A message from NZ Police:We’re heading in to the busiest time of year for postal deliveries and Police want to remind everyone to do what they can to stop parcel theft. Coming into Christmas there are more parcels being delivered, and more chance for your presents to be stolen. Thieves will take any opportunity to steal, and parcels left on front door steps or in apartment building common areas are an easy target. Our advice is: Get packages delivered to a place where someone will be home to receive them, or to a work address. If you do have deliveries made to your home, make sure you're going to be home to sign for them, or have a secure location where they can be left. Make sure your delivery instructions are clear, and ask for packages not to be placed at your front door, or on top of an apartment building post box. If you're not going to be home when the parcel is delivered, arrange to collect your parcel from the depot, or have the parcel redirected to the address of someone you trust. Be smart when disposing of packaging, so passers-by can’t see what you’ve been buying. Report any suspicious behaviour to Police - e.g. if you see a car following a courier van, or an unexpected visitor knocks on your door asking for someone you don't know.Make sure your gifts get given to your loved ones this Christmas and not thieves.You can report theft online via 105.police.govt.nz

Christmas cheer may have come a little earlier for New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) members with the NZPFU National Committee today releasing and recommending ratification of a proposed settlement with Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ). After 18 gruelling months of negotiations and six months of industrial action including all NZPFU members walking off the job twice, the NZPFU members have just received the detail of the proposed settlement that the NZPFU recommends members’ accept. A snapshot of some of the highlights of the recommended settlement are:Life-saving blood screening for the early detection of firefighters’ occupational cancer and other illnessMedical response recognition for Firefighters and DispatchersPsychological support and supervision programme for Firefighters and DispatchersFinancial assistance for all members to access Income Protection and Life InsuranceSafe Systems of Work progress with NZPFU with equal representation as FENZ on working parties to recommend appliances (type, numbers and location), staffing (levels and location) and equipment (boots and helmets including trial protocols)Significant cumulative wage increases up to 24%, and backdating to 202122% cumulative increase to allowances, and backdating to 2021$1500 sign-on bonus to be paid Christmas week (if ratified)Recognition of the increased costs of living and working in Auckland with an additional one-off payment for Auckland members, and ongoing annual Auckland Shift Worker allowance to recognise the Auckland Taskforce report that demonstrated the financial disadvantages of working in the region.Long-notice retirement benefitNZPFU rejected FENZ’s previous offers that did not have the same safe systems of work or safety, health and wellbeing provisions. FENZ’s previous wage offers were dismal in comparison and this current proposed settlement includes significant backdating. The overall numbers put this ground-breaking settlement into perspective. The costing for this offer is approximately $145 million – a $100 million more compared to FENZ’s July offer costed at $45 million. The proposed settlement is much more than the numbers – it is a start to appropriately addressing safe systems of work and necessary occupational health and wellbeing support and assistance. The offer goes some way to ensure NZPFU members are respected and valued and a pathway to begin repairing the relationship between management and staff and FENZ and the NZPFU.This proposed settlement would not have been achieved without the support of the Government, Minister Jan Tinetti and her staff.The turning point in the negotiations was the Graeme Colgan report which arose out of a process facilitated by the Minister, assisted by former CTU President Ross Wilson and independent financial reviewers contracted by the Department of Internal Affairs to assist the parties in determining accurate and reliable costings and options.  The Colgan report found firefighters significantly underpaid, that NZPFU members felt undervalued and disrespected, that staffing and appliance safe systems of work issues needed to be addressed and mental health and occupational illness needed recognition.The proposed settlement now being recommended for ratification goes further than the Colgan report in terms and conditions and costings.This proposed settlement would not have been achieved without the public support for safe systems of work and better health and wellbeing support for our members. We also recognise and appreciate the support our members received across the political spectrum. NZPFU membership ratification meetings will be held from Whangarei to Invercargill from the 8th to the 18th December 2022 with the vote being counted on the evening of the 18th.Sourced from https://www.firecrisis.nz/significant-settlement-offered-to-nzpfu-members/?fbclid=IwAR3dcO__R5FS4ta-JI83uAFdszmKQ3dhsOyGK34IWbGMJqFToDGifBDwy3Y

Our latest drone footage of the Ara Tūhono - Pūhoi to Warkworth Motorway project area is here! This footage was taken in November 2022, flying from Warkworth in the North to Pūhoi in the South. Happy viewing everyone!

