Taking laptops and liquids out of carry-on bags is now a thing of the past for passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport.From today, security lines will now use will use Computed Tomography (CT) scanning machines, which create 3D images of bags in real-time.Transport Minister Simeon Brown said the machines will speed up security lines, while maintaining strong security measures."Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through our airports and reducing the risk of flight delays," he said."This is a great example of innovative technology being used to reduce barriers and deliver better outcomes for New Zealanders. Maintaining strong security measures at our airports is critical, and this technology ensures this."Auckland Airport accounts for 75 percent of New Zealand's international departures.International travellers departing from Christchurch and Wellington have been able to leave laptops and liquids in their carry-on since last December.The machines will be rolled out at domestic airports across the country by the end of this year.Rules around volume limits in containers will not change.

Associate education minister David Seymour has confirmed temporary funding will be put in place for the free school lunches programme until a review is completed.Funding would continue for the "immediate few years" while officials worked out what the alternative programme would look like, Seymour said."They won't end, but they will continue in a different form. Right now we are saving the scheme, keeping it going for the foreseeable future until we've made those policy decisions."Budgeting temporary funding for the programme is what the Coalition spent months criticising the previous government for doing.It has repeatedly described Labour's time-limited funding for free lunches in school as a "fiscal cliff".Asked by RNZ how it could accept one fiscal cliff on its watch, given its rhetoric directed at the previous government, Finance Minister Nicola Willis said she would not "categorise anything the government is doing as a fiscal cliff".She said in the "vast majority of instances" permanent four-year funding would be allocated in the Budget on 30 May.On Monday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told RNZ all Budget programmes would be fully funded over four years.Associate education minister David Seymour and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon are defending the funding approach the Coalition is taking. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver"What we're focused on is delivering a Budget at the end of May where we are very transparent and very up front about our investment, so there is certainty about those programmes that we are supporting that they're fully funded," Luxon said.But by Tuesday morning he had walked back that statement, telling Morning Report, "there will be the odd incident where we're actually putting more money into a programme where we're testing or wanting to see the results before we follow it up with more".There would be a "handful of things where there might be time-limited funding, but again we'll be transparent about that", he said.Luxon disagreed a handful of programmes with time-limited funding could also be described as a handful of fiscal cliffs - the name his government has given to programmes under the previous government which had not been funded beyond this year's Budget.Seymour, who is in charge of the programme's review, is defending the funding approach the coalition is taking.He said it was different to Labour's, which was to say it would continue the programme forever but not funding it forever.Seymour told Checkpoint in April that funding for the programme could be cut by up to half.He said 10,000 lunches were wasted each day and there was no hard evidence the programme, which cost about $325 million annually, improved school attendance or achievement.Luxon said free school lunches would continue, as campaigned on by National at last year's election, but with some changes to make it more efficient."We believe in the programme. We are now funding the programme, but we want to make sure that it's been effective," he said."That's quite a good question to ask a few years down the road as the programme's got bigger and as we have made a big commitment to fund it - to make sure we're getting a return on it."Labour launched a campaign and petition in March to save the programme.Leader Chris Hipkins told RNZ the prime minister was saying one thing and doing another.

New Zealand Food Safety is urging caution for people with gluten allergies or intolerance.A recent packaging error has led to the recall of a specific batch of Mrs Rogers Naturals brand Gluten-Free Batter Mix.The affected product is actually Mrs Rogers Naturals brand Crispy Golden Batter Mix, which contains gluten, mistakenly packaged as the Gluten-Free Batter Mix.The recall applies only to batches with the number 7093 and a best before date of 26 January 2026."This is an important recall for anyone who relies on gluten-free products," says [Name], spokesperson for New Zealand Food Safety. "We want to ensure people with coeliac disease or a gluten intolerance are aware of this potential risk."The product was sold at selected Four Square, FreshChoice, New World, Pak'nSave and SuperValue supermarkets throughout New Zealand.Customers are advised to check the batch number and best before date on the back of the package.People with gluten allergies or intolerance should not consume the recalled product. If you have consumed it and have any health concerns, please seek medical advice.Thankfully, the recall is limited to this specific batch and does not affect other Mrs Rogers Naturals products.For those who have purchased the affected mix, you can return it to your retailer for a full refund.

