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Everything you need to know today curated by 95bFM and VICE NZ.New Zealand to Challenge Monolingual Culture
Every Kiwi child could soon have to learn a second language. The National Party will release a draft bill today, which would require every primary and intermediate school to offer at least one second language, chosen from a list of at least 10 "national priority languages". National's education spokeswoman Nikki Kaye hopes to challenge New Zealand’s monolingual culture, and believes that “the case for languages is really clear around cognitive ability”. The 2013 national Census showed that only 19 percent of New Zealanders could speak more than one language. However, the proportion of all primary and intermediate students learning a second language has reached 30 percent in 2016, more than doubling since 2000.Stewart Island Heading Towards a Brighter Future
Stewart Islanders are being encouraged to develop a plan for the community's future. The island faces an ageing and declining population, but the tourism industry is keeping the community afloat. Tourism has now overtaken the fishing industry as the main source of income for the residents. Stewart Island Community Board chairman Jon Spraggon says the 2015 campaign aiming to attract new families has been a success, with the island recording one of its highest roll of teachers. Tourists who land on the island have to pay a $5 visitor levy, which helps fund infrastructure for residents and visitors alike.“Baby Brain” is Real, Reports Say
New research has come out to validate "baby brain", the mental fog that women report experiencing during pregnancy. A series of 20 studies involving over 1,000 women, found that cognitive function was poorer in pregnant women. Senior author and associate professor Linda Byrne says "The decline is most obvious in the third trimester" of pregnancy. Researchers say exactly why memory and executive function is impacted remains unclear.DOC Condemns Marine Reserve Poachers
The Department of Conservation condemns Marine Reserve poachers, stating that there is a zero tolerance for those caught. A recent spate in marine poaching is what prompted this warning from DOC. In the last few months 16 people allegedly took more than 50 crayfish and 600 kina from a reserve near Gisborne as well as another angler being caught in a protected area near Wellington. Tom McTavish from the Department of Conservation says Marine Reserves create a protected area that represents New Zealand's unique biodiversity. McTavish added that the reserves are small so a few breaches can have a significant impact.No Changes Made to Road With the Highest Death Toll in New Zealand
Western Bay Mayor is renewing his calls to improve the safety of a dangerous stretch of road that claimed a new victim on Saturday. Eighteen people have died in car crashes on the section of State Highway 2 between Tauranga and Katikati, known as the Apata Curves, between 2012 and 2016. This is the highest death toll of state highways listed by the NZ Transport Agency as the country's most dangerous. Mayor Garry Webber says he is almost at the begging stage, and wants an appointment with Transport Minister Phil Twyford. The Bay of Plenty's regional transport chairman, Stuart Crosby, says the regional land transport committee is making the Te Puna to Katikati safety improvements a high priority.Extended Patrol Hours for Surf Lifesaving Volunteers
Surf lifesaving clubs around Auckland have extended their patrol hours after a man died while caught in a rip a Waimarama Beach. The man was swimming in chest-deep water with a group, when he and a woman were swept out to sea. Detective Mike Signal of Hawke's Bay police said without quick action by the members of public there would have been more deaths. Surf lifesaving clubs reported extending patrol hours due to dangerous conditions caused by a strong swell and evening heat. Conditions at Muriwai Beach this Saturday resulted in 14 rescues and three incidents requiring first aid.Peru struck by 7.1 magnitude earthquake
A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Peru's Pacific Coast last night. The tremor caused buildings to collapse, falling rocks and landslides with one person killed and at least 65 people injured. The earthquake struck at 4.18 am local time at a depth of 36km. It was centred 40km south west of Acari which has a population of 4,445. Peru's President Pedro Pablo Kucynski says rescue teams are looking into the extent of the damage. Arequipa Governer Yamila Osorio says tents, blankets and humanitarian aid are being delivered by air to the affected regions.False alert for incoming ballistic missile in Hawaii
Residents and visitors in Hawaii experienced shock over the weekend, after an alert for an incoming ballistic missile was wrongly sent on Saturday morning by an emergency system worker. Many of the recipients of the text spoke of panicked evacuation and thinking they were going to die. It took 18 minutes for the alert to be corrected by email, and another 30 minutes for a follow-up text to be sent. American officials profusely apologised, although US president Donald Trump for once didn’t take it to twitter to comment on the situation. The alert system is in place because of the potential proximity of Hawaii to North Korean missiles.Qatari Royal Family Member Held Captive
A member of the Qatari royal family is being held against his will in the United Arab Emirates. Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Thani, released a video on social media saying "I am no longer a guest; I am a prisoner". A professor at Qatar University believes this incident is apart of a wider trend of the United Arab Emirates holding high profile Arab personalities, to use as leverage. A similar incident occurred in November last year with Lebanese officials saying Prime Minister Saad Hariri was being held hostage by Saudi authorities.Sri Lankan Women Unable to Purchase Alcohol
Sri Lanka's president has overruled a move that would allow women to buy alcohol legally. Last week the government announced it would amend a 1955 law, as it was discriminatory. President Maithripala Sirisena says he only learned about the move in the newspapers, and has since asked the government to withdraw the reform. The move drew criticism on both sides, with people warning about women getting more addicted to alcohol, and others pointing out the hypocrisy of Sirisena, who has been vocal about gender equality in the past. Less than 0.1 percent of women above the age of 15 are prone to heavy drinking in Sri Lanka.Reporting by Lisa Boudet, Jemima Huston, Laura Kvigstad
LOCAL NEWS
Every Kiwi child could soon have to learn a second language. The National Party will release a draft bill today, which would require every primary and intermediate school to offer at least one second language, chosen from a list of at least 10 "national priority languages". National's education spokeswoman Nikki Kaye hopes to challenge New Zealand’s monolingual culture, and believes that “the case for languages is really clear around cognitive ability”. The 2013 national Census showed that only 19 percent of New Zealanders could speak more than one language. However, the proportion of all primary and intermediate students learning a second language has reached 30 percent in 2016, more than doubling since 2000.Stewart Island Heading Towards a Brighter Future
Stewart Islanders are being encouraged to develop a plan for the community's future. The island faces an ageing and declining population, but the tourism industry is keeping the community afloat. Tourism has now overtaken the fishing industry as the main source of income for the residents. Stewart Island Community Board chairman Jon Spraggon says the 2015 campaign aiming to attract new families has been a success, with the island recording one of its highest roll of teachers. Tourists who land on the island have to pay a $5 visitor levy, which helps fund infrastructure for residents and visitors alike.
