IRD is holding millions of dollars in unclaimed funds.Like many people, this is probably news to you. But how do you know if some of it is yours and perhaps more importantly, how do you claim it? RNZ is here to clear it all up.Why have I not heard about this, it this legit?It seems like a lot of people have never heard of IRD's unclaimed funds but yes, it is legitimate (if you go through the official IRD website).IRD says people need to watch out for scammers who contact them saying they have unclaimed money waiting for you.Here are some signs someone is trying to scam you.How do I know if I have unclaimed money?There are two ways to do this.You can search for yourself in myIR. Just log in, click on 'I want to...' and go to 'Registration, application and enrolment'. Then select 'Apply for unclaimed money'.Or you can search the IRD website. This is the option to choose if you're searching on behalf of someone else, you want to search by a previous name you've gone by, you don't have myIR account or you are searching on behalf of an organisation, trust or estate.You'll need to provide information to help confirm you're the person the money belongs to. This might be past contact information, an old statement or letter from an organisation or person, or a copy of a will.Is this different to a tax refund?Yes. Put simply, unclaimed money is held by IRD when someone can't be found.It could be that you had an old bank account with some money in it that you hadn't used in five years, or you have unpaid wages from over five years ago.You may have left something at a hotel, or hostel and after six months of it going unclaimed the business owner sold it and passed the money to IRD.The Māori Trustee may be holding funds for you - it holds money in the common fund for at least 10 years and if no claim has been made for that money during that time, it will become unclaimed money.Other reasons might be unclaimed dividends, proceeds of life insurance policies and awards from court cases or prisoners' allowances.How long does IRD hold the money for?If you don't claim the money within 25 years, you won't be able to.What happens if I don't claim it?Eventually, any unclaimed money is transferred to the Crown.How long will it take for me to get my money?Generally it takes 10-12 weeks to receive the money but with more people currently searching for unclaimed funds at the moment, IRD may take longer to process a claim.Attaching as much evidence as possible with your submission helps to avoid even further delays.IRD will let you know if your claim is successful once it's processed.How much is currently unclaimed?As at 31 March 2024, there was $477,161,702.10 of unclaimed moneyThis story was originally published by RNZ

