Work is underway on Wellsford’s brand-new toilet facility located in the heart of the town ideally situated for locals or visitors travelling north. While at Omaha Beach, a new toilet and changing facility will replace the toilets underneath the surf lifesaving clubhouse.Rodney Local Board Chair Phelan Pirrie says the new modern facility, designed in response to Wellsford community feedback, will replace the old brick toilet block which is in poor condition.“In 2019 we sought feedback from the community before approving the design for a new facility, so I am sure everyone is excited to see it underway.“Positioning the new facility at the back of the site really opens up the site and creates a green space that connects very well with the town centre.”Omaha’s new facility at William Fraser Reserve is scheduled to get underway in May.Deputy Chair Beth Houlbrooke says there are changing rooms, toilets, outdoor showers, and an Omaha Beach scene will decorate the side of the building.“The surf club toilets are showing their age, requiring increasing maintenance, and cleaning, and wind-borne sand frequently blocks the drains due to the proximity to the beach.“The new facility’s location, across from the playground and next to the lower car park, is easy for beachgoers and park users to access.“While the impact of extreme weather events and potential flooding on the facility has been considered, it is still the best site available.”Materials used in the lower portion of the Omaha Beach building will be durable to withstand periodic exposure to flood waters with all power outlets placed higher up than usual.Wellsford facility’s design follows best practice guidelines as outlined in the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design and will have:five unisex toilets which includes two accessible toiletsbaby change facilitymen’s urinalslighting for the car park.Both prefab buildings will be constructed off-site. The Wellsford building will be transported in two parts to the site at the end of April. Utilities and fit-out are expected to take about a month provided there are no COVID-19 or supply chain delays.Board member and Wellsford subdivision representative Colin Smith says the old brick building served Wellsford community for a long time but has reached the end of its life and is being demolished in June.“Our town is ideally placed as a rest stop for people travelling north. But the old town centre toilets are well past their use-by date.“The new facility and parking are well-located for locals and visitors to the town centre.The Wellsford facility's construction cost is $979,600 and it's expected to open in late May while the Omaha construction is $995,500 and it's expected to open in August, provided there are no delays caused by COVID-19.

For the first time in more than two years, New Zealand's border will reopen to international visitors at midnight tonight.On 19 March 2020 New Zealand snapped its border shut to anyone without citizenship or residency, before any Covid-19-related deaths were recorded.It was the first time in our history such a move was made, with the ban also including those from the Pacific.Today, the countdown is on to welcome back vaccinated visitors from visa waiver countries.New Zealand's already reopened the border to vaccinated Australians and some international students.Air New Zealand chief executive Greg Foran said almost 1000 people will arrive on the first three flights, which will come from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Fiji.The airline has been struggling to prepare for the influx in international visitors due to staff recruitment issue.

Original article from Sunny SkyzBorn on Jan. 9, 2001, TobyKeith was 21 years and 66 days old on March 16 when Guinness World Records (GWR) confirmed he was the oldest dog alive."People can't believe how good he looks for his age," the dog's owner, Gisela Shore, told GWR.Shore adopted him from an animal shelter when he was just a few months old."I was a volunteer at Peggy Adams Animal Rescue and one of the employees told me about an elderly couple trying to surrender a puppy because they could not take care of him any longer," said Gisela."I met with the elderly couple and I was introduced to a tiny tan Chihuahua. They had named him Peanut Butter. I later changed his name to TobyKeith."TobyKeith's day consists of a morning walk, then his favorite snack: a slice of turkey. He goes on a few more short walks and lies next to Shore while she is working.To view the video https://www.instagram.com/reel/CcWLR-wDtD4

Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnonThe independent review was announced today, three years after a damning report by retired judge Coral Shaw found harassment and bullying were rife at all levels and across all regions.Complainants RNZ spoke to today believed abusers and supporters remained at the organisation and said they didn't think anything would change until they were gone.The Public Service Commission (PSC) announced the independent review today which, formally, was requested by new FENZ board chair Rebecca Keoghan, but which follows dozens of media stories and complaints to the Minister of Internal Affairs about bullying, abuse and failures with how the matters were investigated and dealt with.Complainants cautiously welcomed the new review, but expressed concerns it would be a box-ticking exercise and there would be no lasting change at the beleaguered organisation.They said nothing had changed since the Shaw report and in some cases things had become worse.One former firefighter who said she was sexually assaulted believed culture change would be achieved quickly if FENZ got rid of abusers and their supporters, who she said remained among its 14,000 volunteer and full-time staff."Reviews are often used to look at culture but this isn't what this is about," she said."It's about accountability, so it has to be sheeted home to the people that do the wrongdoing so you can hold them to account, so they're not there anymore. And that's how you get a new organisation. All the victims need to be heard."Another former firefighter, Tristan Roberts, said he was hopeful but dubious anyone will be held to account.Roberts was a 2017 Kiwibank Local Hero for a decade spent serving in the fire service, St John and as an honorary fishery officer.He left the fire service after saying he witnessed bullying and abuse go unpunished, and didn't mince his words as he shared his views."I have no faith, trust or confidence in anything that the fire service touches, the board touches, because historically they have always protected the organisation. They're not looking for the truth. They're looking to protect their status in the community which is one of the most trusted professions. They're protecting the brand."In a memo to all FENZ staff, leaked to RNZ, new FENZ board chair Rebecca Keoghan said she requested that the PSC conduct the investigation as a follow-up to the Shaw Report.The email said although FENZ has made progress and she was proud of what it had achieved as an organisation, the cultural change it needed to make would take FENZ many years.She added the work was challenging, and it would take time to achieve the "lasting and meaningful change" it was seeking, and that the FENZ board was united in its desire to continue its progress towards a "truly positive and inclusive workplace culture".In a public statement, she said, "I look forward to the findings of this independent review, and the reviewer's recommendations on how we can continue to improve things for our people".Meanwhile, New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union national secretary Wattie Watson said the coming review was a vindication for all the victims who had been forced to go to the media over their unhappiness with how FENZ handled complaints.She also told RNZ she believed FENZ still needed to properly resolve allegations of bullying and harassment levelled at United Fire Brigades' Association chief executive Bill Butzbach, which FENZ funds.An inquiry was dropped after terms of reference could not be agreed with the complainants."Those matters are still outstanding and I think for everybody involved there needs to be a proper investigation into what has actually been alleged and how it has been dealt with in order to make some findings and find a resolution," Watson said.RNZ has contacted Butzbach for a response.The PSC review is due to be completed in November.

Beehive.govt.nz press release by Hon David ParkerRules for daily limits on recreationally caught finfish will change to include species that previously had no limit, Oceans and Fisheries Minister, David Parker announced today.There are over 1,000 finfish species found in New Zealand waters, and of those only 43 species have been subject to a daily recreational fishing limit leaving the rest open to overfishing.“I instructed my officials to review the daily bag limits for recreationally caught finfish following reports of people taking hundreds of pink maomao on one day last year,” David Parker said.“Some of these species outside of bag limits weren’t previously targeted by recreational fishers. But there has been a change in what people now catch and eat and the rules need to be updated to reflect this.”The changes mean that all finfish species will now be included in the combined daily bag limit for finfish. Finfish species with individual bag limits will also be included in the daily total. “This puts an end to excessive take which could affect the sustainability of a species and also makes the rules more consistent across the country and easier to follow.”Public consultation on the changes ran from 6 October to 18 November 2021 and Fisheries New Zealand received 1,467 submissions from across a wide range of interests.Specified baitfish and freshwater eels are not included, and have their own separate limits additional to the combined daily bag limit.An example of a species with an individual daily limit is kingfish, which has a daily limit of three per angler. These individual limits will be retained but are now included within the combined daily bag limit.For example, a fisher in the Auckland/Kermadec, Central or Challenger areas can take three kingfish and up to 17 other finfish to make up their daily limit of 20.Southern bluefin tuna, which has a daily limit of one per person per day, will now be included in the amateur regulations.Previously, anyone taking excess southern bluefin tuna was issued with a warning or faced prosecution, but now Fisheries Officers will be able to issue infringement notices.Changes to the recreational daily bag limits take effect on 5 May 2022. Updates and information about these changes, including the specified baitfish species, can be found on MPI’s website at: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/recfishing-consultation.Editors’ note:Summary of the recreational combined daily bag limits:For the North Island and west coast of the South Island (Auckland/Kermadec, and the Central and Challenger Fisheries Management Areas) all finfish species, including those with individual species limit, are now part of a combined daily bag limit of 20 finfish per person, per day.For the east and south of the South Island (South east Southland and sub–Antarctic Fisheries Management Areas) all finfish species, including those with individual species limit, are now part of the combined daily bag limit of 30 finfish per person, per day.In addition to the combined daily bag limit for finfish, fishers may take:Six freshwater eel per person, per day, as part of the eel daily bag limit, and50 specified baitfish per person per day as part of the baitfish daily bag limit.To keep up to date with the recreational fishing rules download the free NZ Fishing Rules App www.mpi.govt.nz/rules.

