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Watercare signals possible 25% increase in water rates
Watercare signals possible 25% increase in water rates

12 April 2024, 11:35 PM

Auckland's water provider Watercare is warning water rates may need to increase by as much as 25 percent to run the business, while keeping to the council's borrowing limit.Water charges increased by 9.5 percent last July, while infrastructure growth charges rose by 8 percent.This meant the average household paid about $2.20 more per week.In its recent newsletter, Watercare advised customers of a potential price rise of 25.8 percent from July.It said the rise was to "run our business while sticking to Auckland Council's borrowing limit".Watercare said if the proposed rise went ahead the average customer bill would increase by roughly $29 a month. That's $348 annually.The potential increase was included in the consultation document for Auckland Council's 10-year budget.In the document, council said the increase in rates was to support a significant increase in capital investment across the next 10 years.Watercare said the 25.8 percent rise could also apply to infrastructure growth charges.In a statement to RNZ, chair Margaret Devlin said the board had to balance the vital need to invest in new water and wastewater infrastructure with council's directives to maintain a debt-to-revenue ratio of 340 percent, as well as ensuring growth funded growth."We know many Aucklanders are struggling with the cost of living and we understand the news of this projected price rise will not be welcome," she said."We want to reassure them that central and local government want to avoid significant price rises for Auckland; and they are working together to achieve a financially sustainable water model."Devlin said they understood the ongoing conversations between central government and council were positive.Watercare will give residents at least 10 days' notice of a potential price rise.This story was originally published on RNZ Newsand written by Finn Blackwell, Reporter@FinnBlackwell [email protected]

Auckland overnight motorway closures 12 – 19 April
Auckland overnight motorway closures 12 – 19 April

12 April 2024, 6:00 PM

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 19 April 2024.Unless otherwise stated, closures start at 9pm and finish at 5am.NORTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)Grand Drive southbound off-ramp, 15 & 18 AprilOnewa Road northbound on-ramp, 14-18 AprilCENTRAL MOTORWAY JUNCTION (CMJ)Southbound lanes between Fanshawe Street off-ramp and Hobson Street on-ramp, 14-15 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Southbound lanes between Fanshawe Street off-ramp and Greenlane on-ramp, 16-17 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH1 southbound to SH16 eastbound (Port) link, 14-17 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH1 southbound to SH16 westbound link, 14-17 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Hobson Street westbound on-ramp, 16-17 AprilHobson Street southbound on-ramp, 16-17 AprilSH16 eastbound to SH16 (Port) link, 14-17 AprilSH16 eastbound to SH1 southbound link, 16-17 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Symonds Street southbound on-ramp, 16-17 AprilWestbound lanes between Stanley Street off-ramp and Wellesley Street East on-ramp, 16-17 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Grafton Road southbound on-ramp, 16-17 AprilSH16 (Port) westbound to SH1 southbound link, 16-17 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH1 northbound to SH16 eastbound (Port) link, 16-18 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SOUTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)Khyber Pass Road southbound on-ramp, 16-17 AprilSt Marks Road southbound on-ramp, 16-17 AprilSouthbound lanes between Greenlane off-ramp and Mt Wellington Highway on-ramp, 14 April (approx. 11:00pm to 5:00am)Southbound lanes between Greenlane off-ramp and Mt Wellington Highway on-ramp, 15 April (approx. 10:30pm to 5:00am)Greenlane southbound on-ramp, 14-15 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Tecoma Street southbound on-ramp, 14-15 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Ellerslie-Panmure Highway southbound on-ramp, 14-15 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Ellerslie-Panmure Highway northbound on-ramp, 14-15 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Southbound lanes between Takanini off-ramp and Papakura on-ramp, 14-17 AprilSouthbound lanes between Takanini off-ramp and Drury on-ramp, 18 AprilTakanini southbound on-ramp, 14-18 AprilPapakura southbound on-ramp, 18 AprilNorthbound lanes between Drury/SH22 off-ramp and Takanini on-ramp, 14-18 AprilPapakura (Diamond) northbound on-ramp, 14-18 AprilPapakura (Loop) northbound on-ramp, 14-18 AprilDrury/SH22 northbound on-ramp, 14-18 AprilDrury/SH22 southbound on-ramp, 14-16 AprilPioneer Road northbound off-ramp, 12-19 April (24/7)NORTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH16)Southbound lanes between Waimauku and Foster Road, 14-15 AprilNorthbound lanes between Foster Road and Waimauku, 14-15 AprilTe Atatu Road southbound on-ramp, 14-16 AprilNorthbound lanes between Great North Road off-ramp and SH16/20 Link, 14-18 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH16 westbound to SH20 southbound link, 14-18 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Great North Road northbound on-ramp, 14-18 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)UPPER HARBOUR MOTORWAY (SH18)Albany Highway westbound on-ramp 14-18 AprilAlbany Highway eastbound off-ramp 14-18 AprilSOUTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH20)Rimu Road northbound on-ramp, 14-18 AprilGEORGE BOLT MEMORIAL DRIVE (SH20A)Kirkbride Road southbound off-ramp, 17 AprilNZ Transport Agency thanks you for your co-operation during these essential improvements and maintenance.