Farah Hancock,One man and a re-purposed boat helped beat back a plan to take two million cubic metres of squeaky white sand from a Northland beach. Could the government’s Fast Track Bill have the final say?Ask Damon Clapshaw why he engaged in a years-long legal battle against sand mining and you get a long-winded answer which boils down to not liking being lied to. He never set out to be an activist, “I just got a bit wound up,” he says, and one thing led to another until he ended up embroiled in a court case. The itch he couldn’t give up scratching started from watching the sand dredging boat make its slow night sweeps up and down the Pākiri coast, north of Auckland. Lit up like a “stadium” it would inch along the shore. To his eyes, it always appeared to follow the same path and be the same distance from the beach, rather than roam over a much larger area which it had consent to dredge.A scientist he chatted with suggested dredging the same path would cause depressions in the sea bed, so Clapshaw sent him publicly available location data from the boat to analyse. “He came back to me and said: ‘You know what Damon, they are doing that same line literally all the time. There's something going on that's weird. So your gut instinct was right. If they’re doing that they’re probably causing pits and disturbances on the seabed.’”Clapshaw kept scratching the itch. Calling in a favour, he enlisted the help of octogenarian treasure hunter Keith Gordon. He'd worked with Clapshaw’s father and had the skills and equipment to map the seafloor.As Clapshaw describes it, Gordon was sceptical about finding anything saying, “you're slightly wasting my time, but I like your dad so I will do it as a favour to him”. Gordon refused to use his “fancy” boat for the task so they “blagged” the use of another boat, and surveyed the sea floor following the coordinates of the dredging boat.“When Keith looked at his data the next day, he said: ‘Woah, geez, there’s definitely something down there’,” says Clapshaw. Damon Clapshaw Photo: SuppliedThe survey uncovered trenches in the sea floor. These were deeper, wider and longer than even Clapshaw expected. At most, Clapshaw says they should have been no deeper than “the active sand layer” - which was 1 metre, but what the treasure hunter’s sonar found were up to 2.7m deep, 15m wide and 3 kilometres long. He estimated there were up to a dozen of these trenches running parallel off the shore. One expert later described the area as resembling a “ploughed paddock”.The discovery of the deep trenches called into question the survey reports the sand mining company had commissioned. These made no mention of any trenches, merely stating the average change in depth between 2011 and 2018 was less than 1.5m. The report noted there were no conspicuous objects on the seabed. Without shipwrecks or reefs, Clapshaw can’t comprehend how trenches 2.7m deep wouldn’t count as conspicuous. “It’s like walking into an empty room and not seeing the tree trunk you trip over,” he says.It highlighted two things for him. Firstly, that monitoring of the effect of the dredging on the seabed either hadn’t happened, had been done poorly or results hadn’t been shared. This seemed strange to him as the area with the trenches wasn’t a “hidden corner” of the permitted dredging area, “this was the equivalent to the front door”.Secondly, trenches this deep may interfere with any natural flow of sand and sediment from deeper waters to the shoreline, which locals worried was being eaten away by the decades of dredging.“I’m a bit like a builder. I knocked on a wall and the wall collapsed, and then the building collapsed. More and more things I investigated just didn’t make sense, or fell away,” he says. “I’m probably the worst person to meet if I think I am being lied to.”The company eventually admitted to knowing about the trenches but said it didn’t share the information with its own scientific expert on coastal processes. When pressed in court why, Clapshaw says the company’s response amounted to: “we stuffed up”.The company’s expert later told the court the trenches would interrupt the movement of sand but said as they only covered 15 percent of the length of the area, the effect was small, and would be temporary as they slowly filled with sand. He said future dredging practices “would not allow for the creation of new trenches”. But the non-disclosure of the trenches wasn’t the only stuff up. A further independently-conducted survey found grooves in the seabed showing the boat sometimes dredged too close to shore.Another mistake was made by the company's scientific expert who initially estimated 145,000 cubic metres of sand washes into the area each year, replenishing the surroundings. His calculations were disputed by numerous experts not engaged by the company. He later conceded he had made a mistake. The actual figure was closer to 12,000.Clapshaw’s evidence - gained through favours and blagging of a boat - was used in two battles against sand mining. One, against resource consent where independent commissioners for Auckland Council turned down two of three consents for sand mining. He joined a second fighting the mining company’s appeal of a consent rejection in the Environment Court. The Environment Court's decision, released in April, rejected the application by the sand mining company to overturn the council’s decision. The court said evidence about the ecological effects of the mining provided by the company had been “patchy", “inconclusive” and even “incorrect” in the past. It also found the effect on mana whenua couldn’t be mitigated.When Clapshaw heard the news he was happy “for a bit”. There’s a couple of clouds hanging over the win. After losing twice, the company is having a third go at getting approval and has appealed the Environment Court’s decision in the High Court. However, even if the company loses again, there’s a new potential card up its sleeve. Proposed Fast Track legislation could make any court victory worthless. The legislation could allow projects rejected by courts to go ahead, and give ministers the power to overrule a court’s decisions. Another key feature of the legislation is the silencing of public voices. Motivated members of the public like Clapshaw, who refuse to give up scratching an itch, won’t get a chance to provide any information to a fast track expert panel.Damon Clapshaw describes the sand mining off Pākiri as like a "stadium" of lights moving slowly back and forth collecting sand from the seafloor. Photo: RNZA city hungry for sandThe consent to mine sand at Pākiri was initially held by Kaipara Ltd. It contracted another firm, McCallum Brothers, to do the work. In 2021, Kaipara Ltd sold the consent to McCallum Bros, which has carried on the mining and legal efforts to get another two million cubic metres of Pākiri’s sand over 20 years. No one from the company would be interviewed for this story but some of its arguments are laid out in official documents.They want a renewal of a similar consent which expired in 2023. Other consent applications to mine closer to shore have been turned down by independent commissioners or abandoned by the company.Other sources of sand exist, including manufactured sand made by crushing rocks. But the white sand of Pākiri, which squeaks when it’s walked on, is special.The white sands of Pākiri Beach Photo: Creative Commons / Piotr ZurekIt has an ideal shape and mineral content for use in high strength concrete and has been used in the City Rail Link and the Central Wastewater Interceptor. It’s used to help build new homes. And it sells for between $35 and $45 a tonne.In 2021, McCallum Bros supplied almost half of Auckland’s sand - 346,600 tonnes. Kaipara Limited, its rival, supplied 393,367 tonnes. By 2048, it’s estimated even more sand will be needed to cater to the growing city. One estimate puts future needs between 1.17 and 1.8 million tonnes a year.It’s the kind of demand the coalition government seems to have in mind for consideration under its Fast Track legislation.When the bill was announced by Chris Bishop, the minister responsible for RMA Reform, Infrastructure and Housing, he said consents were taking too long to get and costing too much. “We are determined to cut through the thicket of red and green tape holding New Zealand back.”Housing, roads and infrastructure are exactly the types of projects the legislation wants to get going and the sand from Pākiri’s waters is a key component of much of the concrete used in Auckland.If McCallum Bros seeks approval under the fast track legislation, the expert panel considering the application will be assessing it under a different lens to the Environment Court. The panel must give priority to the purpose of the fast track legislation, which is to facilitate the delivery of infrastructure and development projects. This is different to the more holistic direction of the Resource Management Act which attempts to balance progress and the environment and calls for sustainable management of resources. This worries Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton, who described the bill as liberating “the big end of town” while silencing the voices of people who might be affected by projects.While McCallum Bros hasn’t confirmed it has applied to be considered for fast tracking, it did provide feedback on the fast track bill saying it supports the introduction of the legislation, with a few suggested amendments. These include amending the wording of clauses to ensure sand extraction is included and allowing consents to remain lodged under the RMA while fast track approval is sought, rather than needing to withdraw them. This would allow the company to continue to appeal the Environment Court’s decision while simultaneously trying to get the go ahead under