Western News: February 12, 2026

FOR LOCAL ADVERTISING
Alana Powell
Ph: 027 535 6583
alana@alliedmedia.co.nz
Work starts on
next section
of cycleway
FOR LOCAL ADVERTISING
Alana Powell
Ph: 027 535 6583
alana@alliedmedia.co.nz
FOR LOCAL ADVERTISING
Annabel Judd
Ph: 021 457 469
annabel.judd@alliedmedia.co.nz
Motorists are being warned to
expect delays as work gets under
way on the next section of the
Puari ki Niho-toto South Express
Cycleway, extending west along
Waterloo Rd from Barters Rd to
Jones Rd in Rolleston.
City council planning and
delivery transport manager
Jacob Bradbury said a temporary
road closure will be
in effect on Railway Tce from
February 16 to March 13, with
clearly signposted detours in
place.
Local businesses will remain
open for the duration of the
work.
Two-thirds
The Star, January
of the
23,
South
2025
Express Cycleway is already
open, stretching from the city
to Kyle Park and creating an
uninterrupted 10km route from
the CBD through Riccarton to
Hornby.
The cycleway passes nine
schools, The Star, providing January 23, safer 2025cycling
facilities for students, and
connects into the Nor’west Arc
and Northern Line.
“Once the full cycleway is
completed, it will join up with
the Selwyn District Council’s
cycleway on Jones Rd to provide
a safe link through to Rolleston,”
Bradbury said.
The city council is co-ordinating
the cycleway construction
work with several other infrastructure
projects in the area,
including:
• Line marking and
wayfinding signage within the
Waterloo Business Park
• Line marking and
wayfinding signage within
Templeton
• Replacing a water supply
pipe on Railway Tce
• Replacing the current deepdish
channel on Railway Tce
• Resurfacing the Railway Tce
carriageway and northwest
footpath.
Puari ki Niho-toto South Express Cycleway will be extended west down Waterloo Rd
from Barters Rd to Jones Rd in Rolleston.
“We’re combining these
projects together to ensure a
co-ordinated approach to work
in the area and minimise the
overall disruption to residents,
businesses and commuters,”
Bradbury said.
The total package of work is
expected to take five months to
complete.
“Christchurch is a great city
to get around by bike, and our
growing network of cycleways
helps make it easier and
A temporary road closure will be in
place from February 16 to March 13.
FOR LOCAL ADVERTISING
safer.
Jenny
It also
Wright
helps to ease the
pressure on our roads,”
South
Ph: 021
Express
220 3484
is one of nine
jenny@alliedmedia.co.nz
major cycleways that lead into
the city centre.
Unlike cycle lanes, the
cycleways are mainly separated
from the road and are designed
to provide a safer, more pleasant,
comfortable and efficient
way for people to get around
the city by bike.
The final section of the
cycleway will pass through the
Gilberthorpes Rd, Waterloo
starnews.co.nz
Rd, Parker St and Moffett St
intersection, and include a
stretch of Waterloo Rd from
the western end of Kyle Park to
Finsbury St.
The city council and KiwiRail
are in discussions around the
scope and phasing of starnews.co.nz this work.
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The Star, February 12, 2026
starnews.co.nz
What does it take to become
Ever wondered what a day in
the life of a Customs officer
at Christchurch Airport or
Lyttelton Port is like? Reporter
Al Williams finds out
Customs officers surround
a luggage carousel as the
first morning flight into
Christchurch arrives from
Singapore.
Some officers are on the move
while others stand and observe
the passengers in a scene
similar to the television show
Border Patrol.
We’ve been led through a
series of security doors to get a
bird’s-eye view of the 100 or so
staff who protect the borders at
Christchurch Airport.
And while the staff are on a
first-name basis with partnering
agencies at the airport, such
as police and the Ministry for
Primary Industries, most don’t
want to share their full names
with us.
It’s understandable. They take
their jobs seriously and have
genuine concerns for their privacy,
given the nature of their
work.
We observe officers not only
stopping, questioning and talking
to travellers, but also being
stopped by travellers with a
multitude of questions.
Supervising officer Karyn is
the first to greet us.
She is wary of us at first but
soon opens up, saying she has
Customs officer and dog handler Hannah on duty as a Singapore flight arrives.
