She believes Pākeha have also benefited from the Treaty.
Tag Archives: oceania
Ruthless-Empire homicide: Who lived at the house where ‘Baby Ru’ was fatally injured?
More than a week has passed since Ruthless-Empire was killed, yet nobody has been charged.
Auckland school seeks suppression after deputy principal convicted for child sex abuse images
The former deputy principal had child abuse and bestiality images.
'Best time to buy': Price of Aussie vegetables slashed by half
Australians are being told to stock up on their vegetables this season, as prices plunge to record lows.
Analysts claim the prices are the best value seen in years, as the cost for some varieties drop by 40 per cent.
In the space of a year, the price of cucumbers and tomatoes has halved, and the prices of red capsicum, broccoli, white cauliflower, avocado and lettuce are seeing similar reductions.
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Data from Deakin University's Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition showed drastic price drops for zucchini, broccoli, red capsicum, tomatoes and cucumber, which all recorded reductions between 30 to 50 per cent.
The vegetables that recorded the biggest price drops were tomatoes, which were being sold for $8.30 per kilo in 2021, compared to $4.21 per kg in 2023, and red capsicum which fetched $7.40 per kilo in 2021, compared to $5.16 per kilo in 2023.
It comes as the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported a rise in prices for bread, meat and dairy.
Michael Whitehead from ANZ Agri-Insights said now was the "best time" to be buying vegetables, as optimum weather conditions created an "oversupply" of stock.
"Last year we had the floods and so consumers will remember that prices were overly high, now (we have) the opposite because of good sun and good rain at the same time," he said.
"Prices are much lower than they normally would be."
The news is good for shoppers but not so great for farmers like Catherine Velisha, who is a third generation farmer on a broccoli farm at Werribee in Melbourne's.
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Last year, the broccoli in her fields would have been worth $700,000, but this year it will fetch for $420,000.
At the same time, costs have jumped for power, fuel and packaging.
Velisha said consumers could help farmers through the period by buying more, and take advantage of the reduction in prices.
"Price-wise, it's really great for the customers, so hopefully they'll take advantage of that," Velisha said.
The recommended intake of vegetables is about 600 grams per day, but it's estimated only six per cent of children and one in seven adults eat enough vegetables.
"All we would need (to meet those requirements) is to eat one more serve of vegetables and that could change things for us as an industry by a huge amount," Velisha said.
"Also for our bodies and our brains and everything else.
"So go buy your veggies."
'Large, fast-moving' fire threatens homes near Australia Zoo
Residents in the Queensland town of Landsborough, about 20 kilometres south of the Sunshine Coast, have been told to "leave immediately" as fires continue to burn across the state.
The Queensland Fire and Emergency Service (QFES) issued an emergency warning at 3:30pm advising residents that "a large, fast-moving fire is burning near White Gums Street and Wintzloff Road".
The fire is burning to the east of the town and "is expected to impact Hardwood Road, Landsborough within the next hour". The fresh warning comes after an initial emergency alert was issued for the town last night.
As the situation is constantly changing, stay up to date with warnings and alerts at the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services website.
"Your life could be at risk. It will soon be too dangerous to drive," QFES said.
The fire is burning just a few kilometres from Australia Zoo, the wildlife and conservation facility founded by Steve Irwin's father.
A bushfire warning remains in place for residents living in Tara, where at least 35 homes have been lost.
Properties around Chinchilla Tara Road, Millers Road, Bakers Road, McCasker Road and Upper Humbug Road are the latest to be warned to prepare to evacuate.
A Watch and Act alert was also issued at 2pm for residents in the nearby towns of Condamine, Barramornie, Kogan and Montrose North.
QFES said "a large, dangerous fire is burning near Ravens Road".
"Conditions could get worse quickly," the service said.
"Firefighters are working to contain the fire but you should not expect a firefighter at your door."
QFES Deputy Commissioner Joanne Greenfield told Weekend Today crews were focusing their efforts on Tara, Lowmead and Beerwah.
"The conditions will ease slightly today and then we expect them to escalate again on Tuesday. So we will be working hard on containment lines," she said.
Residents living in Landsborough, about 323km from Tara, were told to "evacuate immediately" last night due to a fast-moving fire near the town.
