Warkworth RegionFriday 8th December - Cloudy periods. Fresh southwesterlies, easing this evening.Saturday 9th December - Fine. Southwesterlies developing for a time in the afternoon and evening.Sunday 10th December - Cloud increasing with isolated showers developing in the evening. Westerlies.Mangawhai RegionFriday 8th December - Partly cloudy, clearing to fine by midday. Southerlies.Saturday 9th December - Fine. Light winds.Sunday 10th December - Fine, but becoming cloudy in the evening. Westerlies developing in the morning.

Here are some furry friends looking for new homes. Please contact Saving Hope Foundation directly.Mr Nico is a loving, cuddly and smooshy boy. He is 4 months old and he is such a cool dude - his best past time is to sleep and snore. Nico is fostered with multiple other dogs including his sisters Nelly and Nikki. Nico is looking for a family to call her own, are you the family for this sweet girl? To apply to adopt Nico or if you’d like to help foster a puppy, please head over to https://www.savinghope.co.nz for more information.Miss Lexi is 5 months old and is such a snuggle bug. She loves to curl up on your lap or next to you on the couch. She is fostered with multiple other dogs including her brother Lorax, as well as 3 kids aged from 4 months to 9 years old. Lexi is toilet trained, crate trained and knows basic commands - sit, down, bed, outside and walks great on a lead. Lexi has only has one eye (she makes for an excellent pirate), but that has not stopped her being an amazing dog. She will be a great dog for any family. To apply to adopt Lexi or if you’d like to help foster a puppy, please head over to https://www.savinghope.co.nz for more information.

Coalition negotiations and damage inflicted by extreme weather have forced a change in National's long-standing roading priorities for Northland.Top of the new to-do list - once urgent, short-term repairs have been completed - is to build a four-lane alternative to a notoriously slip-prone section of State Highway 1 over the Brynderwyn Hills.It's one of the key infrastructure items in the National-New Zealand First coalition deal, with the parties agreeing to at least settle the route during the current parliamentary term.The coalition agreement makes no mention of four-laning elsewhere in Northland.That's in contrast to National's pre-election pledge to four-lane State Highway 1 all the way from Auckland to Whangārei, except for the section over the Brynderwyns.The party has long argued upgrading the highway is critical to unlocking Northland's economic potential.New Northland MP Grant McCallum said the government's "ultimate vision" was still to have a four-lane highway all the way to Whangārei, but the section over the Brynderwyns was now the top priority."The four-laning is still alive, but in terms of the order things are done, the priorities have changed a wee bit with the coalition agreement. And, quite frankly, nature has made us look at this and forced us to make this decision, regardless of what individuals think."The most urgent task was to shore up the current road over the Brynderwyns, which was in danger of failing entirely next winter.The highway was closed for significant periods earlier this year due to slips triggered by Cyclone Gabrielle and other weather events.Photo: Supplied/ Waka Kotahi NZTAWaka Kotahi had set aside more than $60 million for more repairs later this summer, but even that was not expected to keep the highway open long-term."It's essential obviously we fix the current road so it's going to hang in there for the next seven to 10 years. And in the meantime we've got to work out where to put a new four-lane route around the Brynderwyns," he said."It's a top priority … We haven't got a specific timeline but we are racing against the clock given the current road."Newly minted Transport Minister Simeon Brown inspected the Brynderwyns last Friday, his first site visit in his new role."It's pretty broken," he said."The reality is it's in a really bad state after recent weather events, and it's going to require significant remedial work in order to extend the life of that particular stretch of road. Visiting the site was certainly an eye-opener."While four-laning the rest of the highway was not in the coalition agreement, Brown said National was still committed to it."What we said in the coalition agreement is we need to have a four-lane alternative route for the Brynderwyns. We also campaigned on a four-lane expressway from Whangārei to Auckland, so what we're doing at the moment is rewriting the government policy statement on transport to refocus it back on building the roading network, and restarting the Roads of National Significance programme."Announcements would be made "in due course" about the timing and costs of the alternative Brynderwyn route.Bypass goes through new MP's farmIt was unfortunate that Waka Kotahi had started work on a Brynderwyn bypass but the project had been shelved by the previous Labour government in 2017, Brown said.At that time the roading agency came up with two alternative routes, both to the west of the Brynderwyns.Ironically, both pass through a 620ha beef and dairy farm owned by McCallum and his family.McCallum said he had been open about that so he could not be accused of having a conflict of interest.He said the transport agency would re-assess the routes so they could still change.However, if Waka Kotahi's chosen route crossed the farm, he would stand back and allow other members of his family to handle the negotiations.Another option touted by members of Northland's influential Regional Transport Committee is to build a new route up the south side of the Brynderwyns, just east of the current highway.That would involve building a viaduct over the Atlas Quarries site and a new road along a ridge, joining the existing SH1 at the Brynderwyns' summit.Members of Northland's Regional Transport Committee want a new route for SH1 over the Brynderwyns to cross a viaduct over the Atlas Quarries site. Photo: RNZ / Peter de GraafMcCallum said it was up to the experts to decide which route was best."Ultimately, I'm not an engineer. It's not my job to make those decisions about the routes and their suitability. That's where we need NZTA to go away and look at all options, re-assess them all, and come back to the people of Northland with what they think is the best option … If it ends up coming through our property, then so be it. The most important thing is that we get a new four-lane route because the current one is not fit for purpose."Whichever route was chosen it would have to be compatible with long-term plans to four-lane the highway all the way to Whangārei, McCallum said.The chair of the Automobile Association's Northland Council, Tracey Risetto, backed the government's change of focus."We agree the priority has to be the Brynderwyns because you can have four-laning either side, but if the road in the middle is impassable, that four-laning is not going to help," she said."But I do ask that we keep working on four-laning. There's been no designation of land between Marsden and Whangārei for that four-laning, for example, although there has been between Warkworth and Wellsford. We all know it will take some time but let's not drop the ball. Let's just work through what we need to do, so when we're ready to do that construction we're not starting from scratch, like we appear to be doing with the alternative Brynderwyns route."Delay possible for short-term repairsRissetto said short-term repairs to keep the highway open in the meantime were also vital.Originally Waka Kotahi planned to close State Highway 1 for slip repairs after Waitangi Day, but after an outcry from Northland businesses the agency is considering delaying the work until after Easter.That would, however, increase the cost and extend the closure from seven weeks to 10."We're calling for the work to happen. We know it's going to impact Northland and the economy - up to $2 million a day - but we need a resilient network. We've got 200,000 people up in Northland and we also contribute a lot to the rest of the country. It's not just people coming up here, it's also goods and services going to the rest of New Zealand," she said.Rissetto said the earlier timeframe for repairs would hurt tourism and hospitality businesses, but delaying the work would affect avocado and kiwifruit growers trying to send their produce south."So it's really a no-win … Our call is that we fix it, and then get a new route constructed as soon as possible."The AA was also urging Waka Kotahi to upgrade the detour routes before the highway closed."We saw previously when the Brynderwyns were closed that the detour routes were not suitable for purpose. There are one-lane bridges and very tight corners. Critical work is needed now to get those routes ready for additional traffic, including State Highways 12 and 14 because the large 50-tonners [trucks] are going to be requested to travel those roads," Rissetto said.Other Northland-specific commitments in the National-New Zealand First coalition agreement include further work to examine a rail link to Northport and progressing a business case for a dry dock at Marsden Point.The agreement also calls for an investigation into reopening Marsden Point oil refinery.The refinery has been partly dismantled since it was closed by its private owners in 2022.This story was originally published by RNZ

