Susan Edmunds, Money CorrespondentHigh-profile Auckland real estate salesperson Martin Cooper has been fined $5000 and his business $10,000 for failing to provide information relating to a complaint about one of his salespeople.Cooper and Cooper and Co have also been told to pay costs of $13,566.25 to the Real Estate Authority.They were found guilty of misconduct in February.The issue began in 2021 when the Real Estate Authority's complaints assessment committee undertook a disciplinary investigation into a salesperson engaged by Cooper and Co.Investigator Rangi Callahan required information from Cooper and Co.In September, he phoned Cooper, and sent him an email asking him to supply information by the end of the week.He followed up with him seven times between then and March the next year.In May 2022, Cooper was issued with a notice requiring compliance with the request within 10 days.The Real Estate Agents Disciplinary Tribunal noted that no response was ultimately received and the material required was not supplied.In June, Callahan told Cooper he had informed the committee the notice had not been complied with.On November 2022, he emailed Cooper and Cooper and Co, telling them the committee had decided to look into the non-compliance.They were told they had until December 13 to respond.Cooper emailed and asked what property and people the complaint related to.He was given a copy of the Real Estate Authority's internal referral document, setting out the timeline of correspondence from Callahan.He asked for more time to respond and was given until January, which was later extended to February 2023.On February 14, Cooper's lawyers responded with information about why the notice had not been complied with.The documents were still not provided and on December 4 of that year, the committee laid the charge against Cooper and Cooper and Co.On December 5, the documents were provided.The Real Estate Agents Disciplinary Tribunal said ensuring compliance should have been foremost in Cooper's mind when he received the notice."He was aware that it was a statutory notice and the importance of complying with it."We note that non-compliance was only rectified after the charges were filed by the committee. However, it is acknowledged that the licensees had mistakenly thought that they had already supplied the material sought and that it was included in their response to the committee's initial investigation."The tribunal said it was appropriate to fine Cooper and Cooper and Co for the "mid-level offending", and for them to pay costs."We do not agree with the licenses' stance that costs should not be awarded. Put simply, Mr Cooper and Cooper and Co failed to comply with the notice and produce the documents requested by the committee."Had they not done so, the charge would not have been brought by the committee and there would have been no need for a hearing. They breached the Act and must face the consequences of penalty including a contribution to the committee's costs."This story was originally published by RNZ

Peter de GraafOrganisations trying to help people get off meth in Northland towns like Kaikohe say they are overwhelmed by "a tsunami of need".More funding - and residential care for addicts trying to quit - is desperately needed to tackle the problem, they say.Wastewater testing has shown methamphetamine use tripled in Northland last year, which now has the unenviable title of meth capital of New Zealand.Tia Ashby heads Te Hau Ora o Ngāpuhi, a Kaikohe-based iwi organisation that provides housing, health services and programmes like Paiheretia, which helps men caught up in the Corrections system.She said the meth crisis was "real, complex and growing".Wastewater testing shows Northland meth use triples in year"We see the daily toll it takes on whānau, on their wairua, their homes and their hope. We do what we can, but the reality is, the demand is outpacing our capacity," she said."We're just not funded at the scale needed to respond to the tsunami of need we are facing."Jade and Scott - they did not want to give their last names, because their work brings them into contact with organised crime - are employed by Te Hau Ora o Ngāpuhi as kaiarataki, or navigators, helping meth addicts and their whānau get the help they need.Jade said the problem was getting worse, and the money spent on drugs meant other family members missed out on essentials."The biggest thing that we see is the effect on the kids, on the mokos. You've got whānau that are going without kai, the living conditions can be appalling. It's a real pandemic, you could call it, and has some real atrocious effects."A broken lightbulb in a public toilet in Kaikohe is a telltale sign of meth use. Glass bulbs are sometimes used as improvised pipes for inhaling the drug. Photo: RNZ/Peter de GraafScott said the men they helped came with a whole raft of problems, including homelessness, poor health, mental distress, and crime.But when they burrowed deeper, they often found the underlying cause was meth.Scott said there were many reasons behind the drug's prevalence."Obviously, the cost of living out there. High unemployment. And people's trauma as well. It's about unpacking it all to find out why people are addicted to methamphetamine. It ruins households, it ruins families, it ruins communities, it brings crime. Nothing will ever end good unless people stop taking it."Ashby said the government's Resilience to Organised Crime in Communities ROCC programme, which had so far been rolled out in seven regions across New Zealand, was a good start.Although still in its early stages, ROCC aimed to stop people becoming addicted in the first place."It will build up resilience within whānau and prevent rangatahi [youth] from ever wanting to pick up the pipe, by making sure they're on the right pathway for education or employment, and not being led by gangs," Ashby said."The focus needs to be upstream, we don't want to be the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff all the time. But the reality is, those who have addiction need support now. There's no magic wand for any of this."Te Hau Ora o Ngāpuhi chief executive Tia Ashby says the Kaikohe-based organisation is battling a "tsunami of need". Photo: RNZ/Peter de GraafWhile ROCC was "a step in the right direction", more and sustainable investment in prevention was needed.Also desperately needed was comprehensive, culturally responsive residential treatment in mid-Northland for people who wanted to come off drugs.Currently most providers of those services, such as Grace Foundation and Higher Ground, were based in Auckland.Ashby said everyone would have to work together to tackle the meth conundrum.Police, MSD, iwi, Māori providers and local services such as Whakaoranga Whānau Recovery Hub were doing their best with the resources they had, she said."But without the right tools, good intentions can only go so far. It's time to match the scale of the response with the scale of the need."While the meth problem was not new, it hit headlines last month when Ngāpuhi chairman Mane Tahere made a public call for more policing and direct funding for iwi organisations whose work was slowed by government red tape.Northland MP Grant McCallum subsequently met Tahere and Far North Mayor Moko Tepania, who lives in Kaikohe, as well as staff at the local medical centre.He was shocked by the stories they told him.They included accounts of a young man high on meth assaulting staff and "causing mayhem" at the medical clinic, and of drug-induced family dysfunction with girls as young as 11 becoming pregnant."But the thing that just got me is, you know how when we were growing up, your dad might give you a sip of his beer or something when you're a young kid? Well, in some families, they're giving him a little bit of P."Northland MP Grant McCallum says communities have to make it clear they don't want drugs. Photo: RNZ / Peter de GraafMcCallum said he was pleased Tahere and Ngāpuhi were standing up and saying they had had enough."We have to try and break this cycle. It won't be fixed in five minutes, but we have to start, and one of the key things we've got to do to help break that cycle is get children to school and keep them there," McCallum said.In the longer term, he said the answer lay in a stronger local economy and a good education system, so people in towns like Kaikohe had well-paying jobs and children had options for their future."But ultimately - and this applies to any community, we're not picking on Kaikohe here, it's just the first cab off the rank - the community has to own this problem. If they don't want drugs in their community, they need to make it clear they don't want it in their community. And they need to push back and feed information through to the police when they find people dealing."During a recent visit to Whangārei, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey said the government was focussed on trying to stop drugs entering the border, coming down hard on dealers and organised crime, and taking a health-led approach to drug users.Although wastewater testing had shown a big jump in meth use, other data showed the number of users had not increased significantly.That suggested the same group of people was taking more meth, he said.Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey, seen here during a recent visit to Whangārei, says proceeds of crime could be used to fund more drug treatment services in Northland. Photo: RNZ/Peter de GraafDoocey offered a sliver of hope to organisations like Te Hau Ora o Ngāpuhi, who were calling out for more funding to prevent people becoming addicted in the first place."We're looking at the Proceeds of Crime Fund to fund some of that. When you look at some of the high-need areas like Northland, it will be a more targeted response. Also, we'll be looking at how we can resource existing services on the ground, who are already delivering, to scale up to the need," he said.The Proceeds of Crime Fund, which reopened recently for applications after a three-year freeze, would now focus on reducing violent crime.Such crime was often driven by drugs, Doocey said.Meanwhile, back on the front line, Jade said collective action and more funding were vital."I'm not sure that heavy handedness in the justice system, and filling the jails in a system that isn't working for our people anyway, is the right solution," he said."It's going to get worse unless we can get ahead of it, and work together in the same direction. I'm not saying we haven't done that in the past but it's going to need an even more collective approach. And I'm hoping people come with wallets open because it's going to need to be funded."Scott highlighted the need for comprehensive residential treatment in Northland, so people didn't need to have to be shipped off to Auckland for help."You'll never stop drugs, but we can come together and try to minimise it. What that looks like, I don't know. Police are obviously under the pump out there, like everyone else," he said."I think we need some more healing centres for whānau up here in Kaikohe. I don't like using the word rehabilitation. What's needed is a one-stop shop where people can reside, they can heal, get counselling, work on physical fitness, and the kids can go to school."Whatever the answer, for the kids Scott and Jade see every day, it can not come soon enough.This story was originally published by RNZ

