this person just comes along and just does this to their books, that really grates me. "It'll be really interesting to find out if this is happening anywhere else in the Waikato. What concerns me is that he's doing it another store." She estimated the culprit was aged "between 45 and 60". "We hope he feels like sh*t. It's just uncalled for. We're not going to tolerate this behaviour any more." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
24-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Hamilton bookstore hit by serial vandal targeting women's biographies
A staff member then spotted a copy of Straight Up, the biography of Black Fern star Ruby Tui had been ripped, and returned to the shelf with the back facing. Two copies of rugby league commentator Honey Hireme-Smiler 's biography were also damaged in the same way during a later visit. 'We knew then that someone was doing this on purpose and we did think 'Okay, does this person have an issue with women?',' Carter said. On Friday, a copy of Full Circle by TV presenter Jenny May-Clarkson was also found 'ripped and hidden, face down' on one of the store's display stands. 'I was thinking 'why is this happening to these three particular women?',' she said. Carter then discovered that the same thing, involving the same three books, had also occurred at a bookstore 25 minutes out of Hamilton. 'What got me... is the disrespect. No respect for our store, no respect for these women, and just purposefully doing it,' she said. 'We're an independent bookstore, we've been here for 44 years and we've actually never had anything like this happen to us.' Although the store had experienced theft, no one had deliberately vandalised stock until now, Carter said. 'In 2025, as everyone knows retail is hard for anyone. We are against the big-wigs, we are very local and our customers support us and they're amazing. It's hard work in this retail environment, and then to see that, that's more money going out of my pocket.' The store owner had not engaged with police yet as she was unsure as to whether they could do anything. 'I want this person to know that they're not welcome back and we will trespass. I don't want this kind of behaviour in the store.' Because it had happened at multiple stores, Carter felt the man's actions were racially motivated. 'Someone's got an issue, a big issue.' Advertisement Advertise with NZME. Hireme-Smiler, a former cross-code international-turned commentator, hails from Putāruru, South Waikato and is of Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Ahuru descent. May-Clarkson (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Kahu) is another former international sporting star who successfully transitioned to a media career. Tui - a Black Ferns world champion and sevens Olympic gold medallist - has Samoan, Irish and Scottish heritage. 'What really annoys me is that these three women who have written these books, and what they've gone through to get to where they are is unbelievable,' Carter said. 'And this person just comes along and just does this to their books, that really grates me. 'It'll be really interesting to find out if this is happening anywhere else in the Waikato. What concerns me is that he's doing it another store.' She estimated the culprit was aged 'between 45 and 60'. 'We hope he feels like sh*t. It's just uncalled for. We're not going to tolerate this behaviour any more.'
RNZ News
24-05-2025
- RNZ News
Serial book vandal targeting biographies of NZ women
Photo: SUPPLIED A Hamilton book store owner is fed up with the "disrespectful" actions of a serial book vandal, who she says has wilfully targeted the biographies of high-profile New Zealand women. Nichola Carter, who owns Pennys' Bookstore in the Chartwell Shopping Centre, said the unnamed man has deliberately ripped the covers of stock during three separate visits to the store. The book-tearing campaign began six weeks ago when the man first visited the store, making a beeline for the sport section. "We noticed this gentleman... he picked up books and put them down and picked up books again and put them down again, and then he walked out," Carter said. A staff member then spotted a copy of Straight Up, the biography of Black Fern star Ruby Tui had been ripped, and put back on the shelf with the back facing. Two copies of rugby league commentator Honey Hireme-Smiler's biography were also damaged in the same way during a later visit. Photo: SUPPLIED "We knew then that someone was doing this on purpose and we did think 'OK does this person have an issue with women'," Carter said. On Friday, a copy of Full Circle by TV presenter Jenny May-Clarkson was also found "ripped and hidden, face down"on one of the store's display stands. "I was thinking why is this happening to these three particular women," she said. Carter then discovered that the same thing, involving the same three books, had also occurred at another book store 25 minutes out of Hamilton. "What got the disrespect. No respect for our store, no respect for these women, and just purposefully doing it," she said. "We're an independent book store, we've been here for 44 years and we've actually