Nona Pelletier, Senior Business ReporterThe price of sweet treats is expected to rise as poor weather, labour disputes and ongoing supply chain issues drive prices higher amid a global shortage"We haven't seen pricing at these levels since 2011," a New Zealand Sugar spokesperson said.While global production was expected to fall short of expected consumption by 2.4 million tonnes in the current crop year, NZ Sugar said New Zealand's supply would not be affected, though prices were expected to remain high and volatile.NZ Sugar is the country's largest refinery and marketed its retail products under the Chelsea Sugar brand.The commodity price of sugar was trading at 12-year highs as 2023/24 global production dropped to an estimated 187.5 million tonnes from 189.4 million tonnes in 2022/23.NZ Sugar said the price of raw sugar had increased 60 percent to US$0.28 a pound in the past 12 months from US$0.175 a year ago.The World Health Organisation estimated New Zealanders consumed the equivalent of about 37 teaspoons of sugar a day in food and beverages, or a third of a pound.Westpac agri-economist Nathan Penny said the rising cost of sugar would flow through to the cost of food and beverages and put pressure on overall cost inflation.Domestic prices were already up 14 percent in October over September, adding about 40 cents to a 1.5kg package of sugar."In the latest October data we've seen that the price of a 1.5kg packet of sugar is up about a quarter over the past year and that's going to make some of our favourite Kiwi treats over summer and Christmas, like Pavlovas for example, much pricier than they were last Christmas," Penny said."We've seen some really hot food price inflation this year and in the middle of the year, it peaked at over 12 percent on an annual basis."It has since started to come off the boil. Annual food price inflation is running now at around 6 percent, but, as I've said, sugar prices are heading the other way in opposite direction."The refinery said there had been production deficits in four out of the past five years, leaving major producers with minimal stocks.NZ Sugar stored to 40 kilotonnes (kt) at its Chelsea Sugar Refinery, or about 10 weeks' supply.Increased production in Brazil, Russia and China was not expected to be enough to offset heavy losses in production in India, Thailand and Mexico, where crops had suffered from drought and insufficient humidity.Canadian sugar refineries were also low on supply as labour disputes left supermarket shelves empty across that country.Australian sugar producers, which supply much of New Zealand's raw product, had reacted by raising prices as demand for its product increased.In addition to weather, NZ Sugar said shipping pressure also added to the supply and cost issues."There is little capacity to add supply in the short term. This leaves the market exposed to weather and a heavy reliance on Brazil to meet the majority of export demand," it said, adding that bulk raw sugar shipments of about 28 kts arrive in New Zealand about every six weeks.Shipping delays at the Panama Canal were adding to supply pressures.Large grocery chain Woolworths New Zealand said it was aware of the rising cost of raw sugar, but there were no supply issues, yet.Originally published by RNZ

An economic consultancy estimates Auckland's sewer collapse and resulting pollution has cost the city millions of dollars in lost recreational fishing.The Hauraki Gulf Forum commissioned the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) to tally the cost of the major sewage overflows on people's access to the Waitematā Harbour for recreation and food gathering.In September when the waste and stormwater pipe burst in Parnell, under a 13-metre-deep sinkhole, residents were advised not to fish in much of the inner harbour.The NZIER report found the sinkhole cost between $5.2 million to $12.9m in lost fishing, and between $50.9m and $166.6m in total lost recreation and food gathering.The average cost per day was between $1.02m and $3.33m."It is conservative in nature and limited in scope but demonstrates that such incidents have costs far beyond their immediate repair," the report said."This, in turn, provides further rationale for investment in resilient infrastructure to reduce the likelihood of further adverse effects and costs in future."Earlier this year, the forum released a report showing the natural capital value of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, in economic and ecological terms.The research, conducted by NZIER, showed the Gulf was worth about $100 billion to New Zealand, and provided a flow of value to New Zealanders in excess of $5b a year.NZIER said the Parnell sinkhole was the first test case for the natural capital value model's ability to price specific events.An above-ground bypass pipe now redirects wastewater in Parnell, but the remaining sewage still flows into the ocean when it rains.The Hauraki Gulf Forum is a statutory governance board established under the Marine Park Act to advocate for the Gulf.This story was originally published by RNZ

Tuesday 5th Dec-Severe Thunderstorm WatchPeriod: 7hrs from noon - 7pm Tue, 5 DecArea: Northland, AucklandForecast: Slow-moving thunderstorms over parts of Northland and northern Auckland (north of the City) may produce localised downpours of 25 to 40 mm/hr this afternoon and early evening. 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.

