👴👨‍🦳🧔👱🏾‍♂️Wow, thank you to all of those who entered! So many beautiful memories of you and your father’s. They brought me to tears, it was so difficult choosing the winners.Congratulations to :Jorja Heyns- you have won the Creative Hospitality voucherTiffany – you have the Warkworth Menswear voucherSchalk – you have won the Warkworth Butchery voucherNilufer Fernandes – you have won #8 Wired beerWe will email you prize infoThank you to our local businesses who donatedWarkworth ButcheryWarkworth MenswearWarkworth Hotel 8 Wired Brewing - Barrelworks & Tap Room

Warkworth RegionMonday 28th August - Cloudy with the odd shower until late afternoon, then becoming fine. Southwesterlies easing this evening.Tuesday 29th August - Fine. Light winds.Wednesday 30th - A few showers developing in the morning. Easterlies, turning northerly in the afternoon.Thursday 31st - Becoming fine early. Light winds.Friday 1st - Partly cloudy with northeasterlies.Saturday 2nd - Partly cloudy, with showers developing. Northeasterlies.Sunday 3rd - Showers with northeasterlies.Mangawhai RegionMonday 28th August - Cloudy with one or two morning showers, then becoming fine. Southwesterlies dying out this evening.Tuesday 29th August - Partly cloudy. Light winds.Wednesday 30th - Showers, clearing to fine in the evening. Northeasterlies, turning northwesterly in the afternoon.Thursday 31st - Becoming fine early. Light winds.Friday 1st - Rain, clearing to partly cloudy weather. Northeasterlies.Saturday 2nd - Rain, clearing but remaining cloudy. Northeasterlies.Sunday 3rd - Rain with northeasterlies.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has ruled out New Zealand First as a possible coalition partner after this year's election, saying Winston Peters and his party would cause "instability and chaos".Labour leader Chris Hipkins confirmed the decision at a media conference today."New Zealand First has become a party more interested in toilets than the issues that matter most to New Zealanders," said Hipkins.Labour could work with the Green Party and with Te Pāti Māori, Hipkins said.New Zealand First had already ruled out working with Labour.Hipkins said the rhetoric he was hearing from Peters this election "means I just don't see any compatibility with my vision for an inclusive, progressive and prosperous society"."Winston Peters and NZ First are a force for instability and chaos and that's the last thing New Zealand needs at the moment."He described a National Party, ACT and NZ First coalition as one of "cuts, chaos and confusion" that holds views he thought would alienate large sections of New Zealand society - not just economically, but people's sense of belonging.Peters was "seeking to make trans people the enemy in this campaign", Hipkins said."Living fully in your own skin isn't always easy for any of us at the best of times but it can be particularly hard for our rainbow communities. None of them deserve the kind of abuse that's been directed their way, stoked up by politicians who should know better."I have news for all those who try to divide us and take us backwards - you will ultimately fail, because Kiwis have always regarded unity as more important than division."Hipkins said he would continue to defend "a women's right to choose" and said many National MPs and candidates wanted to roll back women's rights."Members of their caucus celebrated the US Supreme Court decision to roll back a women's right to choose."He said he backed initiatives like the Māori Health Authority and described David Seymour's comments about the Pacific community as "chilling".Seymour had said the comments were a joke, Hipkins said: "I don't think it's a laughing matter."Hipkins said he had considered which party's values and policies aligned with his own and those of the Labour Party."Kiwis deserve to know who they're voting for, what their bottom lines are and what kind of government they could get after the election."Policy disagreements, in his experience, could be overcome if you had shared goals and values, he said.Hipkins intended to promote a message of unity this election campaign and said he wanted to work with parties and leaders who want to do the same.This did not mean he will not criticize his opponents, he said."But in doing so I will not be seeking to divide New Zealand communities. Labour's focus in this election won't be on imported culture wars, but fighting an economic war against inflation and inequality."Bread and butter issues were always about helping families and communities to get ahead, he said."And I mean every member of our community and every member of our families."This story was originally reported by RNZ News