A Rodney Local Board fund has allocated $232,000 to 23 projects helping clean up local rivers and harbours.Since 2017, the Rodney Local Board Healthy Harbours Waterways Fund has allocated $650,000 to assist 112 applicants to protect 95 hectares of riparian habitat and erect 62,531 metres of fencing.Now in its fourth year, the fund supports community-led initiatives that restore waterways and wetlands on private and Māori land, with this year’s focus on the high sediment run-off catchment areas of Cape Rodney, Te Arai, Matakana and Tāwharanui. The remaining 11 projects will be delivered in the Makarau, Whangaripo, Upper Kaipara, Lower Kaipara and Paremoremo catchments.Local Board Chair Phelan Pirrie says the fund will be used to erect 9270 metres of stock-proof fencing and to plant 182,350 square metres of riparian habitat over the next 18 months.“We are partnering with our rural community and those who are willing to work on their properties to safeguard waterways and native bush, and the wildlife in it.“Fencing waterways to keep out stock and riparian planting will over time improve water quality in the rivers and harbours where we like to boat, fish and swim.”Fonterra, Beef and Lamb, Dairy NZ, the Forest Bridge Trust and Te Uri o Hau are partnering with the local board on this initiative.Funding agreements have been sent out to the successful applicants who have 18 months to deliver the approved fencing and planting projects.Auckland Council staff monitor the projects to ensure they are delivered on time and according to the funding agreement. Grant recipients are then reimbursed for up to 50 per cent of the project cost as per the agreement.A healthy and protected natural environment is an outcome in the Rodney Local Board Plan 2020 [PDF] which has details of the board’s activities, funding and investment decisions.

Saturday's forecast is a bit patchy, with a few showers and partly cloudy. Easterlies. High of 19 degrees 🌡Sunday looks to be partly cloudy and isolated showers. Northeasterlies. High of 21 degrees🌡Have a great weekend everyone!

