Nick James, Wellington Issues ReporterExcitement is building among tiny home builders and enthusiasts after the announcement of a potential overhaul of the rules for granny flats.On Monday, the government announced a discussion document which looks to shake up the rules around building small structures.The proposal includes changes to the Building Act which would remove the need for building or resource consents on granny flat style buildings in certain areas.Bryce Langston is a New Zealander who has amassed more than 4.5 million YouTube subscribers on his channel which looks at diverse ways people are building tiny houses around the world.He got interested in this type of housing in his late 20s."I was watching the idea of home ownership move further and further away from me, and when I discovered tiny houses, it was like this light bulb went off in my head and it was this amazing thing whereby downsizing my home it became obtainable."Granny flat change welcomed by housing providers and oppositionGranny flats: Do they pay off? Investors run the numbersLangston said the changes were a step in the right direction."This is a tremendously exciting development that I would love to see happen."It is going to clear up a lot of unnecessary red tape and make it a lot easier to increase the housing supply which we desperately need to do."Bryce Langston, creator of the Living Big in a Tiny House YouTube channel. Photo: @brycelangstonHe believed 60 square metres - the size which some councils would be required to allow without consent - was plenty of room to work with."You could have a comfortable home with a good-sized kitchen, a nice sized lounge, a nice sized bedroom, potentially even two bedrooms bathroom, without really needing to get too creative."Site Scope builds a range of modular transportable homes which range from 17 to 50 square metres in size.Project facilitator Coen Wilson said they supported moves to make building these types of homes easier, if compliance standards were upheld."Going down this route, we need to ensure that all the design and consenting has to be done by the like of LBPs [licensed building practitioners]."Often, Site Scope could offer the client a home at an achievable price, but extra costs like resource consents "blows the project out of the water" for them, Wilson said.House Me is another tiny home builder which provides housing across New Zealand.Co-owner Bryce Glover said they had 17 homes waiting for delivery to people."They are sitting there begging to take possession of their unit, but they are waiting for the council process to get a wriggle on at the site end."So, if you can unlock that, if you can speed that process up then businesses like ours, who have the capacity to build 1000 homes a year, we could actually play our part in solving this housing crisis."This story was originally published by RNZ

Rowan Quinn, Health CorrespondentThe brand new 150-bed North Shore Hospital building - which has been empty for months - is set to partially open, but effectively no extra patients will get surgery as a result.That is because theatres in other parts of the hospital have to close so it can be staffed.The Tōtara Haumaru building is a similar size to Southland Hospital, and has capacity to do 15,000 procedures a year.It was supposed to help slash waiting lists in the Auckland region, but the ghost hospital has been sitting vacant but ready since the start of April.A hospital email seen by RNZ said the building would begin being used in stages from 1 July.Senior hospital sources said for that to happen, other theatres and one ward would need to stop working, that it was effectively a "lift and shift" of resources from one building to the other.The result was no additional patients would be treated.Some staff were frustrated, while others were furious.One said it was disgraceful that the beautiful, 12-theatre building had been sitting empty for months when patients could be getting moved off waiting lists and moving on with their lives.The hospital sources believed there was still no operating budget to staff and run the hospital - and that was why other theatres, including in the modern Elective Surgery Centre, had to be closed so surgery in the new building could go ahead.One said they did not understand how money had not been set aside when the building was years in the making, while people languished in pain on growing waiting lists.The email seen by RNZ said two theatres and two wards would open from the start of July, with more gradually opening until Tōtara Haumaru was fully up and running by mid August.In April, when the building did not open as scheduled, Te Whatu Ora/Health NZ said there was not yet an operating budget or staff to run it.Its head of Hospital and Specialist services Fionnagh Dougan said it was also because the organisation had not wanted to schedule surgery there that could be done elsewhere in case the building did not get finished on time and patients missed out.When the building failed to open at the start of April despite being fully signed off and kitted out, Health Minister Shane Reti said it would likely open in June.Since then, secrecy has surrounded it.RNZ asked in April - then again earlier this month and yesterday - what the projected staffing was, whether any were being recruited, whether there was an operational budget, and more details about the staged opening, but had been told nothing by Te Whatu Ora.Northern region director of hospital and specialist services Mark Shepherd said more information would be available at an official opening of the building later this month.Staff spoken to this week said they initially only realised an opening was imminent when they saw surgical equipment being moved between buildings.They had since been told.The building has eight full surgery theatres, and four more procedure rooms for endoscopies such as colonoscopies.It has a huge, lit atrium, with a healing garden inside - a planted area designed to enhance well being - funded by a charity.LISTEN ▶ The North Shore Hospital Healing Garden This story was originally published by RNZ