Weekend Weather Forecast
Weekend Weather Forecast

11 April 2024, 9:24 PM

Warkworth RegionFriday 12th April - Rain, with squally thunderstorms and downpours possible, easing to a few showers this afternoon as fine spells develop. Strong northeasterlies, gusting 90 km/h, turning lighter westerly this afternoon.Heavy Rain WatchPeriod: 10hrs from 2am - noon Fri, 12 AprArea: Auckland and eastern WaikatoForecast: Periods of heavy rain, with thunderstorms and localised downpours possible, especially in the east. Amounts may approach warning criteria.Severe Thunderstorm WatchPeriod: 12hrs from 9am - 9pm Fri, 12 AprArea: Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Waitomo, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupo, GisborneForecast: A front will move eastwards over the North Island during today, bringing a period of heavy rain. There is mostly a low to moderate risk of thunderstorms with the frontal rain as it moves over the north of the North Island. However, there is moderate risk of localised downpours affecting eastern Auckland this morning, about the Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, eastern Waitomo, Taupo, Bay of Plenty about and west of Whakatane this morning and afternoon, and about Bay of Plenty east of Whakatane and northern Tairawhiti/Gisborne this afternoon, evening and night. This Watch is for the potential of localised downpours of 25 to 40 mm/h in these areas. 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.Strong Wind WatchPeriod: 16hrs from 8pm Thu, 11 Apr - noon Fri, 12 AprArea: Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier IslandForecast: Northeast winds may approach severe gale in exposed places. Please note, winds easing in Northland earlier Friday morning.Saturday 13th April - Partly cloudy, chance of a shower. Westerlies, becoming strong for a time in the afternoon and evening.Sunday 14th April - Mainly fine, chance of a shower until evening. Fresh southwesterlies, easing in the afternoon.Mangawhai RegionFriday 12th April - Rain, with squally thunderstorms and downpours possible, easing to the odd shower with fine spells around midday. Strong northeasterlies, gusting 80 km/h, turning lighter westerly.Heavy Rain WatchPeriod: 13hrs from 8pm Thu, 11 Apr - 9am Fri, 12 AprArea: NorthlandForecast: Periods of heavy rain, with thunderstorms and localised downpours possible. Amounts may approach warning criteria.Strong Wind WatchPeriod: 16hrs from 8pm Thu, 11 Apr - noon Fri, 12 AprArea: Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier IslandForecast: Northeast winds may approach severe gale in exposed places. Please note, winds easing in Northland earlier Friday morning.Saturday 13th April - Fine. Westerlies, becoming fresh in the morning.Sunday 14th April - Fine. Southwesterlies, easing in the evening.

Weather Warnings for Auckland and Northland
Weather Warnings for Auckland and Northland

