This week looks set to give us a little bit of everything, with heavy rain and a sunny weekend ahead of Anzac Day. If you have plans to attend any services on Monday, prepare for showers.Today - Occasional showers, sometimes heavy north of the Waitemata Harbour where thunderstorms are possible. Fresh easterlies.Wednesday - Cloudy with periods of rain. Fresh northeasterlies.Thursday - Rain at times, more persistent from evening. Northeasterlies.Friday - Rain easing to isolated showers in the morning and fine breaks developing. Early change to southwesterlies, possibly strong in the afternoon.Saturday - Fine. Southwesterlies, easing.Sunday - Fine with southwesterlies.Monday - Showers with southwesterlies.

Take a look at Easter weekend through the lens of photographers around the world.People stroll down New York City's 5th Avenue in the annual Easter Bonnet Parade, in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral. Photo: AFP/ GettyNew York City's Easter Bonnet Parade started in 1870 and has a reputation for bringing out weird and wonderful costume creations.It has been on hiatus since the beginning of the pandemic, but was celebrated with a large crowd this year.Dress-ups and showstopping hats at the Easter Bonnet Parade in New York City. Photo: AFP/ GettyPeople in Cameroon attend the Easter procession at Notre Dame Des Victoires Cathedral in the capital, Yaounde. Photo: AFP/ Anadolu AgencyLeader of the Anglican church condemns plans to send asylum seekers to RwandaThe most senior cleric in the Anglican church, Justin Welby, used his Easter Sunday sermon to condemn plans by the British government to send many asylum seekers to Rwanda.The Archbishop of Canterbury said the policy amounts to the sub-contracting of responsibilities.Under the measures announced on Thursday, asylum seekers who reach the UK illegally would be sent to Rwanda for the authorities there to process their applications.-BBCRamadan celebrations continueIt's not only Easter, it's also currently Ramadan, which is a sacred month for the Muslim faith. This year's Ramadan lasts from 12 April to 1 May.During Ramadan Muslims don't eat or drink during daylight hours to remember the month the Qur'an was revealed to the founder of the faith, the Prophet Muhammad.An Egyptian dancer performs the traditional Tannoora (skirt) dance at a restaurant in the Omani capital Muscat, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Photo: AFPChinese astronauts return to EarthChinese astronauts have landed on Earth after China's longest crewed space mission. Nine hours after disembarking from the space module the three astronauts landed on Saturday.They were in space for 183 days, Chinese state television reported, completing the country's longest crewed space mission to date.-ReutersOfficials stand near the capsule of the Shenzhou-13 spacecraft after it returned to earth carrying three Chinese astronauts in China's Inner Mongolia. Photo: AFPCatholics participate in a Good Friday procession commemorating the death of Christ, in Paraguay. Photo: AFPIn New Zealand the country's move to Orange Covid-19 pandemic controls means large church services can resume.Many churches switched to livestreaming services during lockdowns, and many are expected to continue to offer the livestreams, despite the freedom to return to large gatherings.Israeli police arrest nine as Palestinians seethe over Jerusalem shrineIsraeli riot police faced off with fireworks-hurling Palestinians in the alleyways of Jerusalem's Old City on Sunday as a visit by Jews to a disputed holy site stoked tensions during Ramadan.Violence at the Al Aqsa mosque compound, which erupted on Friday, has raised fears about a slide back into deeper conflict over the site as Ramadan coincides with the Jewish festival of Passover. Christians also marked Easter in Jerusalem on Sunday.-ReutersPope Francis speaks on invasion of UkrainePope Francis has used his traditional Easter message to criticise the Russian invasion of Ukraine.Speaking from the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica, the Pope said Ukraine had been dragged into a cruel and senseless conflict.Pope Francis delivering the homily next to Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, during the Easter Vigil mass on 16 April, 2022 at St Peter's Basilica in The Vatican. Photo: AFP or licensorsFrancis dedicated much of the address, traditionally an overview of world conflicts, to Ukraine, comparing the shock of another war in Europe to the shock apostles who the gospel says saw the risen Jesus."Our eyes, too, are incredulous on this Easter of war. We have seen all too much blood, all too much violence. Our hearts, too, have been filled with fear and anguish, as so many of our brothers and sisters have had to lock themselves away in order to be safe from bombing," he said.Ukraine, he said, was "sorely tried by the violence and destruction of the cruel and senseless war into which it was dragged".He talked about the refugees, displaced people, orphaned children and the ruined cities of Ukraine, and the fratricidal hatred of the world.He also drew attention to the conflict in the Middle East, calling for peace in Libya and a resolution to the war in Yemen.-BBC'Sainsbury's are marketing a Cheesealicious Easter egg made from Cheddar. Photo: Supplied/ SainsburysGiant cheese egg introduced in the UKFor those who aren't fans of chocolate there's a twist on the traditional Easter egg this year in the UK with the 'Cheester' egg introduced to some supermarket shelves - made entirely from cheese.

