Health experts are increasingly worried about silicosis, a deadly lung disease caused by exposure to tiny particles of silica dust. And it is trade people, working with engineered stone, who are bearing the brunt of it. ListenIt's a kitchen and bathroom designer's dream. Cheaper, more varied in colour and less porous than marble; better looking and more hard wearing than Formica; engineered stone is the material of choice when you're renovating. But the workers who custom-cut it are paying the price - in the form of a deadly lung disease caused by breathing in tiny particles of silica.Manufacturers have known about this for decades. But it's taken an expose by Sydney Morning Herald investigative reporter Adele Ferguson to push the issue front and centre - to the extent that authorities there are now looking at a ban. Ferguson speaks to The Detail about what triggered her 60 Minutes programme, and how, in spite of all the publicity, companies are still operating under unsafe conditions. Perth's Curtin University has estimated that 270,000 Australian workers are exposed to high levels of crystalline silica every day, and that 103,000 workers will be diagnosed with silicosis. Ferguson backs a ban on engineered stone and doesn't believe the industry can be regulated."At the end of the day this is a vanity product. How much is it going to cost to properly regulate a lot of these small little businesses that the regulator doesn't even know they exist? I've had respiratory physicians saying that they're getting people coming to them that aren't even on the books."You know, it's Chinese who are getting loaded up on buses, sent out to sites and workplaces...they get silicosis...and as soon as they get sick they get shipped back to their own country." New Zealand health experts have been keeping a close eye on the situation in Australia, after realising it must also be going on under the radar here. Occupational and environmental physician Dr Alexandra Muthu says in 2019, her industry group wrote to the ministers of health, ACC and social development and workplace relations raising red flags. She co-chairs the group that was subsequently formed, the New Zealand Dust Diseases Taskforce. Work to identify and assess people at risk of accelerated silicosis began in September 2020. As of the end of last month 140 claims had been lodged with ACC for assessment. WorkSafe knows of about 600 current and former workers in New Zealand who fabricate engineered stone, who are at risk and potentially eligible for a health check - there will be other workers who've slipped through the gaps.One of the problems is that there's no agency that specifically looks at health related illness in the workplace."WorkSafe is very safety focused," she says. "There are no occupational health experts on the board or in the executive leadership team of WorkSafe New Zealand." There is some recognition of illnesses that take a while to develop, Muthu says, but no one's looking at the horizon to respond to these new threats. New Zealand hasn't done widespread screening of workers from, or who have left, the industry, but there is an ACC pathway to getting help. "Of the people that we have done screening on, I saw an initial cohort of about 26 people in 2019. Of those, three people had significant disease and needed to stop working in the industry. About another 40 percent had significant history of exposure and had some early signs of lung disease." There have so far been no deaths - that we know of. "One of the problems with dust exposures, particularly silica exposure, is that you can have these diseases that look the same but are caused by other things," Muthu says."It's not until you are specifically asked about your workplace exposures that we know it's that."GPs have an online portal with the information on silicosis available, but Muthu points out that GPs are extremely overwhelmed in our system - we have thousands of GPs around the country and about 1000 people exposed to silica dust, so it's unlikely the same doctors will be seeing multiple patients to the point where they can manage or assess cases.New Zealand imports about 60,000 engineered stone slabs a year, and WorkSafe knows of 132 businesses that fabricate them into benchtops. In 2019 it issued 113 notices to 64 businesses, including 21 prohibition notices and 71 improvement notices. But the very next year it issued 166 notices to 75 businesses - just three prohibitions, but 115 improvement notices.Muthu says education doesn't last, and she'd like to see better regulation. Overseas the levels of dust allowable in the air have been lowered, but New Zealand doesn't currently require workplaces to meet those lower levels. "There needs to be a whole suite of regulations," she says. "But WorkSafe needs to go further than that." 