fast track rules. It supported locking the public out of the fast track process, specifically endorsing a clause in the bill which states: “There is no requirement for a panel to hold a hearing in respect of a consent application or notice of requirement and no person has a right to be heard by a panel.”A protest against sand mining at nearby Mangawhai Beach in July 2022. Photo: Save Our Sand Mangawhai Pakiri/ Elevated MediaThe voices of PākiriDamon Clapshaw jokes about being “Nigel no-friends” on Environment Court calls as a solo submitter with a fixation on trenches and consent breaches, but he was far from alone. Several local and national groups mobilised against the mining, with a variety of concerns.The groups included Friends of Pākiri Beach, the Fairy Tern Society, Forest & Bird, Mangawhai Harbour Restoration Society, Environmental Defence Society, Te Arai Interests, Te Whānau o Pākiri, and Manuhiri Kaitiaki Charitable Trust.Between the groups, experts were put forward on coastal processes, damage to the sea floor, the effects on bird and sea life and the effects on mana whenua. “They [McCallum Bros] finally met a very very strong and determined community, which has punched above its weight,” says Ken Rayward.Rayward has been a campaigner-at-large, mixing between the groups opposed to sand mining to ensure they “weren’t spending our meagre resources all on the same thing and the same science base”. The quality of the evidence the various local groups supplied forced the sand mining company’s expert witnesses to change their views, Rayward says. Without the information, he’s certain wrong decisions would have been made.People gathered at nearby Mangawhai in July 2022 to protest mining by McCallum Brothers Photo: Save Our Sand Mangawhai Pakiri/ Elevated MediaFriends of Pākiri Beach was one of the groups which hired experts to assess the impact of mining on the beach.“If you think of a bucket full of sand, if you take it out somewhere, it's eventually going to show up as erosion,” says treasurer Nick Wiliams. According to Williams, whose family has been part of the community for decades, photos from the past show the beach in a much healthier condition. While it’s normal for sand to shift around on beaches, “at the very least, we’ve said it’s uncertain that you’re not harming the environment”.The group engaged two experts to give evidence. The first, a civil engineer with coastal engineering expertise to provide evidence about the impact offshore dredging could have on the area, and the second an engineering expert on other sources of sand which could be used in Auckland. The taking of the sand doesn’t just contribute to beach erosion, says Williams. Dragging the dredge along the sea floor also impacts wildlife. “We used to have all these horse mussels wash up on the beach, but we haven’t seen them for probably 20 or so years because they got dredged up and destroyed.” Any patches of stony coral dotted on the seabed can also get obliterated.There’s also worry the disruption to the ecology could impact New Zealand’s rarest bird which teeters on an extinction knife’s edge. Fewer than 40 breeding age fairy tern remain and the loss of a single bird would put the species survival in an even more perilous position. “There's endangered bird life. There's uncertainty about coastal effects. There is, obviously the mana whenua values and strong opposition by all the relevant iwi who oppose this,” says Williams. “On every ground you look, it failed.”Among those who spoke to the mana whenua values was hapu group Te Whānau o Pākiri. Chairperson Olivia Haddon says the group is opposed to the sand being taken from their shores because of the impact it has on the wellbeing of the environment. She says the extraction has a massive impact on the traditional value sets. “It’s an insult on our kaitiakitanga.”Haddon’s family has fought against sand mining for decades. She gave evidence to the court on the cultural landscape and the traditions associated with the hapu’s lives in the area. The taking of the sand “disables” her family’s ability to act as kaitiaki or guardians of their environment, she says. Pākiri is one of only very few places in the world where the critically endangered fairy tern breed. Photo: RNZThe price of progressThe court took the concerns raised by Haddon and other iwi, such as Ngāti Manuhiri, seriously. Its decision described the desires of mana whenua and McCallum Bros as having been on a collision course.“For mana whenua, the relationship is whakapapa based and it forms part of their tribal history and identity. For some the embayment has become their home, a place where they enjoy coastal beauty and tranquil serenity. For others the relationship is statutory based, compelled to protect the flora and fauna of the embayment for all New Zealanders, including providing an active voice for those we cannot hear from in the resource management process i.e., the tara iti (the critically endangered New Zealand fairy tern).“For McCallum Bros, the relationship is effectively a commercial one, with their sand mining business providing good quality sand for the concrete needs of New Zealand’s biggest city.”The court noted there were clear benefits to allow the extraction of sand, saying it has been a cheap and plentiful source of sand for 80 years but this came at a price. “These economic benefits to Auckland and to McCallum Bros and others have occurred at direct cost to mana whenua and the embayment itself.”Along with the effects on the mana whenua the court had doubts about the effects of sucking two million tonnes of sand from the area. It noted there was a dearth of information from the company about the likely environmental impact: “There appears to have been an assumption by the Applicant that it was for the opposition parties to prove that there was an adverse effect.”It said it was unable to assess risk because although earlier consents the company had gained were granted with environmental monitoring as a condition, “that produced to us was patchy, inconclusive, and as to shore effect incorrect.”The overall finding from the court was that the need for high quality sand for Auckland didn’t trump the lack of information on coastal processes like sand movement, its effect on the ecology and species in the area and the impact on the mana whenua.If it loses in court again, McCallum Brothers appears interested in pursuing sand mining via the Fast Track Bill. Photo: RNZDual duelsThere’s a sense of quiet resignation to the fact that despite years of fighting and two victories, the battle isn’t over. Nobody seems surprised the company has appealed the Environment Court decision. While any appeals are ongoing, all parties agreed McCallum Bros can continue to take sand, a deal made when the company abandoned a consent which had been granted for an area closer to shore. The stadium of lights will continue its evening patrols up and down Pākiri’s shore.The groups are cautiously confident about the appeal - they feel the Environment Court decision was thorough. But when it comes to the Fast Track Bill, the tone fluctuates between indignation and concern.While Bishop has recently softened his stance on some aspects of the bill, public input doesn’t seem to be up for discussion. “I do not expect that allowing submissions on individual projects will be revisited,” he said.Rayward thinks if the project ends up in the fast track system, it would be a travesty of justice.“To have it enabled to be resurrected, because of the fast track introduction would be an indictment on our whole system.”The fast track system would cut out much of what the consent hearing and court case uncovered, he believes. “We wouldn’t have had the expert witnesses giving background. We wouldn’t have had the cultural impacts being openly presented. We wouldn’t have had the alternate supply options presented.”Williams believes what’s happened at Pākiri is an example of why the fast track process is inappropriate.“It’s taken parties who have an interest in the area to put forward a whole lot of extremely valid and important information,” says Williams.Haddon thinks projects courts have rejected shouldn’t be revived under fast track legislation. Under the legislation, iwi groups may get a say, but hapu groups like hers won't, she says.Fast track legislation also prioritises economic considerations higher than the Resource Management Act does and “that’s left us with six kilometres of desecrated biogenic habitat,” she says.Clapshaw agrees, calling the proposed fast track process deeply flawed. Much of the knowledge gained about the effect of sand mining in the area came from a diverse range of voices contributing evidence and a slow unearthing of facts.It took him, as a motivated member of the public, and an octogenarian treasure hunter to discover massive trenches.“Who would have thought that Joe Blow would do their own scan and find the trenches?”If the commissioners or court relied on information the company provided, the trenches and their potential impact would never have come to light, nor would the huge mistake the company’s expert made in his calculation of the amount of sand washing into the area each year, he says.If sand mining went ahead under fast track rules, he would feel more than just let down. “I think for the first time in my life I would actually feel betrayed by my government. I've never said that before, I've never thought that before - I never thought I would think that before - but I would feel betrayed.”Clapshaw remains committed to fighting via legal avenues, but he thinks a provocative act by the government might rally people to greater protest. “It might have to be a case of we're gonna go out there and have a flotilla of guys out on boats."This story was first published by RNZ

