Our bite-sized reviews from week one of the NZ International Film Festival

Auckland Transport utilized artificial intelligence to assess landslide vulnerabilities on 8000km of roads following severe wet weather events in early 2023. The data gathered allowed for the identification of areas with high susceptibility to landslides, aiding in future decision-making for road repairs. While focusing on road network maintenance, the technology could potentially be extended to assess risks to homes and properties in the future. Full Article

In March 1947, two tsunamis struck Tairāwhiti-Gisborne, with waves reaching about 12m high but luckily causing no fatalities. The first wave was triggered by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, while the second, larger tsunami was generated by a 6.9 magnitude earthquake 30km further north in May of the same year. These events highlight the importance of disaster preparedness in New Zealand's history. Full Article

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Road repairs are underway in Mid Canterbury, with NZ Transport Agency planning major upgrades to SH1 between Ashburton Bridge and Dobson St in March to minimize disruption. Additional resurfacing work is scheduled from Dobson to Moore Streets, with night works planned to avoid peak traffic times. Ashburton District Council is also investing in new road construction and maintenance projects, including rehabilitating Maronan Road and Seafield Road to improve traffic flow and road quality. Full Article

On July 16, 1984, two days after the election, Lange and Muldoon clashed in a dramatic and unhinged political showdown that would later be described as one of the most extraordinary days in New Zealand politics. Despite the lack of live updates and podcasts at the time, the events of that day were significant and impactful, setting the stage for the Fourth Labour Government to come into power. To learn more about this historic event,...

DairyNZ highlights the complexity and lack of transparency in the current biosecurity levy system, emphasizing the need for a more integrated and sustainable approach to funding. They propose consolidating the multiple levies into a single levy and creating a cross-industry organization to streamline funding and delivery of biosecurity services, reducing administrative costs and providing certainty for farmers. Dairy farmers currently contribute to multiple levies, and the transition of the Mycoplasma bovis programme to a National...