PHOTOS: JOSEPH JOHNSON
had two stints in the service.
She says the risk posed by
passengers selected for further
assessment is again narrowed
down by officers who ask the
passengers a series of questions,
resulting in a smaller
number being referred for a
luggage search.
The physical risk assessment
of a passenger on arrival can
involve being questioned by a
Customs officer, detector dogs,
an X-ray and searches.
In the 2024/25 year, 6.8 million
international travellers arrived
in New Zealand.
Of this, 132,943 (about 2%)
were selected for further risk
assessment.
Following a further risk
assessment process, 10,662 travellers
were actually subjected to
baggage searches.
Karyn joined Customs straight
out of school in Christchurch
in 1978, before taking a break
to have children in 1987 and
returning in 2003.
She jokes that she was too
short to join the police.
She put aside the perception
people have of Customs from
reality television shows.
“There is a whole lot of work
aside from inspections.
“There are other areas, investigations,
intelligence, trade,
service and delivery, all these
things have to be cleared.”
Karyn said there is also a
stack of administration work as
everything has to be accounted
for. The administrative aspect
is reflected in the service’s
recently released 2024/25
New Zealand Customs Service
Annual Report.
It is a massive operation with
$285 million in funding from
the Crown, border-processing
levies and goods fees.
There is also a stack of revenue,
with $17.8 billion collected
on behalf of the Crown.
Most of the operating expenditure
is for risk assessment,
clearing and processing passengers
and goods as they cross
the border, and the collection of
Crown tax revenue.
In 2024/25, it was quantified
by the 9.3 tonnes of illicit drugs
which were prevented from
reaching communities through
seizures at our border and by
overseas partners.
There were also 31.8 million
import transactions and
four million export transactions,
with 98.1% of goods risk
assessed and cleared within five
minutes.
More than 8% of the riskbased
baggage searches of
passengers and crew resulted
in the identification of prohibited
or restricted items, or items
requiring duty payments.
Customs processed 13.4 million
arriving and departing
passengers. It also intercepted
nine tonnes of illicit tobacco,
representing $17.7m in foregone
revenue.
And its response to 973
reports of cross-border online
child exploitation offending
resulted in 18 arrests.
Several thousand other people
work for Christchurch
Airport alongside Karyn.
The airport operation has
60 staff with a total of 120
employed across the city, she
said.
Customs is an enforcement
agency, and with that comes
rank.
Karyn said it takes years
to move through the ranks
and people shift between
departments.
Staff are mindful discretion is
a key part of the job, she says.
A lot of the intelligence work
is led by overseas liaison officers
in cities, including London,
Bangkok and Beijing.
“Quite often, a lot of it is
stopped before it comes here.”
The annual report stated
transnational organised crime
groups pose a significant threat
through escalating attempts to
smuggle drugs, weapons, and
other prohibited goods into the
country.
From Europe alone, $204.8m
in potential harm to New Zealand
was stopped by overseas
illicit drug interceptions.
New Zealand’s high prices
and demand for drugs, particularly
methamphetamine and
cocaine, make it an attractive
Pub Politics
Session
with Vanessa Weenink,
MP for Banks Peninsula
Thursday 26 February, 5.30pm - 7pm
The Halswell
To register to come along, please email
Vanessa.Weenink@parliament.govt.nz
Please take this opportunity to come
have an informal chat about the issues
that matter most to you.
Authorised by Vanessa Weenink, Parliament Buildings, Wgtn.

starnews.co.nz The Star, February 12, 2026
a border Customs officer?
target.
Notable seizures during the
year included 150kg of cocaine
in duffel bags in a container on
a ship from Jamaica and 130kg
of cocaine packed in duffel bags
in a shipping container from
Italy. The largest seizure of the
year was 450kg of methamphetamine
hidden inside steel
beams from the United States in
September 2024.
The report says New Zealand
has seen a sustained escalation
in the volume of illicit drugs
being seized at the border.
Wastewater testing by
PHF Science and reporting
by the National Drug Intelligence
Bureau indicate there
was considerable growth in
methamphetamine use in the
community between July and
October 2024. This growth was
largely sustained throughout
2025.
It also shows there has been
a rise in the use of cocaine.
Increased production in South
America has led to a surplus
supply.
The report shows organised
crime groups are targeting
New Zealand’s supply chains to
transport their products.
