Good Sort: Jesiah Oli-Alainu'uese
When he saw his teacher struggling to breathe, 10-year-old Jesiah Oli-Alainu'uese knew exactly what to do.
His actions at lunchtime last Thursday likely saved the life of his teacher, Leah Smythe.
Jesiah is a pupil at Raureka School in Hastings and was just about to leave his classroom to join his friends for lunch when he saw Smythe start to cough.
“She patted me on the shoulder. I could see that she was choking, so I whacked her on the back three or four times. Really hard,” he said.
That did the trick and the piece of food lodged in Smythe's throat was dislodged, allowing her to breathe again.
Jesiah said he knew what to do because he had seen someone at another school do it to a student who was choking.
“I hit her pretty hard. I got my strength from boxing training. When she called my mum she said her back was still sore,” Jesiah said.
Jesiah's feat was recognised at a school assembly on Friday, at which he was presented a gift by a St John Ambulance paramedic.
Principal Greg Riceman said he was very proud of Jesiah.
“It was really fantastic, what he did,” Riceman said.
Would you know what to do if you found someone choking?
- Reporting by Marty Sharpe
Poll: If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓
In the Post's article on speeding penalties, the question is asked whether speeding fines are truly about road safety, or are they just a way to boost revenue for the Crown?
What do you think? Should speeding motorists receive speeding fines or demerit points?
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35.4% The sting of a fine (Money talks!)
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64.6% The threat of demerit points (Nobody wants to lose their license!)
Poll: Are you still heading to your local for your caffeine fix, or has the $$ changed your habits? ☕
Wellington’s identity is built on its cafe culture, but with costs climbing, that culture is under pressure. We’ve seen the headlines about recent closures, and it’s a tough pill to swallow along with a $6+ coffee.
We all want our favourite spots to stay open, but we also have to balance our own budgets ⚖️
We want to know: How are you handling the "coffee math" in 2026? Are you still heading to your local for a chat and a caffeine fix, or has the cost of living changed your habits?
Keen to read more about "coffee math"? The Post has you covered.
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46.3% I avoid spending money on coffee
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44.3% I still indulge at my local cafe
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9.4% Irrelevant - coffee is not for me
Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!
Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.
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