Former British TV presenter Noel Edmonds has put his Matakana mansion up for sale. Edmonds used to host Deal or No Deal and Noel’s House Party and heavily involved in Radio One programming.Noel only brought the Sharp Road estate last year but has decided to sell up. Perhaps him and his wife will move into one of the many properties they have been buying up around NZ since gaining residency in 2020. They came in under the Investor1 category, which requires $10 million of investment over three years. They reportedly have at least three properties just in Nelson.Ray White Matakana / Omaha agent Annie Mellor is selling the home. For all the details call Annie on 027 929 7767

Six young people who were playing with BB guns have been let off with a warning after sending an Auckland mall into lockdown.Armed police rushed to Glenfield Mall around 8pm after a report a person had what appeared to be a firearm. Instead, police say officers found a group of youth in an underground car park with three toy guns. The six young people were taken into custody and the BB guns were recovered by police.Police soon let the youths off with a warning. Police said the mall went into lockdown on its own accord.Many customers reacted on social media to the scare. "Everyone avoid Glenfield mall at all costs and all surrounding areas," one wrote on Facebook. "We've just left there as we were trying to enter we were informed by the mall security that (there) are gunman on the ground floor."Shanan Halbert, the MP for Nortcote, also reacted on his official Facebook page."I am pleased that no one has been hurt but it is very frightening for the public Glenfield community. Thank you to our police for acting swiftly on this."

Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars called Pleiades or The Seven Sisters. This group of stars rises midwinter here in NZ and for Māori symbolises the start of a new year.Traditionally Matariki was a time to acknowledge the dead - honouring those who have passed on since the last rising of Matariki; to release their spirits to become stars! A similar tradition exists in Mexico with Day of the Dead celebrations where they dress up, sing, dance and make offerings to people who have passed. Matariki is also a time to reflect and look forward to the promise of a new year. An opportunity to give thanks for what we have; to share and feast with family and friends. Sounds like an amazing potential for merriment and gratitude!Matariki celebrations were once popular before the 1940s but fell out of favour until the 2000s where it was revived. Hopefully with it officially becoming a public holiday this month, more of us will get involved and celebrate its true essence.The Matariki public holiday will always fall on a Friday and will shift slightly each year to align with the Maramataka (Māori stellar-lunar calendar). The first official Matariki public holiday is on June 24th this year. However, the date will be 14th July in 2023, and different once again for 2024.Matariki Public Holiday Bill passed its first reading on 30th September 2021 with 77 votes to 43. A total of $10 million is provided by the government for Matariki and Waitangi Day celebrations and events. New Matariki educational resources will be available for schools and Kura.According to MP Kiritapu Allan (Minister of Justice) “research shows there are many benefits to public holidays, with business representatives themselves noting Matariki would give a much-needed mid-year boost to the hospitality and tourism sectors….And we all know holidays contribute to employee well-being by reducing stress, helping to prevent burn-out and promote work-life balance.”We know for ourselves the benefits to our wellbeing of having public holidays…but what about the costs?The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has said the cost will be “something in the order of $400 million per annum and that cost has to be picked up somewhere along the line.” ACT party puts the cost at about $450 million. Much of these costs will be put on employers to cover employees who would be away from work; with increased payments for employees who work the public holiday. Both ACT and National have called for an existing holiday such as Labour Day to be dropped to compensate for Matariki being picked up, otherwise they believe the cost is too great. But could Kiwi’s adjust to not having Labour Day when it has been a public holiday since 1900?MBIE estimates that the net financial impact of a new Friday public holiday is between a net positive (benefit) of $25.7m and a net negative (cost) of $133m depending on the assumptions made about the value of people’s leisure time. It is a difficult one to know the true cost to taxpayers, but we know business owners will bear the biggest brunt and will have to pass that cost on to consumers.The timing of this first Matariki statutory holiday could be better, with many businesses already stretched financially (and emotionally) after an incredibly challenging few years due to lockdowns. However, hopefully it will bring benefits to businesses and the economy with the tourism and hospitality industry benefiting from increased spending.Money aside, perhaps for this new and true Māori public holiday, we can really appreciate what it truly represents: honouring our loved ones (e aroha ana) that have passed; spending quality time with our loved ones who are still on Earth; being grateful we are still here and for all that we have, and perhaps remembering businesses who are doing it tough in order for us to have this new public holiday to enjoy.References available upon request.