Reported 30 minutes ago Many BNZ customers are finding themselves stranded at checkouts, with their bank cards not working.The bank said it was investigating a systems issue that is affecting online banking and some transactions.BNZ said it was working hard to resolve the problem and apologised for the inconvenience.Customers were still able to get cash out of BNZ ATMs, the bank said.

Holidaymakers getting ready to start the pre-Easter exodus from the city are being warned to expect delays this afternoon.Even before the holiday traffic rush began, traffic heading north over the Auckland Harbour Bridge was delayed after a crash.North Auckland motorway expected to be congested later today as people head away to long weekend hot-spots.Auckland traffic could be further hindered by motorway network repairs. SH 1 Puhoi to WellsfordDetour route - Consider using SH16 via Helensville for journeys north of WellsfordTraffic is expected to be heavy northbound through this area from 3pm to 6pm on Thu 14 Apr, and again from 11am to 3pm on Fri 15 Apr. Road users are advised to allow extra time for Traffic Congestion

Will New Zealand move out of the red traffic light setting today? Minister Chris Hipkins has more...Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has confirmed the entire country will drop from red to the orange traffic light setting from 11.59pm tonightWatch Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins here:Ministers held off from easing restrictions last week, citing sustained pressure on the country's health system.The number of daily Covid-19 cases and new hospital admissions nationwide continue to trend downwards.But Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said last week his advice will not look at the number of hospitalisations but instead the pressure on hospitals and general practices, including staffing.Hipkins said the change in alert levels was justified for several reasons, including an ongoing decline in cases.He said it had been three weeks since the most recent simplification to the traffic light system, and despite the "significant relaxation of the settings, we've continued to see positive improvements in the overall trajectory".He said case numbers now sit below 10,000 new cases per day for the first time since 24 February, and that hospitalisations in Auckland were lower, with all three DHBs each reporting fewer than 100 patients for the first time since late February.Planned care delivery is also increasing day by day, and deaths were also decreasing, from a seven-day rolling average of 20 a week ago, to 13 now."The overall picture is a very positive one."The change ot the orange traffic light setting means there are no indoor or outdoor capacity limits and no seated and separated rules.Face masks remain an important protection and are encouraged, but are largely no longer required.They are still required at some gatherings and events, close-proximity businesses like hairdressers and food-and-drink businesses.Masks are also no longer required in schools, though they are again still encouraged. The ministry is providing further advice to schools about increasing ventilation.Hipkins said mask requirements in schools will no longer be justified in all cases, some will have high rates of vaccination or immunity through having had Covid-19, and others might not be experiencing outbreaks at all, so it "does move to a more localised response from schools".He said masks are still required on public transport and flights.He says Cabinet "absolutely" considered the possibility of requirements for mask use in schools."Ultimately looking at a school by school basis, in some schools there is still a very strong justification for masks - but not all."It is very challenging for schools, it has proven to be one of the most challenging Covid-19 requirements."He said schools have been provided with guidance, and they have access to public health guidance so they can consider the advice for themselves.Hipkins urged the roughly 1 million New Zealanders who have not yet got booster shots to do so, saying New Zealand fared much better than many other countries because of high levels of vaccination.He said the only question in considering settings was over whether the move to orange would be tonight or tomorrow, and ultimately the evidence was very in favour of moving to orange.The next review of the traffic light settings will be in mid-May..

