Phil Pennington, ReporterOfficials are looking at better ways of choosing who gets the power in the face of occasional shortages - like Friday's - and relentlessly growing and competing demands.The Electricity Authority (EA) told RNZ it was "considering improving the prioritisation processes to filter out more speculative applications" to connect to power networks.This is among a long list of measures the authority, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and others say they have begun work on to make the country's electricity supply better.But a new Ministry of Energy will not be among them."The government has no plans to create a Ministry of Energy," Energy Minister Simeon Brown told RNZ late on Thursday.The largest distributor, Vector in Auckland, has its own long list of connections it has to make and networks it has to build to keep up.It has warned the country needs "a coordinated strategy and a plan" for critical decisions, such as around the new demands of data centres and electric vehicle (EV) charging."We're not saying we want to interfere with the market or anything, but we have to have visibility so we can manage the impact of them," chief executive Simon Mackenzie said."You've got multiple operators coming in and trying to provide new solutions to customers, but they all have to still be coordinated, so that the networks can manage them and ... you're not building network unnecessarily."The government had an overarching Electrify NZ programme focused on boosting investment in renewable electricity generation. Just how that will be done, and just who will do it, are among the big questions.MBIE said there was "no work underway to create a Ministry of Energy or a 'nationwide long-term plan'."Planning and regulating was widely dispersed across MBIE, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, EA and the Commerce Commission.The commission later this year will reset how much revenue is available to the country's 29 distributors - Vector by far the largest - to invest in network upgrades.EA determines how prices are set to access the networks."We are hearing that EV charge point operators believe they face high costs and difficult processes for new connections from distribution businesses," MBIE general manager of energy markets Justine Cannon told RNZ on Thursday.Coincidentally, EA put out its next steps on distribution pricing reform, including connection costs, just on Tuesday."We want distribution pricing to send the right signals about the cost of the electricity that's being fed to homes and businesses," EA said online. It has set up a new group to consult with the industry.The EA gave RNZ a long statement detailing a host of moves it was taking to boost "investment, innovation and transparency"."We're already working with industry to determine what regulatory changes are needed to make it easier to connect load, like public EV charging stations," network pricing director Tim Sparks told RNZ.A 'Supercharging EV Infrastructure Cross-Agency Taskforce' has been set up. Some users were facing "inefficiently high up-front charges that could act as a barrier to electrification", and the authority was working to counter that.It was not all about making it easier; its work included the filter on "more speculative application", Sparks said.On the big job of spreading out peak demand so networks did not have to be over-engineered, its work included improving visibility around how chargers or batteries and other smart devices were being used - what Vector has called for."Less poles and wires" could result from work on a 'flexibility services market' to encourage a wider spread of energy resources, including in more locations.Vector's Mackenzie said other countries had renewable energy zones so "you don't have to upgrade big transmission systems to cater for something that's thousands of miles away from the load"."That all comes under energy strategy," he said.Brown said in a statement the government was pulling down regulatory barriers and overhauling rules that were a decade out of date. This included setting standards for smart devices to shift home charging away from network peaks.This story was originally published by RNZ

Warkworth RegionFriday 10th May - Fine. Southerlies.Saturday 11th May - Fine. Southerlies, easing in the evening.Sunday 12th May - Fine. Light winds.Mangawhai RegionFriday 10th May - Fine, apart from the odd evening shower in the west. Southerlies, fresh for a time this afternoon.Saturday 11th May - Fine. Southerlies, easing late.Sunday 12th May - Partly cloudy, with isolated showers developing in the evening. Light winds.

A homicide investigation has been launched after a man was discovered deceased following a house fire in Northland last month.Emergency services responded to reports of a fire at a Thomas Street address at around 3.09am 0n Monday 29 April.Whangārei Police Detective Senior Sergeant John Clayton says Hoani Reupena-Tuoro, 61, was located inside the Tikipunga property, but despite efforts from first responders he sadly died at the scene.“Police enquiries have now established that this was an arson and subsequently, this is now being treated as a homicide investigation.”Investigators are making steady progress with enquiries and have now spoken to a number of people who were in the area at the time.“We would still like to hear from anyone who knows who started this fire, or saw anyone in the area that night between the hours of 1.30am through to 3.30am.“We are also seeking the public’s assistance in identifying this person who was captured on CCTV in the Te Kura Kaupapa school at the rear of the property that was set alight.“If you know who this person is, Police would like to speak with them.”Detective Senior Sergeant Clayton says Police are urging people in the Tikipunga are to upload any photos or video they may have between the hours of 1.30am-3.30am on 29 April.Anyone with footage that could assist our investigation can upload it by going to https://egret.nc3.govt.nz/Police would still like to hear from anyone who has information via our 105 phone service or online at https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105.Please reference file number 240429/4766.Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