A former methamphetamine addict who is now clean says recovery is possible, and she now feels "happy", something she never thought was possible.Warning: This story discusses addiction and suicide.Holly Beckham. Photo: Supplied / Holly BeckhamShe detailed her experience as calls are made for an expedited rollout of a successful meth rehab programme from Te Tai Tokerau (Northland) after police wastewater testing found methamphetamine use spiked in the second half of last year.Holly Beckham (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Rangi) spent 19 years taking all sorts of drugs, including meth, after a difficult childhood. She was not surprised its use went up during lockdown, with not much to do and nowhere to go."If you're sitting with trauma and you're sitting with emotions you don't know how to control, it's really intolerable. Reaching for the pipe or any drugs is just a way of being able to cope, I guess. It eases the pain, the suffering."Beckham witnessed her father die in a horrible way as a child and had other traumatic experiences in her early life. She used meth to cope with her own trauma and numb the pain.She started using alcohol at 12 and then other drugs, and over 19 years of addiction they ruined her life. She lost her job and her marriage and felt like she was living in a sort of constant insanity."I'm Māori, and I never really was connected to my culture either. Just so much disconnection and my whole life I'd been looking for connection. I thought I'd found that connection through drugs," she said."But I realised this can't be life. I looked around and I saw other people and I thought 'they've got hope, they're happy - I want that'."She got help and went to rehab, and while it was difficult, she is now three years clean.Beckham is trying to make a documentary about wāhine Māori who have also recovered from drug addiction. She's trying to come up with the money to make it. It's called 'Mana over Meth'.The Drug Foundation advocates strongly for help for drug addicts, not punishment.Deputy director Ben Birks Ang is pushing for one initiative in Northland, Te Ara Oranga, to be rolled out more widely."What we have here is an excellent initiative, that has been trialled over the past few years and evaluated. [It] shows a partnership between local communities, police and health services, that is resulting in a 34 percent reduction in harm from criminal offending and a return on investment of $3 to $7 for every dollar invested," Birks Ang said.The programme offered early help to users and linked them with ongoing support including housing and a job if needed, he said."It is something that the current government has said that they would like to roll out into other places. It's a matter of time I think before we see this. But we're calling on the government to increase that investment and to be able to speed that up."The government said it was still committed to rolling out Te Ara Oranga more widely before the end of the parliamentary term, which will likely be October next year.Beckham said her documentary about a recovering user would be punctuated by hope, showing that it is possible to recover.She wished she had seen something like it when she was in the throes of addiction."I think at the time it would have been like, 'hey, there's this thing called recovery', which I didn't realise. That there is a better way of living life. It probably would have saved me several ..." she trailed off, before continuing. "I tried killing myself so many times."Now, she is a completely different wāhine."I feel amazing. I feel happy, and I'm comfortable with who I am, which I never thought was possible either," Beckham said.Beckham's website can be found here and people can donate to help make her documentary here.Te Ara Oranga is a partnership approach between Northland DHB, three NGO providers (Salvation Army, Odyssey House and Ngāti Hine Health Trust) and Northland Police."Its aim is to respond to the harm caused by methamphetamine in the community by supporting the person and their whānau with a health response as opposed to treating this as a criminal issue," a spokesperson said."Its intent is to provide a rapid response to referrals which come from a number of sources including the police, self, whānau and other providers."The independent evaluation of the service has demonstrated its success and it is providing positive outcomes for people and their whānau and reducing the harm caused by methamphetamine in the community."Where to get help:Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 (8am-12am), or email [email protected]'s Up: online chat (3pm-10pm) or 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 helpline (12pm-10pm weekdays, 3pm-11pm weekends)Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm or text 832 Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi and English.Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254Healthline: 0800 611 116Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 (6pm-9pm)If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

The government has revealed plans to spend $1.4 billion into infrastructure in a bid to boost housing stock across five Auckland suburbs.The funding, which comes from the government's $3.8b Housing Acceleration Fund, will focus on infrastructure upgrades including sewage and stormwater systems, roading and flood protection measures to unlock more housing.Minister for Housing Dr Megan Woods said the funding would focus on 400 urban renewal projects in Mt Roskill, Māngere, Tāmaki, Oranga and Northcote.She said the work would allow for the replacement of old Kāinga Ora homes, 2000 additional ones, as well as 10,000 new affordable homes to built and put on the market - with potential for further development in surrounding suburbs."The Large Scale Projects underway in these suburbs are a first of their kind in New Zealand, replacing aged public housing that has reached the end of its life, and creating opportunities for new public, market and affordable housing to be built."Twig & BloomWoods said the funding would enable the development of "build-ready" land for up to 16,000 homes over the next five to 16 years."It's also estimated the infrastructure work will unlock potential for a further 11,000 new homes on surrounding privately owned land in these suburbs.Woods said decades of under-investment in infrastructure like pipes and roads had prevented new housing from being built and getting the land ready was a key way to fix the current crisis."Revitalising these suburbs through this investment has so many benefits; creating capacity for new homes, employment opportunities, improved water assets and a lot of potential for emissions reduction with the suburbs already being well served by public transport options."Woods said the government had worked with Auckland Council to identify places where housing growth was most needed and the council would contribute to the cost of the works.Mt Roskill MP Michael Wood, Auckland mayor Phil Goff and Housing Minister Megan Woods at the announcement of $1.4bn in funding to boost Auckland housing. Photo: RNZ / Katie ToddIn a statement, Auckland mayor Phil Goff said the funding boost would enable housing to fit the changing needs of the city."As our population grows, it makes sense to renew and intensify housing in areas close to good transport infrastructure, jobs, education opportunities, shops and amenities."The old state houses on large sections did their job well but they are now at the end of their lives. Aucklanders' and the city's needs have changed, and we are catering for that through enabling more apartments and terraced housing in compact, livable communities," Goff said.He said the developments would help address a long-standing shortage of housing for low-income families.