A conservation effort led by Auckland Council rangers to assist one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most treasured native birds is delivering groundbreaking results.At least 55 rare hihi chicks have hatched in Shakespear Regional Park’s Open Sanctuary over the summer period of 2024 / 2025 – a first for the species in more than a hundred years.   Shakespear Regional Park’s Open Sanctuary.Auckland Council Parks Committee chair, Councillor Ken Turner, says the commitment from staff, local iwi, volunteers, and the Department of Conservation to reintroduce hihi to the Auckland mainland is a significant step to secure the future of this distinctive forest songbird.“I’m hugely thankful for the work that our rangers and others do to build on the conservation of our region’s flora and fauna. The success of this project will give hihi the boost it needs to flourish again, and Aucklanders an opportunity to experience these little treasures in their natural environment,” Cr Turner says.The new chicks have emerged following a carefully managed journey in June 2024 for 40 adult hihi, also known as stitchbirds, from predator-free Tiritiri Matangi Island to a new mainland home at Shakespear Regional Park.Senior Ranger of Shakespear Open Sanctuary Matt Maitland says the council’s Regional Parks northern team, Shakespear Open Sanctuary Society (SOSSI) and Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust, who all worked together on the translocation, have been thrilled to see so many of the birds breeding.“The number of healthy chicks to arrive has exceeded all our expectations, given it’s the first breeding season in their new home,” says Mr Maitland. “They are the first hihi – one of NZ’s rarest forest birds – to hatch and succeed in the area since disappearing from mainland Auckland in the 1870s.”Mr Maitland credits an ongoing focus from partners involved in the project for its success, with translocation support provided by the Hihi Conservation Charitable Trust, the Department of Conservation Hihi Recovery Group, and Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi.A couple of hihi were lost due to natural causes, but this is a great result compared with an unsuccessful translocation attempt in 2022, Mr Maitland says. The hihi is nationally threatened, with Te Hauturu-o-toi Little Barrier Island holding the only naturally-surviving population since the 1880s.Recovery efforts have recently established small populations in pockets around the North Island, including at Tiritiri Matangi. Shakespear Open Sanctuary now brings the total number of hihi habitats to eight.There are thought to be around 2000 hihi in the country, making it one of New Zealand’s rarest native birds.The council and SOSSI volunteers will continue to closely monitor the new population at Shakespear Regional Park, while working with other partners to provide enhanced protection to their habitat alongside education initiatives.SOSSI volunteer Maree Johnston and Auckland Council ranger Bruce Harrison carefully undertake the task of banding a hihi chick.

