Two people will face court after a car chase in Whangārei in which the driver is accused of ramming into police vehicles.Officers say they approached a car at a petrol station in Raumanga about 10.30pm on Wednesday because the owner had a warrant out for his arrest.They say the car sped away, almost hitting an officer.Police chased the car down State Highway 1, where they say it swerved onto the wrong side of the road as it drove west on Loop Road towards Otaika Valley Road.While trying to escape, the driver is accused of ramming into pursuing police cars multiple times.A 31-year-old male driver was facing charges relating to failing to stop, assault, and resisting police and was due to appear in the Whangārei District Court on Thursday.A 29-year-old woman was due to appear at a later date. Two other passengers were arrested and released.This Story was originally posted on RNZ News

Operation Cobalt has reached a milestone of 50,000 charges laid against gang members and associates, just over a year after it was launched. In the process, Police have removed more than 500 firearms out of the wrong hands as part of ongoing disruption of unlawful activity. Alongside enforcement, there continues to be a focus on prevention opportunities through various initiatives and inter-agency collaboration to reduce harm and address wider issues surrounding organised crime in communities.Detective Superintendent Uraia Vakaruru, the National Controller for Operation Cobalt, says Police have continued to keep pressure on gangs, reinforcing that unlawful behaviour is not acceptable. “Any violence or other unlawful gang activity has no place in our communities, and we have no tolerance for the harm that this inflicts on the public. “Police have run large and visible operations keeping the movements and actions of gang members in check. We have deployed staff across the country and also had checkpoints in operation. We have used disruption and targeting tactics with search warrants, arrests and seizures being made.” The results speak for themselves. Since the end of August, 50,396 charges have been laid against gang members and associates for a offences which include violence, dishonesty, drugs and firearms offending.Police have seized 501 firearms and issued 64,524 Infringement Offence Notices (IONs).“We have seen results from right around the country since Operation Cobalt began,” Detective Superintendent Vakaruru says. “Whether that has been arrests and vehicles seized in the Far North, firearms seized in central Auckland suburbs, or gang members arrested moving through the South Island; Police have continued to target illegal behaviour being employed by gangs.”The milestone is also testament to the work of dedicated Operation Cobalt staff targeting serious offending, as well as work being carried out every day by staff in a range of workgroups.“Alongside Operation Cobalt, each policing district run their own operations and these fall within the priorities as part of our national unlawful gang activity focus,” Detective Superintendent Vakaruru says.“I acknowledge the various teams that have had a part of play with this result, for their tenacity and professionalism in getting the job done.“Police are continuously improving our processes and we continue to see enhanced information and intelligence sharing right across the country which assists with enforcement opportunities.” By the numbers – as of 31 August 2023: Search warrants – 1,369Warrantless searches – 781 Charges laid – 50,396 Infringements – 64,524 Firearms seized – 501

Medicinal cannabis producers are looking at growing more plants and exploring different product options as regulations are being relaxed.The government has approved changes to New Zealand's medicinal cannabis scheme, expected to make it cheaper for patients getting a prescription.Currently, the average cost for patients' prescriptions from a pharmacy is several hundred dollars for up to a couple of months' supply.Cabinet released the changes in July and Medsafe, which regulated medicines and medical devices, said broadening the medicinal cannabis categories meant a wider range of plants could be grown locally, and more cannabis products exported.Acting group manager Derek Fitzgerald said changing the quality labelling requirements for exports of medicinal cannabis meant New Zealand companies could access markets more readily.He said because New Zealand had a small population, our medicinal cannabis market was also small."We recognise that access to export markets is necessary to help ensure our local industry can continue to be commercially viable."The changes are designed to streamline and update the scheme's compliance requirements without compromising the overall quality of cannabis-based ingredients and medicinal cannabis products supplied to New Zealand patients. This will help ensure a sustainable medicinal cannabis industry in New Zealand."He said these changes would support the medicinal cannabis industry, which was important for ensuring that medicinal cannabis products which meet the minimum quality standards could continue to be supplied to local patients.Helius Therapeutics had a medicinal cannabis growing facility in Auckland. Spokesman Bruce Wallace said having fewer restrictions to send their products to offshore markets was a relief, as until now it had been a struggle as the local market was not big enough to be financially sustainable.Wallace believed the pending improvements to the scheme would lead to more plants being grown and new companies getting licences to produce or develop products.The Helius Cannabis factory in Auckland Photo: RNZ / Teresa CowieHe said having easier access to international markets would mean the price patients pay for a cannabis product should drop, as it was expensive to produce and until now only being allowed to sell solely on the local market meant charging higher prices.'We would expect it to drop over time. A stronger industry means more competition, more players and a wider variety of products. We would also encourage patients to shop around, as some pharmacies charge more than others for medicinal cannabis products."Wallace said the majority of products sold here were oral liquids, or whole flowers that patients vaporised using an approved medical device.Cannabis products were predominately prescribed for anxiety, pain and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.He said Helius Therapeutics' large facility in Auckland had room to grow and expand."Currently the challenge is to make sure we get the exports away that will fund and drive that growth."Wallace said their products would also be sold to researchers, who could start doing local trials with cannabis under the scheme's changes.Medsafe said the changes to the medicinal cannabis scheme would come into effect by the end of this year.This story was originally published by RNZ

