Lulu Sun has continued her remarkable maiden run at Wimbledon by making it to the fourth round after defeating China's Zhu Lin 7-6(4) 7-6(6) overnight.In a match that started two hours late because of rain, Sun was able to lift her game again over the world No 61 when it mattered most and saved 15 of the 18 break points she had on her serve.Sun is now the first New Zealand woman to reach the fourth round of the singles at Wimbledon since Ruia Morrison in 1959 and has now won six matches in a row at this year's Championships, including three victories in qualifying."It was definitely tricky conditions today with the wind and waiting with the rain as well, and she's a tough opponent," Sun said."We had a lot of rallies as well as she had great service games. So it really came down to just a few points. During the tiebreak, exactly as I said, it comes down to a few points. So just really nailing it down to each point and fighting each point is what got me through."In the next round Sun will face UK wildcard Emma Raducanu who dominated Greek ninth seed Maria Sakkari, beating her 6-2 6-3.Emma Raducatu who will be Lulu Sun's next opponent. Photo: PHOTOSPORTSun came back from being at 0-40 to hold in the second game and was also 15-40 down on her next service game.Sun's first break point came in the fifth game and she put in a disguised drop shot. Zhu ran in as quickly as she could but couldn't get the ball over the net.They swapped breaks later in the set, but when Sun served for it at 5-4, she had her only wobbly moment of the match, double-faulting three times.However, in the tiebreaker, Sun got a mini break at 4-4 and Zhu put forehands wide to the right on the next two points.Sun was broken in the opening game of the second set, but got the break back when Zhu was serving at 2-3. She also saved three more break points at 4-4.So the match went to another tiebreaker, which was close all the way through.But Sun got herself a match point on Zhu's serve. The Kiwi pushed Zhu out wide to create the opening, got a short ball back and then hit it into the other corner for the winner.This win is expected to lift Sun's world ranking from 123 to 74 which means she will make it directly into the main draw at next month's US Open.She has also earned herself NZ$471,000 in prize money by getting this far. Up to this week, the total prize money Sun had earned during her career was NZ$277,000.The 23-year-old only made her Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open this year, losing in the first round.She pulled off a major upset on the tournament's opening day, ousting Chinese world number eight Qinwen Zheng.This story was originally published by RNZ

Warkworth / Rodney RegionFriday 5th July - Fine, with areas of morning frost. Light showers developing about the west coast late this evening. Southwesterlies from afternoon.Saturday 6th July - Partly cloudy, with isolated showers, clearing at night. Fresh southwesterlies, easing in the evening.Sunday 7th July - Partly cloudy. Southwesterlies, becoming fresh for a time in the afternoon and evening.Mangawhai / Northland RegionFriday 5th July - Fine. Light winds and afternoon southerlies.Saturday 6th July - Mainly fine, chance of a shower in the afternoon and evening. Fresh southwesterlies, easing in the afternoon.Sunday 7th July - Fine. Southwesterlies, becoming fresh for a time in the afternoon and evening.

Lucy XiaBrodie Hunter, RNZ internA man and a woman have been charged in connection to a homicide investigation sparked by an unidentified woman's body found in the waters of Auckland's Gulf Harbour in March.The pair, both aged 36, made a first appearance at the North Shore District Court on Monday, but this information is allowed to be reported for the first time after sweeping suppressions around the charges and its link to the case have lapsed.The court heard on Monday they were arrested on Sunday evening after being stopped at the airport.The two defendants are each facing a charge of performing an indignity to a dead human body of an unidentified deceased, and were accompanied by a Mandarin interpreter on Monday.Earlier, police prosecutor Henry Steele told the court a media release was sent in error on Monday due to an internal miscommunication, which had led to details being prematurely disclosed.While various media reported on the new developments and attended court after receiving the media release, Steele sought suppression of all information relating to the arrest - arguing that it would prejudice the investigation.Steele also sought a take-down order of articles published on Monday about the arrest, which was granted at the time by Judge Ajit Swaran Singh.The order was opposed by several media at the time.At the case's second call on Thursday, the sweeping suppressions lapsed and the prosecution no longer sought suppression of the nature of the charges, the circumstances of the defendants' arrest, and the connection to the body of the woman found in the Gulf Harbour.Steele said they now accept there is little utility in continuing to seek suppression given the publicity that has already occurred.Meanwhile, defence lawyer Angela Roebeck's application for continued interim name suppression was declined by Judge Anna Fitzgibbon.However, the names of the defendants are still suppressed due to a pending appeal from the defence.Roebeck argued that any publication of the names would prejudice the defendants' rights to a fair trial, considering the influence it would have on future jurors.On Monday, defence lawyer Michael Kan had also argued that one of the defendants has not yet had a chance to inform their family members, who are believed to be in China.Thursday's application was opposed by a lawyer acting for several media, Daniel Nilsson, who submitted that any reporting will be fair and accurate, that jurors would comply with what iss expected of them and that there is a significant public interest in this case.Judge Fitzgibbon ruled that she agreed with Nilsson that jurors would comply with directions, and that while juror's may have their prejudices, they are expected to leave that at the door when they come to a trial.The two defendants have been remanded until a case review hearing in September.They were excused from appearing on Thursday.This story was originally published by RNZ