Pokere Paewai, Māori issues reporterThe theme for this year's Matariki holiday is 'Matariki mā Puanga' highlighting the communities who observe the star Puanga in their astronomical traditionsPuanga is the star Rigel, the brightest star in the Orion constellation. In the late autumn and early winter night sky Matariki is seen below Puanga and to the left of Tautoru (the three stars of Orion's Belt).While it is visible throughout the year, Puanga becomes especially prominent in the evening sky towards the end of autumn and in the predawn sky during the first month of the Māori new year.Puanga will feature at this year's nationally broadcast hautapu ceremony hosted by Ngāti Rangi at the base of Ruapehu.Ngāti Rangi spokesperson and leading Puanga expert Che Wilson said it was an honour for the iwi to host the ceremony and to be a part of the work that has been done over the past few years by Professor Rangi Mātāmua and all the host iwi - from Te Āti Awa and Ngāti Toa to Te Arawa and last year Ngāi Tahu.Traditional stories related to Puanga are shared across many iwi across Aotearoa but are prominent on the western side of Te Ika a Maui, including among the iwi of Taranaki, Whanganui and Rangitīkei.The North Island's main divide of the Tararua, Ruahine and Kaimanawa ranges separates the island's weather systems so Puanga gives iwi on the western side a better read on how to prepare for the year ahead, Wilson said."The reason we look to Puanga isn't because we can't see Matariki, there are parts of the region where you can't, but actually the reason we look to Puanga is because Puanga gives us a better read for the weather on the west coast," he said.Wilson said traditionally iwi on the west coast would start to observe changes in the weather during autumn, while the months around Matariki were a time to wānanga, to meet and deliberate."The thing is that Puanga and Matariki aren't that different, a lot of it is nuance. We do have a separate ceremony done the month before called Te Maru o te Tau where we send all of our mate with the setting sun to the pō, and that's when we call out our names."Matariki and Puanga have always gone together in karakia, Wilson said. They also look to other celestial bodies such as the Southern Cross, Atutahi (Canopus) and Rehua (Antares)."In our karakia we acknowledge Matariki during the mate, as we acknowledge those that have passed, because they become part of te huihui o Matariki. So that's our reference to Matariki but the remainder of the ceremony is actually focussed in on looking at Puanga."Wilson said it was a beautiful thing that New Zealand is starting to recognise both Matariki and Puanga."It's a chance for everybody to go out and send intention to whoever you may call your atua and to make that connection to nature, to the environment."The ceremonyWilson said this year's hautapu ceremony will differ slightly from those broadcast in previous years.After the opening of the ceremony the next step is te tākiritanga o ngā mate, invoking those people who have died in the last year, he said."We don't call out our mate but we then invoke them to transition to become stars."Next is the hautapu proper, the offering of food. But Wilson said instead of offering food to the stars they are offered to four atua or deities, Tāne, Tangaroa, Rongo and Maru."So we give to atua rather than stars, though those atua are also shown in the sky at that time."The last part of the ceremony is the whakapūmautanga, where a pou or post is placed into the ground. Wilson said those reciting the karakia bind the pou with intention as they "commit ourselves to our tūpuna, to our atua and to nature."This story was originally published by RNZ

Auckland Council has been working with landowners and residents on an operation to restore native forest on Kawau Island by removing wallabies and possums. After years of planning and preparation, the first stage of the project, Working towards a pest-free Kawau Island, is now under way.The project is a ground-based operation, primarily carried out by hunters, trained indicator dogs and thermal drones. Where required, and subject to permit approval, targeted toxins are proposed to be used in a second phase of the project to support hunting in areas where monitoring has revealed a high number of wallabies and possums. The first stage will begin at the southern end of the island, targeting pest populations in that area before moving to the northern side. The entire programme is expected to take 18 months, with monitoring continuing for a further six months.From 1 May 2025, hunting will start in the public conservation land of Kawau Island Historic Reserve and nearby private properties (block 1 in the map below), targeting wallabies and possums.A map of Kawau Island showing the treatment areas.Towards a pest-free Kawau IslandThe complete removal of pest animal species, starting with wallabies and possums, will make Kawau Island one of the largest inhabited pest-free islands in New Zealand –and a legacy for generations to come.This collaborative environmental programme is part of the Auckland Regional Pest Management Plan 2020-2030, and works with, and builds on, the Pohutukawa Trust’s conservation efforts by seeking to eradicate mammalian pest species from Kawau Island to benefit nature, residents and visitors.Auckland Council is working in partnership with Manuhiri Kaitiaki Charitable Trust, Department of Conservation, a ground-based delivery consortium led by Island Conservation, as well as actively engaging the island’s community to achieve a pest animal-free Kawau Island.The project is collaboratively funded, thanks to Predator Free 2050 Ltd, Auckland Council (through the Natural Environment Targeted Rate), the Ministry for Primary Industries (through the Tipu Mātoro National Wallaby Eradication Programme), Department of Conservation and the Kawau community.“This project wouldn’t be possible without our project funders, including landowners and residents of the island. We’ve seen generous donations and pledges through the New Zealand Nature Fund by the Kawau Island community. We know landowners, residents and those who frequent Kawau Island are invested in this project, the decisions we make and the outcomes,” says Samantha Hill, Auckland Council General Manager, Environmental Services.“We will continue to engage with user groups, landowners, occupiers and stakeholders about the operation. We are also working closely with our iwi partner, Ngāti Manuhiri and agencies like the Department of Conservation and the Ministry of Health.”The impact of introduced pest animalsA large island, Kawau has an extensive canopy of native forest. It is home to threatened and at-risk indigenous species including the North Island weka, kororā/little blue penguin and pāteke/brown teal, as well as many other species of shore and forest birds, including the North Island brown kiwi and kākā.“Browsing species like possums and wallabies put pressure on our forests which, if left unmanaged, can lead to long-term damage and changes to the natural environment. This is especially evident on Kawau Island, where the selective browsing of wallabies and possums has changed the forest composition, increased fire risk and destroyed potential habitats and food sources for indigenous species,” explains Samantha Hill.““Additionally, Kawau Island continues to be the only place where wallabies are found in Tāmaki Makaurau and their continued presence is a biosecurity risk to primary industry and the natural environment in mainland Auckland and Northland,” she says.“A successful programme will enable the forest to recover, potentially attracting new species from nearby pest-free islands and sanctuaries. It will also allow us to preserve habitats for threatened and at-risk species that make Kawau unique.”Important informationStage one of the programme begins on 1 May and involves hunting.Residents and visitors to the island should follow all warning signage.Signage will be in place during the operation and will remain for the duration of the caution period. For more information on the Working towards a pest-free Kawau Island project, including FAQs and further factsheets, please visit the project website or phone us on 09 301 0101. To support this project and ongoing conservation efforts, visit New Zealand Nature Fund.