The national electricity grid operator is warning of possible insufficient power generation to meet households' demand on Friday.Transpower has issued a notice saying there was a risk that power generation and reserves would not meet demand between 7.30am-8.30am.It said if power generators could not provide enough electricity, Transpower would manage demand to avoid a grid emergency."The system operator may instruct the grid owner to disconnect feeders without further notice to connected parties," it said.MetService has forecast temperatures to plunge overnight, with Christchurch set to fall to -4 degrees Celsius.In 2021, almost 34,000 households lost power on one of the coldest nights of the year, as insufficient supplies were arranged for the surge in demand.An industry panel fined Transpower $150,000 for its role in the blackouts.This story was first published by RNZ

Kakariki Health & Wellbeing Health Shop has moved location from Bennetts to the Dune complex on Moir / Molesworth intersection.They are still in the process of setting up, but have a brand new coffee machine and are pumping out Organic coffee, with fresh Durham Farms A2 milk or Organic Plant based milks. Pop into support them.Open 7 days from 9am to 5pm.Mangawhai Toy library has reopened as of last week and operates every Wednesday 10am to 12pm. They are currently accepting quality used toys. 73 Moir Street.Pacific Coast Taproom and Eatery are opening their restuarant and taproom at the old Dune in in mid June! Their plan is to create a great place to eat and drink, all while developing a centrepiece for their growing brewery and distillery. EDIT: Corner Bistro has just announced they are closing for good, not moving accross the road to the old Dune complex.It appears Oasis Bar and Eatery in Mangawhai is also closing at the end of the month.Finally a little birdie has advised the empty space where Kakariri was will soon become a bakery, from the Bennetts owners. Watch the space!Remember to SHOP LOCAL and SUPPORT LOCAL! Now more than ever your dollar is needed and appreciated!If you are a business why not adverise with Matakana Coast App. We have a number of options available. Check out our Advertise With Us page or contact Louise on 021681005

Ara Tūhono P2W – Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway will be closed overnight for five nights beginning Sunday, May 12 until May 17, for finishing work on the road. Closed from 9pm-5am in both directions, from Orewa to the Pukerito roundabout north of Warkworth. Works are weather-dependent. If weather conditions are bad, the contingency plan is set for 5 nights from Sunday 19 May.During the overnight closures drivers in both directions can use the old State Highway 1 and Twin Coast Discovery Highway. Southbound traffic will be unable to join the motorway north of the Johnstones Hill Tunnels, so will need to travel via Waiwera into Ōrewa before rejoining the motorway at the Grand Drive southbound onramp.It is still yet to be determined just how long the Brynderwyns will remain closed after the massive slip on 30th April. In an NZTA email update - the big slip is now looking at around 60,000 cubic meters of soil, could be more.As you can see by the photos the slip is not small, as it covers all the area from the waterfall to the sharp corner. There will hopefully be an update on when it can be opened next week.

A man wanted over a central Auckland fatal shooting, and revealed to be a gang member, has been found dead near Taupō.Police were searching for Hone Kay-Selwyn, 31, who they believed shot one person dead on Ponsonby Road on Sunday night.The shooting victim, who had been with a group of people at the time of the shooting, was found dead by police when they arrived at the scene, outside a bar.Police said multiple shots were fired by another man who had earlier been refused entry to the bar.The motivation behind the shooting was not yet clear, police said.On Wednesday morning, a source confirmed the discovery of the body to RNZ.It was not known how Kay-Selwyn died.The man sought by Police in relation to the Ponsonby homicide investigation has been located deceased.Detective Inspector Chris Barry said homicide investigators were travelling to the Taupō region on Tuesday afternoon to find the man sought."On the way, police were notified of a man located deceased at a rural address in the Broadlands area."The death was being treated as unexplained, he said.He was found by an associate on Tuesday. Police also confirmed the suspect was a member of the Killer Beez gang."While a post-mortem examination is yet to be completed, it is believed the deceased is the man sought by police in relation to the homicide investigation."Police did not believe there was any relationship between the Ponsonby shooting victim and the suspect, nor did they believe the victim and his associates on the night have any criminal group links.Auckland City CIB will be working with Bay of Plenty CIB counterparts as part of the investigation.Barry said the homicide investigation remained ongoing, but they were not seeking anyone else in relation to it."Our investigation team will continue to piece together the information received to date and we will continue to make enquiries on behalf of the Coroner."Police have notified the victim's family of these developments, and we have been in touch with the family of the man sought."Police thanked the public for the information received regarding the identity of the man sought.The identity of the Ponsonby shooting victim was yet to be released by police, but was expected later today.A woman, who said she was the partner of Kay-Selwyn, had expressed remorse for his actions.In a now deleted Facebook post earlier this week, she said her inbox had been "overflowing" with messages about her partner's actions on Sunday night in Ponsonby."I want to express my sincerest condolences to the family and loved ones of the victim. I'm deeply sorry and feel a great sense of shame about the situation."She said she was "grappling" with the fact he had taken someone's life.When contacted by RNZ the woman did not want to comment further.Police would not comment directly on the social media post or confirm if they had spoken to the woman.This story was originally posted by RNZ News