The holiday season can be overwhelming, so let us try to make it easy for you to minimise your waste. Whether you’re headed to the beach or bach, or having the family round to your place, here’s some simple tips to avoid the stress of excess waste over the holidays.   Zero waste gift-givingEnjoy these sources of inspiration for your holiday gift-giving that don’t require you to make or bake anything.The Kaipātiki project will plant a native tree for you in a reserve for only $10.Rather than buy a toy once, why not give your child a membership to one of Auckland’s many toy libraries.For the DIYer in your family, get them a subscription to the Auckland Library of Tools, so they’ll have access to everything they need for odd jobs and home improvement.You can visit a community recycling centre for a one-of-a-kind treasures and holiday decorations. Most people simply drop by to find a surprise gem; that’s half the fun!Zero waste partiesDitch the balloons. Put a big ribbon with a bow on your mailbox instead. Unlike a balloon it won't pop, and you can use it year after year.Avoid themed decorations. A lot of festive merchandise is single use, adds up to more spend than you planned for, and ends up in a landfill. Not to mention the labour and resources in the whole process. If you want a party theme, focus on a colour scheme and use materials you already have or can use again easily.Entertain the kids. Consider re-useable options like fabric and ribbon for pass the parcel, instead of single use paper that will be in the recycling bin faster than the kids have finished their lollies.Better party favours. Don’t waste time and money on goodie bags or extra stocking stuffers. Most of the “goodies” are plastic bits that end up in landfill. Instead, send your guests home with baked goods or leftovers. Or, if you need a party favour, consider giving everyone a tomato plant.Simple remindersClassic wrapping papers are all recyclable. Foil papers and hard to tear papers are probably made out of plastic, so those can’t be recycled.The chefs from Love Food Hate Waste have shared these clever ideas for making something fresh from your leftover holiday meals.Remember, your kerbside collection day might be impacted by the holiday schedule.Lastly, once the decorations have all been stored away for next year, dispose of your Christmas tree properly by returning it to where you bought it, taking it to a transfer station, or turning it into compost.  

Police are steering towards a more electric future, with a further roll-out of electric pool vehicles advancing the commitment to reduce the organisation’s carbon footprint.A trial of 38 EVs began at the end of November, using Hyundai Konas, which have a range of about 400km on a single charge.You won’t see them with red and blue flashing lights, however. The EVs will be for non-operational work. While Police currently have a Skoda Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle for frontline operations, work in that space is ongoing given the criteria frontline cars must meet.The trial of the Hyundais will see GPS and usage data analysed over the next six months to determine the success of the project, along with focus group sessions with users to get first-hand feedback.The EVs have been rolled out so far in Wellington, and a further 14 locations will receive vehicles over the next three months.New Zealand Police has one of the largest vehicle fleets in New Zealand, with 3500 vehicles, including about 2200 liveried patrol cars registered vehicles - one of the largest fleets in New Zealand.The fleet, including motorcycles, boats and helicopters, produces approximately 70 percent of Police’s carbon emissions.In June 2020, the Prime Minister encouraged Chief Executives in Government to consider replacing their light vehicle fleets with electric vehicles to support government’s target.New Zealand Police is committed to procuring battery electric vehicles where practical and has outlined a five-year plan to an emissions-free fleet; this is expected to result in a significant reduction in C02 emissions