Warkworth RegionMonday 13th March - Mostly cloudy. Isolated showers, mainly in the west, briefly turning to rain this evening as fresh westerlies turn southerly.Tuesday 14th March - Fine. Southerlies, easing in the afternoon.Wednesday 15th March - Mainly fine, isolated showers in the afternoon and evening. Northeasterlies developing in the morning.Thursday 16th - Cloud increasing, with rain developing. Northerlies, becoming strong or gale in exposed places.Friday 17th - Showers, some heavy, becoming isolated with longer fine breaks. Fresh northwesterlies.Saturday 18th - A few showers, clearing to fine. Southwesterlies.Sunday 19th - Partly cloudy with southwesterlies.Mangawhai RegionMonday 13th March - Mostly cloudy. Chance of a shower from afternoon, turning to rain for a time this evening. Westerlies, becoming fresh this afternoon.Tuesday 14th March - Fine, apart from some morning cloud. Southerlies, turning easterly in the evening.Wednesday 15th March - One or two showers, clearing later in the day and becoming fine. Northeasterlies.Thursday 16th - Rain developing. Northerlies, strong for a time.Friday 17th - Showers. Northwesterlies easing.Saturday 18th - Rain, clearing and becoming fine. Southwesterlies.Sunday 19th - Fine with southwesterlies.

UPDATE ON KAIWAKA THROUGH MANGAWHAI TO WAIPU ROUTE UPDATED 4.45PM SUNDAY 12/03/23Kaiwaka-Mangawhai Road is now open. This means the eastern Brynderwyns detour route from Kaiwaka through Mangawhai to Waipu is now open for light vehicles and trucks (without trailer units) servicing the local area.Please drive carefully as traffic management is still in place on some sections.Truck and trailer units will need to continue to use SH14 and SH12. Check out the below section of this post for details around the restrictions in place on this route

The prime minister hopes a last minute meeting with teachers will avert next week's schools and preschools strike action.About 50,000 teachers have planned to walk off the job on Thursday but Chris Hipkins said the government was working hard to resolve the dispute.He said he acknowledged the issues raised by the union and wanted more negotiations, to make progress toward an agreement.Kindergarten teachers said this week's planned strike would be the first time they joined their primary and secondary colleagues in walking off the job.It was estimated about 50,000 teachers would protest on Thursday in support of better pay and conditions, after rejecting two offers from the government.Union for kindergarten teachers NZEI Te Riu Ro president Mark Potter said all three sectors shared common goals."What we are finding is that all the teachers have more in common than they have apart, and kindergarten teachers are no different, they have some needs for improved pay and they definitely have some needs for improved conditions."Potter said last year's offer had failed to address additional sick leave, removal of a pay cap for relief teachers, and pay recognition for kaiako Māori, head teachers and senior teachers.Unions are scheduled to meet with the government on Tuesday, ahead of the strike.Hipkins said the government wanted to come to an agreement with the union as soon as possible to avoid disruption."We acknowledge that some of the issues that they're raising, including around workload, those are issues we do want to work with them on."My invitation to them is to get back around the table with the Ministry of Education so that we can find a way forward."Hipkins said he supports teachers having more time out of the classroom to prepare for assignments.

Police have concerns some cans of a distinctive beer circulating in the community could be contaminated with methamphetamine.This has come to light as Auckland City Police continue to investigate an importation of methamphetamine into New Zealand contained in cans of beer.The specific beer is called ‘Honey Bear House Beer’ and is packaged in a distinctive blue and red aluminium can. This shipment were of 473ml cans with a picture of a red bear.It is not believed this beer is available to be purchased in New Zealand and no other brand is involved in this shipment.Police believe it is unlikely that any cans from this shipment have been sold over the counter or online, however part of the shipment may have been given away or passed on between associates.We are advising anyone in possession of these cans that there is a risk they could be contaminated with methamphetamine.Consuming beer contaminated with methamphetamine may have serious or fatal medical consequences.Police ask anyone who might be in possession of a can of ‘Honey Bear House Beer’ to not drink it.Please contact Police immediately by phoning our 105 phone service quoting the file number 230310/6793.We also ask anyone that might have further information regarding the product to also contact Police on 105 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.Police is continuing with the investigation and due to the ongoing nature will be limited in further comment on those aspects.However, the immediate priority is to advise anyone in possession of the cans to avoid consuming the beverage and to notify us.It is anticipated further investigation updates may be available in the coming days.