Planting season is a busy time for Rodney volunteers getting ready to plant thousands of trees and plants over winter.Rodney Local Board Chair Phelan Pirrie says environmental restoration remains a top priority for the board and community, and that includes local planting days which require support.“Our volunteers have a busy three months ahead of them, with large areas to plant out, and a short season in which to do it.“Lending a hand is what it is all about. Our students are leading the way and signing up to plant trees in parks near their schools.“Planting days are a great opportunity to give something back to our community and with just a few hours of hard work, you are making a positive contribution.”Parks with large planting areas and planting dates are:Matheson Bay – 2 JulyHelensville River Reserve – 31 JulyRiverhead War Memorial Park – 20 August.Other planting sites across Rodney (excluding school planting sites) include Fairwater, Kowhai Park, Sesquicentennial Walkway, Kumeu River Reserve, Riverhead's Victoria St, Wellsford Centennial Park, Omaha Quarry Reserve, Kaukapakapa Library Reserve, Te Whau Walkway and Puhoi Pioneers Park.A decade-long volunteer in the Rodney District, Tim Armitage is a great advocate for conservation and plays a key role in encouraging rangatahi / youth to get involved at local parks. Tim is Chair of Restore Rodney East, Deputy Chair of Forest and Bird Warkworth, Head of Pest Free Warkworth and supports Friends of Awa Matakanakana.“Planting is an essential part of our multi-pronged approach to restoration. Not only does planting play a key role in forest regeneration but it also helps reduce sediment and provide other major benefits to the environment.”Ways to get involvedTo sign up for a planting day, visit facebook.com/aucklandparks, tiakitamakimakaurau.nz or contact Auckland Council on 09 301 0101 and ask for your community park ranger.Stay up to dateWant to stay up to date with all the latest news from your area? Sign up for your Rodney Local Board E-news and get the latest direct to your inbox each month.

Crisis meetings and investigations are continuing after Middlemore ED's long wait times appear to have cost a life on Wednesday.Another short statement from Counties Manukau District Health Board today reiterated "extreme pressure" at the Middlemore, with "abnormally high" demand for services.The heath board said patient presentations had jumped a full 17 percent on pre-Covid levels in 2019 - an extra 400 patients a week - and were still going up.It has been reviewing the woman's death, which happened after she showed up at the ED early on Wednesday, left and returned just a few hours later critically ill.Health Minister Andrew Little. Photo: RNZ / Samuel RillstoneLate this afternoon Health Minister Andrew Little fronted media saying hospitals were doing the best they could in busy times.He declined to speak on the individual case."I know that there are individual hospitals that are facing very, very serious pressures. The system as a whole, I think, is coping," he said."When I look at the Auckland region I look at the cooperation between hospitals. So hospitals that are under extreme pressure are seeing patients that would otherwise go there, go to other hospitals nearby. That is a system that is doing its job."New Zealand Resident Doctors Association national secretary Deborah Powell called the death "a doctor's worst nightmare"."Doctors go to work to help people - and if they don't get to help them because they don't even get to see them ... its another psychological hit at the moment, that would be fair to say," she said."Already tired, pretty much exhausted and then this sort of thing happens. It's really hard out there."Exactly how long people are waiting in the ED is not clear.National health spokesperson Shane Reti said there was no way of knowing because the government did away with public health targets last year.National health spokesperson Shane Reti. Photo: RNZ / Samuel RillstoneThe final data set from Middlemore, last June, showed a fifth of people - 21 percent - were waiting longer than the target six hours in the ED."The more it looks like our waiting times have been a factor in this really tragic and unfortunate case, the more we need to look back and say 'why did it stop getting reported, and what's being done to fix it?'" Reti said.It has been reported the woman left Middlemore ED after being told the wait time would be eight hours, and that she died from a brain bleed.Powell said the death had already prompted one emergency meeting between unions and health boards.Another is due to happen on Monday.She said they were considering bolstering staff numbers at Middlemore by taking resident doctors from other parts of the country."If we've got five other EDs, say, just off the top of my head, where they could manage with one less registrar and five registrars can come into Counties, that could be a good thing to do," she said."We have to look at those sorts of options to make sure that where there's greatest need [we act] - and let's be honest, people dying while waiting to be seen in ED, that's about as bad as it can get. So we're going to have to get more flexible in looking at those sorts of options."Little acknowledged shortages in other parts of the health system had contributed to the ED pressure problem."We know that there are people turning up to a hospital, EDs in particular, because they can't get to a doctor or they can't get that other primary level care. We have to fix primary care. But if people need hospital-level care, then they should go to hospital," he said.Emergency doctors and the Nurses Union said they had been warning for months that extreme workloads for health workers would cause something to be missed.The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine said the $11.1 budget boost allocated to the health system did not target areas that contribute to overcrowding of emergency departments.Reti took aim at health reform funding."Their decision to spend $486 million on health reforms, and restructure a health system in the middle of a pandemic - that has not helped at all, the waiting times that are increasing across the country," he said.Counties Manukau District Health Board declined to be interviewed about the death, saying its focus was on managing the demands and pressure on the health system.It said it offered deepest sympathies to the family involved.Little did not believe the pressure on EDs at the moment warranted a shift to the red traffic light setting.

