Police have defended a rise in the number of speed camera infringements being issued, saying new mobile cameras are able to identify speeding vehicles more accurately.RNZ revealed tens of thousands more tickets had been handed out for drivers doing between one and 11km/h over the speed limit.In January 2021, speed cameras snapped just under 20,000 drivers going just over the limit. In January 2022, that figure was more than 90,000.Police told RNZ the increase was due to camera activation settings being set in closer proximity to the speed limit. They later added they had recently completed replacing all the old mobile cameras with new models.They say the newer model performs better in conditions such as rain, fog or at night-time, meaning speed cameras can operate more often."Due to the modern functionality, these new cameras are now also able to identify offending vehicles more accurately, which has enabled police to issue infringements in situations where this wasn't possible with the previously used technology," police said.The January-on-January figures for fines against motorists from mobile and fixed cameras show $600,000 worth of fines were issued in 2021, and $2.7m in fines in January 2022.Police have been under pressure to increase use of speed cameras after years of undershooting the targets that NZTA funds them to hit. NZTA is taking over the cameras next year.In the past couple of years, police language has changed around speeding, and police have again reiterated, "the speed limit is the speed limit and you can expect to be stopped for going at any speed over the limit".Breath testing numbers are also expected to increase as Covid-19 related restrictions eased and in the rolling 12 months to 31 October 2022, 2.2 million tests were completed.Police said these new measures were about working towards Road to Zero."We are working closely with our road safety partners, Waka Kotahi, Ministry of Transport and others to achieve the goal of reducing death and serious injury on the road by 40 percent by 2030."If the number of deaths on the roads continues to increase, our enforcement will continue to increase as well."

Christmas Giveaways! 🎅🏼🎅🏼Today we are giving away a $25 voucher for Matakana Village Butchery! 🍗🥩 To enter follow/like The Matakana App on Facebook and Instagram, and then head to the WIN STUFF! button on the App and enter your details.Please include the date so we know which prize you are wanting. We will draw the prizes as we go.Good luck and Merry Christmas!!

Thunderstorms are on the way for the North Island with the heaviest rainfall due on parts of the east coast.Much of the North Island is on a severe thunderstorm watch from from 1pm to 9pm.MetService said the combination of cool temperatures at upper levels and warm humid conditions nearer the ground are likely to form thunderstorms.The risk is moderate to high of risk of storms in many areas, with localised downpours of 25mm to 45mm of rainfall an hour from Waikato through Taranaki to Wairarapa, the central high country and much of Hawke's Bay.An orange heavy rain warning is in place for Hawke's Bay south of Napier, the Tararua District and Wairarapa north of Featherston from 2pm.File photo. Rail in the Auckland CBD. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-FarrellyThe forecaster said rain of this intensity can cause surface flooding and flash flooding, especially in low-lying areas like streams, rivers or narrow valleys.Driving could be hazardous with the possibility of slips and flooding, as well as poor visibility in heavy rain.