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the entrenchment clause in the government's Three Waters legislation was a mistake which the government is fixing.The government has made a U-turn on the entrenchment rule which would have required 60 percent of votes in the House to overturn the legislation.Last week, Ardern described the amendment to the bill as "quirky".Yesterday, leader of the House Chris Hipkins announced it would remove the clause saying it was "not typical", and was not something the government was comfortable with doing.Ardern told Morning Report the entrenchment provision was very narrow and only applied to the act of selling water assets.The principle was supported by both the Green Party, which put the provision forward, and by Labour, she said.The issue was the level of entrenchment put forward, she said."Entrenchment is commonly understood to be a super majority or 75 percent, here we had a novel approach which came before the House at 60, so you had a principle at issue here," she said.Asked whether she was aware the entrenchment clause would go to the House at 60 percent, Ardern said caucus discussions were not shared but entrenchment was commonly understood to be 75 percent."The important thing is it was a mistake, we're fixing it."Even though Labour supported ensuring that water assets were not privatised, the way this had been done by using the entrenchment clause had wider ramifications, she said.Ardern refused to point the finger at Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta over the issue, repeating that the entrenchment clause was a mistake."We are taking this as a team"," she said."There's actually in my view not a role for any one individual in this issue, this was a mistake, we as a team are fixing it, which will take probably about an hour of our time in Parliament."Ardern said she had confidence in Mahuta's handling of Three Waters. It had been a hard issue but the government could not ignore what it had been told about the poor state of the country's water infrastructure, she said.Ardern said the entrenchment clause pointed to a wider issue that Parliament needed to address."The fact that you can put in an entrenchment provision with a lower threshold of this nature and there aren't limitations on where it can apply, this has been a relatively untested area."A range of politicians now believed some "guard rails" needed to be put around entrenchment provisions, Ardern said.This needed to come before all parties via the Standing Orders Committee to make sure there were checks to prevent such things happening in the future, she said.Meanwhile, National Party leader Christopher Luxon agreed the clause should be removed, but said the prime minister needed to front on how it was allowed to happen in the first place.Greens to keep pushing to protect public ownership of waterThe Green Party is disappointed the government is now rejecting the decision to entrench an anti-privatisation clause.Its local government spokesperson, Eugenie Sage, said the party called on National and Labour a year ago to back its plans to strengthen protections against privatisation of water."We flagged in our report from the select committee that we supported 60 percent entrenchment and we didn't agree with officials' advice."The Greens put forward the amendment to be voted on, she said."We were using the parliamentary process and standing orders specifically provides that if you have an entrenchment provision, it's got to be voted on by the same majority that is in that clause - so we followed the whole parliamentary process, we flagged it in the select committee report."Sage said the bill was complex and Parliament was in urgency, which they opposed given it provided less opportunity to debate in the committee stages.

Warkworth RegionMonday 5th December - Cloudy periods. Patches of light drizzle this morning. Southwesterlies.Tuesday 6th December - Partly cloudy with the odd shower. Light winds.Wednesday 7th - Occasional rain, becoming persistent in the morning with heavy falls. Easterlies, becoming fresh in the morning.Thursday 8th - Rain with heavy falls, easing to isolated showers later. Fresh southeasterlies, easing.Friday 9th - Cloudy, with occasional rain developing later. Northerlies, becoming fresh.Mangawhai RegionMonday 5th December - Fine, then partly cloudy from afternoon. Light winds.Tuesday 6th December - Cloudy periods and the odd shower. Northeasterlies.Wednesday 7th - Rain. Easterlies.Thursday 8th - Rain turning to showers. Southeasterlies.Friday 9th - Partly cloudy, with rain developing. Northerlies.