Farm worker annual salaries have jumped $7480 on average in the past two years.A just-released Federated Farmers Rabobank Salaries Report shows across all farming types, the average salary was now $71,411 - similar to a primary teacher's pay.Between 2022 and 2024, dairy worker salaries rose 11 percent , sheep and beef 17 percent and arable 14 percent - with an average week being between 44 and 46 hours.This does not include other benefits such as meat, firewood, phone or power allowances. Extras can add up to several thousands of dollars a year.Federated Farmers employment spokesperson Richard McIntyre said for example, the average Total Package Value for someone working in the sheep and beef sector rose to $76,296, nearly $3700 more than the salary.He said the increases were even bigger for more senior roles.The average salary for a dairy herd manager was up 19 percent to $74,185. A sheep/beef farm manager was earning an average 22 percent more than two years ago ($88,381) and the average income for an arable farm manager was up 28 percent to $101,264."This is impressive, especially in light of all the headwinds farmers have contended with over the past two years which have included Covid, severe weather events, production-suffocating red tape, inflation and roller-coaster commodity prices."Even with tight times farmers are prepared to pay good money for good people. They see the value that it brings to their business in terms of improved farm performance and reduced costs through the likes of reduced breakages," he said.Asked how much of an impact the the Accredited Employer Work Visa which required employers to pay at least the median wage to international workers had on pushing up wage rates, McIntyre acknowledged it had some impact."But it's not the role in it's entirety. It's more complicated than that. There are a lot of sectors that don't have huge numbers of migrant staff on the Accredited Employer Work Visa and certainly very few come in at a highly skilled level and those are the categories that have seen the highest wage growth," he said.Rabobank general manager country banking Bruce Weir said while growth in on-farm salaries increased costs for farm owners, it was crucial to help attract young people into agricultural careers.He said highlighting to secondary school students the array of career opportunities available across the agriculture sector was important."We know that remuneration is a key consideration for this group when they're thinking about career pathways and, if we want to attract good young people into the sector, it's vitally important that growth in salaries for on-farm roles keeps pace with, or exceeds, what is happening across the wider employment market.""Statistics NZ data tells us that Labour Cost Index wage growth across all New Zealand sectors in the 24 months to December 31 last year was around 11 percent so it's good to see salaries for most of the surveyed on-farm positions growing at this rate or quicker over the same period."

Energy Minister Simeon Brown has revealed the government's initiative to bolster New Zealand's electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure by introducing 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes connecting major urban centres. These hubs are designed to accommodate several chargers, capable of simultaneously charging between four and ten vehicles, and will be strategically located near amenities for convenience."New Zealanders considering an EV need confidence they can charge where and when they need on the public network. The Government is committed to working with industry to supercharge public EV infrastructure to remove 'range anxiety' and make owning an EV as easy as possible," stated Mr. Brown.The government aims to significantly increase the number of public EV chargers across New Zealand, with a target of 10,000 charging points by 2030. This ambitious goal aligns with the broader objective of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions, in line with the Net Zero 2050 goal.To achieve this plan, Cabinet has approved the development of a new model to support investment in EV charging infrastructure in New Zealand. This model is part of a comprehensive work programme that includes several key components:Development of a cost-benefit framework for government co-investment in public EV chargers, consistent with the National Act Coalition Agreement, and transitioning the co-investment model to maximise private investment. Decisions on the model will be confirmed late 2024.Reduction of red tape and regulation, including removing the requirement for a resource consent for the installation of public EV chargers.Establishment of enabling standards to improve consumers' capability to shift home EV charging demand away from network "peaks."Collaboration with the Electricity Authority to address barriers such as connection costs and ensure consistent approaches to EV charging connections across all 29 electricity distributors in New Zealand.Formation of a Cross-Agency Taskforce, including the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, the Ministry of Transport, EECA (the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority), and Crown Infrastructure Partners, to drive the work programme and engage with industry.The government's commitment to expanding the public EV charging network and its comprehensive plan to achieve this goal reflect a significant step towards promoting sustainable transportation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. With the implementation of these measures, New Zealand is poised to make owning and operating an electric vehicle more accessible and convenient for its citizens, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future.