Motorists are being advised to prepare for disruptions across the country tomorrow as Te Pāti Māori plans protests against the newly-formed government's policies.Te Pāti Māori is calling on the community to join in taking a stand against what they say is an "assault on tangata whenua".In a social media post on Monday, Te Pāti Māori issued a nationwide call to action, scheduled for Tuesday, 5 December.The Nationwide Action Day aligns with the opening of the 54th term of Parliament, where all MPs are required to swear an oath of allegiance to the King of England.The action comes in response to a raft of co-governance related policies announced last week by the new National-led coalition.Some of the policies include scrapping Te Aka Whai Ora, the Māori Health Authority, just 16 months after its establishment, and the proposal of a Treaty Principles Bill. The bill promises a comprehensive review of all legislation, aside from the full and final Treaty Settlements Act, with the aim of removing existing references to "principles of the Treaty of Waitangi" from law.According to Te Pāti Māori social media posts, the kaupapa of the action day is to demonstrate the "beginning of a unified Aotearoa approach to the government's assault on Tangata Whenua and Te Tiriti o Waitangi"."Demonstrating the might of Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti working together. The revolution of Gen-T (Generation Tiriti) standing up for and protecting the rights of all our mokopuna", and "asserting the mana of Te Tiriti O Waitangi as enduring and everlasting".The tikanga of the Action Day is peaceful, respectful, mokopuna focused, mokopuna friendly, and wairua pai, according to the Te Pāti Māori social media post.Plans for the day are already emerging with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Te Rangi Iwi trust, a Tauranga-based iwi, issuing a pānui to whānau on Facebook calling them to take protest action."This national protest is in direct response to the government changes that seek to rapidly dismantle three generations worth of work under an agenda that blatantly disregards the place of Māori in Aotearoa and looks to marginalise us as Tangata Whenua," the pānui said."We have worked too hard to revitalise our reo, educate our people, correct the injustices faced by Māori by offering equitable opportunities to be healthy, housed and employed, keep our people out of jail, whilst working towards ensuring that future generations of Māori do not bear the weight of the same injustices imposed upon us, to have these efforts reversed."The action will be taking place across the country, starting at 7am Tuesday with more than 16 planned locations posted on Te Pāti Māori social media.'Our people mobilising for the next three years'Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer told RNZ the protests came together in the space of 72 hours, and communities all over the country had come together."There's a collection, it's not just one particular sector. This is a collection of our whānau and that's why we've very much left it for our own communities, inside their own uniqueness to run it and to drive it. That's how Te Pāti Māori rolls."She said she did not care whether the government got the message or not, because the protests were primarily about Māori showing up for each other, and uniting."The movement that we're seeing from Māori will make the foreshore and seabed hīkoi look like something extremely small."Because what we have is our people mobilising for the next three years against, and letting them know what they think about governments that are utilising tangata whenua as their reason for politicking, as their reason to hold our growth back, the reason that we shouldn't be thriving."She said many who were set to be involved in the protests were "pretty seasoned" and had good engagement with local communities, officials, and authorities.Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he did not believe the planned protests were a precedent for the next three years."I think we're going to demonstrate to Māori and non-Māori across New Zealand that we are focused on outcomes. I've been trying to be really clear with New Zealanders, this country needs a turnaround."He claimed the past six years had not been good for Māori."I think Māori have done very well, particularly in National-led governments in the past, and they're going to continue to do so. But the way we deal with that, and the way we do that, is we actually focus on the things that are important to Māori. And when you do that, you get back to housing, and health, and education, and law and order, and the economy."Luxon said he supported everyone's right to protest, as long as it was lawful, peaceful, and respectful.Police preparing for disruptions across the North IslandIn a statement, police assistant commissioner Sandra Venables said they were preparing for the protests, which were likely to cause disruptions to traffic between 7.30am and 9am on motorways across Tāmaki Makaurau, Waikato, Palmerston North, Hawera, New Plymouth, Tokoroa, Whanganui, Porirua, Whangārei, Tauranga, Rotorua, and Wellington.Police were working with organisers to provide advice on lawful protest, as well as any health and safety implications, Venables said."Officers will be highly visible across the roading network throughout the morning and, in some locations, will put measures in place to prevent protesters putting themselves and motorists in harm's way."Unlawful behaviour will result in enforcement action, either at the time or following the event if safety issues prevent immediate action."Motorists in affected areas were advised to plan ahead and anyone travelling to the airport or to any other time-sensitive commitment is advised to allow more time for their journey.Labour spokesperson says protests 'not a surprise'Labour Māori development spokesperson Willie Jackson said he understood the anger at the new government."I don't know all the details but I hear that there's going to be major protests around the Auckland area, so we'll be watching and it's not a surprise but there's a lot of anger out there at the moment."I understand it, I've heard about it for quite some time, I did make some warnings before about the type of response you'd get if a referendum was rolled out - and while they're not rolling out a referendum, you've got attacks on te reo Māori, you've got attacks on the Māori Health Authority, there's question marks about Māori funding going forward, and there's a huge level of frustration.""At the moment, I say good on them," he said of the protesters.Te Pāti Māori also plan to pledge an oath of allegiance to mokopuna, rather than the King. Jackson said he did not plan to do the same, but he understood it and there should be a choice offered."I think our people should have an option, and I don't have a problem supporting that. I'm thinking more about what we have to do right now in terms of responding to the attacks on us but if people want to make a statement and roll out a strategy there at the swearing-in, good on them."This story was originally published by RNZ