"Police and fire crews are door-knocking, however please do not wait for a police officer or firefighter to be at your door," the warning said.
The emergency declaration was revoked at 10.20pm.
READ MORE: Major traffic delays expected after large fire destroys warehouse in Sydney's west
Watch and Act alerts were issued overnight for Carnarvon Gorge and surrounding areas in the central highlands, The Gums (near Tara), in addition to Condamine, Kogan, Montrose North, Mount Tom and Colosseum.
Firefighters are preparing for increased fire weather on Tuesday with crews strengthening containment lines.
Deputy Commissioner Greenfield warned all residents living in a high-risk area, to remain vigilant.
"We are putting information out into the community. People who have been evacuated, don't return until you get get the all clear," she said.
Major highway reopens after large fire destroys warehouse in Sydney
An enormous fire at a factory complex in Sydney's west has wiped out several businesses, with the damage and losses expected to run into the millions of dollars.
The flames at the scene in Girraween near Parramatta were so intense that more than 100 firefighters were needed to control the blaze.
A NSW Department of Fire and Emergency Services spokesman said crews responded to the blaze on the Great Western Highway about 2am.
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The fire was fuelled by furniture from an office removalist company.
Acting Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell told Weekend Today more 20 trucks remained on the scene about 7am.
At times trucks ran out of water.
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He said firefighters were forced to tackle the blaze from a distance after the roof collapsed.
"The building has collapsed throughout the whole structure and there are little pockets of fire under the walls and roof," he said.
A man who was sleeping above a business next door said the heat was "intense".
"I could just feel the heat off the building you know, couldn't stand there too long it was that intense," he said.
It took firies three hours to control the fire, with the clean-up now underway.
Miracle baby born after IVF breakthrough
Little Bonnie Loutas is not only a blessing for her parents.
She is the first in Australia be born using a new fertility treatment that could shake up the field of IVF.
The technique is called CAPA-IVM, and it is 15 years in the making by Australian researchers and their counterparts overseas
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Bonnie isn't fussed about being in the spotlight.
But her arrival six days ago heralds an evolution in fertility treatment, and her parents couldn't be happier.
Leanna and Theo Loutas said they were "over the moon" and "unbelievably happy, it's so special".
She's the first in Australia to be born using a breakthrough technique.
That breakthrough is thanks to the work of UNSW Professor Robert Gilchrist and his colleagues in Belgium and Vietnam.
Professor Robert Gilchrist said "the principal benefit or principal advantage of the technique is for the patient herself".
The technique is called CAPA-IVM.
"The woman's eggs are immature when they're collected and are grown in the lab for two days using a special solution to mimic ovulation," Gilchrist told 9News.
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It significantly reduces the number of hormone injections required from two weeks to two days.
Leanna Loutas said she "didn't feel like I was taking medication".
Gilchrist explained that because she had less hormones, "there's less side-effects, less risk from the hormones".
"There's also less monitoring, ultrasounds, blood tests … about the half the cost of an IVF cycle," he said. "It's a cost saving for Australian taxpayers."
Up to 20 per cent of women needing IVF will benefit, particularly those with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Gilchrist said it had been a very long journey "but we got there in the end".
He said this breakthrough had the potential to shake up the field of IVF.
Next year, the hospital is aiming to do the procedure without using hormones.
The Royal Hospital for Women is one of only six locations in the world to offer this new treatment.
Leanna Loutas said: "All the things we thought were important in our lives, we used to complain about are now completely insignificant."
Her dad Theo agreed: "She's everything now."
Wild weather: Lanes closed on Auckland Harbour Bridge, dramatic sea rescue in Northland
Wind gusts reaching 142km/h have already been recorded in Cape Rēinga.
Subtle sign little boy had devastating disease
When new mother Kim Vo, 31, noticed one of her toddler Chase's eyes looked slightly different from the other, she thought it was simply one of his irises changing colour, as can happen in the early months.
"The difference was so subtle," Vo said.
But when she looked closer with her husband Ryan Lim, 30, they noticed a his left pupil was obscured by a white clouded blur.
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They rushed Chase to see various eye experts and eventually, it was confirmed.