Earlier projections of a 15.1 percent average rates increase for 2024/2025 have dropped following Kaipara District Council Long Term Plan (LTP) deliberations.In all-day deliberations earlier this month, elected members discussed the specific topics that had been consulted on with the community, as well as a range of other decisions to help set the direction for the Council for the next three years. As a result, the rates increase has dropped to around 11 percent on average, with other decisions agreed in the meeting expected to bring it down even further.Kaipara District Mayor Craig Jepson said that he was pleased with the direction for rates increases.“As signalled earlier in this process, Council and staff have done a lot of work since formal consultation to make further savings and efficiencies in our work programmes and budgets. This has borne out with the lower projected rates increase.” As part of the discussion on affordable rates, Council agreed to finalise an increase of around 11 percent on average. Later on in the deliberations, Council agreed to further reductions such as reallocating some capital and operational roading works to later years, which staff will need to recalculate – but is projected to further reduce the rates increase. Council receives funding from New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi for its roading activities. Confirmed amounts for this funding may also impact the final rates.“Every bit counts. We are still working through final numbers but I’m pleased to say that with these decisions we expect the final figures landed on will result in a rates rise of around 9 percent.”Some of the decisions that were made as part of the deliberationsNoted the feedback on community hubs for Dargaville and Mangawhai functions and facilities, and Urlich Park (Moir Street Reserve). Council agreed to allocate $200,000 from reserve contributions to complete a plan for Urlich Park in 2024/2025.Agreed not to allocate any funds on a dedicated climate resilience programme. This decision has no impact on rates or debt.That a uniform targeted rate per rateable property paying a UAGC (Uniform Annual General Rate), for libraries and parks be introduced for the 2024/2025 financial year, with the final amount to be determined once all the costs are allocated. This means that everyone will pay the same amount, rather than an amount based on land value or on location.Council also agreed not to collect targeted rates on behalf of the Mangawhai Museum or Dargaville Sportsville. Instead, staff will investigate potential future funding support for the Mangawhai Museum, Kauri Museum and Dargaville Museum as part of the 2025/2026 Annual Plan process.That $1 million of the Dargaville to Te Kopuru stopbank project be funded from debt and included in the LTP 2024–2027 in order to meet co-funding requirements of the Before the Deluge external funds provided by central government.The unconfirmed minutes including details of all decisions can be found on the Kaipara District Council website.Kaipara District Council is scheduled to adopt the Long Term Plan 2024–2027 in late July. In the same meeting rates are to be set for the next financial year 2024/2025.The Council LTP deliberations can be viewed on the Kaipara District Council YouTube channel.

The government has announced consultation on a move that would force councils to allow buildings up to 60 square metres in certain areas, without requiring a consent.It sets out the policy as a way of making it "easier to build granny flats and increase the supply of affordable homes for all New Zealanders".NZ First leader and Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters announced it alongside Housing and RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop after the Monday Cabinet meeting.Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was overseas, headed to Japan for an official visit.The move follows a commitment in the National-NZ First coalition agreement, which requires the government to "amend the Building Act and the resource consent system to make it easier to build granny flats or other small structures up to 60 square metres, requiring only an engineer's report".However, the discussion document released as part of the announcement makes clear the requirement for an engineer's report was being abandoned, as it could mean additional costs and engineering services."Instead, we are proposing that all work is conducted or supervised by competent professionals under current occupational licensing requirements to ensure all building work will meet the Building Code," the documentation states.Peters said the policy would "make it more affordable for families to live the way that suits them best"."High housing costs have a greater impact on Māori, Pasifika, and people with disabilities, as well as seniors - so unlocking the space in the backyards of family members opens the door to new ways of living," he said in a statement."We know granny flats are a great option for seniors, but they're also increasingly popular with other families such as those who want homes where their university-age children can live at home but maintain some privacy and independence, or families who want to provide extra support to a loved one."Bishop said many councils already allowed granny flats without requiring a resource consent."But there's a lack of consistency and different standards across the country. We're proposing a National Environmental Standard (NES) to require all councils to permit a granny flat on sites in rural and residential zones without resource consent. An NES means changes can come into force quickly."We are determined to get on top of how expensive it is to build a house in this country."It would apply in rural and residential zones, but the documents called for feedback on whether it should apply in other areas like mixed-use zones.The changes would also need to be balanced against things like flood risk, so some district plan rules would still apply. As well as building size, other restrictions include percentage of a property able to be covered in buildings, and distance from a boundary.He said he would hope the move would not leave councils worse off because the fees from consenting were meant to be cost recovery, and he would be "horrified" if they were making money off it. He pointed to the ACT Party's proposal to share GST with councils, with the aim of incentivising the building of new houses, as another way the government was looking to support local authorities.Bishop said the granny flats would not be allowed to be more than one storey, would need interconnected smoke alarms, and be distant enough from the boundary to prevent the spread of fire to other buildings.He said the consultation is a couple of months long to ensure they get the settings right.Consultation is open from today, 17 June, until 5pm on 12 August. Final policy decisions will be made later in 2024, expected to be in place by mid-2025.This story was originally published by RNZ