More than 200 people from the Chinese community gathered for a vigil at Auckland's Aotea Square last night to mourn the lives lost under China's stringent Covid-19 lockdowns and to call for an end to the country's Zero Covid policy.The unprecedented display of defiance, by a crowd mainly made up of Chinese Kiwis from the mainland, comes after a building fire in Western China last week that killed 10 people.The Urumqi fire has sparked nationwide protests across China and among overseas Chinese, with vigils and protests building up in major cities including New York, Melbourne, Sydney, Hong Kong and Tokyo.More than a hundred people at the event held up blank pieces of A4 as a symbol of defiance against China's censorship of dissent, and chanted in Mandarin: "We don't want leaders, we want votes, we don't want dictatorship, we want citizens"."Without freedom, I'd rather die."Xi Jin Ping, step down, CCP step down."A similar vigil for the Urumqi fire victims was also held in Wellington last night.In an emotional speech, one of the organisers of the Auckland vigil said despite having no previous experience participating in social movements, she had decided to step up after seeing the recent tragedies of Chinese people suffering under the lockdowns."There were a series of suicides in Hohhot where I come from, I felt at that time that I can no longer say everything is fine - we can say that for New Zealand, but my family and friends are in China, so I can no longer be silent," she said.Members of the Uyghur Muslim community from Xinjiang - where the Urumqi fire happened - also attended, showing solidarity and protesting against human rights violations against Uyghurs.Protesters in Aotea Square. Photo: RNZ / Lucy XiaThe protesters also called for the release of protesters arrested in China.The organiser paid tribute to a list of Chinese citizens who had stood up against authority during the pandemic, including jailed citizen journalist Zhang Zhan and the lone protester on Beijing's Sitong bridge who displayed banners calling for people to strike and for the removal of Xi Jinping.Like her, many at the gathering were first-time protesters emboldened by the recent protests in China.Another protester said he was also inspired by the man on Sitong bridge."He gave us a lot of courage. He was a person at the bottom of society, who did what he knew was forbidden, he sacrificed himself to awaken the Chinese people's desire for a democratic society," he said."I feel like he's planted a fire in all our hearts, he's like the prometheus of our times."An international student who had just graduated from high school said she wanted to contribute to ending China's lockdowns."If the protests could work and make all the cities stop the lockdown, I was so happy to come to come here today, hear everyone share their stories and using the A4 paper to show our anger"Another said he hoped the protests in China and abroad instilled a sense of what it meant to be a responsible citizen for Chinese people."If people want to live with dignity in a fair society, there needs to be a civil society," he said.Meanwhile, some at the gathering chose a softer way of showing solidarity with the victims of the Urumqi fire.Some at the gathering chose a softer way of showing solidarity with the victims of the Urumqi fire. Photo: RNZ / Lucy XiaChrysanthemums were laid and candles were lit, and a school aged child accompanied by his parents played "Do you hear the people sing" on his flute.One attendee told RNZ he was glad that the people who gathered could find something in common regardless of where they were on the political spectrum."Some people want to see a revolution in China, others just want something small like for their residential area to come out of lockdown earlier, so that people can freely buy groceries."But people can easily find a common denominator, and that's hoping things will move forward a little bit, and let friends and family living in China be safer and freer"At least two major cities in China - Guangzhou and Chongqing - have eased Covid-19 restrictions following a clash between protesters and police in Guangzhou this week.The writing reads: 'I am the person who died in the bus that flipped, I am the sick person denied treatment, I am the person who walked a hundred miles, I am the person who jumped from a building out of desperation, I am the person trapped in the building fire, if these people are not me, then the next victim will be me.' Photo: RNZ / Lucy Xia

Auckland Zoo is thrilled to be welcoming visitors to their groundbreaking new South East Asia Jungle Track. Five years in the making, this incredible project has transformed one-fifth of the Zoo’s generous grounds to create several interconnecting animal habitats.There’s a high canopy where the orangutans and siamangs feel right at home, a lowlands habitat for Sumatran tigers and Asian small-clawed otters, and an Indonesian swamp forest for Sunda gharial crocodiles and a rich diversity of South East Asian fish species – there’s even a lake.This immersive attraction is a world first, providing visitors with a deeper sense of connection with nature and insight into the wildlife of one of the most diverse and threatened places on Earth.But how exactly do animals from other countries make their way to Aotearoa? To learn about the challenges of bringing wild creatures halfway across the world, we spoke to some of Auckland Zoo’s most experienced keepers.Crocs on a planeIn October this year, a pair of Sunda gharial crocodiles moved into the Zoo’s new swamp forest habitat – a journey that started in late August when ectotherm keeper Julie Underwood went to Krokodille Zoo in Denmark.“I went to meet 12-year-old sisters Malu (Indonesian for ‘shy’) and Sumpit (Indonesian for ‘chopsticks’), who are both over 3m long and weigh 70-85kg,” she says. “Then I oversaw them being caught up and placed in their high-spec crates.”Julie explains that because crocodiles breathe air and are very energy efficient unless actively hunting, they don’t need to be transported in water, which makes moving them more straightforward than transporting primates or mammals.“The crocodiles were perfectly comfortable inside their padded crates, which were designed so they don’t turn and get stuck or damage themselves. It’s also crucial that they don’t turn in transit, because we need to know which end is the head and which is the tail when we open the crates.”Another reason transporting ectotherms is relatively simple is that they can go long periods without food. “This meant we could stop feeding them 10 days ahead of their flight, to avoid them regurgitating and possibly choking, although they were well hydrated before they set off.”When the crocodile duo arrived on 7 September, they were quarantined for a month in the swamp forest’s climate-controlled back-of-house pool. Now happily ensconced in their new home, Julie says the sisters are settling in well.“It’s fantastic to now see visitors enjoying experiencing them, both underwater and on the banks of this stunning new river habitat we’ve created, which is unlike any zoo crocodile habitat in the world,” adds Richard Gibson, head of animal care and conservationTiger takeoverMoving big cats also takes a lot of planning, and the first Sumatran tiger to move into the Zoo’s new lowlands habitat was 14-year-old Sali from Hamilton Zoo in April 2022.In November 2022, the Zoo also welcomed two young Sumatran tigers from zoos in the United States. Five-year-old male Ramah from Oklahoma City Zoo and four-year-old female Zayana from Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center in Kansas arrived at the start of the month, and are now settling into the South East Asia Jungle Track lowlands habitat.“As keepers we’re absolutely fizzing to have Sumatran tigers back at Auckland Zoo after a more than three-year absence,” says carnivore keeper Nick Parashchak, who spent time at Hamilton Zoo ahead of Sali’s move. “They’re an extraordinary species and will be fantastic advocates for their critically endangered cousins in the wild.”Carnivore team leader Lauren Booth describes the tigers’ new home as an incredibly dynamic and enriching space for these primarily solitary big cats.“A real highlight as they settle in will be seeing how they explore and use the three different spaces within our amazing new tiger habitat."They’ve got such a diversity of terrains and habitat features – with the ability to be up high on the bridges and high ridges, cool off in the pool and waterfall and beach areas, or rest and shelter in outdoor dens or in the shade of bamboo stands.”“This habitat’s design, which provides us keepers with such great flexibility in the way we can care for and manage these cats, enables Ramah and Zayana to be able to patrol the different areas of their territory – just as these solitary cats would do in the wild. They’ll come across each other’s smells and scents, scat (faeces) and footprints, as well as tiger Sali’s.“When up high, as well as being above visitors, they’ll also have the enriching experience of spotting other wildlife – like the otters in their adjoining lowlands habitat, and the orangutans and siamangs when they’re up on their aerial pathways over the lake,” explains Lauren.

