Latest news with #Pukekohe
Otago Daily Times
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
He's Tunza Grunt relishes track conditions
Stephanie Faulkner was in the spotlight on her home track of Phar Lap Raceway yesterday, collecting a fitting victory for the connections of He's Tunza Grunt in the Waimate Cup (1600m). The meeting was initially set to be run on Sunday but, after heavy rain through the week, it was rescheduled yesterday, and that was telling in the testing track conditions on course. One runner who was always going to appreciate the ground was He's Tunza Grunt, Faulkner's four-win galloper who came into the cup underrated after resuming over 1200m in May. Riccarton visitor Iffididit was backed into odds-on favouritism and was prominent early from an outside barrier, while jockey Brandon May opted to settle near the tail of the field aboard He's Tunza Grunt. Along the back straight, outsider Quartz Queen put a big margin on her rivals, but began to tire at the 600m and Iffididit and Midnight Runner hit the lead turning for home. Iffididit kicked clear at the 200m but was very wayward in the closing stages, just as He's Tunza Grunt came powering over the top to score impressively by 1¼ lengths. Faulkner had been slightly sceptical on entering the open contest early in his new campaign, but was thrilled to pull off the win. "I thought this may have been a bit ambitious second-up, but he's an older horse and didn't have a long spell, and being a lighter-framed horse, he's come back pretty fit," she said. "He loves those loose, heavy tracks and he's pretty tough. "It was great to win today. I haven't really looked at the programme but I'll be doing that now. "He was getting back down into 65 grade again, but he'll be back up near open company now." A son of Pure Champion out of an unraced Encosta De Lago mare Sacred Jewel, He's Tunza Grunt has now earned over $100,000 for Diana Goodeve, a Waimate local and long-time supporter of the club alongside her late husband, Bob. "It was a lovely win for Diana. She is from Waimate and they have put a lot of time and money over the years into supporting the Waimate Club," Faulkner said. "I haven't won this as a trainer before, and I actually ran second in it riding one of Bob and Diana's horses years ago, back in the early '90s. "It's probably one of Diana's lifelong dreams to win this race, and I know Bob will be up there smiling." Earlier in the meeting, Faulkner won the opener with a new addition to her stable in Storms Ahead. Formerly trained by co-owner Clinton Isdale, Storms Ahead was first-up since running at Pukekohe in October, but was well-backed in his southern debut closing at $2.40. — News Desk By Jess de Lautour
RNZ News
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
By the numbers: Moana Pasifika's 2025
Moana Pasifika fans, crowd and supporters, Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika, round 16 of the Super Rugby Pacific competition. Photo: Photosport / Elias Rodriguez Moana Pasifika has achieved good numbers in 2025 in attendance, digital reach and individual accolades. Their season came to an end without a playoff spot, but the North Harbour-based franchise said in a statement on Tuesday their season has been what fans have labelled memorable. More than 48,000 people attended Moana Pasifika games, five played at North Harbour Stadium and two at Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe. Chief executive officer Debbie Sorenson said the "season has been phenomenal and I'm so proud of our players, staff and sponsors for all of their hard work that went into making it a success". "A massive thank you has to go to our people for showing their support wherever our team was playing," she stated. "You brought the energy and atmosphere to our games, which is uniquely Pacific. We are so lucky to be able to use our platform to share this with the world." The franchise said they saw an average increase of 369 percent in scanned attendance at each of their home games, compared to the previous season. Over 680 of those fans were members who attended all five of the matches at Albany. 2024 World Rugby Player of the Year, Ardie Savea, led the team to six wins, the best they have recorded in their four-year history. Four of those wins were against New Zealand franchise clubs - the Blues, Crusaders, Highlanders and the Hurricanes. Moana Pasifika. Photo: Andy Radka/ActionPress The club finished the regular season in seventh on the standings, just one step away from having qualified for the play-offs . Savea was voted the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year, as voted by opposition coaches and captains, and also named as the best number seven in the competition, his name appearing in the honorary Super Rugby Team of the Year . Super Rugby fans acknowledged the individual efforts of players too, voting for Moana Pasifika standouts as the Player of the Week for five of the 14 rounds that the team played in. That saw Miracle Faiilagi (round 4), Patrick Pellegrini (round 7), Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou (round 8), and Ardie Savea (round 12 and 14) named as the best player of those rounds. The club said a key part of building fan connection to the team this season was through the social media channels and the authentic, unbarred, fun content produced. Moana Pasifika have added over 150,000 new followers across social platforms in 2025 year to date - more than the five New Zealand clubs combined. The club said the introduction of Moana Pasifika vlogs gave fans access to engaging, behind-the-scenes, player-led content of the team, driving YouTube subscriptions up by 462 percent. Interestingly, the United States, South Africa and the United Kingdom are some of the top countries that make up Moana Pasifika's audience - alongside New Zealand, Australia and Pacific Island nations.