Farah HancockA sand mining company embroiled in a resource consent battle should not be allowed to access the proposed fast-tracking process, community groups have told politicians.McCallum Bros, which mines sand from Pākiri beach north of Auckland, and a Pākiri residents' group took their fight to select committee hearings into the Fast-track Approvals Bill last week.McCallum Bros chief executive Shayne Elstob said his company supported the bill, which has been touted as a one-stop-shop for consents. The legislation also proposes to let projects rejected by courts go ahead if they pass the fast-track process.Elstob would like that clause to specifically include consents rejected under the Resource Management Act.The company's attempt to gain consent to carry on mining under the RMA had been a "horrendous" process, Elstob said.But a representative for Māori land owners of a 1.5-kilometre stretch of the beach, Pākiri G Ahu Whenua Trust chair Wayne Greenwood, urged the committee to leave previously rejected projects out of the Bill, saying McCallum Bros had been declined "for very good reasons".The company's consent application to mine sand offshore from Pākiri beach was refused by Auckland Council independent commissioners. It then lost a case in the Environment Court challenging the decision.The court said evidence about the ecological effects of the mining provided by the company had been "patchy", "inconclusive" and even "incorrect" in the past. It also found the effect on mana whenua could not be mitigated.McCallum Bros has appealed the Environment Court's decision to the High Court."When all is said and done, this process could take more than seven years and has come at a huge cost to the business," Elstob told the committee.McCallum Bros was a family-run business with limited resources, he said."Had we known what we would have been dealing with through the current RMA process, I'm really not sure whether we would have made the application in the first place. We would have possibly invested our money elsewhere."Elstob said Pākiri's sand was used in infrastructure projects such as the City Rail Link and Central Waste Infrastructure."You simply can't implement significant infrastructure projects without high-quality sand and currently there is a limited supply in the Auckland region."Thousands of people around the country attended protests against the Fast-track Approvals Bill earlier in June. Photo: RNZ / Farah HancockGreenwood told the committee that six million cubic metres of sand had been mined from the area over the past 80 years."If you put it end-on-end, it's about from here to South America. That's a hell of a lot of sand that's come off the beach, off the land and out of the sea bed."The company was effectively "digging holes" in the seabed as it dredged trenches along the beach, he said."We're losing a significant amount of beach frontage ... We've got boundaries now, which are actually underwater."He was born and raised in Pākiri, he said. "The beach is gone, it's now exposed to its rocks."Greenwood works closely with the Department of Conservation to protect New Zealand's most endangered bird, the tara iti, or fairy tern. Fewer than 40 breeding-age birds remain.Nests have had to be relocated because they were too close to where waves now reached, Greenwood said."We're trying to save them on one hand and, on the other, the environment has been taken away from them."Greenwood was in support of some aspects of the Fast-track Approvals Bill, "but I really think that this fast-track legislation should leave Pākiri out of it".He was concerned the fast-track process could override the court cases and allow mining to go ahead. "They've been declined twice for very good reasons and it would be a sad day for this to be approved by the fast-track legislation panel."Pākiri is one of the nesting habitats for New Zealand's remaining fairy terns. Photo: Supplied / Darren MarkinAnother community group due to be heard this week had their oral submission postponed. The Manuhiri Kaitiaki Charitable Trust is the environmental arm of the post-settlement governance structure for Warkworth-based iwi Ngāti Manuhiri.Its written submission supported some parts of the bill, but singled out the sand mining at Pākiri as one concern, saying the region had been exploited for eight decades."In our view, the proposed process for a project risks overlooking critical environmental considerations and can overturn well-examined judicial findings."It said there had been erosion along the shores of Pākiri beach and the health of kaimoana in the area had deteriorated."The Trust is not confident that the Fast-track Approvals Bill won't be used to up-end well-rationalised and considered decisions, in favour of well-resourced, legacy interests."While the case was before the courts and consent was still sought, sand mining had been allowed to continue in a temporary consent granted by the Environment Court.Elstob said this allowed the company to maintain business continuity."Without this right, we would have had to abandon our sand extraction business and would have put the City Rail Link and Central Interceptor projects at risk of significant time delays, as Pākiri sand was specified in both," he said.One of the amendments Elstob suggested the committee consider was allowing projects to have simultaneous applications lodged under the RMA and fast-track consideration. The draft legislation requires applications to be withdrawn from the RMA process.Damon Clapshaw, a Pākiri local who helped uncover the existence of trenches up to 2.7m deep, 15m wide and 3km long created by dredging - which breached consent conditions - was unimpressed with Elstob's request."In further seeking to continue whilst appealing, and also wanting to keep all Fast-track Bill options open, McCallum Bros are trying to have their cake and eat it."The company had already breached the temporary consent, by taking more sand than was allowed during a 30-day period, Clapshaw said. In a letter RNZ has seen, a McCallum Bros staff member told Auckland Council the error was due to an incorrectly-set-up spreadsheet."McCallum Bros are making a mockery of the appeal and Fast-track Bill system, with the environment as the loser," Clapshaw said.This story was originally published by RNZ