"Search warrant executed for wanted man Dariush Talagi"Police are maintaining its appeal for information on the whereabouts of Dariush Talagi, who is wanted to arrest for murder.This morning, the Operation Alto investigation team, supported by the Armed Offenders Squad, executed a search warrant at a Mt Wellington address.Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Bolton says the investigation team are continuing to look, assess and act on the information being provided by the public.“We believed Talagi may have been at this address, however he was not located this morning and our enquiries continue.“A search was conducted at the property and we have recovered a rifle, ammunition and a quantity of cannabis."A 24-year-old man at the address has been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and possession for supply of cannabis.He is expected to appear in the Auckland District Court next week.Detective Senior Sergeant Bolton says the investigation team are still seeking information of the whereabouts of Tiari Boon-Harris, who is believed to be with Talagi.“I would like to acknowledge those who have provided us information to date.My message remains that anyone with information should contact us, even if that is anonymously.“It is a criminal offence to be an accessory after the fact for murder, and you could be liable for prosecution.”If you sight Talagi, please contact 111.Anyone with information can share this anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.Information can also be provided through calling 105 or going online to https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105 , referencing file number 230804/3399.ENDS. Jarred Williamson/NZ PoliceYou can also view this release, including any additional images, on the NZ Police app or at: https://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/search-warrant-executed-wanted-man-dariush-talagiNoho ora mai,New Zealand Police

Exercise. We know it’s good for us, but sometimes it’s just so hard to prioritise it. 'Tomorrow I’ll start,' we say. Well, spring – with its increasingly warmer, longer days and (fingers crossed) blue skies – is here to give you that burst of motivation you need to put on your trainers and get out the door. Here are some low-cost and free ideas to help you stay active this season.Get organised, start smallCreating a new habit is much easier when you start small. Instead of setting yourself an overly ambitious goal of running a marathon in six months’ time, give yourself the best chance by committing to a smaller, more realistic challenge – even if it’s as simple as walking around the block during your lunch hour every day. The following week you can increase it to two blocks.If you’re planning to exercise first thing in the morning, make it easy for yourself by laying out your gear the night before so you can get up and go, rather than heading back under the covers to catch some more z’s because you’re too sleepy to find the trainers at the back of your wardrobe.External accountability is also a great motivator. If you’ve made a plan to exercise with a friend, you’re much more likely to stick to it than be a no-show. Plus, exercising with friends is a great way to keep fit while catching up. You can encourage each other by setting fitness goals together.Become a gym bunnyAuckland Council has more than pool and leisure centre facilities across the region where you can become a member or pay per hour or per class. While each centre is different, most of them have gym equipment for strength training and cardio fitness.If group fitness is more your jam, many offer exercise classes, such as Energy HIIT (high-intensity interval training), Zumba and yoga. Centres with pools also offer aqua group fitness classes such as AquaPOWER, which is great if you’re looking for a low-weight-bearing exercise.Certain Auckland Council operated centres offer free one week trials to new potential members, during which time you can try out the facilities and classes. Visit https://aucklandleisure.co.nz/free-trial-form/ to fill out a free trial form, https://www.aucklandleisure.co.nz/locations to find a pool and/or leisure centre near you and go to https://aucklandleisure.co.nz/prices-and-membership/ for membership and casual prices.Use free exercise equipmentFresh air is free and so is the outdoor exercise equipment at 80 parks across the region. A list of parks with outdoor exercise gear – including the types of equipment on offer and location in the park – can be found at https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/parks-recreation/get-outdoors/staying-active/Pages/fitness-equipment.aspx.Let team spirit motivate you Some of us are naturally competitive, so if team sports get you off the couch, why not get a group of friends together and head to a basketball or volleyball court at a park or reserve? There are a whopping 204 full and half basketball courts, 22 sand or concrete volleyball courts, 64 tennis courts at parks, reserves and leisure centres across Auckland. Most are free, or you can book courts at some leisure centres for a small fee. Or if you fall in love tennis then join one of the clubs that use our courts.I want to ride my bicycleThere are bike tracks and shared paths all over Tāmaki Makaurau where you can embrace your best freewheeling self. Whether you want to bike through the bush or are looking for a flat path with heritage features, tailor a bike ride to suit your needs by using the filters on Auckland Council’s Akl Paths page.If you want to explore outside your local neighbourhood, don’t forget you can take your bike on trains and most ferries (with a few exceptions) without paying an extra fare, and providing there is space. However, only compact folding bikes are allowed on buses.

