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All you need to know about the world this morning, curated by 95bFM and VICE NZ.Gold Struck Near Paeroa
A mining company has found over 300,000 ounces of gold at a site in Karangahake Gorge, near Paeroa.
New Talisman Gold Mines chief operating officer Wayne Chowles said they want to begin extraction of small amounts of gold next year. Chowles said his company is also looking at five other zones, which they hope have similar levels of gold. The mining company has consent from the Hauraki District Council to undertake bulk sampling, which allows up to 20,000 cubic metres of ore to be mined each year.
But Mayor John Tregidga said that did not meet the definition of commercial mining, and that the company would face community pushback if they pursued a mining license.All Noise, No Signal Between Labour and Māori Party
The Labour and Māori parties both say the other ignored them during the consultation process for the Te Ture Whenua Bill.
The frustration comes as it appears the bill, which proposes a range of Māori land reforms, won't be passed before this year's election.
Speaking to 95bFM, Māori Party co-leader Marama Fox said Labour had refused to engage with them. "I went to Labour very early on and literally asked them if they would be prepared to work together with us to craft this bill into the best piece of legislation that we can.
"They rejected that offer and simply said to us: 'Well, that's the game, sorry 'bout it.'"
But Labour's Meka Whaitiri disputed this. "Have I been approached by Marama Fox to come and sit down and discuss my concerns? Not one text."
Whaitiri added that her concerns were dismissed when she raised them with Fox in person.New Zealand First and the Greens Let Bygones Be Bygones
NZ First and the Green Party are heading to their annual conventions this weekend. The parties have spent the week bickering, despite predictions they'll have to work together to support a potential Labour-led government.
The Greens called out Winston Peters for having "racist" policies. Peters responded by saying there'll be consequences for the accusation.
Both parties now say they want to put the week of scuffles behind them, as working together is still on the table.Antarctic Iceberg Could Cause A Repeat Of The Titanic
A trillion-tonne iceberg from Antarctica poses a possible threat to shipping lines, say marine scientists.
The iceberg split off of the Larsen C shelf in Antarctica. It is still intact, but marine physicist Dr. Natalie Robinson expects this to change. "It would be a hazard to shipping, especially if the iceberg breaks up into pieces too small to be tracked by satellite."
Robinson says the breakup could result in hundreds, even thousands, of smaller icebergs.
According to Antarctic researcher Christina Hulbe it's too early to determine if climate change caused the iceberg to split off of the Antarctic shelf. "There is a lot of change [in Antarctica], and it is related to climate, but [for] this particular event [it's] hard to say right now exactly why it happened."Interference In Papua New Guinea Elections
An intergovernmental organisation has found widespread evidence of tampering in Papua New Guinea's recent election.
Observers from the Melanesian Spearhead Group found that candidate names were missing from the electoral roll at every polling station they visited.
It also found instances of double voting, and long delays in the opening of polling stations.
The team said no polling station that it visited over the several days of voting was open for the 8 AM starting time.
There were also delays to the official counting of votes, with one instance taking well over six days to begin the count.Obese Mothers More Likely To Have Behaviourally Challenged Sons
A new study from The American Journal of Preventative Medicine has found that maternal obesity is linked to behavioural problems in boys.
The study found the heavier mothers were when entering pregnancy, the higher the chances their male children would have conditions like ADHD.
However, the American Journal of Preventative Medicine's research did not show the same effects in girls.
Study author Dr. Barbara Adams said it's critical expectant mothers get early intervention to help them attain healthy weights prior to pregnancy.Sri Lankan Elephant Goes On Marathon Swim
The Sri Lankan Navy rescued an offshore elephant that was swimming 16 km off the north east coast last night.
Navy reports said the pachyderm elephant was dragged into the ocean after being caught in currents close to the shore. A Patrol boat spotted the elephant, which was slowly dragged back into shallow water with the help of navy boats and Department of Wildlife officials.
