The Coalition Government is taking a pragmatic middle-ground path in its first Budget.Delivering a pre-Budget speech in Lower Hutt this morning,  Finance Minister Nicola Willis outlined the challenging economic landscape.High inflation, soaring interest rates, sluggish growth and rising unemployment have taken a toll on New Zealanders."Everyday workers are hurting and the reality of your struggle is impossible to ignore," Minister said."Our Government is clear-eyed about the raw deal experienced by too many Kiwis in recent times."Cost of Living ReliefTax cuts and targeted spending to ease squeeze on middle class.The Budget's priority is providing relief to the "squeezed middle" - hard-working New Zealanders struggling with the cost of living crisis.Meaningful but modest income tax cuts will increase take-home pay for 83% of those over 15 and 94% of households.These tax reductions will be fully funded to avoid adding to debt or inflation."Treasury modelling indicates fiscally neutral tax relief reduces inflationary pressure and interest rates," Minister explained."Tax relief will be good for our economy."Frontline services like health, education and police will receive targeted spending boosts to deliver better results.Family households can also expect new childcare subsidies under the FamilyBoost payment announced earlier.Durable Savings Identified$1.5b in annual efficiencies to fund investments and balance books.To support new investments while reining in spending, the Government has identified $1.5 billion in annual savings across public sector agencies.This was achieved through line-by-line reviews to reduce back office costs, consultants and lower-value programmes."The savings mean every dollar redirected to frontline services like health and education is working harder for New Zealanders," Minister stated.New revenue measures like taxing online gambling will also contribute to getting books back in surplus over time.Sowing Seeds for the FutureSocial investment to break cycles of vulnerability.Looking ahead, the Budget lays foundations for a "social investment" approach to achieve better outcomes from $70b annual social spending.A new Social Investment Agency will use data and analytics to guide smarter, earlier interventions for the most vulnerable.A Social Investment Fund will directly commission services from communities to improve lives, preventing issues before they escalate.These steps reflect the Government's determination to maximise human potential and build a stronger, wealthier New Zealand, Finance Minister Nicola Willis emphasised.

A significant decline in gas production has raised concerns about energy security, according to figures released by the Gas Industry Co.The data shows a 12.5% reduction in gas production in 2023 and a 27.8% reduction in the first quarter of 2024, exceeding projections.Energy Minister Simeon Brown and Resources Minister Shane Jones have been advised that large gas consumers are struggling to secure contracts due to the supply constraints.Brown attributed the decline to the previous government's policies, which "stifled investment confidence in the natural gas sector."He warned that reduced gas supply would force industrial users to reduce production, leading to increased coal use and higher prices for consumers.The All-of-Government contract for reticulated natural gas, which expires in September, is currently being renegotiated, and low production could result in higher prices and shorter-term contracts for critical services like schools and hospitals.Jones described the situation as a "hangover" from the previous government's policies, which the current government aims to reverse.The Government is working with the sector to increase production, and Jones plans to introduce changes to the Crown Minerals Act to "revitalise the sector and increase production."In response, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has established a Gas Security Response Group to coordinate gas producers, major gas users, and government agencies during this period of tight supply.

NZTA is advising motorists travelling between Ōrewa and Warkworth to prepare for upcoming overnight closures on State Highway 1 (SH1) during May.The closures are necessary to complete finishing works on the Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway project. Both northbound and southbound lanes will be affected, stretching from Pukerito roundabout north of Warkworth to Grand Drive near Ōrewa.The closures will take place over five nights, starting from 9pm on Sunday, May 12th, and continuing until 5am each following morning. A contingency period of five additional nights, starting from May 19th, has also been scheduled in case of unforeseen circumstances.NZTA emphasises that these works are weather-dependent and cannot proceed in high winds or storms with lightning. The agency acknowledges the possibility of rescheduling due to poor weather.Detour InformationMotorists can expect delays during the closure period. NZTA has advised travellers to plan their journeys ahead of time and follow the designated detour routes.Northbound traffic will be diverted via the Twin Coast Discovery Highway and the old State Highway 1 to reach Warkworth. Southbound motorists will need to use the old State Highway 1 and the Twin Coast Discovery Highway to access the Ōrewa southbound on-ramp, as joining the motorway before the Johnstones Hill Tunnels will not be possible.Delays Due to Previous ClosureNZTA explains that these motorway finishing works were previously delayed to minimise disruption caused by the extended closure of SH1 at Brynderwyn. With the recent slip further prolonging the Brynderwyn closure, postponing the Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth works is no longer feasible.NZTA says it appreciates motorists' patience and understanding as they complete this critical infrastructure project.