More products containing tahini have been recalled over fears of salmonella.Earlier this month, 21 hummus and tahini products from Lisa's, Greater! and Prep Kitchen brands were recalled. Later, products that contain tahini from the brands Seasons Gourmet, Turkish Kitchen, and Ceres Organics were added to the recall.On Saturday, products containing tahini from five more brands were added, including specific batches Little Bird Organics' Good Breakfast Cookie Apple Cinnamon Almond Hemp, GoodFor's Sugar Free Spheres and Silky Ta-hini, She Universe's Sesame & Cashew Butter Batons, Forty Thieves' Organic Tahini Hulled, and Bin Inn's Organic Hulled and Unhulled Tahini.New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle said salmonellosis could be serious and it was important people did not eat any of the products involved in the recall."Symptoms appear within 12 to 72 hours and include abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Illness usually lasts between 4 and 7 days but, in more severe cases, it can go on for up to 10 days and cause more serious illness."People with symptoms should drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest."Anyone who has consumed this product and has severe symptoms - such as dehydration, severe diarrhoea or feeling sick for more than 7 days - should talk to their health professional or call Healthline on 0800 611 116."Arbuckle said any products involved in the recall could be returned to where they were purchased for a refund.He said NZFS was continuing to work with Te Whatu Ora to identify any salmonella cases relating to the recall.No confirmed cases have been identified yet but testing is underway.Tahini is a known high -risk food, and subject to a more stringent process in New Zealand, requiring border clearance.Arbuckle said NZFS would be working to understand how the contamination came to be and how to prevent it in future."We have informed food safety authorities in Turkey and will work together with them to identify and manage any further risk."

Drug drivers have been warned they face a sobering response at checkpoints as tougher transport laws come into force on Saturday.Assistant Commissioner Bruce O'Brien said new infringements and tougher penalties are in line for drivers found to be driving while impaired when the new Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Act comes kicks in."For the first time, drugs that impair the ability to drive safely have been ring-fenced by law and drug concentration levels introduced that enable additional enforcement measures and penalties," he said."This is a significant step against reducing the harm caused on our roads by drug driving."Data collected from fatal crashes highlighted the presence of impairing drugs in a driver's blood was now generally about equal to alcohol, O'Brien said.The figure has more than doubled since 2015.There were 93 people killed in crashes in 2021 where a driver was found to have the presence of drugs, nearly a third of all fatalities that year."Police are ready to enforce these new laws and we will continue to use our current practice to identify drivers using drugs by carrying out compulsory impairment tests (CIT)," O'Brien said."If a driver fails this test, they would be required to give an evidential blood test for analysis which can determine what enforcement action is deemed appropriate for the offence."Legislative changesIntroduction of Schedule 5 to the Act with 25 listed qualifying drugs that have the highest risk of impairing the ability to drive safely. These are: alprazolam, amphetamine, buprenorphine, clonazepam, cocaine, codeine, diazepam, dihydrocodeine, fentanyl, GHB, ketamine, lorazepam, MDMA, methadone, methamphetamine, midazolam, morphine, nitrazepam, oxazepam, oxycodone, temazepam, THC (cannabis), tramadol, triazolam, and zopiclone.New enforcement levels (or limits) with a lower (threshold) and higher (high-risk) level for each listed qualifying drug in Schedule 5.Blood test analysis will now confirm either the presence or level of a qualifying drug.Introduction of infringement level offences for drivers between the threshold and high-risk levels.Tougher penalties for driving after consuming qualifying drugs, mixing with other qualifying drugs, and/or alcohol.82 new offences.O'Brien said a procurement process to identify a suitable oral fluid testing device to carry out random roadside drug driving testing could not find a device to meet the criteria and intent of the legislation."Random roadside drug driving testing will still be implemented following amendments made to the legislation, which is likely to include a confirmatory evidential laboratory test similar to how devices are used in other jurisdictions including Australia," O'Brien said.

