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WELLINGTON: New Zealand Rugby has labelled as "unacceptable" the actions of a group of Canterbury Crusaders players who breached the country's strict coronavirus lockdown rules on Monday by training together in a local park. The players, including All Blacks flyhalf Richie Mo'unga, were filmed informally training in Christchurch where they were shown keeping their distance but passing and kicking a ball between each other. New Zealand's nationwide lockdown restricts people from leaving their homes unless it is for essential services like groceries. They can exercise as individuals or with people in the same lockdown 'bubble'. "Some of the Crusaders players have not followed these rules and that is unacceptable," NZR Chief executive Mark Robinson said in comments published by the New Zealand Herald on Tuesday. "We have reminded everyone involved in rugby that they must abide by the New Zealand government COVID-19 guidelines and this situation must not happen again." The … [Read more...] about Crusaders’ players public training ‘unacceptable’, says New Zealand Rugby

Young Wellington conservationists are among the recipients of a scholarship aimed at supporting a new generation of biodiversity champions. The Department of Conservation (DOC) has awarded one-year postgraduate research scholarships of $15,000 each to 10 masters students in the natural and social sciences. Four of this year’s Te Papa Atawhai postgraduate scholarship programme scholarships went to students from Victoria University of Wellington. Conservation Minister Kiri Allan said DOC received 82 eligible applications – “a great response, considering this is the scholarship’s inaugural year”. READ MORE: Enough talk - time for action on tourism's environmental impact, says commissioner Tourism report: add $6-155 tax to long-haul flights to pay for climate fixes Five ways tourism in New Zealand could become more sustainable “I’m told the selection panel was impressed by the high quality of the applications, and found it challenging to choose just 10 recipients,” … [Read more...] about Wellington students awarded new $15,000 DOC scholarships for conservation research

SYDNEY: Australia coach Justin Langer says playing cricket without fans in the stadiums is an option worth considering if it helped get the game going again after the worst of the coronavirus crisis has passed. As with most sports, efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic have forced the shutdown of cricket around the world and Langer thinks teams would be keen to play in empty stadiums upon resumption if the alternative was a longer furlough. "When you started off playing underage cricket, there's no crowds there," the Western Australian told BBC radio. "Maybe your mum and dad came and watched, or your brother and sister were bored and playing on the swings somewhere else. "You played it because you loved playing the game, you loved playing with your mates and you loved playing the game." The Australian team had the experience of playing behind closed doors in the opening match of their most recent ODI series against New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground on March 13. … [Read more...] about Australia coach says empty stadiums an option on resumption

The Government’s latest blueprint for slashing New Zealand’s carbon emissions may seem to some like an impossible feat right now. Coming to the aid of those industries under the crunch to change, however, is a new technology platform that, if successful, will create greener factories. With a $12.5 million backing from the Government, academics from University of Waikato, the University of Auckland and Massey University hope to enable industries to use, convert, supply and store renewable energy for industrial process heating. Named Ahuora, the platform will be accessible to researchers, service providers, industrial manufacturers and other large-scale energy users. READ MORE: New Zealand exporters told to prepare for 'significant changes' from post-Brexit deal Fonterra's first wood pellet-fuelled plant will fire up in September Heating without fossil fuels: Shovelling coal out the door From industry alone, only 30 per cent of the energy used is renewable or green … [Read more...] about Universities team up in mission to make industry energy green

Coronavirus has helped close New Zealand’s digital divide for school students , with thousands of children given devices over lockdown. According to data from the Ministry of Education, 33,000 extra houses were connected to the internet, which will be free until December, and more than 25,000 students now have access to a device who did not before. More than 90,000 devices were requested by schools, with students sitting NCEA in decile 1-3 schools prioritised. Nearly all now had access to a device, with half of all students in year nine to 10 across all decile levels also having access. RNZ Lockdown saw young Māori students battle with unequal access to digital technology, stymying their efforts as learning went online. READ MORE: Strategies for parents facing 'BYOD' school device spend-up Hundreds of Christchurch students to receive free internet access at their homes More than 70 schools now challenging the Government's NCEA review process … [Read more...] about Digital divide: Thousands of students now able to access internet from home