Brick Bay Folly Competition 2024: "Femme-ly Velues" Highlights Women's Contributions in ArchitectureThis year's Brick Bay Folly, titled "Femme-ly Velues", is designed and built by an all-women team—Claire Ford, Elise Cautley, and Jennifer Gao. It is the first time a team composed solely of women has led the project, highlighting the evolving role of women in architecture and construction.The structure, "Femme-ly Velues", explores the theme of femininity and feminism, drawing inspiration from the fabric crafts traditionally passed down through generations of women. The design reflects the intricate processes of sewing and weaving, where the vertical and horizontal elements intertwine to form a complex, layered structure.Composed of three parts, the folly uses 272 linear metres of pinus radiata timber and 9 square metres of equine canvas, combined with stainless steel and other materials. It also incorporates about 30% of recycled timber from last year's folly, "The Nest", emphasising sustainability and the reuse of materials.The folly is painted in vibrant Resene colours like ‘XO’, ‘Bright Spark’, and ‘Colour Me Pink’, enhancing its visual appeal. Pip Cheshire, Chair of the Folly judging panel, commended the project for its innovative use of materials and its playful yet sophisticated design."Femme-ly Velues" not only demonstrates architectural innovation but also celebrates the artistic and cultural contributions of women, aligning with the ethos of the Brick Bay Folly competition.Read more about the winning Folly [https://www.brickbaysculpture.co.nz/folly-2024] or see it on the Brick Bay Sculpture Trail - open 7 days. Photo credit: Sam Hartnett Photography  

Anyone who bought Value Pack Roasted Salted Peanuts since 11 April is urged to check whether they are part of a batch that was recalled on 5 April."Prolife Foods recalled specific batches of products containing peanuts last month over concerns that they could contain levels of aflatoxins above the allowable level in New Zealand," says New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle. "Disappointingly, some of these recalled products have been released for sale in error by Prolife."NZFS is investigating how this could have happened. We will be reviewing Prolife’s recall system to find out what went wrong, and to prevent it happening again."Please check your pantry for any of these peanuts. Don’t consume them and return them to the place of purchase for a refund."The products affected by today’s recall are:Value Pack (VP) Roasted Salted Peanuts (400g) with best-before dates of 08 OCT 2024 and 15 OCT 2024The affected products were sold at selected New World, FreshChoice, Pak’nSave and Four Square stores nationwide.Visit New Zealand Food Safety’s recall page for more information about batch details and photographs of the affected product here:Prolife Foods Value Pack and Refill Pack Products Containing Peanuts"Aflatoxins are naturally occurring in many food products and are produced by a group of moulds that grow on foods produced in hot and tropical climates," Mr Arbuckle says."Levels of aflatoxin in the New Zealand diet are usually very low and don't represent a health risk, however, consumption of food products with increased levels of aflatoxin over an extended period of time can be harmful."But despite the health risk being low in this case, any release of recalled products is of concern."New Zealand Food Safety has not received any notifications of associated illness.If you have consumed any of this product and are concerned for your health, contact your health professional, or call Healthline on 0800 61 11 16 for free advice.The vast majority of food sold in New Zealand is safe, but sometimes problems can occur. Help keep yourself and your family safe by subscribing to our recall alerts. Information on how to subscribe is on the NZFS food recall page.Recalled food products listFor more information please email: [email protected]