Chase had suffered a detached retina and couldn't see anything from that eye.
Vo said the parents were "confused and devastated", especially when they were told it was likely caused by an injury.
All they could think of was he had suffered a black eye after falling a few months before.
"Knowing our child could have gone completely blind, how could this have happened?" Vo said.
Initial hopes little Chase's sight could be saved faded after more specialist appointments.
The couple were then faced with a harrowing decision whether to have his eye removed, with the small possibility he could have cancer now being raised.
They opted for the surgery on June 30 this year and had a special family photo shoot before his eye was removed.
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But a week after medics did the surgery, they were given an even more devastating update.
Chase did have cancer, a rare kind called Retinoblastoma.
The tumour had been growing behind the retina, which caused the sight loss.
"I feel like every next step we took we got another stage of bad news," IT Product owner Vo said.
"It felt like something was ripped out of my body. My heart sank."
Chase underwent multiple doses of chemotherapy at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital.
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Now the family is taking him to America for more treatment, which isn't on offer in Australia.
He'll have targeted proton radiation daily for five weeks at UF Health Proton Therapy Institute in Jacksonville, Florida from early November.
It allows more targeted radiotherapy around the delicate areas of the brain
Because he's so young he'll be put to sleep every day for the treatment.
"Initially you feel so guilty that he's in this position," Vo said.
"I so badly would trade places with him."
Despite what he's going through, the couple say Chase is coping well.
He's into "anything with wheels" such as trains and trucks, his mother said.
"Chase is such a playful, happy boy," Vo said.
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"He's such a sweet kid."
His dad, analyst Ryan, said even with all the procedures, such as having a prosthetic eye fitted, his son remains happy.
"He's been the bravest of all," he said.
"He still comes out at the end of it smiling."
Australia's Medical Treatment Overseas Program will pay for Chase's treatment – but only the flights and accommodation for one of his parents.
The family is raising money to pay for them both to go to America trip on GoFundMe.
What is retinoblastoma?
Retinoblastoma is a rare tumour that can develop in the lining of a child's eye, called the retina.
The retina is the layer at the back of the eye that detects and senses light.
Signs and symptoms include a white appearance or glow of the pupil, which tends to reflect light, similar to a cat's eye.
A squint or a crossed or turned eye can develop, along with redness and poor vision.
Treatment can include removal of the eye, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
In 2022, it is estimated that 776 children were diagnosed with cancer according to Cancer Australia.
According to Cancer Australia the survival rate of childhood cancers is 85 per cent.
Do you have a story? Contact journalist Sarah Swain at ss****@******om.au
Flying kangaroo returns ahead of Albanese's China visit
Anthony Albanese is back on home soil, and at home in his electorate.
Surrounded by culture from the other side of the world, the prime minister toured an Italian Festa in the Sydney suburb of Leichhardt.
But it comes at a time when there is so much disharmony and conflict in the world.
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Amid war in Europe and the Middle East, Albanese leaned last week on our oldest Allies.
He dined with Joe Biden in an official state dinner at the White House.
But this week his focus shifts to our largest trading partner – China.
Asked how he expects to balance the expectations from the US with our trade relationship with China, the prime minister said "the US welcomes this".
"They've had visits to China. President XI will visit the US next month as well." The Chinese leader agreed to a meeting with President Biden in the weeks after Albanese's own meeting.
The prime minister's visit to Beijing will be the first since Malcolm Turnbull's trip to China in 2016.
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Much has changed since then but he firmly believes dialogue is the only way forward.
"Dialogue is always a great thing," he told 9News.
"And the visit to China symbolises the normalisation and a more stable relationship."
And there was another symbol of improvement in Australian-Chinese relations – this time, the return of QF129.
Qantas today returned to mainland China for the first time in more than three years.
Albanese said: "We should co-operate with China where we can, disagree where we must and engage in our national interest.
"I'm looking forward to the visit to Shanghai and Beijing."
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While Albanese stressed the nation's interests with China, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said that Australia's values should never be sacrificed.
"We need to stand up for the values we've fought for for a very long time", he said.
"And we don't sacrifice those under any circumstance."
"We want to see the trading relationship increase but we need to be very frank in the relationship as well."