The 26-year-old woman reported missing from West Auckland last week has been found dead.Te Atatū resident Monica Reid disappeared on Friday.On Sunday, police said they had found Reid deceased.Her death was not being treated as suspicious.Police said her death would be referred to the coroner, and extended their sympathies to her family.Earlier, Reid's family described her as a "much-loved friend, sister and aunty of a large family"."All of us, we love Monica so much," her sister Cecilia told Stuff."Monica, if you are out there, know that I love you, we love you, and we just want to know you are safe."This story was originally published by RNZ

Warkworth RegionMonday 17th June - Showers, possibly heavy and thundery, easing this morning then fine. Northerlies, turning westerly late morning and dying out this afternoon.Tuesdday 18th June - Partly cloudy, scattered showers developing in the afternoon, mainly north of Albany. Easterlies, becoming fresh in the evening.Wednesday 19th June - Cloudy periods, with isolated showers, mainly in the north. Fresh easterlies, easing in the afternoon.Thursday 20th June - Partly cloudy with isolated showers. Easterlies, becoming fresh.Friday 21st June - Cloudy. Fresh easterlies, easing.Mangawhai RegionMonday 17th June - Showers, possibly heavy and thundery before dawn, clearing this morning then fine. Cloud increasing at night. Northerlies.Tuesdday 18th June - Cloudy periods, with a few showers developing in the afternoon. Light winds.Wednesday 19th June - A few showers, becoming more persistent for a time in the afternoon and evening. Easterlies developing early.Thursday 20th June - Occasional showers. Easterlies, easing.Friday 21st June - Showers, clearing to mostly cloudy weather. Northeasterlies.

Warkworth / Auckland RegionSevere Thunderstorm WatchPeriod: 5hrs from 9pm Sun, 16 Jun - 2am Mon, 17 JunArea: Auckland, Great Barrier IslandForecast: An unstable northwest airflow lies over the northern North Island. There is a moderate risk of thunderstorms about Auckland, including Great Barrier Island, from mid-evening until early tomorrow morning. Whether these thunderstorms occur or not, there is a chance of localised downpours of 25 to 40 mm per hour. Areas about and near the Hauraki Gulf are most likely to experience the downpours, but they may also occur elsewhere in Auckland. Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips. Driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain.Mangawhai / Northland RegionSevere Thunderstorm WatchPeriod: 6hrs from 6pm - midnight Sun, 16 JunArea: NorthlandForecast: An unstable northwest airflow lies over the northern North Island. There is a moderate risk of thunderstorms for Northland this evening, and whether these thunderstorms occur or not, there is a chance of localised downpours of 25 to 40 mm per hour. Conditions should start easing in the north after 10pm. Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips. Driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain.

Police are urgently seeking sightings of Monica, aged 26.Monica has been reported missing by her family and there are concerns for her welfare.She was last seen on Friday afternoon (14 June) in Matipo Road, Te Atatu Peninsula and is believed to be wearing a purple/pink puffer jacket.If you think you may have seen Monica since yesterday afternoon, or have information which might help us find her, please call 111 and quote event number P059054868.