Bus route 999 will run one way around Warkworth every 30 minutes, enhancing local access to public transport. Project overviewAuckland Transport, in partnership with the Rodney Local Board, is implementing a new a one-way bus service. The new bus route, 999, will run one way around Warkworth in a clockwise direction approximately every 30 minutes.Route 999 will enhance access to public transport for local commuters along Percy Street, Lilburn Street, Pulham Road, Woodcocks Road, Mansel Drive and Hill Street. These bus stops aim to provide residents with convenient access to the bus route, improving public transport connectivity within the community and safety for buses, bus users, pedestrians and other road users.To allow buses to pull into and out of the proposed bus stops safely, some parking will be removed as part of this proposal. We understand that the removal of parking can be inconvenient, so we’ve minimised it as much as possible.Project detailsThis project includes the installation of 6 new bus stops along the new route. The locations of these bus stops are:1. 21 Percy Street (outside medical centres)Install new bus stop with road marking and signage2. 25 Lilburn StreetInstall new bus stop with road marking and signageReplace existing footpath with wider, extended concrete hardstand (concrete pad)Replace drop kerb with new kerbing in line with TDM standards3. Opposite 7 Pulham RoadInstall new bus stop with road marking and signage4. 15 Woodcocks Road (outside Mahurangi College)Install new bus stop with road marking and signage5. Opposite 20 Mansel Drive (outside Summerset Falls Retirement Village)Install new bus stop with road marking and signageInstall new hardstand (concrete pad)Install yellow tactile pavers to help guide blind and low-vision users6. 62 Hill StreetInstall new bus stop with road marking and signageInstall concrete hardstand (concrete pad) in line with TDM standardsDownload project drawings (PDF 8.6MB)What happens nextConstruction is expected to begin in June 2024. We will notify nearby properties a week before construction works start.Your local knowledge can help us make better decisions. Together, we can achieve the best outcomes for your neighbourhood.Contact UsIf you have any concerns or enquiries related to this project, please contact the Project Team on the details below:Email: [email protected]: 09 930 5090

The board of trustees of Whangārei Boys' High School has been charged for health and safety failures over the death of a student on a caving trip.Karnin Petera, 15, died on a school trip to Abbey Caves on 9 May 2023.Fourteen students and two adults were rescued from the cave in heavy rain. Karnin's body was later found.The school had a risk assessment done for the trip that stated Abbey Caves were "prone to flooding" in heavy rain.It recommended to postpone the trip if water levels were too high.The trip went ahead, despite Northland being under a MetService orange rain warning.WorkSafe said the charges had been filed against the legal entity of the Board of Trustees, not individual members of the board.WorkSafe's head of inspectorate Rob Pope said it acknowledged the "profound impact" Karnin's death had on whānau, friends, and the wider community."A year on, our sympathy and thoughts are with all of those who knew and loved Karnin."Flowers outside Whangārei Boys' High School in tribute to Karnin Petera. Photo: RNZ / Jordan DunnAn "extensive" investigation had now pieced together the circumstances of the tragedy and charges had been filed in the Whangārei District Court."We encourage school boards of trustees across the country to reflect on their own systems and processes to ensure they are meeting legal requirements for education outside the classroom," Pope said."Students should be able to participate safely, and parents must have confidence their rangatahi will be kept safe."Whangārei Boys' High School principal Karen Smith sent a letter to parents advising them of the charges.In the letter, Smith said: Our thoughts remain with the whānau of Karnin Petera, his friends, our school whānau, the wider Whangārei community and everyone who has been touched by this tragedy."WorkSafe has notified us that it has laid charges against Whangārei Boys' High School Board of Trustees for health and safety failures related to the staff and students on the caving trip."We can confirm that throughout the investigation, the school has worked closely with WorkSafe to provide all information required by the agency."Smith said the school had developed and implemented new outdoor education policies following the tragedy."We will be reviewing the charges laid by WorkSafe and take these findings very seriously. The Board of Trustees will continue to work with WorkSafe as we move through the next stage of the process."Smith said it would be a difficult time for the community, given it was just shy of the anniversary of Karnin's death."We would like to reaffirm that there is support available at any stage if this is required by your son or family by contacting the school guidancecounsellor."WorkSafe has charged the board under sections 36(2), 36(1)(a), 48(1) and 2(c) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.Charges include:Being a PCBU (Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking), having a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the health and safety of other persons is not put at risk from work carried out as part of the conduct of the business or undertaking, namely the outdoor education caving activity to Abbey Caves Reserve, did fail to comply with that duty, and that failure exposed other persons, including Karnin Petera, to a risk of death or serious injury.Being a PCBU, having a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers who work for the PCBU, while the workers were at work in the business or undertaking, namely undertaking an outdoor education caving activity to Abbey Caves Reserve, did fail to comply with that duty, and that failure exposed workers to a risk of death or serious injury.This story was originally published by RNZ

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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