Author: Press Room

The Government is allowing greater housing and development around some Auckland train stations, preparing for an increase in demand with the new City Rail Link.Previously, the Government said Auckland Council must enable a minimum of no less than six storeys in a walkable distance around the Maungawhau (Mount Eden), Kingsland, and Morningside stations.The change was intended to reflect “higher demand for housing and business” in these areas.Now, it said the changes, outlined in the Resource Management (Consenting and Other Matters) Amendment Bill, “didn’t go far enough” – and would require upzoning allowing buildings of at least 15 storeys high around…

A Tairāwhiti hapū unveiled a pou whenua over Matariki weekend, marking the beginning of its journey to relocate and rebuild its marae after it was destroyed by Cyclone Gabrielle over two years ago.The waters reached 3m up the wharenui wall of Rangatira Marae when the cyclone struck Te Karaka on February 14, 2023.The water line marks are still visible on the wharenui mahau (entrance).”There wasn’t any other option but to relocate,” the secretary of the Rangatira Marae Trust, Whitiaua Ropitini, said at the event on Saturday.Image of Cyclone Gabrielle’s damage to Rangatira Marae. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting)Ropitini said the destruction…

Glyn Harrison and his 12-year-old daughter Micah aren’t your typical armchair critics.They prefer to get out and about and enjoy the world.As they launched their packed canoe from the Riverslea Rd bridge in Hastings last Friday into the Irongate stream, they were off to enjoy some time with Mother Nature, and collect some rubbish in the process.But about 1km down from the Cherry Grove Dairy in Havelock North, they came across something in the Karamu Stream that wasn’t going to fit in any bag – a couch.”It must have been thrown over the bridge or down the riverbank,” Harrison said.”Most…

Artist and activist Tāme Iti’s latest project has him featuring in Aotearoa New Zealand’s longest advertisement ever made as part of a campaign to encourage more Māori on to the Māori roll.He sits on a stool in a vast, cavernous space, reading out names from a book of people on the Māori roll for nearly 30 minutes straight — “nearly” because in the middle of it he goes off for a “cuppa tea”, but the cameras keep rolling on his empty seat during his break.The roll call makes for an arresting watch, simply for the number of names he goes…

 – NZ job ads fall 2 percent in May on April, according to Seek NZ’s employment report  – Adverts were down 8 percent on a year ago – the slowest annual decline in more than two years  – Applications per job ad rose 2 percent on April to a record high  – Monthly salary growth 0.6 percent, annual rate 2.4 percent Record numbers of people are chasing a dwindling number of jobs, while wage rises are barely keeping pace with inflation, according to Seek. The online employment platform’s May monthly report showed a fall in the number of jobs advertised,…

A dozen search and rescue organisations will share in more than $76 million in government funding to equip volunteers, train specialist staff and maintain infrastructure.The money would be split among 12 organisations — including $30m for personal protective equipment for Land Search and Rescue volunteers, $17m for Maritime New Zealand and $11m for Coastguard New Zealand.Surf Life Saving New Zealand would receive $8m, while $3m was set aside for Amateur Radio Emergency Communications.Associate Transport Minister James Meager said New Zealand was one of the most challenging places for search and rescue operations in the world.”Whether it’s the… maritime space that…

Public pressure has reopened Lake Hood in Canterbury despite the algal bloom health warning remaining in place.The Ashburton District Council announced that full vehicle access to the road around Lake Hood was restored, but stopped short of saying the lake closure was lifted, at the end of last week.Council chief executive Hamish Riach confirmed that “since the lake access is now open for public use, so is the lake itself”.”We are not promoting the lake’s use, as a health warning remains which advises against contact recreation.”The council closed the lake on April 3 after it was revealed two people were…

Nicola Willis has ruled out fuel subsidies for New Zealanders as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East hikes up global oil prices.The Finance Minister is keeping a close eye on the price of a barrel of oil and said the latest situation update she had from Treasury was that a $10 sustained increase in price “translates to 10 cents more at the pump for a Kiwi petrol user”.”What we saw last week was that oil prices went up about $10, but you’re still seeing fluctuation today.”When asked whether she would consider subsidies to ease the burden on petrol users…

NZ Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak faces another long stint on the sidelines, after suffering an ankle injury in their loss to Penrith Panthers last Saturday.Watene-Zelezniak, 29, was the victim of a “hip drop” tackle from Panthers second-rower Scott Sorenson just before halftime at Go Media Stadium and could not continue in the contest, with interchange utility Te Maire Martin injected into the centres and Adam Pompey moving out a spot in coverage.While the veteran lay prone on the ground, Kiwi Sorenson scored the first of his two tries down that left side of the defence, left shorthanded by Watene-Zelezniak’s injury.He…

Land for up to 17,000 homes in the Waimakariri district will be unlocked — but there is no room for an 850-home development at Ohoka.Waimakariri District Council adopted its revised District Plan on Tuesday, opening up land for housing in Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Woodend and Oxford.Mayor Dan Gordon said the new plan will provide land for between 14,000 and 17,000 new houses over the next 30 years, allowing the population to grow from 74,000 to around 100,000.”This is a momentous day and probably one of the biggest decisions this council will make.”Councillor Tim Fulton hailed it as a “once-in-a-generation” decision.New housing…