New Zealand's vulnerability to severe weather events is undermining long-term business confidence and resilience within the country's civil construction sector.The latest Civil Contractors New Zealand and Teletrac Navman survey shows only 7 percent of respondents believe the country's infrastructure can cope with extreme weather - a fall of 10 percentage points from last year.Civil Contractors NZ chief executive Alan Pollard said the industry needed clearer project pipelines from central and local government in the face of climate change."Too often you'll find on both sides of the political spectrum there are a lot of promises made about funding being made available. But for us, we actually need projects to be built. So schedule the projects, fund the projects and commit to a timeframe and actually get on and do it."If that doesn't happen it creates uncertainty across the industry."One of the big things that came out of our survey was the impact a lack of confidence in things actually being done is having on the broader sector."Around half of businesses wanted more access to on-site technology in order to help deliver mandatory reporting on decarbonisation and sustainability efforts.Meanwhile, more frequent and severe storms were causing unprecedented levels of destruction."There is very low confidence in the industry in the ability of New Zealand's infrastructure to actually cope with these things," Pollard said."It's pretty obvious when you look at what happened up north and what happened in the Hawke's Bay - massive devastation to infrastructure."Contractors were often first responders in a natural disaster, working to repair and restore damaged infrastructure.According to the industry survey, 47 percent of respondents had been involved in emergency or disaster response over the past year.Nearly 70 percent of businesses said ongoing projects had been impacted by extreme weather events, causing project delays, insurance claims and the need to renegotiate contracts.This story was originally posted on RNZ News

Felix Walton, reporterAuckland residents say they are afraid to go out at night after two suspected homicides in the city on the same day.A man and a woman were arrested following the death of a 70-year-old man at an Upper Queen Street apartment yesterday afternoon.Hours later, a 19-year-old was arrested after the death of a person at the Off Broadway Motel in Epsom.They each appeared in the Auckland District Court today charged with murder and were remanded in custody to reappear next month.Meanwhile, residents grappled with the aftermath. A contractor drinking coffee opposite the scene on Upper Queen Street described seeing the victim."I think he was lying down in the lobby," he said. "We tried to help the ambulances when they arrived, but nobody was allowed to go inside."His colleagues worked around the yellow tape left by police.He said authorities had to step it up. "They're not tough on the criminals at the moment," he said.One of his colleagues said they were no strangers to crime, but murder was on another level."It's the first time we've had something this bad happen so close to our site," he said. "We've had other things like thefts and all of that, but nothing this serious."He said something had to change. "Crime's getting terrible in Auckland," he said."Every other day you hear about a shooting or a gang fight or something like that, it needs to be sorted out."A North Shore resident visiting the city said she and her family would never visit at night. "At night, we're afraid come to here," she said. "Very afraid."Residents of Epsom were similarly anxious after a person died at the Off Broadway Hotel.Around the corner, students were on their way to the nearby Epsom Girls' Grammar and Diocesan high schools.One resident feared for their safety. "A lot of families live in Epsom, a lot of school children," she said. "It's much more alarming when it's local."She was also afraid to walk alone at night. "If I'm out at night I'm with my husband or friends or family," she said. "At daytime, I feel safe [alone]."Another resident worried about the social factors driving young people to commit violent crimes."It just makes me wonder about the 19-year-old," he said. "What caused that sort of thing, what sort of trauma they were suffering and how they got to do such a thing."He said authorities were not doing enough to address those factors."The whole slide into this sort of crime, ram raids and stuff like that, says something about what we're not doing in our society."I reckon we've got to think about that widening gap."Another hoped to see more police on the street. "Like a lot of people, I think we should have police on the beat and visible in the city."Youth worker calls for early interventionAuckland youth worker Aaron Hendry said he understood why people were anxious, but he said a tougher approach could cause more harm than good."There's definitely that anxiety and fear, and there's a perception that tougher penalties and more police will keep us safer."The reality is, assuming we look at the evidence, that mechanism of the justice system that acts in a really punitive way doesn't keep us safer."Hendry said heavy-handed responses to crime could push recovering criminals to reoffend."We drag people into that court system, and that system itself causes further harm."Those individuals who go through that system end up coming out again and there's no healing, so there's risk of more crime occurring."Early interventions with at-risk youths, before they are driven to violence, would be the most effective way to reduce crime in Auckland, he said."If we really want some change, what I'd say is we need to look at how to do early intervention well," he said. "How do we respond to those basic needs and ensure that people who are in a vulnerable space are getting the support they need?"Hendry said police were frequently called to situations a mental health professional would be better equipped to handle."[We need] resources in our local communities so we're not relying on the blunt instrument that can be the police."The defendants in both cases have been remanded in custody and are expected to reappear in Auckland High Court next month.'This story was originally published by RNZ