Auckland pedestrians will get flashing ground lights, traffic islands and other road safety measures to replace the heavily criticised raised pedestrian crossings on roads.Auckland Transport (AT) came under fire for their one-size-fits all approach with the installation of raised pedestrian crossings, costing ratepayers too much.This was despite having a range of other affordable solutions available.Both Mayor Wayne Brown and Transport Minister Simeon Brown honed in on the costly safety upgrades.AT customer care engagement manager Phil Wratt said depending on the situation, they would now use intelligent traffic systems, like flashing inground lights, activated by pedestrians.Driver feedback signs, high friction surfacing, kerb build-out or a central island would also be options."If the residual risks of the crossing facility are still not being managed at an acceptable level, then speed management devices will be considered," Wratt said.Wratt said they had chosen raised devices since 2020 because it slowed motorists down, and increased awareness on pedestrian crossings."While survivability rates will vary based on the exact street or road, Auckland Transport elected to take a preventative approach to protecting vulnerable users."He said vulnerable users were protected from crashes with vehicles as there was a 10 percentage chance of a death, or 25 percentage chance of serious injury at 30km/h, compared to 80 percentage chance of death and a 3 percentage chance of serious injury at 50km/h.Raised devices was the most effective intervention that could be implemented, he said."However, in some cases, peak vulnerable road user activity can occur at the same time as peak congestion when the network is already moving at speed considered to be safe and survivable (e.g. 30km/h)."And in these cases a raised device may not have been necessary."AT estimated there would be a reduction of around 30 percent of raised pedestrian crossings required compared to the current pipeline of projects.A recent project at Kumeū, where pre-cast units were used, cost ratepayers $35,000 - approximately 10 percent cheaper than the old way.The crossing was part of the State Highway 16 access road upgrade project, at the car park of the Main Rd shops.The pre-cast unit was installed in one night, rather than over several days.About 22 other crossings have been identified as suitable for the same approach.AT infrastructure and place director Murray Burt said their priority was to keep people safe as they moved across Auckland, balanced against the cost of work to do so."Over the past five years, 2035 pedestrians have been killed or seriously injured trying to cross the road or walking on footpaths."We know that raised crossing facilities reduce the likelihood of a death or serious injury."AT couldn't provide a figure when asked how many raised pedestrian crossings had been installed since 2020, and its costs.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

Unstaffed petrol stations are helping drive lower fuel prices in their local areas, according to the Commerce Commission.Its analysis showed areas that included at least one unstaffed fuel station within a five-minute drive, had prices that were on average six cents per litre lower than those without unstaffed stations.However, the competition watchdog said self-serve stations run by supermarkets did not have the same effect."Our findings reinforce that unstaffed stations are definitely the way to go for cheaper fuel and anyone who has had one open in their area has probably experienced lower prices," commissioner Bryan Chapple said.He said local councils should think about the competition benefits of self-serve fuel stations when planning and considering consent applications."New Zealanders spend around $10 billion at the fuel pump every year, so even a small reduction in prices can put money back into the pockets of Kiwis," Chapple said."This pricing pressure - and motorists choosing to shop wisely - also creates an incentive for staffed sites in the local area to reduce their prices."The commission said the analysis followed a "please explain" letter it issued to fuel companies last year, asking for information on "anomalies" in the market."As well as reviewing the information the fuel companies provided us, we have used data from fuel pricing app, Gaspy, to assess the effect on local fuel prices when an unstaffed petrol site opens - which is greater competitive pressure," Chapple said.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly part of our lives, and so are anxieties about how it will change life as we know it.However, AI also holds immense potential to improve our lives, particularly in healthcare.AI's powerful image-processing capabilities are already helping healthcare professionals detect serious diseases early by accurately analysing medical images. For example, AI algorithms significantly help radiologists spot malignant tumours, and in emergency rooms, some medical facilities use AI to spot embolisms and signs of stroke, which is crucial for minimising the risk of brain damage.Dr Reza Shahamiri, a senior lecturer in Software Engineering at the University of Auckland, highlights that AI is not one technology but an umbrella term for several technologies. Currently, it is dominated by machine learning algorithms, which enable computer software to learn to perform specific tasks independently.Dr Shahamiri's passion lies in leveraging AI for a greater purpose: building AI software tools to empower individuals with disabilities and better equip healthcare professionals to support them. Among his current projects is using AI to identify autistic children early, developing AI models to detect early signs of dementia by analysing speech patterns, and creating an AI platform that understands atypical speech.According to Dr Shahamiri, "These are just a few examples of how we use AI to transform healthcare services to be more accessible and affordable, to relieve the pressure on our precious medical doctors and nurses, and give them mechanisms to support us better. This future is not science fiction; it's the exciting potential of AI in healthcare waiting to be realised."