Rain developing this afternoon or evening, possibly heavy about Great Barrier Island and north of Matakana and Warkworth. Southeasterlies becoming strong in exposed places this evening, but gale about Great Barrier Island, gusting 120 km/h. Issued: 9:10am Tue 12 Apr Heavy Rain Warning - OrangePeriod: 12 hrs From 7pm Tue 12th April - 7am Wed 13th AprilStrong Wind Warning - OrangePeriod: 20 hrs From 7pm Tue 12th April - 3pm Wed 13th AprilHeavy Rain WatchPeriod: 14 hrs From 7pm Tue 12th April - 9am Wed 13th April

This weeks weather includes a little bit of everything- with strong winds and heavy rain warnings due to Cyclone Fili making it's way over Aotearoa.Tuesday - Cloudy with a few showers in the morning. Rain with heavy falls from afternoon. Southeasterlies rising to gale in the evening, gusting 110 km/h.Wednesday - Rain, possibly heavy falls in the morning, clearing in the evening. Strong south to southwest, severe gale in exposed places.Thursday - Partly cloudy. Strong southwesterlies gradually easing.Friday - Fine, some evening cloud. Light winds, northeasterlies developing later.Saturday - Cloudy, with rain developing. Easterlies.Sunday - Showers. Southeasterlies.

SH1 WELLSFORD - ROAD CLOSED - 9:30AM, MON 11 APRDue to a serious crash near Bosher Rd, north of Wellsford, State Highway 1 is now closed between Wayby Valley Rd and Mangawhai Rd, either side of Wellsford. Avoid the area or allow extra time for detour via Te Arai until a serious crash investigation is completed.Detour info: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/tra.../roadclosures/380421 ^TP

MetService has warned tropical cyclone Fili may cause coastal floods, severe gales reaching 100km/h and bring heavy rain as it expects to reach New Zealand in the next 24 hours.It is expected Cyclone Fili will approach the North Island from New Caledonia on Tuesday before tracking south across the island on Wednesday before blowing out on Thursday.Niwa said the entire North Island was at risk of severe gales, with warnings that gusts could reach 100km/h in some regions on Wednesday.WeatherWatch said heavy rain was "once again forecast to hit the eastern side of the North Island, including similar areas recently hit by severe flooding"."The storm will move in on Tuesday or Wednesday with gales from the easterly quarter, which turn more southerly with a potentially damaging sting in the tail on Wednesday/Thursday as southerly quarter winds kick in from Cook Strait to Auckland and ramp up more as the storm now deepens," WeatherWatch said in an update at 10.15am on Sunday."There are likely to be slips, isolated flooding and road disruptions this coming week in the North Island. Power outages are also possible with winds strong enough to bring down trees and branches."Flights may also be delayed and cancelled along with Cook Strait ferry services. This storm, while quite fast moving, has the potential to cause disruptions to power and travel across parts of the North Island this week."

This weeks weather isn't looking good. Just a heads up... It's a good idea to be prepared for the possibility of road closures or power outages. We'll keep you up to date Model differences- Here is an image showing the 24 hour rainfall accumulation, MSLP and wind barbs at midnight Wednesday night, from three different global models (NCEP on the left, UKMO in the middle, and ECMWF on the right). Rainfall legend is just below the image.As you can see, there's a large difference in where the models think Cyclone Fili will be at this time, which also impacts where the largest rainfall accumulation and strongest winds will be. Because of these model differences, we have highlighted areas that could be in the firing line for severe weather on our Severe Weather Outlook which you can find here https://www.metservice.com/warnings/severe-weather-outlook.We have already issued a Heavy Rain Watch and a Strong Wind Watch for Northland, starting Tuesday afternoon. More regions in the North Island are likely to be impacted during Wednesday into Thursday. As details become clearer and models come more into agreement, our Watches and Warnings will be updated. You can check the latest warnings here http://bit.ly/AllWarnings.This could be a significant event, and it is advised to stay up to date with the forecasts and warnings over the coming days.