Against the backdrop of national NCEA pass rates declining for the third consecutive year, Whangaparāoa College has achieved its best-ever academic NCEA results, surpassing previous records and exceeding national averages.Key highlights include:NCEA Level 2 results are 84% and have increased by 5% from 2022. NCEA Level 2 results are 11% higher than the national averageNCEA Level 3 results are 81% and are 14% higher than the national average99.6% of learners in the new Bilingual Unit achieved their respective NCEA qualificationsAccording to the college, there are a significant number of initiatives they have implemented in the past couple of years to enhance learner outcomes. Some key contributors are:Targeted Academic Tracking and Strengthening of RelationshipsFostering strong connections between school and home, through opportunities such as Learner Led Conferences (LLCs,) has enhanced communication and collaboration, resulting in better support for learners.Microscopic Focus on Every LearnerWhangaparāoa College adopts a know and grow approach for each learner. By understanding and addressing the unique challenges and strengths of every learner, they facilitate their academic growth and success.Enhanced Teaching Practice through Professional LearningAs a school, they continually invest in the professional development of their staff, through relevant learning that translates directly into the classroom and improved outcomes for learners.“It is important to acknowledge the dedication and commitment of our staff to ensuring learners’ success. We are proud to have staff that have a deep desire to know and grow their learners and strive continuously for better outcomes for them,” says Principal, Steve McCracken.

Orewa Businesses Launch Exciting Spend & Win PromotionThe Orewa Business Association has kicked off a three-week Spend & Win promotion from May 6 to May 27, 2024, exclusively for businesses in the Orewa CBD.Participants stand a chance to win one of three $1,000 prizes, with winners set to be announced on May 28.Unstable Slope Above SH1 Delays Road ReopeningMovement persists in the soil atop the slopes above a major landslip along State Highway One near Brynderwyns.The slip occurred just days before the anticipated reopening of the road near Whangārei, which has been closed for repairs since mid-February following damage from Cyclone Gabrielle last year.NZTA Waka Kotahi aims to resume earthworks pending safety clearance from geotech experts, with potential cost implications yet to be determined.A safety review by the contractor is underway, and additional earthworks were already planned for the area as part of the project's design.Orewa Businesses Address Parking ConcernsA recent Auckland Transport survey reveals staff parking challenges in Orewa, with 200 daily staff cars and frequent infringement tickets.Auckland Transport urges cultural change in staff parking habits, proposing solutions like relocating cars outside the CBD.The Business Association calls for staff cooperation to preserve customer parking and avoid potential paid parking implementation.Community collaboration is key to addressing parking issues and maintaining Orewa's business vitality.