A new study has found vaping more than doubles the risk of serious lung disease.A longitudinal study published by Oxford University has found people who vape, even without a history of smoking, are 2.29 times as likely to develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Respiratory physician Dr Stuart Jones said it was one of the first studies to truly spell out the long term risks of vaping."The important part with this is, with a lot of the previous studies a lot of the vape users had been previous smokers and the data wasn't so clear, whereas in this study the vapers had only ever been vapers," he said."So this is the first major study to show quite clearly that vaping alone causes COPD."Other studies have found smokers are three to five times as likely to develop COPD, meaning vaping remained a safer alternative to smoking."The rate of COPD diagnosis was higher in people who were smoking than vaping, so it's still not as risky ... but there's clear long-term negative effects," Dr Jones said.But the most significant finding was that dual users of cigarettes and vapes had a higher risk than even those who exclusively smoked cigarettes."The biggest problem is in people who choose to dual use, so in other words they're smoking and vaping ... they had the highest risk of all, and it's because smoking and vaping damage the airway in slightly different ways, so if you combine the two you double up," he said."I think the message is simple: If you don't smoke, don't start vaping. If you're vaping, don't keep smoking."This article was originally published by RNZ

Surf Park Open Day Offers Sneak Peek into Auckland's Future Wave DestinationLocals and surf enthusiasts will have the chance to get a closer look at the highly anticipated Auckland Surf Park, with a community open day scheduled for Saturday, 3 May.Held on-site at 1350 Dairy Flat Highway, Dairy Flat, the drop-in event will run from 9am to 12pm and is expected to draw interest from across the Auckland region. Visitors will be able to view the development area, speak with project partners Aventuur, and meet project ambassador Sir John Kirwan. Aventuur is the leading developer and operator of Auckland's Surf Park and currently working on similar projects in Perth and Florida.Construction has been underway since summer, with earthworks clearly visible north of Dairy Flat School. The project’s first stage is now taking shape, laying the groundwork for what will become a 43-hectare destination for surfers, athletes, and visitors alike. Auckland Surf Park is expected to open to the public in 2027. Once complete, the park will feature a world-class surfing lagoon, high-performance sport and leisure facilities, tourist accommodation, a restaurant, and walking and cycling trails. A 7-hectare solar farm and the Spark North Shore Data Centre will also form part of the wider development.In a world-first approach to sustainability, the developers plan to capture heat generated by the on-site Spark data centre to warm the water in the surf lagoon, helping to maintain optimal surfing conditions year-round. The solar farm will provide renewable energy to power the data centre, creating a self-sustaining energy loop and reducing the project's environmental footprint.Saturday’s informal event offers a chance for the community to ask questions, learn more about the plans, and get a feel for the scale of the project. Free off-road parking will be available, and early arrivals can grab a complimentary coffee. A sausage sizzle and covered shelter will also be on hand to keep visitors comfortable.Access is via the southern end of the site from Dairy Flat Highway—visitors are asked to enter through the yellow-shaded area marked on the event map.Whether you’re a local resident or part of Auckland’s surfing community, all are welcome to stop by and see the future home of surfing in the region.