SH1 NORTHERN MWY - LANE LAYOUT CHANGEDelays are possible for southbound motorists on the Northern Mwy from Mon 11 April as the Northern Corridor Improvements project team completes necessary work requiring a new road layout.The Northern Mwy will be closed overnight between Oteha Valley Rd and Upper Harbour Hwy on Sun 10 April from 8pm to 5am to allow for the layout change to take place.Southbound motorists wishing to exit SH1 to Greville Rd will need to use the left lane only. Please choose your lane early and stay in that lane through the area to minimise disruptions: http://spr.ly/6183KLjzU.^LB

The 85th anniversary of the Royal New Zealand Airforce, Te Tauaarangi o Aotearoa will be marked on Saturday with a flypast over most of the North Island.A World War II Spitfire, an Avenger from the Air Force's heritage display flight, and two T6-C Texan aircraft from its central flying school will fly from Ōhakea airbase in Manawatū to Auckland, and back.The planes are due to leave Ōhakea at 9.30am and fly along the west coast over Whanganui, Taranaki, King Country and Waikato to Whenuapai airbase.They will return after 2pm via Waikato, Rotorua, Taupō and Hawke's Bay. The airforce said timings were approximate and locations weather dependent.On 1 April 1937 the Air Force Act took effect, formally recognising air power as a critical element of the country's security. In the years since, the RNZAF has served in military operations from World War II and other conflicts through to peacekeeping missions all over the world.Air Force personnel have been part of almost every New Zealand Defence Force deployment, and other operations, including the delivery of humanitarian aid and providing support to the work of other government agencies, such as fisheries patrols and support to Antarctica.The Chief of Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Andrew Clark, said the diversity of operations was enormous."We never know what will crop up next, and that has been defining for us - continuously maintaining and honing our skills, to make us a team that can turn its hand and technology to meet whatever challenge we are called upon to face," he said in a statement."Thousands of Kiwis have served with us over the years."Last May the government approved $206 million for major upgrades at Manawatū's Ōhakea Air Force Base.Ōhakea will be home to four new Boeing P-8A Poseidons planes from 2023 and number five squadron will shift from Whenuapai to Ōhakea to fly them. The P8s replace the ageing Orion fleet which went into service in the 1960s.The $250m construction programme at Ōhakea, which began in late 2020, is on track to be finished later next year.Roofs for the Ōhakea Air Force base aircraft hangars are being built on the ground. Photo: RNZ / Jimmy EllinghamTe Whare Toroa will house the RNZAF's fleet of the four P8 maritime patrol aircraft. They cost about $2.3 billion and are being built in the United States.The fleet will be used for maritime patrols and overseas deployments, flying from Manawatū.

New Zealand will release about another 483,000 barrels from its emergency oil stocks as part of a global effort to ease fuel prices.Last Saturday, the 31 members of the International Energy Agency (IEA) - which includes New Zealand - agreed to an emergency release of 120 million barrels of oil to help offset the curtailment of Russian exports.Energy Minister Megan Woods today confirmed New Zealand's contribution included about 299,000 barrels of diesel held in the United Kingdom and about 184,000 barrels of crude oil in Spain."We released slightly more than our allocated share in response to the last collective action and we have done so again as we play out part to help stabilise world energy markets," Woods said."There has been a great deal of volatility in global oil markets since the invasion and this further action, coupled with the United States' move to release 180 million barrels of oil over the next six months, will help to provide some certainty to the market."It follows a similar release of 369,000 barrels in early March after fuel prices soared following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.Members of the IEA are required to hold stocks equivalent to at least 90 days of net oil imports. New Zealand buys and holds emergency reserve stocks offshore.Oil prices had already fallen after news of the release last week and New Zealand's contribution will add to the global supply, so local fuel prices are unlikely to drop further because of the move.The total release of up to 180 million barrels of oil over six months - about 1 million barrels a day - is also unlikely to be enough to compensate for lost supplies from Russia - the world's second-biggest oil exporter after Saudi Arabia.The IEA's move also came just a few days ahead of the latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which warned emissions reduction to the level needed to keep warming below 1.5C would be almost impossible without a fall in total energy demand.