Associate Education Minister David Seymour has unveiled plans for a revamped Healthy School Lunches Programme, set to save taxpayers a substantial $107 million annually. This initiative, embracing innovation and commercial expertise, promises to efficiently deliver nutritious meals to more students while reducing costs."We are committed to responsible management of taxpayers' money," asserts Mr Seymour, emphasising the Government's dedication to fiscal prudence.Under the revamped programme, all students currently benefitting from school lunches will continue to receive them, but at a significantly reduced cost to taxpayers. A new targeted initiative will extend food support to 10,000 two-to-five-year-olds attending low-equity, community-based early learning services.Mr Seymour underscores the importance of early childhood nutrition, stating, "The first 1,000 days are key to a child's development. I am proud this government can innovate to help even more children who need it."The Budget 2024 allocates $478 million towards the school lunches programme, facilitating an interim model for 2025 and 2026. This interim phase will pave the way for a comprehensive redesign based on commercial expertise, data analysis, and evidence-based strategies."While maintaining continuity for primary learners in years 0 to 6, an alternative provision model will be introduced for older students," explains Mr Seymour. This model leverages government buying power to cut costs, empower schools with menu flexibility, and minimise wastage. Additionally, it offers students and parents the option to prepare their own lunches.Acknowledging fiscal constraints inherited from the previous administration, Mr Seymour underscores the necessity of prudent spending to avoid disruption to children and families."We believe in delivering improved outcomes without necessarily increasing expenditure," he states, contrasting the current approach with past practices.The revised programme promises meals that resonate with children's preferences, featuring familiar staples like sandwiches and fruit over exotic options like quinoa and hummus."This improved school lunches programme reflects our commitment to enhancing public services while being mindful of taxpayer resources," affirms Mr Seymour.Beyond lunches, students benefiting from taxpayer-funded meals will continue to enjoy support through initiatives like the Kickstart Breakfast and Fruit in Schools programmes.For the remainder of 2024, the school lunches programme will operate as usual, honouring existing contracts and commitments.The introduction of this cost-saving initiative highlights the Government's commitment to enhancing child welfare and educational outcomes while responsibly managing public funds.

Idyllic growing conditions have led to fresh fruit and vegetable prices dropping 25 percent compared to this time last year - and they are now at prices not seen for several years.United Fresh New Zealand president Jerry Prendergast said for the past 10 months, apart from a late summer drought in Horowhenua, growing conditions around the country have been "incredible".Rain and warm sunshine have arrived "enqueue"."We're seeing again the ability to plant vegetables, and to harvest vegetables in conditions that have been superb," he said.Yields have been massive and the normal losses in a system where plants may die off, just had not happened.The result was a massive over supply and lower prices."I can assure you, if you're a consumer, it's a consumer's market, in terms of the value."I've not seen the value of fruit and vegetables, in particular the green leaf vegetables and root vegetables, I've never seen the value at the levels that we are seeing now, since pre-Covid - perhaps 5 years plus. We are seeing values that are 20 to 25 percent less than this time last year," he said.But he said unfortunately for the growers, all this extra produce did not mean they were making more money."I wish I could say they did, but they're growing at below the cost of production. If you're harvesting cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, silverbeet, spinach, spring onions, lettuce, when you're producing and harvesting them like you are at the moment, for the value returns, it's actually below the cost of production."So it doesn't start to etch out. If you had a reasonable price point it would start to kick in for you. But right now it's very tough for growers."He said growers have the choice to not plant, but that was not a good option."The reality is you might also see some increase in prices so you can't afford to take the gamble to say 'I'm not going to plant' and hope that your business is going to survive. You need to have a programme of planting, you've got customers with expectations."Growers had to swing with the flow of supply and demand, but Prendergast said what was needed was more people eating vegetables because despite the lower prices, consumers were not buying more.There has never been a better time he said, to swap some of the protein on the dinner plate for more vegetables.

The family of the man killed in the Ponsonby Road shooting have paid tribute to him.Robert Sidney Horne, 33, had just got out of a car with three others when a man fired multiple shots in their direction. By the time emergency services arrived, he was already dead.In a social media post, Horne's family said they expected the coroner to release his body on Wednesday."It is with deep sadness we announce the tragic and sudden passing of our son, brother, moko, uncle & friend to many," the post on Facebook said.They said his body would lie at Parawera Marae once it was released.Police confirmed his name in a statement, saying their thoughts were with the family."The family of Mr Horne are understandably devastated at what has occurred and have requested privacy at this difficult time."The suspect, 31-year-old Hone Kay-Selwyn, was found dead at a rural address in the Broadlands area, near Taupō, on Tuesday. His death was being treated as unexplained.Police said he was a member of the Killer Beez gang, but the motivation behind the Ponsonby shooting remained unclear, and police knew of no links between the man shot in Ponsonby and any criminal groups.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.