Often described by its patients and loved ones as ‘a lifeline’, Harbour Hospice is asking the community to donate to be theirs during its newly expanded annual awareness campaign so they can continue to care for patients, their families and whānau when they need them most.Harbour Hospice Awareness Month runs from 1 to 31 May with a number of local businesses and supermarkets standing alongside the local charity in support of its vital work. Harbour Hospice Chief Executive, Amanda Fowler, says the organisation has always been humbled by the generosity of its community, and that support has never been more important than it is now.“The health sector is under immense pressure and hospices nationally are facing significant financial strain. We see the profound impact hospice has on the lives of our community every day, and we need continued support to ensure we’re here long into the future,” Fowler says.“Everyone deserves to live well until they die, with this campaign seeking to show the often unseen work of our exceptional teams. When a patient needs us, we pick up the phone any time of the day or night. And when a loved one is scared or feeling alone, hospice is there to wrap around them too.” Harbour Hospice is the only specialist palliative care provider in the Warkworth/Wellsford community, caring for more than 1300 people every year. But rising demand, increasing complexity of care, and limited government funding means they must raise millions each year to keep services running.Diagnosed with CPOD at age 69, Gary* was referred to Harbour Hospice. He was reluctant at first as he thought it was only a place where you go to die, however from the day he and wife Margaret* arrived their lives changed for the better.“I don't know whether I would have been able to cope for too much longer if hospice hadn't stepped in,” Margaret said. “They were always there, they made us feel safe and they made our lives easier.”Harbour Hospice supported the couple in ways they hadn’t even thought of. “They helped us apply for a Disabled Parking Permit and they convinced Gary to get a wound checked that was not healing. Hospice sorted his breathing, and when things got too much for me, they would take him for a couple of days for respite care,” Margaret said.“People don’t realise how exhausting it is to look after a loved one. I didn’t like leaving him with anyone but his sister, but we trusted hospice implicitly. When Gary went in, I would feel this relief and he enjoyed his stays. I’m just so thankful that the last few months of his life, we were both so well cared for by Harbour Hospice.”But without continued support from the community, Harbour Hospice can’t be there for people like Gary and Margaret when they need them most, Fowler adds. “We need our community as much as our patients and their whānau need us. That’s why we’re asking everyone to be a part of this campaign. Every action, every dollar, every conversation helps ensure we can keep showing up.”Mason Containers, Move By Design, Diamond Fusion and Northland Waste have kickstarted fundraising efforts by generously matching any online donation given during the month at harbourhospice.org.nz/awarenessmonth up to $20,000.Some supermarkets will be asking customers to add $1 to their shop for the charity, with other local businesses supporting the campaign in different ways. Harbour Hospice Shops will also be giving customers the opportunity to add another $1 to their purchase.“Every donation will go towards ensuring that our teams can walk alongside patients and their loved ones when they’re at their most vulnerable. Wherever and whenever someone needs us, your generosity means we can continue to be that ‘lifeline’,” Fowler says.To find out how you can support Harbour Hospice Awareness Month (1-31 May) visit harbourhospice.org.nz/awarenessmonth.* Last names have been removed for privacy reasons.DID YOU KNOW?Hospice care comes to you, wherever you are in our community.Our care is free to anyone who needs specialist support at any stage of a serious illness which has little or no chance of a cure.For further information please contact: Shannon Slade at [email protected] or 022 357 1570Karyn Henger at [email protected] or 021 459 863.About Harbour Hospice Harbour Hospice is the only specialist palliative care provider for families living in the North Shore, Hibiscus Coast and Warkworth/Wellsford communities. We provide compassionate care, free of charge, working primarily with patients, families and whānau in their homes, and also within our three hospice sites. Our services include medical care, spiritual and emotional support, physiotherapy and complementary therapy, social activities and more, with an emphasis on helping people live every moment in whatever way is important to them.

The Mahurangi East Library opeining date has unfortunately been delayed further. Last week, the library team farewelled their beloved portacom temporary library. It has been a wonderful little home for nearly a year, and the library staff are incredibly grateful to everyone who visited and supported them during that time. They would like to say a massive thank you to the Mahurangi East Tennis Club for allowing the use of their space while the library operated from the portacom, and for their amazing support, friendliness, and collaboration.The newly refurbished library is now looking fantastic, with the team working hard to create a warm and welcoming space. However, due to unexpected issues in preparing the building for public use, the planned reopening date of Monday 28th April has unfortunately been delayed. At this stage, there is no confirmed new opening date, but updates will be shared as soon as they are available.In the meantime, visitors are asked to either hold onto their books or return them to Warkworth War Memorial Library. Any holds placed with the team will remain safe and ready for collection once the library reopens.The team sincerely apologises for the inconvenience, as the delays are beyond their control. They kindly ask for patience, understanding, and a little kindness toward staff, who are doing their best under the circumstances.Thank you for the continued support!

At 88, most people are slowing down — but Garth Barfoot is doing anything but. Fresh from completing the 2024 New York Marathon as the event’s oldest finisher, the legendary Kiwi has now taken on a new role: the first official patron of The Coastal Trail — a shared walking and cycling route set to connect Pūhoi to Mangawhai.Garth has donated a total of $150,000 to the trail: $100,000 to help kickstart the project in its early stages, and a further $50,000 to support construction of the Point Wells section.Chair of The Coastal Trail Trust, Aidan Bennett, says Garth’s support has been nothing short of transformative.Garth completed the New York City Marathon“Garth’s generosity and spirit are truly inspirational. His early donation gave this project its start before we were even ready to build. Having him as our first patron is a huge honour — and entirely fitting for someone who has spent his life pushing limits.”Garth’s connection to cycling dates back to childhood.“My link with cycling goes back to the Second World War,” he recalls.“In primary school I had a newspaper run using a bike to deliver the evening paper. My elder brothers would go on biking holidays with my father — petrol for civilians was a very sparse commodity.”Years later, it was his wife Judy — a retired anaesthetist and fellow adventurer — who got him back on the bike.“Over time I joined her more and more,” says Garth. One memorable trip had them tracing the rugged Motu River Trail from Ōpōtiki to Gisborne. The rocks made cycling tricky, and Garth jokingly considered returning with a spade to clear them himself.That instinct to improve things stuck. When he discovered that his friend and fellow triathlete Kathy Sheldrake was chairing the Motu Trail volunteer group, he made his first trail donation — later extending his support to Queenstown Trails and now The Coastal Trail.His introduction to The Coastal Trail came through marathon legend Allison Roe — a founding trustee of the project and Garth’s mentor in the lead-up to New York. Their bond through triathlons, Masters Games, and a shared love of endurance sport led to Garth becoming a key supporter of the trail.Garth’s latest feat — completing the New York Marathon in 11 hours, 29 minutes and 49 seconds — was no small challenge. Running alongside his daughter Kiri and friend Lay Cunningham, he braved freezing temperatures, multiple layers of clothing, and the relentless energy of the NYC crowds.“If you’re going to do one marathon in your life, it should be New York,” he said in a recent interview. “It’s the crowds that keep you going.”Though he’s no longer cycling, Garth is a regular at 5km Parkruns in Auckland.“Father Time has put an end to my cycling,” he says, “but not to my use of cycleways. They’re some of the most popular venues for Parkruns — something this retirement village resident looks forward to every Saturday morning.”Garth Barfoot’s name may be synonymous with real estate, but his legacy is equally etched into Aotearoa’s sporting and community landscape — one finish line, one donation, and one trail at a time.Garth’s generosity is helping to create something truly special — a safe, sustainable walking and cycling trail that will connect schools, communities, beaches and bush from Pūhoi to Mangawhai. A trail for everyone, for generations to come.Want to be a legend like Garth? Get behind the trail and help bring it to life: www.thecoastaltrail.co.nz