As rail workers' industrial action continues, buses will be running along all of Auckland's train routes on Sunday to cover any reliability problems.Unionised staff of rail operator Auckland One Rail (AOR) have been taking action since last weekend because negotiations towards a new collective agreement are at an impasse. Rail workers are refusing to work overtime or work changes to rostered hours, and Auckland Transport said that means the operator was unable to confirm which trains would actually be running.And workers from Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) - which maintains the trains - are only doing scheduled checks on trains, and not any other repairs or breakdown-related work, or overtime.The Eastern, Southern and Western lines would have a rail bus every 20 minutes during the day and every half-hour in the evening. Rail buses on the Onehunga line have been scheduled for every half-hour all day.Normally these train services would run as frequently as every 10 minutes at peak times.The Puhinui Express bus would run every 30 minutes between Britomart and Puhinui via Newmarket."We understand that both AOR and CAF have committed to mediation with the RMTU (Rail and Maritime Transport Union) and we're hopeful that discussions will bring about a quick resolution to these issues," AT rail franchise manager Craig Inger said in a statement."Our customers have shown a great deal of patience and it is increasingly disappointing that ongoing industrial action continues to disrupt the rail services which they rely on."Passengers can check its app for live updates on which services were operating, and timetables for the rail buses were available on its website.AT's site warned of "ongoing impact" to train scheduling."Due to the industrial action there may be cancellations to some services. Which services are cancelled may vary each day depending on staff availability."Last week, the RMTU said the previous collective agreement expired eight months ago and negotiations had stalled with "a couple of major issues that we haven't been able to get past".This story was originally posted by RNZ News

Transport Minister Simeon Brown has stopped short of saying all new roads of national significance will be toll roads.His fellow Minister for Infrastructure Chris Bishop had said in a speech on Thursday that Brown had "already signalled that each of our new Roads of National Significance will be tolled".RNZ asked Brown to confirm this."The government strongly supports tolls as a way to fund new roading infrastructure," he replied in a statement on Friday."We have outlined our expectation that NZTA should consider tolling to construct and maintain all new Roads of National Significance ... and committed to support all recommendations by NZTA to toll roads."This line was first spelled out in the draft Government Policy Statement on land transport, which was currently being finalised.Waka Kotahi already assesses all new state highways and significant upgrades to existing state highways for tolling suitability, and makes recommendations to the Minister. Only three highways have tolls.The existing "three-gate" approach to tolling requires public consultation - but Brown did not respond when asked whether that "gate" would be scrapped.The three-gate process was "required for robust decision-making" and ensured the law, investment principles, the Waka Kotahi board, the Minister of Transport and the public were all "involved appropriately", the agency said on its website.Brown said the government was open to a "wide range of funding tools" for roading.Tolling would help fund new infrastructure and protect existing funding in the National Land Transport Fund to maintain existing roading infrastructure and "to prevent potholes", he added.A new pothole prevention fund aims to spend $4 billion over three years, ranging from just $7 million in Nelson to $478m for Auckland.Existing tolling tech gobbled up a third of the revenue in operational costs so was highly inefficient and any expansion required the introduction of new technology.But NZTA's project for new technology has encountered delays due to complications and could not be cobbled together with the upgrade of backoffice systems to run the new speed-safety camera network, as had been hoped, on a combined spend worth over $130m.this story was written by Phil Pennington, and 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, 21 June 2024. Check daily updated closure information: www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz  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 Constellation Drive off-ramp and Northcote Road on-ramp, 19 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Constellation Drive southbound on-ramp, 19 JuneTristram Avenue southbound on-ramp, 19 JuneTristram Avenue northbound on-ramp, 16 & 19 JuneNorthbound lanes between Tristram Avenue off-ramp and Constellation Drive on-ramp, 19 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Northcote Road northbound on-ramp, 16 JuneNorthbound lanes between Northcote Road off-ramp and Constellation Drive on-ramp, 16 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Southbound lanes between Northcote Road off-ramp and Onewa Road on-ramp, 18 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Northcote Road southbound on-ramp, 18 JuneEsmonde Road southbound on-ramp, 18 JuneEsmonde Road (Diamond) northbound on-ramp, 17 JuneEsmonde Road (Loop) northbound on-ramp, 17 JuneOnewa Road northbound on-ramp, 17 JuneNorthbound lanes between Onewa Road off-ramp and Northcote Road on-ramp, 17 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am) CENTRAL MOTORWAY JUNCTION (CMJ) Northbound lanes between Nelson Street off-ramp and Fanshawe Street on-ramp, 18 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Wellington Street northbound on-ramp, 18 JuneSH16 eastbound to SH1 northbound link, 18 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Westbound lanes between Stanley Street off-ramp and Hobson Street on-ramp, 18 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH16 (Port) westbound to SH1 northbound link, 18 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH16 (Port) westbound to SH1 southbound link, 18 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Wellesley Street East westbound on-ramp, 18 June SOUTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1) South Eastern Highway (SEART) southbound off-ramp (including Onehunga link), 16-20 JunePrinces Street southbound off-ramp, 16-20 JuneRedoubt Road northbound on-ramp, 17-18 JuneSouthbound lanes between Takanini off-ramp and Drury/SH22 on-ramp, 20 JuneTakanini southbound on-ramp, 20 JuneSouthbound lanes between Papakura off-ramp and Drury/SH22 on-ramp, 16-19 JunePapakura (Diamond) southbound on-ramp, 16-20 JunePapakura (Loop) southbound on-ramp, 16-20 JunePapakura (Loop) northbound on-ramp, 16-20 JunePapakura (Diamond) northbound on-ramp, 16-20 JuneNorthbound lanes between Papakura off-ramp and Takanini on-ramp, 20 JuneDrury/SH22 northbound on-ramp, 16-19 JuneNorthbound lanes between Drury/SH22 off-ramp and Takanini on-ramp, 16-19 JunePokeno northbound off-ramp, 20 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Pioneer Road northbound off-ramp, 14-22 June (24/7)Southbound lanes between Mercer off-ramp and Mercer on-ramp, 20 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Northbound lanes between Mercer off-ramp and Mercer on-ramp, 20 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Dragway Road northbound off-ramp, 17 JuneSouthbound lanes between Hampton Downs off-ramp and Hampton Downs on-ramp, 17 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Hampton Downs northbound off-ramp, 16 JuneNorthbound lanes between Hampton Downs off-ramp and Hampton Downs on-ramp, 17 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)NORTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH16) Southbound lanes between Waimauku Roundabout and Trigg Road, 16 June (approx. 6:00pm to 6:00am)Northbound lanes between Trigg Rd and Waimauku Roundabout, 16 June (approx. 6:00pm to 6:00am)Southbound lanes between Waimauku Roundabout and Trigg Road, 17-20 June (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)Northbound lanes between Trigg Rd and Waimauku Roundabout, 17-20 June (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)Hobsonville Road eastbound on-ramp (SH16 eastbound to SH18 eastbound link), 19 June UPPER HARBOUR MOTORWAY (SH18) Brigham Creek Road eastbound on-ramp, 16-18 JuneEastbound lanes between Brigham Creek Road off-ramp and Squadron Drive on-ramp, 16-18 Jun SOUTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH20) Mahunga Drive southbound off-ramp, 16-17 June (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am) GEORGE BOLT MEMORIAL DRIVE (SH20A) Bader Drive northbound off-ramp, 16-18 June