An update on the Brynderwyns: We want your feedback. We need to make a decision about when to close State Highway 1 over the Brynderwyn Hills.There's a survey, and we're hosting webinars to share information with you about the closure—see the links below.We need to close the road to complete essential recovery and enabling works before next winter, maintaining this vital connection for the short to medium term. As part of our ongoing engagement we want your feedback on two possible timings for this closure and on how the timings would affect you.The closure needs to happen before winter, which means we have limited time to make the decision so plenty of notice can be given to residents, freight, tourism, and everyone using the road. Because of that, we'd like you to complete this survey no later than Sunday 10 December (by the end of the day): https://nzta.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_51I87C2BWBqFSbsWe're hosting two webinars—one on Wednesday 6 December at 6:30pm, and one on Friday 8 December at 10:30am—where we'll explain why a closure is needed to complete these works. The webinars will start with a short presentation, followed by time for us to answer your questions.Register for the webinars here:• Wednesday 6 December, 6:30pm: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/.../a3e0418f-a826-47f0...• Friday 8 December, 10:30am: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/.../abd4453d-70e4-4c16...You can also follow Facebook event posts for the webinars:SH1 Brynderwyn Hills closure webinar (6 December at 6:30pm)SH1 Brynderwyn Hills closure webinar (8 December at 10:30am)

Rapid Relief Team NZ's (RRT) biggest Farmer's Community event ever went gangbusters last week!Farmers from as far away as Kaitaia and down to Thames have collected the free fencing donation and stopped by for a BBQ breakfast/lunch and a community get-together with family, neighbors, and friends RRT our venue in Wellsford! Since February, RRT has donated $1.4 million worth of fencing materials to more than 1000 adverse weather-affected farmers.

The rain didn't stop us - The Warkworth Santa Parade 2023 was our biggest yet! What a delightful way to welcome in the festive season. Thanks to all involved, from volunteers to sponsors, participants, and spectators! You brought the joy of this town out for all to see. Merry Christmas everyone!Here are a few phone photos from our Santa Parade volunteers and committee. Special thanks to the main Warkworth Santa Parade sponsors Harcourts Cooper & Co Rodney District | Warkworth Toyota | Rodney Local Board **Prizegiving was postponed due to the increase in rain so we will be announcing the parade float winners online soon - Stay tuned!**

Warkworth RegionMonday 4th December - Showers, possibly heavy from afternoon with thunderstorms possible about Great Barrier Island, clearing in the evening. Southwesterlies from afternoon.Tuesday 5th December - Mostly cloudy, with showers developing in the morning. Easterlies, becoming fresh for a time in the afternoon and evening.Wednesday 6th - A few showers. Northeasterlies, turning southwesterly in the afternoon.Thursday 7th - Fine, but becoming mostly cloudy with isolated showers. Fresh southwesterlies.Friday 8th - Partly cloudy, with isolated showers clearing. Southwesterlies, becoming fresh.Saturday 9th - Fine. Northwesterlies developing.Sunday 10th - Fine. Light winds.Mangawhai RegionMonday 4th December - Showers, mainly from afternoon when some may be heavy and thundery, clearing evening. Southwesterlies from afternoon.Tuesday 5th December - A few showers, turning to rain in the afternoon, possibly heavy and thundery. Easterlies developing in the morning.Wednesday 6th - Showers, some heavy, clearing in the evening. Southeasterlies, easing early.Thursday 7th - Fine, but becoming cloudy. Southwesterlies, becoming fresh.Friday 8th - Drizzle, clearing and becoming fine. Southwesterlies.Saturday 9th - Fine. Northerlies.Sunday 10th - Fine. Light winds.

From Checkpoint, 5:07 pm on 30 November 2023 A pharmacist warns bringing back over-the-counter cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine could make chemist shops a target for robberies and ram raids.Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant used in cold and flu medications but it has been prescription-only since 2011 because it can be used to make the illegal drug methamphetamine.But in its first 100 days one of the things the new government plans to do is loosen the rules to allow the sale of cold medication containing pseudoephedrine.▶ Listen to the audioMangawhai Pharmacist Lanny Wong told Checkpoint she was worried the change would result in more crime. "When it was available I can remember many pharmacies that I worked at were always worried about break-ins."There was also a need to ID people and to refuse to sell them medication containing pseudoephedrine if it was suspected they were buying it to make methamphetamine (also known as P) or if they were suspected of on-selling it to dealers to make P, she said."And it's a very uncomfortable and unsafe situation for pharmacists to be in."There was mixed feedback from pharmacists about whether pseudoephedrine should return to being an over the counter drug, Wong said.It was an effective drug, but from a health perspective the conditions it treated were relatively minor in the form of colds or flu, she said."We really need to think about the balance between benefits and harm, and that's how we think about it through medicine and pharmacists will have to make a really conscious decision about what to do."Wong said community need was how she decided what to stock in her pharmacy and if the community wanted it she would stock it."But if it becomes a danger and you know there are P labs starting in my community, or there's the risk of break-ins, of putting my staff at risk of hold-ups and things like that then I have to make that tough decision not to sell it."If they wanted to bring it back, safeguards needed to be put in place, she said.Pharmacists could also fall victim to ram-raids if they stocked pseudoephedrine, she said.If the government chooses to reintroduce the drug to pharmacies they should qualify for the same assistance to prevent ram raids that the previous government has made available to dairies, she said."It is still a precursor to make P and if it is available locally then we will probably see the return of P labs at home."If it were made available then safety measures would need to be put in place, she said."We know what the harm is and we've already seen it in the past, so if we're going to bring it back then we need to have measures in place to prevent those harms."There are also now cut price pharmacies whose business model is to sell cheap products, she said."We need to think about what measures are in place to make sure you know people just can't walk into a big department store and buy lots of pseudoephedrine products."In the past, people buying pseudoephedrine had to present ID to the pharmacist and pharmacies would keep a record of the sale, she said.But she said that was quite haphazard and there was no national database with each pharmacy having their own processes."So if we're going to bring it back and we already know what the harm was then we can be more proactive about it, maybe start a national register, you know have a way that we can record things so there's a bit more information sharing between pharmacies so we can safeguard our community."The Medicine Classification Committee would deal with the issue of what safeguards were necessary, she said."So perhaps they might want to consider bringing it back as a pharmacist only medicine, you know where you have to have a consultation with the pharmacist before you can purchase this product."This story was originally published by RNZ