A genuine, hardworking Kiwi battler, Chris Ahern has been given just three months to live without access to an unfunded treatment for his multiple myeloma, which has recently developed into an even more aggressive form of blood cancer. He urgently requires treatment with the drug Daratumumab, which his haematologist strongly believes could save his life. While Daratumumab is funded in 49 other countries, it is not funded in New Zealand. The cost of the treatment is $140,000.Chris Ahern — a coach, mentor, father, and husband — has given so much to the communities of Wellsford, Mangawhai, Matakana, and Tomarata. Family, friends, and the community are desperately appealing for help — any donation, no matter how small, will go towards funding this vital treatment and giving Chris a real chance to continue his life with his loving wife Anna, his beautiful daughter Willa, and his three young sons, all under the age of ten. The family is frantically selling assets, including farm machinery, in an effort to raise the funds for treatment.Already, an incredible $64,300 has been raised towards the $140,000 goal, showing just how much Chris is loved and valued by those around him. However, more support is urgently needed to reach the full amount required.Chris is a hardworking, intelligent, and kind fencer who has contributed greatly to his community. For many years, he coached local soccer teams and Rippa rugby during the summers, and he remains a big part of the athletics community. His loyal huntaway, Benny, barely leaves his side, clearly unwilling to be without him — just like his family, friends, and wider community.Chris's 80-plus-year-old mother, who has lived in her home since she was 18, is willing to sell her house and live in a caravan if necessary to help her son. His wife Anna has only recently survived her own battle with breast cancer, enduring chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, and intense treatment. With help, there is hope that Chris can survive too.Heather Cato, the creator of this appeal, has known Chris for many years. He initially worked for Heather and the community, and over time, he and his family became close friends. Heather describes Chris as honest, hardworking, and the cornerstone of a truly deserving Kiwi family.Use of Funds:All funds raised will go towards the cost of the life-prolonging drug Daratumumab, offering Chris the chance to continue living and being the heart of his family and community.Here is the link if you are able to donate any amount https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/please-help-save-chris-life

Police are appealing for information about another vehicle in relation to the murder of Kyle Whorrall in St Johns over Easter Weekend.The vehicle, a silver 2004 Mitsubishi Grandis, registration GNG652, is believed to be connected to people Police would like to speak to.We believe they have crucial information to share with us about the events surrounding Kyle’s tragic death.The vehicle may have travelled to Northland in recent days.Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin is asking those occupants to make contact with Police as soon as possible.“These people of interest could have the information we are looking for that will help us understand why Kyle was killed.“We know they are likely feeling apprehensive about speaking with us, but we are asking them come forward as soon as possible.It is time to do the right thing.“If you have any information about this vehicle or the people involved, we also want to hear from you.“We will be continuing to carry out our enquiries to locate this vehicle and the people with it as a matter of urgency.”If you have any information, please contact Police online or call 105 using the reference number 250419/9858, Operation Aberfeldy.Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) is warning the public to stay clear of the southern end of Omaha Beach near Auckland after a live venomous yellow-bellied sea snake was found resting in the sand dunes.DOC senior ranger Karl Fisher said the snake was spotted by a member of the public, and a ranger has been sent to investigate. In the meantime, people and their dogs are urged to avoid the area.A ranger has been dispatched to the site, but officials are warning people - and their dogs - to steer clear of the area in the meantime.The yellow-bellied sea snakes are venomous and can be aggressive, Fisher said. They are found throughout the Pacific Ocean and are native to New Zealand.The Department of Conservation is warning the public to stay clear of the southern end of Omaha Beach near Auckland after a live venomous yellow-bellied sea snake - was found. Photo: Supplied / Department of Conservation"It's very uncommon to see them on land, but with the extreme weather we've had recently, we are seeing all kinds of birds and sea life being blown ashore."Yellow-bellied sea snakes are rarely encountered on beaches.Fisher said the area will likely be cordoned off once the ranger assesses the situation, and a decision will be made about what to do with the snake.DOC reminded the public it is illegal to kill or possess a native sea snake, and urged anyone who sees the creature to report sightings immediately by calling 0800 DOC HOT."We want to make sure the public are aware and especially dog walkers or any children playing in the area," Fisher said.https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/559188/venomous-sea-snake-found-at-auckland-beach-public-urged-to-stay-away

MetService has added a yellow severe thunderstorm watch for Northland, which was already under a yellow heavy rain watch.On Saturday night, the heavy rain watch was in place for the period until mid- Sunday afternoon.down-pours possible. Amounts may approach warning criteria and possibly exceed them about isolated areas, especially in downpours." Forecasters warned of: "periods of heavy rain, with thunderstorms andThe yellow severe thunderstorm watch added on Saturday through until about 3pm Sunday, to emphasise the risk posed by thunderstorm conditions in Northland. The storms could affect people at the top of Northland from 10pm Saturday, before spreading south to Dargaville and Whangarei by 6am Sunday."Downpours of 25 to 40mm per hour are possible in localised places - and may occur regardless of whether there is thunderstorm activity or not," forecasters said.That could lead to hazardous driving conditions, poor visibility, flooding or slips.The forecasters noted that the conditions bringing the heavy rain came with "a lot of uncertainty", and it was hard to tell how much rain could be on the way, and where it might fall.Many parts of Northland and Auckland have been hit hard by heavy rain, storms, and flooding this month, first in early April, then last week, by the rain-sodden and slow-moving ex-Tropical Cyclone Tam weather system.Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula - and the areas surrounding them - could also have heavy rain and thunderstorms heading their way this weekend, too, MetService forecasters said."An active front will lie slow-moving close to the north of the North Island over the next few days... Warm, moist air is being pulled over the country ...by [the] low in the north Tasman Sea."People are advised to stay up-to-date on the latest changes to the forecast, on MetService's watches and warnings page.https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/559159/severe-thunderstorm-alert-for-northland-sunday