The reopening of State Highway 1 over the Brynderwyn Hills will be delayed by a number of weeks due to an active slip.The section of highway was damaged during last year's Cyclone Gabrielle, and had been closed for repairs since mid-February.The critical Northland highway was due to fully reopen on the 13 May.NZTA Waka Kotahi says there was a slip over the weekend and it has continued moving over the last couple of days.A substantial amount of material fell on Tuesday, it said.The agency said it was still in the early stages of assessing the best solution, and would confirm more details as soon as it could.NZTA Waka Kotahi spokesperson Mark Kinvig told Checkpoint the sheer volume of material that fell had caused the delay.The material is highly variable, suspeptible to slips and "is quite a tricky site to work through".The priority was safety of the workforce in the next 24 hours, Kinvig said.

La Niña, a climate phenomenon, has returned to New Zealand, bringing with it increased rainfall and warmer temperatures. This natural occurrence happens when the ocean temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean become cooler than average.La Niña events tend to bring more north-easterly winds, which result in moist and rainy conditions in the north-eastern parts of the North Island. However, some areas like central Otago and South Canterbury may experience drought. Warmer temperatures are also expected across the country, with a few regional and seasonal exceptions.According to NIWA climate scientist, Dr. Gregor Macara, "La Niña events have a significant impact on New Zealand's climate. We can expect more rainfall in the north and east, and warmer temperatures overall."La Niña occurs when the ocean water off the coast of South America to the central tropical Pacific cools to below average temperatures. This cooling happens due to stronger than normal easterly trade winds, which brings cooler, deeper sea water to the surface.The effects of La Niña on New Zealand's climate are varied. While some areas will experience drought, others will receive much-needed rainfall. Warmer temperatures will bring relief to some, but may also exacerbate drought conditions in other areas.As Dr. Macara notes, "La Niña is an important reminder of the natural variability of our climate. While we can expect some changes, it's essential to remember that our climate is always changing."La Niña is expected to last for several months, and its effects will be closely monitored by climate scientists and weather forecasters. In the meantime, Coasties can expect a warmer and wetter winter than usual.

The Government has announced an independent review into New Zealand's Disability Support Services system. This review, overseen by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha, aims to ensure long-term stability and clarity for disabled people, their families, and carers when accessing vital support."We want to see the best possible outcomes for our disabled community," said Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston. "This review will help provide certainty around the choices people have to lead fulfilling lives."The review comes after concerns were raised about potential financial risks inherited by the Ministry upon its establishment. Minister Upston emphasised the significant investment in Disability Support Services, with Crown funding doubling since 2005-06 (adjusted for inflation). Currently, the Ministry supports services for roughly 50,000 disabled individuals and equipment modifications for approximately 100,000, managing an annual budget of $2.3 billion.Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston.A three-person review panel will be appointed shortly, with recommendations expected within four months. Public consultation on the review's findings will follow. "The community's voice is crucial," stated Minister Upston. The review will be funded within the Ministry's existing budget.Key Areas of FocusThe review panel will delve into several key areas to improve the Disability Support Services system:Funding Streams: The review will examine the purpose of different funding streams within the system and determine the appropriate level of flexibility for each.Eligibility and Allocation: A focus will be placed on eligibility criteria for accessing Disability Support Services, ensuring fair and efficient allocation of funding.Ministry Capability: The review will assess the Ministry's capacity to manage Disability Support Services effectively. This includes risk management, commissioning of services, and the Ministry's overall structure.System Integration: The review will explore how Disability Support Services interact with other crucial systems, such as healthcare, welfare, and education.Legal Framework: A close look will be taken at the legal framework underpinning Disability Support Services.Stakeholder Relationships: The review will examine how the Ministry interacts with stakeholders, including disabled people, families, carers, and service providers.This comprehensive review aims to create a more robust and sustainable Disability Support Services system, empowering disabled New Zealanders to live fulfilling and independent lives.