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 9 December 2022.Unless otherwise stated, closures start at 9pm and finish at 5am.NORTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)Northbound lanes between Silverdale off-ramp and Waiwera on-ramp, 4-8 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Orewa northbound on-ramp, 4-8 DecemberSilverdale northbound on-ramp, 4-8 DecemberSouthbound lanes between Waiwera Off-Ramp and Silverdale on-ramp, 4-8 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Orewa southbound on-ramp, 4-8 DecemberMillwater southbound on-ramp, 4-8 DecemberNorthbound lanes between Greville Road off-ramp and Oteha Valley Road on-ramp, 4-8 December (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)Greville Road northbound on-ramp, 4-8 DecemberSouthbound lanes between Oteha Valley Road off-ramp and Greville Road on-ramp, 4-8 DecemberOteha Valley Road southbound on-ramp, 4-8 DecemberUpper Harbour Highway southbound off-ramp, 4-8 DecemberUpper Harbour Highway northbound on-ramp, 4-5 DecemberUpper Harbour Highway southbound on-ramp, 7-8 DecemberSOUTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)South Eastern Highway (SEART) southbound off-ramp, 5 DecemberMt Wellington Highway southbound on-ramp, 6-7 DecemberPrinces Street southbound on-ramp, 5 DecemberTe Irirangi Drive northbound on-ramp, 6 DecemberNorthbound lanes between Ramarama off-ramp and Drury/SH22 on-ramp, 4-8 DecemberRamarama northbound on-ramp, 4-8 DecemberPokeno southbound off-ramp, 7 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Pokeno southbound on-ramp, 7 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Pioneer Road southbound off-ramp, 7 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Northbound lanes between Mercer off-ramp and Mercer on-ramp, 5-7 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Southbound lanes between Mercer off-ramp and Mercer on-ramp, 5-7 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Mercer northbound on-ramp, 8 DecemberNorthbound lanes between Hampton Downs off-ramp and Hampton Downs on-ramp, 4 DecemberSouthbound lanes between Hampton Downs off-ramp and Hampton Downs on-ramp, 4 DecemberHampton Downs southbound off-ramp, 4-8 December (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)Hampton Downs southbound off-ramp, 2 & 9 DecemberHampton Downs southbound on-ramp, 5-8 December (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)Hampton Downs southbound on-ramp, 2 & 9 December Te Kauwhata northbound off-ramp, 5 December (approx. 12 midnight to 05:00am)NORTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH16)Te Atatu northbound off-ramp, 4-8 DecemberPatiki Road southbound off-ramp, 4-8 DecemberRosebank Road southbound on-ramp, 4-5 DecemberSt Lukes Road westbound on-ramp, 7 DecemberUPPER HARBOUR MOTORWAY (SH18)Albany Highway eastbound on-ramp, 6-7 December