OVERNIGHT MOTORWAY CLOSURES: 18-25 JUNA wide range of overnight closures are planned on the Auckland Motorway network for the upcoming week (Sat-Sun, 18-25 June), including northbound lanes on the SH1 Northern Mwy between Greville Rd and Oteha Valley Rd and southbound lanes between Greville Rd and Upper Harbour Hwy from Sun to Wed nights (19-22 June) between 9pm and 5am.Check here for the full list of overnight roadworks that may affect your late night journey next week: http://spr.ly/6181zdqHUPlease 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 (http://spr.ly/6182zdqHq) before you go each day. ^LB

What's happening this weekend!Friday 17th JuneMcSweeney Brothers and Marian Burns NZ's leading Irish BandMatakana Comedy ClubSaturday 18th JuneSeniors Expo in WellsfordWarkworth RSA's Lift Appeal AuctionThe Matakana Village Farmers MarketLa Soiree at the StablesSunday 19th JuneLeigh Mid Winter SwimMatakana Country Park Market - CANCELLED due to muddy grounds. Resumes 2nd Oct.ENJOY!

More than 1000 Pakiri seabed sand mining protesters are expected at an event in Northland's Mangawhai Heads next month ahead of resource consent application hearings for Auckland-based company McCallum Bros to harvest the resource from nearby waters.The 10 July event on Mangawhai Heads Beach is expected to be one of Northland's biggest protests, drawing Northlanders and Aucklanders living along the 20-kilometre-long Pakiri-Mangawhai coastline and beyond.Save Our Sands (SOS) spokesperson Ken Rayward said opposition to the mining was growing and the protest event would provide an opportunity for the community to publicly express its views.Greenpeace campaigner James Hita, who headed the years-long campaign to stop Taranaki seabed mining for iron and titanium magnate will address those present. The Court of Appeal in 2020 refused Trans-Tasman Resources permission to mine millions of tonnes of ironsands.Kaipara Mayor Dr Jason Smith will also be speaking."I am looking forward to hearing from the community and working on the next steps in fighting the sand mining," Smith said.McCallum Bros wants to harvest more than eight million tonnes of sand over 35 years from 8.2 square kilometres off the sea floor off Pakiri and Te Arai. McCallum Bros started in 1904 and its past sand mining has also been at Waipu and Mangawhai.Rayward said 400 people had turned out to a similar event last year. More than three times that number of people were expected at the July event. Community opposition would be expressed in a giant 60-metre high wording SOS on the sand.SOS has about 30,000 members across a coalition of groups including Greenpeace, Mangawhai Harbour Restoration Society and Friends of Pakiri. It delivered a 15,000-signature petition in opposition to the offshore sand mining to Auckland Council in April.Save our Sands (SOS) protestors deliver their 15,000 signature petition against Pakiri sand mining to Auckland Council in April. Photo: LDR / Northern AdvocateEleven days of resource consent renewal application hearings for McCallum Bros to continue harvesting seabed sand in near-shore and newly in the mid-shore zones near the beach start on 27 July.These are happening as the company also heads to the Environment Court to challenge Auckland Council hearing commissioners' May decision not to allow mining in the off-shore zone.Rayward said opposition to the seabed sand mining had for the first time now reached the point where the three councils connected with its operation and potential impacts - Auckland Council, Kaipara District Council and Northland Regional Council - had all expressed their concerns over the activity.Pakiri sea floor sand has played a major role in Auckland's building scene. It is the concrete industry's sand source preference for major infrastructure projects, high-rise construction, and marine structures.The Pakiri-Mangawhai coastline is a 20-kilometre sweep of east coast surf beach ending at Mangawhai sandspit in the north. The sandspit provides a critical barrier for Mangawhai township, New Zealand's fastest-growing coastal settlement, and the Pacific Ocean.Eighty percent of this coastline is in Auckland Council, 20 percent in Northland. Mining takes place in the sea off the middle section of the coastline.The Northland-Auckland land border runs out into the sea in a north-easterly direction from roughly the base of Mangawhai spit. This means the spit, a critical barrier between Northland's Mangawhai and the Pacific Ocean, is in the spotlight when it comes to the mining's potential impacts.File photo: Pakiri Beach sand dunes Photo: RNZ / Marika KhabaziSeabed sand mining is allowed only off the Auckland end of the beach. This area is under the jurisdiction of Auckland Council.The beach's northern end is under the council jurisdiction of Northland Regional Council (NRC) and Kaipara District Council (KDC).Northland Regional Council (NRC)'s submission on the near-shore and mid-shore resource consent applications raised concern regarding the lack of research that had been done about Pakiri sand mining's potential impacts north of the Auckland/Northland border. It was important any potential cross-boundary effects were addressed.NRC said it was important Mangawhai spit was protected from adverse effects.The barrier spit was classed as outstanding in terms of landscape, natural character and natural features. These high-ranking values were a matter of national importance under the Resource Management Act.Kaipara District Council has also submitted against the company's near-shore and mid-shore resource consent application. It said Mangawhai Harbour, Mangawhai estuary, and Mangawhai Heads were at risk of exposure to the coastal elements should the spit's protection disappear or decrease."KDC opposes the two applications for sand extraction within the Mangawhai-Pakiri embayment ... Opposition is in full and pertains to actual or perceived adverse effects on the Mangawhai sandspit morphology, wildlife habitat of nationally critical or vulnerable bird species, as well as on the local Mangawhai community," the submission said.