The organiser of this week's Kaipara karakia protest hikoi is petitioning Parliament to make the Māori tikanga feature mandatory for the more than 30 New Zealand councils with Māori electoral areas.Dargaville district's Paturiri Toatu has lodged a petition request with Parliament seeking karakia are made compulsory for the start and finish of council meetings in councils with Māori wards or constituencies.Northland's four councils - Kaipara District Council (KDC), Far North District Council (FNDC), Whangārei District Council (WDC) and Northland Regional Council (NRC) - all have Māori electoral areas.Toatu's 5 December petition request reads: "That the House of Representatives make it mandatory for councils that have Māori ward representation to respect Tikanga Māori and Māori culture by having an opening and a closing karakia (prayer) before and after all council meetings, according to Māori custom."His move comes after KDC Mayor Craig Jepson refused to allow Māori ward councillor Pera Paniora to open the council's 30 November meeting in Mangawhai with a karakia.Kaipara Mayor Craig Jepson (centre grey shirt) and councillors meet the hikoi on the steps of the Northern Wairoa War Memorial Hall. Photo: LDR / Northern Advocate, Tania Whyte"Recently the Kaipara Mayor refused to allow Kaipara District Council Māori Ward councillor Ihapera (Pera) Paniora the right, according to Tikanga Māori and Māori Custom, to have an opening karakia (prayer) in order to bless proceedings," Toatu said."Not only was this action deeply hurtful and offensive to Ihapera (Pera), I believe it was also very disrespectful to the Māori community overall."He said that 30 November karakia ban directly contravened Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi).Toatu said he would approach a Te Pāti Māori MP to present his petition to the House where it would go to a relevant select committee.Toatu organised Dargaville's Wednesday hikoi calling for the Kaipara mayor's resignation after his November Mangawhai council meeting karakia block, calling the council leader's action racist.Hikoi participant Melanie Russell makes her views known Photo: LDR / Northern Advocate, Tania WhyteThe hikoi of more than 300 people walked through the main streets of Dargaville township to the Northern Wairoa Memorial Hall venue for KDC's December council meeting.It was Dargaville's biggest hikoi in the town's local government history which began more than a hundred years ago with the settlement's first mayor in 1908.KDC's elected representatives on 7 December decided on what was called a compromise position on the use of karakia to open their council meetings, where it could be used, as one option, by councillors who on a rotating basis could start proceedings ahead of the meeting with this or other choices including a prayer or other reflection.Toatu said KDC's compromise position did not go far enough.Karakia timatanga (karakia to start a meeting) have become commonplace across New Zealand local government, which is required to give effect to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.Signatures for the petition close on 4 January.Toatu was among candidates who this year stood for the single seat on KDC's first-time Te Moananui o Kaipara Māori Ward, won by Paniora.New Zealand councils currently with Māori ward/s or constituencies include: Northland's KDC, FNDC, WDC and NRC along with Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Gisborne District Council, Hamilton City Council, Hastings District Council, Hawkes Bay Regional Council, Horowhenua District Council, Manawatū District Council, Manawatū-Wanganui Regional Council, Marlborough District Council, Masterton District Council, Matamata-Piako District Council, Nelson City Council, New Plymouth District Council, Ōtorohonga District Council, Palmerston North District Council, Porirua City Council, Rangitikei District Council, Rotorua District Council, Ruapehu District Council, Taupō District Council, Waikāto District Council, Wairoa District Council, Whakatāne District Council, South Taranaki District Council, Stratford District Council, Taranaki Regional Council, Tararua District Council, Waikato District Council, Waipā District Council and Wellington City Council.

Christmas Giveaways! 🎅🏼🎅🏼Today we are giving away a 10 trip concession card for Matakana Country Park Express train rides for kids! 🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂 To enter follow/like The Matakana App on Facebook and Instagram, and then head to the WIN STUFF! button on the App and enter your details.Please include the date so we know which prize you are wanting. We will draw the prizes as we go.Good luck and Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Giveaways! 🎅🏼🎅🏼Today we are giving away 2 bottles of wine from Ascension Wine Estate!! To enter follow/like The Matakana App on Facebook and Instagram, and then head to the WIN STUFF! button on the App and enter your details.Please include the date so we know which prize you are wanting. We will draw the prizes as we go.Good luck and Merry Christmas!!

Warkworth RegionMonday 19th December - Mainly fine apart from morning cloud. Isolated showers developing this afternoon, possibly heavy. Light winds; afternoon sea breezes.Tuesday 20th December - Partly cloudy, with a few showers clearing in the evening. Light winds, becoming northerlies for a time in the afternoon.Wednesday 21st December - Isolated showers, especially in the afternoon. Easterlies, easing in the afternoon.Thursday 22nd December - Fine at first, then a few showers developing. Northerly breezes.Friday 23rd December - Mainly fine, isolated showers developing. Westerlies developing.Mangawhai RegionMonday 19th December - A fine morning, then showers from afternoon, some heavy and thundery. Light winds.Tuesday 20th December - Partly cloudy. A few showers, mainly in the afternoon. Light winds.Wednesday 21st December - Showers, clearing later in the day and becoming fine. Light winds.Thursday 22nd December - Fine, then showers developing. Northwesterlies developing.Friday 23rd December - Fine, then showers developing. Westerlies.

Christmas Giveaways! 🎅🏼🎅🏼🎅🏼Today we are giving away 2 tickets for an Adult 90-minute NZ Oyster Farm Tours & Shucking Experience (value $180)To enter follow/like The Matakana App on Facebook and Instagram, and then head to the WIN STUFF! button on the App and enter your details.Please include the date so we know which prize you are wanting. We will draw the prizes as we go.Good luck and Merry Christmas!!