“They insert people in key
roles at ports and airports, or
compromise people already
in those roles, who can bypass
security measures and divert
goods before they reach Customs
screening areas,” the
report found.
In late November, police laid
Customs officers check passengers luggage at Christchurch Airport.
nearly 200 criminal charges
against gang associates who
allegedly helped a criminal
syndicate smuggle illicit drugs
aboard international flights.
Twenty search warrants were
carried out by police’s national
organised crime group and Customs,
with eight Brotherhood
28 MC gang associates arrested.
Among them was the gang’s
president.
Additional data shows Customs
seized about two tonnes of
methamphetamine and 700kg
of cocaine between January and
October last year.
Offshore partners also
seized about a tonne of
methamphetamine and 300kg
of cocaine destined for our
shores in the same period.
“We are trying to identify the
high risk,” Karyn said.
The pressure is on during the
summer months, Karyn says.
“Summer is going to be
busier. People need to be aware
that they are not the only ones
travelling.”
For Christchurch Airport,
that means increased flights to
and from Asia and Australia.
These can be charter flights,
delegations and even bands
arriving with tonnes of gear.
“All that stuff has to be
cleared. You might get charters
with seasonal workers – it takes
time to process them.”
Rob is a technical specialist
in detector dog training. He
said the dogs, all labradors,
work and live alongside the
officers. There are five dog
handlers in the South Island
who are deployed on a riskbased
system. “We look at
the latest seizures, how it is
being found, we are looking
at the opportunities. We move
around. The airport is just the
tip of the iceberg.”
Rob said the job involves shift
work and officers have to prove
themselves to rise up the ranks.
“You have to pass
requirements to get your
stripes.
Long-serving officer Neville
Brown joined in 1975 when
Customs was based at the
Old Government Building in
Cathedral Square.
“There was
no team at the
airport, there
weren’t as many
flights. The guys
would jump in
a van and go to
the airport when
a plane was
Neville Brown
arriving.”
Brown started out looking at
shipping documents. He moved
into investigations, looking at
fraud and tax evasion. Brown
has also been based in Lyttelton
where he searched ships. From
there, he moved to the airport,
where he recalls catching one of
the Mr Asia operatives.
Brown says the man had a
bank deposit slip made out
to a person of interest in the
syndicate. A body search
revealed a hidden package of
Martin Johnstone, known as Mr Asia,
was at the centre of a large heroin
syndicate in the 1970s.
heroin.
“There’s no heroin anymore,
it’s now meth and cocaine by
the kilos.”
At 70, Brown is not planning
to retire yet.
Emma, the chief officer of
the Lyttelton team, showed us
around the port operations.
The Christchurch port team
also looks after Timaru. She says
a lot of reporting is now done
via cellphones.
“The world has changed so
much, the cost of living and
drugs – crime is huge.”
The Lyttelton operation is
staffed by 11 officers. She says
it is important for her staff
to be visible in the seaside
community. There was also a
common theme – all Customs
staffers spoken to say they are
proud of protecting the border.
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The Star, February 12, 2026
​New shops
coming to
Moorhouse
A new retail development is
taking shape on Moorhouse
Ave.
The Yeoman Group, a
Christchurch-based property
development firm, is building
the new shopping complex on a
half-hectare site.
It purchased the land from
Foodstuffs after it became
surplus to requirements when
Durham St New World was
completed immediately next
door.
The development will consist
of a row of large-format retail
tenancies, with an adjoining
customer car park.
The Yeoman Group is directed
by father-and-son team Miles
and Henri Yeoman.
Henri Yeoman told Stuff the
first tenants had now been
secured, with Bargain Chemist
and golf retailer The Clubroom
confirmed for the site.
Two other retail shop spaces
remain available for lease.
The Bargain Chemist store
will be the pharmacy chain’s
28th nationwide, its ninth
in Christchurch, and its first
location within the central
city.
The site was was previously
occupied by a car yard and a
motorcycle dealership.
A Williams Corporation
residential development is
also being built near the site in
Wilmer St.
starnews.co.nz
Work to start on new traffic lights
A major upgrade of a Wigram
intersection is due to start on
Monday.
New traffic signals will be
added to the Wigram and
Hayton Rds intersection to
improve the traffic flow and
meet the needs of the growing
community and the facilities in
the area.
