MOTORWAY CLOSURES FOR AUCKLAND MARATHON - SUN 30 OCTThe Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Marathon takes place this weekend and will involve citybound lane and ramp closures on the Northern Mwy and Auckland Harbour Bridge between 4:00am and 12.00 midday on Sunday morning, 30 October 2022.Please note that the Harbour Bridge will be OPEN at all times during this period, however some delays may be experienced by motorists with fewer lanes available than usual (three lanes in each direction will be open). A detour is not required.CLOSURE DETAILS: The Northern Busway Bus Only lanes will be closed from Constellation Dr to Onewa Rd interchange, with runners entering the Busway at Smales Farm. One lane of the Northern Motorway will be closed southbound after Esmonde Rd interchange, with the Onewa Rd southbound on-ramp to the motorway (including the bus-only lane) closed. Esmonde Rd on-ramp will remain open.South of Onewa Rd, the two left southbound motorway lanes will be closed while runners use the two southbound clip-on lanes over the Harbour Bridge, leaving the motorway at Shelly Beach Rd off-ramp (which will be closed to all traffic) and then looping around to use Curran St to run beneath the bridge (the Curran St on-ramp will be closed to all traffic) and along Westhaven Dr into the city. In addition, the Fanshawe St motorway off-ramp (citybound) will be closed from 2am until 3pm for the duration of the event.Other road closures, and parking restrictions, will be in place, with detail available on Auckland Transport's website: http://spr.ly/6181MoJBLRunners and supporters should check the Auckland Marathon website: http://spr.ly/6182MoJB0 for information about travelling to/from the event. Please share Auckland's roads with extra care this weekend.

Joint Press Release (GE Free NZ and Safe Food Campaign)The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA NZ) has made the right decision on the reassessment of three toxic organophosphates. The Vegetable Research and Innovation Board (VRIB) applied to the EPA to reassess a 2012 decision to phase out diazinon by 2028 and fenamiphos and methamidophos by 2023. The VRIB reassessment called on the EPA to extend the period for a further ten years, until 2033.The EPA declined the reassessment and ruled that diazinon is to be phase out by 2028 and fenamiphos and methamidophos by 2024. [1]“We congratulate the NZ Environmental Protection Authority for this decision,” said Claire Bleakley of GE Free NZ.These pesticides have been found to cause serious adverse affects to human health, especially related to neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity to the endocrine, reproductive systems and foetal development. Diazinon is already banned in 39 countries, fenamiphos in 35 and methamidophos in 109 [2].“We are very pleased to finally have the end of these damaging pesticides in sight,” said Alison White of Safe Food Campaign. “These organophosphates, like others still registered, are notorious for their effects on the nervous system, especially in young children who take in more of them from their food than other age groups.”Organic farming has long been able to farm without synthetic chemicals and it is time that farmers were supported to introduce organic methods to deal with challenges instead of using these toxic chemicals.“If we change even a small proportion of agricultural production to best practice organic systems, we could reduce the pesticide pollution in our food and environment. We don’t need or want these pesticides,” said Alison White.References:[1] https://www.epa.govt.nz/assets/FileAPI/hsno-ar/APP204199/APP204199_Decision.pdf[2] https://pan-international.org/pan-international-consolidated-list-of-banned-pesticides/[3] https://www.vri.org.nz/our-board/

Spotted!!A seal has recently been spotted on Gibbons Road in Kaiwaka hanging out on people’s property, making itself at home and fishing in the stream, where eels are a plenty.It must have come from the Kaipara harbor, by following the Kaiwaka river that then turns into a stream bordering peoples properties. A long way to travel! Apparently, it is a female kekeno, with sightings saying she is looking quite healthy. She has also been spotted in Baldrock lake, which is even further inland. DOC have been informed and advised to leave it be it will make its way back the ocean when its ready. No doubt tired and full from it’s big city adventure!

Warkworth regionTuesday 25th October - Partly cloudy, isolated showers from around midday as southerlies change easterly.Wednesday 26th October - Partly cloudy. Isolated showers. Northeasterlies.Thursday 27th October - Partly cloudy. Light winds.Friday 28th - A few showers. Northerlies.Saturday 29th - A few showers, turning to rain later. Fresh northerlies.Sunday 30th - Rain with heavy falls, easing later. Fresh northerlies, easing.Mangawhai regionTuesday 25th October - Partly cloudy, a few showers from around midday as southerlies change easterly.Wednesday 26th - A few morning showers, clearing to partly cloudy weather. Northeasterlies.Thursday 27th - Fine with northerlies.Friday 28th - A few showers. Northerlies.Saturday 29th - Showers. Northerlies.Sunday 30th - Rain. Northerlies.

