A recent storm this week smashed Puhoi. It forced trees down, caused slips, flooding, with silt and debris everywhere. Locals could hear and feel thunder so loud it shook houses (a seemingly rare phenomenon). Puhoi has had flooding and storms before but not this this event. The aftermath of flooding in Puhoi. Photo: RNZ / Finn Blackwell Flooding water subsided at Puhoi Pub. Photo: RNZ / Finn BlackwellIt is a good idea to be prepared as much as possible for future flooding events. Get Flood Ready website has useful advice on what to do if you experience flooding.https://getready.govt.nz/en/emergency/floods/  According to Get Ready website: Reduce the impacts of floodsFind out what the flood risk is in your area. Your local council may have resources and information on how to reduce potential flood damage.Review your insurance regularly. Having insurance cover for your home and contents is important to help you get back on your feet if you suffer damage in a disaster.Get ready before a floodFind out from your local council if your home or business is at risk from flooding and how they’ll alert you if you need to evacuate. Ask about:Evacuation plans and local public alerting systemsWhat to do with your pets and livestock if you have to evacuateHow you can reduce the risk of future flooding to your home or businessWork out what supplies you might need and make a plan together.Practise your emergency plan and your evacuation route to higher ground.Take measures to reduce potential flood damage and make sure your insurance policy covers you for flood damage.What to do during a floodPut safety first. Don’t take any chances. Act quickly if you see rising water.Floods and flash floods can happen quickly. If you see rising water do not wait for official warnings. Head for higher ground and stay away from floodwater.Stay out of flood waterNever try to walk, swim or drive through flood water. Many flood fatalities are caused by people attempting to drive through water.Always assume that flood water is contaminated with farm run-off, chemicals, and sewage. Contaminated flood water can make you sick. Make sure you wash your hands, clothes, and property after contact with flood waters.If flooding is possible:Stay informed in an emergency. Listen to the radio (RNZ, The Hits, NewstalkZB, MoreFM, Magic Talk) or follow your Civil Defence Emergency Management Group online.Be prepared to evacuate and keep your grab bag nearby. Listen to emergency services and local Civil Defence authorities. Follow any instructions about evacuation of your area. Self-evacuate if you feel unsafe.Move pets to a safe place and move stock to higher ground. If you have to leave, take your pets with you. If it’s not safe for you, it’s not safe for them.Turn off water, electricity and gas if advised to.Move valuable and dangerous items as high above the floor as possible. This includes electrical equipment and chemicals. Use watertight containers to store important items.Lift curtains, rugs and bedding off the floor.Check on your neighbours and anyone who may need your help.What to do after a floodOnly return home after Civil Defence and emergency services have told you it is safe to do so. It may not be safe to return home even when the floodwaters have receded.Stay away from damaged areas. You might hamper rescue and other emergency operations and be at further risk from the residual effects of floods.Look before you step. After a flood, the ground and floors may be slippery or covered with debris, including broken bottles and nails.Help others if you can, especially people who may need extra help.If your property is damagedDo not do anything that puts your safety at risk or causes more damage to your property.Contact your insurance company as soon as possible.If you rent your property, contact your landlord and your contents insurance company.Take photos of any damage. It will help speed up assessments of your claims.Food safety after a floodThrow away food and drinking water that has come into contact with floodwater, including canned goods.Avoid drinking or preparing food with tap water until you are certain it is not contaminated. Follow any boil water notice instructions from your local authorities.For more information on food safety during and after an emergency visit the Ministry for Primary Industries website.Cleaning up after a floodClean and dry your house and everything in it. Floodwater can make the air in your home unhealthy. When things get wet for more than two days, they usually get mouldy. There may also be germs and bugs in your home after a flood.Mould may make some people with asthma, allergies, or other breathing problems sick.Talk to your doctor or another medical professional if you have questions about cleaning or working in a home that has been flooded. If there is a large amount of mould, you may want to hire professional help to clean up the mould.Protect yourself by wearing:a certified respiratorgogglesglovesprotective clothing that covers your arms and legs, andsturdy footwear.Throw away anything that was wet with flood water and can’t be cleaned.Throw away any wooden spoons, plastic utensils, and baby bottle teats and dummies if they have been covered by floodwater. There is no way to safely clean them.Disinfect metal pans and utensils by boiling them in clean water.For more resources head to the website https://getready.govt.nz/en/emergency/floods/