10 April 2024, 9:19 PM

Mangawhai / Whangarei / Northland RegionStrong Wind WatchPeriod: 24hrs from 9am Thu, 11 Apr - 9am Fri, 12 AprArea: Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier IslandForecast: Northeast winds may approach severe gale in exposed places. Please note, winds easing in Northland and Auckland earlier Friday morning.Heavy Rain WatchPeriod: 15hrs from 6pm Thu, 11 Apr - 9am Fri, 12 AprArea: NorthlandForecast: A period of heavy rain, with thunderstorms and localised downpours possible. Amounts may approach warning criteria. Please note, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch will be issued later this morning for this region.areas have a Heavy Rain Watch for 12 hours today from 6pm Thursday until 6am Friday.Forecast: A period of heavy rain, with thunderstorms and localised downpours possible. Amounts may approach warning criteria.Severe Thunderstorm WatchPeriod: 14hrs from 10pm Thu, 11 Apr - noon Fri, 12 AprArea: Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Bay of PlentyForecast: An active front is forecast to move eastwards over northern New Zealand tonight and Friday morning, bringing a period of heavy rain. Thunderstorms are also possible, and this Watch is an alert to the potential development of severe thunderstorms that could produce localised downpours of 25 to 40 mm/h in Northland, Great Barrier Island, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty north and west of Tauranga, and eastern Waikato near the ranges. Note, 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.Warkworth RegionStrong Wind WatchPeriod: 24hrs from 9am Thu, 11 Apr - 9am Fri, 12 AprArea: Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier IslandForecast: Northeast winds may approach severe gale in exposed places. Please note, winds easing in Northland and Auckland earlier Friday morning.Severe Thunderstorm WatchPeriod: 14hrs from 10pm Thu, 11 Apr - noon Fri, 12 AprArea: Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Bay of PlentyForecast: An active front is forecast to move eastwards over northern New Zealand tonight and Friday morning, bringing a period of heavy rain. Thunderstorms are also possible, and this Watch is an alert to the potential development of severe thunderstorms that could produce localised downpours of 25 to 40 mm/h in Northland, Great Barrier Island, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty north and west of Tauranga, and eastern Waikato near the ranges. Note, 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.

NZ Post to end rural parcel and newspaper deliveries on weekends
NZ Post to end rural parcel and newspaper deliveries on weekends

08 April 2024, 6:36 PM

NZ Post will no longer be delivering to rural addresses on Saturdays.From 29 June, there will no longer be newspaper and parcel deliveries to rural addresses on Saturdays in the majority of rural New Zealand, with the exception of 17 rural delivery runs that will be phased out by June 2025.There will be no changes to rural mail delivery, as NZ Post does not currently deliver mail on Saturdays to any address.NZ Post chief operating officer Brendon Main said Saturday services to rural areas were not commercially viable."We deliver very low volumes of items on these days, and it costs us more to deliver on Saturdays than we earn from the products we deliver."Main said impacted rural customers could expect to receive a written notification about the change from NZ Post, and rural customers who currently had newspapers delivered on Saturdays were advised to contact their newspaper subscription service.This would also affect rural customers who were PO Box holders and received deliveries through the NZ Post Box Lobby service on Saturdays.PO Box holders impacted by this change would also receive a letter from NZ Post.There will be no changes to rural mail delivery as NZ Post does not currently deliver mail on Saturdays to any address, and Monday to Friday deliveries will also continue as usual.Main said NZ Post was going through a period of transformation, responding to the ongoing decline in mail volumes and future growth in e-commerce, while charting a path towards commercial sustainability without government funding."We need to make some hard decisions about our future and the services we offer as we evolve to meet the needs of New Zealanders."We are continuing to invest in growing an unmatched delivery business, while managing a transition to a commercially sustainable mail delivery service as we move toward a single network for mail and courier delivery as announced on 26 March, 2024."This story was originally published by RNZ

Rare dog parasite discovered for first time in New Zealand
Rare dog parasite discovered for first time in New Zealand

07 April 2024, 6:26 PM

Dog owners are being told not to panic despite a new parasite claiming the life of a dog in Canterbury.Biosecurity New Zealand said it was the first time the disease babesiosis has been detected in a dog in New Zealand.It comes from the tick-borne parasite Babesia gibsoni.Biosecurity NZ spokesperson Dr Mary van Andel said an investigation was underway and a surveillance system was in place."The person brings their dog to the vet and that blood is sent to a veterinary laboratory. Each of those blood tests is looked at for exotic diseases as well, and so we haven't had any cases of this condition through that pathway."What we're hoping at this stage is that there aren't lots of cases."The dog was euthanised at the owner's request, being "extremely unwell". There were no known links to overseas cases.Van Andel said dog owners should make sure their pets are up-to-date with flea and tick treatments."The disease is often chronic and mild, but in some cases, it can be acute and severe," the Biosecurity NZ website said. "Chronic babesiosis often presents as intermittent fever, lethargy, and weight loss. Acute babesiosis is characterised by fever, lethargy, and anaemia."Babesia gibsoni can be transmitted by New Zealand cattle ticks and ticks exotic to New Zealand, such as the brown dog tick, according to Biosecurity NZ. It can also be spread via dog bites.It is difficult to eradicate, with infected dogs often remaining carriers once infected. The most commonly affected breeds are pit bull terriers, staffordshire bull terriers, and greyhounds.Vets and owners who find, or suspect they have found an infected dog, are urged to call Biosecurity NZ on 0800 80 99 66.This story was first published by RNZ