FINALLY! Slip repairs to Matakana Valley Road and Pakiri Road are going to happen soon!Stop/Go lane restrictions from Monday 18th Sept for approximately 6 weeks from 7am to 7pm.

Just a reminder....Our name has changed we are now Matakana Coast App!!Our service area has expanded we now cover Puhoi all the way up to Mangawhai and everywhere in between Send us your events Grab yourself a business listing in our directory Advertise with us, we have heaps of options Send us your news stories Send us your traffic/road updates Check out our things to do button List a job vacancy Support LOCAL!We want you to be informed...We support local businesses and community projects. Get in touch to see how we can help each other!Louise 021 681 [email protected] IMPORTANTLY - DOWNLOAD OUR APP IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY! You will receive push notifications of news articles, weather warnings, traffic updates etc

A message from Northern Action Group (NAG):Background to the Survey: Rodney Subdivision Changes for the next Elections Changes to the Rodney Local Board’s subdivision boundaries are again up for grabs in the representation review AC has to conduct next year for the 2025 local elections.The proposal for change was raised by Councillor Sayers and NAG at the last opportunity (Nov 2020) for AC to conduct a review. AC was not intending to conduct a review then, for it was only required to do so next in 2024 but Councillor Sayers presented a Motion to the Governing Body to review the Rodney subdivision boundaries for the 2022 elections. The motion was supported by Local MPs, Chris Penk and Marja Lubeck, and a comprehensive background paper provided by NAG. The Background paper is on our website here: http://www.nag.org.nz/ NAG%20subdivision%20proposal%20document.pdf The boundary change was deferred by the Governing Body (GB) for consideration in the current review. The GB considered it would have been expensive for AC to conduct the consultation as a one-off (no other changes were being proposed) and it could potentially have opened up AC to a complete review. The proposal was covered at the time by our Local Matters paper here https:// www.localmatters.co.nz/news/call-for-rodney-board-subdivision-boundary-change/ The election last year (2022) was conducted using the subdivision boundaries as shown in the left-side diagram above. Currently Rodney has 4 subdivisions and 9 Local Board members (the number of members will not change). The last determination (2019 determination (based on 2017 population estimates)) shows:NAG wants the public to be aware of the proposal at this stage, so that ratepayers have plenty of time to think about it. A wide variety of opinions about the best structure for Rodney are expected in the public consultation process next year. But if AC concludes that the Rodney community is generally supportive, the proposed new boundaries will likely become the basic proposal, so it is important to socialise the proposal at this time. The Rodney Local board (RLB) is also being briefed as they will be affected by the proposal if any of them intend to stand again. The RLB will be asked for its view in the review process. Otherwise, the status quo current boundary arrangements will be expected to form the basis for the AC proposal, with the new boundaries possibly included as an alternative. No change in the number of local board members (9) is proposed. Minor changes, either to the status quo boundaries or the new proposal, are expected because of updated population numbers. NAG is conducting an early poll to gauge ratepayer interest. You most likely have linked here from that poll. If you have, please go back to complete the survey, but if not, Cast your vote at : https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HH65GJFWellsford is outside the 10% variation allowed, but the boundaries were approved by the Local Government Commission. Boundary Change Proposal The proposal provides a grouping based on the rural/urban classification determined by StatsNZ, rather than the traditional grouping around major population centres, which biases representation in favour of urban voters. The proposed changes more fairly reflect representation of the half of Rodney’s population which is rural, pays half the rates, and gets little in the provision of services from AC other than roads and drainage. Preliminary work by AC is being done now that will result in a proposal to be put out for consultation next year. The proposal, based on 2022 StatsNZ estimates of population would be (as in the above right-side diagram):