First home buyers are taking full advantage of lower property prices and less competition from other buyers, the latest data is indicating.First home buyers accounted for 26 percent of purchases in the first quarter of 2024, which was well above the long-term average of 21 percent, according to CoreLogic's biannual First Home Buyer Report.NZ chief property economist Kelvin Davidson said first home buyers were taking advantage of the low-deposit lending allowances at banks, and FHB grants and loans, with some buyers compromising on the location and type of property.But he said fewer deals were settled in the first quarter, reflecting the overall downturn in the housing market."There was a small burst of price growth at the tail end of 2023, but more listings became available over the first few months of 2024, which has contributed to a slowdown in property values, as conditions swing back in favour of buyers," he said.The median house price fell to $695,000 in Q1 2024, compared with $699,000 last year, and $715,500 in 2022."The price being paid by FHBs (first home buyers) is significantly higher than the lower quartile, or bottom 25 percent, of all buyers, where the median price is $565,000," Davidson said."It shows that the 'typical' first home buyer doesn't always enter at the bottom of the market and work their way up. Many actually enter the market well above the 'bottom rung' of the ladder."Davidson said the increase in first home buyers also defied a significant gap between the cost of a mortgage and rents."With mortgage rates having risen sharply, and even despite a recent acceleration in rental growth too, the extra cost to pay the mortgage compared to rent is still quite high," he said."With rent being significantly cheaper it certainly highlights that most first home buyers are likely to be purchasing for reasons such as stability of tenure rather than due to simple financial drivers."Davidson said average FHB activity was expected to continue this year and possibly into 2025 as well, particularly given other buyer groups, such as investors, were still facing challenges.

Police have located the man sought in relation to the Ponsonby homicide investigation deceased.Detective Inspector Chris Barry addressed the media outside the College Hill Police Station, stating that the man was found at a rural address in the Broadlands area.The death is currently being treated as unexplained, with a post-mortem examination yet to be completed.However, it is believed that the deceased is the man sought by Police in relation to the homicide investigation.Auckland City CIB will work with Bay of Plenty CIB counterparts to investigate this development.The wider Police investigation into the homicide remains ongoing, with the team continuing to gather information and make enquiries on behalf of the Coroner.Police have confirmed that they are not currently seeking anyone else in regards to this investigation.The victim's family and the family of the man sought have been notified of these developments.Police have thanked the public for their assistance in providing information regarding the identity of the man sought.

Samantha Hayes will be the solo presenter for Stuff's new TV bulletin and will be joined by six other well-known Newshub journalists when the operation launches on 6 July.Stuff announced on Tuesday Jenna Lynch, Laura Tupou, Ollie Ritchie, Juliet Speedy, Zane Small and Heather Keats are among a group of new hires.Earlier this month, Warner Bros Discovery confirmed its plans to shut down Newshub, including its website and all TV news shows by 5 July.A week later, WBD and Stuff held a joint press conference to announce the latter would provide a daily news bulletin to run on TV3 from 6 July.In a statement on Tuesday, Hayes said she was delighted to be joining Stuff after almost 20 years at TV3."It's an honour to be anchoring this new iteration of the 6pm news and I'm grateful it will keep Newshub's legacy alive. This is the most exciting news project in the country and I hope our viewers will trust us and come along for the ride."Stuff also announced appointments for key production roles including Claire Watson, who has been appointed 6pm's executive producer, while Steve Gore-Smith, who is Newshub's senior manager of operations, will become Stuff's director of video operations and technology.Stuff digital managing director Nadia Tolich expected the Newshub staff would bring "additional firepower and specialist skills" to its newsroom."Their specialised skills will complement the teams we have producing our digital, audio, video and print news products."While there are some very familiar faces in our lineup, and we'll be reporting on all the major events in news, sport and business, this will be an evolution of a 6pm news product."Tolich said the expanded team would be intent on innovation in the way it told stories, used technology and engaged with audiences.Warner Brother Discovery head of networks for Australia New Zealand Juliet Peterson said a strong line-up had been confirmed."Sam as news anchor has been a cornerstone of Three for so many years - having her continue on in that role is a fabulous announcement."Ryan Bridge confirmed as Newstalk ZB hostBroadcaster Ryan Bridge will be the new host for Newstalk ZB's Early Edition programme, NZME announced.Bridge has held various radio and television journalism roles including two and a half years as co-host on TV3's AM Show.Ryan Bridge Photo: Warner Bros DiscoveryEarly Edition is on air from 5am to 6am on week days.In welcoming the appointment, NZME chief audio officer Jason Winstanley said: "Ryan is a popular, talented broadcaster with significant radio experience, extensive knowledge of local and global issues and a special ability to engage and connect with audiences."NZME chief executive officer Michael Boggs said it was pleasing to secure a broadcaster of Bridge's calibre.He will start as Early Edition host on 8 July.