BACKGROUNDKaipara District Council is considering the purchase of a 5.8 hectare block of land in Mangawhai Village for future use as public sporting and recreational facilities. The cost to purchase the land will be up to $5.9 million. The purchase will not impact rates, as we are proposing to use the current pool of reserve contributions to buy the land.  Reserve contributions are funds collected from developers or property owners who are subdividing their land, divided into four catchment areas across the District. The use of reserve contributions is specifically allocated for the purchase or upgrade of open spaces. We can’t use these funds on other facilities like libraries, roading, waste etc. Funds can only be used in the catchment area they were collected from, in this case Mangawhai. This means we can’t use these funds in other parts of the District.  We have collected on average $2.7 million in reserve contributions each year for the last two years in Mangawhai. The balance of the reserve contributions fund for Mangawhai is currently around $8 million. At the current growth rate, we anticipate that we will recover the cost of this land purchase in just over two years – although projections show higher future growth than this current rate.  In the event that the land is purchased, additional engagement with the community will be required to understand what sports and recreational facilities should be developed on the land. Once options have been developed, these would need to be included and budgeted for in Council’s Long Term Plan.          ISSUEMangawhai is growing fast. To support our growing population, the Mangawhai Spatial Plan identifies a need for public access to sporting and recreational facilities to complement other facilities in the Mangawhai area. Currently Kaipara District Council owns just one public recreation space in Mangawhai – the Mangawhai Community Park – which houses multiple functions, including the Historic Village, Mangawhai Museum, and MAZ.    Finding flat, centrally located land is becoming increasingly difficult in Mangawhai, but we now have an opportunity to secure land for future public sporting and recreational facilities. To find out more, and to have your say complete the online form or drop into the Kaipara District Council office in Mangawhai to pick up a feedback form.Feedback closes 5pm Monday 5 September.Read the Reserve Contribution PolicyRead the Mangawhai Spatial PlanRead the Kaipara Spaces and Places PlanRead the latest independent Infometrics data on Mangawhai’s growthFrequently Asked Questions

The Matakana River was the areas’ first highway that was busy for almost a century. Matakana Village was known in the 19th century as Upper Matakana to distinguish itself from the settlement of Lower Matakana – now known as Sandspit – at the mouth of the river. What we now know as Matakana River was referred to as the Middle Branch of the Matakana River.The first European settler at Upper Matakana was timber merchant John Long Heydn, who built a sawmill below the falls as early as 1854. During the 19th century, the main means of transport and communication with Auckland was by water. During the early years of the settlement, goods were unloaded from sailing ships at Lower Matakana. ‘Annie Millbank’ made weekly trips -landing and receiving goods at Lower Matakana from 1879. A wharf was urgently built at Lower Matakana in the same year. The river was a highway of logging activity. Kauri was rafted down the river to where they were sawmilled, loaded into scows, or crafted by the many boatbuilders in the area. Once most of the easily cut timber resources had been depleted by the 1880s, the development of the Upper Matakana wharf saw the rise of agriculture and fruit growing in the area. Shortly after, the dairy industry also prospered as more land was cleared.Kotiti. Photo credit Junction MagThe Northern Steam Company’s SS. Kotiti scheduled Monday and Tuesday sailings between Matakana and Auckland throughout the First World War. Those who joined the war effort took the coastal steamer from the wharf. The river remained the main means of communication until the 1930s. In 1936, the Northern Steamship Company still maintained twice weekly sailings of the S.S. Omana to and from Matakana. Before the Second World War, Gubb’s Motors ran regularly daily buses connecting Matakana to Leigh, Warkworth, Kaipara Flats Station, Puhoi, Waiwera, and Auckland. Following the Second World War 1939, the coastal steamer services ended. In the late 1940s, the wharf was replaced with a concrete structure, suggesting that river traffic was still economically viable. From the 1950s, however, boats using the wharf dwindled following the opening of the Auckland Harbour Bridge and improvements to the East Coast Road north.Author: Grant McLachlan