Te Whatu Ora in Auckland has been found in breach of health regulations after surgical equipment was left in a woman's abdomen after surgery.The woman had experienced severe pains in her abdomen after a C-section at Auckland City Hospital.A CT scan found the dinner plate-sized instrument in her abdomen 18 months after her surgery.The instrument itself was an Alexis wound retractor (AWR), a soft tubal instrument used for holding open surgical wounds.The woman had visited her GP several times, as well as the emergency department at the hospital, prior to the AWR being found.The Health and Disability Commissioner found the health board had breached the consumers rights code, which give every patient the right to have services provided with reasonable care and skill.Te Whatu Ora in Auckland told the commission the process for ensuring all surgical tools were accounted for following surgery was laid out in its Count Policy.However, at the time of the woman's surgery, AWRs were not included as part of the policy.Commissioner Morag McDowell said the Count Policy did not provide sufficient guidance for staff to determine which instruments should be included in the count.It instead relied on staff applying their own interpretation of what instruments were "at risk of being retained".She recommended Te Whatu Ora write to the woman to apologise, and offer the opportunity to meet face-to-face."As set out in my report, the care fell significantly below the appropriate standard in this case and resulted in a prolonged period of distress for the woman," McDowell said."Systems should have been in place to prevent this from occurring."McDowell also recommended Te Whatu Ora confirm a directive to include AWRs as part of the surgical count.Te Whatu Ora in Auckland was also referred to the Director of Proceedings to determine whether further proceedings should be taken.This story was originally published by RNZ

Warkworth RegionMonday 4th September - Periods of rain, possibly heavy. Northeasterlies, strong at times.Heavy Rain WatchPeriod: 24hrs from 3am Mon, 4 Sep - 3am Tue, 5 SepArea: Auckland north of Papakura and Great Barrier IslandForecast: A band of rain is expected to move slowly southwards, with embedded heavy falls. There is a risk that the rain-band could become stationary at times, increasing rainfall accumulation in localised places, where amounts may approach warning criteria especially in the east.Heavy Rain WatchPeriod: 18hrs from 6pm Mon, 4 Sep - noon Tue, 5 SepArea: Coromandel Peninsula, and the Hunua RangeForecast: Periods of heavy rain, and amounts may approach warning criteria. Note, due to uncertainties, the validity period could be changed.Tuesday 5th September - Occasional rain or showers, possibly heavy, easing in the evening. Northeasterlies. Heavy rain watch see above.Wednesday 6th September - A few showers, clearing in the evening but remaining partly cloudy. Northerlies.Thursday 7th September - Fine, then showers developing. Northwesterlies, easing.Friday 8th September - Cloudy with southerlies.Saturday 9th September - Partly cloudy with northeasterlies.Sunday 10th September - A few showers. Northerlies.Mangawhai RegionMonday 4th September - Rain easing this morning, then clearing this afternoon. Easterlies.Heavy Rain WatchPeriod: 19hrs from 8pm Sun, 3 Sep - 3pm Mon, 4 SepArea: Northland south of the Bay of IslandsForecast: A band of rain is expected to move slowly southwards, with embedded heavy falls. There is a risk that the rain-band could become stationary at times, increasing rainfall accumulation in localised places, where amounts may approach warning criteria especially in the east. Thunderstorms are possible.Tuesday 5th September - Showers, some maybe heavy. Northerlies.Wednesday 6th September - Showers, possibly heavy, clearing late evening. Northerlies.Thursday 7th September - Partly cloudy, with showers developing. Northwesterlies, easing.Friday 8th September - Fine. Southeasterlies.Saturday 9th September - Showers, clearing to partly cloudy weather. Northeasterlies.Sunday 10th September - Showers. Light winds.