Cultural historian Richard Wolfe explores the trajectory of the kiwi bird becoming one of New Zealand's national symbols and a part of its identity in his latest book.In Kiwi: A Curious Case of National Identity, Wolfe writes about how companies adopted the name and image of the flightless bird and its popular association with New Zealand soldiers during World War I.Even prior to European settlers arriving, the feathers of the bird - also known as te manu huna a Tāne or the hidden bird of the god of forest Tāne - were highly sought after for prestigious cloaks (kahu kiwi).Some of the other earliest adaptations came in the 1850s, when an insurance company used the bird as part of their logo, and the Bank of New Zealand's imagery was associated with the bird early on too, Wolfe told Nine to Noon."The kiwi, along with many other examples of our flora and fauna and Māori culture, with varying degrees of cultural insensitivity, were used for trademarks and symbols for companies and for various organisations.Cultural historian Richard Wolfe explores the trajectory of the kiwi bird becoming one of New Zealand's national symbols and a part of its identity in his latest book.In Kiwi: A Curious Case of National Identity, Wolfe writes about how companies adopted the name and image of the flightless bird and its popular association with New Zealand soldiers during World War I.Even prior to European settlers arriving, the feathers of the bird - also known as te manu huna a Tāne or the hidden bird of the god of forest Tāne - were highly sought after for prestigious cloaks (kahu kiwi).Some of the other earliest adaptations came in the 1850s, when an insurance company used the bird as part of their logo, and the Bank of New Zealand's imagery was associated with the bird early on too, Wolfe told Nine to Noon."The kiwi, along with many other examples of our flora and fauna and Māori culture, with varying degrees of cultural insensitivity, were used for trademarks and symbols for companies and for various organisations."The big thing that really gave the kiwi a sort of boost in terms of it being accepted as a national symbol and aligning itself or being adopted by New Zealanders, was the invention by an Australian [William Ramsay] of kiwi boot polish… when he came to giving it a name, he decided to honour his wife's homeland."Kiwi being a short, sharp, sort of easily remembered name and the image of the bird, a sort of nice round image, suited a round tin admirably."The product, which was launched in Melbourne in the early 1900s, went on to become popular abroad too, as the British government bought it in bulk for use by the army during World War I, he says."So the tins then became scattered around the battlefields of Europe and the connection was made with New Zealand soldiers over there, and so by the time they came back to New Zealand post-war, the connection had sort of been made."Prior to that, New Zealanders, like Australians, soldiers were referred to as diggers, but at least calling them Kiwi gave them a rather separate identity."Near the end of WWI and whilst stationed at Sling Camp in southern England, New Zealand soldiers became frustrated while waiting for transportation home and preoccupied themselves by drawing a kiwi outline on the side of the chalk hill overlooking their camp, Wolfe says."This bird became a local landmark. So, I think that sort of helped cement the association between the soldiers and the bird."But interestingly, during the Second World War, the kiwi had to be covered over, because it was seen as a bit of a landmark that Germans coming across the channel would keep an eye out for it and know where they were."Photo: Supplied: Oratia BooksThe landmark is still visible and was initially being cared for by the same company that invented the kiwi shoe polish, he says.But the bird's emergence as a symbol of the country could be dated back even further to the early 1900s, with several cartoons depicting the All Blacks team as a kiwi.Wolfe believes one of the factors that boosted the kiwi as a national emblem was that it was unofficial."New Zealand's national symbols are the silver fern, which is on the national coat of arms, and the Southern Cross … which is on the national flag."But the kiwi doesn't have that sort of official endorsement, although it's on coats of arms of various cities and burrows … but it's very much a bird of the people, and I think the fact it has not had that official endorsement has helped its rise and acceptance by New Zealanders at large."Wolfe says concerns about "the most unlike bird of birds" being the national symbol were overcome thanks to its special traits and apparent ingenuity, which New Zealanders have been likened to.https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/530889/richard-wolfe-on-how-new-zealanders-became-known-as-kiwis

One of the artists behind a Anzac Day light and sound show, and whose grandfather fought at Gallipoli, says the occasion is about keeping family stories alive.Interactive light projection piece by Johann Nortje Photo: RNZ / Jessie ChiangAbout 200 people were at St David's Church in central Auckland last night for the opening of the art event Southern Star - Te Tonga Whetu o te Rangi which featured band music, choirs and bagpipes.Sean Winterbottom, whose grandfather, Fred Marriot, fought at Gallipoli as a teenager, was one of the artists who created a light projection onto the church.Anzac Day was a time to remember his family history, he said."In a lot of families, grandparents are the stuff of legend and [we try to] keep that legend alive in the stories," said Mr Winterbottom."I think he [Fred Marriott] signed up when he was 16, 17 years old at Gallipoli."Mr Winterbottom said his grandfather survived Gallipoli, went on to fight at Greece and the Somme before also serving in World War II.Artist Sean Winterbottom standing next to his grandfather Fred Marriott who fought at Gallipoli. Photo: RNZ / Jesse ChiangHis piece, Toa, is about the warrior spirit that soldiers carried with them to war and their connection to the land at home.The director and curator of the event, Paul Baragwanath, said the three light projections were selected based on the Southern Star brass pin created by Warwick Freeman.The event was an important occasion, said Mr Baragwanath.Paul Baragwanath, the director and curator of the art event. Photo: RNZ / Jesse Chiang"This is a very special time of remembrance, it's been 100 years since [the end] of World War I and it's going to be another 100 years before we commemorate the bi-centenary," he said."Now is our last opportunity to really remember them in a very meaningful way."The two other works include pieces by Jeff Smith and Johann Nortje.The light projections will continue until Saturday night.This story was originally published by RNZ

Thank you to the service people and their families who sacrificed and lost so much for humanity.Here is a brief history of Anzac Day from RSA.Lest we forget and may they be resting in peace.

