As the search continues for a missing Ōpōtiki fisherman, police are appealing for sightings of items of interest.On Sunday afternoon, police were advised that the man in Torere had failed to return from a fishing trip…
Tag Archives: oceania
Former Arise Church members talk of burnout and focus on money
By Jonty Dine of RNZ The carefully cultivated image Arise Church portrayed to the public masked a culture of mistreatment and greed, former members allege.John Cameron, the founding pastor of one of the country’s biggest churches,…
Traffic jams expected following Easter long weekend
Hundreds of thousands of Australians will make the journey back home today following the Easter long weekend and major traffic delays are expected.
Cars are already seen to be banking up in a 'mass exodus' leaving the South Coast this morning as Sydney ferries experience delays.
Heavy holiday traffic is also increasing around Victoria and New South Wales.
READ MORE: Coronavirus Australia Update: New case numbers from across the country
The major freeways heading towards Melbourne have been busy since this morning.
Vic Traffic says there have been areas of congestion on the Peninsula Link as well as on the Bass Highway and South Gippsland Highway with lots of holidaymakers heading home from Phillip Island.
Traffic remains heavy on the Hume Freeway citybound through Seymour, Wallan and Beveridge and there are inbound delays on the Melba Highway through Dixons Creek and Yarra Glen.
In NSW, traffic is banking on the M1 Pacific Motorway with southbound traffic heavy between Freemans Waterhole and Morissett between Somersby and Mount White and between Berowra and Wahroonga, adding about 40 minutes extra time.
https://twitter.com/OLathouris_WIN/status/1515856812125220868?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
In the south, in Marulan to Campbelltown, northbound traffic is heavy on the Hume Motorway through Marulan and Pheasants Nest, adding about 35 minutes extra time.
In Sydney, ferries have reached capacity and may not be able to pick up passengers to overcrowding.
Sydney Ferries Info took to social media to ask travellers to consider alternative travel options.
https://twitter.com/FerriesInfo/status/1515881276670189568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
"Some ferries may also be delayed and wharves are heavily crowded," they said.
Buses are now replacing services between Parramatta and Circular Quay.
Airports are also anticipating another busy day as passenger numbers are expected to peak again on Qantas and Jetstar services.
In a statement, the group said people travelling today are advised to check in online and arrive two hours before their flight.
Despite high passenger numbers expected, they said travellers have been experiencing a "relatively smooth" journey this morning in terms of queues.
Last Thursday, much of the country experienced extensive delays that plagued Australian highways.
It's expected similar traffic conditions will be seen today, as holidaymakers make their return home.
'We are heartbroken': Family mourns death of son stabbed at Easter Show
The mother of a 17-year-old father-to-be stabbed to death at Sydney's Royal Easter Show has paid tribute to her "selfless son" as the family await the return of his body.
Uati "Pele" Faletolu's "heartbroken" mother Janice said she does not want her son to be remembered as a victim after he was killed while on a break from his job as a ride attendant in what police believe was a planned confrontation last Monday.
"Uati was a happy, outgoing young man with a loving heart," Jasika Faletolu posted on social media on behalf of the family.
READ MORE: First cruise ship returns to Sydney after more than two years
"He was a loyal friend, a caring brother, and a selfless son and partner.
"Even with the tragic circumstances surrounding Uati's passing, we as a family do not want Uati remembered as a victim but to use this time to honour and celebrate the beautiful person that he was."
The 17-year-old was expecting a child with his girlfriend, his partner's sister confirmed in a social media post.
Mr Faletolu's body is due to be returned to the family home today after being released by the coroner.
READ MORE: Teen killed in Easter Show stabbing was expecting a child
His funeral will be held this Friday, April 22, with his family asking those wishing to pay their respects to reach out to Ms Faletolu first.
Police have charged a 15-year-old boy with carrying a knife in relation to the incident, but said he is not responsible for the killing or the stabbing of another 16-year-old on the night.