Finn Blackwell, ReporterA manhunt is continuing in Auckland for a man police believe was involved in the fatal shooting on one of the city's most popular and busiest roads.Police are searching for a gunman after a man was shot dead on Ponsonby Road on Sunday night.A photo of the man - who has been described as extremely dangerous - has been released and police have made an urgent appeal to help identify him.Images of the man sought over the shooting were released by police yesterday. Photo: Supplied / PoliceIt is still not clear whether he and the victim were known to each other.Ponsonby Road was closed for much of the day, but cordons were lifted yesterday afternoon and a short blessing took place on the spot where the man was killed.The shooting has shaken local retailers and residents.Police cordon off a section of Ponsonby Road amid a homicide investigation, on 6 May, 2024. Photo: RNZ / Maia Ingoe'There's got to be more help' - mayorAuckland mayor Wayne Brown expressed his shock, saying his thoughts are with the victim's family.He said the council had been trying to take steps to address safety in the central city."We've put 20 groups of staff out there," he said."Really, it isn't really the mayor's job to be policing the city, there's got to be more help."Brown had twice dipped into the mayor's budget recently to implement crime-stopping programmes.He said there was no excuse for the crime."We need to come like a ton of bricks on these people," he said."I don't want to hear any of this stuff about how they've had a bad life, those are bad people, we've got to stop it."Photo: RNZ/Nick Monro'Someone is going to recognise this person'Police have made an urgent appeal to the public to help identify the gunman.Detective Inspector Chris Barry told Checkpoint someone must know who he is."I think the images [of the suspect] are of a reasonable quality that someone out there is going to recognise this person," he said."It could be a parent, it could be a sibling, another relation, a friend or an associate, and what we need is for someone that does know who this is to pick up the phone and let us know who he is, also, if possible, where he is."Barry said the shooter had been declined entry into Chapel Bar.He said police were continuing to work through CCTV footage but it still was not clear whether they were dealing with a random or targeted attack."It's too early to put firm labels as to what the motivation for this offending is," Barry said."But, at this point in time, we haven't established what the offender's motive is."Barry said the gunman, who it is believed had concealed the gun in a bag, fired several shots and it was lucky no one else was injured.Without giving any details, he said people had come forward with information about the man, and the urgent priority was to find him."We are deeply concerned that he does remain out in the community,""We don't know, at this stage, who he is, and the best possible outcome for us is for us to detain him as soon as possible,""That is going to mitigate the risk to the public," said Barry.A police cordon on Ponsonby Road following reports of a homicide Photo: Finn BlackwellLocals shocked by violenceMeanwhile, locals were still trying to come to terms with what had happened.Jan Farry said she was shocked by the scene as she tried to get into work yesterday."A lot of people walk these street in the evenings, because there's so many eateries and things around, so it's a real worry that it can happen," she said.Retailers along Ponsonby Road have also expressed their shock and sadness.Ponsonby Business Association general manager Vivienne Rosenberg said they send their condolences to the family of the victim."We are shocked and saddened by what has happened," said Rosenberg in a statement to RNZ.Police have said they will maintain a strong presence in the area.This story was first published by RNZ

Armed police have cordoned off a section of Auckland's Ponsonby Road after a person was found dead on Sunday night.Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Bolton, Auckland City CIB, said emergency services responded to reports of a firearm being discharged outside an address on Ponsonby Road about 10.18pm."Upon arrival, a man was located deceased."Our investigation is now in the early stages to determine the full circumstances of what has occurred."Police at the scene of a cordon after a reported death on Ponsonby Rd. Photo: Finn BlackwellPolice were still trying to find the person believed to be responsible."Police have been in the area overnight speaking to a number of witnesses who were in the vicinity at the time of the incident," Bolton said."While at this stage, no arrests have been made, police are following lines of enquiry."Auckland Transport said a section of Ponsonby Road, between Richmond Road and Franklin Road, was closed due to an incident."Avoid this area or expect delays with diversions in place affecting all traffic, including bus services."Bolton said there would be an increased police presence in the Ponsonby area on Monday."A scene guard has also been established and will remain in place today while our enquiries continue."An RNZ reporter at the scene on Monday morning said two armed police could be seen inside the cordon.A post-mortem and formal identification of the man found dead will be carried out over the coming days.

Warkworth RegionMonday 6th May -Partly cloudy with areas of early fog. Cloud increasing and isolated showers developing this morning, Showers becoming widespread this afternoon and evening. Southerlies.Tuesday 7th May - Mostly cloudy with isolated showers, becoming widespread in the afternoon. Southeasterlies, becoming fresh in the morning.Wednesday 8th May - Showers, clearing to fine in the afternoon. Easterlies, turning southerly in the afternoon.Thursday 9th May - Fine. Southeasterlies, becoming fresh.Friday 10th May - Fine with southerlies.Mangawhai RegionMonday 6th May - Cloudy periods. A few showers, frequent and possibly heavy for a time this afternoon and evening. Northerlies turning southwesterly this afternoon.Tuesday 7th May - Mainly fine. Southerlies.Wednesday 8th May - A few showers. Southeasterlies.Thursday 9th May - Mainly fine. Southerlies.Friday 10th May - Fine. Southerlies.