Victor WatersA pest eradication project at Lake Tomarata north of Auckland is cleaning up water that has not been the same since a fanatical fisherman illegally introduced invasive fish more than 50 years ago.Auckland Council - with assistance from University of Waikato - has been using gill nets to remove rudd and tench species which have had a devastating impact on the lake's ecosystem since they were introduced by an avid coarse fisherman in 1971.Auckland Council freshwater ecologist Belinda Studholme said the water quality of Lake Tomarata was one of the fastest declining in the region."There are some key species in this lake that protect water quality. There's freshwater mussels, kākahi and then there's the native plants that grow across the lakebed that bind up all the sediment."So the kākahi are filtering out bacteria and sediment out of the water column, and the freshwater plants that form this meadow over the bottom would be binding up all the sediment so that it doesn't get re-suspended when it's windy or when there's boats."The pest fish rudd, they eat the native plants, so there's hardly any native plants growing on the lake bed now and the tench, they're benthic feeders, and they'll be eating the kākahi," said Studholme.The native mollusc is a cornerstone in improving the lake's natural health, with a single kākahi having the ability to filter a litre of water an hour."Where you have large populations of freshwater mussels, they almost work like so-called ecosystem engineers - they're kind of self-cleaning the lake," said Waikato University Associate Professor Nick Ling.Studholme said a bed of these freshwater mussels could filter much of the lake in about a week.She said by improving their populations in the wild, they could improve many of New Zealand's polluted waterways."We've still got a few little pockets of them around the lake, but they're not thriving like they should be. ""It would be amazing if we could grow them on demand, but they're quite finicky," she said.Photo: Nick MonroThe gill nets have been placed every 50 metres across the lake, which was created when the formation of sand dunes along the coast prevented inland water from running out to sea.No rivers or streams flow into Lake Tomarata and the surrounding lakes, meaning it is filled by rainfall and water seeping up through the sand.But this special ecosystem has been compromised by the actions of Stewart Smith, a London-born fishing fanatic who moved to New Zealand when he was 15 in 1928. He spent years locked up in a conscientious objectors camp, after becoming a devout communist.An avid coarse fisherman, Smith dedicated much of his life to "improving" recreational fishing in New Zealand by introducing these fish which he often bred in a garage.According to Smith's own personal records, he illegally introduced more than 15,000 fish across New Zealand's freshwater systems between the 1960s and late 2000s.Photo: Nick MonroLing said Smith targeted Lake Tomarata in 1971."They were introduced to this lake on the 18th of January 1971. He kept meticulous diaries of his activities, so he released 75 rudd and 73 tench into the lake on that date."He thought that New Zealand needed these species to make it a little piece of England and so he was very prolific, he introduced fish into a whole lot of lakes."Some of them didn't take actually, because the lake didn't support the species, but many of the lakes it did and now we've got this legacy problem, including things like koi carp in the Waikato River," he said.Ling said they were beginning to get on top of the decades-long issue at Lake Tomarata."The work that we've done so far, we've set in excess of 35 kilometres of gill net in this lake over the last three years and our modelling suggests that we have removed more than 95 percent of the population."Hopefully we can fish them to extinction, but even if we can't get every last fish, at least we can suppress the population to a point where we start to see recovery of the water quality and the biodiversity values of the lake," he said.This story was originally published by RNZ

A replacement for State Highway 1 over Northland's notorious Brynderwyn Hills will be built just to the east of the current road - a major change from the original plan of building the new four-lane highway well to the west of the slip-prone hills.Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones announced Waka Kotahi's preferred route for a Northland Expressway on Wednesday, stretching about 100km from the motorway's current endpoint at Warkworth all the way to Whangārei.The biggest surprise is that NZTA has dropped its earlier preference for a route that would have skirted around the western side of the troublesome Brynderwyn Hills.Instead, the new route will, like the current highway, go over the top of the Brynderwyns, but to the east of the existing route.Bishop said the Brynderwyn Hills section was highly challenging, due to the steep terrain and unstable geology."Alternative options looked at western routes but following further investigation, NZTA has reassessed and found a near-east alignment close to State Highway 1. This is a more direct route with more predictable geology that can be managed through engineering design," he said.A slip on Brynderwyn Hills. Photo: Supplied / Waka KotahiA timeline and potential cost for the project are not yet known, but the full Northland Expressway is expected to be one of the most expensive infrastructure projects in New Zealand history.Last year the Infrastructure Commission warned the project could consume $1 of every $10 spent by the Government on infrastructure during the next 25 years.Plans for a new route around the Brynderwyns were put on ice in 2017 but revived with urgency in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle in early 2023, when the highway was closed on-and-off for months due to slips and reconstruction.During the closures, traffic between Auckland and Northland was forced to use narrow back roads via Waipū, or the much longer State Highway 14 around the west coast.Even the $85 million repair job carried out on the unstable south side of the Brynderwyns in 2024 is expected to last only another seven to 10 years.A slip triggered by Cyclone Tam during Easter weekend, which blocked one lane and reportedly damaged a car, was another reminder of the route's instability.Also announced this morning were the preferred routes for two other sections of the Northland Expressway.Bishop said the 26km section from Warkworth to Te Hana, bypassing the summertime traffic jams of Wellsford, would be built mostly to the east of the current highway.Italian company Webuild confirmed earlier this year it would bid to build and operate that section of the Northern Expressway as a public-private partnership.The section of highway from the northern side of the Brynderwyns to Port Marsden Highway at Ruakākā would run west of the existing highway.A preferred route for the northernmost section, a notoriously crash-prone stretch of highway between Ruakākā and Whangārei, had yet to be determined.The highway through urban Whangārei would retain its current route but would be widened in places.This story was originally published by RNZ