RNZ News
27-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
The young grower winning awards
Jack Haddon, 22, has won the Pukekohe 2025 Young Grower regional title. The awards are for commercial fruit and vegetable growers from across the regions, up to the age of 30. Farm and operations manager Jack joined agriculture outfit Balle Brothers aged 17 and he now manages 200 hectares of cauliflower and cabbage. He beat three other contestants to win the award and will now compete in the national awards in Christchurch in September. Jack Haddon speaks to Kathryn. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
27-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
High quality agreements with new trade partners priority for agricultural sector
Lettuce crops being grown in market gardens in Pukekohe. Photo: RNZ/ Brad White New Zealand agriculture can no longer rely on its usual international customers and needs to look for new markets, industry leaders believe. A report from business consultancy KPMG on Agribusiness Agenda, has tapped local leaders in various parts of the country's agricultural sector for their views on where the industry needs to go. KMPG spokesperson Ian Proudfoot says tariff uncertainty is spurring people into action. "They're thinking about where else can we sell products, what do we need to make those products look like, and what attributes do they need to have for them to be sold effectively." One of the highest priorities identified by the report was the signing of high quality trade agreements with new trading partners. India is high on the list along with South East Asian markets such as Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. Biosecurity remained the top of the must-do list, along with post-pandemic supply chain resilience. Proudfoot said there was support to maintain migration settings, but also a need to grow a skilled local labour force, rather than relying on migrant labour, and a training system to deliver it. He said sustainability was not just important but non-negotiable. "The overriding message is that we can't change our course on main reason is commercial. We're selling to a relatively small group of customers around the world who are servicing a high value market. Those commitments are really important to them."
RNZ News
22-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Planning for Auckland's rapidly growing 'vibrant' south
The Franklin area is one of the New Zealand's primary food production regions. Photo: Chris McKeen/Stuff A strategy to help support one of Auckland's fastest-growing regions with housing and its thriving farming industry has been approved by Auckland Council. The southern rural areas, which includes the Franklin Ward, are expected to see an increase of 89,900 people, 37,500 households, and 16,500 jobs by 2052. Auckland Council recently approved the new Southern Rural Strategy , which supports the region to accommodate its growing population, while enabling industries like farming and food production to thrive. "The southern rural area is expected to account for approximately 15 percent of Auckland's overall population growth over the next 30 years," Franklin Ward Councillor Andy Baker said. The area was one of New Zealand's primary food production regions, with abundant natural resources and some of the most productive land in New Zealand. "Its strategic location - close to airports, seaport and key export markets - helps to further cultivate these industries." In a statement, Baker said the strategy provides direction for where housing choices, industries and employment opportunities will grow, "in a way that supports the area to thrive economically and ecologically". It includes strengthening the role of Pukekohe and Waiuku as rural service towns, focuses growth in existing urbanised settlements and avoid growth outside settlements, and minimises urban growth where it could have negative impacts on rural production and industries. The strategy also makes sure there is sufficient infrastructure to support new development, support safe access for residential and rural production users with transport and access needs, and celebrates the Māori and Pākehā heritage of towns, villages and other areas. The strategy covers the full Franklin ward. It also includes some rural land from the Howick, Manurewa, and Papakura local board areas. The strategy does not cover the area's quickest growing towns - Drury, Ōpaheke and Pukekohe - which already have community-backed plans to guide their growth. Consultation on the Southern Rural Strategy took place in October to December last year. Deputy chair of Auckland's Policy and Planning Committee, Angela Dalton, said the strategy supports the southern rural area to grow well. "This is a vibrant region, where traditional industries thrive alongside emerging sectors," Dalton said. "The strategy is about balanced growth that minimises the impact on the environment, while improving housing choices and socially connected communities." By making the most of existing infrastructure, and focusing on projects that deliver multiple benefits, the council was helping set up the region for a resilient and sustainable future, she said. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