Discover the enchantment of the Mahurangi Winter Festival of Lights, a community event that has brought joy and light to our winter months since 2018. Organised by dedicated volunteers, this festival aims to unite the community and brighten up the cold season with a spectacular array of activities and entertainment.Join the fun this Saturday, July 6th, Wharf & Baxter Streets, Warkworth, for the Gull Family Fun Day. From 11am to 9:30pm, immerse yourself in a world of fun and excitement with a variety of amusements including Spinning Cups, a Giant Slide, Mini-Kombis, Vertical Bungy, and Water Walkers. Enjoy delicious treats from food trucks, get creative with Glow-in-the-Dark face painting, and dance the day away on a Funky Disco Floor.As the evening sets in, the festivities continue with the ITM Parade of Lights at 6pm, with live music performances throughout the day. Don’t miss local legends "Rumpus Machine" at 7pm, performing classic rock hits and original songs. The highlight of the night, the breathtaking Laser Light Show, will dazzle from 8:00pm to 9:30pm.This extraordinary celebration is made possible by generous local business sponsors, grants, and donations. Don’t miss out on this magical event that brings our community together.For more details, visit the Mahurangi Winter Festival of Lights Facebook and Instagram pages. Join us in celebrating the warmth and spirit of our community at this unforgettable festival!

When ear, nose and throat surgeon Dr Casey Means noticed her patients were presenting with conditions ending in '-itis', she realised inflammation was the root cause of their complaints."In medical speak, any word that ends with '-itis', means it's a condition fundamentally rooted in inflammation, the immune system revving up and causing swelling in the body," she told RNZ's Afternoons."Anyone who's been to an ENT doctor, they know it's a lot of -itis - it's sinusitis, thyroiditis, laryngitis, otitis, cellulitis, the list goes on and on and on."All of a sudden, so many years into my training, and I realised, 'oh my gosh, I'm an inflammation doctor, and I didn't even realise it'."Metabolism is one of the most important and least understood factors in our health, she argues in her book, Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health, which delves into the connection between inflammatory diseases and cells and the food we eat.LISTEN ▶ Our food could be making us ill, Dr Casey Means' new bookThe question then was why is there so much inflammation in our bodies?"And so that was really an unlock for me, I know how to take a hammer to inflammation with these heavy-duty drugs like steroids, but I don't really know how to truly think about what is causing it."Our bodies are being "revved up," she said, by industrial food production and other environmental factors."Our food system has changed drastically in the past 50 years, 70 percent of our calories in the US are ultra-processed foods made in a factory, these are very confusing to the body and can generate chronic inflammation."And on top of that, we're sleeping less, 25 percent Less than we were 100 years ago, we're barely moving our bodies, we're sitting all the time we've got our smartphones in our hands that are constantly streaming fear-inducing media, there's a lot of things in our environment that are causing a sense of threat in our bodies."A symptom, she said, is the body telling us something is wrong on a deeper level."We should look with curiosity, what is the symptom? What is the body trying to tell me? In the nose it could certainly be from environmental allergens, it could be from pollen, it could be from anything triggering this, you know that we kind of associate with sinusitis."But it could be something deeper happening inside the body that's revving up that swelling and the chronic inflammation. It could be our diet, it could be the toxins that we're breathing in from the personal care products we're using at home, it could be any of these other elements of our modern diet and lifestyle many of which are very foreign to our bodies."She believes we should take more ownership of our health, rather regularly outsourcing it to the medical profession, and that means knowing our key metabolic biomarkers.Be on the lookout for things like a fasting blood sugar level, triglyceride levels, cholesterol and blood sugar levels, she said."You really want to know your blood pressure and your waist circumference, because these basic biomarkers together can tell us where we are on the metabolic spectrum."We want to see fasting glucose of under 100 milligrams per decilitre, triglyceride under 150 milligrams per decilitre, blood pressure less than 120 over 80, you want to see a waist circumference less than 35 inches in women and 40 inches in men."We want to see an HDL cholesterol above 40 these … just knowing a few of those biomarkers can tell us so much about how our metabolic health is."Once we know where we stand now, we can start to address the underlying causes, she said."Step two is understanding all the different levers that we can pull to really follow the science and improve our metabolic health."This is some of the most common things that you intuitively already know. Eating, real unprocessed, high quality, fresh food filled with good nutrients, avoiding ultra-processed foods with all those unrecognisable ingredients that you know we've never heard of before."We must move to keep the metabolism activated, she said."We've got to move our body throughout the day, little walks every half hour, get up and move around a little bit every half hour or so, because that keeps our metabolism active."Sitting at a desk, it's not working for our biology. We've got to get good sleep, we've got to clean up our environment in terms of toxins, this means filtering our water, making sure that we're not using toxic homecare products or putting toxins on our skin."She described eating as a "matching problem"."We meet the needs of our cells largely through the food that we're putting in our mouths. So, we're matching the needs of this machine, of the body, with what we're putting in our mouths. And when we match those things, it is the foundation of good health."When we get 60 to 70 percent of our calories from ultra-processed, factory-made pesticide-covered food, we are not matching the food that's going into our mouths with the needs of the cells. And so of course, there will be dysfunction."One of the ways to understand whether the needs of the cells are being matched with the food we eat is to be aware, she said."Tune in to how you feel, do you feel really, really good most of the time? We should feel energetic, limitless, joyful, sharp, pretty much every day. If we're not feeling that way, there's room for improvement."And regularly check those biomarkers, she said."If our biomarkers are moving into a more optimal range, specifically our metabolic biomarkers, we can pretty safely say that the food we're eating is matching the needs of these beautiful machines of ourselves."This story was originally published by RNZ