Auckland overnight motorway closures 5 – 13 April 2024
Auckland overnight motorway closures 5 – 13 April 2024

05 April 2024, 7:40 PM

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, 12 April 2024.Unless otherwise stated, closures start at 9pm and finish at 5am.NORTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)Onewa Road northbound on-ramp, 7-11 AprilCENTRAL MOTORWAY JUNCTION (CMJ)Southbound lanes between Fanshawe Street off-ramp and Hobson Street on-ramp, 8-11 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH1 southbound to SH16 eastbound (Port) link, 8-11 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH1 southbound to SH16 westbound link, 8-11 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Northbound lanes between Symonds Street off-ramp and Wellington Street on-ramp, 7-9 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH1 northbound to SH16 westbound link, 7-9 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH1 northbound to SH16 eastbound (Port) link, 11 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Eastbound lanes between Nelson Street (SH16) off-ramp and Grafton Road on-ramp, 8-11 AprilSOUTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)Southbound lanes between Mt Wellington Highway off-ramp and East Tamaki Road on-ramp, 7-8 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Mt Wellington Highway southbound on-ramp, 7-8 AprilPrinces Street southbound on-ramp, 7-9 AprilHighbrook Drive southbound on-ramp, 7-8 AprilSouthbound lanes between Takanini off-ramp and Drury/SH22 on-ramp, 7-11 AprilTakanini southbound on-ramp, 7-11 AprilPapakura southbound on-ramp, 7-11 AprilNorthbound lanes between Drury/SH22 off-ramp and Takanini on-ramp, 8-11 AprilPapakura (Diamond) northbound on-ramp, 8-11 AprilPapakura (Loop) northbound on-ramp, 8-11 AprilDrury/SH22 northbound on-ramp, 8-11 AprilRamarama northbound on-ramp, 7-8 AprilRamarama northbound off-ramp, 7-8 AprilPioneer Road northbound off-ramp, 5-13 April (24/7)Southbound lanes between Mercer off-ramp and Mercer on-ramp, 8 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Northbound lanes between Mercer off-ramp and Mercer on-ramp, 8 & 10 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Dragway Road northbound off-ramp, 10 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Southbound lanes between Hampton Downs off-ramp and Hampton Downs on-ramp, 7 AprilNorthbound lanes between Hampton Downs off-ramp and Hampton Downs on-ramp, 7 AprilSouthbound lanes between Hampton Downs off-ramp and Rangiriri on-ramp, 9-10 AprilHampton Downs southbound on-ramp, 9-10 AprilNORTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH16)Te Atatu Road (Diamond) southbound on-ramp, 7-8 AprilEastbound lanes between Great North Road off-ramp and Great North Road on-ramp, 7 & 9-10 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Great North Road eastbound off-ramp (Waterview southbound tunnel closed), 8 AprilSH16 eastbound to SH20 southbound link (Waterview southbound tunnel closed), 8 AprilSH16 westbound to SH20 southbound link (Waterview southbound tunnel closed), 8 AprilUPPER HARBOUR MOTORWAY (SH18)Albany Highway westbound off-ramp, 7-8 April (approx. 7:30pm to 5:00am)Albany Highway eastbound on-ramp, 7-8 April (approx. 7:30pm to 5:00am)SOUTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH20)Rimu Road northbound on-ramp, 10-11 AprilSTATE HIGHWAY 2 (SH2)Mangatawhiri eastbound off-ramp, 9 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Eastbound lanes between Mangatawhiri off-ramp and Rawiri Road, 10 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Westbound lanes between Rawiri Road and Mangatawhiri Road, 10 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Koheroa Road westbound on-ramp, 10 AprilMangatangi westbound off-ramp, 10 AprilPlease follow the signposted detours. NZ Transport Agency thanks you for your co-operation during these essential improvements and maintenance.

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