Warkworth RegionMonday 13th May - Cloudy periods with a few showers. Southwesterlies, dying out this evening.Tuesday 14th May - Fine, but becoming cloudy in the afternoon. Northerlies developing in the morning.Wednesday 15th May - Rain, clearing to fine later. Fresh northerlies, turning lighter westerly.Thursday 16th May - A few showers, clearing to fine. Southwesterlies, becoming strong.Friday 17th May - Fine with southerlies.Mangawhai RegionMonday 13th May - Cloudy periods with the odd shower. Light winds.Tuesday 14th May - Cloud increasing, with occasional rain developing in the evening. Northerlies developing in the morning.Wednesday 15th May - Showers, clearing to fine later. Fresh northerlies, turning lighter westerly.Thursday 16th May - Fine. Fresh southwesterlies, easing.Friday 17th May - Fine. Southerlies.

Two of Northland’s most popular short walks - Mangawhai Cliffs Walkway and Mt Manaia - will be closed temporarily as part of ongoing efforts to repair and enhance infrastructure damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle.In February 2023, both the Mangawhai Cliffs Walkway and Mt Manaia experienced significant damage due to the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle. Subsequent engineering assessments revealed the need for repairs to ensure visitor safety and preserve the integrity of the track.Mangawhai Heads Walkway will be closed from 29 April 2024, for approximately 10 weeks. Mt Manaia Walkway will be closed from 14 May 2024, for approximately 8-10 weeks (dependant on weather conditions.)Throughout the closure period, alternative tracks are available for public use including the Smugglers Bay Loop Track and others in the Whangarei Heads area: Tracks Archives - Discover Whangarei Heads  (external site).“We acknowledge the collaborative efforts of local iwi, hapū and other stakeholders in assessing the damage and planning the necessary remedial actions. The engagement of experienced contractors, including Milton Harward Construction and Plant Pro, will help restore these iconic tracks,” says Les Judd, Acting DOC Whangarei Operations Manager.“We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of the community during these track closures and hope people take the opportunity to explore some of the other fabulous walking tracks in the area,” says Les.ContactFor media enquiries contact:Email: [email protected]

Police investigating the discovery of a woman in pyjamas in Gulf Harbour in March are continuing to appeal to the public for help.Acting Detective Inspector Tim Williams, Waitematā CIB, says the investigation team have been working tirelessly in the almost two months since the homicide investigation was launched and we would like to again thank those in the community who have come forward with information since our initial appeal.“We have now had more than 120 calls to both our dedicated number and through to the 105 service providing Police with information to assist us in our investigation.”A Black Notice was issued through Interpol last month and Police have received information in regards to this.“While we cannot go into the specifics, Interpol continues to receive information from a myriad of countries, the most recent being from Canada earlier this month,” Acting Detective Inspector Williams says.“Police are continuing to work closely with Interpol in regards to this investigation.”We are also continuing to work with our Ethnic Liaison Officers within Police.Acting Detective Inspector Williams says despite the continued work from the team to date, we are still urging the community to get in touch with Police if they have any information which may assist.“I am proud of the efforts of the team over the last eight weeks on what is a complex and challenging investigation and we are committed to bringing justice to our victim.”Acting Detective Inspector Williams says this work will continue.“Our dedicated team are still working to understand the who, where, and why of this investigation, but we do need your help.“As such, we are again asking those in the community to consider the people they have dealt with in the past and think about if there is anyone you have concerns for.“Is there a neighbour you haven’t seen for a while? A tenant who hasn’t paid rent in this time? Or just someone in your community you are worried about, or who matches the description we have provided.“If you do have information, please do not hesitate to report it to Police.”𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗺 -Acting Detective Inspector Williams says Police can today release some further details about the woman located in her pyjamas.“Police are working with a number of experts including a forensic odontologist, forensic anthropologists, the pathologist, and the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR).“These, alongside genealogy testing for unidentified deceased persons, have outlined that it is highly likely the woman is of Chinese decent,” he says.“We have also received advice she was likely aged between her early thirties to early fifties.“During the post mortem, it was also identified that she was of very slight build and that, at some stage of her life, she had her gallbladder removed.” Acting Detective Inspector Williams hopes that with releasing some of these further details we will be able to jog someone’s memory or have them consider coming forward.The public can contact us on 0800 755 021 to speak directly to the investigation team.You can also provide information via our 105 phone service or online at https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105, using Update My Report.Please reference file number 240312/9837.Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.Police will continue to provide further proactive updates as our investigation allows.

An "extreme" geomagnetic storm is affecting Earth at present.Material fired out from a sun spot, is crashing into the planet's atmosphere this weekend .Transpower says it has put the electricity grid into a 'more' resilient state to protect equipment.A spokesperson says today's geomagnetically induced currents are below the levels Transpower has been preparing for in its 'worst case scenario' planning.The spokesperson says the electricity industry held a meeting at 1.30pm today to discuss the effects of and response to the storm.Transpower says it is still not anticipating having to cut power in any areas, but teams are continuing to monitor the event.Earlier in the day it issued a grid emergency notice and said it was removing some transmission lines from service across the South Island as a precaution.The storm has the potential to disrupt power and satellites, as well as communications and GPS.The US Space Weather Prediction Centre says G5 (extreme) geomagnetic storms can impact power grids, satellites, and radio communications.The solar storm is expected to peak tonight, with the US Space Weather Prediction Centre forecasting severe conditions from 6-9pm (NZ time) on Saturday.NIWA says although most solar events do not cause much impact, this is an "unusually strong event" so it pays to be prepared.It recommends people ensure they have charged batteries and flashlights in case the power goes out.