Auckland boaters are being asked to stay away from areas of the Waiheke coastline following the discovery of invasive seaweed exotic caulerpa. Local iwi Ngāti Paoa has now placed a rāhui (prohibition) within a nautical mile (1.8 kilometres) of Thompson's Point and Onetangi bay, where exotic caulerpa has been found.Waiheke Local Board Chair Cath Handley says the board supports the call by Ngāti Paoa that asks boaters to take steps to stop the spread of the seaweed which can have devastating consequences on native marine ecosystems.“Ngāti Paoa and the many other groups involved in deterring the spread of exotic caulerpa in the Hauraki Gulf are asking boaters in Waiheke waters to please avoid these areas if possible, and certainly not to anchor or carry out any activity that disturbs the seabed, like fishing or diving while they figure out exactly where the borders of the current infestation are,” Handley says.Exotic caulerpa seaweed on the seafloor near Aotea Great Barrier Island. Photo from the Ministry for Primary Industries.Even tiny pieces of exotic caulerpa transferred on anchors, chains, fishing lines and diving gear can spread the infestation to other areas and people are being asked to check gear for signs of the seaweed. Any disruption of the seabed where matts of exotic caulerpa are present can also further the spread to other areas of the Hauraki Gulf by releasing fragments into ocean currents.The board is being kept up to date with developments on the caulerpa infestation by a Waiheke response group coordinated by the Ministry for Primary Industries that includes NIWA, Auckland Council, Ngāti Paoa and the Waiheke Marine Project.You can find more information on exotic caulerpa at the Ministry for Primary Industries’ website.For updates on exotic caulerpa on Waiheke go to the Waiheke Marines Project’s monitoring page.

 A temporary change to the dog walking rules at the northern end of Snells Beach will help endangered shorebirds roost and breed in safety.Snells Beach is a hotspot for threatened and at-risk shorebirds and to protect them, Auckland Council’s dog walking rules are changing from 1 September 2023 to 25 March 2024.During this time dogs are:prohibited from all beach and intertidal areas, north of the Sunburst Avenue boat ramppermitted on leash on all reserves, north of the Sunburst Avenue boat ramp.The beach’s northern area is an important habitat for many native shorebird species which include tūturiwhatu/ NZ dotterel, tōrea/variable oystercatchers and kuaka/ bar tailed godwits. New Zealand’s most endangered bird, tara iti or New Zealand fairy tern has also visited over the past five years.Auckland Council's Natural Environment Team Manager Andrew Nelson says that local volunteers with support from council staff are working hard to manage threats to these special shorebirds.“Volunteers spend many hours preparing for the shorebirds’ arrival, safeguarding their habitat and planting wetland and dune areas.“Every year our most common Artic migrants, the kuaka, fly non-stop from Alaska to New Zealand. After their incredible 11,000 kilometres flight, they roost at high tide marks on the beach’s northern end.“Our beaches are busy over summer and kuaka are wary and easily spooked by people and dogs. If the birds are disturbed, they fly away but often they don’t have anywhere else to go. It’s that constant interruption which affects their health and ability to rest and feed.”Signs reminding people of the temporary rule change will be installed along the beach and on adjacent reserves.Rodney Local Board Chair Brent Bailey says that for the most part, the need for this temporary change to the dog rules is respected by the community.“When people walk their dogs elsewhere, they don’t disturb the shorebirds, and they support our local volunteers’ conservation efforts.”Nearby places for dog walking are:South of the Sunburst Reserve boat ramp until 30 November, and from 1 December to 1 March before 10am or after 5 pmGoodall Reserve (behind Mahurangi East Library)Te Whau Esplanade Reserve (Dawson Road end)Dawson Road Reserve.Dog access rules for all other beach and reserve areas south of the Sunburst Avenue Boat ramp are unchanged. These rules can be found in the Auckland Council Policy on Dogs 2019 document available on the council website.Any enquiries regarding the temporary change to dog access rules, should be emailed to [email protected] you can helpAlways give shorebirds plenty of space. Make it a habit to walk on the wet sand to avoid disturbing shorebirds and possibly crushing camouflaged nests and eggs.Dog owners are expected to know and follow the rules for the areas where they walk their dogs. This information is available on the council website.Cat owners are asked to keep cats at home and inside at night to protect the natural environment.Volunteer with a local community conservation group or at your local park and for details, visit tiakitamakimakaurau.nz

