The Kaipara District Council has released their draft changes to the "Exposure District Plan" and are seeking feedback before it is put through next year. There is only a small window to be heard and give feedback which ends 16th September.Here is the plan which includes energy, transport, infrastructure, natural hazards, zoning, subdivisions, contaminated land, open spaces, earthworks, noise and GMO's etc.https://www.kaipara.govt.nz/kaipara-district-plan-review/exposure-draft-district-plan There are many opportunities for you to discuss the Exposure Draft District Plan with their District Planning Team. Here is a list of upcoming engagements: Chat to a planner, 10am-12pm, Mon 15 Aug, book on our website Ruawai drop-in, 10am-12pm, Tue 16 Aug, Ruawai Tokatoka Hall Paparoa drop-in, 10am-12pm, Wed 17 Aug, Paparoa Memorial Hall Chat to a planner, 2-4pm, Wed 17 Aug, book on our website Webinar: Historical and Cultural Values, Wed 17 Aug, 7-8.30pm, Wed 17 Aug, KDC YouTube Maungaturoto drop-in, 9.30-11.30am, Thur 18 Aug, Maungaturoto Centennial Hall Kaiwaka drop-in, 2-4pm, Thur 18 Aug Kaiwaka Memorial Hall Chat to a planner, 10am-12pm, Fri 19 Aug, book on our websiteYou can see a full list of engagements and book a ‘Chat to a planner’ session at the link: https://www.kaipara.govt.nz/kaipara-district-plan.../engageGet involved, this will have big repercussions for the way we live.

Speed cameras that take two pictures at different spots in order to work out a vehicle's average speed could be in use within months.Transport Agency documents say law changes could allow them to be used against more offences including tailgating, and seeing inside a car to spot drivers using cellphones or not belted in.The OIA papers show Waka Kotahi has been working on this and a new highway tolling system that can also be used for congestion charging, for a couple of years.Its plans say the point-to-point or average-speed cameras "could be a game changer enabling us to manage corridor speeds rather than spot speed".They would be three times better than fixed or mobile speed cameras at cutting the road toll, a business case said.The smart cameras "can be used to provide evidence, for example, that a driver is using a mobile phone or not wearing a seatbelt."Camera-based enforcement can be invasive, as images are purposely taken of the driver and passenger compartment," the business case stated.A board paper from April said law changes under the Regulatory Stewardship Transport Amendment Bill meant from early 2023 there could be use of point-to-point cameras, automation of offence processing and fine notices delivered to cellphones.Already 26 of the new cameras are on order to add to the 142-strong network.The agency is calling them "safety cameras" in a Cabinet-ordered attempt "to shift the public away from perceptions that safety cameras are an enforcement, revenue-gathering tool".Medium and high-risk roads will be the target.A camera business case estimates they could save between 1500 and 2400 lives and $1.5 billion across two decades.The privacy implications are still being worked out with the Privacy Commissioner.Waka Kotahi refuses to specify the total cost of the camera system and new tolling system, saying this was to protect "ministers, members of organisations, officers, and employees from improper pressure or harassment".However, just the first phase - choosing the mix of cameras, where to put them and the design of the system - costs $21.6m, which is $10m more than expected, though the documents said that had not impacted the whole budget.Spanish traffic company SICE (Sociedad Ibérica de Construcciones Eléctricas) won the contract for the cameras and tolling.The work is being done quickly alongside a review of road offence penalties with the aim of saving 114 lives a year by 2030.As it stands, relatively few cameras per capita and lack of advanced cameras, along with very low penalties for speeding "greatly undermine the effectiveness of the enforcement approach", the papers say.In New Zealand the speeding fine for being 1-10km/h over the limit in an urban area is $30, compared to $370 in Sweden.Fines are set to rise and demerit points are very likely to be stiffer, and applied for the first time to camera offences.Authorities see all this as crucial to the Road to Zero strategy, with cameras expected to provide 5 percent of the 40 percent reduction in road deaths and serious injuries that is the strategy's primary goal.At present there are 142 safety cameras across its road network: 45 red-light, 54 fixed speed, and 43 mobile cameras, an increase of 30 since 2019.Waka Kotahi is taking them over from police, adding to its 2000 traffic management cameras.It would not say how many cameras it planned to have."ITS and infrastructure will be future-proofed to enable Waka Kotahi to trial and adopt ... smart cameras" with "built-in intelligent image processing and pattern recognition algorithms [that] allow these cameras to detect motion, measure objects, read vehicle number plates, and recognise human behaviours", the camera business case says.Police were already testing prototypes of trailers to carry point-to-point speed cameras that might be used at roadworks.The aim with the network of three types of camera - point-to-point, red light, and standard used in both fixed and mobile operations - is to create an "anywhere, any time" deterrent.Research shows the public thinks speeding is much safer than it is: 44 percent of all road deaths in the last decade were down to speed.Privacy implicationsOn privacy, the business case says "the data and digital images captured by cameras, their storage, and their use all have privacy implications"."New issues will arise with new technologies that can be used for other than current safety-related purposes, such as average speed and mobile phone use detection."The agency expects a small rise in public support for cameras of up to 2.5 percent as people see the safety benefits.On the tolling front, the documents show the current system used on just three highways is on its last legs."As it is now, the current tolling system is a very inefficient way of collecting money," the business case said.One option was to run it to standstill, or outsource it entirely.The is an indication there will be more tolling: "Over time, it should be expected that the cost of an outsourced service will increase as more roads are tolled."Waka Kotahi has chosen Spanish company SICE to provide and run all the back office systems.The business case does not mention congestion charging but the board paper says the upgrade is aimed at "upcoming toll roads as well as to support new capability that may be required, e.g. congestion charging."