One Mahurangi Business Association (OMBA) is holding a 6 week AI Workshop SeriesLearn to navigate AI advancements & make strategic decisions for your business's future success. Designed for local business leaders.Venue & Dates:● Venue: Bayleys Real Estate, 41 Queen Street, Warkworth.● Dates: Wednesday May 29th, fortnightly for six sessions, up to and including 7th August.● Times: 7:30 pm - 9 pm.By booking the first session on Wednesday, May 29th you are committing to the full six fortnightly sessions up to Wednesday, August 7th.NOTE: Due to limited spaces and the large interest in this workshop series, ticket numbers will be limited to 2 per business. Email [email protected] if you would like to add additional employees to the waitlist in case of last-minute cancellations.BOOK HEREWhat to bring to each class:Laptop with a ChatGPT Plus subscription installed.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi advises of the following closures for motorway improvements. Work delayed by bad weather will be completed at the next available date, prior to Friday, 17 May 2024.  Unless otherwise stated, closures start at 9pm and finish at 5am.         NORTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1) Tristram Avenue northbound on-ramp, 12-16 MayCurran Street northbound on-ramp, 13 & 16 May CENTRAL MOTORWAY JUNCTION (CMJ) Northbound lanes between Symonds Street off-ramp and Fanshawe Street on-ramp, 14 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Wellington Street northbound on-ramp, 14 MaySH1 southbound to SH16 eastbound (Port) link, 16 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH1 northbound to SH16 eastbound (Port) link, 12-13 & 16 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH16 eastbound to SH1 northbound link, 14 & 16 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH16 eastbound to SH1 southbound link, 16 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Grafton Road eastbound on-ramp, 14-16 MayWestbound lanes between Stanley Street off-ramp and Newton Road on-ramp, 14 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH16 (Port) westbound to SH1 northbound link, 14 MaySH16 (Port) westbound to SH1 southbound link, 14 MayWellesley Street East westbound on-ramp, 14 MayWestbound lanes between Gladstone Road and Parnell Rise, 14 & 16 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Westbound lanes between Tamaki Drive and Gladstone Road, 12 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SOUTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1) Khyber Pass Road northbound off-ramp, 13 & 15-16 MayGillies Avenue northbound on-ramp, 13 & 15-16 MayNorthbound lanes between Mt Wellington Highway off-ramp and Greenlane on-ramp, 12 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Ellerslie-Panmure Highway northbound on-ramp, 12 MaySouth Eastern Highway (SEART) northbound on-ramp, 12 MayMt Wellington Highway northbound on-ramp, 12 MayHighbrook Drive northbound off-ramp, 14-15 MayNorthbound lanes between East Tamaki Road off-ramp and Mt Wellington Highway on-ramp, 13 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Princes Street northbound on-ramp, 13 MayHighbrook Drive northbound on-ramp, 13-15 MayEast Tamaki Road northbound on-ramp, 13 MaySH1 southbound to SH20 northbound link, 15 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Redoubt Road southbound on-ramp, 15 MaySouthbound lanes between Takanini off-ramp and Papakura on-ramp, 12-16 MayTakanini southbound on-ramp, 12-16 MaySouthbound lanes between Takanini off-ramp and Papakura on-ramp, 17 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Takanini southbound on-ramp, 17 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Papakura (Diamond) southbound on-ramp, 12-16 MayNorthbound lanes between Drury/SH22 off-ramp and Takanini on-ramp, 12 & 14-16 MayPapakura (Diamond) northbound on-ramp, 12 & 14-16 MayPapakura (Loop) northbound on-ramp, 12& 14-16 MayNorthbound lanes between Drury/SH22 off-ramp and Papakura on-ramp, 13 MayDrury/SH22 northbound on-ramp, 12-16 MayPioneer Road northbound off-ramp, 10-18 May (24/7)Northbound lanes between Pokeno off-ramp and Pokeno on-ramp, 12-16 MayDragway Road northbound off-ramp, 16 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Hampton Downs southbound on-ramp, 12-13 May (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)Hampton Downs northbound off-ramp, 12-13 May (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)NORTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH16) Southbound lanes between Waimauku Roundabout and Trigg Road, 12 May (approx. 6:00pm to 6:00am)Northbound lanes between Trigg Road and Waimauku Roundabout, 12 May (approx. 6:00pm to 6:00am)Southbound lanes between Waimauku Roundabout and Trigg Road, 13-16 MayNorthbound lanes between Trigg Road and Waimauku Roundabout, 13-16 MayTe Atatu Road (Loop) southbound on-ramp, 13-14 MayNorthbound lanes between Great North Road off-ramp and Lincoln Road on-ramp, 15 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Te Atatu Road northbound on-ramp, 15 MayPatiki Road northbound on-ramp, 15 MayGreat North Road northbound on-ramp, 15 MaySH16 westbound to SH20 southbound link, (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Great North Road eastbound off ramp (Waterview southbound tunnel closed), 13-14 MaySH16 eastbound to SH20 southbound link (Waterview southbound tunnel closed), 13-14 MaySH16 westbound to SH20 southbound link (Waterview southbound tunnel closed), 13-14 MayEastbound lanes between Great North Road off-ramp and Alten Road, 16 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Great North Road eastbound on-ramp, 16 MaySt Lukes Road eastbound on-ramp, 16 May SOUTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH20) Cavendish Drive southbound on-ramp, 13-16 MayNorthbound lanes between Maioro Street off-ramp and SH16 links, 15-16 MaySH20 northbound to SH16 westbound Link, (Waterview northbound tunnel closed) 15-16 MaySH20 northbound to SH16 eastbound Link, 15-16 May (Waterview northbound tunnel closed)Maioro Street northbound on-ramp, 15-16 MaySouthbound lanes between Puhinui Road off-ramp and Lambie Drive on-ramp, 13-16 May (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Puhinui Road southbound on-ramp, 13-16 MaySouthbound Service Road (Puhinui Road to Cavendish Drive), 13-16 MayCavendish Drive southbound on-ramp, 13-16 May 