The Government’s commitment to combatting firearms violence has reached another significant milestone today with the passage of the Firearms Prohibition Order Legislation Bill, Police Minister Chris Hipkins says.The new law helps to reduce firearm-related crime by targeting possession, use, or carriage of firearms by people whose actions and behaviours demonstrate risk.“In the hands of the wrong people, firearms are a major contributing factor in a range of serious crimes. It’s also clear that there are responsible firearms owners whose possession and use of firearms does not pose a risk to society,” Chris Hipkins said.Following today’s passage of the Bill, anyone convicted and sentenced of a specified serious crime, including murder, serious assault, sexual violence, and some family violence offences, can be subject to an order and not lawfully able to use or access a firearm.“Passing this Bill is a significant milestone and the result of a concerted effort. Firearms Prohibition Orders were first mooted around eight years ago by the previous government but it failed a number of times to make progress.  “It strikes a sensible balance and will support our courts and Police in helping prevent firearms from ending up in the wrong hands.”The Bill has been designed to carefully balance public safety protections with Bill of Rights considerations. Particularly those associated with the right to be free from unreasonable search or seizure.“The Bill introduces wider sanctions for breach of an order but importantly, also has flexibility for the courts, to assist with the reintegration and rehabilitation needs of those people subject to a Firearms Prohibition Order.“The courts will be able to take into consideration relevant factors when imposing a Firearms Prohibition Order, including reasonableness and necessity.“Owning a firearm is a privilege and Firearms Prohibition Orders make clear that anyone convicted of a serious offence won’t have access to firearms, ammunition or any related firearms item.“Courts will be able to impose an order lasting 10 years, and it will be a criminal offence to breach the conditions of the order.“I am proud of the Government’s record on supporting Police and making our communities safer. This work builds on the previous legislation passed to ban assault rifles and military style semi-automatics, and to update and strengthen the Arms Act to provide better leverage and tools for Police in ensuring only fit and proper people can hold a firearms licence in New Zealand.“This is about keeping our communities safe from the harm that firearms can cause in the hands of criminals,” Chris Hipkins said.

Olivia Newton-John star of Grease and multi-platinum selling singer, has died aged 73, her family says.In a short statement her husband John Easterling said she had passed away at her California ranch on Monday morning."Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer," the statement said."We ask that everyone please respect the family's privacy during this very difficult time."Actress and singer Newton-John achieved commercial success as a country singer and sold millions of records.But it was her role as Sandy in the film adaptation of Grease that catapulted her to world-wide fame.Photo: AFPAfter being diagnosed with breast cancer in the early 1990s, Newton-John became a leading advocate for cancer research.Her efforts in the field were recognised by Queen Elizabeth, who honoured her with a Dame in 2020 New Year's Honours list.John Travolta who starred opposite Newton-John in Grease, wrote on Instagram that she "made all of our lives so much better"."Your impact was incredible. I love you so much," he wrote."We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever!"