Auckland Transport (AT) is responsible for all of the region’s transport services (excluding state highways) – from roads and footpaths, to cycling, parking and public transport. Auckland Transport (AT) will be undertaking road resurfacing and maintenance patches along Mansell Dr, Warkworth as shown on the map over page. This work is necessary to maintain the quality of the road. Resident access will be restricted between 7pm and 6am to lay new asphalt along the carriageway. Please plan ahead and limit movements as delays may occur. AT’s contractor, Downer NZ will be undertaking this work. Road resurfacing work involves removing the existing surface layer, applying structural asphalt in some areas, a sealing membrane, a new asphalt surface layer and new line marking to the finished road surface. Please note that the line marking operation takes place at the end of the project subject to dry weather. During work hours large machinery will be operating in the area, please expect an increase in noise, dust and/or vibration. Every effort will be taken to keep construction impacts to a minimum. Dates Work is scheduled to take place on 9 th December 2022 .In the event weather disrupts our schedule work will be moved to the next available shift. We will not work Friday or Saturday nights or public holidays Work hours 7pm to 6amTraffic Management During work hours, the following traffic management will be in place. Please see map over page for shift layout. • Resident access will be restricted between 7pm and 6am to lay new asphalt. • Road closure will be in place between Woodcocks Rd & Falls Rd. Detours will be in place, please follow signage carefully • Expect delays. • Reduced speed limits. Parking restrictions will be in place during work hours. Please follow all posted traffic management signs to travel safely around the worksite.Street Parking One day prior to work starting, cones and no parking signs will be placed on site and remain in place until work is complete. Between 7pm and 7am, parking restrictions will be enforced near the work site to allow for the traffic management set up. Outside of these hours, parking will be available as normal. Driveway Access Access will be maintained; traffic controllers will guide vehicles across the work site as required. Please expect short delays when machinery is working near your driveway.

Friday 2nd DecemberHorizon School Arts FestivalDaddy Long LegsSaturday 3rd DecemberMangawhai Community MarketMangawhai Tavern MarketMatakana Village Farmers MarketPoint Wells famous book saleThe Great Kaiwaka Community Christmas EventBowie Bowie!Sunday 4th DecemberMatakana Country Park MarketOmaha Half MarathonWarkworth Santa ParadeWarkworth Roller Skating ClassSunday Sessions & Leigh Sawmill Cafe

Warkworth RegionFriday 2nd December - Partly cloudy, with isolated showers. Fresh southwesterlies.Saturday 3rd - Fine, some afternoon cloud. Southwesterlies, afternoon sea breezes.Sunday 4th - Partly cloudy. Southwesterlies.Mangawhai RegionFriday 2nd December - Mainly fine. Possible shower this morning. Light winds, afternoon southwesterlies.Saturday 3rd - Partly cloudy. A possible shower. Winds turning southeasterly.Sunday 4th - Partly cloudy. Southwesterlies.

Auckland Transport (AT) is responsible for all of the region’s transport services (excluding state highways) – from roads and footpaths, to cycling, parking and public transport. Auckland Transport (AT) will be undertaking road resurfacing and maintenance patches along Sandspit Road/This work is necessary to maintain the quality of the road. Resident access will be restricted between 7pm and 6am to lay new asphalt along the carriageway. Please plan ahead and limit movements as delays may occur. AT’s contractor, Downer NZ will be undertaking this work. Road resurfacing work involves removing the existing surface layer, applying structural asphalt in some areas, a sealing membrane, a new asphalt surface layer and new line marking to the finished road surface. Please note that the line marking operation takes place at the end of the project subject to dry weather.During work hours large machinery will be operating in the area, please expect an increase in noise, dust and/or vibration. Every effort will be taken to keep construction impacts to a minimum. Work is scheduled to take place on 6 th, 7th & 8th December 2022In the event weather disrupts our schedule work will be moved to the next available shift. We will not work Friday or Saturday nights or public holidays Work hours 7pm to 6am Traffic Management - During work hours, the following traffic management will be in place. Please see map over page for shift layout. • Resident access will be restricted between 7pm and 6am to lay new asphalt. • Detours will be in place, please follow signage carefully • Expect delays • Reduced speed limits. Parking restrictions will be in place during work hours. Please follow all posted traffic management signs to travel safely around the worksite. Street Parking - One day prior to work starting, cones and no parking signs will be placed on site and remain in place until work is complete. Between 7pm and 7am, parking restrictions will be enforced near the work site to allow for the traffic management set upOutside of these hours, parking will be available as normal. Driveway Access - Access will be maintained; traffic controllers will guide vehicles across the work site as required. Please expect short delays when machinery is working near your driveway.