The rescue took 12 hours, with divers carefully tying ropes to the tired mammal before beginning the gentle towing process.Reporting by Daniel Walker and Leonard Powell
LOCAL NEWS
A mining company has found over 300,000 ounces of gold at a site in Karangahake Gorge, near Paeroa.
New Talisman Gold Mines chief operating officer Wayne Chowles said they want to begin extraction of small amounts of gold next year. Chowles said his company is also looking at five other zones, which they hope have similar levels of gold. The mining company has consent from the Hauraki District Council to undertake bulk sampling, which allows up to 20,000 cubic metres of ore to be mined each year.
But Mayor John Tregidga said that did not meet the definition of commercial mining, and that the company would face community pushback if they pursued a mining license.All Noise, No Signal Between Labour and Māori Party
The Labour and Māori parties both say the other ignored them during the consultation process for the Te Ture Whenua Bill.
The frustration comes as it appears the bill, which proposes a range of Māori land reforms, won't be passed before this year's election.
Speaking to 95bFM, Māori Party co-leader Marama Fox said Labour had refused to engage with them. "I went to Labour very early on and literally asked them if they would be prepared to work together with us to craft this bill into the best piece of legislation that we can.
"They rejected that offer and simply said to us: 'Well, that's the game, sorry 'bout it.'"
But Labour's Meka Whaitiri disputed this. "Have I been approached by Marama Fox to come and sit down and discuss my concerns? Not one text."
Whaitiri added that her concerns were dismissed when she raised them with Fox in person.
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NZ First and the Green Party are heading to their annual conventions this weekend. The parties have spent the week bickering, despite predictions they'll have to work together to support a potential Labour-led government.
The Greens called out Winston Peters for having "racist" policies. Peters responded by saying there'll be consequences for the accusation.
Both parties now say they want to put the week of scuffles behind them, as working together is still on the table.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
A trillion-tonne iceberg from Antarctica poses a possible threat to shipping lines, say marine scientists.
The iceberg split off of the Larsen C shelf in Antarctica. It is still intact, but marine physicist Dr. Natalie Robinson expects this to change. "It would be a hazard to shipping, especially if the iceberg breaks up into pieces too small to be tracked by satellite."
Robinson says the breakup could result in hundreds, even thousands, of smaller icebergs.
According to Antarctic researcher Christina Hulbe it's too early to determine if climate change caused the iceberg to split off of the Antarctic shelf. "There is a lot of change [in Antarctica], and it is related to climate, but [for] this particular event [it's] hard to say right now exactly why it happened."Interference In Papua New Guinea Elections
An intergovernmental organisation has found widespread evidence of tampering in Papua New Guinea's recent election.
Observers from the Melanesian Spearhead Group found that candidate names were missing from the electoral roll at every polling station they visited.
It also found instances of double voting, and long delays in the opening of polling stations.
The team said no polling station that it visited over the several days of voting was open for the 8 AM starting time.
There were also delays to the official counting of votes, with one instance taking well over six days to begin the count.Obese Mothers More Likely To Have Behaviourally Challenged Sons
A new study from The American Journal of Preventative Medicine has found that maternal obesity is linked to behavioural problems in boys.
The study found the heavier mothers were when entering pregnancy, the higher the chances their male children would have conditions like ADHD.
However, the American Journal of Preventative Medicine's research did not show the same effects in girls.
Study author Dr. Barbara Adams said it's critical expectant mothers get early intervention to help them attain healthy weights prior to pregnancy.Sri Lankan Elephant Goes On Marathon Swim
The Sri Lankan Navy rescued an offshore elephant that was swimming 16 km off the north east coast last night.
Navy reports said the pachyderm elephant was dragged into the ocean after being caught in currents close to the shore. A Patrol boat spotted the elephant, which was slowly dragged back into shallow water with the help of navy boats and Department of Wildlife officials.
The rescue took 12 hours, with divers carefully tying ropes to the tired mammal before beginning the gentle towing process.Reporting by Daniel Walker and Leonard Powell