People are invited to have their say on how 338 parks and over 1,400 hectares of land are managed in the Rodney Local Board area.The Rodney Local Parks Management Plan will guide the management of all Rodney’s parks and reserves excluding the nine regional parks and Department of Conservation managed land.Local Board Chair Phelan Pirrie wants residents to give feedback so their expectations and experiences at parks are reflected in the plan.“The plan describes how people use parks, which areas need protection, and what to consider before improving a park.“This approach brings it all together and replaces the management plans for each park and reserve.“We know how our community cherishes parks and values open space. Now, it is time to get to grips with the plan and give feedback on it.”The management plan is being prepared according to the Reserves Act 1977 and has a policy rather than an operational focus. It aims to guide day-to-day management in local parks in a way that reflects the values of mana whenua and the community.Pirrie says it will be an important document that will guide decisions on local parks for a long time.“We will refer to it many times such as when we approve events or grant leases to groups using parks.”The consultation period runs until Monday, 15 August.Ways to have your sayView the draft plan and have your say online at akhaveyoursay.nz. Attend a drop-in session at Warkworth Service Centre (Spoke Meeting Room) on 27 July, 11am-1pm or 4pm-6pm, and at Kumeū Library on 28 July, 11am-1pm or 3pm-5pm.View the draft plan and fill in a feedback form at Helensville, Kumeū, Mahurangi East, Warkworth or Wellsford libraries and at the Warkworth Service Centre.Email feedback to [email protected] stepsThe consultation period will be followed by hearings in November, where any submitter can speak to their submission in person. The final plan is expected to be adopted by the local board in early 2023.Stay up to dateWant to stay up to date with all the latest news from your area? Sign up for your Rodney Local Board E-news and get the latest direct to your inbox each month.

The number of jobs being advertised continues to outpace applications, as business struggle to fill skills gaps.Figures from the job website Seek show job ads rose 3 percent in May to a fresh record, and were 15 percent higher than a year ago.However, applications had fallen by 4 percent."Job ads continue to grow to record heights, and interestingly, there has also been an increase in the number of full-time roles being advertised, compared to part-time, casual and temporary roles," Seek country manager Rob Clark said.Full time roles made up 74 percent of all roles advertised on the website prior to the pandemic but it had jumped to 81 percent of all roles.Clark said the shift was occurring because firms that relied on casual workers could not afford to lose them."While the pandemic saw many Kiwis reassessing how much of their life was spent at work, it appears as though businesses are keener than ever to secure talent in full-time roles, perhaps with the lure of flexibility and hybrid working as a compromise.There was a sharp increase in demand for workers from the the hospitality and tourism, retail and community services sectors.Clark said it was encouraging to see tourism firms looking to hire staff again, as they had been hard-hit by the pandemic.However, they were now struggling to find staff in time for what would be their busiest winter in three years."For these businesses, the reopening of borders for international skilled and student visas from July offers some hope that fresh talent may be on its way."Every part of the country recorded a growth in jobs ads over the past 12 months.However, some regions reported declines over the past month.