The government claims Aucklanders will avoid a projected 25.8 percent water rates increase with the coalition's Local Water Done Well plan.Local government Minister Simeon Brown and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said on Sunday the financially sustainable model would also retain local control of water assets.They say the previous government wasted $1.2 billion over several years to deliver a water reform plan that was wasteful, took away local control and was rejected by voters."Some said that Local Water Done Well could not be done," Simeon Brown said. "But within the space of just six months, the coalition government has worked with Auckland Council on designing a new model for Watercare."The new plan, with a water rates increase of 7.2 percent, was unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council's governing body."This outcome is exactly what we've been looking to achieve," the mayor said. "The new government asked us to come up with a preferred model, and they've agreed to implement it, which is good."They said the new model meant Auckland's water company, Watercare, would be able to borrow more money for long-term investment in water infrastructure.The government and mayor said the borrowing would be spread over a longer period - up to $1.9 billion over 10 years - rather than front-loading the cost onto current ratepayers."I have long said that this was a balance sheet issue and needed to be treated like one," the mayor said."Councils should have more say about how we manage and deliver our water systems. The government have taken this feedback seriously and worked closely with me to come up with this solution which will put water rates on a much more sustainable footing for the infrastructure we need."Simeon Brown said avoiding a water rates hike would help Aucklanders deal with the rising cost of living.The council would retain ownership and control over Watercare, but Watercare's borrowing would be considered separate to Auckland Council's for credit rating purposes they said, citing agency S&P Global Ratings."Today's announcement means we can deliver a smoother price path for Aucklanders, while still investing in vital projects to maintain and build resilient water and wastewater networks," Watercare board chair Margaret Devlin said."We have been talking with Auckland Council for many years about achieving financial independence, to uncouple Watercare from council's borrowing. As a result of today's announcement, we can avoid a price rise of 25.8 percent on 1 July. Instead, water and wastewater services will only increase by 7.2 percent annually for the next three years, without cutting much-needed projects and maintenance. Infrastructure growth charges will increase by 14.4 percent annually for the next three years."As a result of this change, the average water bill will only go up by $97 in the next financial year - equivalent to $8.08 a month. This is a great outcome for Auckland."A bill to introduce the necessary changes in legislation will be introduced later this month.Labour said under its plan, the increase would have been kept to just 2 percent."This is because the Auckland/Northland entity would have had a credit rating of AA, while Watercare will be a BBB at best so the cost of borrowing will be higher," local government spokesperson Keiran McAnulty said.McAnulty said what worked for Auckland would not for the rest of the country."Every time a ratepayer opens their rates bill and sees an increase, they can lay that at the feet of this government."This story was originally posted on RNZ News

An ambitious plan to make Northland the first region in New Zealand to eradicate wild deer is underway near the Bay of Islands.The Wild Deer Free Te Tai Tokerau programme started in earnest on Monday night with a small team of hunters heading into Russell State Forest, equipped with thermal drones to help them home in on their targets after sunset.The 10-year programme is being trialled in Russell Forest because of its ecological value and because it has the only known population of sika deer in Northland.Nicky Fitzgibbon, a biosecurity manager at the Northland Regional Council, said unlike many other parts of New Zealand, the acclimatisation societies of the 19th century never released deer in Northland.Instead, they arrived in the 1980s and 1990s as a result of deer farm escapes and illegal releases.Fitzgibbon said there were now up to 14 small, isolated populations of deer, from Kaiwaka, near the Auckland border, to the Kai Iwi Lakes north of Dargaville and the bush behind Kaitāia airport.Fitzgibbon said deer could pose a serious threat to Northland if left to breed."They feed on our ngahere, our forest, and they change the composition of the forests, which are already under lots of pressure from possums and pigs and other things, so this is just another threat," she said."And it's not just our forests, deer also potentially threaten our agriculture, forestry and even tourism, because people like to visit the North for the beautiful forests."The Russell State Forest pilot had been more than four years in the making with the hapū Te Kapotai, Ngāti Kuta and Patukeha, Ngatiwai iwi and hau kainga from Ngaiotonga."Russell's a real treasure, it's got lots of precious and unique ecosystems. This work is working towards preserving the natural and cultural heritage for future generations and supports the hapū in their aspirations for their 20-year forest health plan."Fitzgibbon said the hunters had got off to a good start with three hinds shot in the first nights and a local land holder shooting a young male.They would work three weeks on, one week off, depending on the weather.Poison was not being used.She said now, while deer numbers were still low, was the time to attempt eradication."You just look across the country where wild deer are in greater numbers, and their forests have been really decimated. We all know how expensive getting rid of pests can be, so it's really important we invest and commit to getting rid of them now while we still can."Fitzgibbon said if the project succeeded, Northland would be the biggest deer-free area on the New Zealand mainland."We don't just dream big, we do big here in the North."Wild Deer Free Te Tai Tokerau is a partnership between the regional council, the Department of Conservation, hapū, iwi and the deer farming industry.DOC senior wild animal advisor Dave Carlton said deer had no natural predators in New Zealand, so their population could grow rapidly, damaging native plants and habitats.Northland was the ideal place to aim for deer-free status because the region was bounded by the sea on two sides and Auckland on the other.DOC also worked closely with Auckland Council to maintain a buffer on the boundary with Northland, to ensure deer from Auckland could not migrate north.Carlton said wild deer fed on forest plants, trees and seedlings, altered the composition of forests, and took food and shelter away from native animals.In some cases they could also hinder forest regeneration and reduce environmental resilience to the effects of climate change."So it's important we stop that happening from the get-go, if we can."It was sometimes argued that deer simply took the place of moa in the New Zealand forest ecosystem, but Carlton said moa had a "completely different" way of feeding."They really can't be compared to the likes of an ungulate animal. Deer will eat anything in reach they consider palatable. They'll eat the plant to the ground and any seedling that tries to come up through the ground will get cut off at the base, stopping regeneration of any palatable species."Moa, on the other hand, fed by "plucking bits off the trees, not wholesale consumption of the entire tree".Carlton said the types of deer found in Northland were sika, red and fallow, but it was possible some reds could be wapiti hybrids.Russell Forest had Northland's only known population of sika, illegally released there 35 years ago.Their normal feral range was 400km away in the Kaimanawa and Kaweka mountains of the central North Island.Sika were the smallest species of deer in New Zealand but they were a big concern."They're quite wily compared to other species of deer, so they are very difficult to hunt and control, so once they get established it's hard to get rid of them again. They also eat a wider range of species than red or fallow deer, and out-compete other species as well. Over time they can push red deer out of an area."Carlton acknowledged deer hunting could be a valuable source of food and recreation."That's a totally valid argument across a lot of New Zealand, where deer have been established for a long time and people do rely on them as a food source and recreation in some circumstances. But that's not part of Northland's culture. Deer only starting appearing in Northland in the 1980s and since that time there's been a lot of effort to remove every population that has turned up."If eradication succeeded in Northland it could be rolled out to other areas, such as the Coromandel Peninsula and parts of Auckland and Taranaki."In the rest of New Zealand, where deer have been established for a long time, this isn't really feasible. It quickly becomes completely unaffordable and you can't manage re-invasion from surrounding areas."In those regions the plan was to work with local communities to manage populations and reduce the impact of deer on the environment, rather than trying to eradicate them.Northland regional councillor Marty Robinson said Russell Forest was the largest inland forest and scrubland area of Northland's east coast.It was an important example of a warm temperate rainforest and contained kauri, tawa, kotukutuku (tree fuchsia) and tōtara along with threatened birds such as the North Island brown kiwi.Unlike most forests around the country, it had not been significantly altered by introduced mammalian browsers.The regional council has allocated $5.9m for managing deer in Northland until 2031, with funding from central Government's 2022 Budget.The Russell Forest sika project is expected to cost $1.5m.* Call 0800 WILD DEER or go to https://www.nrc.govt.nz/wilddeer to report wild deer sightings in Northland.This story was originally posted on RNZ News