A new online data dashboard launched this week by Associate Education Minister David Seymour aims to provide more timely information about school attendance to the public and parents. The interactive dashboard, which will be updated weekly, offers insights into the national average of daily school attendance.According to Mr Seymour, the dashboard's purpose is to address the nationwide attendance problem, which saw over 330,000 students missing school regularly in the last term of 2023. He stresses the importance of accurate and up-to-date data to tackle this issue effectively."Having high-quality attendance data available will empower students, parents, and school communities to identify and address absence," Mr Seymour explains. "It will also enable us to measure positive changes over time."The Government has set an ambitious target of ensuring that 80 per cent of students attend school for more than 90 per cent of the term by 2030. To achieve this goal, Mr Seymour urges schools to aim for a daily attendance rate above 94 per cent.While acknowledging that parents have the final say in their child's attendance, Mr Seymour encourages them to consider the impact of absenteeism on their child's education. He points out that attendance tends to decline on Fridays, highlighting the importance of monitoring attendance patterns.In a move to enhance data collection, Cabinet has approved mandatory daily reporting of attendance by schools to the Ministry of Education starting from Term 1, 2025. This data will be published on the website daily, providing real-time insights into attendance trends.Mr Seymour emphasises that understanding the root causes of non-attendance through data analysis is crucial for implementing targeted interventions. He urges collective support for schools in maintaining a strong focus on teaching and improving attendance rates.Highlighting the long-term consequences of truancy, Mr Seymour warns of an "80-year long shadow" if the issue is not addressed promptly. He stresses that addressing truancy is essential for ensuring equal opportunities for all students and preventing social and economic challenges in the future.The new attendance dashboard will be accessible to the public via the following link: https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/statistics/daily-attendance

A man wanted over a central Auckland fatal shooting has been found dead in or near Taupō.Police were searching for Hone Kay-Selwyn, 31, who they believed shot one person dead on Ponsonby Road on Sunday night.A source confirmed the discovery of the body to RNZ.It is not known how Hone Kay-Selwyn died.The 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.More to come...

The sale of a long-term lease for Ports of Auckland will not go ahead.Instead, as part of a new deal, the port has committed to $1 billion in profits to Auckland Council over the next decade.A new tripartite agreement has been reached where port land, assets, and operations will be retained under council ownership.Ports of Auckland chief executive Roger Gray said handing back Captain Cook Wharf and Marsden Wharf to council would cost more than $70 million.Auckland mayor Wayne Brown also negotiated public access to parts of Bledisloe Wharf - where all the imported cars are currently unloaded - as a shared space for public use and cruises.Gray said over the next three years, "we are looking to making in excess of $100m a year".There were a few different levers and it would be a combination of increased pricing and growing volumes.He said the peak access charge was likely to increase from $95 per container to about $295 in the next three years."[You can] expect to see our pricing be very close in line with the pricing in New South Wales," he said.He told Checkpoint this year the company was on track to make more than $52m but needed to double its efforts."The first is we're going to grow volume. We've seen great growth in cruise and cars. But also we've seen significant market share come back from the Port of Tauranga in containers as we've started to get our operations back to where we were pre-automation."And secondly, we've been quite open about this, we are going to continue to take price."He said the Ports had seen a double-digit growth in imports and exports in the last year."We'll continue to hold that. We think that's volume share that's come back."We're up year on year about 2 percent total container volume."There were no penalties if the Ports did not keep up to its end of the bargain."It's a memorandum of understanding, not a contract as such. We're still working through on what we're going to do, but we're committed to delivering these numbers and we will."Maritime Union Auckland secretary Grant Williams said he was relieved the mayor had changed his mind."Especially in this time now with what's going on everywhere else [in the public sector], to know that people recognise your place of work and that the work you do is valuable and necessary ... those things matter," he said.He said the union was satisfied with the result, even if it took a lot of pushing."We involved ourselves, so I'm satisfied with our own efforts," he said."We made something happen, through organising and getting support from people. We're happy with the result."

