New Zealand

Stamina the key in Pumas quest to beat All Blacks

 The Pumas took more points off the All Blacks than in any previous clash when they scored 22 and were equal to their opponents for nearly three quarters of their previous clash in Hamilton three weeks ago.

They were let down, however, by their failure to stay the pace for 80 minutes and lost 57-22, but hope to have learned some lessons as they look to end a run of 22 losses and a draw against the All Blacks.

"In the 60th minute I couldn't catch my breath anymore," loose forward Javier Ortega Desio said.

Williamson catches bug on eve of second test

Williamson picked up a bug and was unable to train at Eden Gardens on the eve of the match.

Opening batsman Tom Latham said he took the final day of preparations off to get well for the first day of the test.

"Kane's also a little bit crook today so he won't be training but no discomfort. I think he's just down with a bug, so nothing too major, but he's just resting up and getting right for tomorrow," Latham said.

Prince Charles pays tribute to thousands of New Zealanders killed in World War I

About half of the 15,000 New Zealand forces who fought in the battle, one of history's bloodiest, were killed or wounded. Most have no known grave, and their names are inscribed on a memorial in the French town of Longueval.

“My hope is that today we can rededicate ourselves to a future free of intolerance and conflict. We do this in honor of the memory of those who fought and died here, so long ago," the Prince of Wales said in a speech at the Caterpillar Valley Commonwealth War Graves Commission in Longueval.

“We shall remember them.” 

Prince Charles pays tribute to thousands of New Zealanders killed in World War I

About half of the 15,000 New Zealand forces who fought in the battle, one of history's bloodiest, were killed or wounded. Most have no known grave, and their names are inscribed on a memorial in the French town of Longueval.

“My hope is that today we can rededicate ourselves to a future free of intolerance and conflict. We do this in honor of the memory of those who fought and died here, so long ago," the Prince of Wales said in a speech at the Caterpillar Valley Commonwealth War Graves Commission in Longueval.

“We shall remember them.” 

Vanuatu U20s eye NZ scalp

The hosts defeated Solomon Islands 2-1 in Port Vila to qualify for their first ever FIFA World Cup tournament, while New Zealand qualified with a 3-1 victory over New Caledonia in the other semi.

Vanuatu Technical Advisor Declan Edge said the team celebrated their achievement on Tuesday night but have moved on and refocused ahead of the final.

Vanuatu U20s eye NZ scalp

The hosts defeated Solomon Islands 2-1 in Port Vila to qualify for their first ever FIFA World Cup tournament, while New Zealand qualified with a 3-1 victory over New Caledonia in the other semi.

Vanuatu Technical Advisor Declan Edge said the team celebrated their achievement on Tuesday night but have moved on and refocused ahead of the final.

Flag bearer Holly Robinson wins silver in Rio

Robinson threw a personal best of 41.22m on her fifth attempt to secure the silver medal.

She proudly took the New Zealand flag once again from her supporters, and held it high as she celebrated her success.

The gold was won by Great Britain's Holly Arnold with a world record throw of 43.01m

Robinson's silver is the first medal since yesterday's 'gold rush' for the New Zealand Paralympic Team, when they won a record three gold medals and one bronze.

Gold for Sophie Pascoe

Pascoe finished nearly a full second ahead of Bianka Pap of Hungary and Alice Tai of Great Britain.

She went into the final having qualified fastest in the heats.

Pascoe regained the title she lost in London four years ago, but says she found the final pretty tough.

"I went out in the first 50 metres pretty much towards race plan and then the last 50 metres was hard and they came back in the last 25 [metres]," she said.

"It was just about guts and digging deep. Tonight was about coming out and getting the gold medal and that is exactly what I have done.

NZ wins first gold at Rio Paralympics

The Dunedin 18-year-old sat in the minor placing through her first five rounds before recording a distance of 5.62 metres with her last jump in the T47 category.

It was her third personal best of the day and took her ahead of a Cuban athlete.

The last medal New Zealand won in Paralympic field events for women was a bronze in the Long Jump B3 from Leslie Mancktelow in 1988 and New Zealand's first Para-athletic medal since 2004 when Peter Martin won two golds and a bronze medal at the Athens Games in 2004.

Photo: RNZ

   

New Zealand MP Nikki Kaye diagnosed with breast cancer

The 36-year-old Auckland Central MP issued a statement saying the news was devastating for her and her family.

On her Facebook page, Ms Kaye said she informed Prime Minister John Key on Friday and would be taking leave of absence from her ministerial roles.

"I feel so lucky to have such an amazing family and group of friends who are giving me buckets of love and have been so strong helping me work through this," she wrote.

"I also want to acknowledge the PM who has been hugely caring and supportive."