A group of care and support workers have successfully sued the government in the High Court over the vaccine mandate.They sought a judicial review after losing thousands of dollars in payments.The workers, who mostly look after family members they live with, had their payments cut because they were not vaccinated against Covid-19.Justice Van Bohemen's judgment said the decision by then Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins to extend the mandate to the family carers was invalid.The Crown now agrees there was an error in decision making.The group's lawyer, Matthew Hague, said as a result of the mandate, care and support workers could not receive financial support to care for family members because of the alleged risk posed by the carer being near the person being cared for."However, in this case carers were near their family member anyway, whether or not financial support is provided."The families could ask the government to reimburse them, Hague said.Hipkins, who is now prime minister, needed to apologise to the support workers who had desperately needed financial support withheld, he said.Caregiver Jude Bignell said it was a win for "common sense".

Friday 10th MarchNZ Spirit Festival 2023Leigh Sawmill - Friday Happy HourMatakana Village Pub MEAT PACK RAFFLE Every FRI @ 4pmLive Music - Friday nights @ Matakana Village PubFiji Fridays @ SmithsSaturday 11th MarchBali Garden - Open DayMangawhai Community MarketMangawhai Tavern MarketMatakana Village Farmers MarketNZ Spirit Festival 2023Brooke Lane Vineyard’s Last Saturday ClubMoveable Feast! @ 8 Wired BarrelworksMixed Messages Saturday @ SmithsSunday 12th MarchMatakana Country Park MarketNZ Spirit Festival 2023Sunday Service @ Smiths

Warkworth RegionFriday 10th March - Rain developing this morning, possibly heavy and thundery, easing to isolated showers and fine breaks from afternoon as northwesterlies turn southwesterly. Showers clearing evening, except about the west coast.Heavy Rain WatchPeriod: 5hrs from 8am - 1pm Fri, 10 MarArea: Northland and Auckland including Great Barrier IslandForecast: A period of heavy rain and isolated thunderstorms. Rainfall amounts may approach short duration warning criteria.Saturday 11th March - Fine. Southwesterlies, easing in the evening.Sunday 12th March - Fine. Southerlies, turning westerly in the morning.Mangawhai RegionFriday 10th March - Periods of rain, easing to the odd shower as northwesterlies turn southwesterly in the afternoon. Showers clearing by evening.Heavy Rain WatchPeriod: 5hrs from 8am - 1pm Fri, 10 MarArea: Northland and Auckland including Great Barrier IslandForecast: A period of heavy rain and isolated thunderstorms. Rainfall amounts may approach short duration warning criteria.Saturday 11th March - Fine. Southwesterlies, easing in the evening.Sunday 12th March - Partly cloudy with southwesterlies.

Three regional parks across Auckland will reopen Wednesday 1 March.The six regional parks across Tāmaki Makaurau closed due to damage from the recent severe weather events have been actively assessed, with three due to reopen Wednesday 1 March. Three out of the six parks will remain closed for an extended period of time. “Our ranger kaimahi, when not supporting the response with Emergency Services and Auckland Emergency Management, are prioritising efforts to fully assess the effects of the severe weather events,” says Auckland Emergency Management Duty Controller Parul Sood. “The parks have been affected in a number of ways, including flooding, slips, facility damage, water supply, and access issues. Assets outside of the parks have also been affected such as the power network and roading infrastructure. “This means there are specific facilities within the reopened parks that remain closed. These will be monitored, with closures extended or removed as ground conditions improve. “Visitors should exercise caution by avoiding walking under trees. Some tracks will remain closed due to slips or other hazards. “Parks staff are continuing to assess damage and accessibility, with a view to opening these areas as soon as practicable. “Looking at the long-range forecast, we are hoping for more favourable conditions so the ground can dry out and we can start to repair the damage. Regional parks For the most up-to-date information on closures and interruptions to facilities, you can visit the Auckland Council website. Closed Muriwai Regional Park – closed till Saturday 1 April Waitākere Ranges Regional Park (Piha, Karekare, Bethells, Whatipu) - closed till Saturday 1 AprilTe Rau Pūriri Regional Park – closed till Friday 10 MarchReopening Wednesday 1 March (with restrictions to facilities) Ātiu Creek Regional Park – reopening Wednesday 1 March Tāwharanui Regional Park – reopening Wednesday 1 MarchHunua Regional Park – reopening Wednesday 1 March Stay away from the West Coast  Auckland Transport continues to urge Aucklanders to avoid traveling to communities with significant road closures still in place. Access to Karekare, Piha, Te Henga Bethells Beach, Muriwai, Anawhata, Huia, Little Huia and Whatipū remains compromised.   Vehicle access to Muriwai Beach is also closed, with no access at Wilson Road and Coast Road.  Please continue to stay away from these areas and expect to be turned away if you are not a resident.  