The four-way signalised
intersection will replace the
existing three-way prioritycontrolled
intersection.
A new shared path will be
built on the northern side of
Wigram Rd, connecting the
existing path from where it
currently stops at Hayton
Reserve to the intersection.
“This will improve pedestrian
and cyclist access to the Little
River Link cycleway and
provide a safer environment
for everyone who uses this busy
arterial route,” said city council
transport planning and delivery
manager Jacob Bradbury.
“We will also seal the existing
access road to the Ngā Puna
Wai Sports Hub (Ngā Puna Wai
Access Rd) via the Christchurch
Southern Motorway underpass
and connect it to the signalised
intersection.”
Since it opened in 2018, Ngā
Puna Wai has expanded with
the opening of the Netsal Centre
in 2023.
There are also plans to build
an artificial sports hub on land
adjacent to Wigram Rd in the
northern section of Ngā Puna
Wai.
“Providing an alternative
The Wigram and Hayton Rds intersection upgrade is due to start on Monday. The area will become even busier when an
artificial sports hub is built at Ngā Puna Wai (below).
PHOTOS: CCC
formal entrance to the
Ngā Puna Wai site will
provide for better traffic flow
and complement events being
held on the site,” said Bradbury.
The existing Little River Link
Crossing on Ngā Puna Wai
Access Rd will be upgraded to a
raised dual crossing and shifted
away from the underpass to
improve visibility between
cyclists and vehicles.
Work on the project is
expected to take about three
months to complete.
Community
Drop-In Session
with Vanessa Weenink,
MP for Banks Peninsula
Saturday 14 February, 12pm - 1pm
Red Café Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre
Coasters
Are you living off the Coast and would like to
keep up with the local news and events?
We have new digital editions
available for subscription.
To register to come along, please email
Vanessa.Weenink@parliament.govt.nz
Please take this opportunity to come
have an informal chat about the issues
that matter most to you
Scan here
Authorised by Vanessa Weenink, Parliament Buildings, Wgtn.
digital.greystar.co.nz

starnews.co.nz The Star, February 12, 2026
Summerset Prebbleton
Open Day
Summerset Prebbleton is a growing village with a vibrant community. Our village centre is underway,
and once complete, will feature fantastic indoor and outdoor facilities for residents to enjoy.
“We’ve met a lovely group of people around our age that are just like us, active and get out and
do things. We’ve made more friends now than we’ve ever done in our whole life. It was the best
decision we made” NOEL & MARIE, RESIDENTS AT SUMMERSET PREBBLETON
We know that moving to a retirement village is a big decision. So why not come along to our
Open Day, and see for yourself why our residents love the Summerset life.
Love the life you choose.
Open Day
Thursday 19 February, 10am - 2pm
Summerset Prebbleton
578 Springs Road, Prebbleton
03 353 6312 | summerset.co.nz/prebbleton
*All Summerset homes are sold under a licence to occupy and are subject to availability. Summerset does not offer rental accommodation. Images are indicative.
SUM9272_FP

The Star, February 12, 2026
TRADE TOOLS &
starnews.co.nz
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2026 Draw
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ROUND 1
FRIDAY 13 FEBRUARY
19:05 Highlanders v Crusaders
21:35 Waratahs v Reds
ROUND 2
FRIDAY 20 FEBRUARY
19:05 Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika
21:35 Waratahs v Fijian Drua
ROUND 3
FRIDAY 27 FEBRUARY
19:05 Moana Pasifika v Force
21:35 Reds v Highlanders
SATURDAY 14 FEBRUARY
16:35 Fijian Drua v Moana Pasifika
19:05 Blues v Chiefs
21:35 Force v Brumbies
SATURDAY 21 FEBRUARY