The family of a man mauled to death say they have heard nothing from the owner of the aggressive dogs found at his property.Police say Neville Thomson was attacked by someone else's dogs - not his own two pets.He was found dead at his home in Pānguru last Thursday.His children said the attacking dogs belonged to a friend who was boarding there temporarily.Thomson's daughter Nataria Moore (Te Rarawa) told RNZ: "Dad was trying to help him because he had some issues".She said the boarder had been silent since her father's death and needed to stop behaving like a "coward"."He had ample opportunity to reach out to us - he could have made a statement and he could have apologised, he could have done something," she said."His animals destroyed our family. Not only did they take our dad, they've gone and taken part of our childhood, which is our family home. How do we return back there knowing what went on? We will because that's how my dad brought us up. We will live through this."Moore said her father's body had been returned from an autopsy."Waiting those days to even just see his face, just to actually see him, was just unbearable."We were so close yet so far away from him. And then when we did get to see him - shock and horror. It didn't look like our dad, but it was our dad."Tamatekapua Thomson (Te Rarawa, Te Arawa, clan MacLeod Isle of Skye) said his father adored animals, and people should know Thomson's own pets were well cared for."He had pet magpies over the years, Clydesdales, we had pet pigs, chickens, and they were all our pets. We looked after them. He loved animals."Thomson said his father's generosity to a friend tragically backfired."His door was always open to anyone regardless of who you were, what you did. He didn't care. He cared about what was looking at him, what you showed him, what you showed to him. If you needed help, he was there."RNZ asked police today if they had spoken to Thomson's boarder - they would not say, but were investigating.Thomson's funeral will be held tomorrow.A Givealittle page has been set up to help with costs and has raised $3000 so far.Thomson owned two dogs and his children said they were found locked up when emergency services got to the scene.They said he was keeping his dogs indoors away from the boarder's dogs.When his body was found last week, police and animal control rounded up 25 neo mastiff crosses and bulldog crosses outside and took them to Far North District Council's animal shelter.Another dog outside was shot at the scene.Police said three aggressive dogs escaped but they had been found and also put down.

After industrial action that's been smouldering since June, firefighters have given notice of a rare national strike. Our stressed-out and over-worked firefighters have finally had enough. They’ll be walking off the job this month.After going on a smouldering partial strike in mid-June - which saw them stop performing administrative tasks - our frustrated firefighters are ramping up the heat.Right around the country next month, they'll be going on two separate strikes, between 11am and 12pm on Friday 19 August and again at the same time on Friday 26 August.It's the first time there's been a national firefighters strike in this country, where they'll be refusing to respond when that fire alarm rings.Fire and Emergency, also known as FENZ, has said in a statement that firefighters will continue to respond to emergencies during the hour-long strikes.It says there will be fewer staff, however, and there may be delays for areas primarily served by paid career firefighters.But the Professional Firefighters union rep Wattie Watson is scratching her head over those plans, as she told RNZ's Morning Report last week."The notice is actually for all of our members, but FENZ has issued a notice to say that they believe they will have a contingency available. I'm not sure what they mean by that, but they appear confident," she says.How did we get here, and why exactly are firefighters digging their heels in?Karla Karaitiana is a Stuff reporter covering emergency services at the Manawatū Standard.  She's been following the tussles between FENZ and the union, which represents nearly 2000 paid staff."It would be very easy from an outsider looking in to think that it's a money-driven decision," she says.Back in May, almost all union members rejected FENZ's pay offer, which would have seen the average staffer get an increase of between 1.5 and two percent, after they hadn't had a pay rise since July 2020.The full strikes come as both parties are set to be back in mediation this week.FENZ deputy national commander Brendan Nally said in a press release it was disappointing that the union was striking, especially after a new pay offer was put on the table which would see base salaries for all firefighters increase by between 8 percent and 19 percent over the next two years.But Karaitiana says pay is only one of the concerns. She says mental health support, staffing numbers and working conditions for staff and volunteers are also front of mind. "We've got staff there that are running on empty and they're expected to perform at 110 percent. Ultimately, that's not sustainable for them."While professional, paid firefighters are taking up the spotlight, Karaitiana says the country's 12,000 or so volunteers also bear the brunt of working at the coal face without sufficient support."These are people who are putting down their day jobs or leaving their families at two in the morning to attend these calls in their community, and then are kind of being left with all but a debrief at the end of it," she says.