A message from Auckland Council:Do your part to keep Auckland’s waterways, and ecosystems healthy by making sure your septic tank is well maintained.From June 2022, properties not connected to a wastewater network will be asked to provide Auckland Council with proof their onsite wastewater system is working well. This means your septic tank, aerated system, composting toilet or other wastewater treatment needs to be serviced by a professional. Most properties in Auckland are connected to Watercare's piped network and pay for wastewater disposal. About 45,000 households in rural areas and on the Hauraki Gulf islands do not have access to this network and rely on onsite wastewater systems to treat their sewage and wastewater.In an effort to reduce faecal contamination of our waterways, the water quality targeted rate is funding compliance monitoring of onsite wastewater systems to ensure property owners are meeting their obligations by regularly servicing their septic systems.Since the Safe Septic programme began, staff in Healthy Waters and Regulatory Services have been working with servicing companies and communities to raise awareness of their maintenance obligations. Under the Auckland Unitary Plan, property owners are responsible for maintaining their onsite wastewater systems.“These systems can be really expensive to replace, but regular maintenance, taking care of what goes down your drains, and protecting the disposal field will keep it running well. Think of this like a WOF for your car – a regular check-up gives you assurance it is safe and means you can address small issues before they cause a big stink.” Elizabeth Johnson, Safe Septic programme leadWhat do I need to do?Contact a private company to arrange a service. Your basic septic tank needs to be serviced every three years. A modern aerated system needs to be serviced every six months. You can expect them to clean out any pumps and filters, address any blockages in the tank or disposal field pipes, and advise you of further repairs or improvements that could be made. They will also be able to tell you if the system needs to be pumped out. Service costs range between $100 and $250 depending on the system. Search online for septic tank maintenance in Auckland to find your local professional.Take care of your system in between services. The bacteria living in the tank love organic matter, but will not be able to do their job of treating your wastewater if there is bleach in the water, or if wipes get into the system.Fines can be issued if property owners are unwilling to repair problems or provide proof of maintenance.Questions? Visit www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/septictanks or email [email protected]

Replacing Poto Williams as Police Minister could just be "window dressing for the public" if it doesn't bring changes, says National's police spokesperson Mark Mitchell.Williams was stripped of her responsibility for the police portfolio yesterday, as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a string of Cabinet changes. Chris Hipkins has stepped in to replace her.It came less than a week after National Party leader Christopher Luxon called for Williams' removal from the role.Now that Williams had been replaced, the party said it wasn't convinced Hipkins stepping into the role would deliver for New Zealanders."They tend to use Chris Hipkins to try and fix portfolios that aren't going very well," National Party police spokesperson Mark Mitchell told Morning Report."If he's passionate about it and he really believes in getting behind the police, and I hope he does, then we might see some changes but fundamentally the risk is that it's window dressing for the public."Mitchell said Labour continued to adopt a "soft on crime" approach and there needed to be a very strong response to gang activity.It was something National were "deeply passionate about", he said."We signalled four years ago what the government needed to do to get on top of a rising gang problem, they didn't act."There had been a number of shootings and arsons in Auckland and Northland in recent weeks, linked to escalating tensions between the Killer Beez and Tribesmen.The National Party proposed four steps to give police new powers to tackle the gang problem.Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern rejected those and yesterday said the government had asked police what other tools they wanted to address gang behaviour.Giving police a warrantless search power inside the Firearms Prohibition Order Bill (FPOs) was among the things needed, Mitchell said.The government had worked on introducing FPOs but they do not grant warrantless search powers."The police have got the intelligence, they know who the gang members are, they know who's organising all of this, they've got very good intelligence gathering capability and they absolutely know what's going on. But they can't take action unless they've got the powers to do it."The government had put a lot of money into addressing gang behaviour but things were going backwards, Mitchell said."If Chris Hipkins comes in and he sits down with me and he says 'Right, let's have a look at this Firearms Prohibition Order, does it actually genuinely have the warrantless search powers that the police need?' and he can't see that they don't, and they make a change - that's a good thing."NZ Police Association president Chris Cahill didn't think switching out the minister would make a dramatic difference."It's good to see the Labour has accepted law and order issues are a significant problem and they've put someone of a high Cabinet ranking of five but the reality is, are ministers really going to be able to change the significant problems we've got with gangs at the moment or with ram raids?"Legislative amendments wouldn't make changes overnight but National's proposals were worth looking at, Cahill said, noting any steps needed to be made slowly."I'd like to look at the gang patch for a start."But he said people should not go to prison for wearing a patch."What I want to make sure is that anything we introduce is practical and has the ability to work and won't just get thrown out by the courts."He said while people were concerned about increased gang presence in communities, why young people were joining gangs needed to be addressed."That'd be the best result, is turn off the tap in the first place."

Monday - Showers, some heavy with squally thunderstorms and hail. Westerlies, gale gusting 110 km/h in exposed places, easing tonight.Strong Wind Watch today until 4pm. Northwest winds may approach severe gale at times. The area may be affected by severe thunderstorms and wind gusts of more than 110km/h and localised tornadoes.Tuesday - Partly cloudy. A few showers, clearing early morning, returning at night. Fresh southwesterlies.Wednesday - Partly cloudy, a few showers. Westerlies.Thursday - Partly cloudy, a chance of a shower. Westerlies.Friday - Fine, then a few showers developing. Northwesterlies dying away.