Auckland Transport (AT) has announced the reinstatement of some ferry services ahead of schedule, thanks to the success of an accelerated training programme aimed at addressing a skilled maritime crew shortage.In October 2023, AT temporarily reduced timetables for some ferry services to support Fullers360's training programme, which aimed to upskill existing crew and train new crew to fill gaps in Auckland's maritime workforce.The programme's success has enabled AT to restore some ferry services to their regular timetables earlier than expected, according to AT's Director of Public Transport and Active Modes, Stacey van der Putten."We're really pleased Fullers360 has been able to use this time to get more crew trained and ready to go out on the water. The temporary reduction in ferry services has not been easy for our customers, and though we still have work to do to get our ferry services back at the level they should be, we're thrilled to be able to bring some back ahead of schedule."From June 4, the Devonport ferry will return to a 20-minute frequency during peak times, while weekday off-peak and evening sailings for Half Moon Bay will also be reinstated, along with additional Friday night services. Later in the year, more Gulf Harbour ferry services will be added during the week, with weekend sailings to Half Moon Bay expected to resume in early 2025.Fullers360 Marine Manager, Andy Johnson, praised the success of the accelerated training programme, which has seen over 700 individual vessel signoffs achieved, 10 Skippers appointed, and 20 new Deckhands trained."I'm incredibly proud of our crew, and pleased to see the accelerated training programme delivering the results we set out to see. We'd like to thank our customers for their patience while we work hard to get services back up and running. With more qualified maritime crew, we're now able to reinstate some services and see greater resilience within the ferry network."Additional weekday sailings will also be added to the Bayswater, Birkenhead, and Te Onewa Northcote Point ferry routes from June 4, with AT working closely with Explore, the new operator for these services since September 2023, to restore frequent ferries for these communities.

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown says the sale of a long-term lease for Port of Auckland will not go ahead under the terms of a new deal.Brown signed an agreement in front of media, alongside Port of Auckland chief executive Roger Gray and Maritime Union secretary Grant Williams, on Tuesday morning.The port land, assets and operations would be retained under council ownership, he said.It was set to bring in $1.1 billion in profits to Auckland Council over the next 10 years, exceeding the projected net returns from investing the proceeds of a port lease by $172 million."Port of Auckland has agreed to deliver much improved profits to Auckland Council and we have agreed to take the proposed sale of a long-term port lease off the table," Brown said."This plan reflects my commitment to get better value and better returns from our strategic assets, and strengthen the council's long-term financial position. These higher returns will require increased port charges and improvements in productivity, and all parties are supportive of this."Port chair Jan Dawson welcomed the move, saying it provided "a clear direction and certainty for the port staff, our customers, and the community".Auckland Council and Eke Panuku have developed a framework plan for the central wharves to make better use of prime waterfront space.The port is backing the plan for the mayor's proposal to return Captain Cook Wharf and Marsden Wharf to Auckland Council.Brown has also negotiated public access to parts of Bledisloe Wharf, as a shared space for public use and cruise ships."Auckland's harbour and waterfront is a big part of what makes our city special, and it's important that we get this right. The success of the plan will be based on cooperation and joint planning, and the inclusion of mana whenua, stakeholders, and the public."The plan will be part of the mayor's proposal on the Long-Term Plan to be considered by the budget committee and governing body next week.Williams was also pleased with Tuesday's deal, saying the agreement highlighted the port's importance to the city."We're pleased to see that the value and contribution of port workers has been recognised by the mayor, councillors and the community."A formal arrangement will be made by way of Port of Auckland's annual statement of corporate intent and the council's Long-term Plan through to 2034.Brown said the port's board and management had already improved the port's performance and returns "and met our demands head-on".All the parties signing up to the agreement would work together to make the most of the port and the space it occupied.