Warkworth RegionFriday 25th August - Partly cloudy, with patchy morning fog. Light winds.Saturday 26th August - Mainly fine. Light winds.Sunday 27th August - Partly cloudy, chance of a shower in the afternoon and evening. Southwesterlies developing in the morning.Mangawhai RegionFriday 25th August - Partly cloudy, chance of an afternoon shower. Light winds.Saturday 26th August - Partly cloudy, chance of a shower in the afternoon and evening. Light winds.Sunday 27th August - Mainly fine. Light winds.

Auckland Transport would like to advise of the following slip repair work for Mahurangi East Road.From Monday 28th August for approximately 4 months.

👨‍👧‍👦 Celebrate the Amazing Dads! 👨‍👧‍👦Share a Heartfelt Memory with Your Dad and Win with Us!Prizes:🏆 A Warkworth Butchery voucher🏆 A Menswear Voucher and Cologne from Warkworth Menswear🏆 $100 Meal Voucher for one of Creative Hospitality’s chain of restaurants either Bam Boo | WW Hotel | Smiths | Stables🏆 #8 Wired beerTo Enter:1. Download Matakana Coast App from the app stores2. Once downloaded enter your details at the Win Stuff button3. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.We will pick 4 winners, one for each prize.Giveaway ends 27th August. Terms & Conditions when you enter.Good luck!

Horticulture industry body Hort NZ says one of the new acts replacing the RMA will do a far better job at protecting New Zealand's fruit and vegetable growing areas.The Natural and Built Environment Bill, which passed its third reading last week, sets out a national planning framework which provides national direction for the rules and policies that support environmental protection and natural resource management.Hort NZ's Michelle Sands said this national policy must enable the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables. In other words, it requires councils to specifically think about the impact land use rules will have on vegetable and fruit production."And that's really important because at the moment in the RMA we have a number of policies and rules that prevent vegetable growing in particular from being able to be undertaken because they don't provide a rule framework that supports crop rotation and don't provide a framework that enables vegetable growers to produce more vegetables," she said.Crop rotation is when different crops are planted in the same area over successive years which helps manage pests and disease, and soil management.Sands said the RMA did not currently put a practical lens on what food production requirements were, and did not protect New Zealand's food security."What tends to happen in policy and rules is that 80:20 rule, where you design something that works for most activities - and most activities are pastoral activities," she said."So if you have an activity that is a bit different, sometimes you end up with unintended consequences when those rules are applied to a different activity ..."It's really just about saying, actually we're geographically isolated, we need a supply of fresh fruit and vegetables so we need to make sure that our rules framework doesn't have unintended consequences for these activities and that we are enabling that supply through the way that we manage our natural resources," she said.Sands said it had been too easy for councils to set up rules that were easy to administer and that had become the focus, rather than considering the best use of the land.Instead of simple administrative systems that worked well for pastoral farming being applied to vegetable growing, Sands said efforts should be made to think of an administrative system that worked for vegetable growing.It was all about the council's "mind-set" she said, "because growers can and should manage their environmental impacts".Vegetables NZ also welcomed the change in regulation and said increasing growers' ability to grow and expand would improve food security.However, Federated Farmers said the legislation would strip local communities of their decision-making ability.National is promising to repeal the RMA replacement bills if elected.This story was originally published by RNZ

The Kawau Bay Action Group and the Snells Beach Ratepayers and Residents Association have put together this questionnaire, asking locals what improvements they would like to see in their community. If you would like to participate here is the link.