Deliveries in the lead-up to Christmas could be delayed after NZ Post pulls its fleet of electric vehicles.Chief operating officer Brendon Main said an issue was discovered in the rear suspension of three of its delivery vehicles.The fleet has been stood down while an investigation into the issue is carried out.The issue would not have an impact on courier items or rural delivery, Main said.It would only impact items delivered by posties using Paxsters.Instead, posties would use bicycles, e-bikes or walk where possible to deliver mail.Normal mail services would resume as each Paxster passes its check or was repaired, Main said.

The Kaipara District Council's first meeting since the local election has kicked off with a bit of verbal biffo between the mayor and a Māori ward councillor.Just minutes into the council's first meeting, councillor Pera Paniora, of Te Moanaui o Kaipara Māori Ward, wanted to begin the meeting with a karakia."Excuse me, just before we start, through the chair may I say the karakia?"Newly elected Kaipara Mayor Craig Jepson was quick to shut down Paniora's request, arguing she "cannot interrupt, I'm sorry".But Paniora hit back, telling the mayor "it is tikanga to start a meeting with a karakia".Mayor Jepson then gave an explanation as to why he wouldn't allow the karakia to go ahead."This is a council that's full of people who are non-religious, religious, of different ethnicities and I intend to run a secular council here which respects everybody and I will not be veering from that. Thank you."But Paniora countered Jepson's explanation saying: "I don't agree with that.""Sorry you cannot interject," Jepson struck back.Jepson made an effort to move on to the next matter on the council's agenda: "can I have apologies please".But councillor Paniora tried to explain her request to mayor Jepson."Excuse me for those who do practice..."Before Paniora could finish her sentence Jepson shut the councillor down again."Councillor Paniora, you are not allowed to speak in this manner and we will continue with our meeting.""It doesn't really feel like a meeting," said another councillor.Twenty minutes later Paniora gave her maiden speech to the council where she said the karakia and sang Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi."Seen as I wasn't able to do the karakia this morning, it's better late than never."

