Ngongotahā Chiefs have opened their Tarawera Rd base for Whakarewarewa rugby gatherings.

Bachcare is refunding Paula Baker nearly $1600 for her Whitianga stay.

Hauraki Mayor Toby Adams says residents are weary after recent floods but still resilient.

‘This declaration means we can act quickly if required.’

US tourist and retired racer Steven Mathers stumbled on Supercars by chance.

Police say early beacon use and clear satellite texts helped save the climbers’ lives.

Drivers passing through Victoria's Mornington Peninsula were treated to a rare sight after a snoozing seal blocked traffic, delighting motorists despite causing delays.

Police were called to direct traffic on Point Nepean Road in Dromana, near Anthony's Nose beach, about 9am after several reports of a live seal sunbathing on the road in the popular coastal area.

Motorists noticed the seal, known by locals as "Sammy", was fast asleep on the left-hand side of the busy roadway.

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There were delays of up to five minutes as police officers arrived at the scene to direct traffic and help move Sammy to safety.

Lanes were closed in both directions for several hours and motorists were asked to avoid the area, with traffic cones put in place to protect the marine animal.

All lanes were cleared by 1pm as Sammy was moved away from traffic.

Zoos Victoria's Marine Response Unit (MRU) responded to the incident.

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Sammy has been safely returned to the water, VicTraffic confirmed.

Seals are a common sight along the Mornington Peninsula, however the MRU warns not to approach as they can be dangerous if they feel threatened.

Sammy is a regular roamer along the tourist region, with locals often spotting the seal on adventures out of the water.

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‘You need help,’ one parent told David Shaw.

Cases range from minor drug allegations to exploitation and murder.

The Grace Tame Foundation will shut down as ongoing financial strains have made the operation too expensive to continue running.

Founded by the Former Australian of the Year, the not-for-profit was created to drive reform and support people impacted by abuse.

In a statement posted to Instagram, it said it had reached a decisive moment.

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"Like many small advocacy organisations, sustaining long-term funding for this work has become increasingly challenging," it said.

"After careful consideration, the board has made the decision to close the foundation, with the process to be finalised in the coming weeks."

Tame, a child sexual abuse survivor, began public advocacy in 2018 after successfully campaigning to overhaul Tasmania's laws, enabling survivors to share their stories without legal barriers.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DW5ZCABFfED/?img_index=1

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The organisation said its work forced difficult conversations and led to concrete legal changes nationwide.

"Thanks to our campaign efforts, every jurisdiction in Australia has stopped naming the crime of 'persistent child sexual abuse' as a 'relationship'," it said.

In March, Tame, 31, said she had been dropped from speaking engagements following what she described as a media smear campaign.

The remarks followed criticism from some Jewish groups after she led a chant at a Sydney protest during a visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

The organisation, with four board members, including Tame, undertook initiatives such as advocating for consistent survivor-identification laws, promoting anti-grooming education, and helping hundreds of survivors pursue justice.

"None of this would have been possible without Grace's fierce and uncompromising advocacy for survivors," it said.

"[As well as] her determination to ensure the experiences of those harmed as children could no longer be ignored."

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732)

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