The law setting up a Matariki public holiday - set for 24 June this year - has passed in Parliament.The law adds a 12th day of public holiday to New Zealand's working year, recognising the Māori body of knowledge around the period on the Māori lunar calendar.The Te Pire mō te Hararei Tūmatanui o te Kāhui o Matariki/Te Kāhui o Matariki Public Holiday Bill passed its third reading without the support of National or Act.The bill sets dates for the holiday date through until 2052, falling on the Friday closest to the Tangaroa lunar phase - when the last quarter-moon rises - of Piripi, a period typically falling between June and July.It marks the beginning of the Māori New Year, the most significant celebration in the traditional Māori calendar - an environmental calendar system which accounts for the position of the sun, heliacal rising of stars, lunar phases, and regional ecological events.Plans are under way for nationwide events to help support the celebrations.Matariki brings a focus on remembering those who have died, celebrating the present, and looking ahead to the future and the coming season, though the stories told, traditions honoured and exact timings differ by iwi and hapū.The celebration is underpinned by values of aroha (love), whakamaharatanga (remembrance), kotahitanga (unity), manaakitanga (caring), tohatoha (sharing), mana taiao (environmental awareness), hākari (feasting), wānanga (discussion), noho tahi (coming together), atawhaitanga (kindness), whakanui (celebrations) and tuakiritanga (identity).The bill is only the fifth piece of legislation drafted in both te reo Māori and English.Associate Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Kiritapu Allan - who championed the bill - said it was a historic moment, instituting the first national holiday specifically recognising and celebrating mātauranga Māori."Matariki is not about replacing an existing public holiday. Rather it provides us with a unique, new opportunity to embrace our distinctive national identity and helps to establish our place as a modern Pacific nation," Allan said."Matariki is a time of unity, renewal, celebration, and hope. With the challenges we have all faced in recent times, it allows us to come together with whānau and friends to pause, reflect and look optimistically to the future."She said research showed many benefits to public holidays in general, including reducing employee stress, helping reduce burnout, and promote work-life balance; while it would also provide a much-needed mid-year boost to hospitality and tourism.National MP Paul Goldsmith said the party was supportive of having a holiday which recognises and celebrates te ao Māori, but while he was looking forward to celebrating it the party believed Matariki should replace a previous public holiday."As if there is no cost, there is no consequences from this ... ultimately we as a country need to pay for it."Labour's Grant Robertson said it was one of the measures the government was bringing in to better recognise "who we are in Aotearoa New Zealand today and who we can be".Crown-Māori Relations Minister Kelvin Davis said members of the opposition who criticised the bill should listen to Māori and tikanga.National's Simon O'Connor had raised the idea of instead of using the name of Matariki, using the Greek name Pleiades, or another name that was "more neutral". Davis said it showed National's contempt for anything Māori."They want to 'neutralise' our culture, our tikanga, our kaupapa ... that there goes to describe the attitude of the National Party."Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi said it had only taken 180-odd years to have an official day celebrating "the essence of what it is to be Māori"."It is still a shameful stain on this country that Māori kaupapa or matauranga Māori is still to brown, or too native to acknowledge."He said it was an annual reset, and offered a "huge window of opportunity to look at a more progressive, equitable and equal future for Aotearoa," saying it was time for a constitutional reset rooted in the Treaty of Waitangi.

