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RNZ News
6 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Tongariro Northern Circuit off the table for most this season
Oturere Hut is more than 50 years old. Photo: RNZ / John Edens One of the country's Great Walks will not be opening as usual this season, but walkers on the Tongariro Northern Circuit can look forward to a brand new hut in years to come. Libby O'Brien, the Department of Conservation's (DOC) operations manager for Tongariro, in the central North Island, said the department was working with local hapū Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro on a replacement for Oturere Hut. At more than 50 years old, it had sprung a few leaks. "It just doesn't give a good visitor experience," O'Brien said. "It doesn't meet the standards that we want to deliver with the Great Walk. It's time for it to be replaced with something a little bit more fit for purpose." That meant the Great Walk experience was off the table for now. People would still be able to book the other huts on the circuit individually, with those bookings expected to open in July. But the walk between the two huts on either side - Mangatepopo and Waihohonu - without stopping at Oturere was 20 kilometres, and would take between 8 and 10 hours. That was twice the distance visitors would normally walk on those second and third days, and the route passed through steep, rough alpine terrain with fast-changing, extreme weather. While the tracks were open, DOC did not recommend people hike between Mangatepopo and Waihohonu unless they were very fit and experienced backcountry trampers, carrying the right gear to be self-sufficient. The new hut was in the final planning stages, with construction due to begin in the summer, when there would be longer daylight hours and less harsh alpine conditions for the construction team. "We can sometimes expect snow right up until the end of every year," O'Brien explained. They would be flying building materials in by helicopter, but to keep costs low, the team would stay on-site in the old hut. It would be "slightly different from the normal rectangle hut that people know and love," O'Brien said, and would mean an improved experience for walkers for years to come.
Otago Daily Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
New liner visits port
The New Zealand Shipping Co's new steamer Tongariro, which berthed at Port Chalmers yesterday afternoon to discharge 1300 tons of general cargo and to load 600 bales of wool, is a powerful carrier of the flush steel-deck trip from London, via Panama and Auckland, was marked by everything running smoothly, which is not always the case on a maiden voyage. The vessel's oil fuel machinery produced on average speed of 13.8 knots to Auckland, and her officers are satisfied that but for the heavy head swell encountered since leaving Auckland she would have averaged over 14 knots down the coast. Captain White-Parsons has been entrusted with the command of the new liner, and as he is a resourceful New Zealander, and started his seafaring life in this company's sailing ships, the new Tongariro is starting her cargo-carrying career under conditions which command success. She arrived here on a draught of 25 feet, and cargo was quickly pouring from her holds into the railway trucks. To Wānaka and back A Dunedin resident, in conversation with a Daily Times reporter yesterday, stated somewhat reluctantly that until quite recently he had never been through the Central Otago district. However, he decided to view the country with his own eyes, and he returned greatly impressed with its future possibilities. The trip he undertook was to Middlemarch, via Outram, thence to Naseby, Wedderburn, Oturehua, Blackstone Hill, St Bathans, Becks, Lauder, Omakau, Ophir, Alexandra, Clyde, Cromwell, Pembroke, back to Cromwell, thence to Roxburgh, Miller's Flat, Beaumont, Lawrence, Waitahuna and Milton. Every minute of the trip was a real pleasure, as all the time he saw before him the great possibilities of this wonderful country — a country rich in almost everything. An octagon in the Octagon The Information Kiosk, where visitors to Dunedin may find out all they want to know about the Exhibition, and where they may also ascertain what accommodation is available, has now been erected in the Octagon. The building is a neat little structure, made in the shape of an octagon, and was brought up bodily from Logan Park and placed into position yesterday. Please give . . . The Superintendent of the Dunedin Hospital (Dr Falconer) is making an appeal for blood for transfusion purposes. The list of voluntary donors, on which the Hospital has been working, is now exhausted, but there are still many patients requiring this treatment. It has been the custom for the relatives of patients to offer their blood, but there are those in the Hospital who have neither friends nor relatives to be called upon. It is for these unfortunate sufferers that this appeal is being made, and, as a healthy person can spare the blood for which many patients are in such need, it is hoped that all who are able will come forward and help their less fortunate brethren. . . . generously The head teacher of the Paparoa Native School, which is a gum-field school in the far north, informs us that owing to the slump in gum prices the children have not sufficient clothes to cover them this winter, and he would be very grateful to receive oddments of flannel and clothing of any description. Thanks a million The amount to credit of depositors in the Dunedin Savings Bank has now reached for the first time over £1,000,000. That fact was reported at the meeting of trustees this week. The exact total was shown as £1,007,468 5s 9d. — ODT, 23.5.1925 Compiled by Peter Dowden
RNZ News
07-05-2025
- RNZ News
Parole Board says decision to release convicted murder Mark Lundy was not easy
Mark Lundy. Photo: RNZ / Sharon Lundy The Parole Board says the decision to release convicted double murderer Mark Lundy from prison was not an easy one. The 66-year-old left Tongariro Prison about 6am on Wednesday morning, having been granted parole following a hearing last month. The board has also on Wednesday released a seven-page written decision summarising the hearing and, for the first time, outlined the reasons behind its decision. "This was not an easy decision given the brutal murders committed by Mr Lundy and his claim that he did not commit those offences," the report said, signed off by panel convenor Kathryn Snook. "However, on balance, this board is satisfied that Mr Lundy will not pose an undue risk to the community if released on parole on strict conditions designed to address his risk as well as assist in his reintegration and address victim concerns." The board said Lundy had completed all treatment available to him, given his denial of offending, including a drug treatment programme. He also worked with two psychologists, who assessed him as a low risk of offending. Released prisoners must develop a "safety plan", which outlines how they would behave in situations that could cause them to offend. The board said Lundy's was assessed as reasonable and appropriate. "We do think that Mr Lundy is likely to comply with his conditions. He has informed support..." Christine, Mark and Amber Lundy. Photo: SUPPLIED Lundy has always maintained his innocence, after twice being found guilty of killing his wife Christine and 7-year-old daughter Amber in their Palmerston North home in August 2000. He was convicted at a trial in 2002 and, after the Privy Council overturned his convictions, again at a 2015 retrial. He was arrested in early 2001 and, apart from 18 months when he was on bail awaiting his retrial, has been in custody since. Lundy was sentenced to a 20-year minimum term and was eligible for parole in 2022. On parole he's subjected to 19 conditions. Where he's living and who he's living with are suppressed, but he must stay at the property between 10pm and 6am unless there's an emergency. He is banned from entering Manawatū, meaning he cannot visit his wife and daughter's graves in Palmerston North, and he cannot talk to media. He also can't enter Rangitīkei, Hastings or Nelson, and he will be electronically monitored. Lundy cannot possess or use alcohol or drugs, and can be tested for these any time. He cannot contact registered victims or their families and he has to tell his probation officer of any intimate relationship or paid employment he finds. He is banned from social media, internet dating sites and accessing pornography, and must make available to probation internet-capable devices or passwords. Because he is serving a life term, he can be recalled to jail at any time. Before last month's Parole Board decision to release him , he had appeared before the board twice previously, but was ordered to remain in jail. Lundy has filed with the Criminal Cases Review Commission four years ago. A commission spokeswoman said it hadn't yet made a decision about the case. "We are unable to give any indication regarding when a decision is likely to be made as this depends on the time required to complete our inquiries, which are still ongoing," she said. "Mr Lundy's application raises several complex matters which require careful consideration and expert opinion." Lundy's progress will be monitored by the Parole Board in October. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