READ MORE: Child found dead in bedroom after fire engulfs home in Brisbane's north
"We believe there is someone we still need to identify who is responsible for the stabbing," Superintendent Danielle Emerton said last week
"It may be one person, it may be multiple people."
Mr Faletolu's family thanked members of the community for their support, and the food, messages, flowers, and financial support they have received.
"We are truly grateful for the generosity and kindness shown," Jasika Faletolu said on social media.
"The support has been a true blessing and has lightened the burden for us as we grieve our beloved Uati."
A man who had his car involved in three different crimes after being stolen last year is still waiting for answers from authorities
A man who had his car involved in three different crimes last year says he his is still waiting to hear from the authorities.Ben Oren said he parked his Subaru Legacy on a well-known street in Ponsonby on the day it was taken, but…
National wants Auditor-General to look at mental health spending
National wants the Auditor-General, Parliament’s independent spending watchdog, to run a ruler over the $1.9 billion for mental health allocated in the 2019 budget. The Auditor-General normally looks into whether laws might have…
Police detect driver allegedly speeding at 251km/h
Police say they are 'lost for words' after detecting a driver allegedly travelling at 251km/h in Melbourne's northwest on Easter Sunday.
Officers say they detected the white Volkswagen sedan allegedly travelling at more than 140km/h over the 110km/h speed limit on the Calder Freeway near Woodend at 12.30am.
The vehicle was intercepted in Kyneton a short time later, where the driver, a 42-year-old Hallam woman, was also seen to be on her phone.
READ MORE: 'Mass exodus': Traffic delays expected following Easter long weekend
The woman's car was impounded following the incident.
The 42-year-old is expected to be charged on summons with numerous offences including conduct endangering life, drive at dangerous speed and using a mobile phone while driving.
The detection is part Operation Compass, the state-wide road policing operation during the high-risk Easter holiday period.
Police are targeting impaired driving, speed, distraction and fatigue in high-risk areas throughout metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Operation Compass concludes at 11.59pm on April 25.
Man dead, several injured in highway crash
A man has died and a woman remains critically injured after a motorbike and car collided on a Queensland highway this morning.
The two vehicles crashed on the Bruce Highway, near the McNeil Road intersection in Koumala, central Queensland around 10.25 am.
The 60-year-old driver of the motorbike died at the scene while his passenger, a 19-year-old woman, was airlifted to Townsville Base Hospital.
The woman is battling severe head injuries.
READ MORE: Child found dead in bedroom after fire engulfs home in Brisbane's north
"Paramedics, including critical care and a rescue helicopter are responding to a serious vehicle and motorcycle crash," a spokesperson for Queensland Ambulance Service said today.
"Seven people were assessed."
Queensland Ambulance Service confirmed the driver and four passengers of the car involved were also treated.
They were taken to Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition.
The driver of the vehicle, a 63-year-old woman sustained moderate injuries while the four passengers, including two children, a woman and a man were unharmed.
Northbound lanes of traffic closed since the incident have since reopened following heavy delays this morning.
Police are appealing to members of the public who witnessed the incident or who may have dashcam footage to assist police with investigations.
Child dead after home catches fire
A Queensland community has described the harrowing moment a fire engulfed a Brisbane home, forcing a family of residents to escape whilst their six-year-old son remained inside.
Mother Karen Chirila, her husband and youngest son, Lincoln, were forced to leave the blaze of their Clayfield home around 4 am this morning, as a wall of fire prevented Ms Chirila from reaching her other son.
Fire fighters found six-year-old Max, just weeks from his seventh birthday, dead inside his destroyed bedroom at the back of the house.
The boy's family told 9News they felt like their entire world had collapsed within a few seconds.
READ MORE: Albanese booed on stage at Bluesfest
The community has been left devastated, with one local describing the harrowing moment she saw his mother realise her son could not be saved from the blaze.
"The realisation she couldn't go back into the home to save him is something I will never ever forget," Jenn Davidson told 9News.
"Devastating – an awful thing to witness.