Phil Pennington, ReporterOfficials are looking at better ways of choosing who gets the power in the face of occasional shortages - like Friday's - and relentlessly growing and competing demands.The Electricity Authority (EA) told RNZ it was "considering improving the prioritisation processes to filter out more speculative applications" to connect to power networks.This is among a long list of measures the authority, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and others say they have begun work on to make the country's electricity supply better.But a new Ministry of Energy will not be among them."The government has no plans to create a Ministry of Energy," Energy Minister Simeon Brown told RNZ late on Thursday.The largest distributor, Vector in Auckland, has its own long list of connections it has to make and networks it has to build to keep up.It has warned the country needs "a coordinated strategy and a plan" for critical decisions, such as around the new demands of data centres and electric vehicle (EV) charging."We're not saying we want to interfere with the market or anything, but we have to have visibility so we can manage the impact of them," chief executive Simon Mackenzie said."You've got multiple operators coming in and trying to provide new solutions to customers, but they all have to still be coordinated, so that the networks can manage them and ... you're not building network unnecessarily."The government had an overarching Electrify NZ programme focused on boosting investment in renewable electricity generation. Just how that will be done, and just who will do it, are among the big questions.MBIE said there was "no work underway to create a Ministry of Energy or a 'nationwide long-term plan'."Planning and regulating was widely dispersed across MBIE, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, EA and the Commerce Commission.The commission later this year will reset how much revenue is available to the country's 29 distributors - Vector by far the largest - to invest in network upgrades.EA determines how prices are set to access the networks."We are hearing that EV charge point operators believe they face high costs and difficult processes for new connections from distribution businesses," MBIE general manager of energy markets Justine Cannon told RNZ on Thursday.Coincidentally, EA put out its next steps on distribution pricing reform, including connection costs, just on Tuesday."We want distribution pricing to send the right signals about the cost of the electricity that's being fed to homes and businesses," EA said online. It has set up a new group to consult with the industry.The EA gave RNZ a long statement detailing a host of moves it was taking to boost "investment, innovation and transparency"."We're already working with industry to determine what regulatory changes are needed to make it easier to connect load, like public EV charging stations," network pricing director Tim Sparks told RNZ.A 'Supercharging EV Infrastructure Cross-Agency Taskforce' has been set up. Some users were facing "inefficiently high up-front charges that could act as a barrier to electrification", and the authority was working to counter that.It was not all about making it easier; its work included the filter on "more speculative application", Sparks said.On the big job of spreading out peak demand so networks did not have to be over-engineered, its work included improving visibility around how chargers or batteries and other smart devices were being used - what Vector has called for."Less poles and wires" could result from work on a 'flexibility services market' to encourage a wider spread of energy resources, including in more locations.Vector's Mackenzie said other countries had renewable energy zones so "you don't have to upgrade big transmission systems to cater for something that's thousands of miles away from the load"."That all comes under energy strategy," he said.Brown said in a statement the government was pulling down regulatory barriers and overhauling rules that were a decade out of date. This included setting standards for smart devices to shift home charging away from network peaks.This story was originally published by RNZ

Warkworth RegionFriday 10th May - Fine. Southerlies.Saturday 11th May - Fine. Southerlies, easing in the evening.Sunday 12th May - Fine. Light winds.Mangawhai RegionFriday 10th May - Fine, apart from the odd evening shower in the west. Southerlies, fresh for a time this afternoon.Saturday 11th May - Fine. Southerlies, easing late.Sunday 12th May - Partly cloudy, with isolated showers developing in the evening. Light winds.

A homicide investigation has been launched after a man was discovered deceased following a house fire in Northland last month.Emergency services responded to reports of a fire at a Thomas Street address at around 3.09am 0n Monday 29 April.Whangārei Police Detective Senior Sergeant John Clayton says Hoani Reupena-Tuoro, 61, was located inside the Tikipunga property, but despite efforts from first responders he sadly died at the scene.“Police enquiries have now established that this was an arson and subsequently, this is now being treated as a homicide investigation.”Investigators are making steady progress with enquiries and have now spoken to a number of people who were in the area at the time.“We would still like to hear from anyone who knows who started this fire, or saw anyone in the area that night between the hours of 1.30am through to 3.30am.“We are also seeking the public’s assistance in identifying this person who was captured on CCTV in the Te Kura Kaupapa school at the rear of the property that was set alight.“If you know who this person is, Police would like to speak with them.”Detective Senior Sergeant Clayton says Police are urging people in the Tikipunga are to upload any photos or video they may have between the hours of 1.30am-3.30am on 29 April.Anyone with footage that could assist our investigation can upload it by going to https://egret.nc3.govt.nz/Police would still like to hear from anyone who has information via our 105 phone service or online at https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105.Please reference file number 240429/4766.Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

The national electricity grid operator is warning of possible insufficient power generation to meet households' demand on Friday.Transpower has issued a notice saying there was a risk that power generation and reserves would not meet demand between 7.30am-8.30am.It said if power generators could not provide enough electricity, Transpower would manage demand to avoid a grid emergency."The system operator may instruct the grid owner to disconnect feeders without further notice to connected parties," it said.MetService has forecast temperatures to plunge overnight, with Christchurch set to fall to -4 degrees Celsius.In 2021, almost 34,000 households lost power on one of the coldest nights of the year, as insufficient supplies were arranged for the surge in demand.An industry panel fined Transpower $150,000 for its role in the blackouts.This story was first published by RNZ

Kakariki Health & Wellbeing Health Shop has moved location from Bennetts to the Dune complex on Moir / Molesworth intersection.They are still in the process of setting up, but have a brand new coffee machine and are pumping out Organic coffee, with fresh Durham Farms A2 milk or Organic Plant based milks. Pop into support them.Open 7 days from 9am to 5pm.Mangawhai Toy library has reopened as of last week and operates every Wednesday 10am to 12pm. They are currently accepting quality used toys. 73 Moir Street.Pacific Coast Taproom and Eatery are opening their restuarant and taproom at the old Dune in in mid June! Their plan is to create a great place to eat and drink, all while developing a centrepiece for their growing brewery and distillery. EDIT: Corner Bistro has just announced they are closing for good, not moving accross the road to the old Dune complex.It appears Oasis Bar and Eatery in Mangawhai is also closing at the end of the month.Finally a little birdie has advised the empty space where Kakariri was will soon become a bakery, from the Bennetts owners. Watch the space!Remember to SHOP LOCAL and SUPPORT LOCAL! Now more than ever your dollar is needed and appreciated!If you are a business why not adverise with Matakana Coast App. We have a number of options available. Check out our Advertise With Us page or contact Louise on 021681005

