Latest news with #Whangarei
RNZ News
18 hours ago
- General
- RNZ News
Seal silly season: What you need to know as seal population bounces back
Seal at Bunnings Whangarei. Photo: DOC/Supplied Seal and sea lion populations are making a comeback around the country, with many returning to their historic home of New Zealand's mainlands. It's also seal silly season, meaning young pups are venturing off on their own for the very first time. They could show up on roads, be chilling in paddocks and even have a wander around Bunnings. But as seal silly season hits and the populations grow, so do our encounters. The Department of Conservation (DOC) and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency have now launched a nation-wide project to track the seals appearing near roads and are asking the public for help. "We're asking people to report sightings of seals, fur seals or sea lions on or near roads," marine senior technical advisor for the Department of Conservation Jody Weir said. "Your sightings-date, location, even a photo if it's safe- will help us map hotspots and understand the risks. It's a great example of how citizen science could make a real difference." Sightings reported to DOC before 22 June will help shape the initial national road risk model. Photo: DOC/Supplied The project aims to analyse the road-related risks for marine mammals like seals, and its findings will help with road planning and improvements, and help to find high-risk zones. "We're thrilled to see populations recovering, but that success comes with new challenges," Weir said. "We want to protect these taonga species while also keeping people safe. That means understanding where the key hot spots are and planning smarter." Kaikōura is a prime success story with key hot spots - where fur seals were getting onto SH1 - found, resulting in infrastructure upgrades to help protect the animals and drivers. The Department of Conservation (DOC) and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency have launched a nation-wide project to track the seals appearing near roads. Photo: DOC/Supplied "These young fur seals are out exploring their wider world while their mums are busy at sea getting food to be able to nurse that rapidly growing pup and grow the developing foetus inside her. "It's an important stage of development, but it also means they can end up in unusual-and sometimes risky-places. By reporting sightings, you're helping us look out for them during this vulnerable time," Weir said. Sightings reported to [seeaseal@ DOC] before 22 June will help shape the initial national road risk model. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
6 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Dargaville residents asked to conserve water, reservoir at 10%
environment about 1 hour ago Dargaville residents are being asked to conserve water after maintenance teams have worked for hours to patch major breaks in the system. At one point the towns reservoir was down to 10 percent full. Water trucks from Whangarei, Maungaturoto and Ruawai have been pumping water back into the town supply, but have been struggling to keep pace. Kaipara District Council CEO Jason Marris spoke to Lisa Owen.
News.com.au
22-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Limited options force trainer Cindy Alderson to run Ruakaka Raider at Sandown on Saturday
Promising four-year-old Ruakaka Raider was a late starter but his star could start to rise after Saturday's Sandown meeting. The gelding was bred in New Zealand but Cranbourne trainer Cindy Alderson had the gelding brought across the Tasman Sea after an employee discovered the son of Redwood in a quiet town on the country's north island. Alderson said Ruakaka Raider had plenty to learn when he arrived and still has significant development remaining despite having enough talent to post three wins and two placings from his opening nine starts. 'He came over here really, really raw and didn't know what he was doing and he can still sometimes get himself a little unbalanced and ungainly,' Alderson said. 'It was just that, because his trainer, lived up at Whangarei, where there's not a lot of people, he was just uneducated.' Ruakaka Raider has performed well in every scenario thrown his way in his short career. Alderson said there was a little downside to Ruakaka Raider's performances, which have caught the eye of Racing Victoria handicappers. She said Ruakaka Raider's rating rose quickly enough to make Saturday's Stow Storage Solutions Handicap (1600m) at Benchmark 84 level one of limited options. Ruakaka Raider ran on well from the back when sixth to Angry Skies when resuming in the same class earlier this month. 'It was a really strong effort first-up but the problem with him, is that he just gets himself too highly-graded in some of his races,' Alderson said. 'We didn't get him until he was three and he had only had a few races and, after those races, he got himself upgraded quite quickly. 'I don't know if he's quite ready for this grade but he's going well so I can't complain.' Apprentice Logan Bates rode Ruakaka Raider at Caulfield but Alderson has decided not to claim on Saturday, booking top jockey Jamie Melham to ride the talented prospect. Bookies rated Ruakaka Raider as an $8.50 chance in early betting on the Sandown meeting. Should Ruakaka Raider perform as expected at his second 1600m run this time in, Alderson would need to decide whether to test him over longer trips. • Kent goes hard on 'joke' Sandown track Ruakaka Raider was unplaced but not disgraced in two 2000m runs last December. Alderson said factors indicated Ruakaka Raider could race well over 2400m but some suggested the 1600m to 1800m range in which he has posted his three wins, was best for him. 'All his data and figures show he could run it (2400m) and his mother wasn't very effective until she got to 2000(m),' Alderson said. 'And he's a Redwood and those horses are renowned for running over a bit of ground, so from that perspective, I can't see why he won't. 'But there's also the school of thought that says he's very effect over a mile to 1800m so maybe that's his wheelhouse. 'He's still a work in progress and he's still got more improvement to come.'
