Stories from New Zealand

An intelligence head from the mathematics department at Canterbury University has become the first person from outside the United Kingdom to win a prestigious mathematics medal. The recipient specializes in deciphering and understanding ancient mathematical texts.

The Westland District Council announced the temporary closure of the Hawke-Ticker swimming pool due to rising diesel costs. The facility is expected to shut for three to six months because heating water has become unsustainable.

Students and staff were evacuated from the Albany campus of Massey University in Auckland following a fire in a top-floor classroom. Fire and emergency crews responded to the incident.

A man in his 60s has pleaded not guilty to 10 charges of historical sexual offending at Dilworth School in Auckland. The man has been a target of police for several years, according to the report. His arrest is the 14th made under police investigation known as Operation Beverly. Police stated they have been seeking the individual for a number of years. A man appeared in the Auckland District Court facing 10 charges of sexual offending. His application for continued name suppression was denied, though a lawyer's appeal currently prevents his name from being released. The defendant has opted for a trial by jury and is expected to reappear in court in July. An appeal by his lawyer means his name remains suppressed for now. A man is facing charges related to sexual offending against boys at Dillworth School. The case involves allegations of sexual offending at the institution.

The New Zealand Education Ministry expects student numbers to drop this year after reaching a record high last year. This follows a period of growth in the sector. The decline is described as the start of a slow downward trend in overall numbers. The Ministry of Education reported that national school rolls rose by approximately 90,000 children over 11 years to reach nearly 850,000 last year. This growth was attributed to a birth rate increase between 2007 and 2010 and high net migration. The ministry predicts a decline in numbers as the mini-baby boom cohort leaves the school system. While this year will see only a few thousand fewer students, declines are projected by 2035.

Mary Becker, a nurse at a youth inpatient facility, stated that proposed changes in the Employment Leave Bill would reduce her annual pay by nearly $3,000.

ASB bank has increased its fixed home loan rates across 12-month to four-year terms by between six and 16 basis points. The bank's five-year term rate increased by 20 basis points. The two-year rate rose from 5.09% to 5.00%.

John Grogan has been appointed as the new principal of Southland Girls High School in Invercargill. The school board stated the appointment followed a thorough and highly competitive process. The school was established in 1879.

The Niagara Sawmill Company has commenced a $115 million expansion of its timber processing operations in Southland. The project includes the construction of a new state-of-the-art sawmill at the company's Kennington plant.

New Zealand has become the world's fourth largest payload launcher. The country's space industry has developed significantly since its first launch in 2016. Components for the James Webb telescope were designed in New Zealand's South Island.