A water safety body says more education on the potential risks of coastal fishing activities is needed.The body of one of two men who went missing on Wednesday while fishing from the rocks at Taiharuru, north of Whangārei Heads was found on Friday.The two men had recently migrated from India.Drowning Prevention Auckland chief executive Nicola Keen-Biggelaar said the loss of life was devastating."Rock-based fishing is often in areas that are remote, very difficult to get to, not understood that conditions can change really, really quickly."So if you're not wearing a life jacket, if you're not wearing the right footwear, if people don't know where you are, you really are putting yourself at risk."Keen-Biggelaar said locals should also be empowered to intervene to check those heading out were properly prepared."As a culture, we don't really want to upset someone, we don't want to encroach, we may not think that they could understand us, but I would really love to see us all take responsibility for our local spaces and places that we really understand."She said new arrivals to New Zealand often experienced an overload of information and many did not prioritise water safety.After the drowning of two Indian men at Piha last year, Drowning Prevention Auckland has launched a series of initiatives to try to improve water safety in the Indian community."We've had a life jacket campaign running recently, we advertise on Radio Tarana to try and reach the Indian community more effectively, we've utilised their social media," she said.No one wanted to see loss of life and their programmes were ongoing, said Keen-Biggelaar.Drowning Prevention Auckland said there were four key points when undertaking rock based fishing:Be prepared and know how to float - people should only fish off the rocks if they new how to float well. Rock fishers should wear a lifejacket and shoes with good grip and have a flotation device available.Go fishing with a friend so they can help you if something happens. If you fall in stay calm, float on your back and ask them to help you by throwing you a flotation device.Check the tide and consider how it could affect your fishing.Know your limits and if you doubt your ability or the conditions, don't go out.This story was originally posted by RNZ News