NEW Local businesses for you on the app. Shop LOCAL and Support LOCAL!Check out the Eat / Drink / Stay button.FOR EATS🍺 🎸The Matakana Village Pub in the heart of the village has been around since 1903 and is a local institution! A gastropub that offers great tasty food, awesome atmosphere and groovy live music every week. Open Monday - Sunday: 11:30AM - Late! Offering Sunday Roast's all day. 🍗☕ Whanga Eats is tucked away in Whangaripo valley and a great pitstop on the back roads from Mangawhai to Matakana.; or a destination all on its own. New owners have added their signature and changed the hours to Wed-Fri 7 to 2pm and Sat-Sun 8am to 2pm. Check out their Sunday Roast Lunch!FOR STAYS🛎 Woodhouse Mountain Lodge is boutique accommodation set on 100 acres of private land known as Kourawhero Estate in the Matakana hinterland and is just an hour’s drive from Auckland. It is beautiful and private with wonderful views and facilities such as a restaurant, pool, sauna and spa treatments.⛱ Whangateau Holiday Park right on the water’s edge located between Matakana and Leigh. This fantastic spot is super popular especially with families. The facilities are many with the usual cooking and dining areas, but also kids’ playground, buggies for hire, laundry, TV and dining room. They also have cabins and units available if you prefer not to camp.🏘 Redbluff Country Lodge only 5 mins from Warkworth, is a 1912 iconic, boutique villa, offering group bookings, retreat, or B&B options. Relax in your very own private space, overlooking the Mahurangi River estuary and nestled in a picturesque rural valley.

The arable sector and the Ministry for Primary Industries are developing a pest management approach to better control the spread of fall armyworms.The pest, which can munch its way through more than 350 plant species including maize and sweetcorn, is believed to have blown over to New Zealand from Australia after a cyclone in early 2022.Eradication has been ruled out, but the arable industry has been working hard to contain its spread.After a year of battling the pest, MPI and industry partners have agreed to close the response and shift the focus to long-term management of the pest.Biosecurity New Zealand deputy director-general Stuart Anderson said it was collaborating with the Foundation for Arable Research, Process Vegetables NZ, Vegetables NZ Inc, and growers on management and mitigation strategies to help reduce production losses and enhance resilience to the invasive pest."Together we'll develop some really good tools for growers, including establishing surveillance networks on a national scale.MPI is putting $300,000 towards the $630,000 three-year programme of work through the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund.Photo: Foundation for Arable ResearchThe impact of the fall armyworm infestation into the winter was unknown, Foundation for Arable Research biosecurity officer Ashley Mills said."It depends largely on our winter temperatures and suitable host plants in the absence of maize and sweetcorn."For instance, in areas with warmer winter temperatures such as Northland, the insect has the capacity to overwinter and survive all year round, with warming temperatures, we might expect the problem to grow year on year."Part of the programme would be to identify gaps of knowledge around the winter growing season and dispersal of fall armyworm, Mills said."We'll produce models and come up with early warning tools for agronomists and growers, so they understand when they need to employ their most intensive management strategies."There's no one-size-fits-all solution, and approaches may vary according to factors such as region, climate or soil type."In most cases, encouraging beneficial insects would work, but in more problematic regions or localities, insecticides might be needed, and the timing of application would be important, Mills said."Over the next three years, we'll focus on understanding fall armyworm phenology and distribution, developing New Zealand-specific economic thresholds and finding long-term solutions that reduce reliance on agrichemicals, and preserve soil health, water quality and biodiversity."This story was originally published by RNZ

We are thrilled to share the remarkable achievements of Diana Langton, the founder of Four Little Birds Patisserie and Cakes, a beloved local patisserie in Mangawhai. Diana is a dynamic and focused young entrepreneur, and her patisserie has quickly become a community favourite and hub.Its success was recently recognized at the Junction 2024 Business Awards, where Four Little Birds Patisserie was awarded the prestigious Winner of the North Food and Beverage category and also took home 3rd place in the Restaurants, Food category. Competing alongside incredible businesses, both big and small, this recognition is a testament to the passion and dedication poured into every aspect of the patisserie.When accepting the awards, Diana expressed her overwhelming gratitude and excitement. She was beyond speechless; to be included among such amazing businesses was an incredible honour, but to win was beyond her wildest dreams. Diana can't wipe the smile off her face and has a spring in her step.Four Little Birds is more than just a patisserie; it’s a cosy haven where the community can enjoy delightful treats made with love and passion. From their famous donuts that started it all in their small food truck at the Mangawhai markets in 2020, to their signature cupcakes, specialty food range both sweet and savoury, and their custom event cakes—including 3D cakes, gravity cakes, and more. Every item is handcrafted, made in-house with the finest ingredients, something Diana takes great pride in.Join the celebration and experience the magic of Four Little Birds Patisserie and Cakes at 83 Molesworth Drive, Mangawhai, right next to New World. Follow their journey on their FB page and IG page for updates, special offers, and behind-the-scenes looks at their baking adventures.