The price of fertiliser may go up and there could be a shortage of vodka under the government's new sanctions on Russia, says Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O'Connor.All Russian imports to New Zealand will be hit with a 35 percent tariff in response to what our government has described as "abhorrent and reprehensible" atrocities committed against Ukrainian citizens.Existing export prohibitions to industrial products closely connected to strategic Russian industries have also been extended.The Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O'Connor told Morning Report the tariffs were in line with a number of New Zealand's partner countries."For New Zealand this is a very significant move, we've not imposed tariffs since the formation of the WTO and have campaigned of course very strongly internationally to remove tariffs and promote trade. This is a reverse of that to try and put pressure on Russia of course to stop the war in Ukraine."It was a very high number of tariffs, he said.Under the new sanctions, the price of fertiliser may go up and there could be a shortage of vodka."Most of the companies will realise it's not economic to [bring those products in] and they won't import from Russia..."O'Connor said it's one of the costs New Zealand needs to shoulder to continue to put pressure on "a nation that continues to carry out abhorrent action in Ukraine".Export prohibitions cover ICT, machinery, components of technological products, he said."These are the things that may end up in the hands of the Russian military machine, we don't want that to happen ... we don't want to contribute in any way to their war effort."There will be some disadvantage, some imposition and some restrictions on people who may not of course be intending to move those or see that go into the military, the reality is, they could - so we have to stop the export of those products.Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson told First Up New Zealand will continue to lift its contribution and support the people of Ukraine."The most important thing for us is that what we do is meaningful and so we were in there quickly with humanitarian aid, we've got our intelligence officers working over there now as well, and we will keep looking for ways that we can support."Cabinet discusses this at every single meeting, Robertson said.He said a 35 percent tariff will have a big impact."To be frank, that's going to make it pretty hard for any Russian company to be able to get through that."The trade New Zealand has with Russia is quite small, he said.

Health workers are thanking Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield for his work stopping the ailing health system from collapsing in the pandemic - and for saving lives.They say they can relate to him needing a rest.Dr Bloomfield leaves his job in July, stepping down 12 months early after the huge stress of the past two years.There are few public servants who have had the same degree of fame.For two years he has been a regular in the living rooms of the country, particularly in the first lockdown when almost everyone was home turning in every day to hear news of the Covid-19 threat.Emergency doctor and chair of the Council of Medical Colleges John Bonning said Bloomfield had to step up to communicate with the public in a role that would normally have been done by politicians.He exuded trust and had stellar public health credentials, as a medical doctor who had worked for the World Health Organisation and headed a DHB, Bonning said.He engaged and communicated very regularly with health worker groups."He felt the pain, he felt the pressure along with the rest of us," he said.Frontline GP and chair of the Pacific GP Network Api Talemaitoga said the country was lucky to have a director-general with top public health skills when they were needed most.That meant Bloomfield understood the practicalities of what had to be done - like limiting numbers, mass masking, vaccination programmes and the importance of communication, he said.Covid-19 Minister Chris Hipkins said Bloomfield's advice had been at the heart of the government's decision making and he "had saved thousands if not tens of thousands of lives".But not everything was perfect under his tenure. There was a blunder that meant high-risk border workers weren't being routinely tested as promised, criticisms about spread in MIQ facilities, delays at times over testing, and a slow vaccine rollout to Māori.Te Whānau O Waiapareira chief executive John Tamihere said the director-general had done a decent job but he was uncomfortable with the "idolatry" that had sprung up around him.He had called Bloomfield out over the past two years on issues like the delays giving Māori health groups autonomy to look after their communities, and of the ministry's initial failure to hand over health data.Photo: Pool/ Getty ImagesIt would be mean-spirited to criticise Bloomfield on his way out, he said.He was a highly-paid public servant who had done a decent job, particularly for mainstream New Zealand, but his copybook was not completely clean, Tamihere said."But ... Mr Bloomfield will go down as leading a great result when compared with other nations," he said.Pacific health groups had shared the concerns about not initially being able to lead the response for their communities, who bore the brunt of early waves of the virus.GP Api Talemaitoga said while that was frustrating, he and his colleagues on the frontline were not always privy to the big picture Bloomfield was dealing with "in terms of the whole country, the ministry, and his political masters."Senior emergency doctor Kate Allan represents the College of Emergency Medicine and said Bloomfield inherited a broken health system but led a response that stopped it from collapsing under the weight of Covid-19."I take my hat off to him. I think it's been an amazing job and an incredibly difficult job and I can't imagine how tired he must be," she said.Bloomfield is, in turn, quick to credit people like Dr Allan who worked on the frontline to battle the virus.