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi advises of the following closures for motorway improvements. Work delayed by bad weather will be completed at the next available date, prior to Friday, 10 May 2024.Unless otherwise stated, closures start at 9pm and finish at 5am.NORTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)Southbound lanes between Orewa off-ramp and Silverdale on-ramp, 5-7 MayOrewa southbound on-ramp, 5-7 MayMillwater southbound on-ramp, 5-7 MayNorthbound lanes between Silverdale off-ramp and Orewa on-ramp, 5-7 MaySilverdale northbound on-ramp, 5-7 MayOnewa Road northbound off-ramp, 6 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Stafford Road northbound off-ramp, 6 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Curran Street northbound on-ramp, 6 MayCENTRAL MOTORWAY JUNCTION (CMJ)Northbound lanes between Symonds Street off-ramp and Fanshawe Street on-ramp, 6 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Wellington Street northbound on-ramp, 6 MaySH16 eastbound to SH1 northbound link, 6 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH1 northbound to SH16 westbound link, 6-8 May (approx. 11:00pm to 5:00am)SH1 northbound to SH16 (Port) eastbound link, 7-8 May (approx. 11:00pm to 5:00am)Westbound lanes between Stanley Street off-ramp and Newton Road on-ramp, 6 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH16 (Port) westbound to SH1 northbound link, 6 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH16 (Port) westbound to SH1 southbound link, 6 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Wellesley Street East westbound on-ramp, 6 MaySOUTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)Northbound lanes between Greenlane off-ramp and Wellington Street on-ramp, 7-8 May (approx. 11:00pm to 5:00am)Gillies Avenue northbound on-ramp, 7-8 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Greenlane northbound on-ramp, 7-8 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Northbound lanes between Mt Wellington Highway off-ramp and Greenlane on-ramp, 9 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Ellerslie-Panmure Highway southbound off-ramp, 5 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Ellerslie-Panmure Highway northbound on-ramp, 9 MayEllerslie-Panmure Highway northbound on-ramp, 5 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Ellerslie-Panmure Highway southbound on-ramp, 5 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)South Eastern Highway (SEART) northbound on-ramp, 9 MayMt Wellington Highway northbound on-ramp, 9 MayNorthbound lanes between Papakura off-ramp and Redoubt Road on-ramp, 6 & 8-9 MayTakanini northbound on-ramp, 6 & 8-9 MayNorthbound lanes between Papakura off-ramp and Takanini on-ramp, 7 MayPapakura (Diamond) northbound on-ramp, 5-9 MayPapakura (Loop) northbound on-ramp, 5-9 MaySouthbound lanes between Takanini off-ramp and Papakura on-ramp, 7-9 MaySouthbound lanes between Takanini off-ramp and Drury/SH22 on-ramp, 5-6 MayTakanini southbound on-ramp, 5-9 MayPapakura southbound on-ramp, 5-6 MayNorthbound lanes between Drury/SH22 off-ramp and Papakura on-ramp, 5 MayDrury/SH22 northbound on-ramp, 5 MaySouthbound lanes between Nikau Road off-ramp and Nikau Road on-ramp, 8-9 MayNorthbound lanes between Nikau Road off-ramp and Nikau Road on-ramp, 5-9 MayPioneer Road northbound off-ramp, 3-10 May (24/7)Hampton Downs southbound off-ramp, 5-7 May (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)Hampton Downs northbound on-ramp, 5-7 May (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)Hampton Downs southbound on-ramp, 8-9 May (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)Hampton Downs northbound off-ramp, 8-9 May (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)NORTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH16)Northbound lanes between Trigg Rd and Waimauku Roundabout, 5-9 MaySouthbound lanes between Waimauku Roundabout and Trigg Road, 5-9 May.SOUTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH20)Southbound lanes between Hillsborough Road off-ramp and Neilson Street on-ramp, 5 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)/li>Hillsborough Road southbound on-ramp, 5 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Queenstown Road southbound on-ramp, 5 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Please follow the signposted detours. NZ Transport Agency thanks you for your co-operation during these essential improvements and maintenance.

The two fishermen who have been missing in Northland since Wednesday, had recently moved to the country from India with their young families.The two men, aged in their thirties, were last heard from on Wednesday afternoon while rock fishing at Taiharuru, a small bay north of Whangārei Heads.The spot they were fishing at, known locally as The Gap, is notorious for its large swells and is known among locals as a danger zone.On its website, Whangārei District Council described The Gap as a "narrow cleft in the rocks", which could be a "spectacular sight when the sea is rough".It is known as a good fishing spot, especially for snapper, but can be dangerous when there are large swells - as there were on Wednesday.On Thursday, police confirmed they had found the men's car and some of their personal belongings in the area.A police spokesperson said the search was ongoing on Friday and warned the public to stay away from the search area after private jet skis were seen there on Thursday.The spokesperson said the police dive squad were at the bay and they needed the public out of the water in that area for the divers' safety.Coastguard Tutukaka volunteers were helping with the search along with the Northland Coastguard Air Patrol and the Ruakākā Surf Lifesaving Patrol SAR Squad.Whangārei Malayali Association president Sijoy Alex said the community were supporting the wives and children of the men, who are from South India."They hadn't been here for very long - we're still hoping for the best and to hear some good news, but given the amount of time they've been missing the chances are slim."I spoke to the families yesterday - they're devastated, but they have a good support system around them and have been liaising with the families of their husbands back in India."Alex said he had been told police divers would be out in the water on Friday.One local fisherman, who did not want to be named out of respect for the missing men, said the fishing spot could be treacherous in high seas."Locals know you have to respect The Gap."In 2013, a fisherman died at The Gap after he and two friends were swept off the rocks and into the sea.Police have been approached for comment on how the search efforts on Friday are going.This story was originally posted on RNZ News