SH1 will be closed northbound between Upper Harbour Hwy and Silverdale on Mon 24 Oct between 10pm and 5am for routine maintenance and safety improvements work. A longer than usual signposted detour will be in place via Paul Matthews Rd, Bush Rd, Albany Ewy and Dairy Flat Hwy. This will add approximately 15 minutes to your journey time, so please plan ahead.The following northbound on-ramps will also be closed (from 9pm) for these works: Upper Harbour Hwy, Greville Rd, and Oteha Valley Rd.Please note that all overnight motorway closures are subject to weather and other factors and may be cancelled or postponed at late notice. To check for the most current overnight closure information please visit our website (www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic) before you go each day.

Experts are warning people to be extra cautious in the sun this summer, with UV radiation levels already averaging higher than last year.NIWA data shows UV index levels between noon and 1pm in Auckland have been 5 percent higher on average, and up to 10 percent higher over the past month.A UV index level of three is enough to cause skin damage. For comparison, UV 8 is rare in the UK, even in the height of summer.UV radiation is produced by the sun, and exposure can cause sunburn, premature aging and increase the risk of skin cancer.NIWA meteorologist Dr Richard Turner said the high UV levels in New Zealand were probably due to a slight depletion of the ozone layer over the past few months, possibly worsened by the Tongan volcanic eruption."Our atmosphere shields us from a lot of the sun's radiation because of the thin ozone layer in our stratosphere, which absorbs most of the UV," he said.UV levels are predicted to reach between 6 and 7 in the south, 7 to 8 in central New Zealand and between 8 and 9 in the north over the Labour weekend.The ozone layer naturally breaks down and restores, but it has become thinner over time. It is particularly prominent over Antarctica, where a large hole forms in the spring with the effects felt in New Zealand in summer.The most common cause is manufactured chemicals such as CFCs, which were phased out in the 1990s but linger in our atmosphere for decades.Some scientists think January's eruption of the underwater Tongan vocano could be factor in this latest decline.Research suggested the Tongan volcano injected so much water into the stratosphere, it may have created a temporary loss of ozone. Luckily, the effect would be reversible, NIWA said, as the water would be naturally removed from the stratosphere in a few years.Cancer Society spokesperson Hazel Potterton said that until then, it was of particular concern in New Zealand due to the ozone layer over the country already being some of the thinnest in the world."New Zealand often ranks highest in the world for skin cancer rates," she said. "Even on cloudy days, you can burn within minutes, and people are often caught out at this time of year."People should cover up and apply sunscreen of at least SPF 30 every two hours.NIWA provides the Cancer Society of New Zealand with daily UV level forecasts, which can be accessed via the free UVNZ app.