RNZ News
14-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
New café for Whangarei's rough sleepers
Rough sleepers in Whangarei now have a fresh, funky new cafe to go sit, get a free meal and be part of the community. Charity Whare Awhina has opened new headquarters in the city's former police station. It marks a new chapter for the city's vulnerable and a shift away from a more City Mission style environment. Manager Robyn Reihana spoke to Jesse. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
Scoop
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Approaching Halfway Stage Anyone Could Still Win
Press Release – Bikesport NZ This season's ultimate off-road motorcycling competition could be the toughest yet, with so many different riders featuring at the top and each of them in contention for ultimate glory. Three rounds into the seven-round 2025 Yamaha New Zealand Hard Enduro Nationals and there have now been three different outright winners. Taranaki pair Luke Thompson and Sam Parker battled to an incredibly close first and second overall respectively in the premier Gold Grade over the two days at round one of the series in Taranaki back in March, with round two in Central Otago last month featuring several fresh faces at the top. Whitecliffs rider Luke Corson, Whangarei's Owen Broughton, Tokoroa's Jake Wightman, Owaka's Blake Affleck and Auckland's Mitchell Gallagher, among others, were the stand-out Gold Grade individuals at round two in the South Island over that Easter Weekend. Then the competition shifted north to Canterbury at the weekend just gone, and it was another handful of talented stars disputing the top positions, Wainuiomata's Jake Whitaker the Gold Grade stand-out, with Gallagher and Corson again featuring among the leading riders, while Amberley's Archer Pascoe and Omihi's Ethan McBreen also staked their claim. Whitaker was thrilled with his overall win at the weekend. 'It was a cool couple of days racing down south,' he said. 'Took a bit to get comfortable on the enduro cross track Saturday with a third-place finish for the day. Was happy to get out in the South Island high country Sunday morning and get into the main race. 'I Had some good fun battles with the boys earlier in the day, but managed to pull away in the afternoon. The track was set to a really good level and the organisers put on a great event once again.' Motorcycling New Zealand enduro commissioner Justin Stevenson confirmed the racing was close and exciting over both days of the weekend. 'It was again pleasing to see so many riders showing up from as far afield as Invercargill in the south and Whangarei in the north, with riders from everywhere in between,' said Stevenson. 'The host Christchurch Off-Road Motorcycle Club did a great job and both days of racing were as challenging as they were enjoyable.' Round four is set for Northland on the weekend of July 19-20. Only six of the seven rounds will be counted, with riders expected to discard points from their worst result. The weekend was sponsored by Yamaha Motor New Zealand, Motorcycling New Zealand, Kiwi Rider magazine, Silver-Bullet and Mitas tyres. 2025 Yamaha New Zealand Hard Enduro Nationals calendar: Round 1: Taranaki, March 29-30; Round 2: Central Otago, April 19-21; Round 3: Canterbury, May 10-11; Round 4: Northland, July 19-20; Round 5: Wellington, September 27-28; Round 6: Canterbury, November 15-16; Round 7: Wellington, November 30. Content Sourced from Original url