DOC is gearing up to host approximately 60,000 campers over the upcoming summer at more than 300 campsites spread across New Zealand.Popular holiday destinations include the Coromandel, Hauraki Gulf Islands, and Northland, some of which are expected to sell out during the peak season.DOC takes pride in providing affordable holiday options in pristine natural settings and staff have worked hard to address the aftermath of last summer’s cyclone which impacted some campsites across the North Island says DOC's Heritage and Visitors Director, Cat Wilson."DOC's campsites have long been a fixture of summer holidays for many Kiwis. Although a number are booked out over the busy two-week period, some still have space – and many do if you look to book in off-peak times.”The cyclone recovery efforts have included repairing water infrastructure, rebuilding internal roads within the campsites, fixing bridges and culverts, repairing toilets, and clearing debris and fallen trees.“The main impact visitors will experience from last year’s turbulent summer is reduced capacity of around 25 – 30 per cent at some Coromandel and Northland campsites.”DOC campsites are particularly popular through the peak Christmas-New Year season, and during any summer long weekend. They draw campers looking to enjoy fishing, swimming, boating and walking in sometimes isolated locations. Visitors planning to head to these locations are urged to go properly prepared and keep up to date with weather conditions and road network alerts, especially in the northern Coromandel.Adjusted capacities for DOC campsitesCoromandel:Port Jackson: Reduced from 250 to 185 visitors.Fletcher Bay: Reduced from 300 to 200 visitors.Fantail Bay: Reduced from 80 to 60 visitors.Whangarei:Uretiti Beach Campsite: reduced from 1000 to 750 visitors. Although floodwaters have receded over the past year, two main pools alongside the ring-road appear to be permanent.DOC campsite availability for the upcoming summerNorthland:Otamure Campsite: Full from December 24 to late January.Puriri Campsite and Urupukapuka Campsite: Full from December 25 to the end of the first week of January.Trounson Kauri Park Campsite, Puketi Campsite, Uretiti: All have space available for Christmas/New Year bookings.Coromandel:Port Jackson Campsite, Fantail Bay Campsite, and Waikawau Bay Campsite: Full from December 25 to the end of the first week of January.Fletcher Bay Campsite and Stoney Bay Campsite: Have space available for Christmas/New Year bookings.Kauaeranga Valley campsites: Plenty of capacity, but visitors are encouraged to book early, particularly for the busy Christmas-New Year period.Inner Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana:Motuora Island Campsite: Full from December 25 to the end of the first week of January.Home Bay / Motutapu Island Campsite and Motuihe Campsite: Space available for Christmas/New Year bookings.Aotea/Great Barrier Island:Akapoua Bay, Awana Beach, The Green, Whangapoua, Harataonga, and Medlands Beach Campsites: All have space available for Christmas/New Year bookings.Some campsites do not need to be booked and operate on a first-come, first-served basis.Advice for campersBe prepared – learn about the wildlife you’ll see, the best walking tracks, and the gear you’ll need before setting out.Check out the campsite rules, such as where to pitch a tent and when to boil water.Look after river, lake and ocean wildlife by using biodegradable products and washing away from water bodies.All DOC campsites have toilets.Most DOC campsites have special areas for your cooker, fireplace, or BBQ. Before you light any fires outdoors, check if any fire bans or restrictions are in place at Check its alright  (external site). Not all DOC sites have waste disposal – make a plan to take your rubbish away with you.Book in advance where possible to secure a campsite.Link to original article