"We as a community are just in shock. It's a heart breaking experience for all involved."
She described the six-year-old as a "lovely boy".
"Beyond words," she added.
Superintendent Paul Durston from Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said the fire is believed to have started at the back of the house, near the boy's bedroom.
By the time firefighters arrived the whole house was ablaze.
"The crews were met by a lot of smoke and a lot of heat, it was very difficult to make entry through the front door but they eventually made entry through there," he said.
Heat from the fire caused the windows to break, causing explosions to ring out.
Superintendent Durston said as older style Queenslanders get quite cold, residents will close their windows which can increase the risk of a fire quickly developing.
"It gets very hot internally and then the windows fail … the fire starts to rage quite quickly," Superintendent Durston said.
Upon entry, fire fighters struggled to get through the property, eventually locating the body of the young boy in his bedroom.
"Firies absolute priority was not to even consider their own lives that stage and just do their very best to make entry into the back bedroom. but the fire was so intense it was impossible at that point," Mark Halverson from QFES said.
The cause of the fire is unknown. An investigation has been launched.
Due to the extensive damage to the building it is unclear whether the home had working smoke alarms.
"We have no reason to believe there weren't," Mr Halverson said.
"Interconnected smoke alarms that will sound in the bedrooms even if the fire has started elsewhere provide that early warning so they are a vital safety feature for all occupants of dwellings."
Mr Durston said while emergency crews are glad they saved the lives of the three residents, they are devastated by the loss of the child.
"Very difficult for crews when they can't save all of the lives inside because of the heat and the fire so the crews are quite distraught," he said.
"They're not good scenes but the crews did the best they could when they arrived and we had 26 firefighters here that worked tirelessly to try and get this situation under control as quickly as they could."
First cruise ship returns to Sydney after more than two years
The first cruise ship for more than two years has arrived into Sydney Harbour.
P&O Australia's Pacific Explorer was given a special welcome after returning to Australia from Limassol in Cyprus, via Singapore.
Two tugs with water cannons performed a special "ballet" to welcome the ship, which was empty except for crew.
It can carry 1998 passengers and 924 crew.
READ MORE: 'Abusive call after abusive call': Qantas insider reveals other side of call centre crisis
However it won't leave on its first cruise with passengers until May 31, to make the first call at the new Brisbane International Cruise Terminal on June 2.
The return of cruise ships will bring a much-needed cash injection back into the $5 billion industry that supports 18,000 Aussie jobs.
Plus they will allow cruise addicts to indulge in the holidays they love. A total of 1.35 million Australians took a cruise in 2018.
More ships will gradually return to Australia in the coming months, though some firms have cancelled cruises months ahead because the resumption was uncertain.
Pacific Explorer was set to enter Sydney Heads at 9.30am, pass the Opera House at 10.20am and dock alongside the Overseas Passenger Terminal at 10.30am.
Cruise fans were invited to welcome it by gathering around the harbour.
As reported by 9News, cruise firms are busy rehiring staff, while suppliers are also gearing up for their return after a bleak two years.
Almost 30 passengers on the Ruby Princess ship died after the coronavirus spread on board at the start of the pandemic, with NSW Health blamed after it then tore through the country when passengers disembarked.
Since then, cruise ships have not been allowed to dock anywhere in Australia.
READ MORE: How cruise ships are gearing up for Australian return
Cruise Lines International Association managing director of Australasia Joel Katz said extensive new health rules would allow a phased revival.
"The end of the cruise suspension is huge landmark and will be celebrated by many thousands of Australians whose livelihoods depend on cruising," he said.
Victoria was the first state to outline its rules for cruises.
Cruise ship passengers aged over 12 must be at least double-vaccinated and all crew members triple-vaccinated under new protocols.
Unvaccinated children under 12 or anyone with a valid medical exemption can travel but they must not make up more than five per cent of the ship's passengers.
Passengers will also need to test negative for COVID-19 before embarking and if boarding with symptoms, must return another negative PCR test that day.