19:05 Highlanders v Chiefs
21:35 Force v Blues
SUNDAY 22 FEBRUARY
15:35 Crusaders v Brumbies
SATURDAY 28 MARCH
16:35 Fijian Drua v Hurricanes
19:05 Chiefs v Crusaders
21:35 Brumbies v Blues
Bye: Hurricanes
Bye: Reds
Bye: Waratahs
ROUND 7
ROUND 8
ROUND 9
FRIDAY 27 MARCH
19:05 Moana Pasifika v Highlanders
21:35 Brumbies v Waratahs
SATURDAY 28 MARCH
16:35 Hurricanes v Reds
19:05 Blues v Fijian Drua
21:35 Force v Chiefs
FRIDAY 3 APRIL
19:05 Crusaders v Fijian Drua
SATURDAY 4 APRIL
19:05 Chiefs v Waratahs
21:35 Reds v Force
FRIDAY 10 APRIL
19:05 Highlanders v Brumbies
SATURDAY 11 APRIL
14:05 Moana Pasifika v Chiefs
16:35 Fijian Drua v Force
19:05 Hurricanes v Blues
21:35 Reds v Crusaders
Bye: Crusaders
Bye: Brumbies, Blues, Highlanders,
Hurricanes, Moana Pasifika
Bye: Waratahs
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ROUND 14
ROUND 15
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21:35 Reds v Chiefs
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19:05 Blues v Hurricanes
21:35 Force v Reds
FRIDAY 22 MAY
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21:35 Waratahs v Brumbies
SATURDAY 23 MAY
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19:05 Hurricanes v Highlanders
21:35 Force v Fijian Drua
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starnews.co.nz The Star, February 12, 2026
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ROUND 4
FRIDAY 6 MARCH
19:05 Chiefs v Moana Pasifika
21:35 Waratahs v Hurricanes
SATURDAY 7 MARCH
16:35 Highlanders v Force
19:05 Blues v Crusaders
21:35 Brumbies v Reds
ROUND 5
FRIDAY 13 MARCH
19:05 Hurricanes v Force
SATURDAY 14 MARCH
16:35 Fijian Drua v Brumbies
19:05 Crusaders v Highlanders
21:35 Reds v Waratahs
SUNDAY 15 MARCH
15:35 Blues v Moana Pasifika
Bye: Fijian Drua Bye: Chiefs Bye: Force
ROUND 6
FRIDAY 20 MARCH
19:05 Highlanders v Hurricanes
21:35 Brumbies v Chiefs
SATURDAY 21 MARCH
16:35 Fijian Drua v Reds
19:05 Moana Pasifika v Crusaders
21:35 Waratahs v Blues
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ROUND 10
FRIDAY 17 APRIL
19:05 Blues v Highlanders
21:35 Waratahs v Moana Pasifika
SATURDAY 18 APRIL
19:05 Chiefs v Hurricanes
21:35 Brumbies v Fijian Drua
23:55 Force v Crusaders
ROUND 16
FRIDAY 29 MAY
19:05 Crusaders v Hurricanes
21:35 Reds v Fijian Drua
SATURDAY 30 MAY
16:35 Brumbies v Moana Pasifika
19:05 Chiefs v Blues
21:35 Force v Waratahs
ROUND 11
FRIDAY 24 APRIL
19:35 Crusaders v Waratahs
SATURDAY 25 APRIL
17:05 Hurricanes v Brumbies
19:35 Blues v Reds
SUNDAY 26 APRIL
14:00 Highlanders v Moana Pasifika
16:30 Chiefs v Fijian Drua
Bye: Reds Bye: Force Bye: Chiefs
Bye: Highlanders
______ _____________ v _____________ 2nd ______ vs 5th _____________ v _____________
1st vs 6th
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3rd vs 4th
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1st vs 4th
______
1st vs 2nd
QUALIFYING FINALS
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ROUND 12
FRIDAY 1 MAY
19:05 Hurricanes v Crusaders
21:35 Waratahs v Force
SATURDAY 2 MAY
16:35 Fijian Drua v Highlanders
19:05 Moana Pasifika v Blues
21:35 Reds v Brumbies
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The Star, February 12, 2026
starnews.co.nz
Seasonal treats both savoury and sweet
Nigel Slater keeps it firmly
summery with these two easy,
but delicious, dishes
COUSCOUS WITH APRICOTS
AND MINT
​I use instant couscous here,
with no apology. This quickcooking
version needs just a few
minutes in a bowl, covered with
boiled water or vegetable stock
rather than a long steam over
hot water. You can use water,
but I prefer vegetable stock,
which makes the grains more
interesting.
​It is best to separate the grains
of couscous by tenderly running
a fork through them once they
have soaked up the stock.