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 13 January 2023. Please note this Traffic Bulletin is updated every Friday.Check daily updated closure information (external link)Unless otherwise stated, closures start at 9pm and finish at 5am.NORTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)Southbound lanes between Waiwera off-ramp and Silverdale on-ramp, 9-10 JanuaryOrewa southbound on-ramp, 9-10 JanuaryMillwater southbound on-ramp, 9-10 JanuarySouthbound lanes between Oteha Valley Road off-ramp and Greville Road on-ramp, 10 & 12 JanuaryOteha Valley Road southbound on-ramp, 10 & 12 JanuarySouthbound lanes between Oteha Valley Road off-ramp and Greville Road on-ramp, 19 DecemberOteha Valley Road southbound on-ramp, 19 DecemberNorthbound lanes between Upper Harbour Highway off-ramp and Oteha Valley Road on-ramp, 9 January (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)Greville Road northbound on-ramp, 9 JanuaryNorthbound lanes between Upper Harbour Highway off-ramp and Greville Road on-ramp, 10-11 JanuaryUpper Harbour Highway northbound on-ramp, 9-11 JanuaryUpper Harbour Highway southbound on-ramp, 18-21 DecemberOnewa Road southbound on-ramp, 19 DecemberShelly Beach Road southbound off-ramp, 19 DecemberFanshawe Street southbound off-ramp, 19 DecemberCENTRAL MOTORWAY JUNCTION (CMJ)Southbound lanes between Fanshawe Street off-ramp and Hobson Street on-ramp, 11-12 January (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH1 southbound to SH16 eastbound (Port) link, 11-12 JanuarySH1 southbound to SH16 westbound link, 11-12 JanuaryHobson Street westbound on-ramp, 11-12 JanuarySH16 eastbound to SH16 Port link, 11-12 January (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Westbound lanes between Alten Road and Great North Road on-ramp, 11-12 January (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Wellesley Street East westbound on-ramp, 11-12 JanuaryStanley Street westbound off-ramp, 20 December & 10 JanaurySH1 northbound to SH16 westbound link, 11-12 January (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH16 (Port) westbound to SH1 southbound link, 11-12 January (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SOUTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)Greenlane southbound on-ramp, 21 DecemberSouthbound lanes between Mt Wellington off-ramp and East Tamaki Road on-ramp, 11-12 January (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Mt Wellington southbound on-ramp, 11-12 JanuaryPrinces Street southbound on-ramp, 11-12 JanuaryHighbrook Drive southbound on-ramp, 11-12 JanuarySouthbound lanes between East Tamaki Road off-ramp and Manukau on-ramp, 9-10 January (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)East Tamaki Road southbound on-ramp, 9-10 JanuarySouthbound lanes between Manukau off-ramp and Papakura on-ramp, 18-19 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Manukau southbound on-ramp, 18-19 DecemberSH1 southbound to SH 20 northbound link, 18-19 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Takanini southbound on-ramp, 18-19 DecemberNorthbound lanes between Papakura off-ramp and Takanini on-ramp, 10 JanuaryPapakura northbound on-ramp, 10-12 JanuaryNorthbound lanes between Drury/SH22 off-ramp and Takanini on-ramp, 11-12 JanuaryDrury/SH22 northbound on-ramp, 10-12 JanuaryNorthbound lanes between Ramarama off-ramp and Drury/SH22 on-ramp, 18-20 DecemberNorthbound lanes between Ramarama off-ramp and Papakura on-ramp, 21 DecemberDrury/SH22 northbound on-ramp, 21 DecemberRamarama northbound on-ramp, 18-21 DecemberSH1 southbound to SH 20 northbound link, 9-10 January (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Hampton Downs northbound on-ramp, 20 December (approx. 8:00pm to 7:00am)Hampton Downs northbound off-ramp, 20 December (approx. 8:00pm to 7:00am)Hampton Downs southbound off-ramp, 16 DecemberHampton Downs southbound on-ramp, 16 DecemberHampton Downs southbound off-ramp, 18 & 21-22 December (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)Hampton Downs southbound on-ramp, 18 & 21-22 December (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)Hampton Downs southbound off-ramp, 19 December (approx. 8:00pm to 7:00am)Hampton Downs southbound on-ramp, 19 December (approx. 8:00pm to 7:00am)NORTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH16)Southbound lanes between Lincoln Road off-ramp and SH20 link, 9-10 January (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Lincoln Road southbound on-ramp, 9-10 JanuaryTe Atatu (Loop) southbound on-ramp, 9-10 JanuaryTe Atatu southbound on-ramp, 9-10 JanuaryRosebank Road southbound on-ramp, 9-10 JanuarySH16 southbound to SH20 southbound link, 9-10 January (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Te Atatu northbound on-ramp, 18-19 DecemberTe Atatu northbound off-ramp, 18-21 DecemberPatiki Road southbound off-ramp, 18-21 DecemberNewton Road westbound on-ramp, 11-12 JanuarySt Luke’s westbound on-ramp, 11-12 JanuarySH16 westbound to SH20 southbound link, 11-12 January (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)UPPER HARBOUR MOTORWAY (SH18)Eastbound lanes between Albany Highway off-ramp and Paul Mathews Drive, 11-12 JanuaryAlbany Highway eastbound on-ramp, 11-12 JanuaryEastbound lanes between Tauhinu Road off-ramp and Albany Highway on-ramp, 19 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Eastbound lanes between Tauhinu Road off-ramp and Greenhithe Road on-ramp, 20 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Greenhithe Road eastbound on-ramp, 19 DecemberSquadron Drive eastbound on-ramp, 19-20 DecemberTauhinu Road eastbound off-ramp, 19-20 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Westbound lanes between Greenhithe Road off-ramp and Tauhinu Road on-ramp, 19-20 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Eastbound lanes between Brigham Creek Road off-ramp and Brigham Creek Road on-ramp, 20 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Brigham Creek Road eastbound on-ramp, 20 DecemberSOUTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH20)Northbound lanes between Maioro Street off-ramp and SH16 link (Waterview Northbound Tunnel closed), 27 December and 8 JanuaryMaioro Street northbound on-ramp (Waterview Northbound Tunnel closed), 27 December and 8 JanuarySouthbound lanes between Lambie Drive off-ramp and SH1 links, 18-19 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Lambie Drive southbound on-ramp, 18-20 DecemberSH20 southbound to SH1 northbound link, 18-19 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH20 southbound to SH1 southbound link, 18-19 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)GEORGE BOLT MEMORIAL DRIVE (SH20A)Kirkbride Road southbound off-ramp, 18-22 December (approx. 9:00pm to 5:00am)