Watch out for a scam email asking you to renew your rego. The email says "your licence plate number will expire" and provides an expiry date that's generally the same day the email was received.If you get an email telling you it's time to renew your rego, first check it's from us—our emails will come from a @nzta.govt.nz or a @noreply.nzta.govt.nz address. Our emails will also include your plate number, vehicle make, and your current rego's expiry date—the scam email often misses specifics like this.If you reckon you've received a scam email, don't click on it or reply to it—report it to us using our website: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/report-a-phishing-scam. You can also send it to us at [email protected] and we'll let you know if it's legitimate.

A swimming coach who drowned while stand-up paddleboarding for the first time wasn't able to untie the safety leash attached to her ankle.Joanne Rachel Dening died after falling off a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) at the Wenderholm Regional Park, north of Auckland, despite the attempts of several people to save her.A tribute posted on a British swimming school page after her death described the 35-year-old as "an accomplished and award-winning swimmer and lifesaver, as well as a fulltime swimming teacher"."She was a lovely person, a marvellous teacher loved by all her pupils."But despite her confidence in the water she wasn't able to get to safety after falling from her SUP in February 2019.Coroner Katharine Greig has ruled a combination of factors contributed to the Englishwoman's death, including the use of the wrong leash, the fact she didn't have a personal flotation device (PFD) and was in conditions outside her ability.The coroner said her death highlighted the dangers of the sport and the need for education.Dening had recently returned to New Zealand after visiting her parents, family and friends in the United Kingdom for Christmas when her flatmate Lorissa invited her to go paddleboarding.It was her day off and Lorissa knew her flatmate had previously wakeboarded and thought she might enjoy giving SUP a go.Lorissa described Dening as being excited to try the new sport and had organised for her to use her boyfriend's SUP.They arrived at the park, on the southern side of the Puhoi River, at about 11am. The weather was fine and there was no wind.The river runs into the Hauraki Gulf, which borders the eastern side of the park. The boat ramp at the reserve leads to a large estuary, fed by the river, with a channel to the Gulf.Their plan was to launch from the boat ramp into the river and paddle from the estuary into the channel on the outgoing tide, then paddle round the beach area.Lorissa said Dening was quickly able to stand on the board and paddle around.The pair paddled off together, slowly, towards the mouth of the estuary to go into the bay where Lorissa said the water was very calm and reasonably clear.Current very strongHowever, as they paddled across the channel the water became more turbulent and a strong current was flowing.Two witnesses watching from the shore described the women as moving fast with the current which they said was "really streaming out" and the fastest they had ever seen it."They described one of the women as wobbling and not looking confident," Coroner Greig said in her findings.Lorissa watched as Dening lost her balance, fell into the water and was pulled along by the current towards the channel marker.Dening tried to reach for her board but her leg rope got wrapped around the marker with her on one side and the paddleboard on the other."Lorissa said that she could see Ms Dening trying to swim against the current towards the marker so she could undo the leg rope, but the current kept pulling her under the water," Greig said.Lorissa tried to paddle back to Dening, but the current was too strong. Instead, she paddled towards the beach to raise the alarm and asked a member of the public to call emergency services.Kayaker tried to