This is a list of changes to the most common fees. Changes will be implemented from 1 October 2023.Driver licensingWhat’s changing:Removing re-sit fees for driver licence tests.Currently everyone pays their driver licence fees in components – an application fee, and a test fee, and if you fail a test, you have to pay to re-sit it. After 1 October, there will be no fee to book, cancel or reschedule a test.If you book, cancel or reschedule a test before 1 October, you will have to pay the relevant fees.If you book, cancel or reschedule a test on or after 1 October, you will not pay.Changing the amount paid to renew a driver licence.If you renew your driver licence before 1 October, you will pay the current fee.If you renew your driver licence on or after 1 October, you will pay the new fee.You can find a full list of the changes here: New fees and charges from 1 October 2023

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 September 2023.Please note this Traffic Bulletin is updated every Friday.Unless otherwise stated, closures start at 9pm and finish at 5am.NORTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)Northbound lanes between Greville Road off-ramp and Silverdale on-ramp, 4 September (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Oteha Valley Road northbound on-ramp, 4 SeptemberOteha Valley Road northbound off-ramp, 6 SeptemberNorthbound lanes between Constellation Drive off-ramp and Oteha Valley Road on-ramp, 5 September (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Greville Road northbound on-ramp, 4-5 SeptemberConstellation Drive northbound on-ramp, 5 SeptemberNorthbound lanes between Northcote Road off-ramp and Constellation Drive on-ramp, 6 September (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Tristram Avenue northbound on-ramp, 6 SeptemberNorthcote Road northbound on-ramp, 6 SeptemberNorthbound lanes between Onewa Road off-ramp and Northcote Road on-ramp, 7 September (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Esmonde Road (Diamond) northbound on-ramp, 7 SeptemberEsmonde Road (Loop) northbound on-ramp, 7 SeptemberOnewa Road northbound on-ramp, 7 SeptemberCENTRAL MOTORWAY JUNCTION (CMJ)SH16 Wellesley Street East eastbound off-ramp, 4 & 6 September (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Wellesley Street East westbound on-ramp, 4 & 6 September (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH1 Wellesley Street East northbound off-ramp, 4 & 6 September (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SOUTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)Southbound lanes between East Tamaki Road off-ramp and Redoubt Road on-ramp, 3 September (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)East Tamaki Road southbound on-ramp, 3 SeptemberSH1 southbound to SH20 northbound link, 3 September (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Northbound lanes between Papakura off-ramp and Redoubt Road on-ramp, 3-4 SeptemberSH1 northbound to SH20 northbound link, 4 SeptemberHill Road northbound on-ramp, 4 SeptemberTakanini northbound on-ramp, 3-4 SeptemberPapakura (Diamond) northbound on-ramp, 3-4 SeptemberPapakura (Loop) northbound on-ramp, 3-4 SeptemberNorthbound lanes between Takanini off-ramp and Takanini on-ramp, 5 September (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Southbound lanes between Takanini off-ramp and Drury/SH22 on-ramp, 3-4 SeptemberTakanini southbound on-ramp, 3-5 SeptemberSouthbound lanes between Papakura off-ramp and Drury/SH22 on-ramp, 6-7 SeptemberPapakura southbound on-ramp, 1-9 September (24/7)Southbound lanes between Takanini off-ramp and Ramarama on-ramp, 5 SeptemberDrury/ SH22 southbound on-ramp, 5 SeptemberNorthbound lanes between Drury/SH22 off-ramp and Redoubt Road on-ramp, 6-7 SeptemberDrury/ SH22 northbound on-ramp, 6-7 SeptemberHampton Downs southbound on-ramp, 6-7 September (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)NORTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH16)Southbound lanes between Lincoln Road off-ramp and Te Atatu on-ramp, 3-4 & 7 September (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Lincoln Road southbound on-ramp, 3-4 & 7 SeptemberUPPER HARBOUR MOTORWAY (SH18)Albany Highway eastbound off-ramp, 4 September (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)SOUTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH20)Southbound lanes between Hillsborough Road off-ramp and Neilson Street on-ramp, 7 September (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Hillsborough Road southbound on-ramp, 7 SeptemberQueenstown Road southbound on-ramp, 7 SeptemberWalmsley Road southbound on-ramp, 3-4 September