Warkworth RegionFriday 3rd May - Partly cloudy with scattered showers, clearing late afternoon and becoming fine. Southwesterlies, easing in the evening.Saturday 4th May - Fine, but becoming mostly cloudy with isolated showers in the afternoon and evening. Easterlies, easing for a time in the afternoon and evening.Sunday 5th May - Occasional rain developing early. Northeasterlies developing in the morning.Mangawhai RegionFriday 3rd May - Partly cloudy with scattered showers, clearing late afternoon and becoming fine. Southwesterlies, easing this eveningSaturday 4th May - Fine, then cloud increasing with the chance of a shower in the afternoon and evening. Easterlies, easing for a time in the afternoon and evening.Sunday 5th May - Occasional rain developing early. Northeasterlies developing in the morning.

The government is trying to reduce the time it takes to build a home by enabling minor changes to be made to a building consent without having to apply for a new one.In a statement, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk said the coalition government was focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes in order to rebuild the economy and get Kiwis into their homes quicker."New construction data from Stats NZ released in April shows that it takes around 569 days on average for a home to be built after it receives a building consent," Penk said."This means that, once you account for the time it takes to issue a consent, it takes nearly 600 days to build a house in New Zealand. In the face of a housing and cost-of-living crisis, this is simply too long."Penk said Kiwis who need to swap out comparable building products because of a shortage, for example, currently need to submit a whole new consent or wait for the product to become available - adding delays and costs to the build.Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone"That is why the government is clarifying the definition of a 'minor variation' and introducing 'minor customisations' to the Building Act. This will provide more flexibility, which will help reduce delays and lower the cost of building and renovating."Building Consent Authorities will still need to assess building work to ensure it complies with the Building Code, but Kiwis won't need to submit a new consent for minor product or design changes."According to Stats NZ, homes consented in the June 2023 quarter took 163 days on average to have a first inspection.A final inspection for homes consented in the September 2022 quarter took 533 days on average.And for homes consented in the June 2022 quarter, it took 569 days on average to get a code of compliance certificate.This story was originally published by RNZ

Police are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Emma Ferguson, who has a warrant to arrest.Ferguson, 36, is from Mount Roskill in Auckland and is wanted by Police.She is believed to be somewhere in the upper North Island along with her three children aged one, two and five.Police have concerns for her children’s safety and urge anyone with information on her whereabouts to call Police on 111 and quote file number 240403/6972.Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

It’s Hospice Awareness Week from May 13 to 19, and Harbour Hospice is asking the community to get behind the campaign to help make life better for patients in hospice care.“Everyone deserves access to a good end-of-life experience, but many people reach us too late or not at all – and we need this to change,” Harbour Hospice chief executive Jan Nichols says.“Throughout the week we’re highlighting the importance of reaching those with a life-limiting illness earlier in their journey, so we can do more to support them to live well, in the place they call home with the people they love.”Lots of local businesses will be showing their support across the week. Some supermarkets will be asking customers to add $1 to their shop for the charity, with other businesses supporting the campaign in different ways.Harbour Hospice shops in Warkworth, Wellsford and Te Hana will be inviting customers to add an extra dollar to their purchases. If a donation is made online at harbourhospice.org.nz construction company Youngman Richardson will match the donation, up to $10,000.“Harbour Hospice cares for one in three people in the community. But what few people realise is that the earlier hospice can be involved a person’s care, the more we can do to help them,” Nichols says.Grandfather and great grandfather Brian Evans, 86, began receiving Harbour Hospice care six months ago and says having that support has helped him relax more and enjoy every day. “I don’t have to worry about my illness because I know hospice is taking care of me. I feel more relaxed, and my breathing has improved,” he says.Brian receives regular visits from the hospice community nursing team and attends the service’s Open Doors day programme at Tui House, which provides lunch and an informative talk. Brian says he enjoys the talks and he loves the social contact with the others in the group.“We don’t talk about our ailments, we talk about the day-to-day but we know what each of us are going through and that’s what makes it so good.”Brian used to be a keen hunter but had to give that up. Hospice has helped him find new ways to enjoy his days, he says. He has reignited his passion for gardening and taken up walking. Hospice was even there for Brian and his wife Gayle when they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this month, putting on a lunch and a party for them.“It has been absolutely marvellous,” He says.Nichols says hospice is not just about dying.“It’s about being there for patients like Brian, families and whānau to make those final years, months or weeks more joyful, not just less awful.”To find out how you can support Harbour Hospice during Hospice Awareness Week go tohttps://harbourhospice.org.nz/event/hospice-awareness-weekLocal supermarkets supporting Harbour Hospice this Awareness WeekPlease add $1 to support Harbour Hospice when shopping at any of the supermarkets listed below.New World AlbanyNew World BirkenheadNew World Browns BayNew World Long BayNew World MilfordNew World OrewaNew World WarkworthPak’nSave WarkworthPak'n Save AlbanyLocal businesses supporting Harbour Hospice this Awareness WeekNorth ShoreBNI - North HarbourBNI - TakapunaNorth Harbour Business AssociationSchnauer & CoStorage 4 You – North Shore and WhangaparaoraYoungman RichardsonHibiscus CoastCoconut Gallery, OrewaEmma Jean Framing GalleryHelensville Golf ClubHibiscus Funeral ServicesParaoa Brewing Co.The French CupboardWarkworth/WellsfordBe Soul Funerals, WarkworthCoconut Gallery, WarkworthGood Good Coffee & Food, WarkworthMatakana Coast AppMatakana MarketOmaha Golf ClubPuhoi Furniture Design & UpholsteryPuhoi Pub & StablesPuhoi River KayaksRiver Nile LinensSummerset Falls Retirement Village, WarkworthThe French CupboardThe Photo Store, WarkworthWarkworth ButchersWarkworth MenswearWarkworth OaksMason ContainersMorris & JamesNautica Shipping & Logistics LtdNeville BrosNorthland WasteThe Planning Collective

