They are torn between grieving lives lost and stress for their staff and finances.
Tag Archives: oceania
Theft from Hastings’ Cornwall Park: Stolen turtles slowly make their way home
Three of the seven missing red-eared slider turtles have now been found.
Frantic dual citizens scramble to order new passports amid major change
Australian-British dual citizens now have less than one month to prepare for the United Kingdom's new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme.
The UK will soon strictly enforce its ETA scheme from February 25; a big change which means dual Australian-British or Australian-Irish nationals – who are exempt from needing an ETA – must have a valid UK or Irish passport to travel in and out of Britain or Ireland.
After Nine.com.au first reported on the upcoming changes, countless dual citizens living in Australia with expired passports have been left wondering how it will impact their travel plans or if their forthcoming trips have been ruined.
READ MORE: Thousands join Invasion Day rallies around the country
Do you have a story? Contact reporter April Glover at
I am arriving in the UK before Feb 25, am I affected?
The short answer is: no.
The UK will not enforce the new ETA scheme until after February 25.
If you are travelling to the UK before this date, Australian travellers won't need to pay for an ETA and dual citizens won't need their valid UK passport just yet.
How long will it take to renew my passport?
It depends on whether you have had a British or Irish passport before.
It can take between six to 13 weeks receive a passport from Australia.
This process time can vary and may be longer if you've never had a passport before.
The HM Passport Office recommends that people do not book travel or apply for visas until after you have your passport.
A standard passport is £108 ($215) for an adult, and £70 ($138) for a child, plus a £19.86 ($38) courier fee.
Large fire breaks out in Onehunga, Auckland; residents told to stay inside due to smoke
Fire and Emergency received the call just after 8pm.
Child’s candlelight vigil marks grief after Mount Maunganui landslide
The recovery operation was halted earlier in the day because it was too dangerous.
Niwa data shows wet January has ‘robbed Kiwis of summer’
Niwa says most regions had under 85% of their usual January sunshine.
Person arrested in Blenheim on kidnapping charge
Officers were called to an incident on Lakings Rd on Saturday.
Investigator reveals tactic that could have prevented Auckland company’s $375,000 fraud loss
A former high-ranking New Zealand Police official helped expose the significant fraud.
Mount Maunganui slip: Search dog Kora and handler hailed as heroes
Locals have flooded social media with praise for the pair’s dedication.
K’gari dingo pack to be euthanised as unacceptable risk after death
The dingoes found surrounding the body of Canadian backpacker Piper James, who was found dead on the Queensland island of K'gari, will be put down after they were deemed an unacceptable risk.
An autopsy has given inconclusive results as to her cause of death.
It was hoped the preliminary findings would confirm whether she had drowned or been killed by dingoes after her mauled body was found on a beach on the Queensland island.
The autopsy shows evidence of fluid on the 19-year-old's lungs but it remains unclear how the fluid entered her body.
A Coroners Court spokesperson said it was not likely another person was involved in James' death.
"Pre-mortem dingo bite marks are not likely to have caused immediate death," the spokesperson said.
"There are extensive post-mortem dingo bite marks."
Police believe there are three potential causes of death – that she drowned and mauled posthumously, that she was attacked and killed by dingoes, or that she drowned after being chased into the water by the dingoes.
Today the Department of the Environment and Tourism in Queensland said they would euthanise the animals after they observed "aggressive behaviour".
"We are aware of the initial findings of Piper James' autopsy. We extend our deepest sympathies to Piper's family and loved ones," a spokesperson said.
"Rangers have closely monitored the pack of dingoes involved in the incident this week and have observed some aggressive behaviour. Following the initial autopsy findings, this pack's involvement in the incident, and observations since, this pack has been deemed an unacceptable public safety risk.
"Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) Rangers are currently implementing actions accordingly.
"There is no public safety risk during this process. Dingoes involved in Monday's incident will be humanely euthanised.
"Public safety is our top priority, and this decision is informed and in the public interest."
Her father Todd James told 9News last night that tests continue on other samples taken from her body.
The results could take up to two months.
Mr James told 9News the family was relieved the results meant her body could be released back to her family in Canada.
He also said he and his wife Angela had been invited to attend an Indigenous smoking ceremony on K'gari, which they said they would be honoured to accept.
Speaking to 9News from their family home on Vancouver Island earlier this week, Piper's mum Angela James said her daughter had been "having the time of her life" in Australia.
"She loved it there. She just loved it. She thought it was beautiful," Mrs James said.
James would often phone her parents early in the morning from the beach on K'gari.
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