In brief

Mayors speak

Investigator and author Nicky Hager is coming to Palmerston North to moderate at a meeting to hear from Manawatu and Palmerston North mayoralty candidates. The session is co-hosted by Massey University and Transparency International New Zealand, a global civil society organisation against corruption. The speakers have been asked to talk about managing diversity, promoting open government, and enhancing New Zealand’s reputation for integrity. The forum will be held at the Palmerston North City Library on Wednesday, August 31, from 5.30pm to 7pm.

Bank closes for a cause

BNZ banks around the country will close on August 31 to allow staff to help out with a range of community projects. This year, BNZ CEO Anthony Healy said staff would be tackling 16 projects in Manawatu-whanganui, and more than 530 nationwide. Projects include planting and tidying a vege garden at Levin’s Fairfield School, planting native trees in the centre of Feilding and cleaning the exterior of senior citizens units for the Lutheran Homes Trust Board in Palmerston North. BNZ customers would not be disadvantaged by the closure, business critical staff including those in the call centre would still be working for urgent services, and all online and mobile banking services would be available as usual.

Plea made to skiers

The rescue of two people who took on Turoa ski field’s back country last week has sparked a plea by New Zealand Police. Police ask that visitors to the ski fields at Mt Ruapehu remain inside the designated areas unless they have the skills, experience and necessary rescue equipment to be self-sufficient in the back country. Constable Conrad Smith from National Park police said they battle with this problem every year and it wasn’t just tourists. Smith added that ski field areas were staffed by ski patrols who put a lot of effort into making sure there were appropriate safety measures in place. This included roping off cliffs, ensuring there was adequate avalanche control and providing first aid and rescue responses for people who need it. The helicopter rescue was due to two people who were unprepared for the back country conditions and had ventured past the ski field boundaries. ’’When you venture out into back country there are no safety measures in place and if you are not prepared you are seriously putting your life in danger.’’