Pakiri Beach Horse Rides owner Sharley Haddon is looking for extra special new homes for 40 beloved horses - and admits it's with quite some reluctance that she's calling it a day."It's been my life for 42 years and it's pretty hard to just walk away... I'm really sad that I've had to stop. I'm not a happy retiree." The former school teacher explained it all started with "two fat ponies" she bought for her children when she moved up from South Waikato.  Word spread fast and visitors, from first time riders to experienced equestrians, were soon travelling from all over New Zealand in the hundreds.They were enticed by the chance to go for a guided trot through pristine vistas and hear hoofbeats under them on the deserted, white sand beach. It was a roaring success story. "I moved into the international market and marketed overseas and it grew from two fat ponies to, well, I had 80 horses on the place at one stage," Haddon said."I think I probably introduced a lot of people that live here now to Pakiri." Today, the stable walls are scrawled with messages from former trekking guides, who came from all over the world. "They still contact me on Facebook and write wonderful things about how it was one of the best times of their lives," Haddon said."I'm not so sure that I was the best boss but it's so nice living here. They had a staff house that came with the job and I think it was a lot of fun. It was a pretty horrible house but it always was happy." Some of her own fondest memories are the seven-day treks down to Muriwai beach in Auckland. "We used to stay in a little hut at the top of the Kaipara hills. It was semi camping, but everything was there. It was fabulous. I used to love that. Especially when we lit the fire and we were all wet and hanging around the fire drinking whiskey," she said. Haddon had been gradually wanting to retire when the pandemic forced her hand.A tough two years made it untenable to keep employing staff or running the treks - and she explained four legged staff didn't qualify for the wage subsidy. A broken neck from a fall three years ago has kept her out of the saddle herself, and she said increased health and safety regulations for tourism operators have gradually put the squeeze on her operations.While Haddon would love someone else to swoop in and take over the business, she said she isn't selling the land, only the horses. She knows each of the 47 horses by name and unique personality.Seven "old favourites" will remain on the farm for herself, her daughter, her son and her granddaughter.Any prospective buyers of the other 40 will have to be pretty special people, Haddon explained she'll be making sure they're the right fit for the horse that they choose. Pakiri Beach Horse Rides owner Sharley Haddon. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi"It's not easy to sell horses. For me, when I love them, it's not easy to sell them," she said.  As for the owner herself, Haddon isn't putting her feet up just yet.She has been keeping busy writing and illustrating stories, and toying with the idea of a new job. Her happy chapter running Pakiri Beach Horse Rides might be over - but what a ride it has been.  