As many Kiwis prepare to hit the road for summer, Waka Kotahi's getting ready for its regular holiday schedule of road resurfacing.Work will be carried out on about 10 percent, or 2450 lane kilometres, of the country's state highways.But what happens to the old road seal when new asphalt is laid on?One of the nation's biggest construction contractors Fulton Hogan has a new machine to deal with the leftovers in a more environmentally friendly way.Their Belgian-designed mobile asphalt crusher was the first fully electric model in Australasia.Transport Minister Michael Wood described it as a "win-win-win": creating less waste, recycling materials, and saving money in the process."We know that we've got a big challenge in our system to decarbonise transport."Some of that's about what we build, but it's also about how we build it."High-traffic roads like state highways needed resealing about every seven years, requiring a lot of asphalt every time the maintenance roster rolled around."This enables us to have approximately 30 percent recycled product in some of the roads that we're laying down around the country," Wood said."So that's a huge step-up in terms of our ability to take something that otherwise might have been a waste product and use the value of it to build and maintain our roads."Waka Kotahi was critical of Fulton Hogan's State Highway 1 resealing work in Dome Valley, which saw chipseal coating weekend travellers' tyres.However, Wood said there were lessons to be learned from the failure.He said the roading network was coming under increasing pressure from climate change, with regions like Northland, Nelson-Marlborough, and the East Cape already dealing with the repercussions."From government and Waka Kotahi, we're doing a lot of work on how we make sure that we build a more resilient network, but we're going to have to do a lot of work to make sure we keep on top of that."It is going to require more investment in the future, but it's also a good reason to be making sure that we do what we can to reduce our emissions and prevent climate change from becoming even worse."Fulton Hogan's new machine ticked some of these boxes, saving an estimated 80 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.It also saved about $55,000 a year on diesel costs.Savings which would be passed on, the company's Auckland regional manager James Weller said."It's a lot cheaper to run, and that flows through our whole process to the end-product and to our customers."Weller said the machine was the kind of capital investment that was needed to reach the company's carbon reduction targets.Fulton Hogan aimed to have a 30 percent emission reduction on its 2021 baseline by 2030, and become net carbon zero by 2050.New Zealand company Equip2 supplied Fulton Hogan with the machine.Its general manager Ben Hart said the electric crushers produced about 60,000 tonnes of recycled asphalt a year, creating what he called a "circular economy".But with just 30 percent recycled material currently going into the mix, Hart said there was work to be done to get it up to 100 percent."With New Zealand, we use about 9-10 tonnes of aggregate per person per year. That's a lot."It's something we don't actually think about, but it's going into our houses, industries, roading, infrastructure, technology, even healthcare."It's awesome to know that it's getting reused again, and it's also de-risking and lowering the emissions."Hart said New Zealand companies could look to their European counterparts as world-leaders in recycling roads, and continue driving towards their target of giving all materials a second life.