Rogers Distribution Limited is recalling a specific batch of its Mrs Rogers Naturals brand Gluten Free Batter Mix due to the presence of undeclared allergens (gluten, wheat). Mrs Rogers Naturals brand Crispy Golden Batter Mix has been incorrectly packaged as Mrs Rogers Naturals brand Gluten Free Batter Mix.Point of sale notice for retailersIf you are a retailer of the product in this recall, download a copy of the point of sale notice. You need to display it in your store for one month.Point of sale notice – Rogers Distribution Limited [PDF, 43KB]Consumer adviceCustomers are asked to check the date marking and batch number on the back of the package.People with a gluten or wheat allergy or intolerance should not consume this product. If you have consumed this product and have any concerns about your health, seek medical advice. If you are not allergic or intolerant to gluten or wheat, this recall does not affect you.Customers with a gluten or wheat allergy or intolerance should return the product to their retailer for a full refund.Who to contactIf you have questions, contact Rogers Distribution Limited:Phone: 09 366 1885Address: 46 Honan Place, Avondale, Auckland

Brynderwyns update: Our reopening of State Highway 1 over the Brynderwyn Hills will be delayed by a number of weeks due to an active slip.We were scheduled to fully reopen SH1 on 13 May 2024, but due to a slip at the site where we're working to repair the road damaged in Cyclone Gabrielle, this is no longer possible. The slip occurred over the weekend at Kauri Tree Corner (zone F) on a slope roadworkers were working to stabilise.Click here to see the video from 30 April. The slip is still moving with a substantial amount of material falling. We're urgently doing geotechnical assessments to determine our approach to stabilising the hillside based on this new slip. We can then continue our repairs to shore up the road for winter and provide resilience in the short to medium term.We know this isn't the news anyone wants to hear, but we need to fix this before we can safely reopen the road. Everyone wants the road opened as soon as possible, and we're committed to completing these vital recovery works ahead of winter to ensure the road is safe and reliable.We're still in the early stages of assessing the best solution, and we'll confirm more details as soon as we can. We appreciate how frustrating this is for everyone affected by the closure, and also for the roadworkers who've worked so hard to keep to schedule.