We are now at the stage where we need to complete the final layer of road surfacing at both ends of the project, this means there will be a series of road closures on SH1 in both the north and the south during March.At the Northern Connection the project team will be undertaking pavement reconstruction and tie in works on SH1 between the Kaipara Flats Road / Goatley Road, and Hudson Road intersections. For safety reasons, a section of the road will be closed during the night while this happens. When the closure is in place, there will be a detour around Warkworth (via Woodcocks or Hudson Roads, Carran, and Kaipara Flats Road). The detour will add up to 10 minutes travel time for road users, so we advise planning ahead for travel over this time. People travelling south, will be diverted via Kaipara Flats Road, Carran and Woodcocks Roads • Sunday 12 to Thursday 16 March• Sunday 19 to Thursday 23 MarchAt the Southern Connection there are full SH1 closures between Silverdale to Johnstones Hill Tunnels (JHT). Traffic will detour along Hibiscus Coast Highway (HCH). A stop/go operation will be in place on HCH to manage traffic safely, from 9pm to 5am.• Sunday 5 to Thursday 9 March• Sunday 12 to Thursday 16 March• Sunday 19 to Thursday 23 MarchOver Dimension vehicles will be assisted through both of these sites via our traffic management team by prior arrangement. Heavy vehicles are advised to take State Highway 16.While all efforts have been made to limit disruption to traffic flows, we encourage you to plan your journey over this time and check the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner before heading out https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/ These construction works are part of the final stages before the new motorway can be opened later this year. While this will no doubt impact travel, completion of these works takes us closer to opening the new motorway as soon as possible and we are all looking forward to enjoying a safer, more resilient, and reliable road with more consistent travel times.

Homes were evacuated and part of Auckland southern motorway closed after a truck carrying canisters containing highly flammable gas burst into flames.Fire and Emergency were called to the scene just north of the Papakura on-ramp northbound just before 3am.A police spokesperson said: "These [the canisters] have exploded over all of the northbound lanes and into the bush on the side of the road."The motorway was blocked and nearby properties have been evacuated as a precaution."A woman who witnessed the fire said the flames looked nearly as tall as nearby power lines and it was a scary sight.Police said no-one had been injured.About 30 people evacuated from homes on Harbourside Drive were later allowed back to their houses.Sam Durbin spent about three hours out of his home and said the experience was one he wouldn't forget in a hurry.It was a "bit of a rough start" to the morning when the family dog came into the bedroom and woke them just before 3am."I woke up a bit and heard popping noises and thought, jeez, that doesn't sound like fireworks."So I bleary-eyed wandered to the back of the house and looked out the back and it was just absolutely orange, it was going up about fifty-odd metres to the pylons."There was lots of popping and projectiles being thrown into the air along with massive amounts of smoke."Outside, neighbours were gathering on the road and Fire and Emergency crews were telling people to evacuate, Durbin said.The fire has been put out but northbound lanes of the southern motorway remained closed and were not expected to open for some time."There is a significant amount of debris to clean up off the road and the fire is still burning out."There are diversions in place but as commuters will understand, this is going to cause significant delays and we would strongly advise people to avoid travelling this morning if they don't need to."Twelve fire trucks were at the scene at the peak of the blaze.