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency advises of the following closures for motorway improvements. Work delayed by bad weather will be completed at the next available date, prior to Friday, 8 December 2023. Unless otherwise stated, closures start at 9pm and finish at 5am.NORTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)Southbound lanes between Orewa off-ramp and Silverdale on-ramp, 3-7 December(approx. 9:00pm to 5:00pm)Orewa southbound on-ramp, 3-7 DecemberMillwater southbound on-ramp, 3-7 December(approx. 9:00pm to 5:00pm)Northbound lanes between Silverdale off-ramp and Orewa on-ramp, 3-5 DecemberSilverdale northbound on-ramp, 3-5 & 7 DecemberNorthbound lanes between Oteha Valley Road off-ramp and Orewa on-ramp, 6 DecemberSilverdale northbound on-ramp, 6 December(approx. 10:00pm to 5:00pm)Oteha Valley Road northbound on-ramp, 6-7 DecemberNorthbound lanes between Greville Road off-ramp and Silverdale on-ramp, 7 DecemberGreville Road northbound on-ramp, 7 DecemberSouthbound lanes between Oteha Valley Road off-ramp and Greville Road on-ramp, 3-5 & 7 DecemberOteha Valley Road southbound on-ramp, 3-5 & 7 DecemberNorthbound lanes between Greville Road off-ramp and Oteha Valley Road on-ramp, 4 December (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)Greville Road northbound on-ramp, 4 DecemberSouthbound lanes between Northcote Road off-ramp and Onewa Road on-ramp, 4 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Northcote Road southbound on-ramp, 4 DecemberEsmonde Road southbound on-ramp, 4 DecemberShelly Beach Road southbound off-ramp, 3-7 DecemberCENTRAL MOTORWAY JUNCTION (CMJ)SH1 southbound to SH16 (Port) eastbound link, 3-4 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH16 eastbound to SH1 northbound link, 3-4 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH16 eastbound to SH1 southbound link, 3-4 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH16 eastbound to SH16 (Port) link, 3-4 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SOUTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)Tecoma Street southbound on-ramp, 3-7 DecemberEast Tamaki Road northbound off-ramp, 3 DecemberEast Tamaki Road northbound on-ramp, 3 DecemberSouthbound lanes between Redoubt Road off-ramp and Papakura on-ramp, 3 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH1 southbound to SH20 northbound link, 3 December(approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Redoubt Road southbound on-ramp, 3 DecemberTakanini southbound on-ramp, 3 DecemberSouthbound lanes between Takanini off-ramp and Takanini on-ramp, 4-7 December(approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)Papakura (Loop) northbound on-ramp, 4-5 DecemberNorthbound lanes between Drury/SH22 off-ramp and Papakura on-ramp, 4-5 DecemberDrury/SH22 northbound on-ramp, 4-5 DecemberBeaver Road northbound off-ramp, 4 & 7 DecemberBeaver Road northbound on-ramp, 4 & 7 DecemberNikau Road northbound on-ramp, 4 & 7 DecemberRidge Road northbound off-ramp, 5-6 December(approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)Razorback Road northbound on-ramp, 5-6 DecemberSH1 northbound to SH2 eastbound link, 5-6 December(approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)Pokeno northbound on-ramp, 5-6 DecemberTe Kauwhata southbound on-ramp, 1-3 December (24/7)NORTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH16)Southbound lanes between Foster Road and Trigg Road, 5-6 DecemberNorthbound lanes between Trigg Road and Foster Road, 5-6 DecemberSouthbound lanes between Matua Road and Riverhead Road, 1 December(approx. 6:00pm to 8:00pm)Northbound lanes between Matua Road and Riverhead Road, 1 December(approx. 6:00pm to 8:00pm)Eastbound lanes between St Lukes Road off-ramp and Grafton Road on-ramp, 3-4December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)St Lukes Road eastbound on-ramp, 3-4 DecemberSt Lukes Road westbound off-ramp, 4-6 DecemberUPPER HARBOUR MOTORWAY (SH18)Westbound lanes between Greenhithe Road off-ramp and Tauhinu Road on-ramp, 5 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Eastbound lanes between Tauhinu Road off-ramp and Greenhithe Road on-ramp, 5 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Squadron Drive eastbound on-ramp, 5 DecemberEastbound lanes between Brigham Creek Road off-ramp and Brigham Creek Road on-ramp, 5 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SOUTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH20)Northbound lanes between Maioro Street on-ramp and SH16 links (Waterview northbound tunnel closed), 4 DecemberMaioro Street northbound on-ramp (Waterview northbound tunnel closed), 4 DecemberLambie Drive southbound off-ramp, 5-6 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Southbound lanes between Lambie Drive off-ramp and SH1 links, 3 December(approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Lambie Drive southbound on-ramp, 3 DecemberSH20 southbound to SH1 northbound link, 3 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH20 southbound to SH1 southbound link, 3 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)GEORGE BOLT MEMORIAL DRIVE (SH20A)Northbound lanes between Kirkbride Road off-ramp (SH20A) and Coronation Road on-ramp (SH20), 7 DecemberKirkbride Road northbound on-ramp, 7 December

Women in New Zealand are effectively working for free until the end of the year, from 2.38pm yesterday.Based on the current pay gap of 8.6 percent, according to Statistics New Zealand, the average Kiwi woman is paid 333 days for the equivalent 365 days for men.The pay gap for Pasifika women and wāhine Māori is 15.2 and 14.3 percent respectively, which means they have been working for free since the start of November.Year on year, New Zealand's gender gap had decreased by 0.6 percent, moving from 9.2 percent in 2022, to 8.6 percent this year.However, that had only decreased the pay gap by 52 hours and 32 minutes in real terms.Theresa Gattung is the chairperson of Global Women, a collective of influential leaders advocating for equity and equality for women.She said people may think a 8 to 9 percent gap was not a big deal, compared to other countries."But 8-9 percent does matter in normal life. If we were told that 9 percent of New Zealand's population had disappeared overnight, we'd think that was a problem. At the basic level of ... we bought something and it was partly defective, it wouldn't matter whether it was a bit defective. We'd still be annoyed about it."I think we have to be implacable as women and say any pay gap is not on, end of story."Global Women chair Theresa Gattung. Photo: www.theresagattung.comGattung said in the past year, more companies had committed to reporting their gender pay gap and taking action around it."But as long as there's any gap, women can't stop advocating. Any gap is unacceptable."She said the new government should commit to seeing women paid fairly and introduce pay transparency measures, like in Australia and the UK."It's not a time-consuming piece of policy to put in place and why should women wait? It isn't listed in the [National-led government's] priorities for the top 100 days, but why should we wait? It's not a lot of work."The year-on-year figures show positive signs that our gender pay gaps are closing. However, we can't become complacent, as the gap won't continue to close without sustained, intentional action."As a country we have come a long way in recognising the latent value of a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce; however, the existence of the pay gap means more needs to be done."Minister for Women Nicola Grigg. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnonThe newly-sworn Minister for Women Nicola Grigg said it would be a key focus area she planned to prioritise this term."Much of the solution relies on rebuilding the economy and restoring the hiring confidence of businesses, which is the number one objective for the new coalition government," Grigg said.Global Women is today calling on all New Zealanders to reflect on the role they can play in closing the gender pay gap.Gattung urged New Zealanders to use this day to talk about pay equity and pay transparency."Whether it's asking HR about your organisation's pay gap, to revisiting your [diversity, equity and inclusion] strategy in a leadership meeting. We need to keep challenging ourselves to do better until there is no pay gap to talk about."This story was originally published by RNZ