Contactless payments on Auckland's public transport are experiencing a delay. This delay stems from challenges in acquiring and installing equipment due to supply chain issues and data centre establishment.New readers currently only accept AT HOP cards. However, by late 2024, these readers are set to expand their acceptance to include Apple and Google Pay, debit cards, and most credit cards, alongside AT HOP cards.Stacey van der Putten, AT’s Director of Public Transport, highlights the convenience of contactless payments. She emphasises that once implemented, this system will simplify public transport use, crucial for encouraging more people to utilise it. "It’s about being able to turn up, pay and use public transport that gets people to more places without too much thinking ahead," says van der Putten.Efforts are underway to ensure passenger card data security and regulatory compliance as these changes are finalised. Van der Putten notes that the expansion of payment options will make public transport more attractive to various groups, including tourists, casual users, and first-time riders.In addition to these payment upgrades, Auckland is witnessing significant public transport improvements, including the City Rail Link, Eastern Busway, new train stations, electric ferries, and enhanced road space utilisation."We will continue to invest in ways to make it easy, safe, and reliable to get around using public transport," adds Ms van der Putten. "This will reduce road congestion and our environmental impact."The installation of bus and pedestal card readers is expected to be completed within the next three months, followed by station gates. Approximately 3,600 card readers across 1,450 buses, 180 pedestal readers across 32 train stations and 16 ferry terminals, and 110 gates at 17 stations are part of this upgrade.Some noteworthy statistics about AT HOP cards include:2.45 million AT HOP cards are enabled.97% of trips are currently paid by AT HOP card.Last month witnessed 8.3 million trips on AT HOP cards.With the upgrade of 3,600 on-board card readers and 180 station pedestals, AT says they're on track to extend the system's capability to accept other forms of contactless payment by the end of the year.

There is no clear favourite yet for the super-city's multi-purpose national stadium, an Auckland councillor says.A working group met behind closed doors on Monday to discuss the four proposals, but whether it will be revamping Eden Park or building a new stadium at the waterfront was unknown. The challenge will be to do so with little-to-no ratepayer money.The three different proposals for a waterfront stadium include a 50,000 seat facility at Quay Park favoured by New Zealand Rugby, a sunken stadium that could fit 70,000 at Bledisloe Wharf or a 55,000 seat venue at Wynyard Point.The working group has decided for the governing body to vote on an option on 30 May.Stadium venues' working group chairperson and councillor Shane Henderson said the projects have been ranked but he will not reveal more, insisting there was no clear favourite yet."I think there are multiple options that will be presenting to councillors, and saying, look, these have come out highly in the ranking system and let's have a bit of a yarn about it," he said.The council has made it clear it has no money for the project.The plan for Eden Park includes a new stand and a retractable roof. Photo: Supplied"Ultimately what I want to do is to give confidence to the market, there are people out there that are brilliant at raising capital, there are people out there that are brilliant at building or developing stadiums, and the message that we have as a council when we pass this vote is that we're going to back this process," he said.Once the vote has been passed, Auckland Council will ask central government to help fund the stadium.Despite the current hard economic times, some Aucklanders said they liked the idea of a big, new stadium in the central city.Matty Srhoj said a waterfront venue would bring energy to the CBD."I think a central city stadium would be fantastic and good for the city, obviously I know that with current economic conditions it might seem out of touch, but I think overall it'll be a good thing," he said.Srhoj added that a central city venue was the better option as Eden Park disturbed nearby residents and had a limited number of events it could host each year.Harpreet Gill said the city needed a much bigger venue for concerts which would attract major overseas stars."The thing is people are still paying for concerts, my daughter wanted to go for a SZA concert and make me pay $300, $400 for that, there are a lot of big artists internationally who couldn't come ... it would've added to our economy," she said.Nina Cohen, who moved to Auckland from London three months ago, said a better stadium was a worthwhile investment."Auckland investing in itself will make a big difference on the global stage. I think that sport, art, infrastructure, community, are the things people look for when they want to move here, and they want to see that kind of investment," she said.Meanwhile, others like Amy Laing were worried that regardless of the location, the city's transport system was not ready for a mega-stadium."We can't even support Mt Smart, we can't even support Eden Park, like it seems like every time there is a game or something on at those stadiums the transport facilities are like - 'oh we're taking a break, we're doing whatever'."But also there's so much traffic and there's so much construction already in the city that if we were to put the stadium there, I know it's going to take several years to build that up," she said.