Christmas Giveaways!Today we are giving away 2 bottles of wine from Monarch Estate Vineyard !! 🍷🍷🍇🍇To enter follow/like The Matakana App on Facebook and Instagram, and then head to the WIN STUFF! button on the App and enter your details. Please include the date so we know which prize you are wanting. We will draw the prizes as we go.

Friday 16th DecemberSOJOURN with special guests Bliss and TemanFiji Fridays @ SmithsMatakana Comedy Club with Justine SmithWarkworth Theatre's Ali Baba & Forty Thieves pantomimeSaturday 17thMangawhai Community MarketMangawhai Tavern MarketMatakana Village Farmers MarketMixed Messages Saturday @ SmithsBarfoot & Thompson - Charity Sausage SizzleWarkworth Theatre's Ali Baba & Forty Thieves pantomimeSunday 18thMatakana Country Park MarketSunday Sessions & Leigh Sawmill CafeMangawhai Santa ParadeSunday Service @ SmithsWarkworth Theatre's Ali Baba & Forty Thieves pantomime

🛶🛶🛶Today we are giving away 1 Double Kayak voucher from Puhoi Kayaks.Puhoi River KayaksTo enter follow/like The Matakana App on Facebook and Instagram, and then head to the Win Stuff button on the App and enter your details. Please include the date so we know which prize you are wanting. We will draw the prizes as we go. Good luck!!

Warkworth RegionFriday 16th December - Low cloud and drizzle, clearing towards midday. Fine spells and northwesterlies from afternoon, but the chance of a shower.Saturday 17th - Rain developing in the morning, possibly heavy from afternoon. Light winds.Sunday 18th - Rain, easing to isolated showers in the morning with fine breaks developing. Showers becoming widespread for a time in the afternoon, clearing in the evening. Light winds.Mangawhai RegionFriday 16th December - Cloudy, then fine breaks developing towards midday. Chance of a shower from late afternoon. Light winds, afternoon northeasterlies.Saturday 17th - Occasional rain, becoming persistent for a time in the afternoon and evening. Light winds.Sunday 18th - Rain, clearing in the morning with fine breaks developing. Showers from afternoon, possibly heavy, clearing evening. Light winds.

Explainer - Fuel and public transport subsidies have been rolled over, again, for now - but for most of us, the days of cheaper transport are coming to an end.Here's what you need to know about the end of cheaper petrol.What's the discount?Soaring petrol prices and a cost of living crisis prompted the government to, in March, temporarily slash fuel prices by 25 cents a litre.Train and bus fares were halved, too.Before the discount, petrol prices had tipped well over $3 a litre in some places.Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said at the original announcement it would bring savings of between $11.50 and $17.25 per tank of fuel.The subsidies were supposed to just be for three months - April to June - but in Budget 2022 they were rolled over to July.It was extended again to January, but today the government announced the end is nigh.At the end of February the petrol subsidy drops to 12.5 cents a litre, before being ditched altogether at the end of March.Meanwhile, the public transport subsidy finishes at the end of March for all but those with community services cards.What's the cost?Big bucks - it had been estimated at $1.3b, now add another $116m to keep the programme running for the final few months.The public transport component makes up about $100m to $160m.Finance Minister Grant Robertson acknowledged many households were still struggling with the cost of living, but he said the government simply could not afford to keep the policy forever.Why did the government slash the fuel tax in the first place?Essentially, because of soaring inflation and the cost of living crisis brought on by the pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, among other crises.The government was being hammered by stories of peoples' pain at the pump - and took action.Ardern said in March the Ukraine invasion had unleashed a "global energy crisis", with fuel prices hitting record highs.Prices had jumped 13 percent in the previous month alone, after steadily rising for some time.Today, Energy Minister Megan Woods said that since then global fuel prices have eased."Retail prices for regular 91 have dropped by about 75 cents per litre - including the excise cut," Woods said.Consumers vs the climate - the winners and losers from the subsidiesIt's not just petrol prices that will increase when the discount is ditched.Transporting New Zealand chief executive Nick Leggett wrote in a Stuff opinion piece that fuel prices will shoot up overnight, along with the cost of everything delivered by a truck."With 93 percent of our freight delivered on a truck, that's basically everything we consume and purchase."So the discount has helped keep the price of other goods and services at bay, too.But there are other reasons to let the subsidy go.The petrol tax discount is counterproductive to Aotearoa's desperate need to cut carbon emissions.The government has pledged to halve dangerous climate gases by 2030.Transport makes up half of that total - and actions like the fuel tax discount incentivises people to keep on driving.That hits the government in the pocket twice.First: to pay for the actual subsidy.Second, because we have so far failed to reduce emissions ourselves the government will likely have to pay pay billions of dollars to other countries to cut them on our behalf to meet our 2030 goals.That said, half-price fares on public transport may have encouraged more people out of their cars and onto trains and buses, which is better for the environment.