Ingredients
Serves 4
150g fine couscous
250ml vegetable stock
2 Tbsp pine kernels
8 spring onions
2 Tbsp olive oil
350g ripe apricots
For the herb dressing:
2 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp olive oil
15g mint sprigs
15g parsley sprigs
Method
• Put the couscous into a
mixing bowl and pour over the
hot stock. Set aside for a good 10
minutes until the stock has been
fully absorbed.
• In a shallow pan, toast the
pine kernels, watching carefully
and shaking the pan from time
to time, until they are golden.
• Roughly chop the spring
onions, discarding the dark
green tips.
• Return the empty pan to a
moderate heat, warm the olive
oil, add the spring onions and
let them cook for 5 minutes
until soft.
• Halve and stone the
apricots, then cut each half in
two.
• Make the dressing: In a
medium-sized bowl, whisk
together the lemon juice and
olive oil. Remove the leaves
from the mint and parsley and
finely chop two-thirds of them,
leaving the remainder whole.
Add the chopped and whole
leaves to the dressing with a
little salt and black pepper.
• Run the tines of a fork
through the couscous to
separate the grains then add
the herb dressing.
• Add the apricots, pine
kernels and onions and toss
everything together. Serve at
room temperature.
MOZZARELLA WITH TOMATOES
AND PARMESAN
A deeply summery dish of
marinated mozzarella with a
crisp layer of crumbs, tomatoes
and parmesan – I think of this
as a pizza without the crust.
The crispness of the topping
is an essential contrast to the
soft, herb-scented mozzarella
beneath.
I use a metal baking tray to
bake the crumbs and tomatoes
– it helps the crumbs to crisp
more successfully than if
you use a china baking dish.
You can get the mozzarella
marinating then finish the dish
just before you eat.
​
Ingredients
Serves 4 as a light supper
2 balls mozzarella
15g basil
10g parsley
75ml olive oil
50g assorted salami and
prosciutto, thinly sliced
For the tomato dressing:
3 tomatoes, medium to large
8 medium basil leaves (taken
from above)
60g parmesan
1 Tbsp olive oil
40g breadcrumbs, fresh and
white
Method
• Tear the balls of mozzarella
into rough pieces and place,
snugly, in a serving dish.
• Finely chop the basil leaves
(reserving eight for later) and
the parsley, then add the olive
oil and a few twists of black
pepper. Pour the herb mix
over the mozzarella, cover and
refrigerate for an hour (up to 4
hours is fine, but no longer).
• Preheat the oven to
200degC.
• Make the dressing: Cut the
tomatoes in half, scoop out and
discard the seeds, dice the flesh
into small pieces, then set aside
in a mixing bowl.
• Tear or shred the basil
leaves and finely grate the
parmesan then add to the
tomatoes.
• Stir in the olive oil and
breadcrumbs, then spoon on
to a metal baking sheet in a
shallow layer (it will crisp more
effectively that way) then bake
in the preheated oven for 20-25
minutes until the crumbs have
started to crisp and the cheese
has turned golden.
• Divide the slices of salami
and prosciutto between four
plates. Remove the mozzarella
from the fridge and divide
between the plates. Take the
tomato and parmesan from
the oven and scatter over the
cheese and serve.
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starnews.co.nz The Star, February 12, 2026
Special summer notes to satisfy
​Nigel Slater takes a look at
sumptuous sweetly roasted
courgettes and a truly luxurious
hot pudding
There are so many vegetables
to roast right now: courgettes and
summer squashes, young leeks
and summer carrots. Bunches of
early beetroot barely bigger than
a golf ball.
For the hot roasts I will add
blobs of soft, pale ricotta, or
perhaps a basil-scented pesto to
toss them in.
For the cool versions tomorrow
(they are better kept out of the
fridge), I will tumble feta among
the vegetables, pieces of smoked
fish or wedges of lightly cooked,
golden-yolked eggs.
As summer cools, a hot
pudding is always welcome, and
it seems daft not to use seasonal
fruit. Plums, apricots, greengages
and all the berries and currants
are still at their best.
HONEY-ROASTED COURGETTES
WITH RICOTTA
Roasted courgettes can be
seasoned with garlic and smoky
paprika and served with ricotta.
Add halves of lemon at the table.
Cook the courgettes on a tray
and you’ll get a firmer, more
toasted result than if you cook
them in a deep-sided baking dish.
