Natural hazards can emerge slowly as accumulated stress, or arrive suddenly as an acute shock. Disasters, on the other hand, occur only when hazards intersect with people, infrastructure and decisions. Lesson 3: How we frame extreme events mattersFor decades, significant natural hazard events in New Zealand have been described as rare, exceptional or “once in a generation”. Lesson 4: NZ must bridge its ‘knowledge-action gap’New Zealand produces world-leading natural hazard research. Recent research showed that 97% of government spending was on responding to, and recovering from, disasters.

The oldest daughter of Cardrona Valley sheep farmers in the 1950s, she did not question it - it was just part and parcel of what life was like back then. The daughter of Jack and Mollie Scurr, who farmed sheep at Spotts Creek, she was a rural girl from the beginning, and was probably destined to marry a rural boy, she said. "He was a musterer up at Hunter Valley Station in Hawea. Now 89, Mrs May said she loved the way the Gibbston valley had changed over the years. Now they have tidied it up in the Gibbston valley and I just love it the way it is.

The Herald has documents in relation to the court case between Te Pati Maori and Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. What is fascinating is how they reveal the extent of the Tamihere family control of the party. It goes well beyond what we already knew. Could you imagine this occurring in any other party? This would be like the National Party that has Bill English as Leader, Maria English as General Manager, Maria’s husband as a deputy leader, Mary’s sister as a regional chair, Libby English as another regional chair and Jo Coughlan as a third regional chair.

PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSHA successful Southern Field Days at Waimumu wrapped up with a not-so-successful sheep shearing attempt from Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. St Peter’s College, Gore, head girl Eilish Greene, 17, said the prime minister came across as a very ‘‘chill guy’’. She planned to pursue a career in medicine and said Mr Luxon talked to her about a variety of options for tertiary education. Southern Field Days chairman Steve Henderson said the past three days had been brilliant and had met all expectations. The prime minister attending the event showed his interest in and recognition of the agricultural industry and how much it meant to New Zealand.

The MMA Vision tugboat had been contracted by the government as a standby tug for the Cook Strait ferries. PHOTO: ALEX CAIRNS/STUFFMarlborough’s mayor and the chairperson of the Greater Wellington Regional Council say not having a dedicated open-ocean rescue tug for Cook Strait is putting lives and economic lifelines in peril. Cook Strait, between the North and South Islands, has been left without a tug capable of ocean rescue for more than a week. In case of an emergency, the closest ocean tug would be at least five days away. “The absence of a dedicated emergency tug or rescue capability in the Cook Strait poses unacceptable risks,” the letter said, adding the passageway was one of the most dangerous complex stretches of water in the world to navigate, especially in poor weather.

Hurricanes sweating on injury to All Blacks star Ruben LoveHurricanes sweating on injury to All Blacks star Ruben LovePhoto: RNZThe Hurricanes are crossing their fingers star playmaker Ruben Love won’t miss a significant amount of playing time. Love sustained an ankle injury during training in Palmerston North this week, the Hurricanes said in a statement on Saturday. Love was expected to be a key player in the No 10 jersey this season. The New Zealand teams are already carrying a stack of injuries, with the Blues, Crusaders and Highlanders all having seven players out for round one. The Chiefs are without five players for Saturday night’s game against the Blues in Auckland, including All Blacks hooker Brodie McAlister.

Johnson & Johnson stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the US in 2020 and globally in 2023, switching to cornstarch-based alternatives. Photo: ReutersA jury in the United States has awarded a hefty sum to the family of a woman who sued Johnson & Johnson alleging its talc-based baby powder was to blame for her ovarian cancer. Her son and daughter took over as the plaintiffs after she died of metastatic ovarian cancer, according to the lawsuit. The majority of lawsuits involve ovarian cancer claims. Cases alleging talc caused a rare and deadly cancer called mesothelioma make up a smaller portion of the claims J&J is facing.