The government's public transport subsidies are coming to an end - but how much fares will rise depends on where you are in the country.The Community Connect fare subsidy meant children aged 5 to 12 travelled free and those aged 13-24 got half-price fares.It was introduced in mid-2023, off the back of a previous subsidy put in place to counteract soaring petrol prices due to the war in Ukraine.Tuesday is the final day that the subsidy is in place and fares will rise in many places from Wednesday.However, some councils will continue to fund cheaper fares for select groups.Here is a look at how much more people will pay for the bus or train in Auckland once the subsidy ends.From 1 May, young people aged 13-15, and secondary students aged 16-19, will all see their fares double on buses and trains.Weekday zone 1 travel will rise from 70 cents to $1.35, zone 2 travel will rise from $1.30 to $2.60, and zone 3 travel will rise from $1.75 to $3.55. Zone 9 travel, at the top end of the scale, will go from $3.35 to $6.60Children aged 5-12 will no longer travel for free and must also pay those same fares.Young people aged 16 to 24 who are not eligible for another concession must pay adult fares. That includes under-18s who are no longer attending high school.Their fares will rise from $1.25 to $2.60 for zone 1, $2.20 to $4.45 for zone 2, $3 to $6 for zone 3, and $3.70 to $7.40 for zone 4.Ferry fares will also rise. Children aged 13-15 and secondary students aged 16-19 will now pay $3.55, up from $1.75, for travel in the inner harbour (between the Viaduct and Bayswater, Birkenhead, Northcote Point, and Devonport). Children 5-12 must pay the same fares.For those aged 16-24 who are not in school, the fare will increase from $3 to $6.For travel in the mid harbour (between the city and Half Moon Bay, West Harbour, Hobsonville or Beach Haven), fares will rise from $2.42 to $5.10 for those aged 13-19 and in secondary school. Children aged 5-12 must also pay $5.10.Youth aged 16-24 who are not in school will see their fare rise from $4.12 to $8.50.Those with Community Services cards can get 50 percent off adult fares, while Total Mobility or Blind Low Vision NZ card-holders can get up to 40 percent off adult fares on buses, trains and ferries.Tertiary students receive about 20 percent off adult fares.Children aged 5-13 will continue to travel for free on buses and trains during the weekends if they tag on and off with an AT HOP card.Children under 5 do not need an AT HOP card and can continue to travel for free at all times.Here is the full breakdown of the changes Auckland public transport fares.

The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) introduces a new app, lauded by Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins."This app simplifies vehicle-related tasks," explains Mr Brown, emphasising its ease in handling vehicle registration, Road User Charges (RUC), and displaying expiry dates for Warrants of Fitness, Vehicle Registrations, and RUC end distance."Future updates will enhance functionality, enabling toll payments and displaying vehicles' safety ratings," Mr Brown adds.Moreover, this innovation marks progress towards introducing a Digital Driver Licence."We're committed to eliminating bureaucracy and offering convenient, timely services," asserts Mr Brown, highlighting the app's role in making government more accessible.Ms Collins underscores the significance of digitalisation, foreseeing improved services and outcomes."We urge Kiwi drivers to participate in testing," urges Ms Collins, stressing the importance of user feedback in refining the app's features before its official release.Starting Monday, users can access details on downloading the Beta NZTA App via nzta.govt.nz/app

Unemployment is set to rise to a three-year high and wage growth ease as the realities of a slowing economy with too many people chasing too few jobs take effect.Economists' expectations, including the Reserve Bank, are for unemployment to rise to about 4.2 percent at the end of March from 4 percent, with the annual wage growth edging down to 3.8 percent.The economy had been in recession for much of the past year and with little prospect of an improvement the labour market would deteriorate, ASB senior economist Mark Smith said."Growth in the labour supply looks set to continue to outstrip the slowing demand for workers, with the unemployment rate set to push above 5 percent by year end."But paradoxically the economy has added jobs, reflecting the lags in the economy more than a rise in labour demand.The growth in employment had mostly been in sectors benefiting from previous government spending such as education and training, healthcare and social assistance, and public administration and safety, ANZ economist Henry Russell said.But, he said, the workforce was likely to be losing workers gradually."The significant increase in competition in the labour market is likely to see fringe workers who were pulled in at the height of tightness in the labour market continue to exit."Stats NZ data showed a 0.4 percent rise in the number of filled jobs in March on the month before, but a fall in the number of 15-19-year-olds employed on a year ago.Recent job advert statistics from the Seek employment website have also shown a dramatic plunge in jobs being listed and a sharp lift in applications for those on offer.Mounting job lossesSince the start of the year there has been a stream of announcements, largely in the public service, of job cuts but many of those will not be captured in the latest numbers, and also include unfilled positions.To date, close to 3500 public service roles have been slated to go.In the private sector the number so far this year is about 700.The bulk of those are the Newshub closure planned for July, nearly 200 in mobile operator One NZ, around 50 at food maker Sanitarium, and smaller numbers at a Fletcher Building steel subsidiary, business consultancy PwC, 2 Degrees, winemaker Indevin, and the ANZ bank.For the time being the job losses announced will not markedly shift the unemployment dial. It is a combination of fewer jobs and more people chasing them.More workers lower wagesAnother consequence of the softening of the labour market is expected to be reduced wage pressures.Labour shortages were no longer the biggest worry for businesses, Westpac senior economist Michael Gordon said."That would suggest that the pressure to bid up [wages] to attract workers has largely faded."Expectations are for a 3.7 percent annual rise in labour costs, which would reflect some large public service deals of last year."We should see a more meaningful moderation in wage growth over the year ahead," Gordon said.A slowing economy, softening labour market, and easing wages play to the Reserve Bank's determination to lower inflation."The RBNZ will be wary of labour market and labour cost pressures failing to sufficiently cool to deliver sub 3 percent inflation in a sustained basis," ASB's Smith said."The RBNZ will want to make sure that inflation will settle below 3 percent before cutting the OCR (official cash rate). OCR cuts are expected to commence in early 2025."