There may be a solution to coral reefs dying, thanks to dolphin poo! In the Maldives lives a small dolphin that goes by the name of spinner dolphin. This particular type of dolphin is known for being acrobatic and highly intelligent, and are typically 129–235 cm long and up to 79 kg in weight. These smart cetaceans can spin their bodies in the air, making as many as seven rotations at a time. And now they can add special excrement to their skillset.Spinner dolphins spend their days in shallow lagoons in the ocean around the Maldives and Chagos archipelagoes. In the morning the dolphins enter the lagoons for a day-time rest, and exit in the afternoon.During this period of rest and relaxation, the dolphins deposit large amounts of nitrogen-rich poop. Researchers who observed the dolphins estimated that one pod excreted around 288kg (635 lbs) of nitrogen in one year alone.Essential nutrients for coral reefs“It’s exciting to have found a likely important mechanism by which the dolphin’s behaviour could be sustaining the health of surrounding reefs,” says lead author of the study, Dr Tom B Letessier from ZSL’s Institute of Zoology.Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for coral reef. Its role is to ‘enhance coral reef productivity and resilience’ according to the study. Coral reef needs all the help it can get. Due to a myriad of factors, including climate change, overfishing, and pollution, coral reefs are dying. The Status of the Coral Reefs of the World report of 2020 states that between 2009 and 2018 14 percent of the world’s coral reef was lost.Image: By Yahia.Mokhtar - Alcyonium glomeratum or red sea fingers soft coral, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113273465When coral reefs are under threat from climate change, pollution, overfishing and other environmental aspects they turn white, as the algae that lives within the coral is expelled. This is referred to as coral bleaching. If the temperature inside the coral stays too high, the coral will not let the algae back in, and the coral will die. This is why nitrogen is so important to reefs- the algae feed on this.“Coral reefs are facing profound threats around the world, including climate change and biodiversity loss, but this research has identified a clear ally for them: spinner dolphins,” Letessier says.Dolphins aren’t the only marine mammals helping the environment with their waste either. Whale poop is also helping to negate the effects of climate change.

Wellsford's brand-new toilet facility is now OPEN!Right in the heart of town, it's very convenient and has plenty of parking. The old toilet block will be demolished next week and still to come is the new pocket park.Estimated to cost a whopping $979,600 - for five toilets, a baby change table, men’s urinal and carpark lighting! So ENJOY!

Twenty-five neo mastiff crosses and bulldog crosses have been rounded up at the Northland property where a man was killed in a suspected mauling yesterday afternoon.The Far North District Council said it can't be sure exactly how many dogs remain on the loose.The man was found at a rural property in the northern Hokianga community of Pānguru, and the police reported shooting one vicious dog on arrival.The council's general manager of district services Dean Myburgh said traps were being used to round up the remainder."Our animal management officers have rounded up approximately 25 dogs and those are being held in our animal shelter just outside Kaitaia," he said.It's believed three dogs escaped and were still on the loose, but Myburgh conceded that number was a guess.He said exactly how many dogs were at the property to begin with was unclear - or whether they belong to the man who was killed.They weren't registered, he said."We don't have an exact number so we are endeavouring to retrieve those dogs or assist the police in the retrieval of those dogs. Then we'll have a much better picture of exactly how many dogs there were on site.""We think we've got most of them but there could be a few on the loose. Those are the ones we're hoping to see returned to the house."Only about 96 people live in Pānguru.Kaikohe-Hokianga ward councillor Moko Tepania said it was an "extremely worrying" and "tragic" situation for the tight-knit community."This is extremely horrific and I really do feel so much aroha for Runaruna, which is a community just out of Pānguru," he said."All of North Hokianga are an extremely tight-knit community and this is just something you'd never want to happen in your area."Tepania feared for tamariki wanting to play outside while dogs were still on the loose.He explained the area was "about as rural as you can get" and surrounded by hilly, thick bush, which has complicated the search for the dogs.Puketawa Road was a 10km-long metal road "just a little bit of an upgrade from a goat track", he said."It is a well used road but it is extremely rural. It's surrounded by bush and mountains and rivers. So if these dogs had gone to ground then until they come back it could be a real struggle to try and locate them."Photo: Screenshot / Google MapsHowever, Myburgh was confident that the dogs would return to the property for food."Obviously these dogs are very well fed, I must say. The information that we've received is that the dogs are in very good condition, very well fed. And they will return, obviously being hungry, they will return to the house. So there are traps in place to get these dogs rounded up."But it was unclear exactly what would prompt well-cared-for dogs to attack a human.The managing director of the free dog safety education service The Bark Foundation, Heather Summers, said "most loved and well cared for animals would sit more so in the bite category than attack"."The attack category is more primal, it's survival. It's usually triggered by instinct. A lot more of a physical response."The incident adds to a history of animal management problems in the Far North.Last year in March and April DOC tracks on Cape Reinga had to be closed due to packs of feral dogs.Then in September feral dogs were blamed for the killings of dozens of goats and sheep on farms near the cape.Pānguru residents were being urged to stay away from stray dogs and report them to police.