The warning comes after a man was found dead in a submerged car on State Highway 39 at Puketotara. Meanwhile, a group of campers were evacuated from a campground amid the flooding, slips and heavy rain in Ōtorohanga. Photo: RNZMan dies in floodwatersA man died after his vehicle became submerged in floodwaters while travelling on State Highway 39 last night. The car was submerged near the intersection of SH39 and Kiwi Rd at Puketotara, and the man was found deceased inside the vehicle, police said. Flooding in Waikato has closed State Highway 39 between Pirongia and Ōtorohanga.

Photo: Supplied / Colin PayneA State of Emergency declared at 1am in Ōtorohanga, in the King Country, where people have been forced to evacuate by rising floodwaters, and buildings have been flooded. By Soumya Bhamidipati of RNZAn Ōtorohanga resident has described his dramatic and unexpected rescue early this morning, after he awoke to find himself waist-deep in floodwater. Kio Kio Station Rd resident Colin Payne said waters close to three metres high had come through his Ōtorohanga property in the King Country overnight. Man dies in floodwatersA man died after his vehicle became submerged in floodwaters while travelling on State Highway 39 last night. Flooding in Waikato has closed State Highway 39 between Pirongia and Ōtorohanga.

Two people in a serious condition have been airlifted to Dunedin Hospital after a crash involving a car and a truck and trailer in Southland. Police said the crash happened in Old Coach Rd between Kaiwera Downs Rd and Isla Rd, on State Highway 93 about 6am today. Two patients were seriously hurt and flown to Dunedin, while another patient was in a moderate condition and transported to Invercargill Hospital by road, he said. SH93 was closed between the intersections of SH1 Mataura and SH1 Clinton for most of the morning, with a detour via SH1 in place. However, people were still asked to drive with care on the section of road between Clinton and Mataura.

Judith Collins will remain an MP and continue to hold her portfolios until she moves to her new position as Law Commission president in the middle of the year. Photo: RNZJudith Collins was the only person considered for the role of Law Commission president - with no recruitment process, no selection panel and no rival candidates. The responsible minister Paul Goldsmith told RNZ he was certain he had followed due process and rejected any suggestion of cronyism. A spokesperson told RNZ Collins recused herself from the Cabinet decision. The Law Commission is not there to play political games."

Emergency services at the scene of the accident. Photo: Stephen JaquieryA road in Green Island was blocked by a rubbish truck which rolled onto its side spilling debris this afternoon. Nobody was injured in the accident by the Green island Cemetery. Police and three fire engines were called to the scene on District Rd. District Rd was blocked until the rubbish truck was removed.

Hospital staff reacted with frustration surrounding the proposal to charge for staff parking. Among the topics put up for feedback by Health NZ was parking charges and the idea that they would be linked to market rates, but with free or reduced parking for those in need. In a statement, Health NZ said its focus remains on ensuring patients, visitors and staff can access safe, secure and sufficient parking. “Health New Zealand will not be progressing any changes at this time.”The NZ Nurses Organisation claimed Health NZ had failed to meet consultation requirements, as the union had not been consulted beforehand. At Christchurch Hospital, shift workers have been known to park about 15 minutes’ walk away from the hospital due a lack of car parking spots.

“My expectation is Tauranga City Council should help the businesses around the mountain more. Tauranga Business Chamber chief executive Matt Cowley. Mayoral Relief FundsA Tauranga council spokesman confirmed it was working with several potential relief fund recipients. “However, they do provide an immediate boost to help with expenses through the period the businesses were forced to be closed.”The council’s business support team and councillors were liaising with businesses. The council was advocating for central Government support and helping businesses with the application processes for that support.

Coastal Connection project co-ordinator Emily Cooper (centre) with some of the walkers, cyclists and dignitaries who celebrated the opening of the first stage (Waitati and Mopanui Rd) of the Coastal Connection trail yesterday. Now there are more than 500 members and the group has just officially opened the first section of the Coastal Connection trail. Coastal Connection project co-ordinator Emily Cooper was delighted the first stage was now complete and it had given the team "the confidence" to continue. However, it was difficult to say when the whole length of the Coastal Connection trail would be completed, she said. Ultimately, the shared-use path would be part of a much longer trail between Oamaru and Waihola, which would link the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail and the Clutha Gold Cycle Trail.