Warkworth RegionFriday 1st December - Mostly cloudy. Southwesterlies dying out tonight.Saturday 2nd December - Partly cloudy with isolated showers clearing in the afternoon. Northeasterlies, becoming fresh in the morning.Sunday 3rd December - Occasional rain developing in the morning. Fresh northerlies.Mangawhai RegionFriday 1st December - Partly cloudy, then clouding over this evening. Light winds.Saturday 2nd December - A few showers, clearing to partly cloudy in the afternoon. Northeasterlies, becoming fresh for a time in the afternoon and evening.Sunday 3rd December - Occasional rain developing in the morning. Northerlies, becoming fresh in the morning.

The new government has confirmed its plan for its first 100 days, with 49 items Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says are "ambitious for New Zealand".The new Cabinet met today for the second time to discuss the plan, which combines the 100-day plan National campaigned on with the priorities of its two partner parties ACT and New Zealand First.Announcing it at his first post-Cabinet briefing on Wednesday, Luxon said New Zealanders voted for a change of government, a change of policies and a change of approach."Our government is starting the way we mean to go on - ambitious for New Zealand. With 49 actions to deliver in the next 100 days, this plan is hugely ambitious but we will be working as hard as we can," he said.Leader of the House Chris Bishop said the new Parliament would get started from next week with the usual ceremonial matters.This starts with the election of a Speaker on Tuesday, and the official opening on Wednesday with the Governor-General delivering the Speech from the Throne - laying out the government's agenda.This would be debated by party leaders, with a few first speeches from new MPs rounding out the week. The following week would then include further debate and maiden speeches, while the government would also move into urgency to pass and repeal a series of laws.They were aiming to pass four pieces of legislation repealing laws Labour brought in, as well as progressing 90-day trials to select committee, by Christmas."The first bill that we will introduce and move through all stages will be a bill to return the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to a single mandate, a single focus on fighting inflation," Bishop said."We intend to move a bill to repeal the Labour government's Fair Pay - or so-called Fair Pay - legislation to repeal that through all stages. We will remove and repeal the Natural and Built Environment Act, and the Spatial Planning Act - Labour's RMA 2.0 Acts - through all stages."We will repeal the ute tax - the Clean Car Discount - through all stages, and we will introduce and refer to select committee a bill to extend 90-day trial periods for all businesses."Luxon again said the plan was ambitious."I think we're going to do more in 100 days than the (last) government did in the last six years".The plan revolves around three focus areas: The economy, law and order, and public services.Rebuilding the economy and easing the cost of living:1 Stop work on the Income Insurance Scheme2 Stop work on Industry Transformation Plans3 Stop work on the Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme4 Begin efforts to double renewable energy production, including drawing up a national policy statement on renewable electricity generation.5 Withdraw central government from Let's Get Wellington Moving (LGWM)6 Meet with councils and communities to establish regional requirements for recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle and other recent major flooding events7 Make any additional Orders in Council needed to speed up cyclone and flood recovery efforts8 Start reducing public sector expenditure, including consultant and contractor expenditure9 Introduce legislation to narrow the Reserve Bank's mandate to price stability10 Introduce legislation to remove the Auckland Fuel Tax11 Cancel fuel tax hikes12 Begin work on a new government policy statement reflecting the new Roads of National Significance and new public transport priorities13 Repeal the Clean Car Discount scheme by 31 December 202314 Stop blanket speed limit reductions and start work on replacing the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2022.15 Stop central government work on the Auckland Light Rail project16 Repeal the Fair Pay Agreement legislation17 Introduce legislation to restore 90-day trial periods for all businesses18 Start work to improve the quality of regulation19 Begin work on a National Infrastructure Agency20 Introduce legislation to repeal the Water Services Entities Act 202221 Repeal the Spatial Planning and Natural and Built Environment Act; introduce a fast-track consenting regime22 Begin to cease implementation of new Significant Natural Areas and seek advice on operation of the areas23 Take policy decisions to amend the Overseas Investment Act 2005 to make it easier for build-to-rent housing to be developed in New Zealand24 Begin work to enable more houses to be built, by implementing the Going for Housing Growth policy and making the Medium Density Residential Standards optional for councilsRestoring law and order:25 Abolish the previous government's prisoner reduction target26 Introduce legislation to ban gang patches, stop gang members gathering in public, and stop known gang offenders from communicating with one another27 Give police greater powers to search gang members for firearms and make gang membership an aggravating factor at sentencing28 Stop taxpayer funding for section 27 cultural reports29 Introduce legislation to extend eligibility to offence-based rehabilitation programmes to remand prisoners30 Begin work to crack down on serious youth offending31 Enable more virtual participation in court proceedings32 Begin to repeal and replace Part 6 of the Arms Act 1983 relating to clubs and rangesDeliver better public services:33 Stop all work on He Puapua34 Improve security for the health workforce in hospital emergency departments35 Sign an MoU with Waikato University to progress a third medical school36 By 1 December 2023, lodge a reservation against adopting amendments to WHO health regulations to allow the government to consider these against a "national interest test"37 Require primary and intermediate schools to teach an hour of reading, writing and maths per day starting in 202438 Ban the use of cellphones in schools39 Appoint an expert group to redesign the English and maths curricula for primary school students40 Begin disestablishing Te Pukenga41 Begin work on delivering better public services and strengthening democracy42 Set five major targets for health system, including for wait times and cancer treatment43 Introduce legislation to disestablish the Māori Health Authority44 Take first steps to extend free breast cancer screening to those aged up to 7445 Repeal amendments to the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990 and regulations46 Allow the sale of cold medication containing pseudoephedrine47 Begin work to repeal the Therapeutics Products Act 202348 Establish a priority one category on the social housing waitlist to move families out of emergency housing into permanent homes more quickly49 Commission an independent review into Kāinga Ora's financial situation, procurement, and asset managementAsked about his confidence in getting through all the items on the 100-day plan, Luxon said the way they went through negotiations was working through the policy programmes from all three parties."We know there's a lot in it, we know we've got a massive amount of ambition, we know we're biting off a lot in order to get it done, but we're determined to do so. So frankly, hitting the country with a lot more intensity than we've observed in the last six years, to say 'we are going to get things done'."This story was originally published by RNZ