A man has been killed by dogs in the Far North community of Panguru, police believe.In a statement, police said earlier today they responded to a sudden death, and it appeared the deceased was subject to a dog attack."Enquiries are in their early stages, but police don't believe the death was suspicious. Police and animal control have attempted to secure the dogs on the property."However, four of the dogs got loose, and were behaving in an aggressive manner. Police risk assessment showed the dogs posed a risk to their safety."In the process of trying to contain the dogs, unfortunately one was shot by Police, and died. The other three dogs are still outstanding."Police are warning people in the area to be vigilant and avoid any stray dogs, and to let them know if they see any.The Northland President of Federated Farmers Colin Hannah said an attack like this was unusual, but dogs have been a problem in the area before."We have had problems with unruly dogs and actually farmers' dogs east of that point [where the attack occurred] particularly with sheep."Hannah said he was unsure if the dogs were wild or domesticated.Investigations will continue overnight and tomorrow.

Friday 5th AugustWilde Robertson at RSA WarkworthWarkworth Theatre presents: Don't Dress For DinnerSaturday 6th AugustWarkworth Theatre presents: Don't Dress For DinnerMatakana Village Farmers MarketMangawhai Tavern MarketSunday 7th AugustWarkworth Theatre presents: Don't Dress For DinnerFestival of Ideas – messages for the futureWarkworth Roller Skating ClassENJOY!

Walking the talk with Telephone Account Management (TAM) & Customer Relationship management (CRM) servicesBack on the pumps, hands on rebuilding and offering Telephone Account Management (TAM) & Customer Relationship Management (CRM) services including consulting from a person that ‘walks the talk’. I’m motivated it is amazing what you can achieve driving the telephone into the marketplace whether it is cleansing data (finding opportunities within an existing database that hasn’t been proactively managed) or looking for new business opportunities. However, it is a discipline. Being back on the phone has motivated me and I am just as positive and proactive as I was when I started my career, building long-term relationship with customers by phone and CRM – TAM because it works. People buy from people they like. Stay connected and keep them well informed and sales evolve. It hasn’t changed. I read all these sales books, but I find simple is best! If you have an existing base and know who you want to do business with and have the discipline to stay connected, it bloody wellworks!!! It's a solid business strategy one that build business and goodwill. Does your database need some proactive attention? You’ll be amazed what you find.Louise at Proactive Consulting