The contentious Three Waters legislation just got messier.Already under intense scrutiny, a controversial change made during urgency last week has done nothing to consolidate public trust around the significant, but politically troublesome, policy.Apparently without the knowledge of the prime minister, or the man who runs the business of the House, Chris Hipkins, a 60 percent entrenchment clause preventing the privatisation of water assets was voted into the legislation - with Labour's support.Many New Zealanders would applaud the move to avoid privatisation, but the policy intent is not the issue.The constitutional crux of the problem is the use of entrenchment for anything other than electoral law; the idea being that for something so substantial a super majority of Parliament would be needed to make any changes. According to public law experts and the government's own legal advice, Three Waters by no means fits the bill.It was an amendment put up by the Greens' Eugenie Sage, supported by Labour, and one that went unnoticed by the opposition MPs in the chamber at the time.Greens' Eugenie Sage Photo: VNP / Phil SmithIt's been kicked back to Parliament's Business Committee to "resolve the issue" - the prime minister's words - with Jacinda Ardern agreeing politicians need to be "cautious" around the use of entrenchment and how "we make sure we preserve that".At no point did Ardern say she knew that provision was being put up - in a way that would enable it to pass - and when questioned, talked about "everyone in Labour" being aware of the 75 percent proposal, but "what would have been happening in real time is you had both an entrenchment position and a different threshold".In other words - the amendment was changed on the floor of the House by the Greens and Labour didn't quite realise what it was voting on. But that was not the case.Leader of the House Chris Hipkins Photo: RNZ / Samuel RillstoneHipkins was more blunt saying the "last he heard" the proposal was for 75 percent, "which would have failed with only Labour and the Greens supporting it"."I wasn't aware until after the fact that that had been lowered to 60 percent; I wasn't in the House at the time that it happened."Nanaia Mahuta as the responsible minister, however, knew exactly what was going on.Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone"We know that while this particular SOP [supplementary order paper] may not pass the constitutional threshold, there is a moral obligation of people who believe that privatisation should not occur to support that particular SOP," she told the House at the time.The Attorney-General and Crown Law had advised the government there is a "high constitutional threshold to be reached in order to put such a threshold within legislation, and often it's on constitutional matters - of which this bill is not - and it would be a novel approach to include an entrenchment clause".Public law academics went further, describing it as a potentially "dangerous precedent", which "extends the use of entrenchment protection from a very limited range of matters fundamental to our constitutional system to a matter of contested social policy".The political conversation around protecting water assets against privatisation and using entrenchment is not new, and had been tested with various parties earlier this year. Labour approached them earlier in the year, seeking support for a 75 percent entrenchment provision, which National and ACT refused to sign up to.At some point after that, the discussion between the Greens and Labour turned to a 60 percent threshold instead, something they could get over the line without needing any others.Sage told RNZ there had been "negotiations" with the minister, but wouldn't put a date on it. She defended putting up the amendment without proactively flagging it publicly, saying anyone who had read the select committee report would know the Greens' position.The problem sits with Labour: why did the most senior ministers in the government not know this particular provision was going to be put to the House (and pass), but also why was the case not made to the public before steaming ahead, and the rationale laid out?The precedent it sets is any government that can muster 60 percent on any given policy could entrench it - and that cuts both ways, a fact not lost on Labour.The dilemma it now faces is trying to undo a pending law change it wholly believes in, guarding against privatisation, and having to seek the co-operation of National and ACT in the process.Three Waters has attracted a storm of controversy, in part because of the rhetoric being whipped up around co-governance, but also a failure on the part of the government to get the messaging right and sell its merits.This latest blunder plays straight into the hands of the policy's staunchest opponents, handing them yet more ammunition in their claims of secret agendas and political mismanagement.

Noel Leem­­­ing in Warkworth was once again broken into last night. With unconfirmed murmurings of it being the third burglary in a month. There was also a previous burglary in August 2015. There have been a run of burglaries and ram raids on Noel Leeming stores around the country this year.Ormiston in April.Silverdale in May.Mount Albert had an attempted burglary in June.Royal Oak in June.Cambridge in October. Noel Leeming Warkworth store will relocate into the new shopping centre complex to be called Kowhai Falls along with The Warehouse and Warehouse Stationary in the next few years. Site is on Woodcocks Road, under construction and located next to Mitre 10. This will mean the closure of The Warehouse at Snells Beach.

NEW TO THE MATAKANA APPWe have some new business listings for you to check out and support.Under the SHOP LOCAL button / Mangawhai tabBrooke Lane Vineyard – A destination and location; with its meandering brook, native trees overhanging an ever-changing pond and a vista of established grape vines in the Mangawhai Valley. They stock Pinot Gris, Chardonnay & Rosé. Proudly... As Organic as possible. Also check out their LAST SATURDAY CLUB event on the last Saturday of the month, make sure to book!Intech Designer Kitchens – Offering a wide variety of professional cabinetry design and supply services. Including, kitchens, wardrobes, laundry's, bench tops, splashbacks, shop fitting, custom made cabinets, installation and more.Heads of Hair – Providing edgy, yet feminine surroundings of a top city hair salon. With exceptional service through our love of hair. Specialising in hair colour, cutting, and styling.Mangawhai Books & Gifts - Local bookstore that stocks a huge variety of books for all ages, magazines, postage, puzzles, toys, gifts, clothing, stationery, and art supplies.Funky Chic – High Quality, Recycled Clothing, Great Prices. To suit every taste, for lovers of fashion and the planet The Beauty Shop – A beauty salon offering beauty services & treatments to suit you. Target skin concerns, unwanted hair, lash lifts, nails, facials, brow shape or even treat yourself to a foot spa. World Travellers Mangawhai / Milford – Local Mangawhai travel agency, with access to the most up-to-date travel discounts and vacation packages from all over the world.