Ara Tūhono P2W – Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway will be closed overnight for five nights beginning Sunday, May 12 until May 17, for finishing work on the road. Closed from 9pm-5am in both directions, from Orewa to the Pukerito roundabout north of Warkworth. Works are weather-dependent. If weather conditions are bad, the contingency plan is set for 5 nights from Sunday 19 May.During the overnight closures drivers in both directions can use the old State Highway 1 and Twin Coast Discovery Highway. Southbound traffic will be unable to join the motorway north of the Johnstones Hill Tunnels, so will need to travel via Waiwera into Ōrewa before rejoining the motorway at the Grand Drive southbound onramp.It is still yet to be determined just how long the Brynderwyns will remain closed after the massive slip on 30th April. In an NZTA email update - the big slip is now looking at around 60,000 cubic meters of soil, could be more.As you can see by the photos the slip is not small, as it covers all the area from the waterfall to the sharp corner. There will hopefully be an update on when it can be opened next week.

A man wanted over a central Auckland fatal shooting, and revealed to be a gang member, has been found dead near Taupō.Police were searching for Hone Kay-Selwyn, 31, who they believed shot one person dead on Ponsonby Road on Sunday night.The shooting victim, who had been with a group of people at the time of the shooting, was found dead by police when they arrived at the scene, outside a bar.Police said multiple shots were fired by another man who had earlier been refused entry to the bar.The motivation behind the shooting was not yet clear, police said.On Wednesday morning, a source confirmed the discovery of the body to RNZ.It was not known how Kay-Selwyn died.The man sought by Police in relation to the Ponsonby homicide investigation has been located deceased.Detective Inspector Chris Barry said homicide investigators were travelling to the Taupō region on Tuesday afternoon to find the man sought."On the way, police were notified of a man located deceased at a rural address in the Broadlands area."The death was being treated as unexplained, he said.He was found by an associate on Tuesday. Police also confirmed the suspect was a member of the Killer Beez gang."While a post-mortem examination is yet to be completed, it is believed the deceased is the man sought by police in relation to the homicide investigation."Police did not believe there was any relationship between the Ponsonby shooting victim and the suspect, nor did they believe the victim and his associates on the night have any criminal group links.Auckland City CIB will be working with Bay of Plenty CIB counterparts as part of the investigation.Barry said the homicide investigation remained ongoing, but they were not seeking anyone else in relation to it."Our investigation team will continue to piece together the information received to date and we will continue to make enquiries on behalf of the Coroner."Police have notified the victim's family of these developments, and we have been in touch with the family of the man sought."Police thanked the public for the information received regarding the identity of the man sought.The identity of the Ponsonby shooting victim was yet to be released by police, but was expected later today.A woman, who said she was the partner of Kay-Selwyn, had expressed remorse for his actions.In a now deleted Facebook post earlier this week, she said her inbox had been "overflowing" with messages about her partner's actions on Sunday night in Ponsonby."I want to express my sincerest condolences to the family and loved ones of the victim. I'm deeply sorry and feel a great sense of shame about the situation."She said she was "grappling" with the fact he had taken someone's life.When contacted by RNZ the woman did not want to comment further.Police would not comment directly on the social media post or confirm if they had spoken to the woman.This story was originally posted by RNZ News

Bus route 999 will run one way around Warkworth every 30 minutes, enhancing local access to public transport. Project overviewAuckland Transport, in partnership with the Rodney Local Board, is implementing a new a one-way bus service. The new bus route, 999, will run one way around Warkworth in a clockwise direction approximately every 30 minutes.Route 999 will enhance access to public transport for local commuters along Percy Street, Lilburn Street, Pulham Road, Woodcocks Road, Mansel Drive and Hill Street. These bus stops aim to provide residents with convenient access to the bus route, improving public transport connectivity within the community and safety for buses, bus users, pedestrians and other road users.To allow buses to pull into and out of the proposed bus stops safely, some parking will be removed as part of this proposal. We understand that the removal of parking can be inconvenient, so we’ve minimised it as much as possible.Project detailsThis project includes the installation of 6 new bus stops along the new route. The locations of these bus stops are:1. 21 Percy Street (outside medical centres)Install new bus stop with road marking and signage2. 25 Lilburn StreetInstall new bus stop with road marking and signageReplace existing footpath with wider, extended concrete hardstand (concrete pad)Replace drop kerb with new kerbing in line with TDM standards3. Opposite 7 Pulham RoadInstall new bus stop with road marking and signage4. 15 Woodcocks Road (outside Mahurangi College)Install new bus stop with road marking and signage5. Opposite 20 Mansel Drive (outside Summerset Falls Retirement Village)Install new bus stop with road marking and signageInstall new hardstand (concrete pad)Install yellow tactile pavers to help guide blind and low-vision users6. 62 Hill StreetInstall new bus stop with road marking and signageInstall concrete hardstand (concrete pad) in line with TDM standardsDownload project drawings (PDF 8.6MB)What happens nextConstruction is expected to begin in June 2024. We will notify nearby properties a week before construction works start.Your local knowledge can help us make better decisions. Together, we can achieve the best outcomes for your neighbourhood.Contact UsIf you have any concerns or enquiries related to this project, please contact the Project Team on the details below:Email: [email protected]: 09 930 5090