A further warrant to arrest has been issued in the Queen Street homicide investigation launched earlier this month.Police are continuing to make enquiries to locate 24-year-old Dariush Talagi, who is wanted to arrest for murder.Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Bolton says a warrant to arrest has now been issued for 23-year-old Tiari Boon-Harris.“Boon-Harris is wanted to arrest for being an accessory after the fact to murder.“Police believe she is in the company of Talagi and both are actively avoiding arrest and have likely changed part of their appearance.“It is likely they have changed their hair style and colour to avoid detection.“The investigation team are continuing to look, assess and act on information being provided in this case.”Police continue to ask anyone with information on the pair’s whereabouts to come forward, or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously.“I continue to remind anyone who may be assisting Talagi and Boon-Harris that they too could be liable to prosecution,” Detective Senior Sergeant Bolton says.Please contact Police by calling 105 or going online to https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105 , referencing file number 230804/3399.Contact Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

Warkworth RegionFriday 1st September - Areas of morning fog, otherwise fine, then cloud increasing from afternoon with isolated showers. Easterlies developing late morning.Saturday 2nd September - Rain developing in the morning. Easterlies, becoming fresh early.Sunday 3rd September - Rain. Fresh easterlies.Mangawhai RegionFriday 1st September - Partly cloudy with the odd shower. Easterlies developing this morning.Saturday 2nd September - Rain. Strong easterlies.Sunday 3rd September - Rain, easing to a few showers with longer fine breaks later. Strong easterlies, turning lighter northerly.

Do you know about the Mangawhai & Maungaturoto Chess Clubs? Only $10 per child per session and adults are half price! ALL ages and levels welcome. Boys and Girls (girls can play chess too!)We teach you Chess from scratch! Chess brings together different generations and communities regardless of their age, skill set or economic status. Kids will love our relaxed and fun approach to learning Chess. Our clubs include teaching and training of beginners as well as preparing kids for tournament level. We recently have a very successful Fundraising Day at Mitre10. All proceeds will help our Northland Chess kids, who have qualified for NZ Nationals, to be able to attend! They are from hard-working families, some are Dairy Farmers, and without financial help with the Chess Competition fees, would not be able to afford to send their kids!  We are also attending the Northland Chess Championship in October this year and are raising funds for 1 night's accommodation for our kids, as the Chess Competition takes place in Kerikeri, which is a fair distance away! If you are in a position to donate any amount big or small to help our Chess Club families, we would be very grateful! We have a fundraiser event coming up this Father’s Day 3rd Sept 3.15pm. Please come along and support us. To join our Facebook grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/795009064527481 Contact Tina Smith 021 689 988