The government is rolling out a new face mask exemption card for people with genuine reasons not to wear one.Unlike the old exemptions, the new personalised cards have a legal standing and anyone questioning them could be contravening the Human Rights Act."We will not be cancelling the old cards or requiring affected people to go through the process of getting a new card if they don't want to, however, the old cards will not have the legitimacy of the new cards," Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said.They were being adopted because the government has recognised that some people cannot wear a mask due to an impairment, health conditions, a physical disability or mental health reasons."These reasons aren't always obvious or easy to explain and that's left some New Zealanders who're genuinely unable to wear a mask not being able to access the businesses and services they normally would," Hipkins said."It's also meant uncomfortable situations, with people needing to explain private health information to strangers, when they're trying to do basic tasks like shopping. We've worked hard to find a solution which avoids this."Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins does not want people to have to share private health information with strangers. Photo: POOL / STUFF / Robert KitchinIt is also hoped the cards will give businesses certainty, Hipkins said."Sadly, in attempting to verify whether people are genuinely exempt, workers - especially those in retail settings such as supermarkets - have experienced escalating and unsafe behaviour from some customers."Minister for Disability Issues Carmel Sepuloni said that from the end of May, people would be able to apply for a card through the Ministry of Health website and it would be issued to them digitally or by post.An 0800 call free number will be available, and it will also cater for those who need an interpreter or translation services when requesting their card."It's important we all understand that for some people wearing a face mask is difficult. This includes people with physical, intellectual or mental health impairments, and people (such as some victims of violent crime) who have experienced past trauma," Sepuloni said."Those people should still have the same right as others to access good and services."She thanked organisations such as Blind Citizens New Zealand, the Disabled Persons Assembly, Deaf Aotearoa and other non-government groups who have managed the mask exemption process until now.

Caution: Area WarningSH 1 Warkworth to WellsfordNX2 tie-in works will see SH1 closed north of Warkworth (between Hudson Rd and Wayby Valley Rd) for 4 nights from Mon 02 May to Thu 05 May between 9pm and 5am each night. Plan ahead for detour that will add up to 30 mins to journey times.Road WorksDetour route: During closures use Woodcocks Rd, West Coast Rd and SH16 between Warkworth and Wellsford.Start 26 Apr 2022 12:06pm End 6 May 2022 5:00amExpected resolution6 May 2022 5:00amLast updated26 Apr 2022 12:29pm

This week looks to be steady, with not too much of the chop and change we usually experience all in one day. The end of the week seems to promise showers, so enjoy the sun whilst it's here.Tuesday - Cloudy periods, and isolated light showers from afternoon. Southwest breezes.Wednesday - Cloudy periods. Isolated showers clearing in the morning. Southwesterlies turning southeast in the evening.Thursday - Partly cloudy. Isolated showers early in the day. Easterlies.Friday - Partly cloudy. Easterlies.Saturday - Partly cloudy. Easterlies.Sunday - A few showers with easterlies.Monday - Showers with light winds.