The coalition is promising to reverse Labour's blanket speed limit reductions by July 2025.It is asking for public feedback on plans to scrap all speed limit reductions - introduced since the start of 2020 - on local streets, arterial roads and rural state highways.The draft speed limit rule will impose a speed limit of 110km/h on new and existing roads of national significance if they are built to a high standard.It will also allow for limits of up to 120km/h on roads of national significance that are built to accommodate that speed.Lower speed limits could stay on rural state highways if the Transport Agency could demonstrate public support for them, Transport Minister Simeon Brown said."The previous government's untargeted approach slowed Kiwis and the economy down, rather than targeting high crash areas of the network," Brown said.The changes will also require variable speed limits outside schools during pick-up and drop-off times."Local streets outside a school will be required to have a 30km/h variable speed limit during school travel times."Rural roads that are outside schools will be required to have variable speed limits of 60km/h or less," Brown said.The speed limit changes are out for public consultation."Blanket restrictions forced on communities from Wellington didn't just make it harder for people to get where they wanted quickly and safely, they drained the joy from life as people were forced to follow rules they knew made no sense," Regulation Minister David Seymour said."Worse still, people ignore rules that don't make sense and once the habit forms, they ignore rules that do make sense. Sensible lawmaking is important for respecting the rule of law."The deadline for all roads to meet the new variable speed limits outside schools is 31 December 2027.This story was orignally published by RNZ

Migrant arrivals rose 25 percent over the past year, though the number of departures was up by nearly a third.Stats NZ provisional results estimate there were 130,600 migrant departures in the year to April, the highest on record over 12 months.The overall net gain of 98,500 migrants in the year to April is made up of 154,900 non-citizens, offsetting a net loss of 56,500 New Zealand citizens.A net 56,000 New Zealand citizens left in the year to April, an annual record for the country exceeding the previous record of 44,400 in the February 2012 year.The average annual net migration loss of New Zealand citizens was 26,800 in the April years 2002-2013, and 6500 in the April years 2014-2019.Indian citizens made up the largest group of migrants arrivals, followed by citizens of Philippines and China.This story was originally published by RNZ