Susan Edmunds, Money CorrespondentThe start of July brings a raft of changes that will affect households across the country.From prescription changes to mortgage tweaks, the rules, fees and taxes will affect the way that many people spend and borrow money.Here are a few of them.Debt-to-income ratios and loan-to-value restriction tweaksNew debt-to-income rules will limit how much banks can lend to borrowers, compared to their household income.Only 20 percent of lending can go to owner-occupier buyers with a debt-to-income ratio of six, and only 20 percent of investors loans will be able to be at a debt-to-income ratio of more than seven.The debt-to-income calculation takes into account other debt, such as student loans.These rules are not expected to make a big difference initially, because not much lending is currently being done above those levels. However, they are likely to limit the extent of future house price growth.LISTEN ▶ First-home buyers hit hardest by new debt-to-income ratiosAt the same time, loan-to-value rules will be eased slightly to allow banks to give 20 percent of lending to owner-occupier borrowers with a deposit or equity of less than 20 percent, and 5 percent of lending to investors with a deposit or equity of less than 30 per cent.Previously, they could only lend 15 percent to owner-occupiers with less than 20 percent deposit and 5 percent of lending to investors with less than 35 percent.Prescription chargesA $5 charge is coming back on for prescriptions.This does not apply to people who are over 65, Community Services Card holders, people who are under 14 or people ages 14 to 17 who are dependent on a Community Services Cardholder.Auckland regional fuel tax abolishedThe Auckland Regional Fuel Tax scheme ended on 30 June.This is worth 11.5c per litre on petrol, diesel and their biovariants.Families are now able to claim childcare subsidies of up to $75 a week. Photo: 123RFFamilyBoost introducedThe FamilyBoost policy takes effect from 1 July, offering a payment of 25 percent of early childhood education fees for households up to $75 a week.This is available in full to households earning up to $140,000 and reduces for those earning up to $170,000.Households should start saving their invoices from 1 July as either PDF or JPG files, Inland Revenue says.Payments will be made in three-monthly blocks, starting in October.Bright-line test reducedFrom 1 July, the bright-line test will reduce to two years, from the current 10 years, or five for new builds.The bright-line test sets a limit on how long properties, apart from someone's main home, have to be held to avoid tax on capital gains when they are sold.That means that properties sold on or after Monday now need to have been held for at least two years to avoid the automatic tax.Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand is warning there could be some confusion, though, because the new rules focus on the "disposal" date of a property rather than the acquisition date."Care needs to be taken as the dates are determined differently. The bright-line end date is determined by when the seller first enters a contract for sale, whereas the start, or acquisition date is typically determined when title transfers."He said that could mean that anyone who had entered negotiations before 1 July could still be captured under the old rule.Paid parental leave increasesEach year, the maximum amount of paid parental leave available increases.How much you get is determined by how much you were earning before you went on leave.From 1 July, the maximum is $754.87 a week before tax, compared to $712.17 previously.Gaming duty for offshore operatorsFrom 1 July, a 12 percent offshore gambling duty applies operators who are taking bets from New Zealand residents.Offshore gambling operators have to register for GST if they make more than $60,000 in a 120-month period. Those that are registered for GST must also now register for the duty.Excise tax on alcohol increasesThe annual adjustment of excise tax on alcohol takes place on 1 July. This is based on movements in the consumer price index in the year to March.This story was originally published by RNZ

Warkworth / Rodney RegionMonday 1st July - Cloudy. Isolated showers developing this morning, turning to rain and possibly heavy this evening. Fresh northerlies, turning westerly late evening..Tuesday 2nd July - Cloudy periods, isolated showers developing in the morning. Fresh westerlies.Wednesday 3rd - Partly cloudy, with isolated showers clearing later. Southwesterlies, turning southeasterly late.Thursday 4th - Fine. Southeasterlies.Friday 5th - Fine with southerlies.Saturday 6th - Fine, then showers developing. Fresh westerlies, turning southerly.Sunday 7th - Fine. Southwesterlies.Mangawhai RegionMonday 1st July - Cloudy with the chance of a shower. Rain developing this evening, possibly heavy. Northwesterlies, fresh for a time this afternoon and evening.Tuesday 2nd July - Partly cloudy. Fresh westerlies, easing in the afternoon.Wednesday 3rd - Mainly fine. Southwesterlies, easing in the evening.Thursday 4th - Fine. Southerlies.Friday 5th - Fine with southerlies.Saturday 6th - Partly cloudy, with showers developing. Southwesterlies.Sunday 7th - Fine. Southwesterlies.