Ōrewa Library is set for a major makeover! A $5.5 million upgrade will address maintenance needs and cater to the ever-growing number of library users, exceeding 235,000 visitors a year.The project, approved by the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board, will significantly improve the functionality of the library. The existing space will be reconfigured, and a mezzanine floor will be added to create much-needed extra room. The outdated, leaky curved roof will also be replaced with a modern mono-pitched design.While the upgrade is significant, it will mean a temporary closure of the library for around 15 months, starting in June this year. However, plans are in place to minimise disruption. A temporary mini-library will be set up at the nearby Ōrewa Community Centre, ensuring continued access to library services and council services.Hibiscus and Bays Local Board Deputy Chair Gary Brown acknowledges the inconvenience the closure will cause but emphasises the importance of the project."The library is a vital hub for our community," says Brown. "With visitor numbers constantly rising and the building itself in need of attention, this upgrade is essential. The wait will be well worth it."The upgraded library promises exciting improvements for everyone. The downstairs area will be more spacious and open, with better sightlines and designated relaxation areas. A new lift will provide easy access to the mezzanine floor."The library staff deserve a lot of credit," says Brown. "They're working hard to make the closure as smooth as possible for the community."The comprehensive upgrade will make the most of the existing building footprint. Here's a glimpse of what's in store:Collections will be reorganised, freeing up space downstairs for new relaxation areas.A dedicated children's library downstairs will offer ample space for collections and programs.A new lift will ensure accessibility to the mezzanine floor.The downstairs area will have a more open layout with better sight lines, lower shelves, and improved spacing between fixtures and fittings.The new mezzanine floor will offer a flexible space for studying, hosting programs and meetings, and can be easily adapted for various needs.The interior layout will be improved, with better sight lines, a designated safe room, and controlled access to staff areas.Artist impression of the new exterior for Orewa Library.While the library undergoes renovations, library staff will ensure continued library services and council services through a mini-library set up at the Ōrewa Community Centre. The small hall at the recently renovated community centre will house the mini-library and council services, while the large hall will remain available for community use."We are grateful for the community's patience and support during this temporary closure," says Head of Community Delivery (North/West) Rachael Rivera. "We've been planning for months to minimise disruption. Staff will be readily available at the mini-library to assist with accessing services."Artist impression of the new exterior for Orewa Library."This extensive upgrade will transform our beloved library and create an even more welcoming space," concludes Rivera. "The library will have a fantastic new look and will be able to offer even more to the community."The project timeline is still being finalised, with construction contracts expected to be awarded soon. The library relocation and construction are expected to begin in June.