Have your sayFisheries New Zealand is seeking your views on proposed bottom fishing restrictions in the Hauraki Gulf (Tīkapa Moana / Te Moananui-ā-Toi).We're looking at options for establishing bottom fishing access zones, also known as trawl corridors.The proposals seek to protect key seafloor habitats by excluding bottom trawling and Danish seining from the Hauraki Gulf, except within defined areas. The consultation opened on 30 August and closes at 5pm on 6 November 2023.A summary of the 4 proposed options is on this page and full details are in the consultation document.Consultation documentProposed options for bottom fishing access zones in the Hauraki Gulf [PDF, 3.2 MB]Summary of what's being proposedRestrictions on bottom trawl and Danish seine fishing to carefully selected “bottom fishing access zones” were signalled as part of the Government's Revitalising the Gulf strategy. The strategy set out the range of actions needed to manage the effects that people have on the Hauraki Gulf. It was also a key action included in the recently approved Hauraki Gulf Fisheries Plan [PDF, 14 MB]The proposed options would restrict bottom trawl and Danish Seine fishing methods in the Hauraki Gulf to defined areas to protect important benthic habitats.Option 1: Danish seine fishing banned from 74.1% and trawl fishing banned from 77.1% of the Gulf shallower than 200 metres* and limit these fishing methods to 6 defined zones.Option 2: Danish seine fishing banned from 79.4% and trawl fishing banned from 82.4% of the Gulf shallower than 200 metres and limit these fishing methods to 5 defined zones.Option 3: Danish seine fishing banned from 86.6% and trawl fishing banned from 88.5% of the Gulf shallower than 200 metres and limit these fishing methods to 4 defined zones.Option 4: Danish seine fishing banned from 87.3% and trawl fishing banned from 89.2% of the Gulf shallower than 200 metres and limit these fishing methods to 4 defined zones.*About 3.4% of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park is deeper than 200 metres. The use of bottom contact fishing methods in areas deeper than 200 metres is outside the scope of this consultation and will need to be assessed in a separate process that includes representation of deep-water fisheries stakeholders.Proposals developed though collaborationFisheries New Zealand has undertaken extensive stakeholder engagement to develop the proposed bottom fishing access zones. The options were developed using the best available scientific information by a spatial planning group which included representation by key stakeholders and with input from the Hauraki Gulf Fisheries Plan Advisory GroupFisheries New Zealand engaged widely with tangata whenua with interests in the Hauraki Gulf through 2 rounds of engagement during the development of Revitalising the Gulf and the Hauraki Gulf Fisheries Plan. This included discussion on marine protection, fisheries priorities for iwi, and managing mobile bottom impact fishing methods. Fisheries New Zealand also undertook further engagement with iwi, prior to public consultation, on the development of options for bottom fishing access zones.Making your submissionEmail your feedback on the proposed bottom fishing restrictions by 5pm on 6 November 2023 to [email protected] we prefer email, you can post written submissions to:Fisheries ManagementFisheries New Zealand17 Maurice Wilson AvenuePO Box 53030Auckland Airport 2022New Zealand.Following this consultation, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries will be provided with advice and submissions from the public to support making final decisions on where bottom trawling and Danish seining will be permitted in the Hauraki Gulf.What to includeMake sure you tell us in your submission:the title of the consultation documentyour name and titleyour organisation's name (if you are submitting on behalf of an organisation, and whether your submission represents the whole organisation or a section of it)your contact details (such as phone number, address, and email).Related informationRevitalising the GulfFrequently asked questions about the proposed bottom fishing restrictions [PDF, 185 KB]Aquatic environment and biodiversity report: Exploring the use of spatial decision support tools to identify trawl corridors in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park [PDF, 25 MB] Bottom-trawling ban for most of Hauraki Gulf – Government media release Fishing methods 

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Get in quick, THE 100 CLUB RAFFLE IS ON until 31st August!The Leigh Community Club had a good initial response to our 100 Club Raffle ticket sales, but we still need more support to complete this month’s draw. Thankyou if you have already bought a ticket! There’s still time to buy one, or multiple tickets, before 31st August, when the first draw is held. The raffle consists of 100 tickets @$100 each with 10 draws over 10 months from August 2023 to May 2024. Prizes for each draw are 1 st prize $300, 2nd prize, $150, 3rd prize $50. Winning tickets remain in the draw each month. Prize winners will be advised via email with results published on Leigh CommunityFacebook page and in the Leigh Rag. Remember, it is your generosity that keeps the LCC going, so thank you!To buy a ticket: deposit $100 in the LCC Account No. 12-3095-0015590-51 with your name and a contact phone number for reference. A committee member willthen be in touch and you will receive a numbered ticket. Alternatively, email us at [email protected] or phone any of the following Community ClubCommittee members: Dave Shapleski: 027 4716612, Deen Hall: 021 595152,Helen Parkes: 021 484432The Leigh Community Club member’s meeting will be at the Leigh Bowling Club at 4 pm on Sunday September 3rd. All are welcome!All money raised (excluding prize money) supports community work on local tracks and walkways. It is also used for local grants to support new initiatives.Membership fees, fundraisers and Waste Free Leigh product sales contribute towards trail improvement materials/equipment, picnic tables, and the upgradedDigby seat.