Peter de GraafA well-known Northland dive company has avoided prosecution over an incident in which two children were trapped in a sea cave by agreeing to a raft of measures to improve safety and help the victims.Those measures are expected to cost Dive! Tutukaka, which is based on the Tūtūkākā Coast about 30km north of Whangārei, more than $250,000.WorkSafe, which led the investigation, said that was more than the company may have been fined if the prosecution had gone ahead.The drama unfolded in December 2020 when Dive! Tutukaka took a group of students from Tauraroa Area School on a kayaking and snorkelling trip to the Poor Knights Islands.During the trip, a 14-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy were stuck in a sea cave after their shared kayak capsized in choppy waters.The girl feared she would drown when her foot became wedged in a crevice.According to a WorkSafe report, she had to hold her breath each time a wave swept over her head.She was rescued by a Dive! Tutukaka staff member, but he was unable to get the boy out because he was paralysed with fear on a ledge inside the cave.The boy and his rescuer remained there until the Northland Rescue Helicopter arrived about two hours later. They were able to exit the cave once the tide had dropped.According to WorkSafe, all three suffered cuts and abrasions and the children were traumatised.WorkSafe specialist interventions acting head Catalijne Pille said the company had committed to "putting things right" by entering into a legally binding safety pledge, known as an enforceable undertaking.That commitment included paying reparations to the two young victims; training for Dive! Tutukaka workers; funding and training for the Northland Rescue Helicopter and Tūtūkākā Coastguard; water confidence programmes for local rangatahi; and partnering with Education Outdoors New Zealand to upskill providers working with schools."The investment Dive! Tutukaka will make exceeds what even the courts may have ordered in penalties. This demonstrates a substantial commitment to health and safety, with benefits circled back to the community, workers, and the industry," Pille said.WorkSafe would monitor progress and could resume prosecution if the commitments were not met."In light of this incident at the Poor Knights Islands, and the recent fatality at Abbey Caves, this commitment is a timely boost for the outdoor education system. Students should be able to participate in activities safely, and parents must have confidence their rangatahi will be kept safe," Pille said.School's board pays student victimsTauraroa Area School's Board of Trustees faced the same charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act of exposing individuals to risk of harm or illness.The board was sentenced in Whangārei District Court in December 2022 and ordered to pay reparation to the two students. The amount paid was suppressed.The school board was not fined due to its financial circumstances.Dive! Tutukaka director Kate Malcolm said a conviction for the company, or a fine that disappeared into the justice system's coffers, would not have done anyone a good service."I think we can do a better thing with that money by putting it directly into the community over a long period of time, and that's what we chose to do," she said.It was not a "get out of jail free card" or an easy option, but it was the best path for healing and moving forward."You can just suck it up, get a conviction and pay the money, and keep doing what you're doing. But this is about fundamental change. Because the children, and their learnings and outdoor experiences as they way-find and navigate, are our future. Our purpose really is to help them and to make sure it's possible for them to do that safely," Malcolm said.As part of the commitment, the company was developing outdoor leadership programmes and offering time, boats and facilities to the rescue helicopter trust and Tūtūkākā Coastguard.That would allow training otherwise unavailable to community services and improve safety for everyone along the coast.The incident had also been tough on her staff, Malcolm said."Even though we did get everybody home that afternoon, we certainly left some trauma and some scrapes and bruises on two of the children in particular. My team also felt it very strongly - they define themselves about how they deliver a day and how they share the experience of the Poor Knights Islands. So it's deeply affected us."The company was working with the families of the two children in the hope of helping them heal, she said.This story was originally posted by RNZ

Walk, scooter, bike – you'll soon be able to pick your mode of transport and experience the new boardwalk over the Mangawhai estuary!Council contractors are winding up the last bits and bobs of the second phase of the Mangawhai shared path, with the boardwalk open to the public for use from around mid-morning, Tuesday 22 August. We’ll be sharing some of the background on the art and design of the boardwalk (including info on the name gifted by the Taumata Kaunihera of Te Uri o Hau — Te Ara o Te Whai) later this week. The first two phases of the Mangawhai shared path is supported by funding from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (majority grant) and the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund – Infrastructure Reference Group (IRG) administered by Kānoa – Regional Development & Investment Unit. The shared path improves safety and connectivity between the village and the heads, making it easier to travel by foot, bike, or scooter along busy Molesworth Drive.For more information about the Mangawhai shared path project, go to www.mangawhaicommunityplan.co.nz/projects/transport