helpA kayaker, who saw Dening fall, went to her aid."As he got closer, he could see Ms Dening bobbing up and down struggling to breathe."When he got closer Dening was not responding to his calls, so he gripped her by her armpit and pulled her up out of the water."She then grabbed the kayak with both her hands and the kayaker told her she needed to hold on to the front of the kayak. She responded to the kayaker saying she needed to rest."As Dening was holding onto the kayak, it started to pull into the current and water started pouring in, causing the kayak to flip.Dening let go of the kayak and the kayaker went into the water. Unable to swim against the current to get back to her, the kayaker swam towards the beach holding on to his kayak.As he got close to the beach, after being in the water for about 20 minutes, a commercial fisherman came to his aid and he explained what had happened.The skipper then headed to assist Dening but said there was "a lot of rip that was really obvious" and that it was the second day of the biggest tide of the year.He found Dening on one side of the channel marker and the paddleboard on the other but could not help her on his own."One of her legs was tied to the board and Ms Dening's body was underwater."After picking up a member of the public they together went back and cut the leg rope and pulled Dening onto the boat and took her back to shore.Ambulance officers provided first aid to Dening but she did not respond and was pronounced dead at the scene.A postmortem examination found she drowned.A Maritime New Zealand report stated: "given the expanse of the estuary at high tide, in flat conditions and with minimal wind it would present as an area where it could reasonably be expected people may use stand-up paddleboards, including beginners in the sport such as Ms Dening."The report noted Dening was using the wrong type of safety leash, according to the New Zealand Stand-up Paddling (NZSUP) Safe Code.NZSUP states that only a leash with a quick release system that can be operated above the waist should be used in the conditions and a leash attached to the ankle or calf should never be worn in moving water.Dening was not using a personal flotation device, which was also in breach of the NZSUP code and maritime rules.The report, however concluded it could not be known what impact wearing a PFD would have had in the situation, with the fast-moving current and the different types of PFD available.Death preventable - coronerCoroner Greig found the planned excursion was not a reckless expedition and there were many factors that made the sport a natural fit for Dening."She was fit, a strong swimmer who was confident in the water, she had experience of a number of water sports."However, with the benefit of hindsight and expert advice, the coroner reached the view Dening's death was preventable.Dening was using the incorrect leash, which she and Lorissa were unaware of, she was in conditions outside her ability when she left the estuary and entered the channel, and she did not have a PFD.Coroner Greig recommended the Auckland Council erect signs at the boat ramp warning of the dangers of strong currents in the channel, the presence of marker buoys in the channel and the need for extra care around the buoys, which had been accepted.Consultation with the Auckland harbour master to identify other locations where the same set of hazards exist and where new signage should be implemented should also continue.She also recommended Maritime New Zealand post safety information on social media about the lessons learnt over the circumstances of Dening's death."Ms Dening's tragic death arose, as so many unexpected and unintentional deaths do, when a constellation of potential risks associated with the activity she was undertaking crystallised with fatal consequences," Coroner Greig said."At the core of preventing deaths in similar circumstances is the need for accessible and widely disseminated safety information relating to stand-up paddleboarding."