Warkworth RegionHeavy Rain WatchPeriod: 18hrs from 8pm Thu, 13 Jun - 2pm Fri, 14 JunArea: Auckland including Great Barrier Island and Coromandel PeninsulaForecast: Periods of heavy rain, and amounts may approach warning criteria. Thunderstorms and localised downpours possible. Low chance of upgrading to a Warning.Severe Thunderstorm WatchPeriod: 7hrs from 10pm Thu, 13 Jun - 5am Fri, 14 JunArea: AucklandForecast: Reissue at 12:40pm Thursday - no changes. Periods of heavy rain with possible thunderstorms and/or localised downpours are expected to affect Auckland overnight tonight (Thursday) and Friday morning. Between 10pm tonight (Thursday) and 5am Friday, localised downpours of 25-40mm/h are possible in some parts of the Auckland region (including the islands of the Inner Hauraki Gulf). These downpours could occur with or without thunderstorms. Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or valleys, and may also lead to slips. Driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain. Further heavy rain or thunderstorms are possible on Friday, and this Severe Thunderstorm Watch may be extended.Thursday 13th June - Cloudy. Patchy rain, becoming widespread and heavier this evening, with thunderstorms and downpours possible at night. Northeasterlies, fresh at times.Friday 14th June - Rain, with heavy falls and possible thunderstorms. Northerlies, turning southwesterly in the afternoon. Also see Heavy Rain Watch above.Saturday 15th - Fine. Westerlies, turning northerly in the afternoon.Sunday 16th - Fine, but becoming cloudy. Northerlies, easing.Mangawhai / Whangarei RegionHeavy Rain WatchPeriod: 22hrs from 1pm Thu, 13 Jun - 11am Fri, 14 JunArea: NorthlandForecast: Periods of heavy rain, and amounts may approach warning criteria. Thunderstorms and localised downpours possible. Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.Severe Thunderstorm WatchPeriod: 20hrs from 3pm Thu, 13 Jun - 11am Fri, 14 JunArea: NorthlandForecast: Periods of heavy rain with thunderstorms and/or localised downpours are expected to affect Northland today and Friday morning. Between 3pm today (Thursday) and 11am Friday morning, localised downpours of 25-40mm/h may affect parts of Northland at times. These downpours could occur with or without thunderstorms. Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips. Driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain. The thunderstorm and downpour risk initially starts in the Far North this afternoon, then spreads southwards to other parts of Northland this evening.Thursday 13th June - Occasional rain, becoming persistent and possibly heavy and thundery this evening. Northeasterlies.Friday 14th June - Rain, heavy at times, with thunderstorms and hail possible, easing to a few showers in the afternoon as northeasterlies turn southwesterly. Saturday 15th - Mainly fine, chance shower. Southwesterlies, turning northwesterly in the morning.Sunday 16th - Fine, then rain developing in the afternoon. Northerlies, becoming fresh in the evening.

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONEDRegretfully, we have made the decision to postpone this event due to the low number of RSVP's. If you have any comments or issues around security in the Industrial Area, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us here at One Mahurangi Business Association. Join us for a barbecue and an engaging discussion with our local police officers. Let’s talk about crime prevention measures and security strategies tailored to Warkworth’s industrial area.Event Details: Date: Thursday, June 13Time: 5:15 PMLocation: ITSS Engineering ,  24 Morrison Drive WarkworthCome meet members of our Warkworth NZ Police Force, share your insights, and collaborate on making our community safer. Together, we can build a stronger, more secure environment for everyone.Please RSVP by email to [email protected]’s make a positive impact together!

Police can advise an unborn child has died following a serious crash on State Highway 1 in Okaihau on Monday evening.Inspector Riki Whiu, Far North Area Commander, says Police were called to the crash involving two vehicles around 9.08pm.“Tragically, one of the people taken to the hospital with critical injuries was pregnant and that baby has now died.“The woman remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition and Police are providing support to her loved ones.”Three other people, who were in the other vehicle involved, were transported to hospital with injuries ranging from critical to moderate.“As previously advised, upon Police arrival to the scene, further enquiries suggest one of the vehicles involved was stolen in an earlier incident on Monday from Moerewa.“Those in this vehicle were aged from 12 to 17.”Inspector Whiu says Police did not have involvement with this vehicle prior to this crash.“Emergency services responded to the crash as we would with any.It was not until our attending staff were making enquiries into the vehicles involved that it was determined to have been stolen.”The Serious Crash Unit was in attendance and an investigation into the circumstances of the crash is ongoing.“While there are aspects of this crash we are not able to comment on at this time, I can say this is a horrific incident that was come about through selfish and mindless behaviour that has denied one of our mokopuna life," Inspector Whiu says.“Those involved were unlicensed youths, one of which, the driver, was not yet a teenager.“This incident is a direct impact of their actions and tragically a life has been lost."It is absolutely the worst outcome for us as a community, whānau and all other responding emergency services who attend these incidents."Ka nui te mamae!”