The Automobile Association says it will be watching closely to make sure fuel companies pass on savings to customers once they are no longer collecting the Auckland regional fuel tax.Fuel prices in the region are expected to drop by 11.5c on Monday, as the fuel tax expires.The government passed legislation in March to abolish the tax, which was implemented on 1 July 2018, and meant to be in place for 10 years to raise money for infrastructure in Auckland.AA principal policy adviser Terry Collins says a report by the Commerce Commission about oil companies being slow to lower their prices was as a warning to the industry."What the Commerce Commission did then was seen a shot across the bars of the oil companies with the regional fuel tax ending to say, 'Hey, we expect those prices to come down like a rocket. You know the date it's happening and we expect to see the full 11.5c reduction on all fuels… both petrol and diesel."When the report was released, commissioner Bryan Chapple said the findings "suggest that petrol prices shoot up at the pump in response to increased costs, but there is a noticeable lag in retail prices being lowered in response to decreases in underlying costs".As of last September, the regional fuel tax had raised about $780 million.Consumer NZ chief executive Jon Duffy said the fuel tax will make a difference, but overall it was a small part of how fuel prices were determined."We'd really encourage consumers to continue to shop around and use apps like Gaspy to try and find the best deal."Just because this tax is no longer on the price of fuel doesn't mean that all the other factors that go into fuel pricing, you know, still exist."Duffy said Aucklanders who could hold off fuelling until Monday should do so, to save that extra 11.5c per litre.Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown in February said scrapping the tax would make it harder to fund desperately needed transport infrastructure, if it was not replaced with other funding.Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he acknowledged Auckland was facing huge infrastructure challenges, "but this fuel tax has actually not been used to deliver them - instead it's been delivered more cycle lanes, red light cameras, and speed humps".He promoted the tax's cancellation as helping Aucklanders with the cost of living. A few weeks after the announcement, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to hike nationwide petrol tax by 20c over the coming years, including a 12c hike in 2027, plus an increase to the price of vehicle registration.Luxon on Sunday said despite getting rid of the fuel tax, the governmentwas "delivering a record investment in transport, including in Auckland"."Nearly $4 billion has been set aside to fix and prevent potholes on the state highway and local road network over the next three years - including $478 million set aside for local road pothole prevention in Auckland, a 74 per cent increase over the previous three-year period."And funding for public transport services nationally is also set to rise by 41 per cent compared to the previous three years."The AA's Collins said in the coming weeks, savings from the fuel tax may disappear as oil prices recover.This story was originally posted on RNZ News

Businesses and households are holding on until 2025, which is likely to be a year of "significant" interest rate cuts, Kiwibank says.It has updated its economic forecasts.Economist Sabrina Delgado said while it still expected the official cash rate (OCR) to be cut in November - earlier than many other forecasts - it was next year the full impact of a fall in interest rates would be felt.Kiwibank expected the OCR to be at 4.5 percent by next June, compared to 5.5 percent at present, and 3 percent by the following June.Delgado said once the Reserve Bank made a choice to cut rates, it would aim to scale right back to a neutral rate - not just ease a bit and see what happened."We think once inflation is in the band, it's not a decision to cut and wait it out. It's a decision to go back to neutral and restimulate the economy."Kiwibank said the Reserve Bank had the economy "in a chokehold" and things would only start to improve once rates began to fall."It all comes down to where we see inflation going," Delgado said. "We know the path for policy and interest rates is pegged to inflation."She said inflation should be back in the Reserve Bank's target band of 1 percent to 3 percent by the third quarter of this year."We do see the first opportunity for cuts happening in November. We're very aware the risks are for a later start, maybe in February. But one thing we are confident in for sure is the direction for interest rates is lower."She said everything hinged on interest rates coming down."Economic activity is really weak. The housing market is struggling to regain momentum because interest rates remain high. The lifeblood of the economy will come back when we see interest rates being cut."She said the Reserve Bank could cut before inflation was in the middle of its target band."Monetary policy does work with a really long lag. There is a risk that they overshoot if they leave it too long."Kiwibank expects the economy to grow just 0.1 percent this year. Delgado said things could still feel worse for households, before they got better."Because of the lags we see in the labour market, recessions tend to feel worse at the end."Kiwibank expects unemployment to rise to a peak of 5.2 percent in the middle of next year."People have been doing it tough but there has been resilience in the economy because of tight labour markets," Delgado said."Once that starts to loosen that's when there will still be some pain out there... The main message is that things will be better next year. Not that it's going to be a click and everything will be better all of a sudden, but that's the outlook."The signal that interest rates are coming down will help boost confidence, it is really key. People are gripping on til the end of the year, just holding on."This story was originally posted by Susan Edmunds, Money Correspondent for RNZ News