Use a palette knife to turn them
once, so they caramelise on both
sides. To veganise, use agave or
date syrup in place of honey.
Ingredients
Makes enough for 4
4 medium courgettes
2 Tbsp honey
6 Tbsp olive oil
3 tsp dried mint
2 Tbsp thyme leaves
2 cloves garlic
1 tsp ground paprika
50g golden sultanas
1 Tbsp pine kernels
250g ricotta
Method
• Set the oven to 220°C. Remove
the stalks from the courgettes,
then cut each in half lengthways
and then again.
• Put the courgettes on an oven
tray. In a bowl, mix together
the honey, olive oil, mint and a
grinding of black pepper. No salt
yet.
• Finely chop the thyme leaves.
Peel and crush the garlic to a
paste then stir the thyme and
garlic into the honey and oil.
• Pour the dressing over the
courgettes, toss them well,
then roast for 20-25 minutes till
the courgettes are tender and
toasted, turning once during
cooking.
• Remove from the oven and
season with the ground paprika,
a generous crumbling of sea salt,
the sultanas and the pine kernels.
• Return to the oven for 5-7
minutes.
• Transfer to a serving dish and
serve with the ricotta.
​
CHERRY AND ALMOND
BATTER PUDDING
As much as I relish tearing
apart and sharing an entire
roasting tin of Yorkshire
pudding, I also rather enjoy
having an individual one to
myself.
It is much the same with
sweet batter puddings such as
the classic clafoutis, which feel
particularly charming when
made individually – a jewelstudded
crown in which to float
a puddle of golden cream.
Ingredients
Serves 4-6
350g cherries
4 Tbsp brandy
½ tsp (optional) almond extract
125ml milk
125ml double cream
50g plain flour
3 lightly heaped Tbsp ground
almonds
100g caster sugar
2 large eggs
butter and sugar for dusting
Method
• You will need a wide
ovenproof dish approximately
25-30cm in diameter.
• Remove the stalks and
stones from the cherries, then
put the fruit in a mixing bowl
with the brandy and almond
extract then toss briefly and set
aside.
• Preheat the oven to 180°C.
Put a baking sheet in the oven.
• Make the batter: warm the
milk and cream in a small pan,
remove from the heat and set
aside.
• Mix together the flour,
almonds and sugar and add
a pinch of salt. Using a whisk,
beat in the eggs together with
the warm cream and milk.
• Lightly butter the dish, then
dust with a little sugar, tipping
out any surplus.
• Place the cherries, drained
of their brandy, in the dish,
pour the custard over them
then bake for about 25-30
minutes until the edges have
risen and the batter is pale
gold. The middle should quiver
gently when the dish is shaken
lightly.
• Serve with cream.
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The Star, February 12, 2026
starnews.co.nz
The Way
We Were
FEMALE APPRENTICESHIPS
Securing an apprenticeship
could be difficult if you were
female.
In 1930, the Arbitration
Court refused to grant an
application for an apprenticeship
contract for 14-year-old
Cicely Holmes, who had been
employed as an apprentice
printer by the Waikuku News.
It was not a question of law
but of general principles, the
judge said, with the Master
Printers Association and various
unions having “set their
faces against the employment
of female workers”.
The Apprenticeship Act was
overhauled in 1983, with the
Government introducing a
subsidy to encourage employers
to take on women. For all
trades other than hairdressing,
employers of female
apprentices would receive
$20 a week throughout the
first year of training.
Apprentice mechanic Sian
Luckie topped her class in
automotive engineering in
1986 for the second year in
a row. Her employer told
the Press Association he did
not know he had taken on a
woman until he came back to
work after a bout of the flu
and his wife informed him.
Luckie said she was “grateful”
for the break after rejections
from other firms.
Over the years, female
apprentices took out national
awards in many trades, in
spite of disproportionate
representation. Apprentice
bookbinder Jane Horrick was
the first woman to win an
outstanding printing apprenticeship
award in 1977, while
Louise Stella (below), NZ’s
first “craftsman” plumber,
achieved highest equal marks
in her trade certificate examinations
in 1991.
Stella told The Press: “I
wanted a job with variety and
one that would use body and
brains. Also I saw plumbing
as having slightly more job
security than some.”