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New research has come out to validate "baby brain", the mental fog that women report experiencing during pregnancy. A series of 20 studies involving over 1,000 women, found that cognitive function was poorer in pregnant women. Senior author and associate professor Linda Byrne says "The decline is most obvious in the third trimester" of pregnancy. Researchers say exactly why memory and executive function is impacted remains unclear.DOC Condemns Marine Reserve Poachers
The Department of Conservation condemns Marine Reserve poachers, stating that there is a zero tolerance for those caught. A recent spate in marine poaching is what prompted this warning from DOC. In the last few months 16 people allegedly took more than 50 crayfish and 600 kina from a reserve near Gisborne as well as another angler being caught in a protected area near Wellington. Tom McTavish from the Department of Conservation says Marine Reserves create a protected area that represents New Zealand's unique biodiversity. McTavish added that the reserves are small so a few breaches can have a significant impact.No Changes Made to Road With the Highest Death Toll in New Zealand
Western Bay Mayor is renewing his calls to improve the safety of a dangerous stretch of road that claimed a new victim on Saturday. Eighteen people have died in car crashes on the section of State Highway 2 between Tauranga and Katikati, known as the Apata Curves, between 2012 and 2016. This is the highest death toll of state highways listed by the NZ Transport Agency as the country's most dangerous. Mayor Garry Webber says he is almost at the begging stage, and wants an appointment with Transport Minister Phil Twyford. The Bay of Plenty's regional transport chairman, Stuart Crosby, says the regional land transport committee is making the Te Puna to Katikati safety improvements a high priority.
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Surf lifesaving clubs around Auckland have extended their patrol hours after a man died while caught in a rip a Waimarama Beach. The man was swimming in chest-deep water with a group, when he and a woman were swept out to sea. Detective Mike Signal of Hawke's Bay police said without quick action by the members of public there would have been more deaths. Surf lifesaving clubs reported extending patrol hours due to dangerous conditions caused by a strong swell and evening heat. Conditions at Muriwai Beach this Saturday resulted in 14 rescues and three incidents requiring first aid.
INTERNATIONAL
A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Peru's Pacific Coast last night. The tremor caused buildings to collapse, falling rocks and landslides with one person killed and at least 65 people injured. The earthquake struck at 4.18 am local time at a depth of 36km. It was centred 40km south west of Acari which has a population of 4,445. Peru's President Pedro Pablo Kucynski says rescue teams are looking into the extent of the damage. Arequipa Governer Yamila Osorio says tents, blankets and humanitarian aid are being delivered by air to the affected regions.False alert for incoming ballistic missile in Hawaii
Residents and visitors in Hawaii experienced shock over the weekend, after an alert for an incoming ballistic missile was wrongly sent on Saturday morning by an emergency system worker. Many of the recipients of the text spoke of panicked evacuation and thinking they were going to die. It took 18 minutes for the alert to be corrected by email, and another 30 minutes for a follow-up text to be sent. American officials profusely apologised, although US president Donald Trump for once didn’t take it to twitter to comment on the situation. The alert system is in place because of the potential proximity of Hawaii to North Korean missiles.Qatari Royal Family Member Held Captive
A member of the Qatari royal family is being held against his will in the United Arab Emirates. Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Thani, released a video on social media saying "I am no longer a guest; I am a prisoner". A professor at Qatar University believes this incident is apart of a wider trend of the United Arab Emirates holding high profile Arab personalities, to use as leverage. A similar incident occurred in November last year with Lebanese officials saying Prime Minister Saad Hariri was being held hostage by Saudi authorities.Sri Lankan Women Unable to Purchase Alcohol
Sri Lanka's president has overruled a move that would allow women to buy alcohol legally. Last week the government announced it would amend a 1955 law, as it was discriminatory. President Maithripala Sirisena says he only learned about the move in the newspapers, and has since asked the government to withdraw the reform. The move drew criticism on both sides, with people warning about women getting more addicted to alcohol, and others pointing out the hypocrisy of Sirisena, who has been vocal about gender equality in the past. Less than 0.1 percent of women above the age of 15 are prone to heavy drinking in Sri Lanka.Reporting by Lisa Boudet, Jemima Huston, Laura Kvigstad