The agency charged with enforcing vaccine pass rules says it has no idea how many businesses have paid fines for not complying.From December to about Easter, many businesses had to ask to see Covid-19 vaccine passes, and staff had to have them to work.Sixty-six fines were issued to businesses that did not comply, but it's unclear how many have paid up.Caleb Kloeg owns Masterton restaurant Saint Sebastian and refused to do vaccine passes."We decided not to partake in the traffic light system."We didn't say that we were doing it, we didn't say that we weren't doing it, we just said that as a business we weren't partaking into the contract of the traffic light system."In January, WorkSafe issued his business with $16,000 of fines for not checking vaccine certificates and not displaying vaccine pass signs.WorkSafe was in charge of educating businesses, and enforcing the rules, during the time the framework was in place.But Kloeg said he hasn't heard anything since learning the fines had been transferred to the Ministry of Justice for collection."If they essentially want their money they'll have to try and get it through the court process. And that's pretty much where we're at now."Kloeg said he never intended to pay the fines, but expected that they would become null and void since the vaccine mandates are all but over.In the four months the framework was in place, WorkSafe issued 66 infringement notices to 22 businesses.Sixty-one of those notices were transferred to the Ministry of Justice, with fines totalling $373,000.WorkSafe has no way of knowing how many of its fines will make their way back to the Crown coffers.Rodrigo Nasa owns Tauranga tattoo parlour Hammerhead Tattoos, and said he has no intention of paying his $24,000 in fines."Whatever they send to me it's going in the bin, simple as that, until they answer my questions or my email."Not just keep sending me, repeating the bill."Nasa said he has tried to talk to WorkSafe but hasn't had much success."Everything's almost like still happening in the clouds, hiding there somewhere."It's hard for me to give you a solid answer because I don't know where we're at."The passes were eliminated in April. Photo: 2021 Getty ImagesThe owner of Geraldine restaurant Q Foods, Carl Nicolson, is also adamant he won't be paying.In February, the business received $20,000 in fines for not checking vaccine passes, displaying signs or QR codes."I'm not paying for the fine regardless of what happens."They can do whatever they want to me, I will not pay that fine."Nicolson said communication with authorities since receiving the fines has been limited."I haven't had anything personally. A good associate has taken care of all of that who's very versed on common law."And the fine will disappear if it hasn't already, I haven't actually heard."Nicolson also came under fire for comparing the government's Covid policies to the Holocaust in his store signage.Engagement and education approach - WorkSafeHead of the general inspectorate at WorkSafe Simon Humphries said most businesses complied with their responsibilities under the Covid-19 Protection Framework, with only a small number not following the rules."We very much took a high engagement and education role right throughout our Covid response."But when there was sustained non-compliance by that very small number, then the next escalation of our response was to issue infringement notices."After issuing fines to businesses and serving reminder notices, WorkSafe transfers the infringement notices to the Ministry of Justice.But neither WorkSafe nor the Ministry of Justice know how much has been paid so far - if anything at all.Humphries said it was the same story with any enforcement agency: police may not know how many speeding tickets they issue actually get paid."Once it gets handed to the Ministry of Justice then the role of the regulator or issuing authority ends at that point."And then the Ministry of Justice then follow through the process around collection and their own internal process to the ongoing non-payment."A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said the ministry didn't know how many have been paid because it cannot distinguish between Covid-19 fine infringements and other infringements imposed under the Health and Safety at Work Act.It is now in the hands of individual district courts to enforce the payments.

LADY BARBER – HAIRCUTTING SALOONAfter an award winning 30 year career in film & television, hair & make-up artist to the stars - Vanessa Hurley, aka LADY BARBER is pleased to now call Matakana her home.A trained barber & qualified hairdresser, ‘LADY BARBER’ is now open at The Matakana Country Park (next to Smiths Bar) offering haircuts for ladies, gents & kids.Excited to be returning to her roots, this country girl at heart describes herself as a little bit country & a little bit Rock n’ Roll.Grab a coffee, swing by, listen to some tunes and have a yarn while Vanessa cuts your hair your way. Book in or walk in…Tuesday – Friday  9am-5pm  Saturday 10am – 3pmHaircutsLadies Haircut $50-$80.00Mens Hair cut $40.00Beard trim $10.00-$20.00Kids haircut $30.00 - 12 yrs & underBlow Dry $60Make-upMakeup $80.00Hair up $80.00Eyebrow tint $20Eyelash tint $20Text or email for an appointment:021 828 419 [email protected]

SH1 WARKWORTH-WELLSFORD - OVERNIGHT CLOSURES - OCT/NOVState Highway 1 between Warkworth and Wellsford will be closed to all traffic for 8 nights while resurfacing is undertaken in the Dome Valley area (at two locations between Wayby Valley Rd & Sheepworld). Closures will be in place from 8pm to 5am each night for an initial 3 nights, Tue 25 October – Thu 27 October, then followed by 5 further nights, Sun 30 October – Thu 3 November, with no closures occurring on Friday or Saturday nights. During closures a detour will be in place using Woodcocks Rd, West Coast Rd, and SH16 (Kaipara Coast Hwy and Port Albert Rd) between Warkworth and Wellsford. Please plan ahead as this detour may add up to 40 minutes travel time to your journey. Through traffic (especially heavy vehicles) should use SH16 entirely between Auckland and Wellsford. Traffic Map info: http://spr.ly/6181MYTgBIn addition, safety improvements work at the Pohuehue Viaduct (south of Warkworth) will require stop/go traffic management on SH1 near Cowan Bay Rd during these nights so further delays should be expected.Full media release here: http://spr.ly/6182MYTg8 ^TP