Peter de GraafA major hotel chain plans to buy a site in central Whangārei and build a four-star hotel with up to 110 rooms.Millennium and Copthorne Hotels New Zealand (MCK) announced today it had entered a conditional agreement to buy two properties next to Laurie Hall Park from the Whangārei District Council.MCK managing director Stuart Harrison said the purchase of the 3160-square-metre site for $2.24 million was still subject to due diligence.He believed a hotel of 90 to 110 rooms was the right size to take advantage of Northland's increasing economic activity.The company had reengaged with council after previously considering buying the land in 2019, Harrison said."As tourism in New Zealand continues to revive, this is another sign that we are looking to grow our network," he said.Mayor Vince Cocurullo said the city had long needed a major hotel in the CBD."This is a very exciting outcome, and their potential acquisition and development is one that we've hoped for since the sites were earmarked for hotel development in 2012," he said."Our district needs a four-star hotel in the centre of the city. We need to be able to attract more conferences and events, and to cater to increasing numbers of visitors in the coming years."As well as a high-quality visitor experience the hotel would bring more jobs to the city, Cocurullo said.The prime site used to be occupied by a childcare centre and a block of six single-storey flats known as Almond Court.Laurie Hall Park, between Dent Street, Bank Street and Farmers department store, is also home to the city's war memorial.The Victorian villa at 10 Dent St that housed Forum North Childcare and Education Centre was removed in 2019, with the business now in a purpose-built facility on Riverside Drive.Almond Court was demolished last year, a move opposed by a group of Whangārei architects who said the red-brick flats were unique in their architecture and social history.At the time the council said the cost of renovating the flats, about $900,000, was far greater than any likely return on the investment.Currently, visiting sports teams or business groups often opt to stay at the Copthorne in the Bay of Islands instead of Whangārei.Trying to attract a large hotel to Northland's only city has been a long-running saga, with MCK once before agreeing to buy the 8-10 Dent Street site from the council.At that time, in 2019, the flats were still standing and the agreed price for the two properties was $2.5m.The hotel company, however, pulled out of the deal.On the other side of the Hātea River, Northland Development Corporation had been planning a multi-million-dollar combined hotel, apartment, event and conference centre called Ōruku Landing.Last year, however, the government withdrew its pledge of $59m towards the $64m cost of the conference and event centre.The future of the project, with an estimated overall price tag of $200m, is now uncertain.News that a four-star hotel could be getting off the ground at last in Whangārei comes just months after cruise ships returned to the city for the first time in decades.The opening of the Hundertwasser Art Centre at Whangārei's Town Basin in 2022 is said to have persuaded the cruise ship companies to put the city back on their itineraries.Elsewhere in Northland, MCK already owns the Copthorne Hotel and Resort Bay of Islands in Waitangi and the Kingsgate Hotel in Paihia.The Whangārei deal is expected to be finalised in the second quarter of 2024.This story was first published by RNZ

After a very long hiatus the Mangawhai Toy Library is opening this WEEK!It will be open every Wednesday from 10am to 12pm.Location: The Rose Madsen Cottage, 73 Moir Street, Mangawhai. Which is in the same space as Te Whai Community Trust.Contact [email protected] their Facebook pageReduce, Reuse, Replay! Reduce the clutter, reuse the joy, and replay the fun! Join them in making sustainability a part of every playtime adventure.At Mangawhai Toy Library, they have everything kids would need from Duplo, dress-ups, ride-ons, puzzles, music, train sets, role play, and more.They work just like a book library, but for toys. For an affordable annual membership fee, with lots of benefits- Cheaper than buying toys yourselfKids learn through playLess broken toys in landfillToys by age and interest, as your kids grow over timeOnce a toy has been explored it doesn’t clutter your home but is returned and replaced by more playing funA cool way to keep children entertained while teaching them about sharing, borrowing and reusing.Membership Options:$80.00- 6 month- General membership (No volunteer requirements)$60.00- 6 month Volunteer membership (2 volunteer/duties required)$30.00- Casual Membership (4 hires per year)Head to their website for more information and to join up!There is another option for a Toy Library that has been operating in Snells Beach at the Baptist Church for many years - Mahurangi Toy Library.Contact 022 462 7785 or [email protected] Facebook pageLocation: 410 Mahurangi East Road, Snells BeachWednesdays    9:00am - 11:30am during term time

NEW TRADES ON THE APPHead to the Trades button🔨 Neil Taylor Cabinetmaker & Design are based in Warkworth. With years of skill, craftsmanship, attention to detail and quality product, they create cabinetry and bespoke furniture that looks great and functions beautifully.Their services range from cabinetry and interior design to the design and installation of new kitchens. 🏆 Warkworth Engraving work on one-off projects, production runs and larger orders. No job is to big, small, or challenging for them. They can custom make and engrave all kinds of personised trophies, plaques, corporate gifts, and signs using the skills they have honed over the years.  💦 Greenwash is your one-stop for environmentally friendly house an exterior surface cleaning. They can clean and restore your home exterior, plus all hard surfaces from the driveway to the deck. Their ConstructSafe accredited team can also safely access your roof and guttering. Contact them for a free quote. 👷🏻‍♀️ Dynamic Pipeworks have over 10 years’ experience with Earthworks and Drainage. They offer:Driveway construction, retaining walls, footings, site clearing, site cuts, and drilling.Public and private Drain laying as well as subsoil drainage.Rainwater Tanks, Thin Retention Tanks, Detention Tanks, and Underground Detention Tanks.  ❄ M.A.C.E Mahurangi Air Con and Electrical specialise in air conditioning equipment including all types of heat pumps, ducted systems, ventilation, and heat transfer systems. Accredited installer for Mitsubishi Electric, Panasonic, & Fujitsu products. M.A.C.E is based in Warkworth and look after clients from Auckland to Whangarei.📱 If you want your business to be on the App get in [email protected] or Contact