A message from DOCIn Northland there have been significant landslides and erosion on coastal walks. The popular Managwhai Cliff Walkway is closed until further notice and we're asking people not to attempt to do this walk, as you could be putting yourself and others at serious risk of harm.In Auckland, the well known Te Henga Walkway is completely inaccessible and fully closed for the foreseeable future. Not only are there large slips and landslides throughout the track, but the bridge at the Bethell's end has washed away.

A Northland rongoā expert is expecting to see a large number of submissions against traditional Māori healing methods being included in the Therapeutics Products Bill.It follows work to create what the government calls a better system to protect rongoā Māori in law.But rongoā Māori experts fear putting it in the bill would result in the tradition being treated like how it was in the Tohunga Suppression Act.The Therapeutic Products Bill aims to ensure products are safe, but it will also regulate how products are made, tested, promoted and exported.Tohe Ashby said he met with many who practise rongoā Māori on Waitangi Day and they all want it to stay in its own realm."All the Rongoā practitioners that I know of that stick with it, that work with it, there's a lot of grievances for it going into the therapeutics bill. They all agree that the rongoā needs to stand alone. That's happening right around with all our rongoā practitioners.He said there are a lot of Ngāpuhi organisations who also do not support rongoā going into the bill either.Wai262 claimants hope the kanohi ora strategy will help protect rongoā and keep it out of the Therapeutics Products Bill.The descendants of Wai262 claimants are creating a legislation framework with working protection mechanisms on the use of taonga and mātauranga Māori.Ashby said the next generation is now carrying on the work of their tupuna to keep rongoā out of the bill."That was made up of those claimants that put that statement to protect our taonga tohe," said Ashby."Now all those claimants have passed on, but however their people have come onboard to keep this going. At the moment we're working closely with the Crown to show how we can navigate around those relationships with the crown."Submissions on the bill closed on 5 March.

National grid operator Transpower is warning of possible disruptions to Northland's electricity supply as it shifts high-voltage lines to bypass a major slip.A big slip just south of Wellsford is threatening two towers carrying the lines, and there is a risk more bad weather might cause further movement and bring down both lines.Transpower general manager for grid delivery Mark Ryall said temporary towers will be set up to bypass the slip, and it has taken one line out of service to reduce the risk."With more rain forecast, we have removed the 110kV line from service and will lower it to the ground as a precaution," he said on Thursday."This will mitigate the risk of both transmission lines being affected at the same time if there are further slips."Northland will be reliant on the single 220kV line while the relocation is carried out, and households should take precautions such as having barbecues ready, and making sure electronic devices are charged."We are conscious that the people in these regions have been through a lot in recent weeks," Ryall said."While the risk of a fault or further slip on the 220kV line is small, we wanted to ensure that people are aware of the risk and able to take steps to prepare for any unplanned outages."We are working closely with local lines companies Northpower, Top Energy and Vector to manage any local impact in their areas."The first stage of the bypass is expected to be completed by next week, Ryall said, allowing the 110kV line to be reactivated.

Warkworth RegionMonday 6th March - Cloudy periods. A few showers, mainly in the east and about Great Barrier Island, clearing this evening. Thunderstorms with downpours are also possible on Great Barrier Island this morning. Southerlies, dying out late evening.Tuesday 7th March - Mainly fine, with isolated showers clearing in the morning. Light winds.Wednesday 8th March - Fine, but becoming cloudy for a time in the afternoon and evening. Southwesterlies.Thursday 9th March - Partly cloudy, with isolated showers developing. Westerlies.Friday 10th March - Mostly cloudy, with showers developing, some heavy. Fresh northwesterlies, turning southwesterly.Mangawhai RegionMonday 6th March - Cloudy periods. A few showers, mainly from afternoon, when some may be heavy. Southeasterlies developing this morning.Tuesday 7th March - Partly cloudy with a few showers. Light winds.Wednesday 8th March - Fine with southwesterlies.Thursday 9th March - Fine. Westerlies.Friday 10th March - Cloudy, with rain developing. Northwesterlies.