With most New Zealanders moving to mobile phones, the nation's copper network is slowly being phased out, with one of our biggest telcos planning to pull the plug next year."No landline. No landline for ... five years maybe," one woman on the street in Auckland told First Up."It's fine. Don't miss it. I thought I would but I don't miss it. Even for us old ladies. It's a thing of the past. We all have cellphones."Another, younger woman interviewed by First Up said her parents still had a landline."They answer it, no matter who it is. Which I just never would. I don't answer my cellphone if it's an unknown number."One NZ (formerly Vodafone) chief technology officer Tony Baird said they are getting set to change."The old copper telephone exchanges, the ones in our network, we've got five of them. We deployed them in the '90s and the early 2000s, and we're in the process of decommissioning them."Baird said that system will be finished some time next year. The decision had been a long time coming, he said."The cost of electricity, the efficiency, the floor space they take up, and the number of customers that actually want and use copper landlines is all becoming quite prohibitive."Baird points to a graph which shows a steady decline in users, with most people moving to mobiles."We've got 2.4 million mobile devices out there," he said. "Normally there's more than one mobile per household, everybody has their own mobile, and landlines are really a fixed, static service so people are moving off them."However, not all phone calls from next year will be from a mobile phone.According to Commerce Commission figures, there were still around 573,000 landline services in New Zealand.The majority used the "Voice over Internet Protocol" - known as VOIP, which was first introduced around 20 years ago.VOIP uses a landline-style phone number on a traditional handset, but runs through fibre internet rather than the copper phone line."Voice over internet will remain. If anybody that wants a landline number - Auckland is 09, Wellington 04, et cetera - those fixed geographic numbers come with voice over internet," Baird said.He said the main change with VOIP is what happens when the power goes out or during a natural disaster."Fibre optics doesn't actually carry electricity through it. Whereas copper used to carry electricity. So the biggest difference is going to be if you want to have your voice over internet protocol running when the power is switched off you need to have some form of battery backup."However, the Commerce Commission is taking One NZ to court, alleging a failure to "inform and protect" vulnerable customers by ensuring they're told how to call 111 during a power cut.Telecommunications Commissioner Tristan Gilbertson said a number of New Zealanders still relied on landlines and had no alternative if they stopped working."There are 684 of them who are vulnerable for the purposes of the code. These are the people whose lives are most at risk in an emergency situation because of health, safety or disability reasons," he told RNZ.During Cyclone Gabrielle last February, communication was cut off across Tai Rāwhiti, when landslips took out fibre optic cables and cell towers lost power.In a statement, One NZ said they were "disappointed to learn of this, and had fully co-operated with the Commission since becoming aware of its concerns, and had been transparent throughout".One company that has felt the move away from landlines is Yellow, commonly known as the Yellow Pages.Despite being much smaller these days, with a combination of personal and business numbers and websites the yellow book is still delivered to 1.6 million homes across New Zealand.Country manager Rob Jane has been with Yellow for 17 years."When I first started, businesses were putting fax numbers in nice, big, bold type in the book. Well, fax numbers have pretty much disappeared out of the book at a greater rate than landlines have dropped off."We're seeing businesses now promote their websites, putting an email address. And in more recent times they're putting a QR code in their ads."Jane said around 380,000 residential phone numbers were still listed with Yellow, down 37 percent from 15 years ago."We've seen over the years, there's always been a discussion around the books... I guess younger people in cities [ask] why do we need it? Then you'll see comments come in from older demographics outside the main cities going, 'Not everybody's connected to the internet, not everybody's online'."Baird said it had been 30 years since mobile services were launched in New Zealand."In 30 years we've gone from 100 percent of homes potentially having a copper service to 100 percent of homes having more than one mobile device."New Zealanders would have to wait another eight years for 6G to be available, around 2032, he said.

A man faces court following an alleged aggravated robbery in Westgate on Sunday afternoon. Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin, Auckland City CIB, reports police were alerted to a suspicious vehicle in Manurewa shortly after the incident."After 9pm on Sunday, reports came in about the vehicle on Browns Road. The Police Air Support Unit, Eagle, assisted ground units in tracking its movements," said Baldwin.The vehicle reportedly evaded police signals, driving recklessly in the area. Eventually, it stopped on Rowandale Road. The driver fled on foot but was apprehended shortly after.The 27-year-old suspect is now in custody, charged with aggravated robbery and failing to stop. He is scheduled to appear in Waitākere District Court this morning."While the case is before the Court, police continue their enquiries. Detective Inspector Baldwin urges anyone with information to come forward.""We're investigating whether this incident is linked to previous jewellery store robberies in Tāmaki Makaurau," Baldwin added.Anyone with relevant footage or information is urged to contact Police via 105 or online at 105.police.govt.nz, referencing file number 240412/0735. Alternatively, tips can be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.