Auckland Council says kauri dieback is moving slower than previously thought, but remains a looming threat to Aotearoa's iconic native tree.Results from a survey of 68,000 kauri trees in the Waitākere Ranges showed the disease remained limited to small areas along the park's edge.The council said it was pleased by the results, which suggest the pathogen takes longer to spread than originally feared."This is encouraging news for our kauri," said Councillor Richard Hills, who chairs the Environment and Climate Change Committee. "It is pleasing to know that large stands remain unaffected and there is hope for the next generation of kauri."Just over half the trees remain in good health, with another 28 percent growing slower than expected.But the threat remains, Hills said, as the disease gradually spreads between kauri. One of every six trees showed symptoms of dieback, particularly those near timber sites or along the coast.Te Kawerau Iwi Tiaki Trust board member Edward Ashby said a holistic Mātauranga Māori approach to environmental health was key."It's not just the presence of a pathogen in isolation, but more the combination of the harmful ways we interact with nature that degrades the thread of life," he said.Auckland Council said the findings would support further interventions to protect kauri and slow dieback within the Waitākere Ranges.It said the results support the precautionary approach the Council has taken thus far."This supports the continuation of the strategies to slow or stop the spread," says Kauri Dieback Manager Lisa Tolich."The hope is in future surveys, we will see these young trees survive and continue on their way to maturity."

The latest footage of progress for Matakana Link Road is availableFor more information on the projects https://at.govt.nz/projects-roadworks/te-honohono-ki-tai-matakana-link-road/

A University of Otago trial has found virtual reality video could be used as a cure for common phobias like spiders, flying, needles, heights and dogs.The trial saw 129 people take part and the results showed a 75 percent reduction in their phobia symptoms after just six weeks.Prior to the virtual reality element of the project, involved participants use modules in an app to learn new techniques to manage anxiety such as mindfulness.The participants then put on a virtual reality headset before they are exposed to situations which increase their anxiety.Trial leader Associate Professor Cameron Lacey told Morning Report the virtual reality scenarios would then become increasingly fearful as participants became more accustomed to the discomfort."It's using established graded exposure principle and so people start for example with spiders with a small spider a long distance away and then work their way through to for example a large tarantula very close," he said.Lacey said the virtual reality scenarios were filmed in real life which made the experience highly immersive."People report that if felt very realistic and these people are very sensitive to any images associated with their phobia so for them it achieved exactly what we wanted," he said.People with a phobia of spiders, for example, experienced increased anxiety levels easily triggered by images or even soft toy representations of the insect, Lacey said.The research project is now aiming to expand the range of phobias targeted in the experiment while also starting a project with a focus on social anxiety disorder.

