Ropati MualiaPlaying crucial roles in the development of Samoa’s healthcare and education systems has earned a ‘‘trailblazing’’ University of Otago alumnus a major award in recognition of his lifetime achievements. Dr Mualia went on to become the chief pharmacist at Cherry Farm Hospital in 1971 and, the following year, he returned to Samoa to serve as chief pharmacist at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole National Hospital of Samoa, from 1972 to 1973. While there, he played a crucial role in the development of Samoa’s pharmacy services. Dr Mualia went on to establish Samoa Pharmacy Ltd, and later founded Multipharm Laboratories — a manufacturer and wholesaler of pharmaceutical products. Dr Mualia was presented with a prestigious University of Otago Distinguished Alumni Award, which formally recognises his exceptional and sustained contributions to his field and to society.

Photo: Marty MelvilleMelie Kerr rates her unbeaten 179, that helped her the White Ferns to the highest successful run chase in women's ODI history, as the greatest innings of her career. "To get a big hundred like that in a big chase against a quality side is definitely number one." The White Ferns needed 11 runs off the final over to win and Kerr hit a four off the first ball to put New Zealand in the drivers seat. Photo: Marty MelvilleKerr said recent results among other teams helped her believe the White Ferns could pull off the highest successful run chase in women's ODI history. The third and deciding game is on Saturday in Wellington and Kerr said the White Ferns are determined to finish their home summer with a one-day series win.

PHOTO: ODT FILESTurn on the news right now and all we seem to read and hear about is petrol prices, petrol prices and petrol prices. That is the real link between a war on the other side of the world and your local housing market. Over the past 20 years of house price data there is quite a strong correlation with interest rates. Why this matters is that long-term most people can ride out increases of interest rates, as housing is a long-term asset. But it is hard to see this conflict in the Middle East causing a major downturn in New Zealand property.

The Dunedin City Council will consider options on a homeless outreach service at a closed-door meeting today. In November, councillors committed to establishing and funding a housing outreach service, and narrowly voted to seek expressions of interest from community providers to deliver the service. Proposals will be compared with a council in-house model before a decision on the preferred approach. When asked, a council spokesman did not say if a decision to pursue an internal or external model was expected at today’s extraordinary council meeting. The expressions-of-interest terms included an initial three-year service beginning this month, performance measures, community outcomes and annual reporting requirements.

Well our season kicked off on a spectacular autumnal afternoon but in most cases the games were tight tense affairs with defence being the order of the day. Defence won the game for GI at the Toolbox as they resisted wave after wave off attack from Harbour. It was a photocopy at the Pony Pit as the Eels defence was too good for the AU attack. Defence was optional but Varsity as I said last week will be a force in this comp. Otago Rugby doesn’t seem to have a coaching strategy in place to alleviate this situation which is verging on catastrophic.

Photo: LDRPalmerston North's council is facing "the same upward pressure on prices that households and business are" as it spends an extra $2500 per day on fuel costs, the city's mayor says. Photo: LDRCouncils across Central Districts were asked how recent government announcements and the constant uptake in fuel prices were impacting council business and decision-making. Smith said Palmerston North was "monitoring" the situation and keeping a close eye on the government's revised National Fuel Plan and the financial boost which some families were set to receive from April 1. Taraua's mayor Scott Gilmore said planning was in place to ensure council and community were prepared, but the "increasing fuel costs are starting to impact everyone, including council's operations". Horowhenua District Council remained focused on keeping council expenses down, and like Tararua and Palmerston North councils, it was in close contact with local Civil Defence teams.

After weeks of worsening symptoms, Bob was taken by ambulance to Waikato Hospital on January 23, where doctors discovered a large tumour in the frontal lobes of his brain. Surgery removed some of the tumour, but what remained could not be safely taken out. Bob underwent surgery in an effort to remove as much of the brain tumour as safely possible. Bob begins his daily radiotherapy treatment after surgery to remove part of a brain tumour. While Bob’s treatment will continue into next year, his visa only allows him to stay in New Zealand until June.