Auckland Council has voted to adopt its next Long-term Plan, ushering in an average 6.8 percent rates increase for Aucklanders.Mayor Wayne Brown said the rates increases were low compared to other council areas.They would see the average homeowner's rates bill rise $245.48 a year, or $4.72 a week.The rates increase would be 5.8 percent in 2025/26 and 7.9 percent in 2026/27.Meanwhile, Watercare would raise water bills by 7.2 percent.The vote also ushered in the creation of the mayor's Future Fund, which will see the council's shares in Auckland Airport swapped for less risky investments.Brown said the fund would diversify council assets and bring in $40 million per year of additional funding.The plan also committed to a basics-first transport plan, with more than $14 billion of capital investment.A similar amount would be pumped into Watercare's capital programme.Council chief executive Phil Wilson said the plan prioritised Auckland's physical and financial resilience."Ultimately this plan is about building Auckland's future and delivering the outcomes that Aucklanders want and need. It is how we, as council, improve the daily lives of Aucklanders, particularly through the current cost of living concerns," he said."It is about managing the challenges we face - such as inflation, population growth, flood resilience and funding - making the most of what we have, and focusing on areas that will make the biggest difference for Auckland."Brown said the conversation could now turn to "wealth creation and how to get the most out of what we have - rather than just budget holes and debt".This story was originally posted on 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, 5 July 2024. Please note this Traffic Bulletin is updated every Friday.Unless otherwise stated, closures start at 9pm and finish at 5am. Traffic management may be in place before the advertised closure times for the mainline.         NORTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1) Southbound lanes between Orewa off-ramp and Silverdale on-ramp, 3-4 JulyOrewa southbound on-ramp, 3-4 JulyMillwater southbound on-ramp, 3-4 JulyNorthbound lanes between Silverdale off-ramp and Orewa on-ramp, 3-4 JulySilverdale northbound on-ramp, 3-4 July Onewa Road southbound on-ramp, 4 JulyStafford Road northbound off-ramp, 30 June & 1 July (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)Curran Street northbound on-ramp, 30 June & 1 July (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)Shelly Beach Road southbound off-ramp, 4 July CENTRAL MOTORWAY JUNCTION (CMJ) Fanshawe Street southbound off-ramp, 4 July Southbound lanes between Fanshawe Street off-ramp and Greenlane on-ramp, 2-3 July (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH1 southbound to SH16 eastbound (Port) link, 2-3 July (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH1 southbound to SH16 westbound link, 2-3 July (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Hobson Street westbound on-ramp, 2-3 JulyHobson Street southbound on-ramp, 2-3 JulySH16 eastbound to SH1 southbound link, 2-3 July (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Symonds Street southbound on-ramp, 2-3 JulyWestbound lanes between Stanley Street off-ramp and Wellesley Street East on-ramp, 2-3 July (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH16 (Port) westbound to SH1 southbound link, 2-3 July (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Grafton Road southbound on-ramp, 2-3 JulyGrafton Road eastbound on-ramp, 4 July SOUTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1) Khyber Pass Road southbound on-ramp, 2-3 JulySt Marks Road southbound on-ramp, 2-3 JulyMarket Road northbound off-ramp, 4 July (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)Ellerslie-Panmure Highway northbound on-ramp, 1-3 JulySouth Eastern Highway (SEART) southbound off-ramp, 30 JuneNorthbound lanes between Mt Wellington Highway off-ramp and Ellerslie-Panmure Highway on-ramp, 4 July (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)South Eastern Highway (SEART) northbound on-ramp, 4 JulyMt Wellington Highway northbound on-ramp, 4 JulyPrinces Street southbound off-ramp, 30 June & 1-4 JulyRedoubt Road northbound on-ramp, 1-3 JulySouthbound lanes between Takanini off-ramp and Drury/SH22 on-ramp, 30 June (approx. 9:30pm to 5:30am)Southbound lanes between Takanini off-ramp and Drury/SH22 on-ramp, 1-4 July (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)Takanini southbound on-ramp, 30 June & 1-4 JulyPapakura (Loop) southbound on-ramp, 30 June & 1-4 JulyPapakura (Diamond) southbound on-ramp, 30 June & 1-4 JulyNorthbound lanes between Drury/SH22 off-ramp and Takanini on-ramp, 30 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Papakura (Diamond) northbound on-ramp, 30 June (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)Papakura (Loop) northbound on-ramp, 30 June (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)Drury/SH22 northbound on-ramp, 30 June (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)Northbound lanes between Drury/SH22 off-ramp and Takanini on-ramp, 1-4 JulyPapakura (Diamond) northbound on-ramp, 1-4 JulyPapakura (Loop) northbound on-ramp, 1-4 JulyDrury/SH22 northbound on-ramp, 1-4 JulyPioneer Road northbound off-ramp, 27-30 June & 1-6 July (24/7)NORTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH16) Southbound lanes between Waimauku Roundabout and Trigg Road, 1-4 July (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)Southbound lanes between Waimauku Roundabout and Trigg Road, 30 JuneNorthbound lanes between Trigg Road and Waimauku Roundabout, 1-4 July (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)Northbound lanes between Trigg Road and Waimauku Roundabout, 30 JuneNorthbound lanes between Hobsonville Road off-ramp and Brigham Creek Roundabout on-ramp, 1 July (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)Hobsonville Road eastbound on-ramp, 1 July (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)SH16 northbound to SH18 eastbound link, 1 July (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am) UPPER HARBOUR MOTORWAY (SH18) Westbound lanes between Greenhithe Road off-ramp and Tauhinu Road on-ramp, 30 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Eastbound lanes between Tauhinu Road off-ramp and Greenhithe Road on-ramp, 30 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Squadron Drive eastbound on-ramp, 30 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Eastbound lanes between Brigham Creek Road off-ramp and Brigham Creek Road on-ramp, 30 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Brigham Creek Road eastbound on-ramp, 1 JulyEastbound lanes between Hobsonville Road off-ramp and Squadron Drive on-ramp, 1 July (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)Trig Road eastbound on-ramp, 1 July SOUTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH20) Massey Road southbound on-ramp, 3-4 July STATE HIGHWAY 2 (SH2) Koheroa westbound on-ramp, 2-3 July   Please follow the signposted detours. NZ Transport Agency thanks you for your co-operation during these essential improvements and maintenance.