Auckland Council is carrying out pest fish control at Lake Tomarata in August. People can't swim or boat during this time as nets are in the water. Please keep out of the lake from 15-19 August and again from 22-26 August. The reserve is open throughout this time and so is the lake on 20-21 August as the nets will be removed over the weekend. Signs are being placed at the lake to remind everyone.

Waitematā North Police would like to remind Rodney locals to check their fences on rural properties are sturdy and secure. The warning comes after two accidents in two days where cattle or livestock have wandered out on the road after breaking loose of paddocks. Unfortunately, the animals involved in the accidents have died on both occasions, and the result for the drivers of the vehicles involved could have been much worse. Waitematā North Rural Area Manager, Senior Sergeant Brett Henshaw, says it’s a timely reminder for our local communities to check their perimeters are secure. Police recommend the following steps to ensure safety for all involved: Check perimeter fences and plug any gaps or weaknesses that could allow cattle to wander free Ensure livestock owners contact details are up to date or easily available nearby if cattle do manage to get loose and require wrangling.Police see the devastation families and communities face resulting from death or serious injury on our roads and we want to work together to prevent as many families as possible and communities experiencing this.We also acknowledge the impact the death of an animal can have on those who witness it, or who are responsible for the livestock. This is a problem the whole community can work together on, and everyone has a part to play. If people see wandering livestock on or near roads which may cause a risk to motorists, please call 111.

People wanting to stand for local government have just a few hours left to put their name on the list.Nominations close at midday but last night, some seats were yet to have any contenders.Te Tai Tokerau is one region facing that problem.Far North District Council had gaps on all three of its community boards yesterday.Nobody had put their name down to represent the Kawakawa-Moerewa subdivision, the North Hokianga subdivision or the Whatuwhiwhi subdivision.Other seats had a single nominee, meaning people could be elected uncontested.The latest list from Whangārei District Council showed it did not have enough people for the Bream Bay ward, and candidates in some other wards would be uncontested.Kaipara's latest list showed only one person standing for the Ōtamatea ward, which has two seats.Northland Regional Council's nominations summary, due to be updated this morning, has had major gaps.There has been nobody vying for the single Mid North seat, or the two Te Raki Māori ward seats.Moko Tepania (Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa), who is running for the Far North mayoralty, is imploring Māori across the motu to stand."If you're thinking about it, just do it, just do it. That's the message I'm trying to get out to people. I mean, that was the same for me back in 2019. I actually made the decision two days before and put my nomination in the morning of, and I have no regrets about doing that."Northland MP Willow-Jean Prime (Te Kapotai, Ngāpuhi) says life-changing decision to stand for council was made last minute. Photo: ©VNP / Phil SmithNorthland MP Willow-Jean Prime (Te Kapotai, Ngāpuhi) first entered politics in a last-minute dash to the deadline for Far North District Council, nearly 10 years ago.Prime was "approached the day before nominations closed, having a very short amount of time to make that life-changing decision to stand for council"."I remember getting my photo taken at 6am that morning and having it filed by lunchtime."She hoped others would make the move, even in the final eligible hours."Perhaps part of the issue here is that people don't necessarily understand what the role is and how they could contribute through that. And I know it's short notice, but I would just encourage people to jump online to read about it. And if they think that that could be their thing - to put the nominations in."Local government scholar Dr Andy Asquith is among those disappointed by the lack of interest."If the pool from which these [representatives] are selected declines, then you're going to have a poorer calibre of councillors and mayors, which is bad for democracy."There were also flow-on effects," Asquith said."Within New Zealand, you've got the added issue of the way that power is distributed in councils. A disproportionate amount of power is in the hands of the chief executive and part of the councillors' role, the governance role, is to keep that power in check."Bonita Bigham (Ngāruahine, Te Ātiawa), who is the chair of Te Maruata, the national collective of Māori in local government, said if community board seats were not filled, the vacancies would be re-advertised for by-elections, "which can be a costly and time-consuming exercise for councils, but generally, that tends to sort things out".Candidates cannot nominate themselves - they must have endorsements from two others aged over 18.Nominations cost $200.Voting in the postal ballot runs from 16 September to 8 October.

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!