By RNZ The “slumping” Ashburton bridge has reopened for light traffic, says Waka Kotahi, the New Zealand Transport Agency.It had been testing the damaged bridge on Tuesday afternoon and evening, and at 11.35pm traffic started…
Tag Archives: oceania
Fishermen's frightening encounter with great white shark caught on camera
Two Western Australian fishermen were having a peaceful morning wetting a line until a giant catch appeared.
A four-metre great white shark got a little too close for comfort.
After 10 minutes circling Mr Marshall and Paul Marriott's boat in Catherine Bay, four kilometres off Rottnest Island, the predator suddenly turned aggressive.
READ MORE: Diver willingly sticks 'full arm' down mouth of shark
"It was quite daunting actually," fisherman Jordan Marshall said.
The pair filmed the close encounter on camera.
"Holy s–t — that is a beast… oh he's going at the motor — sheesh woah, yeah f–k," one said.
Mr Marriott said they felt scared as the shark "was right there looking at us".
READ MORE: Missing US fisherman found after 17 nights lost in wilderness
Still – the fishermen were in no rush to escape.
"He was a bit more game than me, patting the water and doing that kind of stuff," Mr Marshall said, of his friend.
Mr Marriott said he was "angling a couple of mullets trying to get him up close".
But it didn't take the bait.
"We'd tucked into a couple of beers by then so we sort of let him go off and do his own thing," Mr Marriott laughed.
The pair returned to shore without a scratch but boasting a shark tale they'll never forget.
The decoration that's caused $8 million in damages over five years
A simple household decoration has become a destructive item for households.
The items have caused almost $8 million in the past five years to 113 South Australian homes.
Now fire authorities are warning people not to leave candles unattended, with the launch of home fire safety week, which coincides with the start of winter.
READ MORE: Three hospitalised and traffic gridlock after major truck fire on NSW Central Coast
Minister for Emergency Services Vincent Tarzia said candle fires caused $7.75m damage and resulted in destroyed homes.
"The figures equate to an average damage cost of $68,584 per candle fire over the past five years," Minister Tarzia said.
"Some might think candles are perfectly safe, but it is crystal clear misused and unattended candles pose a significant risk to lives and property."
Country Fire Service (CFS) Chief Officer Mark Jones said candles also presented a risk if they were not extinguished properly.
READ MORE: Pfizer warns Aussies against buying 'illicit and counterfeit' vaccines online
"While most people safely extinguish candles by blowing them out, many don't know the explosive dangers of using water to extinguish a candle," Mr Jones said.
"It can be just as dangerous as putting water on a fat fire.
"Putting water on a candle that has burned down into a pool of hot, liquid wax may lead to a rapid expansion of the candle's flame into a ball of fire.
"This can cause burn injuries and the rapid spread of fire.
"Never use water on a candle fire."
READ MORE: Australia's interest rates remain on hold at historic low of 0.10 per cent
South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service chief officer Michael Morgan said the cause of injury and potentially death "is a very real risk".
Accidental house fires have resulted in about five to six deaths in South Australia and 2000 burn injuries each year.
Each of them is preventable if open flames are never left burning near combustibles or on plastic surfaces.
"Don't place them on the sides of plastic baths. There have been fires where they've melted through the sides of plastic baths," Mr Jones said.
"We'd prefer if you use an LED or battery-operated candle, just for that peace of mind," Mr Morgan said.
Fire authorities said it's a timely reminder to make sure you have a working smoke alarm.
"That early warning, early detection is absolutely critical for people to get out and get out safely, and then raise the alarm," Mr Morgan said.
Fewer than 10 per cent of aged care workers fully vaccinated
Fewer than 10 per cent of aged care workers have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, but the Commonwealth insists they are "underestimating" the number of those protected.
Health Department officials told a parliamentary hearing 32,833 staff had been vaccinated with two doses, alongside nursing home residents, and 70,000 have received their first dose.
The national aged care workforce employs about 366,000 people.