The way people move through Queen Street is set to change with the introduction of a new zone that will substantially reduce congestion, air and noise pollution, making it safer for pedestrians and micro-mobility users. Using a new type of vehicle-zone called an Essential Vehicle Area (EVA), only buses, motorcycles, mopeds, bicycles, goods vehicles and emergency service vehicles will be allowed to use Queen Street between Wellesley and Wakefield streets from 3 July 2022. Auckland Council, with support from Auckland Transport, is introducing this new zone to reduce unnecessary traffic while allowing essential vehicles to continue to service the area. This change received strong support from Aucklanders in consultation on the Wai Horotiu Queen Street Project during September.Planning Committee chair Councillor Chris Darby says the EVA will free up precious space along Queen Street for essential road users and make the area safer and more pleasant for Aucklanders returning to the city centre. “Auckland’s city centre is the commercial powerhouse critical to the prosperity of Tāmaki Makaurau and Aotearoa. “Guided by the City Centre Masterplan, our goal is to regenerate the area to create a better connected, greener, and more prosperous place that we can all be proud of.” “The introduction of the new Essential Vehicle Area for a small stretch of Queen Street is an important early step to make the Wai Horotiu Queen Street Valley more desirable for people who live, work, study and enjoy the city centre. “It is a signal that Auckland is moving past the days of Queen Street being a congested, polluted drive-through to a go-to destination. Essential vehicles maintain their access but private vehicles will navigate alternative routes to park and get around,” Darby says. Work continues on broader transformation of Wai Horotiu Queen Street ValleyCouncillor Pippa Coom says the EVA is one of the bold changes being introduced through the Wai Horotiu Queen Street Project to let Aucklanders enjoy being on Queen Street rather than simply driving through it. “So much of the city is looking amazing already. At both ends of Queen Street, Karangahape Road and Quay Street have been upgraded and are easier to get around by foot and by bike. The new public square ‘Te Komititanga’ creates a car-free zone between Britomart and Commercial Bay, and Te Wānanga is our very own front deck, letting us get right up close to the harbour. “By the end of June, construction of the Wai Horotiu Queen Street Project will largely be complete in the area between Mayoral Drive and Wellesley Street, with just the greenery and the multi-use path markings to be added. Once these are in, and with the EVA up and running, Aucklanders will get a taste of the people-focused street that we can’t wait to bring to life,” says Cr Coom.   The project’s construction on Queen Street will be fully complete in mid-November 2022. “Over time Queen Street will become a low emission, vibrant pedestrian-priority walking and shopping street, as Aucklanders have been asking for and which the City Centre Masterplan envisions,” says Cr Coom. Auckland Transport has already started laying the groundwork to enable these changes through initiatives to reduce general traffic volumes on Queen Street.  These include: Prioritising loading and servicing activities by removing general parking on Queen Street between Customs Street and Mayoral Drive. Queen Street offers only loading and servicing spaces along the length of the project area with P30 mobility parking around the arts precinct. Putting in place a peak hour bus lane (4pm-7pm), heading north, between Shortland Street and Customs Street.To find out more visit the betterway website.

Little blue penguins, kororā, have been out at sea feeding on small fish and fattening up.But now it is time to start coming ashore prior to nesting. One couple were filmed as they checked out the real estate at Ti Point. There were various holes amongst the boulders that they explored. It will be interesting to see if they return to the same place as last year.Our coastline is a great place for penguins to nest. They love rocky shores where there are numerous caves and spaces between the boulders.They also love areas below pohutukawa roots where they can get some shelter.Since our project began they have chosen some very colourful real estate - penguin nesting boxes painted bright colours by Leigh School children. It is very rare for us to see penguins, but we look for signs that they are about.Footprints on the beach, guano near burrows and videos from our cameras. When they come ashore they will usually greet their partner with a very loud donkey braying sound. They'll begin making nests by carrying leaves and twigs into their choice of burrow and after mating they will begin the next cycle of laying eggs.It's going to take them about 36 days to incubate their eggs. That is when their real work begins as they head out to bring back food for their chicks. As the chicks grow they get more demanding and the parents are kept pretty busy going back and forth from the sea.To see some awesome videos of our local kororā go to our LeighPenguinProject facebook page https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=leigh%20penguin% 20project, or Leigh Penguin Project instagram.*Author: Jenny Enderby for Leigh Rag. Reposted with [email protected]

A Whangārei company has been sentenced after a trailer came off its truck and hit a car behind, killing a nine-year-old girl.WorkSafe said the failure by Johnston's Direct Logistics to do basic maintenance is a warning to all businesses.The towball and coupling of the trailer were so worn that a small bump or change of incline could dislodge it, it said."The trailer's safety chain failed, disconnecting it from the truck towing it in October 2020," said WorkSafe in a statement today.The trailer had an expired certificate of fitness, and uneven tyre pressure, when it hit the car south of Whangārei in October 2020."This tragedy should serve as a warning to other businesses to keep a much closer eye on basic maintenance."A young girl's life has been lost through no fault of her own, and her whānau is forever impacted," WorkSafe area manager Danielle Henry said.The district court fined the company $50,000 and ordered it to pay $145,000 in reparations, on the health and safety charges.The maximum possible fine is $1.5 million.RNZ has approached the company for comment.