For those of you travelling to Auckland check the roads before you head off.Northwest winds may approach severe gale at times. Warning of the possible full closure of the Auckland Harbour Bridge is possible..This area may be affected by severe thunderstorms bringing wind gusts of more than 110 km/h and localised tornadoes.Watches for severe thunderstorms have been issued. Note that winds may ease for at time Monday morning but severe gales are again possible from late Monday morning and into the afternoon.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency advises of the following closures for motorway improvements. Work delayed by bad weather will be completed at the next available date, prior to Friday, 17 June 2022.Unless otherwise stated, closures start at 9pm and finish at 5am.NORTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)Southbound lanes between Waiwera off-ramp and Silverdale on-ramp, 12-13 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Orewa southbound on-ramp, 12-13 JuneMillwater southbound on-ramp, 12-13 JuneSouthbound lanes between Waiwera off-ramp and Orewa on-ramp, 15-16 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Northbound lanes between Silverdale off-ramp and Waiwera on-ramp, 12-13 & 15 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Silverdale northbound on-ramp, 12-13 & 15 JuneOrewa northbound on-ramp, 12-13 & 15 JuneOteha Valley Road southbound on-ramp, 13 June (approx. 08:30pm – 05:00am)Northbound lanes between Greville Road off-ramp and Oteha Valley Road on-ramp, 12-16 June (approx. 09:30pm to 5:00am)Greville Road northbound on-ramp 12-16 JuneSouthbound lanes between Tristram Avenue off-ramp and Esmonde Road on-ramp, 13-15 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Tristram Avenue southbound on-ramp, 13-15 JuneNorthcote Road southbound on-ramp, 13-15 JuneCENTRAL MOTORWAY JUNCTION (CMJ)Hobson Street southbound on-ramp, 13 JuneHobson Street westbound on-ramp, 13 JuneWestbound lanes between Stanley Street off-ramp and Hobson Street on-ramp, 14 JuneWellesley Street East westbound on-ramp, 14 JuneGrafton Road southbound on-ramp, 14 JuneSOUTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)Khyber Pass Road southbound on-ramp, 12-13 JuneKhyber Pass Road northbound off-ramp, 13-16 JuneGillies Avenue northbound on-ramp, 13-16 JuneGreenlane northbound off-ramp, 12-13 June (approx. 10:30pm to 5:00am)Ellerslie-Panmure Highway southbound off-ramp, 12 JuneEllerslie-Panmure Highway northbound on-ramp, 12-13 JuneSouthbound lanes between Papakura off-ramp and Drury/ SH22 on-ramp, 12-16 JunePapakura southbound on-ramp, 12-16 JunePapakura (Loop) northbound on-ramp, 12-16 JuneNorthbound lanes between Drury/ SH22 off-ramp and Papakura on-ramp, 12-16 JuneDrury/ SH22 northbound on-ramp, 12-16 JuneBombay southbound off-ramp, 13 JunePokeno southbound off-ramp, 15 June (approx. 11:00pm to 5:00am)Pokeno southbound on-ramp, 15 JunePioneer Road southbound off-ramp, 15 June (approx. 11:00pm to 5:00am)Mercer southbound off-ramp, 15 June (approx. 11:00pm to 5:00am)Southbound lanes between Mercer off-ramp and Mercer on-ramp, 15 June (approx. 11:00pm to 5:00am)Northbound lanes between Mercer off-ramp and Mercer on-ramp, 15 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Southbound lanes between Mercer off-ramp and Mercer on-ramp, 16 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Mercer southbound off-ramp, 16 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Northbound lanes between Mercer off-ramp and Mercer on-ramp, 16 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Southbound lanes between Pioneer Road off-ramp and Mercer on-ramp, 12-13 June (approx. 11:00pm to 5:00am)Northbound lanes between Mercer off-ramp and Pioneer Road, 12-13 June (approx. 11:00pm to 5:00am)Mercer northbound on-ramp, 12-13 JuneSouthbound lanes between Mercer and Oram Rd, 14 June (approx. 11:00pm to 5:00am)Mercer southbound on-ramp, 14 JuneHampton Downs southbound off-ramp, 12-13 JuneHampton Downs southbound on-ramp, 12-13 JuneHampton Downs northbound off-ramp, 13-15 JuneHampton Downs northbound on-ramp, 13-15 JuneTe Kauwhata southbound off-ramp, 14-16 JuneTe Kauwhata southbound on-ramp, 14-16 JuneNORTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH16)Great North Road eastbound on-ramp, 15 JuneGreat North Road westbound off ramp, 14 JuneSOUTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH20)Northbound lanes between Maioro Street off-ramp and SH16 (Waterview northbound tunnel closed), 13 JuneMaioro Street northbound on-ramp, 13 JuneMassey Road southbound on-ramp, 12-16 JunePuhinui Road southbound off-ramp, 14 June

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency today announced the successful construction partners for delivering Penlink, a new two-lane, proposed toll road in North Auckland.HEB, Fulton Hogan, Aurecon and Tonkin + Taylor gathered today with Waka Kotahi to formally sign an agreement, that saw the group become an alliance to construct the eagerly awaited new connection.The seven-kilometre road and shared path for people walking and on wheels is part of the Government’s $8.7 billion New Zealand Upgrade Programme (NZUP), and will provide better, safer, more reliable transport options for communities across Whangaparāoa, Hibiscus Coast and Silverdale.Mark Kinvig, National Manager Infrastructure Delivery at Waka Kotahi said, “Penlink is a highly-anticipated project that will enhance the lives of those living and working in these growing communities. That’s why we needed the best in the industry, and this alliance brings that skill set and experience to the table.”All projects in the New Zealand Upgrade Programme will have targets to reduce construction emissions in order to meet the Waka Kotahi vision to have a low carbon, safe and healthy transport system.“The Penlink alliance will have a strong focus on reducing construction emissions, with a minimum reduction target of 10 percent and a stretch goal of more than 20 percent,” said Mr Kinvig.“Waka Kotahi identified that the Wēiti River Crossing would be the largest single contributor to Penlink’s embodied emissions, so exploring innovative solutions and ways to reduce its carbon footprint was a strong focus for the alliance during the procurement process.”During the tendering process the alliance refined the design which now delivers significant improvements from the original bridge, including reducing the number of piers in the Wēiti River, from three to two. This reduces the impact on the marine environment and allows clearer views and passage through the navigation channel.Construction methodologies have been improved, including a reduction in temporary staging which help to minimise greenhouse gas emissions. A lowered entrance to the crossing will better fit with the landscape, enabling 235 metres to be trimmed off the overall crossing, reducing the amount of steel and concrete required.A cable supported crossing reduces the amount of concrete required, significantly reducing construction emissions and the northern pier has also been moved away from the coastal cliff to avoid excavation into the cliff face.The project will provide increased travel choice and reduced vehicle emissions through new separated path for walking and cycling and give people on the Whangaparāoa Peninsula better and faster access to the Northern Busway.Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency works to create transport solutions for all New Zealanders – from helping new drivers earn their licences, to leading safety campaigns to investing in public transport, state highways and local roads.