Friday 21st OctoberMatakana Botanicals Labour Weekend SaleMorris & James Labour Day Weekend SaleBali Garden Labour Weekend SaleInspire with Scott TownsendFiji Fridays @ SmithsSaturday 22nd OctoberInspire with Scott TownsendJunk Play eventsMangawhai Tavern MarketMangawhai Community MarketMatakana Village Farmers MarketBali Garden Labour Weekend SaleMorris & James Labour Day Weekend SaleMatakana Botanicals Labour Weekend SaleORION PIANO TRIOFood Truck Collective - WarkworthTrouble @ The MillFiji Fridays @ SmithsSunday 23rd OctoberMatakana Country Park MarketJunk Play eventsMatakana Botanicals Labour Weekend SaleMorris & James Labour Day Weekend SaleBali Garden Labour Weekend SaleWhole Health Fest - MangawhaiGrant Haua Awa Blues Acoustic Aotearoa TourFiji Fridays @ SmithsMonday 24th OctoberMatakana Monday Market Labour Day SpecialBali Garden Labour Weekend SaleMorris & James Labour Day Weekend Sale

Warkworth regionFriday 21st October - Showers clearing to fine weather this morning, but still the chance of a daytime shower. Evening showers as southwesterlies turn easterly.Saturday 22nd - Fine. Easterlies, easing in the afternoon.Sunday 23rd - Fine. Light winds, becoming southwesterlies for a time in the afternoon and evening.Monday 24th - Mainly fine, isolated showers developing later. Southwesterlies, becoming fresh.Mangawhai regionFriday 21st October - Fine with a few clouds, and the chance of a morning shower. A shower around midnight. Daytime southwesterlies, otherwise light winds.Saturday 22nd - Mainly fine, early shower clearing. Easterlies.Sunday 23rd - Fine with easterlies easing.Monday 24th - Fine. Southwesterlies.

Smith's in Matakana Country Park have kindly gifted us a $100 voucher to give away to a lucky Matakana App user!Enter your details here Smith's Matakana voucher up for grabs!Competition closes 27th October. Winners are announced on social media and contacted via email.If you aren't aware of Smith's Labour Day long weekend celebrations and specials check it out Fiji Fridays @ Smiths

*CONSULTATION* The Government plans to introduce a farm-level levy on agricultural greenhouse gas emissions from 2025. A farm-level levy will provide incentives for farmers and growers to take action on-farm to lower emissions. Several online Q&A sessions have been scheduled for farmers, growers and rural communities to ask questions. The dates and times are: 20 October (9am-10:30am) 25 October (6:30pm-8pm) 31 October (4pm-5:30pm) For more information, or to register, visit: https://consult.environment.govt.nz/.../agriculture.../Ministry for the EnvironmentSUBMISSIONS CLOSE 18TH NOVEMBER

New Zealand ShakeOut is our national earthquake drill and tsunami hīkoi. It's taking place Thursday 27 October 2022 at 9:30am.What is New Zealand ShakeOut and tsunami hīkoi?ShakeOut takes place across the world to remind people of the right action to take during an earthquake. Drop, Cover and Hold. You can also practice a tsunami hīkoi (evacuation walk) if you're in a coastal area.Information for schools, businesses and individualsFind ShakeOut information for schools and early childhood centres. We know that when kids are involved in preparing for emergencies, they encourage their families to be more prepared. And they play a more active role in responding to and recovering from emergencies.Find ShakeOut information for business and organisations. An emergency plan is a health and safety requirement. Not having one is a big risk for your business and the people in it.Find ShakeOut information for individuals, households and families. Taking part is a great way for your whānau to learn the right actions to take before, during and after an earthquake and tsunami.For more information visit:https://getready.govt.nz/en/involved/shakeout/

Critics of Rocket Lab say there is no guarantee its launches for foreign governments will not be used to facilitate the use of nuclear weapons.New Zealand-based Rocket Lab successfully released Nasa's Capstone spacecraft on a path to the Moon recently, among other missions.Both the company and the government have denied claims by the Green Party that its launches on behalf of the United States Defense Department could allow it to make war from space."Weaponising space is not in our national interest and goes against our international commitments to ensuring peace in space," Teanau Tuiono, the Green Party's spokesperson for security and intelligence, said in a statement."The government should put in place clear rules that stop our whenua being used to launch rockets on behalf of foreign militaries."Rocket Lab founder Peter Beck has gone on the record with media including Newshub and the New Zealand Herald to say that the company would not deal in weapons."We're certainly not going to launch weapons or anything that damages the environment or goes and hurts people," he told Newshub last year.Sonya Smith, a spokesperson for watchdog group Rocket Lab Monitor, said that New Zealand authorities have no power to control what happens after a launch."Essentially the policy is saying we intend to do no harm."So we think the intentions are good but the reality of the end result is that technology and those payloads is most definitely capable and likely of being used in a war setting."Smith said the United States Defense Force is open about its plans to use satellites for military goals.Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash said a new Aerospace Strategy was being opened for public consultation in September.In that announcement, Nash announced a review into New Zealand's space policy."The Space Policy Review is an opportunity for New Zealanders to have their say on the values and policy objectives that inform our government's activities and engagements in space."Feedback will contribute toward the development of a new National Space Policy that will capture our values regarding space and inform future space policy development, including any regulatory or legislative changes to the Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Act 2017."Green Party spokesperson for Māori development Elizabeth Kerekere said there needs to be more input into space policy by Māori."Tangata whenua have to have a greater say over what happens on their whenua. Rocket Lab's presence in Mahia is an example of tangata whenua being shut out of decision-making processes.""I will attend the public consultation on the National Space Policy Review in Mahia to support mana whenua," she said.