A bill discounting road user charges by 36 percent has passed its third reading in Parliament.Road user charges apply to drivers of light diesel vehicles and heavy trucks.The Road User Charges (Temporary RUC Reduction Scheme) Amendment Bill legislation also allows Waka Kotahi to issue invoices if RUC licences are found to have been bought for excessive distances or otherwise abuse the three month long reduction.It comes into effect in two weeks, on 21 April, and lasts for three months.Those purchasing RUCs during the three months will be required to complete an online declaration form stating they are only purchasing charges required for that period.The move is part of the government package to ease the pressure on fuel costs, impacted by the Russian war on Ukraine.It sits alongside an equivalent 25 cent fuel tax cut, and three months of half-price fares on public transport.Parliament went into urgency, sitting for about 10 minutes, to finish passing the legislation this morning.In a statement, Transport Minister Michael Wood said the legislation would particularly benefit the road transport industry."As a nation, we are experiencing the impacts of pandemic induced inflation and a war on the other side of the globe. We know households are feeling the effects too, so we've taken swift action," he said."The reduced RUC rates will make it cheaper to transport goods and services and for families to get where they need to go."

The country will remain at the red Covid-19 traffic light setting, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says.Watch here:Ardern made the announcement at today's post-Cabinet media briefing from about 4pm.She said the rolling average of cases had declined 36 percent in the two weeks since the government refined the traffic light system.There had been early data showing an uptick since mid-March in people visiting places of retail and recreation in Auckland, as well as more people returning to workplaces, she said.While cases were dropping in Auckland, Wellington and Tairāwhiti others regions like Canterbury, Northland and Waikato were not experiencing the same drop. Hospitalisations in some DHBs were not expected to peak until mid- to late-April."So for now, New Zealand will remain at red," Ardern said."I know there is an eagerness to move to orange, but we are still frankly amid an outbreak and there is still pressure across our hospital network."Ardern said the decision today was based on health advice, and the government did not want to move too quickly and lose the progress made."It's less about the case numbers and more about the hospitalisations."Asked why Auckland cannot move to orange when cases are falling, Ardern says while we are seeing a decline in hospitalisations, "it is off a high base, the numbers are still relatively high, the pressure on our system is still there, we want to make sure that we're in the best possible position and we don't lose the gains we've worked so hard for"."We've always said that there is the possibility of moving regions to different levels at different times ... but as we've said, Auckland has made significant progress but we do still have a relatively high hospitalisation rate.""We need to look after our healthcare workforce."The country needed to help the health system recover and be ready for the expected winter surge, Ardern said, requesting that people get boosted."Unvacccinated and people that are not boosted make up a disproportionate number of people in our hospitals. More than 9900 people are due their booster today, please get your booster as soon as you can."She noted vaccine passes would no longer be required from midnight tonight, although businesses could continue using them if they wished.The next review of the traffic light settings will be on Thursday 14 April.The National Party wants the traffic light system scrapped completely.The prime minister told Morning Report vaccine mandates and the traffic light system had made a big difference but said the first Omicron peak had passed in parts of the country.She warned it was only the first wave of Omicron and there would be more waves and new variants coming.Ardern said precautions that were known to be effective in preventing the spread of Covid-19, such as mask use and gathering restrictions, would continue to be required, even if it was decided that parts of the country could move to the orange setting.

This weeks weather report shows not much of a change to the muggy conditions we have had as of late.Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday bring light showers on and off throughout Warkworth. Thursday and Sunday will be cloudy and Friday looks to be full sun.Gardening GuideSummer crops are coming to an end in the cooler areas of the country and the early frosts may start to appear.Vegetables such as garlic, beans, beetroot and leafy greens like kale can be planted at this time of year.Replenish compost - leftover scraps from the kitchen can be used as compost for your garden and start sowing/planting you winter harvest.