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, 1 September 202 Unless otherwise stated, closures start at 9pm and finish at 5am.NORTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)Northbound lanes between Oteha Valley Road off-ramp and Silverdale on-ramp, 29-31 AugustOteha Valley Road northbound on-ramp, 29-31 AugustCENTRAL MOTORWAY JUNCTION (CMJ)None plannedSOUTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)Northbound lanes between East Tamaki Road off-ramp and Mt Wellington Highway on-ramp, 31 August (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Princes Street northbound on-ramp, 31 AugustHighbrook Drive northbound on-ramp, 31 AugustEast Tamaki Road northbound on-ramp, 31 AugustNorthbound lanes between Drury/SH22 off-ramp and Redoubt Road on-ramp, 27-31 AugustPapakura (Diamond) northbound on-ramp, 27-31 AugustPapakura (Loop) northbound on-ramp, 27-31 AugustDrury/SH22 northbound on-ramp, 27-31 AugustSouthbound lanes between Redoubt Road off-ramp and Drury/SH22 on-ramp, 30 August (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Redoubt Road southbound on-ramp, 30 AugustSH1 southbound to SH20 northbound link, 30 August (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Southbound lanes between Takanini off-ramp and Drury/SH22 on-ramp, 27-28 & 30-31 AugustTakanini southbound on-ramp, 27-28 & 30-31 AugustSouthbound lanes between Papakura off-ramp and Bombay on-ramp, 29 AugustPapakura southbound on-ramp, 25-31 August & 1-2 September (24/7)Drury/SH22 southbound on-ramp, 29 AugustRamarama southbound on-ramp, 29 AugustBombay southbound on-ramp, 28 AugustBeaver Road southbound off-ramp, 28 August (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)Beaver Road southbound on-ramp, 28 AugustNikau Road southbound off-ramp, 28 August (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)Southbound lanes between Nikau Road off-ramp and Nikau Road on-ramp, 27 August (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)Northbound lanes between Nikau Road off-ramp and Nikau Road on-ramp, 27 August (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)SH1 southbound to SH2 eastbound link, 27 August (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)Razorback Road southbound off-ramp, 27 August (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)Southbound lanes between Pokeno off-ramp and Pokeno on-ramp, 27 August (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00amNorthbound lanes between Pokeno off-ramp and Pokeno on-ramp, 27 August (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)Hampton Downs northbound off-ramp, 30 August (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)Hampton Downs northbound on-ramp, 29 August (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)NORTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH16)Southbound lanes between Brigham Creek Road Roundabout and Hobsonville Road on-ramp, 27 AugustNorthbound lanes between Hobsonville Road off-ramp and Brigham Creek Road Roundabout, 27 August (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)Lincoln Road northbound off-ramp, 30-31 AugustLincoln Road northbound on-ramp, 29 AugustUPPER HARBOUR MOTORWAY (SH18)Brigham Creek Road eastbound on-ramp, 28 August (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)SOUTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH20)Northbound lanes between Hillsborough Road off-ramp and Dominion Road on-ramp, 30-31 August (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Hillsborough Road northbound on-ramp, 30-31 AugustSouthbound lanes between Lambie Drive off-ramp and SH1 links, 30 August (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Lambie Drive southbound on-ramp, 30 August (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH20 southbound to SH1 northbound link, 30 August (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH20 southbound to SH1 southbound link, 30 August (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)STATE HIGHWAY 2 (SH2)SH2 westbound to SH1 southbound, 27 August