Police and Waka Kotahi are reminding people it takes everyone to get to no one.After a horrific weekend where 11 people lost their lives on the road, Police and Waka Kotahi are reminding people they need to take responsibility and make good decisions every time they are on the road.“It’s totally unacceptable that so many lives were lost over a few days,” Assistant Commissioner for Police Bruce O’Brien says.“On top of that, there will be people who survived crashes who will be left with life changing injuries. Some people have months of recovery, some people sadly never recover. We accept as Police that we have an important role to play in keeping people safe on the road. That is why we are out there unapologetically focusing on people speeding and pulling over drivers who are clearly not focused on what they are doing."“Make no mistake, we will continue to do that, and we have committed to lifting our performance even more. However, Police alone cannot change the number of people dying on our roads. Nor can our road safety partners," Assitant Commissioner O'Brien says.“The fact is, drivers and riders need to take some responsibility. Police can’t be on every single street corner or every stretch of highway. Every road user needs to play their part in getting to where they are going safely.“It’s not hard and I’m struggling to understand how we are still having this conversation. We are simply asking that people treat driving, or motorbike riding, with the care and respect it deserves."“Slow down, pay attention, if you’ve been drinking – don’t drive, and always wear your seatbelt – or helmet if you’re a rider. These aren’t big asks. And if people paid attention and followed these basic safety pointers, we wouldn’t keep losing lives on the road, Assistant Commissioner O'Brien says.“I feel for the families and friends who are grieving the loss of their loved ones right now. Their lives have been changed forever. So let’s stop any more families from having to go through that. Let’s all play our part in taking better care on the road.Beetopia“And if you have a family member or friend who you think shouldn’t be driving because they’ve been drinking, stop them and take away their keys. If you know someone who likes to go faster than the speed limit, have a conversation with them. Tell them you care about them and you’re worried about the potential consequences of their actions."“If we all make an effort, then together we can turn things around. We have a target to reduce death on the road by 40 percent by 2030, and that will truly take a collective effort from every road user in New Zealand. Police and our partners are committed to playing our parts. We are asking that our communities do the same,” Assistant Commissioner O’Brien says. Waka Kotahi Director of Land Transport, Kane Patena, says these losses will have a devastating impact on the families and wider communities of those who have died.“Tragically, this weekend’s events are not isolated, but rather part of a huge public health issue which affects Aotearoa all throughout the year. For every person killed on our roads, another seven sustain serious injuries, many of which are life-long and debilitating."“It’s time that as a country we stopped accepting that a certain amount of death and serious injury is just the price we pay for our mobility. New Zealand’s Road to Zero strategy is based on the belief that no-one deserves to die or be seriously injured on our roads, even when they make mistakes.“Deaths and serious injuries are preventable, as individuals we all have a responsibility to follow the road rules, wear our seatbelts and avoid driving while impaired or distracted."“In our role as a government agency, reducing crashes is about much more than just how we drive – it’s about making all the different parts of the system safer – roads, vehicles, speeds, and people. We are committed to playing our part,” Kane Patena says.

The Air Force Heritage Flight of New Zealand are excited to detail their planned 25 April 2022 Anzac Day Flypasts. NorthlandNorthland played a significant part in New Zealand’s Military Aviation Heritage, including the extensive facilities at RNZAF Station Waipapakauri. The Air Force Heritage Flight is recognising the importance of Northland on Anzac Day by conducting a series of flypasts with Harvard ZK-ENB “NZ1076”. Purchased new by the RNZAF in 1944, NZ1076 is an important piece of New Zealand's military aviation heritage.Note that the flypasts will be conducted in accordance with Civil Aviation Rules and will therefore be no lower than 1000 feet above the ground. Whilst the Harvard will not be low nor fast, we hope that you enjoy its undeniable presence and character!Northland Harvard itinerary: The Harvard will be flown by SQNLDR Stu Anderson and operated by Rex Brereton.1409 Mangawhai Heads (Molesworth Dr)1410 Mangawhai (Moir St)1418 Omaha (Omaha Beach)1420 Matakana (Town Centre)1421 Warkworth (Wharf St)1424 Snells Beach (Waterfront)

Wairewa's long abandoned thermal resort is being marketed as having extraordinary potential for tourism as the current owners look for a development partner or buyer.The resort's well-documented demise was caused by the sudden departure of its investor Russian businessman and reported billionaire Mikhail Khimich in 2018, who is reported to have since died in Russia with Covid-19.Now the properties' current owners Urban Partners, with realtor Colliers, are looking for a joint venture partner or buyer for the resort, hotel, water bottling and campground.Project director Doug Osborne said they expect interest from around the world."The site has extraordinary potential, recognised as a regional tourist attraction by the Auckland Unitary Plan and has zoning allowing for business, residential developments, health and wellness, tourism, hospitality and visitor accommodation."Osborne said the border closures had delayed the quest for a development partner.A look inside the now abandoned Waiwera thermal pools Photo: Newsroom.co.nz"While we have long understood the potential of the site, the subsequent restrictions of Covid, and associated border closures, have added further delays to our goal of finding an excellent partner who can see the wellness opportunity of the site and work with us to develop the coastal haven to its potential," he said."We have always had high ambitions and the best of intentions for this wonderfully unique freehold location and its thermal waters, and now that the main issues behind the protracted delays have been resolved, we are happy to confirm we are marketing the site to those interested in partnering, developing, or purchasing this world-class wellness destination."He said the marketing campaign will target those in the wellness, tourism, leisure and recreational sectors.Colliers director of sales Josh Coburn said the opportunity to redevelop a coastal enclave near Auckland was a "once in a lifetime opportunity"."Waiwera offers what no other property in New Zealand can; a coastal development of scale, within 45 minutes of Auckland's CBD, with the benefit of a rare geothermal bore."Coburn told Checkpoint there could possibly be two partners they would engage with, rather than just one.It was far too early to tell who is interested, whether it was hotel operators, tourism operators or residential developers - but he was hoping for a combination.He would not comment on how much he believed it would sell for, but confirmed it would definitely be over $10 million.