🍷🍷🍷Today we are giving away 1 bottle of wine from Gillman Vineyard!!To enter follow/like The Matakana App on Facebook and Instagram, and then head to the Win Stuff button on the App and enter your details. Please include the date so we know which prize you are wanting. We will draw the prizes as we go. Good luck!!

Legislation to ban the sale of tobacco to anyone born after the 1 January 2009 has passed its third reading.It is another step towards the government's goal for Aotearoa to be smokefree by 2025.The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Bill makes three main changes:reducing the amount of nicotine that is allowed in smoked tobacco productsdecreasing the numbers of retailers that sell tobaccomaking sure tobacco is not sold at all to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009.The bill is now set to become law - passing its final reading in Parliament with support from Labour, the Greens and Te Paati Māori.Associate Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall said the legislation accelerated progress towards a smokefree future."The number of retailers around the country that can sell tobacco will be reduced to a tenth of the 6000 there are now. This legislation mandates a maximum of 600 tobacco retailers by the end of next year," she said in a statement.New Zealand's smoking rate is already low with just 8 percent of adults smoking daily, down from 9.4 percent a year and a half ago and half the rate compared to 10 years ago.Verrall said the measures were important for equitable health outcomes for Māori and would close the life expectancy gap for Māori women by 25 percent and by 10 percent for Māori men.Anti-smoking groups reactOtago University Professor and ASPIRE2025 co-director Janet Hoek told The Science Media Centre that all three measures would help reduce smoking across all population groups."Reducing the number of outlets selling tobacco will improve community wellbeing, and enhance the safety of retailers," she said.Removing tobacco from small dairies would help remove an important risk to staff, she said.Aotearoa's approach was world-leading and likely to produce profound health benefits, she said.Action for Smokefree 2025 chair Emeritus Professor Robert Beaglehole said the bill had several good aspects.However, the bill may have the unintended effect of penalising existing smokers by cutting the number of cigarette retail outlets to 600, he said."The mandatory denicotinisation policy, third main policy, will not come into effect for at least two years and thus will not help achieve the 2025 goal. At best, it may encourage the tobacco industry to promote less harmful products such as vaping. But it might also encourage illicit cigarette trade," he said.

Christmas is nigh! We have managed to score a bunch of goodies and experiences from some lovely localcompanies to pass on to you! A big shoutout to local businesses, who have donated: 8 Wired Ascension Wine Estate Gillman Vineyard Matakana Country Park Express Matakana Village Butchery Monarch Estate Vineyard NZ Oyster Farm Tours Puhoi Kayaks Ti Point Reptile Park Tumbleweed  We are giving something away each day from now until Xmas. To enter go to Win Stuff

People are being encouraged to apply for compensation if their vehicles are damaged as a result of a shody chipseal job that broke-up and stuck to cars travelling along State Highway 1 north of Auckland at the weekend.Waka Kotahi was due to start repairs on the stretch of highway near Dome Valley between Warkworth and Wellsford today. It says the seal originally laid by Fulton Hogan fell short of expectations and was compromised by weather conditions.Waka Kotahi encourages anyone who has received damage to their vehicle as a result of this issue to lodge a compensation claim with Fulton Hogan for action. This can be done by emailing [email protected] or phoning 09 4700 718.