Shared path worksDowner is working hard to get construction done through the winter period, in time to have the third phase of the shared path open for use when summer rolls round again. Please be kind to workers onsite – their efforts keep the traffic flowing as smoothly as possible – and take care when travelling through the areas. There is plenty of work happening across different areas:Diversion for section of Molesworth Drive Monday 1 JulyThe team have been working on the section along Molesworth Drive by ITM and MAZ (Mangawhai Community Park).From 1 July southbound traffic will be diverted around Moir Point Road/Seabreeze Road for approximately three weeks. The detour route adds only a couple of minutes to journeys, keeps traffic flowing and avoids a stop/go, and was identified as the best solution after consulting with many of the businesses in the area. Northbound traffic will continue to use Molesworth Drive. Closing one of the lanes in this section also means Downer can complete more of the work faster, and get the job done.From 1 July there will also be stop/go for two weeks between Old Waipu Road and Mangawhai Central, in order to complete piling, a retaining wall and associated works for the shared path in this area.Please allow more time for your journeys between the heads and the village while this work is happening. Thanks for your patience while we complete the third phase of the shared path. Read more about the shared path network at Transport, Mangawhai Community Plan. Click on the image below to view a larger image of the shared path network.Phase Three of the Mangawhai shared path is a 1.5km section between the village and Mangawhai Central, and a 900m section between ITM and Wood Street. Phase 3 is planned to be complete before the end of the year. New footpath for EllenLast week works started on Ellen Street to construct a new footpath and drainage. The Downer team is expected to finish the concrete work for the footpath by the end of this week, with some work still to do on associated drainage. Stormwater improvementsWork to improve stormwater in Mangawhai Community Park for better flood resilience will start Monday 1 July. During the works, access to the gravel shared path at the northern end of the park (between MAZ playground and the Golf Club) will be limited. There will be times the flying fox will be off limits as it is in the work area and will be unsafe to use.Works are expected to finish around late August. Thank you (and your little ones) for your patience.

Happy Matariki! Enjoy your long weekend and here is the weather forecast...Warkworth / Rodney RegionFriday 27th Matariki - Fine apart from patchy morning fog. Southwesterlies for a time this afternoon and evening.Saturday 28th - Partly cloudy, with a few showers developing in the afternoon. Light winds.Sunday 29th - Partly cloudy, with isolated showers in the evening. Northerlies developing late.Mangawhai / Northland RegionFriday 27th Matariki - Mainly fine, morning fog. Light winds.Saturday 28th - Partly cloudy, with a few showers in the afternoon and evening. Light winds.Sunday 29th - Partly cloudy, chance of a shower until evening. Northwesterlies developing late.

The Legend of Matariki: A Story to Illuminate the Māori New YearAs the Matakana Coast prepares to celebrate Matariki, we invite you to delve into the rich tapestry of Māori tradition through the lens of a cherished story. Sharing stories is a central aspect of Matariki celebrations, a practice that keeps Māori history and traditions alive for future generations.The Origins of MatarikiLong ago, in the time of the ancestors, there was a great chief named Tāwhirimātea, the god of the winds and weather. He had many siblings, each ruling over different domains of the natural world. Their father, Ranginui (the Sky Father), and their mother, Papatūānuku (the Earth Mother), were forever locked in a tight embrace, leaving their children in darkness.The children, led by Tāne-mahuta, the god of the forests, conspired to separate their parents and bring light into the world. With great effort, they succeeded, pushing Ranginui up to the sky and leaving Papatūānuku on the earth. However, Tāwhirimātea was devastated by the separation of his beloved parents. In his grief and fury, he tore out his eyes and flung them into the heavens, creating the cluster of stars known as Matariki.Matariki and the Changing SeasonsMatariki's rising in the midwinter sky marked a time of change and renewal. For the Māori, it signalled the beginning of a new year, a time to reflect on the past and prepare for the future. The stars of Matariki were seen as a sign of fertility and a harbinger of good harvests. Each star in the cluster holds its own significance, embodying different aspects of life and nature:· Matariki: The central star, symbolizing reflection, hope, and connection to the environment.· Pōhutukawa: The star associated with those who have passed away, linking the living with the dead.· Tupuānuku: The star connected to food grown in the earth, emphasising the importance of gardening and agriculture.· Tupuārangi: The star linked to food from the sky, such as birds and berries.· Waitī: The star representing fresh water and the creatures that live within it.· Waitā: The star associated with the ocean and the bounty it provides.· Waipunarangi: The star connected to rain and the nurturing of crops.· Ururangi: The star tied to the winds, reminding people of the weather's influence on their lives.· Hiwa-i-te-rangi: The star of wishes and aspirations, encouraging people to set goals and dream for the future.Celebrating Matariki TodayToday, Matariki is celebrated widely across New Zealand, and its significance extends beyond Māori communities. It is a time for whānau (families) to gather, share stories, and enjoy feasts. Communities come together for star gazing, cultural performances, and educational activities that honour the wisdom of the past and inspire hope for the future.Reflecting on Matariki’s LessonsAs we celebrate Matariki on the Matakana Coast and beyond, let us remember the values this festival embodies. Matariki teaches us to cherish our connections to one another, to respect and care for the natural world, and to look forward with hope and aspiration. By sharing stories and knowledge, we keep the spirit of Matariki alive and ensure that its lessons continue to illuminate our lives.Gather with us to honour the stars of Matariki, and let their light guide us into a new year filled with promise and possibility. So get rugged up warm, with a hot cuppa and get outside for some star gazing, reflection and maybe even a roasted marshmallow or 10 with your loved ones!Happy Matariki! 