Anzac Day is a time to reflect on the servicemen and servicewomen, past and present, who have displayed courage and self-sacrifice serving our country.The number of in-person services and ceremonies across the region is reduced as a result of the red-light setting when planning was undertaken.Popular services at Waikumete and Browns Bay have been cancelled for this year, while the dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum is not open to the public.There are still many ways for all Aucklanders to honour the military veterans they know, by commemorating at home or in the community.Check below for details of any parades and services within our local areas, as well as online events to commemorate Anzac Day on Monday 25 April 2022. Kawau Island ServiceService: 12:30pm @ Kawau Island Boating ClubLeigh Parade & ServiceParade Assembly: 10:45am @ Leigh CemeteryService: 11amMatakanaService: 10am at Matakana War MemorialAnzac Day military display at Warkworth HotelPuhoi Parade & ServiceParade Assembly:8:45am @ War Memorial Gates Puhoi Pioneers Memorial ParkService: 9amWarkworthParade assembly: 5.45am at Warkworth RSA.Parade commences: 5.50amDawn service: 6am at War Memorial, Church Hill.Civic parade: 10.10am at Warkworth RSACivic parade commences: 10.15amCivic service: 10.30am at War Memorial, Church Hill, WarkworthWellsfordParade assembly 5.45am at 1 Point Albert RdParade commences: 6amService: 6.45am at RSA, 1 Olympus Rd, Wellsford

The orange light setting has brought a sense of relief for parents, as the eased restrictions mean one less thing to juggle - but some Covid-related worries are still lurking.Lower Hutt's biggest playground was buzzing on the first day of the school holidays, which have just begun under the Covid orange traffic light setting.While it seems little has changed in parents' day-to-day lives, one mother said there was definitely a small sense of relief."You feel a little bit less cautious, I guess if the government's making things a bit relaxed it eases the anxiety that you might feel around everyone mixing together."Another mum, Rachel, agreed - her son was on immunosuppressants, which meant his lungs could be affected if he caught Covid.Despite this,10-year-old Magnus was confident about the eased restrictions."Most people, when they get the Covid after they have vaccines, they get only a little cold or something like that and I have already had my second jab, I had it last year."Meanwhile, his younger sister, 8-year-old Lilith, said she was glad she wouldn't have to wear a mask at school next term."I have had a lot of big feelings when I went to school and I think it'll really help me that everyone can speak clearly to me. It makes my life a lot easier."For Rachel, the orange setting reflected her attempts to keep a balanced perspective."We take our immuno-suppressants and those are good for us to protect our body, but then we also play in the dirt, we play with our friends, we get out there and we live our lives," she said."It really is a day-to-day balance of keeping all the parts of ourselves healthy, and that's our heart and our mind as well."Across the park, 6-year-old Sophia and her dad Karl both knew children who'd had the virus.They said while it was great the rules had relaxed, it was important to continue using good judgment."My school friend caught Covid," Sophia said."With Delta it wasn't affecting youngsters, but Omicron seems to be affecting the youngsters now," Karl added."Unfortunately we don't know what's going to happen now and if five and six-year-olds, and four-year-olds can now get it, I'm not going to drop my guard."So, what will school holidays in the orange setting look like?Becka was keen on anything to get her kids outdoors - they were particularly looking forward to the pools."Go to Maidstone Park, get in the fresh air," she said."Swimming is something we haven't done for a while because you had to book in times apparently, through the (red) setting so we're going to try and do that."Parents remaining cautious, but optimistic, in this new stage of the pandemic response.

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.