Auckland City Police are urging the public's assistance in locating Hone Kay-Selwyn, a 31-year-old man connected to the recent homicide investigation in Ponsonby.A warrant has been issued for Kay-Selwyn's arrest on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm."Our investigation is progressing," says Detective Inspector Chris Barry of Auckland City CIB. "We understand the community has questions, and we want to assure them that our top priorities are providing answers to the victim's family and apprehending this suspect."Police warn that Kay-Selwyn should be considered dangerous and should not be approached by members of the public.Anyone who spots him is urged to contact emergency services immediately by dialing 111.Detective Inspector Barry emphasises the importance of public collaboration."We are aware that some people may have knowledge of Kay-Selwyn's whereabouts," he states. "We want to remind anyone who assists him in evading capture that they could face charges of being an accessory after the fact."The Detective Inspector expressed gratitude to those who have already come forward with information."The calls we've received have been instrumental in obtaining this arrest warrant," he acknowledges. "We appreciate your assistance, and now we need your help to locate him."Police are appealing to anyone with information or footage related to the incident to come forward.A dedicated portal has been set up for this purpose at http://hurley.nc3.govt.nzAlternatively, information can be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111, or by contacting Police on 105 and quoting file number 240506/9353.While the identity of the victim remains undisclosed due to ongoing notifications, police have assured the public that further updates will be provided as soon as possible.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has released a report on New Zealand, urging the government to tighten its belt on spending. Finance Minister Nicola Willis welcomed the report, saying it aligns with the government's ongoing fiscal sustainability program.The OECD, a group of developed nations, conducts regular reviews of its members' economic policies. Their latest report on New Zealand highlights "spending overruns" following the pandemic, which they say have led to a permanent increase in government spending relative to the nation's economic output. The report also suggests the government's stimulus measures may have contributed more to inflation than those of other countries.In response, the OECD recommends that the government establish spending limits and tax policies that will gradually reduce the budget deficit and achieve a balanced budget."This affirms the Government's decision to steadily bring government spending under control," said Minister Willis. She emphasised the government's commitment to its fiscal sustainability program, which aims to achieve responsible spending levels.While the report focuses primarily on spending control, the OECD also identified other areas for improvement. These include stricter enforcement of competition policies, easing restrictions on overseas investment, and boosting educational achievement through a more detailed national curriculum. The report additionally calls for further reform of the resource management planning system."The Government is already acting on many of the initiatives proposed by the OECD and we will give consideration to its other recommendations," stated Minister Willis. She acknowledged that while the government may not agree with every aspect of the report, they value the OECD's expertise and appreciate the opportunity to have their economic policies evaluated.Looking ahead, Minister Willis emphasized the urgency of rebuilding the New Zealand economy after a period of high spending, inflation, and interest rates. She expressed confidence in the government's plan to deliver better value for public spending, improve educational outcomes, and create a more favourable environment for business investment and growth. Minister Willis concluded by stating that the government's economic policies aim to provide New Zealanders with the cost-of-living relief, higher incomes, and improved public services they deserve.