Apprentice spray painter Brenda Leaf applying enamel to a tractor at Sockburn
Motors and apprentice fitter and turner Lyn Boddington at Herbert Drill, both in
1977. Above right – Rebecca Downes at the end of her 8000 hours as an apprentice
woodturner in 1987.
PHOTOS: CHRISTCHURCH STAR, CANTERBURYSTORIES.NZ
Left – Apprentice
mechanic Heather
McMillan at Lane
Walker Rudkin Hosiery
Ltd in 1978. Right –
Cabinet maker Denise
King at Howard
Smith Ltd in 1980
after completing her
apprenticeship.
Painting apprentices Sonja Tippin
and Donna Haupapa in 1976.
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ADVERTORIAL
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* To find out more, call Enviro Master
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“A local team for local people”

starnews.co.nz The Star, February 12, 2026
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The Star, February 12, 2026
starnews.co.nz
CROSSWORD
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9
10 11
12 13
14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21
437
SUDOKU
Every row, column and box should
contain the digits 1 to 9.
WordBuilder
WORDBUILDER
T
W R
Y D A
6
337 337
Y D A
many words of three or more letters,
How
including
many
plurals,
words
can you
of
make
three
from
or
the
more
six
letters, using each letter only once? No foreign
How words or beginning with a capital are
from many
allowed.
the words
There's
six letters, of three
at least one
using or more
six-letter
each letters,
word.
only
including once? plurals, can you make from the six
TODAY
letters, Good using 18 each Very letter Good only 24 once? Excellent No 30 foreign
No words beginning with a capital are
words or words beginning with a capital are
allowed. Solution 336: There’s enter, ere, at erne, least neep, one net, pee, six-letter peen,
allowed. peer, pen, There's pent, per, at pert, least pet, one pre, six-letter preen, rent, word. rep,
word. REPENT, ret, rete, tee, TODAY teen, ten, tern, tree.
Good 18 Very Good 24 Excellent 30
letters, including plurals, can you make
Solution 336: enter, ere, erne, neep, net, pee, peen,
peer, pen, pent, per, pert, pet, pre, preen, rent, rep,
REPENT, ret, rete, tee, teen, ten, tern, tree.
22 23 24 25 26
27 28
29
Across
1. Trait (14)
10. Legal defence (5)
11. First course of an Italian meal (9)
12. Marital (7)
13. Minor illness (7)
14. Decipher (5)
16. Bargain, haggle (9)
19. A special right or honour (9)
20. Preside over a meeting (5)
22. Shut out (7)
25. Prove superior (7)
27. Uncomfortable (3,2,4)
28. Stadium (5)
29. Enthusiastically (14)
Decoder
Down
2. The common people (3,6)
3. Traces (5)
4. Question or dispute something (9)
5. Minor actor in crowd scenes (5)
6. Unwise (9)
7. Flavour (5)
8. Laugh (7)
9. Syrup made from blackcurrants
(6)
15. Code of behaviour (9)
17. Ursa Major (5,4)
18. Warning sound (5,4)
19. Forewarning (7)
21. Warm again (6)
23. String instrument (5)
24. Dodge (5)
26. Picture (5)
Crossword
Across: 1. Characteristic, 10. Alibi, 11. Antipasto, 12. Spousal, 13. Ailment,
14. Solve, 16. Negotiate, 19. Privilege, 20. Chair, 22. Exclude, 25. Triumph,
27. Ill at ease, 28. Arena, 29. Wholeheartedly.
Down: 2. Hoi polloi, 3. Reins, 4. Challenge, 5. Extra, 6. Impolitic, 7. Taste,
8. Chortle, 9. Cassis, 15. Etiquette, 17. Great Bear, 18. Alarm bell, 19.
Preview, 21. Reheat, 23. Cello, 24. Evade, 26. Image.
WordBuilder
Art, arty, awry, dart, daw, day, drat, draw, dray, dry, rad, rat, raw, ray, rya,
tad, tar, tardy, taw, TAWDRY, trad, tray, try, wad, war, ward, wart, warty,
wary, way, wry, yard, yaw.
DECODER
Each number represents a different letter of the alphabet. Write the
given letters into all squares with matching numbers. Now work out
which letters are represented by the other numbers.
All puzzles copyright
T H E P U Z Z L E C O M P A N Y
www.thepuzzlecompany.co.nz
Sudoku