Another major milestone in Auckland’s storm recovery will be reached on Monday with the lifting of the Motutara Road cordon, at Muriwai.The main road into Muriwai, Motutara Road was closed in February due to a landslide during Cyclone Gabrielle.Mace Ward, Auckland Council’s Deputy Group Recovery Manager says that though the landslide was eventually cleared, Auckland Council had ongoing concerns about the area and work has been underway to ensure it could be safely reopened.“We engaged geotechnical specialists to thoroughly assess the area, and their advice is the road can be safely reopened with the removal of unstable properties above the road. These properties were successfully cleared this week, and we’re pleased to confirm the road will reopen on Monday.“As part of our work to clear the road, we were delighted we were able to retrieve some personal belongings of great value to the owners of the homes that were damaged, including some jewellery and some precious vinyl records that were thought to be lost.“The removal of these houses is bittersweet for the owners of these properties, and we must recognise the major impact the weather events this year had on people’s homes and families.“While restoring access through Motutara Road is a milestone we are pleased to have reached, there is still more work to be done in Muriwai. Six months on, this community is still hurting from the impact of the extreme weather events.“Many people are still displaced from their homes, and we’re working to support them as we get closer to having clarity on next steps. Our geotechnical assessment of the wider area is almost complete, and homeowners will start receiving initial property risk categories at the end of the month.“This technical work will also enable us to accelerate the removal of building placards, meaning that some people will be able to safely return to their homes.”The cordon at Domain Crescent will remain, with residents’ access only and 24/7 security in place.Driving on the beachVehicle access to the beach via Coast Road will reopen on Monday 4 September. Mr Ward says that four-wheel drivers will be pleased to return but wants to remind permit holders that additional care will be needed.“There have been significant changes on Muriwai Beach over the last seven months, with dunes starting to revegetate and some wildlife returning. Those using the beach may encounter a lot more bird life and a few seals. As a visitor to their environment, please ensure that your actions minimise any disruption to them.“We would encourage you to take this opportunity to ‘reset’ how you use the beach – refresh yourself with the skills you need to drive on a beach and please be respectful of the environment and community. Make sure your tyre pressure is correct (lower than for general road driving), and that you have the right equipment. Check out the tides, and be aware of no-go areas.“You have to give way to everybody else if you are a vehicle on the beach. Make sure you’ve sorted your paperwork too – no access without a permit, current registration, and warrant of fitness.”Click here for information on Muriwai Regional Park, and also see our Rules for driving on Muriwai and Kariotahi beaches.

Warkworth RegionMonday 21st August - Showers, some heavy with hail possible, clearing to fine this evening. Southwesterlies, rising to gale in exposed places this morning, gusting 90 km/h, easing evening.Strong Wind WatchPeriod: 8hrs from 8am - 4pm Mon, 21 AugArea: Northland, Auckland including the Great Barrier Island, and Coromandel PeninsulaForecast: Southwest winds may approach severe gale in exposed places.Tuesday 22nd August - Mainly fine. Fresh southerlies, easing in the evening.Wednesday 23rd August - Becoming cloudy early. Southwesterlies, easing in the evening.Thursday 24th August - Mostly cloudy, with isolated showers developing. Light winds.Friday 24th August - Partly cloudy. Light winds.Saturday 25th August - Partly cloudy. Westerlies developing.Sunday 26th August - A few showers. Southwesterlies.Mangawhai RegionMonday 21st August - Showers, possibly heavy, clearing evening. Southwesterlies, becoming strong this morning, easing this evening.Strong Wind WatchPeriod: 8hrs from 8am - 4pm Mon, 21 AugArea: Northland, Auckland including the Great Barrier Island, and Coromandel PeninsulaForecast: Southwest winds may approach severe gale in exposed places.Tuesday 22nd August - Fine. Southwesterlies, becoming fresh for a time in the afternoon and evening.Wednesday 23rd August - Becoming cloudy early. Southwesterlies, easing in the evening.Thursday 24th August - Cloudy. Westerlies, easing.Friday 25th August - Partly cloudy with light winds.Saturday 27th August - Fine with westerlies.Sunday 28th August - A few showers. Southwesterlies.