Video / NZ Herald, Getty Images, AFPAlready a subscriber? Sign in hereAccess to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Person dies after Stanmore Bay crash on Whangaparāoa PeninsulaOne person has died after a single-vehicle crash in a coastal suburb on Auckland’s Whangaparāoa Peninsula. Police said emergency services were called to Vipond Rd in Stanmore Bay at around 10.25am. Police said Vipond Rd is closed between Doyly Drive and Lea Place.

Fonterra shut the building down to ensure the protesters’ safety. After negotiations with police and Fonterra, the group agreed to share the cleaning cost and pay just over $1900 each. Three argue against convictionIn court, Holden, Larsson and Brook sought a discharge without conviction. However, her citizenship application, which she’d filed in early 2024, had been on hold, which she believed was due to the court action. ‘Cooking the climate’Greenpeace stood by the protesters, calling their actions “brave” and labelling Fonterra as the country’s “worst climate polluter”.

When questions about the Papakura selection were put to Stanford, Chatterton turned and left. Haslam, who was a member of the Papakura electorate committee, described Chatterton and Lu as the “most experienced” candidates. However, she explained her role as a “co-opted member” and had been approved by the National Party board to be a delegate, alongside two others who were co-opted. When contacted by the Herald, National’s Papakura electorate committee chairwoman Adrienne O’Connor said, “I’m not commenting on anything. She later referred the Herald to National Party secretary Jo de Joux.

Ben Youdan, director of Action on Smoking and Health, worries the findings will promote the view that vaping is just as bad for you as smoking. Lead author Bernard Stewart said it provided "by far the strongest evidence" vapes - like cigarettes - could cause lung and oral cancer. The fear was studies like this - and the way they have been reported - will deter smokers from using vapes as a gateway to quitting altogether. The researchers noted there was still no epidemiological link between using vapes and cancer, but proving cigarettes caused cancer took a century, and vapes had only been around for two decades. There was evidence however vaping amongst teenagers is now more popular than smoking was in 2011/2.

“We have been working over several years to improve financial performance at these sites, including increasing production and exploring new markets. “We are taking the mills to market to assess whether there is interest from potential buyers.”Juken is one of Kaitāia’s biggest employers, with the two mills employing more than 200 people. Northland MP Grant McCallum says he has spoken to an investment group interested in buying the timber mills. He said councils would be seeking support from central government, “given the scale of the potential economic impact”. She has a special interest in covering human interest stories, along with finance, roading, and social issues.

PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSONRoyal assent has been given to an amendment of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act today, allowing premises already open on Good Friday and Easter Sunday to now sell alcohol under normal licence conditions. A member’s Bill from Labour MP Kieran McAnulty, amending the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act to allow premises that are already open on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Anzac Day morning and Christmas Day to sell alcohol under normal licence conditions, passed its third reading yesterday. Brew Bar manager Jasmine Ngatai said she had been ‘‘waiting very patiently’’ for the verdict and was excited to see the Act was being amended. ‘‘Literally, it will give all the hospitality venues a choice whether you want to open on these public holidays or not. At present, bars and restaurants can only sell alcohol if the patron is ‘‘residing or lodging’’ on the premises, or ‘‘present on the premises to dine’’.

Photo: RNZLegislation to ease alcohol restrictions over Easter, Anzac Day, and Christmas has passed its third and final reading at Parliament. It means McAnulty's Labour colleagues were free to vote against his bill, as Taieri MP Ingrid Leary did. Act voted as a bloc in support, while all New Zealand First and Green MPs opposed the bill. "The Green Party is united in our position that we cannot support this bill," she said. However, in support of the bill, National's Greg Fleming said he did not believe the legislation affected the sanctity of those days.

Jacquie CoplandWānaka residents will no longer have to travel to Dunedin or Queenstown for MRI scans, following confirmation a local service will start in September. The scanner will be operated by Pacific Radiology at a location that is yet to be determined. ‘‘The existing Queenstown MRI scanner is one of the busiest in the country, with almost half its patients travelling from Wanaka,’’ she said. ‘‘Local residents currently travel to Dunedin to access publicly funded MRIs, and to Queenstown for ACC-funded and privately funded MRIs. ‘‘We urge Health New Zealand to work with Pacific Radiology Group to deliver locally available, publicly funded MRI services in Wānaka.