The night works at the Southern Connection of the project are still progressing following the recent weather events. However, works were postponed due to the cyclone and because of this we have had to extend these works for a further week.The full SH1 closures between Silverdale to Johnstones Hill Tunnels (JHT) will continue for the following dates. While the closure is in place, traffic will detour along Hibiscus Coast Highway (HCH). A stop/go operation will be in place on HCH to manage traffic safely, from 9pm to 5am.• Sunday 5 to Thursday 9 March• Sunday 12 to Thursday 16 March• Sunday 19 to Thursday 23 MarchThese are very weather dependant, so timings may change at short notice. While all efforts have been made to limit disruption to traffic flows, we encourage you to plan your journey over this time and check the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner before heading out https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/

Have your say with Auckland CouncilWith consultation now open on Auckland Council’s Annual Budget, Rodney residents are being urged to give their feedback on proposals that impact the area.The budget aims to address an estimated $295 million shortfall while prioritising services residents value.Rodney Ward Councillor Greg Sayers says the council is facing financial challenges that require tough choices and it’s important Rodney residents’ views are heard.“Everyone knows we are facing financial challenges and must balance the budget. The shortfall is partly down to the council’s services and assets expanding over time, but just like any household budget, things have been made worse by inflation, interest rates and the issues highlighted by the recent storms.“We have options to address the shortfall. It’s time for people to have their say and help shape the budget.”Options to close the shortfall include:reducing the council's and its organisations’ operating costs by another $125 milliona $154 a year / $3 a week (4.66 per cent) rate increase for the average value residential propertyselling Auckland Airport shares to reduce debtborrowing up to $75 million to allow for future financial uncertainty (current policy allows up to $140 million).Sayers says recent weather events have devastated Rodney communities.“We are proposing increasing our operating budgets by around $20 million a year to better prepare for future storms but that would likely require rates to increase another 1 per cent on top of the 4.66 per cent proposed.”He says the budget allows for everyday services, $2.8 billion in capital investment for transport, parks, community facilities, city centre and local development, urban regeneration, cultural development and environmental management.Proposals that reduce or stop services such as community and education programmes, grants, events, Mahurangi Regional Park events, economic development, homelessness funding, community empowerment and youth centre funding could save $20 million.But, if public feedback opposes the proposed budget, or the financial challenge worsens, it will need to fund the shortfall another way, likely by:Increasing rates by up to $336 a year / $6.50 a week (13.5 per cent) for average value residential propertyincreasing debt.Sayers says there is more in the budget and he’s encouraging everyone to read the proposals, share their ideas and give feedback.The city’s 21 local boards are also facing cuts, with a proposal to reduce operating budgets by $16 million.Rodney Local Board areaChair Brent Bailey says a budget proposal calling for $921,000 of savings in Rodney could hit services.“With the reduction in our operational budget and everything on the table, we need to know what services residents value most.“Capital projects and projects funded by our transport targeted rate will continue, which includes public transport and footpath infrastructure improvements.“Feedback will help us make the right funding decisions for our communities.”Key priorities to continue include:Develop a new Milldale park with a developerrenew Goodall Reserve skate ramp, Helensville river walkway, Wellsford Centennial Park assetsdeliver Warkworth and Helensville town centre improvements.Key services that may stop or reduce include:Kumeū and Helensville arts centre grantsWarkworth Library opening hoursevents such as Anzac Day, A&P shows and Santa paradescommunity workers and hall user subsidiesenvironmental volunteersecological restorationlow and no-mow areas in parkswaste minimisation programme.Have your sayFeedback can be provided online, via email, by phone, post or at Have Your Say events:Kumeū Library, 296 Main Road, 3 March, 10.30am-12.30pmWarkworth Library, 2 Baxter Street, 10 March, 11am-1pmKumeū Show, 35/41 Access Road, 11 March, 8.30am - 4.30pmVisit akhaveyoursay.nz/budget before 28 March to find out more.