Whangārei Mayor Sheryl Mai says the government needs to get a loud and clear message that her council would not be fluoridating its water unless the government pays.Compulsory fluoridation for Whangārei and Bream Bay council drinking water supplies is moving closer  at a cost of more than $3 million - as the government moves to impose the controversial additive's inclusion in council water supplies nationally."If you (the government) don't fund us, we will not be complying and we are expecting funding for the ongoing operating costs too," Mai said.Her comments came at a Whangārei District Council (WDC) briefing meeting on Thursday."If you (the government) want fluoride, you pay for it," Mai said.The government brought in the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 in November. It gives the Director-General of Health the power to direct a local authority to add fluoride to its drinking water supply.Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield late last year wrote to WDC, ahead of likely issuing a "direction to fluoridate" from the middle of this year.Bloomfield wrote to WDC for second time on 3 May, asking how the council could speed up its efforts to fluoridate, after they initially told him that would take three years to achieve. His correspondence to the council also included reasons why fluoridation was to be introduced locally.Mai said WDC's letter of reply, to be sent to Bloomfield next week in response to that May correspondence, needed to clearly pass on the council's position on fluoridating its Whangārei and Bream Bay water supplies."This is a health issue and we are being forced into putting fluoride into our water supply," Mai said.Could fluoridation soon be added at the Whau Valley water treatment plant? Photo: Northern Advocate / Tania Whyte via LDRWDC does not fluoridate any of its drinking water. This follows a 2002 referendum where 62 percent of people were opposed to fluoridation. That position has been re-affirmed through long term planning over the subsequent two decades.Council chief executive Simon Weston said upgrading council water supplies to be able to dose with fluoride would cost WDC $2.9 million. Annual operating costs would be $100,000.Weston said the work to be able to add fluoride to council drinking water along with forecast time allocations provided to Bloomfield would be dependent on funding."These timeframes are dependent on adequate funding and resources including consultants, contractors and staff, and materials being available," Weston said."If external funding is not available, then other projects will need to be cut from council's water projects lists over these (fluoridation conversion) years to avoid further water rates increases."Weston said the compulsory introduction of fluoridation could be delayed until three waters reforms were completed.This would allow existing water suppliers time and money to meet the new toughened water standards requirements of the government's newly set up national water regulator Taumata Arowai.It would also allow co-ordination, creating a uniform and consistent approach across each of the government's four new giant inter-regional water services entities.Weston said if directed, work on setting up for fluoridation at the WDC's Whau Valley water treatment plant could begin immediately. This plant provided most of Whangārei city's water.If directed, the council could include fluoride dosing equipment in the current upgrade of its Poroti water treatment plant.Work on Maunu Springs Ruddells water treatment plant could be done by the end of next year.Bream Bay's two Ahuroa and Ruakākā water treatment plants could be upgraded, resources permitting during the 2023/2024 financial year.Bloomfield said fluoridating Whangārei and Bream Bay drinking water - at a rate of .7-1mg/litre - would significantly reduce the prevalence and severity of dental decay. Fluoridation at these levels was considered safe and effective."Overall, a person living in the Whangārei District Council area is likely to have significantly poorer oral health outcomes than the average person in New Zealand," Bloomfield said."The data shows there are significant opportunities for improvement. There are inequitable oral health outcomes between Māori and non-Māori," he said.

Monday 13 June 2022, northbound and southbound SH1 traffic will move to the new motorway.Northbound motorists will drive onto the viaduct immediately after exiting the Johnstones Hill Tunnels, while south-bound motorists will enter the new motorway at the Pūhoi on-ramp.The road layout change will be formed over a period of three weeks, with several night works required during this time.Safety is our highest priority, and a reduced speed limit of 50km/h will be in place at the Pūhoi Intersection, for the duration of these works.The temporary speed limit along the new alignment will be 60 km/h. The free route along Hibiscus Coast Highway will always be accessible.For a video explanation https://fb.watch/dy9gY_6plM/