The board of trustees of Whangārei Boys' High School has been charged for health and safety failures over the death of a student on a caving trip.Karnin Petera, 15, died on a school trip to Abbey Caves on 9 May 2023.Fourteen students and two adults were rescued from the cave in heavy rain. Karnin's body was later found.The school had a risk assessment done for the trip that stated Abbey Caves were "prone to flooding" in heavy rain.It recommended to postpone the trip if water levels were too high.The trip went ahead, despite Northland being under a MetService orange rain warning.WorkSafe said the charges had been filed against the legal entity of the Board of Trustees, not individual members of the board.WorkSafe's head of inspectorate Rob Pope said it acknowledged the "profound impact" Karnin's death had on whānau, friends, and the wider community."A year on, our sympathy and thoughts are with all of those who knew and loved Karnin."Flowers outside Whangārei Boys' High School in tribute to Karnin Petera. Photo: RNZ / Jordan DunnAn "extensive" investigation had now pieced together the circumstances of the tragedy and charges had been filed in the Whangārei District Court."We encourage school boards of trustees across the country to reflect on their own systems and processes to ensure they are meeting legal requirements for education outside the classroom," Pope said."Students should be able to participate safely, and parents must have confidence their rangatahi will be kept safe."Whangārei Boys' High School principal Karen Smith sent a letter to parents advising them of the charges.In the letter, Smith said: Our thoughts remain with the whānau of Karnin Petera, his friends, our school whānau, the wider Whangārei community and everyone who has been touched by this tragedy."WorkSafe has notified us that it has laid charges against Whangārei Boys' High School Board of Trustees for health and safety failures related to the staff and students on the caving trip."We can confirm that throughout the investigation, the school has worked closely with WorkSafe to provide all information required by the agency."Smith said the school had developed and implemented new outdoor education policies following the tragedy."We will be reviewing the charges laid by WorkSafe and take these findings very seriously. The Board of Trustees will continue to work with WorkSafe as we move through the next stage of the process."Smith said it would be a difficult time for the community, given it was just shy of the anniversary of Karnin's death."We would like to reaffirm that there is support available at any stage if this is required by your son or family by contacting the school guidancecounsellor."WorkSafe has charged the board under sections 36(2), 36(1)(a), 48(1) and 2(c) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.Charges include:Being a PCBU (Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking), having a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the health and safety of other persons is not put at risk from work carried out as part of the conduct of the business or undertaking, namely the outdoor education caving activity to Abbey Caves Reserve, did fail to comply with that duty, and that failure exposed other persons, including Karnin Petera, to a risk of death or serious injury.Being a PCBU, having a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers who work for the PCBU, while the workers were at work in the business or undertaking, namely undertaking an outdoor education caving activity to Abbey Caves Reserve, did fail to comply with that duty, and that failure exposed workers to a risk of death or serious injury.This story was originally published by RNZ

Brick Bay Folly Competition 2024: "Femme-ly Velues" Highlights Women's Contributions in ArchitectureThis year's Brick Bay Folly, titled "Femme-ly Velues", is designed and built by an all-women team—Claire Ford, Elise Cautley, and Jennifer Gao. It is the first time a team composed solely of women has led the project, highlighting the evolving role of women in architecture and construction.The structure, "Femme-ly Velues", explores the theme of femininity and feminism, drawing inspiration from the fabric crafts traditionally passed down through generations of women. The design reflects the intricate processes of sewing and weaving, where the vertical and horizontal elements intertwine to form a complex, layered structure.Composed of three parts, the folly uses 272 linear metres of pinus radiata timber and 9 square metres of equine canvas, combined with stainless steel and other materials. It also incorporates about 30% of recycled timber from last year's folly, "The Nest", emphasising sustainability and the reuse of materials.The folly is painted in vibrant Resene colours like ‘XO’, ‘Bright Spark’, and ‘Colour Me Pink’, enhancing its visual appeal. Pip Cheshire, Chair of the Folly judging panel, commended the project for its innovative use of materials and its playful yet sophisticated design."Femme-ly Velues" not only demonstrates architectural innovation but also celebrates the artistic and cultural contributions of women, aligning with the ethos of the Brick Bay Folly competition.Read more about the winning Folly [https://www.brickbaysculpture.co.nz/folly-2024] or see it on the Brick Bay Sculpture Trail - open 7 days. Photo credit: Sam Hartnett Photography  

Anyone who bought Value Pack Roasted Salted Peanuts since 11 April is urged to check whether they are part of a batch that was recalled on 5 April."Prolife Foods recalled specific batches of products containing peanuts last month over concerns that they could contain levels of aflatoxins above the allowable level in New Zealand," says New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle. "Disappointingly, some of these recalled products have been released for sale in error by Prolife."NZFS is investigating how this could have happened. We will be reviewing Prolife’s recall system to find out what went wrong, and to prevent it happening again."Please check your pantry for any of these peanuts. Don’t consume them and return them to the place of purchase for a refund."The products affected by today’s recall are:Value Pack (VP) Roasted Salted Peanuts (400g) with best-before dates of 08 OCT 2024 and 15 OCT 2024The affected products were sold at selected New World, FreshChoice, Pak’nSave and Four Square stores nationwide.Visit New Zealand Food Safety’s recall page for more information about batch details and photographs of the affected product here:Prolife Foods Value Pack and Refill Pack Products Containing Peanuts"Aflatoxins are naturally occurring in many food products and are produced by a group of moulds that grow on foods produced in hot and tropical climates," Mr Arbuckle says."Levels of aflatoxin in the New Zealand diet are usually very low and don't represent a health risk, however, consumption of food products with increased levels of aflatoxin over an extended period of time can be harmful."But despite the health risk being low in this case, any release of recalled products is of concern."New Zealand Food Safety has not received any notifications of associated illness.If you have consumed any of this product and are concerned for your health, contact your health professional, or call Healthline on 0800 61 11 16 for free advice.The vast majority of food sold in New Zealand is safe, but sometimes problems can occur. Help keep yourself and your family safe by subscribing to our recall alerts. Information on how to subscribe is on the NZFS food recall page.Recalled food products listFor more information please email: [email protected]