READ MORE: Three new local cases in Victoria
But Department of Health associate secretary Caroline Edwards said the numbers only factor in people vaccinated inside facilities and not those who have attended pop-up clinics or their GP.
"Can we be clear: this is the minimum number based on a single program," Ms Edwards said.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese described the baseline figures as "extraordinary".
"It just shows how diabolical this is that the government isn't even keeping records on this matter," Mr Albanese said.
Aged Care Services Minister Richard Colbeck said the full set of data will be available later this week.
It was also revealed to the committee 44,333 aged care residents have received their first jab and 25,319, or just over 50 per cent, have been fully vaccinated.
Last year, more than 600 older Australians died as a result of COVID-19 outbreaks in aged care.
Hospital EDs overwhelmed by alcohol and other drug-related cases
By Nick Truebridge of RNZ Stretched and struggling to cope – that’s the alarming message in a Waitematā DHB doctor’s letter to the Government.Dr Adrian Kerner’s letter to Justice Minister Kris Faafoi, obtained by Checkpoint,…
Māori Party file IPCA complaint against police for response to racist threat
The Māori Party has lodged a complaint with the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA), saying police failed to properly investigate a racist threat targeting the party’s co-leaders. The complaint comes after a YouTube…
Sleep hormone drug Melatonin comes to Australia
Help is at hand for Australians struggling to get a good nights sleep.
The sleep-inducing hormone melatonin is now available over the counter for people aged over 55.
As of today "Circadin" prolonged-release melatonin is now available over the counter from pharmacists for those aged over 55.
READ MORE: New research into sleeping disorder impacting two million Aussies
Sydney resident Corinne Mesana has welcomed the move.
She has struggled to get a good nights sleep for seven years.
"It's terrible because you feel like in the morning you feel like you're not rested you're not refreshed. You have to start the whole day and you have absolutely no energy – nothing," Ms Mesana said.
READ MORE: Condition 'that doesn't exist' affecting almost half world's population
About 60 per cent of Australians will experience insomnia at some stage in their life.
As a person ages their natural supply of the hormone melatonin decreases – making it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep all night.
"I've tried everything … like homeopathic treatment which was okay for a few hours but then you wake up through the night again," Ms Mesana said.
READ MORE: Common sleeping aid could soon be available without a prescription
Up until now those with sleep problems have needed a prescription or turned to the internet to source the hormone from overseas.
Younger Australians still need a prescription from their doctor but pharmacist John Bell said that may change.
"I think we already have really good evidence that for people over the age of 55 safe and effective product as a non-prescription product," Mr Bell said.
"I think in due course we'll have that evidence for younger age groups as well."
The Therapeutic Goods Administration said it would consider any application to broaden the drug's availability.
Weather: What caused the Canterbury flood? Three questions answered
After earthquakes, flooding happens to be New Zealand’s second costliest natural hazard – and the weekend’s deluge in Christchurch reflects why. Science reporter Jamie Morton looks at three questions surrounding the disaster. Was…
New Zealand latest country to sign space agreement with NASA
New Zealand announced on Tuesday it was the latest country to sign a space agreement with NASA, just as New Zealand’s nascent space industry begins to take off.New Zealand became the eleventh signatory to the Artemis Accords, a…
NSW farmer allegedly burnt own home to claim bushfire payments
A NSW farmer has been charged with arson and seven counts of fraud after allegedly lighting his own home on fire to collect as much as $600,000 in charity payments.
Darren Colquhoun is accused of lighting his home in Barringella, 10km west of Nowra, on fire as the devastating Currowan fire front approached his property in January 2020.
The 58-year-old cattle farmer's property was investigated by NSW Police detectives in March this year, following tip-offs that the fire may have been deliberately lit.
During searches of the property officers allegedly uncovered $500,000 in a safe.
Following the fire, Mr Colquhoun allegedly claimed six bushfire relief payments from charities and home insurance, totalling $600,000.
That included $60,000 from the Australian Red Cross and $75,000 from the Rural Assistance Authority.
Mr Colquhoun has been released on bail.