The Mangawhai Activity Zone (MAZ) Trust will soon start work on a new Flow Bowl and Street Skateboarding Plaza, following a grant from Kaipara District Council.In total, Council has allocated $400,000 to MAZ in two portions. The first portion of $200,000 was set aside in the Long Term Plan to match Lotteries funding already obtained by MAZ. A further $200,000 grant will come from reserve contributions, collected from the Mangawhai catchment area.Skateboarding has been growing in popularity, particularly since becoming an Olympic sport, and the Mangawhai facilities are well used. The Olympics have two skateboarding categories – street and park – which require different facilities. Mayor Dr Jason Smith says the improved skate park facilities will put MAZ on the map as one of the best skate environments in the country.“Mangawhai has long been famous for its surf beach and will soon be famous for its skateboarding as well. The MAZ Trust has continued to raise funds and put in the hard yards to create a truly world-class facility that Council is proud to support.”MAZ Trust Chairperson Colin Gallagher says the additions to the skate park will open new recreation opportunities for both Mangawhai residents and visitors to Mangawhai. “We expect that providing a more comprehensive skate facility will have positive flow on effects for local shops and businesses, as well as being of a standard for training for the Paris Olympics in 2024.”Work will start on the Flow Bowl in September then move onto the Street Skateboarding Plaza. The funding covers 100% of the Flow Bowl and 50% of the plaza which will be developed in stages and designed so completed sections are usable while further funding is sought to complete the full plaza area. The MAZ Trust aim to complete the Skate Park within the next year.MAZ site plan showing planned Flow Bowl and Street Plaza

Groundswell NZ has organised a nationwide protest in response to the Government's document released 11th October proposing to tax farmers for emissions on food production.https://www.groundswellnz.co.nz/campaigns/were-not-going-to-take-itBelow is the rough schedule the protest will take in our area. Please be aware there may be traffic delays.

Auckland mayor Wayne Brown has asked the city's water management company and council boss to stop work on Three Waters.In a statement on Monday afternoon, Brown said he had promised during his election campaign that he would stop the central government's proposal.The plan would take water services out of the hands of councils and create four publicly-owned companies to cover the country."In more than 300 campaign events, I detected no support for it [Three Waters] at all among Aucklanders. I promised in the election campaign to stop it," Brown wrote to Watercare chairperson Margaret Devlin.Brown believed stopping this work could mean water charges and rates stayed "as low as possible" in return."It is not in the best interests of Watercare, its shareholder or its customers for it to spend any more money on the doomed proposal - and that is also true of Auckland Council," he said."What money Watercare or Auckland Council might have spent on Three Waters should be returned to Auckland households in the form of lower water charges and rates than would otherwise be charged."Former Auckland mayor Phil Goff was also opposed to the government's plan, saying it would diminish accountability and responsiveness but at the same time feared losing the opportunity for change because of disagreement over the governance."There needs to be reform of water and we stand by that - we just don't like the government's model that they've created for Auckland which in our view is unnecessary," Goff said.Brown's letter to Devlin also requested that the council organisation "maintain a focus on the delivery of your core services in accordance with the council's expectations".He wrote he would be setting out his expectations formally in a Statement of Intent, but said he had no plans for "any substantial changes" to organisation's operations."As mayor, I expect that you will not be unnecessarily spending your resources on assisting or preparing for Three Waters reforms that are unlikely to happen. That is also true of Auckland Council to which I have given the same advice."Brown had also campaigned on replacing the directors of major council-controlled agencies, pledging to bring the organisations back directly under the council's control.The boss of council development arm Eke Panuku pushed back, saying the council-controlled organisations answered to the council, not the mayor.

Crash outside South Bound tunnel.State Highway 1 Johnston Hill Tunnel. Currently blocked North and South bound. Avoid the area if possible. Please detour Hibiscus Coast Highway .