New Zealand Police are warning of increasing incidents of ‘sextortion’ where local young people are targeted by offshore offenders.This is a global issue where offshore offenders target young victims by tricking them into sending sexually explicit content before blackmailing them with threats to share the content with friends and family unless they pay.While we first started to see this in New Zealand in late 2021, instances of local young victims continue to rise.The offending generally begins with a direct message sent to the victim on social media.The victim is then asked to continue chatting on a different app, and the conversation often becomes highly sexualised.From there the victim is coerced into sharing intimate photos and/or videos of themselves, which are used to blackmail them, with threats to share it on their social media contacts list unless they pay.In some instances, photos are reportedly doctored by the offender to make the victim appear to be in even more compromising positions.Offenders can also capture naked or sexual images of the young person while they’re on live stream or video, which is often then part of extortion. This is called ‘capping’.We are shining a light on this serious issue to ensure New Zealand young people, their parents and care givers are aware of the risks and remain vigilant to ensure it does not happen to them.Learn more here - https://netsafe.org.nz/sextortion/

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, 18 August 2023.Unless otherwise stated, closures start at 9pm and finish at 5am.NORTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)Southbound lanes between Silverdale off-ramp and Oteha Valley Road on-ramp, 20-22 AugustSilverdale southbound on-ramp, 20-22 AugustConstellation Drive northbound on-ramp, 21 August (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)Constellation Drive southbound off-ramp, 21 August (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)Northbound lanes between Northcote Road off-ramp and Constellation Drive on-ramp, 22-24 August (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)Tristram Avenue northbound on-ramp, 22-24 August (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)Northcote Road northbound on-ramp, 22-24 August (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)CENTRAL MOTORWAY JUNCTION (CMJ)Hobson Street westbound on-ramp, 21 AugustSH1 southbound to SH16 westbound link, 21 August (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00amSH1 southbound to SH16 eastbound (Port) link, 23 August (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH16 eastbound to SH1 northbound link, 23 August (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH16 eastbound to SH1 southbound link, 23 August (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH 16 eastbound to SH16 (Port) link, 23 August (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH1 northbound to SH16 westbound link, 21 August (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Westbound lanes between Stanley Street off-ramp and Great North Road on-ramp, 21 August (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH16 (Port) westbound to SH1 northbound link, 21 AugustSH16 (Port) westbound to SH1 southbound link, 21 AugustWellesley Street East westbound on-ramp, 21 AugustSOUTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)Southbound lanes between Takanini off-ramp and Drury/SH22 on-ramp, 23-24 AugustTakanini southbound on-ramp, 23-24 AugustSouthbound lanes between Papakura off-ramp and Drury/SH22 on-ramp, 20-22 AugustPapakura southbound on-ramp, 18-26 August (24/7)Northbound lanes between Drury/SH22 off-ramp and Papakura on-ramp, 23-24 AugustDrury/SH22 northbound on-ramp, 23-24 AugustDrury/SH22 northbound off-ramp, 20 August (approx. 5:00am to 07:00pm)Northbound lanes between Ramarama off-ramp and Drury/SH22 on-ramp, 21-22 AugustRamarama northbound on-ramp, 21-22 AugustBeaver Road northbound on-ramp, 24 AugustBeaver Road northbound off-ramp, 24 AugustNikau Road northbound on-ramp, 24 AugustPokeno southbound off-ramp, 20 August (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Pokeno southbound on-ramp, 20 August (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Pioneer Road southbound off-ramp, 20 August (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Southbound lanes between Mercer off-ramp and Mercer on-ramp, 20 August (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Northbound lanes between Mercer off-ramp and Mercer on-ramp, 20 August (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)NORTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH16)Southbound lanes between Brigham Creek Road roundabout and Hobsonville Road on-ramp, 20-21 AugustNorthbound lanes between Hobsonville Road off-ramp and Brigham Creek Roundabout, 20-21 AugustSouthbound lanes between Lincoln Road off-ramp and Te Atatu Road on-ramp, 20 August (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Southbound lanes between Lincoln Road off-ramp and Great North Road on-ramp, 22 August (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Lincoln Road southbound on-ramp, 20 & 22 AugustTe Atatu Road (Loop) southbound on-ramp, 22 AugustTe Atatu Road (Diamond) southbound on-ramp, 22 AugustRosebank Road southbound on-ramp, 22 AugustEastbound lanes between Great North Road off-ramp and Grafton Road on-ramp, 23 August (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Great North Road eastbound on-ramp, 23 AugustSt Lukes Road eastbound on-ramp, 23 AugustSH16 eastbound to SH20 southbound link (Waterview southbound tunnel closed), 21 - 22 AugustGreat North Road eastbound off-ramp (Waterview southbound tunnel closed), 21 - 22 AugustSH16 westbound to SH20 southbound link (Waterview Southbound tunnel closed) 21 - 22 AugustSt Lukes Road westbound on-ramp, 21 AugustNewton Road westbound on-ramp, 21 AugustUPPER HARBOUR MOTORWAY (SH18)Brigham Creek Road eastbound on-ramp, 20-22 August (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00amSOUTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH20)Northbound lanes between Maioro Street off-ramp and SH16 links (Waterview northbound tunnel closed), 23 & 24 AugustMaioro Street northbound on-ramp (Waterview northbound tunnel closed), 23 & 24 AugustHillsborough Road northbound off-ramp, 21 & 24 AugustSouthbound lanes between Puhinui Road off-ramp and Puhinui Road on-ramp, 20 August