A woman died of ovarian cancer after multiple doctors and investigations failed to diagnose her for five years.A report published on Monday has found the Northland District Health Board - now Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora Te Tai Tokerau - missed multiple opportunities to diagnose and treat the woman, who was in her fifties, Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner Dr Vanessa Caldwell said.Between 2014 and 2019, the woman had multiple referrals and many investigations over post-menopausal bleeding, but no treatment plan was put in place, and surgery was not offered.When a MRI scan was finally done, it confirmed the woman had stage four ovarian cancer, and she died only a few months later."I am critical of the failure by multiple clinicians to consider the causes of the woman's symptoms critically, manage the post-menopausal bleeding appropriately, and undertake necessary imaging in the form of pelvic ultrasounds and/or CT scans," said Caldwell.She said the woman's condition warranted a hysterectomy or hormonal therapy, but it was not offered, nor was imaging undertaken, which could have confirmed an earlier diagnosis."The missed opportunities to provide treatment information are attributable to multiple clinicians, and signify a failure at an organisational level, for which Health New Zealand is responsible," Caldwell said.The matter continued to cause the woman's whānau "significant distress", she said.The Commission found the failure breached the woman's right to receive services of an appropriate standard, and her right to be provided with treatment options, as guaranteed under the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumer's Rights."In my view, offering support only at the start and end of care is not a culturally responsive or appropriate approach, especially given the woman's long-standing engagement with the healthcare system," she said.Health New Zealand has made a number of changes since the woman's death, and further recommendations have been made by Dr Caldwell in the report.The recommendations include a written apology to the woman's whānau, developing a policy for unresolved post-menopausal bleeding, and an audit of patients who have re-presented to Te Whatu Ora Te Tai Tokerau over the past 12 months with symptoms of unresolved post-menopausal bleeding.The report also recommended Te Whatu Ora Te Tai Tokerau to consider developing or reviewing systems that identified and addressed the need for ongoing cultural support.This story was originally published by RNZ

Peter de GraafAn invasive seaweed described as the world's worst marine pest has been found at Leigh, a short distance from the famous Goat Island Marine Reserve.The roughly one-square-metre clump of exotic caulerpa was found in Omaha Cove by divers working for Auckland Council on Friday.Biosecurity New Zealand said the find had not yet been positively identified - but it was highly likely to be the fast-growing pest.Its readiness and response director John Walsh said if confirmed, the patch would be treated as soon as possible by council and mana whenua.Until more was known he could not speculate on where the caulerpa came from or what action would be taken next, he said.The seaweed pest was found in shallow water during routine surveillance of high-risk areas.Walsh said since exotic caulerpa was first found in New Zealand, at Aotea Great Barrier Island in 2021, $11 million had been allocated to a coordinated response with partners such as mana whenua, regional councils and the Department of Conservation.That response sought to understand the pest and its distribution, prevent its spread, and explore ways of removing it, where that was possible.A $5 million programme was currently underway at Rāwhiti, in the Bay of Islands, to fast-track the development of technology to find and remove exotic Caulerpa, he said.RNZ understands the suspected caulerpa was found near boat moorings - but Omaha Cove also has a wharf used by commercial fishing boats, including those permitted to work in the controlled areas around Aotea Great Barrier where the pest is rife.There was as yet, however, no way of knowing how the seaweed pest reached the cove.Omaha Cove, at Leigh, was a short distance south of Te Hawere-a-Maki/Goat Island Marine Reserve, one of New Zealand's oldest and best known marine protected areas.Leigh was also the location of Auckland University's marine laboratory.The beachside destination of Omaha, known for its top-end holiday homes, was a short distance further south.Since its discovery at Aotea Great Barrier Island, exotic caulerpa has been identified in Te Rāwhiti Inlet in the Bay of Islands, Ahuahu Great Mercury Island, Kawau Island, Waiheke Island, Mokohinau Islands, Rakino Island and Fantail Bay on the Coromandel Peninsula.Exotic caulerpa was regarded as a serious threat to biodiversity, kai moana, and recreational and commercial fishing, due to its ability to spread rapidly over large areas of seabed and smother other species.This story was orginally published by RNZ