We are in this togetherLast Wednesday, 19th June, One Mahurangi held a public meeting to update our community on the ongoing issues with Watercare. We discussed what has transpired so far, our hopes for the future, and the potential options we have moving forward.The turnout was significant, with around 200 deeply concerned locals in attendance. Many of these individuals face the risk of losing everything if Watercare proceeds with its current plans, which has understandably stirred a great deal of fear and anger within our town.In the time since our last newsletter, we hosted a Transport & Infrastructure forum. While this wasn't a public meeting, it included representatives from Auckland Transport, Auckland Council, Watercare, the Local Board, developers, planners, and community groups. Four local retailers, two from Elizabeth Street and two from Queen Street, shared their heartfelt concerns about the devastating impact Watercare’s plan could have on their businesses. Their message was clear: "This will kill our business." We hope Watercare listened.The following day, we met with Mayor Wayne Brown to further discuss our concerns. This was also a private meeting, attended by Dave Stott and Bevan Morrison (Co-Chairs of One Mahurangi), myself, MP Chris Penk, and Greg Sayers, who facilitated the meeting. During this discussion, we presented an alternative plan that involves routing the project around the CBD and underground. The mayor committed to advocating for this alternative to the Watercare Board.Our petition is still circulating and collecting signatures. If you haven’t signed it yet, please do so as soon as possible. Once finalised, we will present it to the Watercare Board and CEO. Some have questioned why we haven't yet approached the media. Our response is that we are still negotiating with Watercare and will go to the media when the timing is right. Civil disobedience remains an option, but only if and when it becomes necessary. We will keep you informed should that time come.There are comments suggesting that I have no personal stake in this issue. However, I assure you that we all have skin in the game in one way or another. This is personal for me, just as it is for everyone else. This is my town, and I am committed to doing everything possible to stop Watercare and ensure they seriously consider alternative options.Myself, Dave Stott, Bevan Morrison, and many others are working tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to make sure your voices are heard. Remember, at the end of the day, we are all in this together. And, we are Stronger Together.Murray ChapmanOne Mahurangi [email protected] Local, Buy Local, Employ Local, Love Local!

Finn Blackwell, ReporterSurf's up for Aucklanders, with the announcement that a new wavepark facility is coming to the city's North Shore.The multi-million-dollar project is slated to break ground later this year, and features a world-class training facility, surf-school, as well as restaurants and accommodation.It was announced to a packed room of surfies and stakeholders today, with everyone - including the city's mayor - foaming to get out amongst it.Located in-land in Dairy Flat, the brand new wavepark from global surf park developers Aventuur will take advantage of a soon-to-be constructed Spark data centre to keep waves nice and toasty.Aventuur spokesperson Trevor McKewen said the surf park was a world first."We've got a seven-hectare solar farm that will create renewable energy which the data centre will use," he said."The excess heat from the data centre will be then funnelled into the surf pool to heat it, which New Zealand surfers will tell you, is a god-send."There's no other pool in the world that has done this."Aventuur spokesperson Trevor McKewen at today's announcement. Photo: RNZ / Finn BlackwellMcKewen said the project was a huge undertaking."Most things are normally quoted around this as being a hundred million dollar project, that's what pools are about."That's the pool part only, it doesn't take in Spark's elements of their contribution and what they're doing with the data centre," said McKewen."It's a massive, massive project, not just for Auckland, but New Zealand."The surf-park received resource consent, meaning it was all take-off for those wanting to take part.A number of famous faces were in attendance for the reveal, including pro surfers Adrian 'Ace' Buchan and Glenn 'Micro Hall.Wayne Brown and Billy Stairmand looking at a mock up of the planned surf park. Photo: RNZ / Finn BlackwellParis Olympic surfing representative Billy Stairmand was also there, just weeks before he sets off to Tahiti for the games."It's only three weeks away, we fly over in three weeks," he said."I'm looking forward to the challenge, it's a big, intense, scary wave, but again I think I've got the ability to beat anyone over there and hopefully bring a medal home for New Zealand."He said the park was an exciting opportunity for New Zealand surfers."I think it's a massive opportunity for, not only the development of surfing and the next generation of competitive surfers, but surfing in general."Auckland mayor Wayne Brown - a keen surfer himself - agreed."It's a fantastic addition to what we've got already," he said."It's got a whole lot of advantages if they get the data centre up, and use the wasted water, it sends a lot of good messages, I love it, it's a great thing."Mayor Watne Brown at today's announcement. Photo: RNZ / Finn BlackwellAddressing the crowd, Brown said the surf park would not put added costs on ratepayers."I supported this proposal because it offers local employment and business opportunities on a scale which Auckland can play a role in the recovery of the tourism industry, and best of all, it didn't cost ratepayers a cent."Those wanting to hit the totally tubular waves would have to hang-10, however, as the park is expected to open by summer of 2026, or the year after.This story was originally published by RNZ