“We didn’t know the track was even there, until we bought a section next to it!” In 2010 Lydia and Ian Smith built a house down a windy lane off Matheson Bay Road. Back then the Kohuroa Stream Track was a precarious dirt path. After the old Rodney council installed a couple sets of stairs below the waterfall, Ian and Lydia began thinking about broader possibilities.The Smith’s were keenly aware of Kauri dieback, a soilborne pathogen called Phytophthora Agathidicida first detected in 1972 on Great Barrier Island. By the time it reached the Waitakere Ranges in 2006 huge swathes of Kauri were wiped out. As we stopped along the track to look at a majestic Kauri, the Smith’s explained that dieback appears initially as weeping lesions on the trunk followed by yellowing leaves and death. The disease has unfortunately spread up the North Island from Kawhia where Kauri forests begin. Luckily, the Kohuroa gully contains a regenerating Kauri grove at its northern end.This was the motivation the Smith’s needed to approach Council in 2017 about funding for a new path. Kauri dieback was a hot issue, so the Council gave them $28,000 to start building a new trail. Given their spark and energy, the Smith’s easily recruited local volunteers to help. Ian said “We worked a couple of mornings and over weekends. Everybody chipped in, it was very social. If you were good with tools, you built the track, if you were good at hauling a wheelbarrow, like Peter Spence, you did that, others carried wood. The ITM in Matakana were great and gave or discounted the materials.”They were fortunate to have the time and energy of Warkworth engineer Roger Williams to lead the group and develop the design to acquire further funding. Again, the Council delivered. Ian said, “We built the entire track for around $20K.” Lydia compared that to the “immense cost” council recently spent to improve the Kauri end of the track (Leigh Road to the waterfall), using a helicopter to airlift materials back and forth from Matheson Bay. Her neighbour said it sounded like a war zone! Lydia pleaded with council to recycle existing materials and use volunteers to bring in supplies, but this fell on deaf ears. Council did not want to risk dieback spread. The results, however, speak for themselves. The track is gorgeous, safe and walkable even in the rain.The Smith’s share a deep respect for our natural world. Still curious after years of study, Lydia has degrees in botany and zoology, Ian a degree in geology. Their years in academia honed a spirit of curiosity that has driven a lifetime of learning. “My treat is walking up and down the track with Maureen Young (Warkworth based botanist). She tells great stories about plants.” As Lydia and I looked over the side of the new track she said another friend was surprised to see an abundance of young Kauri on the forest floor and asked if they had been planted. Lydia was tickled by this, both were just thrilled to see the new growth. The Kauri here are disease free, and the Smith’s keep a close eye on their health, walking the track regularly.The track is finished, but their work remains on-going. A pile of native tree signs sat on their front porch, Lydia explaining “our next task is to get the signage back in the ground”. Then there’s the weeding, although most of the track is remarkably weed-free. Plus, the native planting in Matheson Bay Domain led by David Edwards. Retirement has meant that Lydia could “resurrect my studies in botany”. Botany and zoology were male dominated fields she struggled to break into. Shaking her head with a light-hearted laugh she added, “so I became a librarian, and a communications lecturer at AUT, something I was never trained to do!”The Smith’s may be weekenders, but they pack in more local volunteer work than most. Lydia also volunteers at the Leigh Library and they both are on the weekend gate locking roster. When they’re not volunteering, they spend time with two of their beloved grandchildren in Auckland. Thanks to their vision, and support from Matheson Bay volunteers, visitors and locals alike enjoy strolling through the bush, listening to the Tui’s and the rush of the waterfalls. The Kohuroa Stream Track is now a long-term community asset. A treasure to be enjoyed by all.This story was reposted with permission from Leigh Rag - [email protected]