High flying West Auckland mum
A mother of four has realised a 30-year dream to join the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
April Sherman has graduated from a gruelling 14 weeks of training at RNZAF Base Woodbourne.
In 2021, the Hobsonville resident takes on safety and surface trade training- learning to keep aircraft equipment in peak condition.
The 46-year-old spent the past eight years in Australia, some of the time mining in Western Australia.
Family brought her back to New Zealand in 2019, and the chance sighting of an Air Force P-3K2 Orion re-ignited her life-long career dream.
“I lost my dad suddenly at the beginning of last year to cancer, so my priority was to find a job back in New Zealand and take care of my mum,” Sherman said.
“I was too shy as a school leaver back in 1992 to join.
"But I saw an Orion flying above Hobsonville one day after work last year and that rekindled the desire to look at the Air Force."
Sherman said being mentally and physically prepared has led to her success.
“If you’re willing to embrace lessons, make sacrifices, swallow your pride, be patient when others struggle and continue to give everything, you will eventually overcome each obstacle."
Even Australians get it - so why not Kiwis???
“Ten years ago, if a heatwave as intense as last week’s record-breaker had hit the east coast, Australia’s power supply may well have buckled. But this time, the system largely operated as we needed, despite some outages.
On Australia’s main grid last quarter, renewables and energy storage contributed more than 50% of supplied electricity for the first time, while wholesale power prices were more than 40% lower than a year earlier.
[…] shifting demand from gas and coal for power and petrol for cars is likely to deliver significantly lower energy bills for households.
Last quarter, wind generation was up almost 30%, grid solar 15% and grid-scale batteries almost tripled their output. Gas generation fell 27% to its lowest level for a quarter century, while coal fell 4.6% to its lowest quarterly level ever.
Gas has long been the most expensive way to produce power. Gas peaking plants tend to fire up only when supply struggles to meet demand and power prices soar. Less demand for gas has flowed through to lower wholesale prices.”
Full article: www.theguardian.com...
If even Australians see the benefit of solar - then why is NZ actively boycotting solar uptake? The increased line rental for electricity was done to make solar less competitive and prevent cost per kWh to rise even more than it did - and electricity costs are expected to rise even more. Especially as National favours gas - which is the most expensive form of generating electricity. Which in turn will accelerate Climate Change, as if New Zealand didn’t have enough problems with droughts, floods, slips, etc. already.
Poll: As a customer, what do you think about automation?
The Press investigates the growing reliance on your unpaid labour.
Automation (or the “unpaid shift”) is often described as efficient ... but it tends to benefit employers more than consumers.
We want to know: What do you think about automation?
Are you for, or against?
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9.2% For. Self-service is less frustrating and convenient.
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43.7% I want to be able to choose.
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47.1% Against. I want to deal with people.
Rock'in with Elvis by Mike Cole
The Memories of Elvis Fan Club invite you to our 1st Elvis Social for 2026. We are excited to have our own Mike Cole back at the Te Atatu RSA on Saturday 28th February at 7.30pm. Cost only $20pp. Tickets are on sale at the RSA or reserve through Jackie 0274901126. So lets see you with your dancing shoes on and that great smile as we start off 2026 with a bang.
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