The effect of deep cuts throughout Massey University outlines a stark statistic revealing the institution has cut more than 500 courses this year.At the same time, it would not say what its 2024 enrolment numbers were, as the sector faced a funding squeeze with scant likelihood of a Budget boost later in May.Last year was a tough one for Massey. It declared a deficit of $45.5 million and slashed courses and jobs, including major reductions to science.The extent of that was made clear in a Massey academic board paper, which revealed 624 courses were "retired" this year.Although some new courses have been introduced, the loss of courses was more than 500. Last year, 116 courses were "retired".Palmerston North-based politics professor Richard Shaw had been vocal in warning that continued cuts would lead to what he called the academic equivalent of an ice age."I would stand by those comments in as much as we are still in a part of the process that is disruptive for staff, for students, for managers up and down the hierarchy," Shaw told RNZ."It's a distressing period of time for people. We're still roiling through those circumstances."Shaw works in the college of humanities and social sciences. He said some staff there were competing against each other for jobs, while the number of courses would not be reduced - yet."We will have a smaller workforce and I think it's highly likely that from 2026 on we we will reduce the number of offerings of some of our courses."It may be that we don't lose significant numbers of courses, but we no longer offer them internally on two or three campuses as well as via distance."Students made their views clear at a forum in Albany this week. Photo: Supplied / Niklas PolzerThe 624 courses cut this year included 434 from sciences, 79 from business and 59 from humanities.Courses were cut and new ones added all the time, but this year's high number comes after 116 were retired last year.Meanwhile, university staff were battling on in trying circumstances, Shaw said."At the moment the people I work alongside of, including people who are in the throes of losing their positions, are conducting themselves with considerable professionalism and good grace."Josh Parsons, from Student Action Collective, was calling on Massey to be upfront about its strategy and where it was heading, given the extent of the cuts."It's 624 retired and 66 created, which means there's 558 courses less at Massey," he said."With a total course number of around 3000 that's over 1/6th of the courses at Massey. That's a sixth of the university gone."Students were not being given the full picture about what was happening, Parsons said."The mood among most current students at Massey is to just keep your head down and hope your degree doesn't get cut out from under you, and try and make it out the other side so you can leave it all behind."I don't know what future students are thinking."Massey's far from the only university that had faced financial pain. The government had appointed an expert advisory panel to explore better ways of operating.Universities New Zealand chief executive Chris Whelan said the varsities were having to make calls about how to balance their books.Whelan said he could not comment on Massey specifically, but spoke about the sector as a whole from his position leading the umbrella group."Right now, this is something I've never seen where government controls about 80 percent of university funding."Inflation since 2019's been 21 percent but government, perhaps realistically or fairly, has only been able to afford to increase university funding by 8 percent."That left a massive gap between costs and income, despite a $128m boost last year from the then-Labour government."We just don't know when that relief's going to come along and we can read the same runes as everyone else."There isn't a lot of money floating around. We'd obviously love government to invest in us, but we fully understand this is not the environment when that's likely to happen, certainly in the next Budget."Massey provost, professor Giselle Byrnes, said the university had a responsibility to reduce the size and scope of its academic offering to make sure it provided what was required, and in ways it could afford."Over time, student demand for and interest in qualifications changes in response to changing social, employment and industry demands."Closing courses - also known as papers at some universities - specialisations and qualifications that are no longer in demand is part of the normal cycle of academic management."Byrnes said many courses had no or few enrolments in recent years, or were offered every other year, and Massey could no longer maintain "this broad offer over the long term".Other courses on the list being cut had been joined together, such as "research methods" or thesis courses. Those were basically placeholders for research projects.Massey had 3209 approved courses. In 2023, 116 courses were cut and 54 added.Massey declined to release its 2024 enrolment numbers, but last year it had 26,632 students. Of those, 16,246 were classified as full-time equivalents.Those figures have declined from 30,491 students in 2019, with 18,835 full-time equivalents.A Massey spokeswoman said it had undergone significant changes, which skewed year-on-year enrolments patterns, so was not "yet in a position to provide contextually accurate enrolment numbers" for 2024.It would only say it has surpassed its 2024 annual targets for new students by 6.5 percent, made up of an increase of 3.8 percent for new domestic students and 24.3 percent for new international students.