A charity donating truckloads of free farm fencing hopes to bring "mighty big smiles" to storm-hit farmers in the upper North Island.Around 300 farmers are in line to receive a bundle of fence posts to help restore their farms hit this year by adverse weather events.The convoy of eight trucks filled with 90km worth of wooden fence posts left Pōkeno in north Waikato early on Wednesday morning, headed for Auckland and then Wellsford to make the drop-off.LISTEN ▶ "We've got farmers coming from as far as Thames ... and Kaitaia, which just shows the level of need" - Danny Blampied ′ The donation mission was organised by Rapid Relief Team (RRT), a charity started by the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church nearly a decade ago.The charity had been busy on the East Coast this year helping farmers in Hawke's Bay, Te Tai Rāwhiti and Wairoa on their long and continued recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle.RRT New Zealand director Danny Blampied told First Up their mission was about community, compassion and support."We look out for events where there's homeless people, people suffering through various natural disasters - and [Cyclone] Gabrielle was one of those situations."We've done a lot in the farmers' zone for a while, supporting them while they get back on their feet after that natural disaster."He said the cyclone and the Auckland Anniversary floods had a huge impact on the regions - and he hoped the $1500 donated fencing bundle for each of the 300 farmers might help them out."Many of the farmers.. had a lot of slips, a lot of flooding (and) extensive damage across their farms," he said."We just wanted to give them a token so we can actually encourage them to get off farm and come and talk to like-minded farmers."A lot of them have had a lot of mental health stress since the storms, financial pressure, and we just think it's a great way to come talk to people - (to) realise there's some hope, realise there's people that care about them."Fencing was a great way of doing that - and it meets a need. It's expensive for them to re-erect their fences and they walk away with a mighty big smile on their faces."He said the response shows many are still recovering from recent wild weather events."We've got farmers coming from as far as Thames up to Wellsford, and from Kaitaia down to Wellsford, which is quite remarkable - and I guess it shows the level of need."The charity will also hold a community event on Thursday, where there will be a barbecue lunch, and veterinary, financial and mental health support services.Since February, it had donated $1.4 million worth of fencing materials to more than 1000 farmers.This story was originally published by RNZ

From Checkpoint, Waka Kotahi says repairs on State Highway 1 through the Brynderwyns need to be carried out before winter.The main route in and out Northland needs to be completely closed for a number of months for recovery and rebuild work after suffering significant damage in various extreme weather events this year. There is $62 million earmarked for the job, but dates are yet to be signed off with businesses worried the closure will mean a big economic hit.An independent report put the cost of an earlier closure of the Brynderwyns at almost $2m a day.▶ Listen to the interview by CheckpointWaka Kotahi regional relationships director Steve Mutton said the agency had delayed the work so it could consult with local communities.Work on SH1 on the Brynderwyns had been going on since Cyclone Gabrielle, which caused significant damage to the connection between Auckland and Whangārei, he said.The work needed to be done to ensure the route could withstand any weather events this coming winter, he said."So to date the work's really been focused on the short-term emergency response which made sure that the route was open as quickly as we could, safely and efficiently for people to use that critical link."But urgent repairs were now needed to return the road back to a pre-cyclone condition, Mutton said."So now we're actively working with the people of Northland on a way forward to make sure that we get their feedback and they can inform our next steps."Asked how urgent the work was, Mutton said the weather over the last year had been very unfavourable for Northland."We've just got some concerns there around some overslips and hills are still moving, we've still got some concerns around some of the retaining walls around the edge of the road."So it's important that we get in there and we shore that up to make sure it can last through this next winter period, (during) which we know more rain will come."Deciding when to close the road to get the work done was challenging, he said."We really understand and acknowledge the impact that this closure will have, this proposed closure will have on businesses and the local community."That was why further consultation was being done on the best timing for the work, he said."It really involves balancing the need to complete these works during the drier warmer months while meeting the needs of the businesses and the people in the local communities."Tourism and freight needs such as for the kiwifruit industry were two important considerations, he said.When the Brynderwyns closed it was important that any alternate routes were fit for purpose and Waka Kotahi had been working with the local councils to ensure that any alternate routes were safe and could deal with the expected amount of traffic, he said.Mutton said it was important to make the decision quickly in order to give people as much notice as possible as to when the closure would take place.The decision should be announced before Christmas, he said.