never had anything like this happen to us." Although the store had experienced theft, no one had deliberately vandalised stock until now, Carter said. "In 2025, as everyone knows retail is hard for anyone. We are against the big-wigs, we are very local and our customers support us and they're amazing," she said. "It's hard work in this retail environment, and then to see that, that's more money going out of my pocket." Photo: SUPPLIED The store owner had not engaged with police yet as she was unsure as to whether they could do anything. "I want this person to know that they're not welcome back and we will trespass. I don't want this kind of behaviour in the store." Because it had happened at multiple stores, Carter felt the man's actions were racially-motivated. "Someone's got an issue, a big issue," she said. Hireme-Smiler, a former cross-code international-turned commentator, hails from Putāruru, South Waikato and is of Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Ahuru descent. Meanwhile, May-Clarkson (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Kahu) is another former international sporting star who had successfully transitioned to a media career. Tui - a Black Ferns world champion and sevens Olympic gold medalist - has Samoan, Irish and Scottish heritage. "What really annoys me is that these three women who have written these books, and what they've gone through to get to where they are is unbelievable," Carter said. "And this person just comes along and just does this to their books, that really grates me. "It'll be really interesting to find out if this is happening anywhere else in the Waikato. What concerns me is that he's doing it another store." She estimated the culprit was aged "between 45 and 60". "We hope he feels like sh*t. It's just uncalled for. We're not going to tolerate this behaviour any more." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
BBC News
01-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Rui dropped by New Zealand for Pacific Four Series
New Zealand winger Ruby Tui has been left out of the side's 33-woman squad for this month's Pacific Four Series. The 33-year-old, who scored five tries during the Black Ferns' Rugby World Cup triumph in 2022, was one of three high-profile absentees from the squad with Renee Holmes and Chelsea Bremner also missing out. But coach Allan Bunting says the trio remain part of his thinking as they continue to prepare for their Women's World Cup title defence in England later this year. "It's a tight race leading up to our World Cup campaign and we know we've had to make tough calls at this point," said Bunting. "Our whole group is important on this journey, there is still a bit more water to go under the bridge before we name our World Cup squad." Two-time world player of the year Portia Woodman-Wickliffe has made an immediate return to the squad after coming out of retirement. New Zealand take on Australia, Canada and the United States on successive weekends from 10 May.
The Star
01-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Rugby-Tui left out of Black Ferns squad for Pacific Four Series
Rugby Union - Women's World Cup - Pool A - Australia v New Zealand - Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand - October 8, 2022 New Zealand's Ruby Tui in action REUTERS/David Rowland (Reuters) -Winger Ruby Tui has been left out of the Black Ferns squad for this month's Pacific Four Series, a key part of New Zealand's preparations for their Women's World Cup title defence in England later this year. Tui, who scored five tries to help New Zealand retain the World Cup in 2022, looks to have lost out to Portia Woodman-Wickliffe after the twice World Player of the Year came out of retirement last month. World Cup-winning fullback Renee Holmes and lock Chelsea Bremner also missed out on the 33-woman squad to play Australia, Canada and the United States on successive weekends from May 10. "It's a tight race leading up to our World Cup campaign and we know we've had to make tough calls at this point," coach Allan Bunting said in a news release. "I've been very impressed by the response and attitude from our players to still serve the team. Our whole group is important on this journey, there is still a bit more water to go under the bridge before we name our World Cup squad." Fullback Braxton Sorensen-McGee, 18, was one of three uncapped players in the squad along with powerhouse prop Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu and hooker Vici-Rose Green. Sevens players Theresa Setefano, Dhys Faleafaga, Jorja Miller, Stacey Waaka and Risaleaana Pouri-Lane have also been called up but the latter three will not be available for the Australia test because of the LA Sevens tournament. "It's not just about the squad of 33, this is about building a solid group of 40 plus who will be clear on how we want to be, and play come World Cup selection time," Bunting added. New Zealand are currently ranked third in the world behind the English and Canadians and face a stiff challenge to win the World Cup for a seventh time in August and September. (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by ...)
